Taking a moment from my website restructure to share a friend’s thoughts on the recent tragedy in Paris. (We’ll call this friend “Mrs. Joe.”) Before yesterday, I had never heard of Charlie Hebdo. Would that that were still true. My first exposure to it, coming almost simultaneously with the news of the massacre at its offices, was a repost on Facebook of a grossly offensive cartoon of the Trinity. So all morning, my horror of the attack was muddled up in my... Read more
Today, stumbling about in a Christmas-induced haze, I have come to the shocking realization that I’ve been blogging for a little more than two years here at Summa This, Summa That. Yep, that’s right. Two+ at The Ol’ ST,ST — aka, pretty much longer than I’ve focused on any one thing in my entire life. Wow. Time really does fly when you’re having fun. It’s been a blast, for sure. But things have gotten a bit loosey-goosey, as well. (Yes, I love gif posts.... Read more
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Attribution(s): “The Adoration of the Shepherds” by Giovanni Lanfranco; image provided by Bridgeman Images and licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons. Read more
As Christmas draws nigh, my thoughts turn (unsurprisingly) to that piece of classical music NPR DJ-extraordinaire Jim Svejda (whose mellifluous tones and not-entirely-categorizeable accent were a near-constant presence on my youthful ears) considers nearly as essential to Christmas as The Man Himself. And to the recording of that particular piece he considers nearly as essential: If Christmas isn’t really Christmas without Christmas music, then Christmas without Handel’s “Messiah” is all but unthinkable. … Although there are nearly 50 “Messiah” recordings currently... Read more
PHIL DAVIS: I don’t know what he’s up to, but he’s got that Rodgers and Hammerstein look again. BETTY HAYNES: Is that bad? PHIL DAVIS: Not bad, but always expensive. So, I realize that recommending the following film is sort of like taking candy from a baby… …but I’ve never had a problem with taking candy from a baby. It’s super-easy. Seriously. They’re really little. (Besides, have you tried taking candy from an adult? Yikes!) So, in deference to the impending... Read more
From Sub Pop Records, the label behind the album currently streaming through my headphones: Luluc’s “Passerby.” In a world where instant gratification is the norm, patience has become a rare commodity. But for Zoë Randell and Steve Hassett, who make up indie-folk duo Luluc (pronounced Loo-LUKE), letting things unfold in due time not only defines their career trajectory, it also works as a pretty good description of their approach to making music. Music that Sub Pop co-founder Jonathan Poneman describes as “bracing, subtle,... Read more
In honor of the recent publication of a 55-year-old lost-then-found essay on creativity from the legendary Isaac Asimov, here’s a thought that’s been floating around in my head for a few months now — a thought that I find particularly relevant in this increasingly siloized InterWeb World in which we live. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in. Now, there are reams and reams of provocative Asimov... Read more
Oh, good. Thanks to the almost-impossibly inventive folks at Birdbox Studio, my yearly excuse for not making a cool Christmas card has finally arrived. And just in time. No way I can top this, so why even try, amiright? (Somehow, I suspect the grandparents will be unconvinced by that line of reasoning.) Attribution(s): “Random Christmas-y Imagery” provided by Shutterstock. Read more
A couple of years ago, PES (aka Adam Pesapane) created the shorted Oscar-nominated animated short of all time: “Fresh Guacamole,” clocking in at a svelte (yet amusing and highly-imaginative 1:41.) It didn’t win — that honor went to the wonderful “Paperman” — but it did call attention to its creator’s undeniable talent. So if you haven’t seen it before, go see it. It’s great. Speaking of PES, he released his newest short last week, just in time for me to make... Read more
Earlier this year, I wrote a post professing my affection for — perhaps, even, my infatuation with — Bruce Rowland’s wonderful work on the soundtrack for The Man From Snowy River. Toward the end of that same May post, I expressed my disappointment over — perhaps, even, my volcanic rage at — the fact that the film itself was not readily available for streaming. I am happy to report that this frustration is no longer applicable. It is currently streaming on both NETFLIX INSTANT and... Read more
Summa This, Summa That
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