Randy Newman Live at MacWorld

On January 15, 2008, Randy Newman played a provocative song called “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country” at Apple’s MacWorld meeting in San Francisco. Eli at Left I on the News added subtitles so you can really see what he’s saying here.

Richard Thompson Sound and Video Archive

I am a huge fan of Richard Thompson, the great English folk ‘n roller. A few days ago, I heard a new song he wrote about a soldier’s experiences in the Iraq War called ‘Dad’s Gonna Kill Me. (“Dad” is short for “Baghdad”.) Tonight I went looking for more and found this excellent archive of MP3s on Richard’s website.

Here’s some RT videos:

A Heart Needs a Home (with the wonderful Linda Thompson)

Now Be Thankful (with Fairport Convention)

Time Will Show the Wiser (with Fairport Convention)

Turning of the Tide

Cooksferry Queen

Shoot Out the Lights

She Twists the Knife Again

She Moves Through the Fair

Down Where the Drunkards Roll

“Solitary Life” – an outstanding documentary on RT’s life: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

[Update: I just tried some of these links and found some of the videos have been taken down, including the Solitary Life documentary. I am glad I saved those using KeepVid and iSquint for Macs.]

Video Feedback

I first learned of ‘video feedback’ one week ago. The concept intrigued me so much I couldn’t get it out of my head until I did a few experiments.

Video feedback is the phenomenon created when one plugs a video camera into a TV monitor so the monitor displays what the camera is filming. When you point the camera into the TV screen in just the right way, you create an endless video loop and you can generate some fascinating images.

The short film Experiential Video Feedback is my first using this technique. For a higher quality MPEG-4 version, click here.

Commuting

a late bus, or maybe I am late.
6pm, trying to get on the 10.
it’s 86 degrees with a breeze.

a dealer on the corner slaps his man’s chest.
you got any blow?
his man says: no, but i’m looking.

buses and dozens pass
a backhoe blocks the middle of the sidewalk.
busy all day, it is idle now.

a man walks by and asks
got a dollar?
his eyes pierce mine as i lie:
no, just bus fare.

Haiku for the Housefly

It was an exciting day around the cabin. The sun was shining and the guitar was out. I strummed on the front porch while Lance the cat chased bugs in the yard. Later I was reading with the front door open when my neighbor’s labrador retriever sauntered in as if he owned the place. Lance didn’t like that and things looked ugly when he got between the dog and the door. Seeing his only chance, the dog bolted for the exit and escaped, but not before taking a parting shot from the cat. He let out a yelp as if to say, “Whoops. Sorry!”

A little while ago I smelled a foul odor which I haven’t experienced since last summer. A flying insect that entered through the newly opened windows had expired on the bulb of the torch lamp in the corner. A puff of smoke rose to the ceiling. I wrote a haiku about it:

Dead bug, spewing smoke
I mourn your sadful passing.
Ain’t that torch lamp hot?

In Honor of Black History Month

To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me—
That is my dream!

To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening…
A tall, slim tree…
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.

— Langston Hughes