Gather Your Wits
Gather Your Wits
#170: Maria Ressa, Clive Thompson, Varihnaz, Maya Lin, Artisans' Cooperative, Lance Canales & The Flood, DJ Lovie (Quincy Jones tribute), and Dweezil Zappa
THEN & NOW
It was difficult to write the previous issue (#169),1 and I’ve been clawing myself out of a funk since the election. Tonight’s issue will be brief, but I’ve got some great links and sounds.
Take care of yourself, gather your wits, and nurture your energy. Read a good book. Right now I’m reading James S. A. Corey’s The Mercy of Gods, a suspenseful epic space opera.
Some unknown neighbor put flowers in a canning jar, and placed it in front of the Buddha statue in front of my cottage. Isn’t that cool? Thank you, neighbor.
RABBIT HOLE
In a brief but powerful discussion, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awardee Maria Ressa has some suggestions for the American people—and especially journalists—who are worried about how to deal with the coming presidential administration. She describes how similar the current U.S. political climate is to that of the Philippines when Duterte was elected, and explains what she and her news institution (the Rappler) did to stay strong.
Curating “fools” like me love a good list. And Clive Thompson’s LinkFest is one of the best. Check out #26. I especially liked “China’s Hit Farmer-Rock Band” Varihnaz (see his free link to the NY Times article), but there are also articles and videos on asemics, language, giving land back to the sea, and much more.
A Chinese variety show films a documentary about the band Varihnaz.2 They arrive during rice planting season. Later, they all head to the big city for the show and interviews. However, as the video uncomfortably reveals, the director was unexpectedly moved during one particularly challenging interview.
Wow, I remember when Maya Lin was a 21-year old college architecture student awarded the contract to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. That was back in 1981. Here’s a film showing Maya Lin at work as a mature and very experienced artist and architect:
A number of artisans rebelled against Etsy and formed their own online cooperative. But how is it going in 2024? “Artisans Crafting a Member-owned Marketplace”: a detailed update:
SOUNDINGS
I love this powerful version of Woody Guthrie’s song “Deportee” (“Plane Wreck at Los Gatos”) by Lance Canales & The Flood :
I was very aware of Frank Zappa in my youth, but I’d known nothing about his son Dweezil Zappa until recently when I happened upon some videos. I was pleasantly surprised; he’s an amazing guitarist and improvisor. Zappa will be performing locally at the Golden State Theatre on January 9th, 2025 on his Rox(postroph)y Tour. Here he is with his band and vocalist Napoleon Murphy Brock performing “Inca Roads”3:
Brooklyn-based DJ Lovie brings her “Quincy Jones Tribute” to TheLotRadio.com:
Sincere appreciation to all of you who read Eulipion Outpost regularly, and to those who have subscribed here or donated on my Ko-fi page to support my efforts.
My ongoing appreciation goes to the Mysterious M. for his editing.
Website: Jeanvengua1.wordpress.com
Blog: A Crooked Mile
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I’m sure the dream reference to “anger” was not coincidental.
In the language of the Zhuang ethnic group, the title means “the farmland with rice aroma.“
Written by Frank Zappa. Album: On Size Fits All (2012).
Thanks you for sharing the flowers by the Buddha and Maria Ressa’s interview. Wow, “the Filipinization of America,” is a gut punch.
“Hold the line. Collaborate. Know your values. Embrace your fear.”
These are what we need right now.