A new art installation now on display in France is utilizing 60,000 compact discs sewn together to create a physical landscape spanning 500 sq. meters or 5381 sq. ft for the metrically challenged.
The installation remains on display at Paris’ 104 Centquatre gallery at Halle d’Aubervilliers, through September. Assuming you cannot make it before then, feel free to enjoy it through the video below
‘Samsara,’ Ron Fricke‘s follow-up film to his critically acclaimed non-verbal epic ‘Baraka‘ has been in development for years with very few updates. A recent announcement notes the film will première in Toronto, CA on September 11, 2011 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Samsara [ IMDB | TIFF | Press Release | Official Website | Full Cast & Crew ]
New Update: Since the film has been released and premiered since the time of this writing I have added the additional resources related to the film below:
Update: The production team has added a ‘Behind The Scenes‘ section of photos to the official website and have provided the following confirmed public screening times for TIFF below:
Sunday, September 11th, 3:15PM
Tuesday, September 13th, 1:15PM
Sunday, September 18th, 9:00PM
Intellectual Ventures owns a huge portfolio of patents. Quite possibly they also have some sort of patent that covers streaming music over the internet. Intellectual Ventures makes money through a sort of protection racket that helps Spotify defend themselves against companies like PacketVideo. For a considerable fee, a company can access Intellectual Venture’s storehouse of patents and use them defensively against companies claiming patent infringement. [Source]
An interesting read in the online version of The Economist regarding the hazards of patent law and it’s effect of stifling economic growth in the United States. Patents make sense to cover actually concrete concepts, and while I am for intellectual property rights for artists, IP law is getting out of hand. “Patents Against Prosperity” [via The Economist]
Much more information, and an intriguing video from Haiti regarding a similar issue available beneath the fold.
-Editor’s Note-
I have also decided to share a new article via eWeek citing similar issues beginning to affect the mobile phone industry showing similar issues affecting that sector’s development as well.
"Dying Is Not A Crime" -J. Kevorkian
Today sees the passing of one of modern history’s great champion for personal freedom and human rights, Jack Kevorkian. I understand my politics at times are difficult for some to understand but hear me out before you dismiss this post based on what is not really a controversial statement at all.
Known to many as ‘Doctor Death’ for his public endorsement and practice of voluntary euthanasia. Much attention is paid in the United States in the handling of abortion issues, and how it pertains to government regulation over the physical bodies of its citizens.
The Supreme Court of the United States issued the following opinion in it’s 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey citing the Fourteenth Amendment:
“If the right of privacy means anything, it is the right of the individual, married or single, to be free from unwarranted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the decision whether to bear or beget a child.”
I, for one, do not see any fundamental distinctions between freedom to choose what is best for someone’s own body as it pertains to abortion, euthanasia, getting a piercing or tattoo, or even wearing a hijab. These issues are not within the scope of the powers given by the people to our government. Understandably, euthanasia, abortion, or any of these are not one-size-fits-all solutions but no founding father would have willingly waived these decisions to an appointed authority. Additionally, with the freedom over healthcare becoming a keystone issue in US Politics in recent years, it seems counter-intuitive that we should continue to support selective freedom in selecting healthcare options.
Rest In Peace to a misunderstood man who was not afraid to take a controversial stand and surrender his freedom hoping to expand individual rights.
The Library of Congress presents the National Jukebox, which makes historical sound recordings available to the public free of charge. The Jukebox includes recordings from the extraordinary collections of the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation and other contributing libraries and archives
While not exactly ‘brand-new’ it is worth mentioning here that the Library of Congress has made a large collection of its catalog available for streaming online. They have started the archives off with a massive back-catalog of RCA Victor dating from 1902-1925.
The archive plans to add Columbia, OKeh, and hopefully more to the online database.
Recently, NPR Music asked me to contribute a selection of songs outlining dub reggae, and specifically Lee “Scratch” Perry’s influence on modern dance music. Click on over to NPR to check out their article, with some information on the upcoming The Upsetter film, as well as the four tracks I selected.
Much thanks to the crew at NPR for reaching out to me and allowing me to contribute
Lee ‘Scratch’ Pretty : Over 75 Years, From Dub to Dubstep
Much thanks to everybody who has shown support for my musical projects, this website, and most of all those of you who I’m fortunate enough to know on a more personal level as well. I’ve definitely tried to put a lot of hard-work into all these things that are important to me over the past year and the kind words and encouragement have made it all worthwhile.
I will do my best to keep building on the momentum everybody has given me as we move into 2011, look forward to some more regular / new exclusive podcasts appearing on this site beginning early next week, with some mixes from artists I appreciate as well as hopefully me getting off my rear and getting some more of my own mixes up here for you as well.
2011, more food, music, and good times await — looking forward to seeing you there!
Be sure to keep up with me not only here but also on Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr
PS: That shot is not from last night; it was a totally different event and I’m pretty sure that guy has no clue we took that round of photos.