Phil Plait, over at Bad Astronomy is outraged over the meddling of George Deutsch in NASA's press releases about science matters. Deutsch, a 24-year-old political appointee and college dropout, is entitled to his opinions on scientific matters, of course, but it does seem—shall we say presumptuous?—to insist on editing real scientists on matters of scientific "accuracy."
On Friday, November 3, The Register published an interview with Peter Jenner, formerly manager of Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett, T. Rex, The Clash, Ian Drury, and Disposable Heroes, as well as Billy Bragg's current manager. The interview was a challenging (and profane) music insider's rant on a variety of subjects ranging from how the dollar download model killed the record store to proposals for a blanket, DRM-free digital music license that would permit consumers to use the music they purchase however they wish.
I think Gene Weingarten may be the best long-form newspaper writer in the country and this profile of Doonesbury artist-writer Garry Trudeau is Exhibit A.
Wonko the Sane sends along this fascinating link to New Music Box on Philip Glass. Yes, I know the knock-knock joke, but actually experiencing Einstein on the Beach was a life altering experience for this good ol' country boy. As WTS said, it is the soul of minimalism—and EOTB definitely has got soul, if you've got big ears.
Whether it does or not, you know you're going to. Eskie lists 60 things worth shortening your life for. I must be boring—only about 10 appealed to me, although I did find #s 38 & 39 intriguing.
The inspiration for this project came from Stereophile's Gretchen Grogan and Erich Vollmer of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Music Festivals are perhaps the healthiest aspect of classical music making, allowing ad hoc ensembles to chart the farthest reaches of the repertoire, as well as retracing the familiar ground of the great works. Why not, they thought, capture a representative selection of works performed at the 1995 Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival? This would not only document some of the great performances to be heard, but also allow music lovers everywhere to participate in what has increasingly been recognized as one of the US's best summer music festivals.