3/27 - March Sadness

On my twins' eleventh-month day, music fans have learned that Gregg Allman is suffering from Hepatitis C and the band has cancelled its Beacon run and Wanee weekend gig in April. I'm not sure exactly what this means for the future of Gregg's health, but godspeed, Mr. A.

Will the Democratic Party finally take Hillary out back and put her down? While it's only March, there's no way in heck that any member of the Republican Party should be within twenty points of a Democrat in this year's race. As Eric Alterman noted two nights ago, Hillary is helping Americans really quickly forget the last eight years. I've been saying that, I believe, since January. Goodbye, Hillary, we hardly know ye.

I began setting up my classroom today and I need much more time. I'll probably have to head in over the weekend in order to organize folders, books, make copies and otherwise make my grand entrance a little more grand. In setting up my A/V things, I did play Annie Hall on the LCD projector onto the whiteboard screen to straighten up and balance the lens. I felt like I was actually in a theater thirty-one years ago, watching a giant Woody Allen, grainy picture quality and booming sound and all. Great viewing opportunity! I'll have to watch more films like this.

Lefty Brown, Carol King has always has held a special spot in my heart ever since I discovered her in college. After reading Jim Curtis' Rock Eras, the greatest cultural analysis of rock music ever written, I rushed out to scoop up a copy of Tapestry on vinyl. With the (then) twenty-someodd year old pops and cracks in the sound, the record transported me back to a different, albeit crazy in its own right time; before my own, though I feel I may claim a little piece of the early 70s since that is when I made my appearance. Every time I listen to it, I fall in love with a different song for a different reason. Maybe it's the pop hooks King had mastered in ten years' experience in Tin Pan Alley, the era's struggles with embracing feminism and real love, the simple yet solid musical performances on the record. To hear all of those amazing musicians, including James Taylor, craft such a deceptively simple record has only held up over time. Tapestry is always best played with the album cover visible on a nice cold, rainy day with a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket. Thanks, Chris, for the shot, and great hearing from you!