young Bardot

Dimitri Mitropoulos

(1 March 1896 – November 2, 1960)

I had intended to post this on Maestro Mitropoulos's birthday, but forgot. Consider it the first of my 'Smoking is Cool' posts. Also a great conductor, inspirational musician, etc...

sic semper tyrranis

The Akond of Swat

Who, or why, or which, or what, Is the Akond of SWAT? Is he tall or short, or dark or fair? Does he sit on a stool or a sofa or a chair,         or SQUAT,     The Akond of Swat? Is he wise or foolish, young or old? Does he drink his soup and his coffee cold,         or HOT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he sing or whistle, jabber or talk, And when riding abroad does he gallop or walk         or TROT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he wear a turban, a fez, or a hat? Does he sleep on a mattress, a bed, or a mat,         or COT,     The Akond of Swat? When he writes a copy in round-hand size, Does he cross his T's and finish his I's         with a DOT,     The Akond of Swat? Can he write a letter concisely clear Without a speck or a smudge or smear         or BLOT,     The Akond of Swat? Do his people like him extremely well? Or do they, whenever they can, rebel,         or PLOT,     At the Akond of Swat? If he catches them then, either old or young, Does he have them chopped in pieces or hung,         or SHOT,     The Akond of Swat? Do his people prig in the lanes or park? Or even at times, when days are dark,         GAROTTE,     The Akond of Swat? Does he study the wants of his own dominion? Or doesn't he care for public opinion         a JOT,     The Akond of Swat? To amuse his mind do his people show him Pictures, or any one's last new poem,         or WHAT,     For the Akond of Swat? At night if he suddenly screams and wakes, Do they bring him only a few small cakes,         or a LOT,     For the Akond of Swat? Does he live on turnips, tea, or tripe? Does he like his shawl to be marked with a stripe,         or a DOT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he like to lie on his back in a boat Like the lady who lived in that isle remote,         SHALLOTT,     The Akond of Swat? Is he quiet, or always making a fuss? Is his steward a Swiss or a Swede or Russ,         or a SCOT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he like to sit by the calm blue wave? Or to sleep and snore in a dark green cave,         or a GROTT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he drink small beer from a silver jug? Or a bowl? or a glass? or a cup? or a mug?         or a POT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he beat his wife with a gold-topped pipe, When she lets the gooseberries grow too ripe,         or ROT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he wear a white tie when he dines with friends, And tie it neat in a bow with ends,         or a KNOT.     The Akond of Swat? Does he like new cream, and hate mince-pies? When he looks at the sun does he wink his eyes,         or NOT,     The Akond of Swat? Does he teach his subjects to roast and bake? Does he sail about on an inland lake         in a YACHT,     The Akond of Swat? Some one, or nobody, knows I wot Who or which or why or what     Is the Akond of Swat?

strange & beautiful film 4: Italian double feature

Matrimonio all'Italiana (1964) and
Ieri, Oggi, Domani (1963)

Not so strange, but very beautiful. De Sica, Mastroianni, Loren, Italy, 1960's: what more needs to be said? Two absolutely sublime films from a golden age.

Daniel Clowes

Eightball covers gallery at zines

A heaping helping of modern misery: The complete Mister Wonderful at the New York Times

s & b film of the week 3 - double feature

Downtown 81 and Permanent Vacation

These two films should really be watched together, as opposite sides of a debased currency, a good/bad penny coughed up from the dying lungs of the 'underground' circa 1980. One side is shiny mint, the other scuffed and marred. Basquiat's optimistic fantasy plays prelude to fairy tale success and rock star death, while Jarmusch's anonymous antihero pushes off into nowhere. Somewhere along the way art dies and commerce becomes cool...

the poetry of Leif Segerstam

Esteemed Finnish conductor and wildman Leif Segerstam has a unique insight into the expressive possibilities of the English language:

"I have words for everything that can be expressed:

Coincidentimently
Embryomalic
Electrifically
Fiveishness
Flimmer
Inexclickable
Fenugrish five things
I am fluxating in 8.
It is a Valsefy."

Graham Nasby has an extensive archive of Segerstam's astonishing neologisms.