LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy Birthday, Louis Armstrong!

Happy 4th of July hot dog eating contests. In yesterday's contest here, the usual winner was defeated by an elephant.

We're such a democratic nation, we even allow elephants to overeat what isn't good for anybody to eat, in honor of democracy and independence.

Is there anything more representative of how fallen this nation is, that it is working to turn overeating into a competitve 'sport,' and classify the eaters as 'athletes?'

On a planet where over 1 billion go to sleep each night hungry?

I would be truly miserable but for this antidote: our American Treasure, Phil Schaap, is conducting his annual 4th of July WKCR all day and night Louis Armstrong broadcast. Let us recall that Louis Armstrong, though born in August, chose as his official birthday, July 4th.

In the meantime, here, all day, we have a heat advisory in effect, as well as advice to stay inside due to the levels of ozone in the air.

Tonight, though, tonight -- fireworks, then the Afro-Cuban All Stars at S.O.B.'s.

ETA: Though we are sitting here in the a/c sorting through our tax stuff (we need to file quarterly) -- we are in heaven: Satchmo and Bing Crosby, dueting an entire album!

3 comments:

K. said...

A Louie Louie!

I have the '28 version of St James on an album called Funeral Songs: Dead Man Blues: 2CDs of NOLA funeral tunes recorded from 1923-1953.

Foxessa said...

He just gets better and better, the older we both get. :)

There's so much in that music, even beyond the music itself.

Postmamboism for sure.

Love, c.

K. said...

"Postmamboism for sure."

There's the next t-shirt right there!