Kalles Kultur

The Wonder of Coincidence

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:16:15 -0400

This Friday, May 17, 2013, literally trillions of “things” will happen, as the seven billion person narrative of modern, human existence continues to unravel and evolve. Like every other day, the rotating engine of suffering, jubilee, and mediocrity will churn and scatter its lot among its willing, unwilling, and generally confused inhabitants.

But unlike most days, this day marks an unusual intersection of three superficially unrelated narratives: Norway will celebrate its national holiday, “Syttende Mai”; east Asian Buddhists will celebrate Buddha’s Birthday; and I will celebrate the one year anniversary of a trip to Stockholm that eventually led to the creation of this blog.

Finding myself at the chronological juncture of these three red threads that managed to weave their way into my own personal narrative, I find it difficult to reject the possibility that this day has additional significance - some priority over most other days. Granted, the initial conditions (i.e., the asynchronicity of the Gregorian and Chinese lunar calendars, and my decision to get on a plane one year ago today) were all set by choices, made by people. But when these choices overlap and interact in such spectacular and surprising ways, to reject their significance and meaning is to capitulate to a meaningless life. I choose otherwise.

Gratulerer Med Dagen!

Nature for the win.

Fri, 10 May 2013 01:24:59 -0400

Nature for the win.

The wild and vivid imagination of Emilie Nicolas has been set to...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:10:01 -0400

The wild and vivid imagination of Emilie Nicolas has been set to film in this fantastic music video reel by André Foldøy Chocron. Though it’s a composite of several music videos, the syncopation brings it all together quite well.

Arty and Mat Zo are hands down my favorite producers of...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:43:29 -0400

Arty and Mat Zo are hands down my favorite producers of electronic dance music. Though they’ve collaborated on a number of excellent tracks, “Rebound” is a real standout, with a bridge (3:00) that is absolutely out of this world. The bridge is so sensational that Will I Am allegedly helped himself to it, using it as the base for his brainless, auto-tune-laden monstrosity, “Let’s Go”, featuring Chris Brown.

Carl Sagan once noted that “the universe seems neither...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:48:00 -0400

Carl Sagan once noted that “the universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent” to human life. The observable indifference of nature does not however imply that human life is somehow inherently unworthy of dignity. For unlike the inculpable and apparently immutable laws of nature, human beings are capable of choice. Because nature has no preference for or bias against life, the value of human life is therefore ours to determine.

If we choose to value the happiness and safety of others, then human life will have real value. If instead we add unnecessary tragedy to an already unstable existence, then human life will have little value. The indifference of the universe is merely the context in which these choices occur - the choice to value human life is still ours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler%27s_identity

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:53:06 -0400

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler%27s_identity:

Today is the birthday of Leonard Euler, a squinty-eyed Swiss genius. He was a prolific mathematician, a trendsetter in terms of notations and concepts, and a pioneer of the use of imaginary numbers, which turned out to be not-so-imaginary after the development of quantum physics.

Speaking of great music that happens to be electronic, Emilie...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:34:00 -0400

Speaking of great music that happens to be electronic, Emilie Nicolas just posted a new track. Be sure to repost and help spread the word about Emilie’s wonderful music.

Modern music has created an effectively limitless context of...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:35:00 -0400

Modern music has created an effectively limitless context of sounds. Everything is fair game - strings, synths, brass, industrial noises - the only relevant question is whether or not it all “works”. As a result, modern music forces us to acknowledge the abstract reality that thoughtfulness is entirely independent of medium and style: art is either well-done or it isn’t.

Telefon Tel Aviv was a Chicago-based duo that produced some truly spectacular, truly modern, electronic music that made use of a maddening variety of noises and textures. At the time their music was dubbed “IDM” - intelligent dance music - but my personal view is that it’s just great music that happened to be beat-heavy and electronic.

I had tickets to see them perform at the Guggenheim Museum in 2006, but their flight from Chicago was delayed, and the show was ultimately cancelled. Three years later, one of the two members of TTV, Charles Wesley Cooper III, died, and unfortunately, I never got to see them perform live.

Being animated, and impacting the things around you in an organized manner, is a key distinction between living matter and the rest. And in that regard, creating objects, images, songs, and institutions that people continue to interact with extends the lives of their creators - they form a fossil, a thought or a moment suspended and sustained. The capacity to create these artifacts gives us the ability to communicate with and touch the lives of people far beyond the term and geography of our corporeal existence. So despite never meeting Charlie Cooper, he continues to exist as an imprint, like the scores of other artists and thinkers that have contributed to the context of my life. In general, death forces us to acknowledge the abstract nature of human interaction - we know others by interacting with them, and some of us seem to stick around for a little longer.

"For man is not born into a world made to fit him like a custom tailored suit of clothes, or a house..."

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:27:33 -0400

“For man is not born into a world made to fit him like a custom tailored suit of clothes, or a house built to order. He enters a universe that was eons old before his appearance, and that in all likelihood will continue for eons after his departure an infinitely complex, eternally changing universe that evolves its processes unmindful of his presence. It sets the conditions. It is man who must do the fitting.”

- Brainpickings

My Latest For The Atlantic

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:43:00 -0400

Global trade is old — really, really old. But something new is happening to the world economy as software and container trade shrink the globe — the rate of “globalization” is increasing, allowing developing countries to hitch a ride on the capital of advanced economies and race forward.

"Albert Einstein’s ex libris was created from a doodle he drew up (probably in the margins of a..."

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:57:00 -0400

“Albert Einstein’s ex libris was created from a doodle he drew up (probably in the margins of a paper describing the photoelectric effect, or something) and depicts a solitary stargazer, perched atop a mountain with arms spread wide, soaking in the celestial dreamscape that is the Universe. It is, in a word, awesome. Typical Einstein.”

-

This is the third time I’ve posted this piece, and...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 04:25:59 -0400

This is the third time I’ve posted this piece, and invariably it’s ended up the subject of some copyright dispute. I’m going to hope this time the content is being posted free and clear.

This is one of my absolute favorite pieces of music, irrespective of genre.

Shostakovich, famous for his demented 8th string quartet, and on Tumblr for his monotonous personality, reveals his humanity in this, his second piano concerto, in the second movement. This is sweeping stuff - shamelessly heartbreaking, unpretentious, and warm.

There is a very grave person under those cokebottle glasses.

My Funny Valentine arranged and performed by yours truly.

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:36:24 -0400

My Funny Valentine arranged and performed by yours truly.

My response to Politico's profile of Concord 51

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:40:00 -0500

This morning Politico ran a story about Concord 51. That story generated quite a bit of attention for us, but it also raised a number of questions, particularly about what it is that we believe as an organization, and who we are trying to attract as members.

We received dozens of comments and emails asking whether there is “room in your tent” for an “independent African American” or “a gay Republican”. Frankly, this is upsetting – the fact that any of you even have to ask is indicative of the poisonous narrative that has grown to dominate Republican politics, and apparently disenfranchised a large number of supporters.

For the sake of clarity – you are all welcome to join Concord 51, and we sincerely hope that you do.

The United States is on the precipice of a wildly competitive economic environment at the very same time that our national debt is projected to reach unsustainable and potentially ruinous heights. Unemployment and underemployment remain high despite a growing U.S economy. The whole world order is literally shifting under us as nations like China and India rise to capture an alarmingly large, and growing share of global GDP. With all of these grave realities staring us in the face, we as a party have wasted this country’s time staring into people’s personal lives.

We are not going to make it as a nation if we can’t set aside our differences and work together on policies that will set the ship straight.

Concord 51 is a small group, but we are growing, mainly because our ideas make sense. We are gaining traction with politicians because all of them know we are where the Republican party will be in 15 years – we’re just doing it first. Do we need to increase the diversity of our membership? Absolutely. You can help make that happen by joining us.

Francis Poulenc’s, “Melancolie”, as performed...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:45:33 -0500

Francis Poulenc’s, “Melancolie”, as performed by his student, Gabriel Tacchino.

The Tree of Life is not a subtle film. Set to the tune of life,...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:31:00 -0500

The Tree of Life is not a subtle film. Set to the tune of life, writ large, Terrence Malick explores the narrative of human existence in the era of cosmology and evolution. Beautifully shot on earth and in the heavens, this film reaches overwhelming heights. The “lacrimosa”, set to the indifference and cosmic violence of creation, is shamelessly grandiose, complete with a bellowing choir, bells, and a pipe organ, each ultimately silenced by the volcanic machinery of life.

That was fast! 2,500 it is! Enjoy!

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:30:00 -0500

That was fast! 2,500 it is! Enjoy!

2,499

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:14:42 -0500

Kalles Kultur currently has 2,499 followers, but I think we can crack the 2,500 mark with a bit of re-posting. Please feel free to prove me right.

In the spirit of the Oscars - the theme from Giuseppe...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:39:38 -0500

In the spirit of the Oscars - the theme from Giuseppe Tornatore’s Oscar winning classic, “Cinema Paradiso”, composed by Ennio Morricone.

Mahavishnu Orchestra was the product of the confluence of an...

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:25:00 -0500

Mahavishnu Orchestra was the product of the confluence of an unimaginably wide range of cultural forces interacting in unexpected ways. The raw, primordial energy of their debut studio album, “The Inner Mounting Flame” attacks the listener from the very first moments of its opening track, “Meeting of the Spirits”. From there, the album takes off quickly in violent, random, and often unpleasant directions.

British guitarist John McLaughlin formed Mahavishnu Orchestra shortly after performing on Miles Davis’ historic album, “Bitches Brew” together with Mahavishnu’s drummer, Billy Cobham. As is evident from the band’s eclectic sound, McLaughlin’s musical influences spanned the gamut - though clearly influenced by Miles and other jazz artists, McLaughlin was also influenced by flamenco music, Indian classical music, and obviously, rock music. The result is organized insanity, with each band member going off on manic rants during their allotted times, only to later join in seamless unison as if the disturbing ventures in between never happened.

The spiritual aspects of the music are equally unsubtle - the name of the band itself was chosen by McLaughlin’s then guru, Sri Chimnoy. Arguably designed to shock the listener into some higher realm of spiritual consciousness, The Inner Mounting Flame will certainly shock your musical sensibilities.