Okay, I'm not really sure Heidegger changed my life, though I do remember samples of his work being part of my existentialism survey course and can recall animated conversations about them over coffee after class. But how much of the knowledge and training that I have used to build my life can I consciously grasp and enumerate by source, the origins now well buried in the slow and steady chisel work of a nurturing liberal arts education? If I had spent my days under a rock or in a lab coat, how … [Read more...]

Mind the Gap has just been alerted that this blog is in the running for a Mobbie, the Baltimore Sun's first annual stab at "recognizing Maryland's Outstanding Blogs." Whether you are a Charm City resident or not, you can chime in your support for this or any of a whole host of interesting Maryland scribes here. Don't know much about Baltimore? If the city's name makes you think of The Wire, and then John Waters, and then you draw a blank, well this is also a chance to blow up some preconceptions … [Read more...]

I crawled into bed at 9 p.m. last night with my laptop and a box of tissues feeling pretty pathetic, but by 9:20 p.m. I had pretty much forgotten that I had a head cold and couldn't breath properly because Glee (on FOX for those with TVs and Hulu for those who can't stick to a normal schedule) is just that over-the-top awesome. After finally losing all hope that Gossip Girl would ever return to the ridiculous levels of word sparring that made me love it, I think I have a replacement, folks, and … [Read more...]

For those on deadline today, a rather lovely diversion: Icycle And for those as coordinated as I am who will never see the higher levels of the game on their own skills, here's a glimpse. … [Read more...]

That cool. That style. As if we needed more evidence of the ways NPH rocks or reasons to adore him... What a villain. And while we're discussing culturally interesting players in our 21st century, here's Jonathan Ames. … [Read more...]

Drew McManus over at Adapistration is teasing a new feature: What's Bothering Jeff? That's Philadelphia Orchestra associate principal trumpet Jeff Curnow to you and me, he of previous internet commentary such as: Now, Jeff isn't selling orchestra subscriptions here, but after watching that video, I'd be interested in buying a ticket to hear him play with Philly if I was in town--somewhat peculiarly, even to hear him play The Swinging Pendulum of Death Drenched in the Tears of the Afflicted. So … [Read more...]

Here's one for your Thursday morning from the "Aww, shucks" department: Baby Elliott Carter. No relation. In fact, there's a proud new grandpa here doing some digging into the man who accidentally gained a little namesake, so if you're a friend or fan of Elliott the elder, drop by and leave some record recommendations. … [Read more...]

In the brief history of rock-to-classical ventures Joe Queenan penned for the NYT last week, he points out something that I think has hit quite a few artists attempting to cross the aisle, no mater which side they're originally coming from. He identifies as a central problem the fact that often it's "music that acts as if the 20th century never happened." Maybe for those going classical-to-rock, the problem is only clocking in at 15 years behind the times, but still, the naiveté seems only to … [Read more...]

"Reading a newspaper, I saw a picture of birds on the electric wires. I cut out the photo and decided to make a song, using the exact location of the birds as notes (no Photoshop edit). I knew it wasn't the most original idea in the universe. I was just curious to hear what melody the birds were creating," writes Jarbas Agnelli, creator of this video: And for those worried the internet, with its remixing and YouTubing, has crushed out the creative musical souls of Our Youngest Generation, … [Read more...]

Not so much, apparently. Whenever I pass posters promoting the remakes of both 90210 and Melrose Place, I wonder who green-lit these nostalgia projects. Who brought the idea of updating these particular bits of nighttime TV soap to the table in the first place, and now that they've been made, who is watching them? And I wonder if much of this all hinged on the "imagine what stirring some Twitter and Facebook into the plot pot would do!" If only Heather Locklear had had a Blackberry. For those … [Read more...]