Sunday Blues/Sunday News

As I was walking to the grocery store, I had several of those healthy thoughts recommended by Nietzsche...

I recalled how last week at the Pretty Good International School, our local version of Maggie Thatcher announced that in the future students would be required to wear sneakers instead of house slippers...
What is that about? For those unfamiliar with this part of the world, there is a very civilized local custom --found even in the nearby land of blank checks--which allows workers to exchange their outdoor shoes for comfortable shoes, which you might call house-slippers. I have even seen the young sales staff in upscale jewlery stores wearing such comfortable attire.

Whence Maggie's decision? ostensibly for security concerns: it will facilitate quick evacuation.

Alas, it looks to me like a typical example of trampling on local customs.....

Today in the capital city of Fastvakia, there is a marathon. On my walk to the grocery store I noticed confused and angry drivers being directed away from the main thoroughfares by police. When I crossed the street (in a zebra crossing) some drivers seemed angry at me for impeding their travel. Only yesterday, on a visit to the nearby German speaking capital, I happened to see a free postcard describing the number of pedestrians killed in crosswalks, and initiating a campaign for safety.... something which Fastvakia could use....

On the other hand, while the local city has money for extra policemen and ambulances and publicity surrounding a marathon....I met one seller of the local homeless person's magazine. He showed me a withered hand and told me that it was the result of a car accident. He said he's been waiting two years to be officially declared an invalid....is that possible? Money for jogging but not for basic health care? Odd that I recall how the local political leader is a famous jogger.... [what if the money comes only from private sponsors? What if it's not tax dollars? I think my point remains unchanged...]

FINALLY a brief CULTURAL comment
Mariza's latest album--Transparente--is infinitely inferior to the one which preceded it: FADO CURVO....
I bought Transparente first, and found myself thinking that while there was definitely KITSCH on the album, the good stuff was worth the price.
A month later I came across FADO CURVO, and now I can see that EMI is trying to increase sales by dimishing quality---gee, can I responsibly say that???--Well, let's say I don't KNOW, but that is what I believe....not that anyone at EMI would say that they are/want to diminish quality....I would bet that the marketing arm of EMI would say they are only spreading Mariza's music to a wider audience....

So, what is my beef? Unnecessary strings. They are at best distracting. Often they have the effect of blurring either the other instruments or the singer's voice.....
The one exception is the final song where they replace all other instrumentation.

I'd be happy to return the CD and get my money back.....FADO CURVO is sensuous and direct....and the new album is, by contrast, like instant coffee.....a watered down version of the real thing.
The suspicion that marketing may be behind this is also increased by comparing the pictures on the respective covers.....

Capitalism versus Art..... Capitalism versus Humanity......