Category Archives: Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff

The Haiti disaster, through Haitian eyes

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Sabina Becker

The Ciné Institute of Jacmel, Haiti, is a young film school, both in terms of its time in operation (only since 2008) and the age of its students. But in spite of the difficult economic conditions in Haiti–and they have … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, If You REALLY Care, Morticia! You Spoke French! | 1 Comment

Paul Quarrington, RIP…

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Sabina Becker

Yesterday, I found this song echoing through my head for the first time since…oh, about 1995 or thereabouts, when I was at journalism school and you couldn’t turn on a radio anywhere in Toronto without hearing it:And today, I found … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Canadian Counterpunch, Obits and 'bobs | Comments Off

Avatar–WTF?

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Sabina Becker

While everyone else is all agog over how Evo went to see Avatar with his daughter (and loved it), I found something very different regarding that film in Russia: Soviet sci-fi writer, 76-year-old Boris Strugatsky, has accused Oscar-winning director James … Continue reading →

Posted in All About Evo, Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Isn't That Illegal?, Teh Russkies | 9 Comments

Juanes: Opportunistic, anti-Chávez douchebag?

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Sabina Becker

A popular Venezuelan journo-blogger seems to think so, and after reading this, so do I: Colombian singer/song-writer Juanes seems to be in agreement with those users of the Twitter website who demand the downfall of the government of Hugo Chávez. … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, El NarcoPresidente, Fascism Without Swastikas, Filthy Stinking Rich, Huguito Chavecito, The Nausea, Under the Name of Spain | 6 Comments

Venezuela: Commie pinko national studio releases award-worthy film

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Sabina Becker

And here’s a sample of it:That’s “Zamora: Free Lands and Men”, by Román Chalbaud, a Venezuelan fimmaker. Produced by the national studio, Villa del Cine. And a finalist for the Goya Prize. Ezequiel Zamora is a 19th-century hero of liberation … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Huguito Chavecito | 2 Comments

Farewell, Lhasa…

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Sabina Becker

This morning, I was saddened to learn (via DAMMIT JANET!) that Lhasa de Sela has died of breast cancer. For those who don’t know who she is, she’s the closest thing Canada has ever had to its own Mercedes Sosa … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Canadian Counterpunch, Don't Cry For Argentina, Obits and 'bobs | Comments Off

Music for a Sunday: Pilot

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Sabina Becker

Underappreciated Canadian talent? We haz it…One of my all-time faves of his. Whimsical, poignant, and full of questions still unanswered as to whether we will survive our own worst innovations. Re-hearing it recently for the first time since high school, … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Music for a Sunday, She Blinded Me With Science | Comments Off

You can never trust those feckin’ old ladies…

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Sabina Becker

…except to make you laugh until you wet yourself.Gawd, I hope they put this on the telly.

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff | 4 Comments

Grandma got WHAT?

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Sabina Becker

BTW, this one’s got a nifty back story. Who knew that an eggnog-swilling grandma could be so profitable?And no, this is NOT Pee-Wee Herman:…although he DOES have that kind of vibe going on. BTW, this song’s got a fun back … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, The WTF? Files | Comments Off

Music for a Sunday: Best untrained voice EVER.

Posted on December 20, 2009 by Sabina Becker

And really, if it were professionally polished, would Astrud’s voice still have that lovely understated wistfulness?And if there were more to the lyrics, would this play on rhythms (of women’s swaying walks, no less!) be as much fun?And would this … Continue reading →

Posted in Artsy-Fartsy Culture Stuff, Brazil is the Bomb!, Music for a Sunday | 1 Comment