BROOKLYN ART PICK OF THE WEEKEND: GAMELATRON @ GALAPAGOS

GamelaTron: The world's first and only fully robotic Gamelan Orchestra, performs The Future's Stories of the Past

Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Friday, March 6th, 8pm, $10

The Future's Stories of the Past is a suite of music written by Kuffner for the GamelaTron. The pieces tell the mythic stories of humankind's evolution from the point of view of the future's dominant inhabitants - a species of robots with human ancestry. The music draws from Kuffner's years of musical study and training in Indonesia, while maintaining continuity to his current project as Zemi17 in the Brooklyn underground electronic music scene and New York City DJ culture.

Modeled after traditional Balinese and Javanese gamelan orchestras, the GamelaTron is an amalgamation of traditional instruments with a suite of percussive sound makers. MIDI sequences control robotic striking mechanisms that produce intricately woven and rhythmic sound. Performances follow an arc similar to classic Indonesian gatherings, where stories from great epics, such as the Ramayana, are told and settings given in words that are continued in music.

Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street (@ Water Street in Dumbo),Brooklyn, NY 11201

For info on this and other upcoming events:

http://www.galapagosartspace.com/events.html

Blogger Bob Guskind - Further Info - NYPD via NY POST

NOTE: I have already been accused of slander for conveying the NY Post item. As I indicated in my comment, it was not intended as slander. Just "information" that was out there when very little was being reported beside the memorials. Robert Guskind, I didn't know you , but Rest in Peace. To his family, friends and colleagues, very sorry for your loss. If you do not wish to read news via the NY Post about the late Mr Guskind that might upset you, even though this is the currency of much of blogdom, please read no further.-- BB

An online NY POST article by LARRY CELONA and JOHN DOYLE, Last updated: 3:01 am, March 6, 2009, Posted: 2:04 am, March 6, 2009 reports that Robert Guskind, "A popular Brooklyn blogger was found dead in his apartment from what police sources said was an apparent drug overdose.

Robert Guskind was found dead at 7:11 p.m. Wednesday in his basement apartment at Dean Street in Prospect Heights, police said.

Guskind, 50, earlier this year lost his full-time job as Brooklyn editor for the real- estate blog Curbed, yet continued to post his commentary about borough development on his own Gowanus Lounge blog."

No further details were available at this time.

The GOP Spectrum

Watching Rachel Maddow last night, saw an interview with Dr. Ada Fisher, a GOP Committee women in North Carolina. Dr. Fisher got much press attention for challenging Republican National Committee chair Rush....I mean Michael Steele, whose chaotic profile and RNC management and attempted head butting of Rush Limbaugh seems to have pushed the GOP further over the cliff. Dr. Fisher was a very well spoken, calm and effective communicator, seemed very down-to-earth. She sent an email to GOP committee members, suggesting that Steele step down, and that was subsequently leaked which led to her invitation to MSNBC's high profile Rachel Maddow Show.

In 2008, she was defeated in her challenge of incumbent Congressman Mel Watt, a Democrat, also an African American candidate, who has represented the district since 1992.

Her website indicates a mix of positions. She is for a marriage amendment, supports the right to own weapons, but also supports the need for alternative energy solutions. Clearly, if we are going to see a continuation of the two-party system in this country that is based on more rational debate and discourse, the GOP needs to get itself together, locate the rational, less incendiary/inflammatory people in their party, regroup and move forward from there.

Just out of curiosity, I checked out Dr. Fisher's 2008 website. A quote from Dr. Fisher: "I have always stated that I support the rights of individuals to bear arms as long as they don't point them at me. I stand by that position."

Her website describes her as a physician, secondary mathematics and science teacher, and school board member. She is currently a GOP Committee Chair in North Carolina. For an interesting take on another end of the spectrum of the Grand Old Party, check her 2008 Congressional election website here:

http://www.dradamfisher.org/

For comparison, Congressman Mel Watt's website is here:

http://watt.house.gov/