The President's Amazing Eulogy

The media seemed to focus solely on the two minutes of the President breaking into song. The real message is in the other 35 minutes of this extraordinary speech. While I may not subscribe to the religious overtones that frame this eulogy, the message of racism, gun violence and how we need to come together in the face of such tragedies is inspiring. Take the time to listen to this eulogy in its entirety. It is time well spent. 

Despite all the haters, the deniers, the bigots and obstructionists that make up conservative America; despite all those that wish to destroy this presidency even if it puts our Nation at risk, President Obama will truly go down in history as a great moral leader for our country.

Nothing will change

Nothing will change. We all know it. Racism is pervasive, even institutionalized. Conservatives will marginalize or deny the role of racism in our society. Republican presidential candidates will fall over each other to gain these red-necked racists votes. America's sick lust for guns and violence will continue. Politicians will cower to the NRA and it's supporters and shun legislation to control gun sales. Nothing will change. We all know it. I'm ashamed of my own country.

Wynton criticism

Wynton Marsalis is one of the best trumpet players and band leaders on the scene today. It can't be denied that he has exceptional chops on his horn and will stand with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown and other greats in the history of post bop jazz. He has been an advocate for elevating traditional jazz as an art form in our culture and consciousness.

That being said, while he has kept the flame of traditional and bebop jazz alive, he has also been an obstacle to moving jazz forward with a young generation of listeners. Wynton's emphasis on preaching history and tradition is partially responsible for sustaining the old stereotypes of what jazz music is. It has held back recognition of more modern jazz music that might otherwise flourish with a younger audience brought up with funk, hip-hop and rock influences.

Listen to brother Branford Marsalis, Terrance Blanchard, Robert Glasper and Nicholas Payton to name a few. I don't agree with everything these cats say, but you will hear a more open modern view as to the future of jazz. Watch the film Icons among us, Jazz in the Present Tense to see how this art form is evolving to relate more with a younger audience without compromising its creative spirit.

Unfortunately, these voices rarely get heard beyond jazz's "inner circle". Wynton Marsalis remains the de facto Ambassador of Jazz through his association with Jazz At Lincoln Center (JALC), CBS News and other mainstream outlets.

Don't get me wrong. I love Wynton's playing. I dig his music for what it is, jazz founded in the hard bop era. However, his words and music are not the future of jazz and it is not the music that will endear jazz to future generations.

View the full length feature, Icons Among Us on iTunes

A Better Way to Brew

You just have to love an invention that excels in its simplicity of form and excellence in function. The invention I refer to is the Aeropress Coffee and Expresso Maker. The inventor is Alan Adler, maker of the Aerobie; the flying Frisbee-like ring that holds world records for distance and accuracy. It must have been his love of coffee that caused him switch gears and engineer an ingenuous new method for brewing a single cup of coffee or expresso. I had been looking for a good system for brewing single cups that wasn't one of those K-cup type machines that I really don't care for. I was gifted an Aeropress over Xmas and I am very pleased with this gadget.

So, if you happen to run into me, and I seem a little more hyped up than usual, its probably this caffeine buzz that I have perpetually been on since receiving this gift.

The Aeropress Coffee and Expresso Maker has a cult following among geeks and baristas. Variations on brewing methods for the Aeropress are all over the Internet in coffee forums, blogs and videos. The device uses pressure to force heated water through ground coffee beans infusing it full of satisfying flavor without the bitterness or particulate matter that often accompanies traditional expresso or French Press methods.

The product, which sells for a street price of under $30 has few parts; a tube like vessel (for water and grinds), a plunger and a filter cap. Also included are a scoop, a stirrer and a supply of small round filters. The process for brewing coffee takes only 30 seconds. I prefer the Inverted Aeropress Method as shown below, over the one prescribed in the product instruction sheet.



Inverted aeropress from Abi Porter on Vimeo.

When the Duck Quacks...

The debate over comments made by Duck Dynasty's patriarch, Phil Robertson is raging. Yes, he has every right to speak his opinion, and yes A&E as a private enterprise has every right to suspend or fire him at will.

My bet is that the two sides will kiss and make up. Its all about the money, and DD has the highest rated show on the network and likely brings in the highest ad revenues. All first amendment rights and protecting A&E's brand will be thrown by the wayside as both sides find a way to keep the profits flowing.

For me, what is most revealing about this incident is the clash of cultures. I am talking about modern urban professionals versus the southern rural redneck cultures. I have been alarmed over the last few years at the glorification and elevation of the Rednecks in our popular culture. We've seen it not only on TV shows, but in country music and Tea Party politics.

While most of the time these rednecks seem like harmless fun lovin' good ole' boys, its always been apparent to me what makes up the foundation of that culture. Phil Robertson's remarks brought those values to the surface. His comments regarding gay equality, race relations, and Christian fundamentalism speak volumes about the redneck value system. You can laugh with them, sing songs about them or glorify their lifestyle. But you can't escape the bigotry and intolerance that pervades that culture. Phil Robertson has reminded us what Rednecks are really all about.