First, Lawrence Lessig. He’s the head of Stanford University’s Center for Internet and Society, he’s deeply involved in the Creative Commons project and he’s a promoter of free speech and 21st century (i.e. Internet-friendly) copyright laws. Terry Gross interviewed him today on NPR’s Fresh Air. He offered many insights on copyright, journalism and the amateur arts and media culture made possible by the Internet. He and Ms. Gross sparred a bit about the future of newspapers, and as a person who loves Lessig’s ideas and newspapers almost equally, that part was particularly fascinating.
Listen here when you have a half hour to spare.
Second, Alice Ivy-Pemberton. She is 10 years old but seems far older. I saw her play violin a few months ago on PBS’s From the Top, then found the clip again this week because I wanted my mom to see her, too. On the show she plays Bartok, Bach and a spunky fiddle tune called June Apple, the latter two with Gil Shaham, an award-winning (adult) violinist.
When I saw the show a few months ago, I couldn’t turn my eyes away. I think it made me late to dinner. Alice plays with the passion and poise of someone who has lived through war and heartbreak - and grown stronger from them. Breathtaking stuff at any age, but from a fourth grader it’s spellbinding.
Watch Alice here, even if you don’t have a half hour to spare.
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blogging about your cat got me here. thanks. as riveting as alice was, i found pianoboy exceedingly hard to watch. the music was sublime. when i stopped watching, i was transported.
yum. tuna for the ear.