The Obama stampede

Frank Rich has written a brilliant, analytical editorial describing the stampede to join the Obama camp in “How Obama Became Acting President” (NYT 27 July 2008). McCain has lost a lot of ground this month as Obama turns, more and more, into the man of the moment. Here’s an extract with translations (mouseover the highlighted […]

Gershwin: Summertime

Summertime is an aria by George Gershwin from his opera, Porgy and Bess, first performed in 1935. I saw the Houston Grand Opera’s production of Porgy and Bess in 1976/7 which revived Porgy and Bess as a complete opera. This lullaby unites the original Ukrainian folk melody with jazz and opera. Here are a few […]

Khaled Hosseini: A Thousand Splendid Suns

When I first opened this book and started reading in the middle, there was so much brutality that I thought, no, there is no way I’m going to read this. But then I started properly at the beginning, and I fell in love with it from page to page.

Sly and the Family Stone: Thank you

This tune by Sly and the Family Stone from 1970 marked a turning point in music. The band had played inspirational pop songs in the 1960s, but then after 1970 things got very funky.

Obamania in Berlin

The main event (see 3 min. video on BBC): “Yes, there have been differences between America and Europe. No doubt there will be differences in the future. But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together. A change of leadership in Washington will not lift this burden. In this new century Americans and […]

Obama jokes

Have you noticed how few jokes there are about Obama? A man you cannot make fun of has a definite problem. He needs change! If you hear or read an Obama joke, please post it under comments. German, French, Arabic, Kisuahili, etc. welcome. We know the battle to find humor in Obama will be long, […]