Agoraphobia

The Agora movie is sure to lead to Hypatia hype, however it's presentation of Church History will also lead both to Agora- and Christianophobia.

So it is not puzzling that there are symptoms of protests in some areas.

Just days before the release of the new movie “Agora” by Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar, civil rights organizations are denouncing the film for promoting hatred of Christians and reinforcing false clichés about the Catholic Church.

As if there is a need for such after Angels and Demons.

Marcos reminded Amenabar of the comments made by people who have already seen a private screening of the film and which Amenabar himself echoed during a television interview.

During the interview he said, “At the end of the film, people sitting near me said Christians are bunch of SOBs.”

On the other hand, such responses may lead to an... interesting public discourse.

In response to Amenabar’s statements that the film “is not against Christians but rather against those who set off bombs and kill in the name of God, that is, against religious fanatics,” Marcos wondered why the director has not recreated situations like those that take place in the Middle East.

Of course, arguing against muslim extremists vicariously, through alleged Church History, is a great and traditional Western sport.

Which requires far less courage.

Take a Latin Pebble

It is always good to see ELP numbers becoming jazz, rock or classical standards.

Or latin.

Even if this is a rather typical "starting from the source for never returning". The latter half is still good in it's own Al Di Meola way.

The McWizard of Keyboards

Minor luminaries such as Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Chick Corea, Glenn Gould, Keith Emerson, Bill Evans, Joe Zawinul, Keith Jarrett and Herbie Hancock come and go, but one keyboard artist stands head and shoulders above the rest. The genius of Scots home organ guru Eric McWhirter is renowned throughout the keyboard-playing universe, but for years, his very existence was a closely guarded secret.

Click your keys and read all about it here.

Buridan rides again

As not everyone subscribes to the magazine or has bought web versions of this issue of ANALOG Science Fiction and Fact, it is good news that Michael F. Flynn's short story of alternative medieval history is available here.

It is about nothing less than Quaestiones Super Caelo Et Mundo. Areas that contain far more than most.

End of 'academic embargo' on G.K. Chesterton?

Chesterton is so much a genius and contrarian that academia for long has hesitated even to touch him.

Even if the people of England has not spoken yet, others are raising their voice.

Despite having a profound influence on the 20th century, English author G.K. Chesterton has remained virtually unknown to modern readers. This discrepancy may be due to an unwillingness for universities and colleges to include him in literary and history curriculum.

And other others.

In short, you should ask "Who is this guy and why haven’t I heard of him?"

Seeing Elvis

We'll start a little series on "What Did Keith Do, Rather Recently?".

And we'll do it rather now.

Apparantly he attended an Elvis show and played some Tarkus a few days ago.

I checked out Elvis Schoenberg and the Orchestre Surreal last night. They were doing a set of mostly big-bandish/Zappaish arrangements of Hendrix tunes. It is a big, loud group with a string quartet, eight brass players, guitar/bass/drums/keys, percussion, several singers, dancers, . . . Anyhow, they don't play too often, but are a treat. The highlight was a version of little with with electric sitar, string quartet, and vocals.

An additional treat was that Keith Emerson was in the crowd and played a bit of "Tarkus" for us. Alas, no Moogs in sight.

Stay tuned.

God’s Philosophers released!

One of the best books on the alleged warfare between Christendom and Science in Medieval Europe is about to be relased.

Here we have it from the horse's mouth (and I have counted all the teeth):

I am writing to you because you very kindly registered an interest in my book God’s Philosophers: How the Medieval World Laid the Foundations of Modern Science at jameshannam.com. I am delighted to report that the book is being published in the UK by Icon on 6th August. I am not sure about availability in your country but Amazon.co.uk are already sending out copies so if you would like yours as quickly as possible, you can use the link below:

Order God’s Philosophers from Amazon.co.uk

God’s Philosophers celebrates the forgotten achievements of the medieval world. Focusing on the rise of science, it shows how natural philosophers of the Middle Ages laid the foundations of the ‘Scientific Revolution’.

Without the work of medieval scholars, there would have been no Copernicus, no Galileo and no Newton. By emphasising the important positive role of Christianity on medieval science, God’s Philosophers also contributes to the current debate about the relationship between science and religion.

Thank you for your support in registering your interest in God’s Philosophers. I very much hope that you enjoy the book.

Best wishes

James Hannam

Please, use your handy mouse.

Hidden Wisdom

This - in it's singular way - gem of a comic indicates how much The Da Vinci Code and similar historical nonsense have influenced the public consciousness.

Even if it is no record that not a single sentence gets it right in a comic, it is amazing how to the point and obvious true it all seems. In a medium no one bothers to read with Britannica (or Wikipedia) in the other eye.

In short a masterwork of sneaking in below the radar.

Rest assured The Catholic Church will get around to a good countercomic in a century or two.

New logo for The Church of England.

Thanks to the inimitable Chris Tilling.

Keep tappin'

24 seconds in pristine quality.

Ham'n knife

One video document of Spinal Tap at Wembley yesterday, playing Heavy Duty.

Please note their guest keyboard player on Hammond and Knife, especially from about 4 minutes.

Unfortunately a bit blurred picture. And the keyboard player is hidden behind an official camera man.

Other that that, a great sight.

The general idea was to have Keith getting stuck beneath the Hammond and then to be carried out on a stretcher. Though it seems he didn't stick to getting stuck after all.

Rather nutty still, as one reviewer commented.

BTW, here is Spinal Tap discussing the tune as such:



Take care. Whether there is a Hammond close by or not.

Samurai Rondo

This one I really enjoyed, especially from about 2:50. Wild and virtuosic.



Hopefully Keith enjoyed it too.

We'll be back with more about him on Wednesday.