Wednesday: Chansons françaises
This Parisian artist is fascinating. Indila is extremely popular in France, mostly because of ballads like this one with multi-generational appeal. Many of her works contain lyrics in more than one language which increases the breadth of her allure. This particular song is indie/dream pop, but she also works in rap and fusion raï — the latter a form of Algerian folk music.
It’s no surprise that some of Indila’s work fuses raï with other genres. She’s of Algerian descent, though she’s said she’s also Indian, Cambodian, Egyptian and Moroccan. Indian influences her work with band TLF in Criminel, African cultures shape her collaboration with Youssoupha in Dreamin’ (the video is set in Arizona, oddly enough), and Middle East in Poussière d’empire with artist Nessbeal.
Do surf YouTube for more of her solo work when you’re in the mood for something sweet and angst-y.
Troubles continue abroad
- Turkey’s crack down on Gülen movement continues as IVF clinic and embryos seized (Agos.com)– Doctor who runs the clinic is Armenian; his 40K patients’ files were taken as well. The head of the clinic is believed to be tied to Gülenists.
- More journalists detained on Erdoğan’s orders (Reuters) — The journalists were employed by Zaman media, shut down in March by Erdoğan for ties to the Gülen movement. At least 15,000 Turks have been arrested and detained.
- Azerbijian and Georgia close Gülenist schools under pressure from Turkey (Eurasianet) — Turkic-speaking neighbors and allies crack down on Gulen-related schools at Turkey’s request; Kyrgyztan resists.
- Armenia’s hostage crisis worsens as four medics taken by gunmen (Azatutyun) — Emergency health care workers nabbed when they arrived to provide care for hostage-takers.
- Anti-government protests in Armenia this week (RFE video) — Anger at the government fuels rallies; the hostage-takers are praised for their dissent though their politics don’t have wide support.
- Flooding in China displaces 300,000 (News) — Hundreds are missing or dead, at least one village completely destroyed. Many are angry about lack of warning. Northern China is most affected, with flooding worse than is has been in years — no mentions in reports of how long since last major flooding of the same scale. Climate change likely responsible for record flooding as it has been in other parts of the world.
I-spy
- UK oversight struggles with MI5’s bulk collection (The Guardian) — Jeepers, it’s like MI5 took lessons from U.S. law enforcement on resisting oversight.
- Canada’s intelligence agency likewise resists oversight (CTVNews) — Communications Security Establishment (CSE) won’t disclose what information has been shared with other non-Canadian entities which may result in human rights violations. CSE may not spy on Canadians anywhere, but compliance can’t be proven with censored records.
- Not even going to bother with the Trump+Russia crap here, because it’s all over social media. Probably well-fanned smoke to hide his refusal to release tax returns.
Dick moves
These are among some of the stupidest, rudest, dickiest things in my timeline today. Perps deserve a whack along side the head. Don’t like my language? Tough rocks.
- Hannity swings his big white attitude in Philly (Philly Voice) — What. An. Asshole. Dude, that ego of yours needs lube to get through doorways. Get some.
- O’Reilly thinks slaves who built White House were “well fed” (Politico) — Diagnosis: Total blindness induced by toxic white privilege. Oh, and assholism. Nothing like proving yet again what kind of bigoted media outlet Roger Ailes created.
- Major news papers run photos of men instead of first female presidential candidate for major party (Newseum.org) — DNC nominated its first female candidate, and major papers think it’s raining men. I’m lookin at you, NYT, WaPo, Chicago Tribune. Want to bet same papers will run Obama’s image tomorrow?
Long-listen
If you have the stomach for it, listen to this Bloomberg podcast in which Laurence Ball, Department of Economics Chair at Johns Hopkins, says the U.S. could have avoided the 2008 crash by rescuing Lehman Brothers. Hindsight is 20/20 — in this case, it’s nauseating, too. Fecking Bush administration…
Hasta pasta!