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Rhapsody in Blue Set to New York City

Rhapsody in Blue (George Gershwin, 1924), combines elements of classical music with jazz. Gershwin spoke of the rhapsody as "a musical kaleidoscope of America," but it has often been interpreted as a musical portrait of New York City. This video montage of Manhattan was edited by Gilda Tabarez. Music performed by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

Josh White, Jr. House of the Rising Sun

Josh White, Jr. and David Amram at the Clearwater Power of Song Award ceremony and concert premiering the film David Amram: The First 80 Years. Symphony Space, NYC, Nov 9, 2012.

A Virtual Universe

MIT scientists trace 13 billion years of galaxy evolution, from shortly after the Big Bang to the present day. Their simulation, named Illustris, captures both the massive scale of the Universe and the intriguing variety of galaxies -- something previous modelers have struggled to do. It produces a Universe that looks remarkably similar to what we see through our telescopes, giving us greater confidence in our understanding of the Universe, from the laws of physics to our theories about galaxy formation.

Friday Nite Videos -- May 9, 2014

Portside
Barack Obama, Joel McHale at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The Universe: First 13 Billion Years. Josh White, Jr, House of the Rising Sun. Rhapsody in Blue Set to New York City.

Tidbits - May 8, 2014

Portside
Cecily McMillan Trial Update - Sentencing May 19; Reader Comments-Neanderthal Intelligence; Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms, Bitcoins; Charter Schools - their massive fraud; What's a Union For; Paul Robeson Jr.; Cesar Chavez film; Food - Toxic?; Announcements - Building Up the Peace Movement From the Grassroots - New York-May 12; May 15 strike - Low Pay is Not OK; Help save the Haymarket Monument; The Charley Richardson Guide to Kicking Ass for the Working Class

Four Decades After Vietnam

Bruno Jantti Le Monde Diplomatique
It is exactly 39 years since the Vietnam war ended, with the seizure of Saigon by the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the People's Army of Vietnam - time to consider the legacy of this long US war.

Strikes Win Staffing Protections at University of California

Liz Perlman and Seth Newton Patel Labor Notes
New leadership, a Membership Action Team organizing plan, and a 22 month contract campaign that included two strikes, produce a strong bargaining agreement covering 22,000 hospital and campus workers at the University of California. The new contract offers protections against subcontracting, limits on temporary workers, wage increases, and "strong benefits," among other items.