Superconductor Presents: The Sausage Awards

The Very Wurst of 2017
by Paul J. Pelkonen

How sausage is made: it isn't pretty. Animated still by Gerald Scarfe
from the film Pink Floyd: The Wall © 1982 MGM/UA.

Hi everybody, it's time for the first of a series of year-end wrap-up posts as we close the books on 2017. This will forever be remembered as the year that the government of the United States decided to start undoing the hard work and social programs of the 20th century, and as the year when long-buried sex scandals in the entertainment industry finally began to come out in the light.

Here are five things that Superconductor (that is I,) did not like about 2017.

Concert Review: It's All About the Oils

The triumphant New York return of Australia's greatest band.

by Paul J. Pelkonen

In the valley he walks: Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett.
Photo from YouTube.

If you're a reader expecting today's edition of Superconductor to be a roundup of the recently ended Metropolitan Opera season or a CD review, this is not that column. (Rest assured, those are coming.) No I'm here to talk about Saturday night at Webster Hall and the first Midnight Oil show in New York show since the band’s 2002 tour supporting their last record, Capricornia. Since then, “The Oils” have been on hiatus, as lead singer and political firebrand Peter Garrett served in the Parliament of the bands native Australia, putting his energies into politics instead of rock and roll.

Le Nozze di...Tutti

DOMA, Prop 8 annihilated by Supreme Court.

by Paul J. Pelkonen

"You need to figure out if you are living in a comedy or a tragedy. A tragedy means you die at the end. In a comedy, you get married." --Dr. Jules Hilbert, Stranger Than Fiction

Wotan (John Tomlinson, right) finds himself celebrating equality in the Magic Fire Scene
from Act III of Die Walküre. Original image © 1988 Bayreuth Festspiele, photoshop by the author.

Here at Superconductor, it is a happy day.

This post is to spread the good word: the Supreme Court has struck down the repellend Defense of Marriage Act in a 5-4 decision. The majority opinion was delivered by Justice Anthony Kennedy with dissent from Justices Roberts, Scalia and Alito. 

Forty-five minutes later, the SCOTUS ruled against Proposition 8, stating that the California statute had "no standing." 

Like I said, it's been a good day.

Blog Interrupted

A Brief Reflection on the Newtown Murders.
by Paul J. Pelkonen

Hi readers,

I am sitting here in the David Rubinstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. It is about 2pm on Friday, Dec. 14.

I just attended the New York Philharmonic's 11am concert, and was looking forward to a pleasant afternoon writing a review of that and of last night's American Symphony Orchestra concert featuring the music of John Cage.

But first, I need to use this space (and it is mine, after all) to talk about what happened this morning in Newtown, CT. According to police reports, 18 children and 9 adults were murdered by an unidentified male this morning in what media outlets are calling a massacre. Among the reported victims are kindergarten children, and their teacher.

I am not going to use this forum for a rant on gun control (which I believe in) or the wide availability of auto-loading pistols and rifles to the people of this country on both sides of the law (which I'm against.) This isn't about politics, Democrat vs. Republican or the Obama presidency.

I just want you to read this and think.

Sit there and breathe. Or like me, feel your breath stop and a cold stone form in your chest.

Think of those small bodies. And think about the adult-sized ones too.

Think about the terror in their eyes, and the moment when their eyes no longer saw anything.

Think about the music they'll never hear, the songs they will never sing, and the cold silence in their parents' homes.

And think about what might be done to prevent the next massacre. The next Columbine. Aurora. Newtown. The next murder of a John Lennon, Darrell Abbott, John F. Kennedy.

Think of what might be done and said by our elected representatives in the next few days, which might make all the difference for a nation shell-shocked by too many shells fired.

Normal service will be resumed eventually. But in the light of what's just happened, your author begs your indulgence.

Yours in grief,

Paul Pelkonen
Editor, Superconductor

And Now: A Cartoon Moment!

With the exception of last week's article about the Brooklyn Philharmonic, I don't normally post cartoons on this blog. And I generally keep politics out of Superconductor.

That said: the following, drawn by Jersey cartoonist Jimmy Margulies for the Hackensack Record is too awesome not to share with the readers. And I got it from NPR.Org.

Image © 2011 Jimmy Margulies/The Hackensack Record.

Songs from Steeltown, USA

Two songs from Marc Blitzstein's superb (and pro-union) musical Cradle Will Rock, which was subject to a government shutdown before its premiere, and then taken down the street and performed anyway. Ms. Patti LuPone as Moll.




"I'm Checking Home Now"




"The Nickel Under Your Foot"

Two songs from Marc Blitzstein's superb (and pro-union) musical Cradle Will Rock, which was subject to a government shutdown before its premiere, and then taken down the street and performed anyway. Ms. Patti LuPone as Moll.

The story of the show was made into a movie by Tim Robbins, also called Cradle Will Rock. For the movie, Emily Watson played Moll opposite John Turturro as the actor who originated the role of Larry Foreman in the show. Hank Azaria played piano and did his own singing as Marc Blitzstein.

Posted in support of the Wisconsin union workers, and their struggle in the streets of Madison, Wisconsin against Governor Scott "Mr. Mister" Walker.

To help the protestors, and make a donation to make sure they stay fed in their fight for  collective bargaining rights,  visit Pastrami for Protesters and make a donation today!