Kevin Ng
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kevinng.bsky.social
Kevin Ng
@kevinng.bsky.social
10K followers 2.9K following 690 posts
I write about science, music, and culture.
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Kevin Ng @kevinng.bsky.social · 20d
On Giorgia Meloni’s favourite conductor, for @vanmagazin.bsky.social

van-magazine.com/mag/beatrice...
Is Beatrice Venezi’s Appointment Really Based on Merit?
Everywhere you look, politics are seeping into opera. In New York, Metropolitan Opera General Manager Peter Gelb, accompanied onstage by Democratic senator Chuck Schumer, gave a rousing opening-night ...
van-magazine.com
Reposted by Kevin Ng
benwritesthings.bsky.social
signora dubbiofuoco 🤌🤌
November 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
vmywang.bsky.social
It's been three (!) years since I last posted something on my blog, but you still gotta love cells, as they say... so here's a little piece discussing philosopher Talbot Brewer's talk/essay "What Good Are the Humanities?"
lovecells.wordpress.com/2025/11/25/w...
#philsky 💙📚
What Good Are the Humanities?
This is the title of a recorded talk (2017) and essay by Talbot Brewer, professor of philosophy at the University of Virginia. He proceeds to answer this question by first elucidating what the huma…
lovecells.wordpress.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
karenho.bsky.social
A new kind of rapid Chotining. Please appreciate the alt-text.
Isaac Chotiner: "You would have to be brain-dead to read this piece and not immediately wonder who is funding Semafor Gulf." Quote post of Ben Smith saying: "Fascinating @msergie piece on covering a monarchy" about a Semafor article on Saudi Arabia's crown prince Smith responds to Chotiner: "That's a hell of an allegation/implication, Isaac. To figure out the literal answer to your question, you'd either have to look and see who the sponsors are in the email (I haven't checked today!) or read our publicly disclosed list of investors. I believe you're trying to imply that it's the Saudi government? Have you read more of our coverage, or just this tweet? My impression — correct me if I'm wrong — is that you're working on zero information and smearing us in general, and an experienced journalist @msergie whose work I suspect you're totally unfamiliar with in particular." Chotiner responds:"I’m not making any allegation. I’m making a simple point about how an average reader—myself included—might respond after reading this ridiculous piece" Ben Smith: "Just asking questions! Come on. You genuinely know better. Or read Mohammed's long career of work covering the Gulf and the Syrian war before you imply he's some kind of stooge." Noah Kulwin: "The point is not about who funds your reporting/if your colleague is a “stooge”. Isaac’s comment is that the reporting is so bad so as to make a reader wonder who is funding it" Smith: A reader, sure. A journalist who can do very basic homework, kind of lame. Chotiner: "You are right, I’ll do some homework now by perusing Jay Solomon Semafor pieces, and reading Jason Greenblatt Semafor columns. In the meantime, I will formally say that I am making no accusation and was just astonished at how inane the piece was" Chotiner quote-posts with "I see Semafor loves running column after column by this guy (https://semafor.com/author/faisal-j-abbas), who also publishes pro-Saudi conspiracies about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi https://arabnews.com/node/1386291" Ben Smith's post says "I hope I'm not overreacting, but it makes me crazy when people I think of as reporters do this "just asking questions" stuff. Feel free to report it out by googling/asking me/reading our various scoops and reports about the region — these two just now" and links to two Semafor articles Chotiner quote posts Ben Smith: "You might have heard that the UAE is helping destroy Sudan, but at the next Semafor event, all is well." Screenshot says "Held at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Semafor will spotlight insights from the Global Findex 2025 report and the Global Digital Connectivity Tracker, translating global research into actionable, locally relevant conversations. As the third stop on The Next 3 Billion Tour, this edition explores how the Gulf's growing investments in Africa can accelerate digital connectivity and financial inclusion. With Abu Dhabi's focus on sustainable finance, digital transformation, and cross-border collaboration, it offers a strong platform to examine how technology and capital can work together to expand access and opportunity." Ben Smith's post says "Just asking questions! Come on. You genuinely know better. Or read Mohammed's long career of work covering the Gulf and the Syrian war before you imply he's some kind of stooge."
November 25, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
theguardian.com
UK charity records original music by people living with dementia
UK charity records original music by people living with dementia
Project aims to unlock memories and sensations for participants while creating nine-track CD, recorded at Glyndebourne
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
premthakker.bsky.social
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."

They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
karenho.bsky.social
If Isaac Chotiner ever said this to me, I would move to the woods.
Isaac Chotiner: "I’m not making any allegation. I’m making a simple point about how an average reader—myself included—might respond after reading this ridiculous piece" Ben Smith: "Also — and I'll stop now! — the question he's trying to get at of how you cover monarchies with endless time horizons as a journalist (this is a thing people from most major publications do) is genuinely interesting." Chotiner, with the kill shot: "Come on Ben. I refuse to pretend that both of us are dumber than we are."
November 25, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
jonchristian.net
the further you get into the epstein emails, the more it feels like global elites were actually kicked in the head by a mule
email to jeffrey epstein from major emirati businessman: "have you heard of this colestrol"
November 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
minakimes.bsky.social
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.

www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines, technology that could be used against certain cancers; slashed billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the world's largest sponsor of medical research; and threatened to oust the panel of medical experts charged with recommending preventive cancer screenings. Hundreds of N.I.H. grants and clinical trials were cancelled, affecting thousands of patients. I worried about funding for leukemia and bone-marrow research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I worried about the trials that were my only shot at remission. Early in my illness, when I
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
larkingrumple.bsky.social
It's eight years since the untimely death of baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Here's an early (1990) recital where he is in simply glorious voice: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-15...
Подарок меломану. Дмитрий Хворостовский (1990)
YouTube video by Советское телевидение. ГОСТЕЛЕРАДИОФОНД
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
kevinng.bsky.social
The music I’ve been listening to this week, from Adès to FKA twigs
New music of the week - Nov 21 — Kevin Ng
Orville Peck tries on some new voices, FKA twigs leaves the club, and Jean Rondeau gets me to actually care about Couperin
www.kevinwng.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
joshuajfriedman.com
A reporter asks if Mamdani stands by calling Trump a fascist. Mamdani starts to give a delicate answer.

Trump (smiles, pats Mamdani's arm): "That's OK, you can just say yes. It's easier. I don't mind."
November 21, 2025 at 8:53 PM
kevinng.bsky.social
The music I’ve been listening to this week, from Adès to FKA twigs
New music of the week - Nov 21 — Kevin Ng
Orville Peck tries on some new voices, FKA twigs leaves the club, and Jean Rondeau gets me to actually care about Couperin
www.kevinwng.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
obsofdeviance.bsky.social
Thousands of rare American recordings — some 100 years old — go online for all to enjoy

A collaboration between UC Santa Barbara and the nonprofit Dust-to-Digital Foundation

laist.com/news/arts-an...
Thousands of rare American recordings — some 100 years old — go online for all to enjoy
The project, which will include some 50,000 songs from private record collections, is a collaboration between UC Santa Barbara and the Dust-to-Digital Foundation.
laist.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
theguardian.com
Fundraisers warn of ‘catastrophic’ drop in donations to Gaza since ceasefire
Fundraisers warn of ‘catastrophic’ drop in donations to Gaza since ceasefire
‘The world thinks Palestinians don’t need help any more,’ aid organiser says, despite desperate need as winter nears Fundraisers collecting for Palestinian civilians in Gaza are seeing a “catastrophic” drop-off in donations since the ceasefire was announced in October. Donations collected by volunteers and funnelled to needy families living in temporary shelters and struggling with illness, hunger and malnutrition have been harder to raise since then, according to organisers, many of whom have been running volunteer initiatives for Palestinians in Gaza on third-party crowdfunding platforms over the past two years. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:46 AM
kevinng.bsky.social
this is correct
parsnip.bsky.social geoffrey (slouching toward thankfulness) @parsnip.bsky.social · 5d
while we are discussing the relative merits of pasta shapes: make carbonara with bucatini and you will never go back. 100% upgrade, no trade-offs, dish-elevating and arguably life-changing, depending on how much you enjoy carbonara
November 21, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
kissane.myatproto.social
We'll have a lot more to say about this one tomorrow, but I'm so proud of this update and our tireless all-volunteer timeline-building and sensemaking crews.
unbreaking.org Unbreaking @unbreaking.org · 5d
This week, we updated our pages on data security and surveillance, immigration, the federal workforce, and medical research funding. Our brisk, rigorously cited weekly briefing is live at Unbreaking:

unbreaking.org/blog/this-we...
Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
Unbreaking.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
unbreaking.org
This week, we updated our pages on data security and surveillance, immigration, the federal workforce, and medical research funding. Our brisk, rigorously cited weekly briefing is live at Unbreaking:

unbreaking.org/blog/this-we...
Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
Unbreaking.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
musicologyduck.bsky.social
we did it joe www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
Why a Musicology Society’s Members Are in Revolt
The leading organization for music scholars is facing an uproar from hundreds of members, who are threatening a boycott unless it meets a chorus of demands.
www.chronicle.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
samiam1992.bsky.social
Tbh this feels absolutely like something Charlotte Church would do
garybrannan.bsky.social Gary Brannan @garybrannan.bsky.social · 5d
Just realised this is referring to a church in North Carolina and not the Welsh singer
November 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
kevinng.bsky.social
Court cases! NIH hiring! University settlements!
Read our latest update on the state of medical research funding at @unbreaking.org
Medical Research Funding: Explainer — Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
unbreaking.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:52 PM
kevinng.bsky.social
i'll never shut up about barbara hannigan in warlikowski's lulu
I'm still thinking about Krzysztof Warlikowski's Lulu - Parterre Box
Barbara Hannigan's Lulu is the greatest live performance I've seen.
parterre.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
kevinng.bsky.social
caaaaasta diva
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d
Insanity
SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!
November 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
colincarlson.bsky.social
When it comes to my fight On Here, @publichealthguy1.bsky.social and I said everything I have to say months ago: decisions like this incite violence. RFK Jr. and his acolytes have and will continue to do so, because that is their aim: inciting violence.

www.statnews.com/2025/08/15/c...
The CDC shooting was public health’s Jan. 6
“In RFK Jr.’s America, it will never be safe to practice public health or medicine," write an epidemiologist and a former CDC staffer.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
bachynski.bsky.social
“Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.

“His co-teachers will complete the remaining three class sessions of the courses he has been teaching”
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Reposted by Kevin Ng
lrb.co.uk
‘Some victims are thought to lie under the concrete pilings of the dams and motorways that changed the Spanish landscape from the late 1950s onwards.’

Stephen Phelan on the ‘disappeared’ of Spain’s civil war.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Stephen Phelan · Diary: Spain’s Disappeared
Emilio Silva set up the Asociación para la Recuperación de la Memoria Histórica to improve and formalise the process...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 5:50 PM