January 21, 2013

"Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman caused an angry Twitter tirade last year from Estonia's president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves...."

"Now the electronic spat has been turned into a 16-minute vocal piece that will debut in April in a performance by the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra in Estonia."

In case you are wondering what they are singing about in Estonia.

Sample lyric: "But yes, what do we know? We're just dumb & silly East Europeans. Unenlightened. Someday we too will understand. Nostra culpa."

ADDED: "Where does 'Nostra Culpa' come down on Krugman vs. Ilves, on stimulus vs. austerity?"
"As the librettist I was conscious not to take sides," Mr. Diel, an American journalist living in Estonia.... "For my part there was no winner or loser chosen or intended."

"There is something intrinsically dramatic in this story," composer Eugene Birman said.... "As a composer, the words 'austerity' and 'stimulate' are particularly evocative musically. Arguments just make great listening sometimes." 

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

with every word he speaks or writes, Krugman devalues the Nobel Prize.

edutcher said...

Him and Barry.

Things like this are why the /sarc tag was invented.

Nonapod said...

Pretty goofy idea.

Krugman is one of the more dangerous morons around since so many people think he's brilliant.

Palladian said...

with every word he speaks or writes, Krugman devalues the Nobel Prize.

I'm afraid that currency was debased long ago.

Xmas said...

Just remember that the Economics Prize in honor of Alfred Nobel is not one of the "real" Nobel Prizes.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, these times are going to be so head-scratchingly confusing to future generations:

"Wait, they gave this crazy conspiracy theorist dude a major prize? The Enron-advising, Obama-propagandizing, lying guy? People took his rants seriously? And the response was...a repeating of hsi words in song?"

This is like when you read about Roman emperors marrying their horses, sleeping with their sisters, or declaring themselves immortal. You get the sense the Roman intellectual class was so used to tyranny and resigned to destruction they just shrugged their shoulders and didn't make waves---didn't want the trouble.

X said...

here's what they are singing about in Estonia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM4-28tfNaY

rehajm said...

Toomas Hendrik is wonderful. Compare his track record with those of this EU neighbors. I encourage everyone to follow his Twitter feed.

Wince said...

"But yes, what do we know? We're just dumb & silly East Europeans. Unenlightened. Someday we too will understand. Nostra culpa."

Estonia must be "flyover" Europe.

traditionalguy said...

Awaiting Eastonia Day on the tour of countries. I suspect it is East of Westonia.

Astro said...

'The Singing Revolution' was a very well done documentary about Estonia escaping Soviet control. Available via Netflix.
I guess now they want to avoid Krugviet control.

Sam L. said...

Mocking Paullie "The Beard" Krugman.

Makes my day.

lgv said...

Let's see. A 7.6% growth rate. An A1 credit rating from Moody's.

Krugman is obviously a graduate to the Dick Morris school of prognostication.

Original Mike said...

Krugman denigrating Estonia's fiscal condition?

Annie Savoy was right; "The world is made for people who aren't cursed with self-awareness."

Methadras said...

How did this little twerp ever earn a Nobel? Oh wait, sort of the same way that Urkel did.