(Euronews: 0744 PT, May 3, 2011) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will head a majority government for the first time after his Conservative Party won Monday's parliamentary elections. The Conservatives picked up nearly 40 percent of the vote, taking 167 seats in Canada's parliament.

Harper, who had previously headed two minority governments in his five years as PM, says he can secure Canada's economic recovery and wipe out its budget deficit. The 52-year-old says this can be achieved by slashing public spending and cutting taxes.

(Democracy Now! 0758 PT, May 3, 2011) Democracy Now! interviews Stephen Lewis, long-time member of the National Democratic Party, about the results of the Canadian elections. The Conservative party, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was elected to a majority in the Canadian parliament, ending five years of minority government.

Just had a great visit with bandura virtuoso Julian Kytasty.  Ever since I heard him play this celestial instrument I've been wanting to spread the word, so on this particular installment of the blog I kept my mouth shut and just let Julian do his thing.

I hope you enjoy it; it's gonna be in two parts because it ran rather long, and I couldn't bear to cut it all down. The first post here is just one composed piece, and the second part is to come; it'll be more about the traditional repertoire. The meeting was also fun because he lives in what used to be the predominantly Slavic section of Manhattan, has lived there for 30 years and so knows where you can still get the best potato pirogy. (Which turns out to be a weekend church kitchen run by some sprightly elderly ladies.) And yes, we went there and had some mighty FINE home-made borscht and pirogy!

UPDATE on the Lost Fingers:  for those of you who got hooked on the band from my last post, Sony will be bringing them back to the US for an official PUSH in July. They're up for a Juno award, the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy.

UPDATE on the NY Gypsy Festival, the next event will be taking place at Le Poisson Rouge with Slavic Soul Party and Scott Kettner's Forro Brass band. Scott Kettner is a true Brazil Nut, who fronts  his own Nation Beat band, fusing the music of Northeastern Brazil with -gulp- Country classics.

Don't laugh, Willie Nelson loves them! Hmmmmm...Maybe it's time to vlog the guy. (Scott, not Willie.)