Open Thread 3/1/24 - TGIF Stuff 'n' Things
It is difficult to discuss recipes and meal plans with friends, how delicious this meal or that meal is, when infants are dying from starvation due to my tax dollars funding a genocide. I am also fixated on taxes. This weekend, I will finish gathering info, turn it all in to my preparer, and pay thousands of dollars to support genocide, as well as illegals coming in for their profit. I will pay proportionately more taxes, if not dollar for dollar more, than Gates, Biden's brother, or Trump.
And voting. I will wait until Tuesday, just in case some candidate locally gets killed over the weekend, wasting yet another vote. Think I am joking?
In re presidential candidates, it appears the Gazan conflict (genocide) has split the Ds, giving RFK Jr. a ballot spot. The same people who turned on Biden will not vote for him, either, if that is their line in the sand. He could 'a been great.
Just thought of the origin of the line in the sand phrase.
Here it is, movie form:
This line in the sand is a mantra and inspiration for all soldiers the world over for the soldiers who gave their lives for the dream of freedom. The Battle of the Alamo is taught in virtually all military academies around the world.
Clearing my head, shaking off the visions and guilt I feel, I turn to music.
I think we can soar, friends. We have that instinct. I have always thought of this piece as inspirational, aspirational, if not downright an expression our will to live and thrive. Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending". If you are not a fan of classical music, at least look at the photos on this 14 minute video. Another country, but places we have seen or wish to see. And can only see it if there is peace.
After I have done the classical thing, I shall bring us all to Zydeco, in anticipation of seeing a live performance on Sunday afternoon.
What is Zydeco?
According to wikipedia:
Zydeco (/ˈzaɪdɪˌkoʊ, ˈzaɪdiˌkoʊ/ ZY-dih-koh, ZY-dee-koh; French: Zarico) is a music genre that evolved in southwest Louisiana by French Creole speakers.[1] It blends blues, rhythm and blues, and music indigenous to the Louisiana Creoles and the Native American people of Louisiana. Although it is distinct in origin from the Cajun music of Louisiana, the two forms influenced each other, forming a complex of genres native to the region.
My great grandmother was at least half Native American, and she married a Freedman after the Civil War, and their children married everything of every race, creed, or color, and my grandfather from Louisiana was of the same ancestry soup. I am officially a mutt, and my taste in music and food so reflects. I am part cowgirl, cajun, and everything from English to total muttdom.
A client of mine is a popular local musician, r&r, and he doesn't like cajun or zydeco after the first song, as he thinks it is repetitive. He asked me, "Are you Cajun?" Lol! I answered, "Vaguely!"
This is the band we see Sunday:
We will be in a dance hall of white and black blended families, where Grandpa dances with his half-white grand daughters, most everyone with be wearing western boots, cowboy hats, and all of us will toss French fries to the 'gators in the bayou, and we will be an un-shown place in this world where everyone loves each other, and shares love of music, of nature, and hope for better days.
That's my upcoming weekend. What is your all about?
On this day, Bing Crosby released this:
Then, there is this:
This is the traditional Open Thread where you can say anything about anything that interests you, and very likely whatever you are interested in is shared by someone on this site.
It is PERFECTLY FINE to ignore my ramblings, and post about yours!
So, my friends, let 'er rip!
Comments
Bad governments
controlling great people.
We just sing.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
We Just Sing...
Perfect way to put it. I'm not happy about our government being bad, not at all. But in the historic perspective, governments are often bad. I'm sort of in a mocking, almost derisive stage about the government. Certainly, I have no real hope. So, keep on singing!
Great music by the way. Hubby is listening to a LOT of Tuba Skinny videos on youtube. So, I'm loving that music too
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hiya good morning
-
In the 'learn something new' department
all those years spent on the bayous
never knew there was a difference
between Zydeco and Cajun music
it was all just fun times - le bon temps
Thanks for the OT!
My brother worked
in the oil patch for several years, lived near Kinder. He said all the bars he enjoyed, which (trust me) was all of them, had country music or r&r on the juke box or playing from the stage.
He said the only cajun or zydeco music he ever heard was on the radio.
The food is amazing down on the bayou, isn't it?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
can't beat an oyster po' boy
-
with a bottle of Dixie beer
with a dash of hot sauce!
I am a fan
of dirty rice.
And gumbo.
Le bon temps roule!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
"Old Man River" was written for a bass voice
Light to mid-range baritones like Bing Crosby just don't have the weight for it. Robeson did. (He was officially classed as a "bass-baritone", but may actually have been a basso cantante - that's an essentially bass voice that is very flexible and reaches well up into the baritone range. It's one of the rarer vocal types.)
Robeson's relationship with "Old Man River" was strong and personal. It became essentially his theme song - and over the years he changed it from a song of resignation to an anthem of defiance.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Decades ago,
Houston Grand Opera did a production of "Show Boat" that eventually made it to Broadway.
The finale, "Ol' Man River" brought us all to our feet, and to tears.
Anyone who is not a bass should sit down, let a bass singer belt it out.
Have a great weekend, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning...
A wet cool one here. Something has interrupted our DSL internet off and on, seems stable now. Anyway, it got me to thinking how TPTB could pull a coup by pulling the plug on the internet.
I also regret sending my taxes to fund war, but ...
Bukele asks an interesting question at CPAC...(1 min)
I agree with Bukele, the answer is to create an illusion that our tax dollars fund the government.
Hope y'all have a great time at the dance hall. We've enjoyed the Cajun and zydeco music and dance in LA and it's unique step. Love the way every town has a small restaurant/ bar/ dance floor populated by families. Promotes lots of bands who travel to and from nearby towns sharing their music and driving the dance.
Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
We often see the same people showing up
at Pine Tree Lodge.
When you see a grandpa and grandchild on the dance floor, you get the feeling a bar room brawl is highly unlikely.
We often chat up the band members, and it is often the case that they play with more than one band. It is a sharing culture.
Have a fun weekend at the homestead, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I agree with the guy.
The people who pay taxes are mostly the working poor, so they feel the burden, but the gummint doesn't realize much in the way of money from them, or should I say, from me.
We were given some tomatoes to plant, and cow dung enriched soil in large pails. For the heck of it, we will plant a couple of short rows of peppers and onions. We enjoy it, but deer will be a problem. Oh, well, it's always something!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Deer...
Being very far north, we grow our peppers and toms in the greenhouse/hoop house. But not our onions. We've not have deer go after the onions. I wonder if it's the smell? Do they go after your onions? Maybe Texas deer have more fortitude!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Must be the smell.
Onions are not bothered by deer or any other critters, for that matter.
I plant 3016 sweet yellow onions.
Interesting history about them:
https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/onions/ONIONHI...
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
We plant sweet onions too...
Walla Walla sweets, which originated in Corsica, apparently, and were planted and developed by Italian agricultural immigrants to Walla Walla, Wa.
I have thought about growing Texas sweet onions, the place I get my Walla Walla seedlings is in Texas, but I think it's simply too cold and too far north here. Yum and fun with onions!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
My onion variety number is wrong.
1015 sweet yellow onions.
Tax prep and adding numbers has had an ill effect on my brain.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Do deer eat ramps, in those places where ramps grow wild?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_tricoccum
Maybe the whole Allium genus evolved pungency as chemical warfare against being eaten.
Deer do not eat ramps.
We have a deer family grazing in the pasture behind my home in as particular patch with no wild onions. Wild onions are all over other parts of my pasture, and not so much as a deer track.
I have now formulated a planting plan for the veggie garden.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
We used to plant garlic ...
around the brassicas. The smell kept away the slugs! Also a garlic drench worked as well. I would not at all be surprised if the alliums keep away deer too. They keep away goats! (our goats refuse to eat any kind of allium... ha!)
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Zydeco rules...
The best I've seen is Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers- they even make it to Denver periodically. However, In New Orleans, there's a local band called the Daywalkers that has the single best frottoir player I've ever seen. Whenever we get down there, we always go find them. Here, without further ado, is something of a taste of Alex MacDonald in his power:
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Good grief!
That dude is a playah!
It has been ages since I visited NO. People tell me it is extremely dangerous.
I am glad I had my good times there. I seldom went inside a venue, since you could stand on the sidewalk and hear it all.
Glad Denver can get an occasional visit by a good zydeco band. Very cool..
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
That washboard player was great!
Now I'll be watching more Daywalkers videos, thanks
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Thanks for the music and history lesson!
I am going to be doing the same thing this morning..gathering things up for my taxes. Not a pleasant reminder of what our taxes are doing.
After the taxes I will head out for a bike ride that allows me to clear my head of what damage paying bills and taxes to do my finances.
Growing up in southeast Texas, was exposed to zydeco at an early age and still enjoy hearing it played. It is hard to keep your feet still when you hear it!
Have a great day and enjoy your music on Sunday!
Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.
This ain't no dress rehearsal!
I make myself tired
tapping my feet when the bands get revved up!
I have 2 more long columns of expenses to total, so within 2 hours, it will be done for the year.
Good luck with your tax prep!
Have a great weekend, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Now imagine if Trump's CDC did this
.
From 14 days to isolate to 10 to 5 to 1 and now you can go back to work or party with your friends as long as you’re feeling better. Trump took so much shit from democrats for his handling of Covid, but Biden has been SO MUCH worse and shitlibs are at brunch. Well as long as they wear their mask to the table…
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
Well,
not a single protocol worked, so why bother with them?
To keep on doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is defined as crazy, amirite?
I hope you have stocked up on Sam's toys. I do not want her to be fussy!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Well it used to be that one didn’t go to work when sick
because you might make others sick too. But since we’ve been following the speed of science everything that was sane has gone out the window.
And you’d think that the oligarchs would rethink people going to work sick because most people might miss work because they got sick…it’s just insane that Biden gets a pass from shitlibs after they rode Trump's ass for much less.
Sam is still hip deep in toys. She still has the ones I bought her when she was a puppy. They still sqeek too.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
I didn't work in the health care field
as you have. I worked about 8 years in engineering, corporate support of Big Oil. Otherwise, self-employed.
I never worked a day for any company that paid you for staying away if you had a contagious condition, or ever strayed from the 5 day, more or less, paid sick leave policy.
Anyone with the flu made the choice of taking a paid sick day or losing a days pay, but never considered making that fellow employee in the cubicle sick. Taking off because you were sick was enough to get you fired for missing too many days of work. Missing work to do good for others would have GUARANTEED you'd get fired.
Oligarchs were constantly looking for ways to get rid of long term, well-paid employees, in favor of entry hires for cheap.
Do good means the world for the health care sector. For manufacturing, engineering, etc... go fly a kite on your own dime.
squeak. (meant for Sam)
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I should have not bought her toys
and just had people send me their empty toilet rolls instead. Sam found one in the trash and came in prancing with it big shit eating grin and just so proud of herself! It’s really cute to see her so happy.
Then she brings it to me to put a treat inside…just another fun game we play.
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
How cute!
TP rolls are a good price and are repurposed product which is a great climate change protocol!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning otc, thanks for the OT and the tunes.
The Vaughn Williams piece, of course, calls to mind Percy Bysse Shelley's To A Skylark:
and much more, at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45146/to-a-skylark
Heh -
Freedom for some, at any rate. Once Mexico gained independence from Spain they set about establishing freedom for all and in 1829 Mexican President Vicente Ramon Guerrero issued the Guerrero Decree, prohibiting in Mexico. This caused a hue and cry and greatly enhanced dissatisfaction with Meican rule up in Tejas. Guerero issued an exemption for Tejas, but the writing was on the wall, and Mexico became a haven for enslaved persons who escaped from or through Tejas. Them, in 1837, once Tejas had won its independence, Mecixo's Congress made it official, outlawing slavery throughout Mexico. Later it was also included in the Mexican Constitution.
Thanks for all the tunes and enjoy your concert. My intro to zydeco was pretty much Clifron Chenier and Queen Ida. There wasn't any live zydeco out here to the best of my knowledge so it came over the radio and from records and such. Chris Strachwitz played a big role in that, at least for me.
But, since you said something about rambling, I'd better stop and just post this:
have a great weekend, be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Beautiful poem!
Cool song!
That slavery dust up in Tejas played an essential part in fomenting revolution, although it was not taught in public schools or universities until the 80s, more or less.
When you think about revolution, freedom for some is already limited to the population within borders. Any way you look at it, freedom is never for all.
I am happy that zydeco has been enjoying a resurgence. Folks from that area in Louisiana and Texas are doing their best to continue the tradition. More and more bands are littered with young performers.
Enjoy your California weekend, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
saw one of these on the street today
-
-
ain't no rambler but
Want a stick shift… but…
…your wife wants an automatic transmission? Rambler offers the perfect answer on all V-8’s — optional Shift-Command Flash-O-Matic. It’s “on the floor.” And you can shift it — or it shifts itself. Just one of seven Rambler transmission choices.
Owned a '64 Studebaker Avanti
Loved the fiberglass body and supercharger. Fast.
Ramblin' on. Lost track of my Irish descendants in Louisiana in mid 1800s. Supposedly the only surviving child of the grandfather of the Bronte sisters.
Have a gap between there and early 1900s Kentucky.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Interesting
-
-
my ancestral trail blinked out in Kentucky after the 'civil' war too.
Used to drive a Studebaker Lark, black paint, red interior. Sweet ride.
It was a hard top four door, but the grille was the same as this
Don't remember what was under the hood, only played with it a short while.
Cool, both the Stude and the Rambler. I'm assuming the
Avanti was one of the Studies and not one of the later ones.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
It looks like an Avanti ll.
so a late model. Had a Chevy motor, no supercharger.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Need a laugh this morning?
.
This will do it. Stay tuned for the 'wait there’s more.'
“When out of fear you twist the lesser evil into the lie that it is something good, you eventually rob people of the capacity to distinguish between good and evil.”
~ Hannah Arendt
That man
just makes me ill!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
but he represents a foreign nation
-
not ours
Veeerrry Interesting News Re: Ukraine War -
Sputnik has posted a transcript definitely worth reading of a February 19th discussion between some top German Officials;
Full Transcript of German Top Military Officials' Leaked Plot to Attack Crimean Bridge linked here: https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/full-transcript-of-german-top-military...
It includes, at one point, the following paragraph:
My, my, my, my, my. Hello, Sam, izzatchu??
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Alex Christoforou mentioned this.
Also, Alex reports that the other countries of NATO are starting to tiptoe into the "boots on the ground" scenario. Another thing Alex mentioned is that Putin mentioned in his State of the Union address that Russia has nuclear weapons and is willing and ready to use them.
The Democrats, of course, think the most important thing about this time in history is that we have a senile warmonger as President.
Remember that if you want someone other than a senile warmonger as President, you want Trump, who ruled America as Hitler for four years.
“One of the things I love about the American people is that we can hold many thoughts at once” - Kamala Harris
the Alamo
Visited there two or three times when I lived in Texas for a couple of years. One day I went over there with Ms. So and saw a plaque or something about this woman.
Clara Driscoll (philanthropist)
So she is descended from the Cork tribe, I guess. Her grandfather fought at San Jancinto. I guess that's where all the money came from.
That's how George Washington paid his men as well during the French and Indian Wars.
On another historical note.
I wonder what if anything is going to happen to this young woman?
Her appearance at the demo in uniform such as it is, is out of order. She appears to be an Army intel officer.
語必忠信 行必正直
I have heard Driscoll's name
many times, but didn't know her personal story. Thanks.
And, continuing with more I didn't know, I did not know of the Japanese squelching the revolt in such a brutal way.
As for the uniformed woman, I just do not know what to make of her presence or comments. I do think US soldiers are already in Gaza, but I hold out hope the rank and file will refuse orders to participate in the genocide.
Thanks for the comment, and enjoy your weekend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981