Rants, Muses, Books & Music (and Some Cooking Too).
It's good to see you. Come on in, leave your shoes in the hallway, we've got fire on the stove preparing lunch for later. In the meantime, browse the bookshelves and plunk down on the sofa with one, or pick out some tunes from the music library or come in to the kitchen to help with the cooking. Our special blend of tea is steeping and will be right up.
Make yourself at home...
This morning I'll be getting ready to take the Boy on his first flight, to visit his grandparents. Will peek in when I can, and hope to catch up with you all next week.
As always, it's an Open Thread, folks.
And so let's hear now,
"A Humane Word From Satan"
[The following letter, signed by Satan and purporting to come from him, we have reason to believe was not written by him, but by Mark Twain. --EDITOR.]
To the Editor of Harper's Weekly:
Dear Sir and Kinsman,--Let us have done with this frivolous talk.
The American Board accepts contributions from me every year: then why shouldn't it from Mr. Rockefeller? In all the ages, three-fourths of the support of the great charities has been conscience-money, as my books will show: then what becomes of the sting when that term is applied to Mr. Rockefeller's gift? The American Board's trade is financed mainly from the graveyards. Bequests, you understand. Conscience-money. Confession of an old crime and deliberate perpetration of a new one; for deceased's contribution is a robbery of his heirs. Shall the Board decline bequests because they stand for one of these offenses every time and generally for both?Allow me to continue. The charge must persistently and resentfully and remorselessly dwelt upon is that Mr. Rockefeller's contribution is incurably tainted by perjury--perjury proved against him in the courts. It makes us smile -- down in my place! Because there isn't a rich man in your vast city who doesn't perjure himself every year before the tax board. They are all caked with perjury, many layers thick. Iron-clad, so to speak. If there is one that isn't, I desire to acquire him for my museum, and will pay Dinosaur rates. Will you say it isn't infraction of the law, but only annual evasion of it? Comfort yourselves with that nice distinction if you like -- for the present. But by and by, when you arrive, I will show you something interesting: a whole hell-full of evaders! Sometimes a frank law-breaker turns up elsewhere, but I get those others every time.
To return to my muttons. I wish you to remember that my rich perjurers are contributing to the American Board with frequency: it is money filched from the sworn-off personal tax; therefore it is the wages of sin; therefore it is my money; therefore it is I that contribute it; and, finally, it is therefore as I have said: since the Board daily accepts contributions from me, why should it decline them from Mr. Rockefeller, who is as good as I am, let the courts say what they may?
Satan.
The following clip has stuck in my craw since seeing it on The Jimmy Dore Show. Folks, can we give it up, for the amazing work he and the folks on his show are doing? With a fraction less of the production, theatrics and presentation (and most importantly none of the big corporate money behind it - as fas as I know), they are doing the real, incisive work of speaking truth-to-power that neoliberal phonies Colbert/Stewart/Fallon etc often get credit for but don't deserve. For more about that, please see the best article I've seen on said subject, published by the Baffler (Thomas Frank's publication) a few years ago, called "The Joke's On You."
It has to one of the most grotesque things I have ever seen. Check out the self-deceptive, MSM lapdog, flunky Brian Williams orgasming over weapons of war. This is what passes for talking head/"journalist" in America today. No wonder trust in the media is at all-time lows.
There are so many really good clips, weekly, from the Jimmy Dore show, that one could write essays practically every day around the subject matters he's covering.
Hats off to Jimmy Dore and Lee Camp, and Sam Clemens, for wielding the deadly, piercing invective of humor to get at the truth.
So, what's going on with you?
Back in the kitchen we're listening to:
Sidney Bechet "Ooh La La!"
There's nothing like the sound, smell, feel and taste of New Orleans. The music, food and people are inseparable from each other. Probably the only place in America in which you can feel like you're not part of the rest of it, if only for the moment. Which is what I desire more and more.
Reading/Browsing List:
"A Pen Warmed Up In Hell" Mark Twain
"American Theocracy" Kevin Phillips
"Interview With History" Oriana Fallaci
On The Spot Jambalaya
(This is one of those recipes created in the instance in which one desires a certain type of cooking, takes notice of what's in the cupboard/what needs to be used, and comes up with something pretty good. In that regard, here's one we've enjoyed eating all week.)
Sautéed diced onions, browned. Then add carrots and shredded cabbage, sliced cubanelle and green pepper.
Add sliced tofu Italian sausage, a few garlic cloves and then a couple of diced tomatoes.
Add Hungarian hot paprika. Stir now and then.
Add a cup of vegetable stock. Add cup of brown rice.
Add a can each of black and red beans.
Bring to a boil.
After rice is soft, add frozen shrimp.
Cook on low boil for a few more minutes, then let sit before eating.
Lemongrass Chai Blend
heaping scoop of dried Thai lemongrass
shards of cinnamon bark
a few cardamom pods
a few black peppercorns
A few cloves
fresh chopped ginger
Comments
I have never looked up the definition of "jambalaya"
but always assumed some sausage and some seafood and red sauce and whatever is available. Dump stew.
Hope Son travels well--give him a bottle at takeoff and landing to adjust his ears. And good luck!
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Thanks Riverlover. Jambalaya...
I guess jambalaya is all those things, and a little spicy, of course. Usually has chicken too. Almost like paella, but without the funk (as Tim might say).
Whenever I've been in Nawlins I'm trying different things, taking mental notes and trying to get a feel for what works in dishes. Of course, those guys are master chefs and I'm just a novice who likes to eat, and then try it at home. But it does seem like part of the culture there is that, as with music, everybody cooks and seems to play an instrument. No place like it. Pretty much my ideal place, except for the strong drawback of very oppressive heat and humidity.
Thanks for the plane advice. Friend just last night suggested a little honey during takeoff, which facilitates constant swallowing, I guess.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Good morning, Mark!
Mark Twain was a great speaker of truth to power. Nice selection, today.
You have the best recipes! As a non-meat eater, I have tried several of your posts, with some success.
Safe travels to you and your youngster. riverlover has a good suggestion. It's the ears that keep kids upset on planes.
Have a beautiful day, everyone!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Thanks RA. Lebanese garlic sauce/condiment - incredible stuff.
Most all of the recipes are a "by-feel" thing. Just a listing of the ingredients, with an occasional measurement when necessary, which is how I cook at home.
Man, if I had all that garlic you harvest, I'd be roasting it every day and putting it in everything. And also, making the Lebanese shwarma sauce called "toum" to stock in the refrigerator for sandwiches and a dip. You really have to try that, RA!
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
I will try it, Mark!
Thanks for the recipe. Our garlic is early this year (global warming!), so we might be harvesting in June instead of July. Interesting times. When I have my full compliment of garlic, I'm going to try that recipe - can't wait!
It's raining here all day - so nice to have it.
Happy travels!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Co-op talk. Anyone work or live in a cooperative?
Good morning and thanks, say "hi" to your son from some weird stranger on the Internets. LOL just kidding. Reminds me of John Lennon stay at home dad. Right fucking on! Peace brother, respecting you bigly.
I think I posted my favorite Twain quote before:
because I grew up raising chickens and yeah I did hear chickens cackling that loud, made me not want to do anything like that to my body, ever. So I didn't.
Regarding co-op talk I worked at Alvarado Street Bakery a worker-owned cooperative, for about 3 years, 1987-1990 if anyone wants to ask me anything. The CEO who was interviewed in Michael Moore's "Capitalism, A Love Story" Joe Tuck, was same guy who organized my annual reviews. His first one said something like "... is a shooting star at Alvarado, hope she doesn't burn out" LOL! That was so true, I had no idea. And man I really flamed by the end. But I also participated in workplace democracy, learned my ass off about egalitarianism, conflict resolution, and anarchy, fell deeply in love, got married, inherited a small fortune out of the blue, went back to school, went camping all around California, and had an unbelievably great time. So there.
Links:
https://www.alvaradostreetbakery.com/
Greta the Cat, the story how that logo happened is pretty funny.
Wiki: History
Pretty sure Joe is retired now. Here he is giving a community talk on the tube:
Joseph Tuck speaks on Alvarado Street Bakery
I'll volunteer this: democracy is hard work, there is a lot of "showing up" in person required, otherwise it doesn't function right. Governance is hard work, done properly. It's important for new members to take over and move forward, then... get out of the way after a couple years. Otherwise status quo. Like electoral politics, you have to keep it fresh, that's what keeps the corruption at bay, in theory, and in my limited experience.
It's Tiwaz Day, good time to subvert the dominant paradigm! Have fun.
Solidarity
Edited to add: link to movie starting at Joe talking, the preceding minutes are good too, I think. thx
Thanks eyo. Alvarado St Bakery? Wow.
Since Occupy I've been hitting the books about solutions to push back against unbridled capitalism, and co-ops have come up often.
I don't think I'm alone in saying it, but there would probably be great interest in hearing more about your time there and what the challenges/rewards were for you personally. Look forward to watching those videos/reading the links, thanks. Dig your stories too.
Lennon...heh. One of my all-time favorite singles, that I've been playing on guitar (very meat-fingeredly) but at least I'm having fun and the Boy likes it, is Instant Karma. Funny story: One of the coolest things we've taught him, is to clap at the end of books and music. Well, he's taken that to another degree. Seems he's able to intuit the end of songs, from the set up of the resolving chords, in this an Emaj7 to the resolving A. He could be playing with something and will literally stop what he's doing in rapt attention for the chord, then let out an approving cheer and clap.
Lots more to get into about co-ops/resiliency....
I'm feeling a little pressed for time and may take my leave for the day soon.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Couple of more co-op links
thanks Mark, have a great day. Here's a link to the Mondragon Principles, what the co-op referred to quite frequently when I was there: Mondragon Principles
Another "deeper look" from workerscontrol.net: A Deeper Look at the Mondragon Principles 1: Sovereignty of Labor
Peace
Travel safe
Something about food and music piqued my interest.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Speaking of the devil (Satan). :-)
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Thanks Tim. Nawlins, man....I envy you big-time.
Is that this weekend, the Jazz Fest?
What a city and event for you to be going to now...potential for stimulation overload, in many ways. Go Zen. Soak it all in.
If you're riding, have a great trip!
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Good morning Music Mark!
NCTim who does the Friday OT is getting set to go to JazzFest in NOLA soon. Talk about Jambalaya and great tunes......!!!! He knows I wish I could be a tiny stowaway on the back of his bike.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain...great American Humorist as well as possessor of a brilliant mind. I did my MA thesis on his Number 44, The Mysterious Stranger aka Satan. He never finished the novel. He was near death. He had lost the 3 people he loved dearly: his wife, daughter, and best friend. Good luck to you and your little guy on his first flight. You'll be ready to handle his ear popping. Anywho.....rec'd!! 
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Thanks orlbucfan. Thesis on *that* book? Heavy...
Dark book of his. Just lent it to a friend and she came back saying basically, "wtf was that!?" Am curious to hear more about your thesis and what you thought about it.
Could talk Twain all day. Reading another really good bio now by Justin Kaplan, written in 1966. Just getting through the passages, in which as you say, he takes a dark turn after the family deaths and bankruptcy weigh so heavy on him. But like Carlin in his twilight, another great sage, I love and prefer the powerful invectives he was hurling against the shallowness, crassness and self-interest, particularly of American society but above all, Man.
I hear you about zooming down to the Crescent City on two wheels with our friend Tim. No stowaway for me though; I'd have to be at some handlebars taking on the wind and the road.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Why I took French in High School
This very show exactly, which also feels quite weird, to see it again. In fact the worst show I ever saw was at Winterland, and it is now up for the world to see. I couldn't watch the whole thing through again, it was such a bummer vibe. Anyway, here's Jesse:
me oh my oh!
Have a safe trip . . . plus gardening workshops
. . . and a nice visit with grandparents.
I look forward to trying one of your recipes. They all look delicious.
Jimmy Dore rocks.
Don't know if this is a big enough thought for an essay, but might be more appropriate here. Last week my neighbor and I attended gardening/sustainability workshops with Dr. Deb Tolman in Clifton, TX and on Friday visited Homestead Heritage near Waco. Both were extremely inspiring. Dr. Deb is the keyhole gardening advocate. The workshop was at her home and she had them everywhere built out of many different materials. They are raised beds assembled by layering brown and green materials, planted heavily on top so rapid composting takes place below. The workshop we attended focused on other projects however. Rainwater collection was a big focus. She does it simply, inexpensively, and effectively. She also does wonderful things with rocket stoves = heats her house and has an outdoor heated wall to protect citrus in the winter. Water collection is not only for the house, but is directed for irrigation. And she built outdoor stoves and large water collection pots creating a cement like substance using clay from her property. Impressive.
And Homestead Heritage began as a group of hippie Jesus people back in the 70s who decided to start a commune and live off the land. Now it is HUGE. They make all of their own stuff, and sell it to the public as well. It is quite the tourist attraction. For at least the last 20 years they have been offering classes on topics such as wood working, blacksmithing, cheese making, spinning, weaving, gardening . . . etc. If you buy a quilt at their store it costs $3,200.
We spent the night in Clifton. Twenty five years ago I went there at Christmas time for a Norwegian "fix." They had a holiday smorgasbord, serving the same foods my mother (a thousand miles away) cooked back home. Clifton has now become a haven for the rich. It is really really cute. While we were there a new restaurant opened that serves only entrees made from organic, locally grown meats and veggies. We were told it was pricey but worth it.
*** My Takeaway ***
While I observed inspirational sustainable practices, my heart sank in the realization that it was all for the enjoyment of the rich and affluent. None of the efforts were directed toward helping the poor.
Resilience for the Rich?
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Good morning.
Good music, good writing, good work by Jimmy Dore and Lee Camp. Good way to start the day....thanks.
Note the revolting, moronic misinterpretation of the meaning of Leonard Cohen's song by that moron talking head MSM guy. I guess he fits right in with Twain's main character, Rockefeller, with his own version of perjury aka willful falsehoods.
Good morning, folks. Thanks for the good conversation.
Just kind of spending the morning going slow. A little packing here, some reading there, most of stuff stacked from last night and ready to go into luggage. Rainy day here, which I normally love but don't particularly like flying in.
The C99 family reveals itself in so many lovely ways through conversation. Thanks for the personal anecdotes about Alvarado Street Bakery, which I'm very interested in, and mentioning the thesis on "Number 44, The Mysterious Stranger" - could talk Twain all day.
It's always good to see you all.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
At the best, flying on a rainy cloudy day
means at some (too long) point, you end up above the clouds, unlike the rest of us shaded creatures of the day. And that is glorious! Sun and meringue below.
Jolly through turbulence.;-)
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Good morning all
Hope the kiddo sleeps most of the way and the flight isn't too long. I really don't mind the flight itself (although the seats get smaller and smaller each year), but all the hassle of scanning and shoes off and flight delays...that part is not much fun. Good travels to you!
Thanks for the Twain...always insightful.
When I first meet D. L. Maynard ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._L._Menard ) at a festival their crowd had a big 15 gallon cast iron pot full of crawfish etoufee.
http://jaderbomb.com/2012/03/22/crawfish-etouffee-recipe/
They invited everyone who passed by into their camp to eat. I always think of that as the ultimate LA dish. This was back in the early 80's and their Cajun crowd had just completed a cross Asia trip in a couple of RV playing gigs along the way. Quite a crew.
Now Alabamian Hank Williams sang praises to Jambalaya, crayfish pie, and file' gumbo. BTW file' is ground sassafras leaves and is used as a thickener (like corn starch).
Hope you all have a good day. We are having a breath of cool weather...blackberry winter. I'm enjoying it while I can.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Thanks and enjoy your fllight. I might take a shot at that
Jambalaya, though I'd be tempted to make some substitutions. Thanks also for the Bechtet, good morning music. Too soon I'll be working in the yard to a randomized assortment of "world", blues, percussion, Nortenos, Mariachi, r&r, r&b, jazz and who knows what else.
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 --
Thanks EL. Yr comment alerted me to an obvious recipe omission.
Was putting the essay together somewhat hastily while preparing to leave town for a few days - and left out the most obvious ingredient, peppers. It was in fact, peppers, which I normally don't buy and being in the refrigerator, that I wanted to use and make something Nawlins style. I'm not even positive jambalaya has peppers in it for sure, though I think it does. Paella, for sure.
Thanks for reminding me!
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
I do chiles, but not sweet peppers. Go figure. The latter
really set me off, gag reflex, tongue swelling, etc., the former not at all.
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 --
Weird. Not a fan of sweet peppers either,
and would only use when in the company of chilis.
But with acid reflux hampering me, and a baby effected by the spicy stuff we lean toward, I've been cutting down on them. Which is a big deal. For years I don't think I had a slice of pizza that wasn't covered in hot pepper flakes, or Mexican, Thai or Indian food swimming in sauces made from all kinds of chilis.
Pickled hot peppers on a sandwich. Now that's something for which I've been making an exception!
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut
Trump is learning math (1 - 1 = 0)
The tax funded Wall - massive tax cuts = no Wall
Of all the adjectives applied to the present POTUS, I believe (after reading the transcript of his latest lengthy interview) he has dementia and that a professional diagnosis should be grounds for impeachment. I just don't know how it can be done, how much more damage can the Svengali's surrounding him do, before it happens.
Thanks for the post & Sidney Bechet!
To thine own self be true.
Thank you for the nice compliment.
My thesis was a Psycho-linguistic analysis of Twain's Mysterious Stranger. Psycho- linguistic control is the ultimate goal/mission of propaganda. LOL
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Hi, Mark.
Do you ever shop for Middle Eastern foodstuffs on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn? When I was a kid of about four, we'd sometimes visit my father's cousin and his family in Brooklyn. Afterward, or on the way, we'd go to Atlantic Avenue, where my father would buy me a dish of ice cream that was different from the ice cream we had at home, creamier and gooier. It may have been made by the owners of one of the stores. It's a very dim taste memory, but it's still there!
We love the Middle Eastern shops along Atlantic Ave in Bklyn
For people who like to cook, going there is like making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
For years I would buy my spices, legumes, dried fruit and nuts, etc in bulk from those great shops there on Atlantic, west of Court St. There's a dizzying array of wonderful ground spices, as well as barrels filled with grains and olives. Closer by in Queens, we have Jackson Heights and a Middle Eastern stretch of Steinway St here in Astoria. I still love going to Atlantic Ave for most things though, whenever I can.
Even better for this type of thing, if you're back this way and confined to Manhattan, my favorite one is the International Grocery Market (I think it's called) on the corner of 9th Ave and 40th St, right across from the Port Authority station. Heavenly. The mixed aroma of the open barrels of coffee, spices and grains is like an exquisite trip of the senses.
"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:
THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"
- Kurt Vonnegut