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...
Nice to be back.
We spent the weekend away and I didn't spend more than a couple of minutes in front of a screen. Felt really good to unplug; and lazily meander in a paddleboat, strum a guitar, read, cook with loved ones, listen alternatively to the many kinds of birds, the patter of the rain and the nostalgia of the music we grew up with, and to catch up in person.
It was especially refreshing and restorative spiritually to be out of doors, on a lake and by a fire, though one of the days included a drinking marathon the likes of which I'm not used to anymore and still faintly feeling. The next day toward dusk we watched just outside the front door in the long, rustic front yard, as a doe had just given birth to two fawn in a clearing between some trees.
I see that it was an animating and active weekend here that I missed. So am looking forward to reading some of those essays and your comments.
Without further ado then, this thread is open.
So, what's going on with you?
W.E.B. DuBois Speaks! Socialism and the American Negro
It was amazing to come across this. He's one of the most venerable, great Black authors and radicals. I had never heard him speak before, and found his accent enchanting. There's almost a trace of some brogue or something else in there. What a powerful and eloquent visionary.
The venerable W. E. B. DuBois (1868-1963), historian and activist, gives an address to the Wisconsin Socialist Club in Madison on socialism and the struggle of Black people in America. This speech was given on April 9, 1960 when DuBois was over 90 years of age and just months before his removal to Africa where he died Ghana on August 27, 1963 at the age of 95.
In the speech Du Bois asserts that African Americans must learn the truth about socialism that they may "preserve their culture, get rid of poverty, ignorance and disease, and help America live up at least to a shadow of its vain boast as the land of the free and the home of the brave."
Back in the kitchen we're listening to:
Reading/Browsing List:
"Cod" Mark Kurlanksy
"A Drinking Life" Pete Hamill
Autobiography of Mark Twain (Volume 1)
"The Leaderless Revolution" Carne Ross
(for a toddler) Soup Puree with Pastina
sauté and caramelize one onion, three carrots and two stalks celery.
Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.
Take off the stove and puree.
Bring to boil again, add 1 cup of pastina.
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
Good morning, Mark ~~
Sounds like a lovely weekend. We couldn't get away until Saturday evening, but get away we did. We went to our favorite R&R place and just rested and revitalized.
Have a beautiful day, folks!
"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
Hello RA.
Whenever I've seen the phrase "R&R" during my lifetime, I think one thing and one thing only: Rock N Roll. Then dozens and dozens of song titles will pop into my head, written as paeans to the music we Rockers couldn't live without it. Heh...
But yeah, R&R is starting to mean other things too at this point in my life.
"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
Raining here. Over an inch is predicted.
I do not know when I will be able to get my plants, trees and bulbs in the ground/pots. My kitchen sink has one side full of near-bareroots. Still moving slowly. Now thunder!
I read this earlier, climate change is involved. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brood-awakening-17-year-cicad... Anyone in the SE US heard cicadas?
That made me think (!). In many species of reptiles, sex determination is at the time and temperature of egg incubation. I don't remember details, but a split of male/female offspring was guaranteed this way. Now with soil temperatures warming all over, sex ratios may be perturbed. I can spend a few sleepless nights fretting over that one.
I got a solar fountain to go in a new birdbath. It's been too cloudy to know that the fountain works. And will remain that cloudy for most of the week. We have now been warned by NOAA that the wet weather will persist at least through June in the NE.
Almost the end of another month!
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.
Hey riverlover. It's been overcast here in NYC all morning
but as of yet, still
We've allowed destroyers to run things. Short-sighted, self-absorbed, shallow leaders were given the keys by a short-sighted, self-absorbed and shallow citizenry.
Land of the Fee. Home of the Slave.
As George Carlin says, it's a country that's been turned into one big shopping mall:
"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, folks. Socialist Alternative guy was first singer
last night. Was such a great welcoming surprise, and, for me, a real indication of how many inroads that movement has made, both locally and nationally. Of course they are the folks who brought us Kshama Sawant's two-time victories over establishment Dems and Repubs in the Seattle City Council.
Our audience probably does lean progressive but I've never seen someone, and one probably in his 30's, get up at a Rock n Roll show and when being asked to tell something about himself, say he was part of a socialist organization. We all have heard how their numbers are rising dramatically all over the country, and I've been told so locally by the folks here we know who have been working for a long time there and by another friend who gives them space to have their meetings. Very cool.
Rainy here too. Basking in it as always.
I'll be checking in and out all day as I am able.
Good to see you!
"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
Seattle revolutionizing Housing Rights, demanding Rent Control.
This City Helped Pioneer the Fight for $15. Can it Revolutionize Housing Rights?
(Seattle renters are mad as hell—and they’re not going to take it anymore.)
"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
All things must pass
Thanks Mark. One of my all time favorites. Glad to hear you got away to appreciate some of nature's beauty.
George's first solo album, (besides "Wonderwall Music", which
doesn't really count - or should we just say post-Beatles? I have a vinyl copy of WM and still have yet to listen to it properly!), is one of my all-time favorite records too, for sure.
There's some great outtakes out there also, on the bootleg market, when that was a thing. One I bought called "Songs For Patti" has some great alternate versions and demos. You can find much of this stuff and more on YouTube.
Here's one that someone put up, as an "alternate" version of the album:
Great to see you again, QMS. How are things?
"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 have the poster of George
From that album framed and hanging over my fireplace. Glad you had a good time.
We stayed home and visited with grandsons over the weekend. We leave tomorrow for our place on Lake Huron. Weill stay there until we come back.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Hey dkmich. Had to read that a couple of times, to be clear
that you were saying that the poster hangs over your fireplace in the present, and not "hung" as in way back when. So cool.
Was staying a Bed & Breakfast in the 90's with friends who liked to go antique shopping. I found a copy of a painting of George from around the time of "Meet The Beatles" and bought it. Was kind of kitschy and had it up on the wall of a former apartment for a while. Sullen George, of the "Don't Bother Me" days.
"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
He is still hanging over my fireplace.
Most people don't even recognize him.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Thanks 33.333333333333...
Weekend of tinkering in the garage and going for rides. Summer long weekends are nice around here. So many people leave for the beach or mountains that the place is a ghost town. Excepting the girl who changed lanes trying to take me out and the guy who didn't wait his turn at a stop sign and tried to take me out. I anticipated both, but it is a sad state of not thinking. I was tempted to pull along side the stop sign guy and yell, "You have a brain, use it!".
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 -
God willing, one day I will understand what he said
and don't need a transcript... since then I am having sleepless nights mulling over how to get there ... nah, nah, nah honey, bless your heart NCTim. I got half of it ... and that was good enough.
Bless their pre-diabetic hearts ...
made me laugh. Some of the colloquialisms, which make it funny, are lost on people who are not familiar with them, expecially English as a second language people.
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 -
lol, I listened to it now three times and got almost everything
... "twelve kids" ... my mother-in-law had fourteen... "rights" sounded to me like "rods" or "rats".
Ha, I'm from Arizona and I can barely understand him
I think he must be exaggerating his southern accent for effect. I had to listen twice to catch everything he said. Funny stuff. "Telling other people how to live is actually not a right you have." LOL. I love the analogy to the 3-year-old who "believes" he should get cookies for breakfast. "He don't know facts, so what he believes is irrelevant."
Made me laugh ... thanks!
I don't think it is exaggerated.
Pretty mild compared to some parts of Alabama or Mississippi. Coastal NC isn't bad as long as you're on the mainland ("Down East is an exception). But on the islands, like Ocracoke, it's a whole 'nuther language; you couldn't even call it a southern drawl.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
I understand, mimi
Had I not lived in Memphis, Tn for a year and outer banks of NC for a couple more, I'd not understand Trae either. Too bad, since Trae is a giggle farmer that has me snorting snot ropes.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
Hey Tim. That could be the heaviest Southern accent
I've ever heard. Pretty good rant there!
Sounded to me at first like the accent was a put-on. Maybe he is exaggerating it a little for effect. But man, that's like another country.
Reminded me of traveling to England to see Jane's Addiction in a small club for their debut appearances of "Ritual De Lo Habitual", and meeting two dudes from Yorkshire. I'm sure I was drinking and it was loud afterward, but I swear I was getting only one or two of every 10 words. Just kept nodding my head and smiling. Didn't understand a thing though.
Same thing could be said of friends who were born and bred here in Queens. Had a close friend from overseas say that about another close friend from here, that he could not always understand his very strong NY accent, especially when either he had been drinking or was talking fast.
JC covering TP:
Sounds great being in the garage and out riding, man. Need that back in my life again too.
Was talking with a friend over the weekend about Indian motorcycles. Know anything about them?
"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
Indian Motorcycles
Polaris bought the Indian trade mark and shut down their brand, Victory, Between snowmobiles, jet skis and motorcycles, Polaris is the largest small engine manufacturer in North America. The motorcycles are very nicely done and have many upscale options like leather seats and stereos. I looked at the Scout model. You can get onto a new one for $8K-$9k. They make them with ABS and without. I would recommend with ABS. Anti-lock brakes are the best safety improvement ever. Panic stop? Just mash the brakes and steer. No worries about rear wheel lock up, lifting the rear wheel off the ground or high siding.
I am pretty sure Trae's accent is embellished. There is a place near here that sells mulch, dirt, gravel and such. I would buy my mulch by the pickup truck, $16 a cubic yard. The same amount of mulch, in bags from home improvement store, would be $72 on sale. Anyway, I have talked to the guy a half dozen times, and have no idea what he said.
Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania, has a distinctive accent and dialect. Just after coming to NC, I was in a watering hole talking with someone and a woman across the bar yells, "Hey Pittsburgh". I wasn't bein' a jagoff anat.
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 -
Thanks for the solid tips on the motorcycle, Tim.
Will get in touch on private message to continue this conversation.
"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
Speaking of deer,
damn things keep eating my landscaping and flowers. They love hydrangeas. I don't want them shot, but I sure wish they'd quit eating my stuff.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Have someone ...
Pee by the bushes. Alternately, if you know a butcher, some cow's blood. The smell wards off the deer.
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 -
Not these deer.
We spray the bushes with deer repellent all the time. We shoot them in the ass with a daisy bb gun. They aren't afraid of people, dogs, or lawn mowers. They own the joint.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
... so and I learned that W.E.B. du Bois studied in Berlin
at the Humboldt University once upon a time. Made me smile. Thanks for always teaching me something, unintended or not. What kind of accent is it that he had? British, Indian ... I can't figure it out.
How did he got the accent, as he grew up in the US to ... oh, I see, a typical, very complex anchestry like so many multi-racial Americans have. From the Wikipage.
Thank God, he had some somewhat sane teachers... that's a matter of being lucky, no?
Thanks, Mark from Queens. Have a beautiful day. I envy you for your little one. Mimi wants to be a grandma... sigh.
Thanks, Mark. Interesting talk by DuBois.
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 for the Dubois background, mimi. Interesting background.
Dawned on me also that he was born around the same time as Jack London, one of my favorite writers. Wild. London was so prolific, in such a short life.
Dubois was actually older than London, living until the beginnings of Beatlemania, while London died before WW1 finished! That's a little mind-blowing.
Yeah, strange, enchanting accent. Brilliant visionary.
You're welcome to come over anytime, mimi. We've met before; I think you'd be a great babysitter, and I'm in need of one too!
"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 knew nothing
about W.E.B. Dubois. Now I know a bit. Thank you. What a fantastic speech by Dubois! I am in awe. I am going to listen to it again. The speech is amazing in its prescience and how it applies to our situation in 2017. It is heartbreaking to realize that our problems were so evident in 1960 and here we are.....same problems, except worse. I am so dumb not to know about him and could kick myself.
I caught bits and pieces of a few phrases in the speech, but one phrase that struck me (and that I will probably misquote somewhat) was when he said that some have ".... grown in intelligence and awareness of our situation....". He is alluding to the idea that most people don't really understand what is going on and what is really causing our problems but that some are starting to see. He also said that America has gone insane with war and the first duty of Americans is to realize this fact. Again, 1960.
Good morning Music Mark!
Had a 'meh' holiday. The last war the US was in was WWII. The rest have been taxpayer funded mercenary armies used to make $$ for some multinational corporate mob. It's a human pattern that needs to be eradicated, but doubt it.
Getting ready for the PNW trip. Super-psyched is an understatement. Never visited the civilized PNW. It will be a welcomed change from O-ville. Hope I embedded the tune correctly below. It is one of my t.o.p. t.e.n. I heard it on oldies shows.
Don't think it's lip-synced, but not sure. Enjoy.
Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Hello Mark and all
The DuBois was good.
I'm still brain dead from the weekend at the FL folk fest...mainly sleep deprivation. Lots of hahas, songs, and tunes. I was surprised at the easy drive back home on Memorial day. Washing clothes and normalizing today.
We had rain here at home but a pleasant, dry, and fairly cool weekend in Florida.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Re: dinking marathon.
Being hung over isn't nearly as fun as being over hung.
So I've been told. Experience only with the former.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
MfQ, you invite us over, but not once have you suggested
Childcare assistance. No trust there? Times may be a'changing, but some of us have brought up children to be fairly successful.
Or do you just drop your son in laps?
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.