(from Dr. Faustus by Thomas Mann) ". . . The stagnation of his impulse to create was accompanied though not caused by a new low-water man in his physical state: severe attacks of migraine confined him to darkness; catarrh of the stomach, bronchial tubes, and throat attacked him by turns, particularly during the winter of 1926, and would of itself have been enough to prevent the trip to Frankfurt. It did in fact prevent another journey which humanly speaking was still more immediate and urgent, but categorically forbidden by his doctor. . . "
". . . a collaboration (Joni Mitchell) with composer and jazz musician Charles Mingus. Recorded in the months before his death, it would be Mingus's final musical project; the album is wholly dedicated to him. Mingus was released on June 13, 1979. . . The album is quite experimental, featuring minimalist jazz, over-plucked, buzzing acoustic guitars, and even wolves howling through "The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey". All of the lyrics are by Mitchell, while the music for four of the songs was composed by Mingus, three being new tunes, a fourth being his tribute to saxophonist Lester Young from his 1959 classic Mingus Ah Um, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", for which Mitchell wrote a set of lyrics. . . . As with the release preceding, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Mitchell hired personnel from jazz fusion group Weather Report, notably bassist Jaco Pastorius to play on the sessions. Mingus would also mark the first reunion of saxophonist Wayne Shorter and pianist Herbie Hancock in the studio since recording together on Shorter's seminal Native Dancer album, featuring Milton Nascimento, released in September 1974.
The album is spliced with excerpts, which are labelled "(Rap)", from recordings provided by Sue Graham Mingus, including a scat singing interplay between Joni and Mingus, and Charles and Sue arguing over his age at a birthday party. In "Funeral", Mingus and others discuss how long he will live and what his funeral will be like. He refers to the Vedanta Society and asserts that he is going to live longer than Duke Ellington, who died in 1974, aged 75, by saying, "I'm going to cut Duke!". . ."
(from The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser)
". . . (Lindsay) Graham seemed intoxicated. "He let me into his world," he enthused. The access and constant consultations thrilled him. "I have never been called by a president this much in my life," he said. His fealty flipped, he now expressed outrage that anyone would have the effrontery to denigrate Trump, even going on CNN to berate the media for labeling the president "some kind of kook not fit to be president" - the same words Graham himself had once used. . . McCain was disgusted and let Graham know it. . . Graham's main contribution to the day of (MaCain's) mourning was to invite Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. McCain's grieving daughter Meghan said) . . . "Funeral crashers . . . 'I hope this is the most uncomfortable moment of your life.' " . . . "We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness," Meghan said as Graham sat stone-faced in the audience, "the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who lived lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served." . . . "The American of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great." . . . "
". . . The truth needs to be set forth plainly and simply, and so let’s get down to brass tacks here. What happened on August 8, 2022, was not tyranny. It was not political persecution. It was not a minor dust up over bureaucratic processes blown out of proportion. It was the criminal justice system operating just like it does with any other private citizen on any other given day ending in a "y." . . . Trump was the president and commander-in-chief up until noon on January 20, 2021. The moment Joe Biden took the Oath of Office, Trump became just another private citizen in his 70s who vacations in Florida during the winter months to avoid the bitter cold back in his native home in the Northeast. He was no longer shielded by any privileges or protections of the Office of the Presidency at the point beyond physical security protection. He is subject to the laws of the United States just like anyone else. . ."
". . . we’re certainly not Trump supporters. But in today’s partisan world, it would be easy to fall into the trap of cheering on the FBI’s actions, without taking a step back to look at the bigger picture. If Trump goes to jail, it opens the door for every lying, corrupt, perverted piece of shit to go to jail too. Is that what we want?. . . "
There are definitely more than one "OHO" on the international music scene today. I would venture to say, that Jay Graboski's OHO probably preceded them all, having its beginnings in the early 1970s. The band has undergone many changes in personnel and musical styles but is still going strong today. Although not from the very beginning, this video captures the group in one of its many, varied, but always wonderful incarnations.
". . . Trump is a fascist. Trump is a liar. Trump is dangerous. Ultimately Trump is a traitor to the ideals enshrined in our Constitution. The seventh hearing on this fetid stench leaves just one important question unanswered: Will the Department of Justice indict Trump, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, Sidney Powell and others? . . . It is obvious that Liz Cheney, by mentioning the DOJ at the close of this week's hearing, believes that indictments are forthcoming. There are those who still doubt it and who believe Attorney General Merrick Garland is not up to the task. But the 32 federal lawmakers I've spoken with since Tuesday all believe Trump's indictment will be coming. "It has to, or this means nothing and as a country we are done," one told me. . . So how did Trump respond on Wednesday? . . He sent out emails promoting his Trump "commemorative" golf balls along with one encouraging his supporters to buy authentic "Trump Ultra Maga Shirts," for just $45. . . "
#1 - So the Os are in Chicago playing the Cubs. Last time they were there was in 2014. That's when we were there! That was a great trip, in spite of the fact that we had to leave the game early because we had plans later in the evening (and the game was delayed due to weather - a bizarre snow squall! Remember that?!
#2 - I do. Also Brian Matsuz and Ubaldo Jimenez both snubbed me when I asked them for autographs during the rain delay. And now they're both outta baseball, so that's what happens!!!
#1 - They got their just desserts!
#3 - Yeah!
#4 - Ziing!
#5 - What they said.
#2 - They weren't even doing anything when I politely asked. The two of em were just sittin around the dugout during the rain delay, finger popping each otha's assholes!
#4 - That seems to be a frequent past time of people you don't like.
#2 - (#1 and 5, that last part is a quote from 21 Jump Street, so you can't be offended, just fyi)
#1 - No problem.
#5 - What #2 should have said, "I've come all the way from Baltimore to see your sorry asses play baseball. We PAID to be here. YOU are getting paid (LOTS) to be here. You can't even get those sorry asses off that bench to scribble on a baseball for me? . . . WELL, EXCUUUUUUUSSSSSE MEEE!" There. I feel better.
#4 - I bet they could be contacted online somehow. . . or if we find their addresses we could sent them exotic animal feces.
#5 - Nah.
#4 - That's fine, just tweet at em then.
#5 - Tweet tweet.
#2 - Had some excellent pizza in chi town too tho. And remember when #3's pants got stuck in the doorway of the el?!?! Classic!! I knew you'd remember that thing with #3's pants #5.
#5 - Ummm? Hey #3 . . .
#3 - Yup?
#2 - #3 also got stuck in your hotel room toilet.
#3 - I probably could have been convinced otherwise if everyone got on board, but no I don't.
The toilet thing 100% happened though.
#5 - That, I remember.
#4 - Well, who doesn't do that accidentally at least once a week?
