Yesterday the queen read her message at the opening of the new Parliament.  Understandably she was pre-occupied with the royal fears surrounding the apparent disappearance of much of the crown’s most treasured jewel encrusted and artfully wrought precious metal diadems and brooches and other symbols of stature and privilege.  With the pluck characteristic of her nation’s personality, she waved aside any fears that the dignity and status of her noble peerage had disappeared along with the diamonds and emeralds.

Written in April 2005, at the height of the Bush tyranny. I thought it could be retired when Obama was elected. I was wrong...

When I first met Abbie Hoffman

It was 1965

Three years later at Grand Central

We just bare got out alive

I'd dropped several hits of acid

And at midnight less a half

Met a girl whose name...I can't recall

Took her home to fuck and laugh

When the cops came in, clubs swinging

A good traveler has no fixed plans
and is not intent upon arriving.
A good artist lets his intuition
lead him wherever it wants.
A good scientist has freed himself of concepts

http://my.firedoglake.com/billyglad/2011/01/06/i-remember-restrepo/

It was filmed in the famous Korengal Valley, where GIs engaged with the Taliban for five long years, and eventually left. 

Billy says: "Some might say the soldiers and Marines who died there died in vain.  And some might say that the valley is a metaphor for America’s war in Afghanistan, a war that is sure to end in some kind of stalemate, with neither the United Nations nor the Taliban winning a clearcut victory."

There is a rather new - in the last few years - phenomena taking place in various places around the country, and even in Europe. Where singers and musicians and artists appear out of no where and start performing what is called Random Acts of Culture.  Usually, but not necessarily, classical works. Here are a few examples.

I have been making a traditional Finnish sweet bread know as Pulla for the last couple of years. It is made with cardamom seed, ground and lots of egg and milk and butter. As well as time. Here is the recipe I follow. Well mostly follow.  Swedish Finns call it Nissu.

Part Two Making Due for Christmas

I found Garrison Keillor reviewing the ‘new’ autobiography of Mark Twain.

Incredible.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/books/review/Keillor-t.html?pagewanted=2&ref=general&src=me

The Christmas season in the year 2000 was filled with extra anticipation.  No one knew what to expect from the President Elect whose victory had the most sober observers of public affairs emptying their caches of superlatives to describe what might be in store for the nation.  One Liberal wag penned that it was an event as momentous as Caesar crossing the Rubicon.  A Conservative former Congressman predicted that every value of his party was in play.  Everyone had an opinion on the impending Administration of President Bernie Sanders.

You've altered each and every day

For the best part of a month,

With Diane Sawyers' Hair,

But without all the funk!