Some time ago, in one of my many railings against our president-elect, I noted that, once upon a time, even echt-dirty fingernail Republican Sarah Palin was a die-hard free-trader. Well, it looks like Sarah’s fingernails are still dirty, and her heart, and her free-trade principles, still true, for she’s risen up in rightuous wrath against…
Liberals, lost on a highway paved with good intentions
As a card-carrying liberal I probably shouldn’t be pushing this, but over at Slate you can see Heather Tirado Gilligan struggling to obey the dictates of both political correctness and common sense with regard to the Women, Infants, and Children Program, devised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (and the U.S. Congress) to improve the…
Laurence Cottle Big Band—“Donna Lee”
“Donna Lee” is one of my favorite Charlie Parker compositions. This BB chart by Laurence Cottle is, if not perfect, certainly Bird-worthy. Posted by laurencecottlebigband. Saxes:Nigel Hitchcock Sammy Mayne Claire Mcinerney Alex Garnett (Solo) Martin Williams Flute: Gareth Lockrane Trumpets: Andy Greenwood Tom Walsh Pat White Sid Gauld Trombones: Ade Hallowell Andy Wood Neil Sidwell…
George F. Will Explains It All For You. Incorrectly.
George “F for Farrreeeky!” Will has a piece up, “Infrastructure projects aren’t jobs programs”, which, all inadvertently, explains why infrastructure projects are jobs programs. Saith St. George, “New Deal public works gave the nation splendidly useful engineering marvels, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam. It did not, however, significantly reduce unemployment, which…
Pseudo New Yorker
Legal humor here “I have been described—not unjustly, I think—as inscrutable yet fair.” “I know you have lots of questions, but first of all let me assure you that I am not a speciesist.” “Let me begin by saying that I regard all of you as my garden.” “I want to give everyone the chance…
Fake News, New York Times Edition
Useful site Useful Stooges catches the New York Times in the act of being itself, presenting a ludicrous and disgusting obituary for Cuban mass murderer Fidel Castro. Writes the U.S.: “When Fidel Castro first came on the scene more than half a century ago, the New York Times famously disgraced itself by serving as his…
A Canny Old Rug Peddler From Queens
Well there probably is one, but his name isn’t Donald Trump. But over at The National Interest, Leon Hadar assures us that the Donald is indeed Bismarck with a conk1. Here’s how Leon spins his vision of “TrumPolitik”: “TrumpPolitik would certainly place more emphasis on strengthening U.S. relationship with the big powers of the world,…
Literature R Us is new and improved!
Well, newish. If you’re looking for visible changes in the site, there aren’t any. But I have added my latest novel, Traveling North: The Education of Alice Barnstable, to the “Books” page. You can read the first chapter of Alice and then, if you’re so inclined, click on a link that will take you to…
Pseudo New Yorker
Legal humor here “Let’s get one thing straight, Larry. Yeah, we act alike, we dress alike, we even look alike. Sure. But we don’t think alike. Upstairs, I’m my own man, you got that? I’m my own man! Like, totally.” “So, anyway, a priest, a minister, and a rabbi go into a bar, and the…
Thelonious Monk—“Round Midnight”
Footage taken of Old Man Monk playing his signature tune in 1969, from a strange, messed-up documentary. Monk was not happy, not feeling well, but the fingers, and the spirit, still worked. Posted by Miguel Tuna