We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
With actual threats from their Committee of Public Safety. Somebody needs to remind them that this is America, the land of the free and home of the brave, and not North Korea.
My hate and hate speech is directed to those totalitarian idiots at Wellesley and everywhere else they work their malevolent schemes. At an earlier point, my reactions were of amusement but at this point my hate for this sort of crap is fierce, ruthless, and righteous.
There is another circle of hell for the spineless administrators who aid and abet this sort of nonsense by not standing up to the crybullies. They should know better. On the other hand they might be quietly on those kids' side (See Tenured Radicals).
We recently heard a performance of Bach's St. John Passion, with the same small-size choir that Bach had (but with far better voices now, for sure), and with the original instruments. Bach pretty much always bitched about the lousy choirs he had to work with. Bitched about the musicians too.
Loveliest live music I have heard in a while and, even though you know the story by heart, and when Pilate asks Jesus Was ist Wahrheit? you get a chill. Pilate was a good guy, really.
Bach wrote St. John Passion in 1774 to be performed on Good Friday. The experts say it is as close as Bach got to operatic music. It was designed as an entire Lutheran church service, with a break between Part 1 and Part 2 for a homily. Some of the choruses were familiar German hymns. It's a shame to perform it outside a church.
As with all ambitious and complex music like this, it takes me more than 3 hearings to begin to get it.
A question to which I cannot find an answer is whether Bach wrote the notes for the recitative sections, especially by Evangelist, or whether they are singer's choice. Can a reader find out?
Below, St. John Passion with a larger choir and orchestra than Bach had. Why did Gardiner use an organ instead of a harpsichord in this performance?
One by one, getting them done for better or worse. Business guys just try to get through their checklists as fast as they can regardless of nuances and sensitivities. Promised he would blow the shit out of ISIS.Had this chance to do it without civilian damage, and he just did it. That's a bigtime traditional NYC F- you from a rough New Yorker from Queens. Manhattanites can be refined and delicate sometimes, but people from the boroughs can be tough as nails. Just ask any WW2 vet if you can find one. I have.
I had thought we were done with Afghanistan. Must have missed something. Remind me where it is again. Z-man is right: it is today's Balkans. Nobody really cared about the Balkans then either, and nobody cares about the Middle East now. Or the Balkans.
However, it's a message to the world: Don't f- with Trump. With Trump, nothing is predictable so watch your back, as they say in NY. Anyway, this is the only language the Islamists understand clearly.
When you think about it, without 9-11 little or none of this Middle East involvement would have happened. So was 9-11 a success for them, or not? I want the USA out of there. And I want those baboons to leave me alone.
We are nearing the end of Lent, and I am reminded that I have reflected in the past about the idea that a function of life is to teach us enough humility to bring us to God - while our self-love fights to hold onto our precious fantasies of specialness, extraordinary integrity, appealingness, brilliance, and self-sufficiency despite the world's giving us abundant evidence to the contrary. Everybody's foot of pride comes down sometime, and often more than once. It can be brutal, but I guess we need it. Still, we must push forward as best we can and if we can do it with Christ as companion, so much the better.
This is a mystifying, rambling song which might sort-of be about a funeral, sins of pride and grandiosity, and man's Fall. Like a voice crying in the wilderness thing. Thus the contradictions of this half- crazy genius. It begins:
Like the lion tears the flesh off of a man So can a woman who passes herself off as a male They sang “Danny Boy” at his funeral and the Lord’s Prayer Preacher talking ’bout Christ betrayed It’s like the earth just opened and swallowed him up He reached too high, was thrown back to the ground You know what they say about bein’ nice to the right people on the way up Sooner or later you gonna meet them comin’ down...
He was never satisfied with any production of the song. That above with the lyrics which err: I believe it is "sordid" love affair with Errol Flynn, not "sword" , but who knows? Full lyrics here.The guy can pack more words into a line than anybody - or make fewer words fill a line completely.
For what it's worth, Lou Reed took a stab at the song:
... Christian leaders, friom Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury on down, seem to have more to say about potential, hypothetical upticks in "Islamophobia" than about the sustained attempt to eradicate the oldest adherents of their own faith. Western politicians don't seem to have much to say about it, either, perhaps out of shame: On America's watch, public expression of Christianity was obliterated in Iraq, and the last Christian church in Afghanistan razed to the ground. Almost exactly two years ago, when 148 students were slaughtered at a school in Kenya, President Obama could not bring himself to identify them as Christian, even though their killers had gone to great pains to separate their captives according to their faith, releasing the Muslims and killing the Christians. As I remarked somewhat mordantly, apparently black lives don't matter when they're Christian.
The Islamic supremacists' assault on Christianity is not confined to the Holy Land and the more benighted parts of the developing world. Monday's subway bloodbath in St Petersburg was also celebrated by Isis as making "a metro to Hell for worshipers of the Cross". It's doubtful that most of the victims, who included many students, would have seen themselves as such. But that's the point: you might not think of yourself as a "worshiper of the Cross", but that's how the guys who want to kill you see you.
"This was just about the time of that Woodstock festival, which was the sum total of all this bullshit. And it seemed to have something to do with me, this Woodstock Nation, and everything it represented. So we couldn't breathe. I couldn't get any space for myself and my family, and there was no help, nowhere. I got very resentful about the whole thing, and we got outta there. So we moved to New York..."
If you want to fertilize gardens, shrubs, lawns, trees, etc, we recommend doing it in March or early April before there is any significant budding or growth. In any event, as soon as the soil thaws. Why is that? It is because roots wake up and get hungry before anything appears visibly on plants. Some years I have fertilized right on top of a late snow.
Also, because it can take time (and plenty of rain) for surface fertilizer to dissolve and to get deep into the soil.
Well-established perennial and shrub borders in half-decent soil only need a sprinkling of all-purpose fertilizer. I imagine that it makes for better blooms. In nature, the fertilization would come from rotting leaf litter, etc. and, besides, the plants would be growing where they want to grow instead of where you want them to grow.
Do plants grow at night? Not much because they prefer to be solar-powered. However, roots do reach out in the dark (obviously) on stored energy as soon as the soil thaws to provide the nutrients to produce later foliage and bloom. Think of Sugar Maples, or spring bulbs. Sugar Maples (and all trees) have enough deep roots below the freezing level to begin sending nutrients up the tree while the surface soil is still frozen.
For later Spring, seasonal vegetable gardens do need fertilizer of any and all sorts. They love it. Vegetables are so far from natural that they would never survive without special care. Same goes for ornamental plants. Never fertilize herbs, though, because their fragrances benefit from poor nutrition.
The college’s conduct was craven. The fact that leftists planned to disrupt Mac Donald’s speech was well known, and the administration had plenty of time to prepare. It made a conscious decision to let the barbarians rule. Hiram Chodosh, president of Claremont McKenna College, said in a statement that “the school will develop strategies to make sure a mob of students cannot shut down a sanctioned campus event again.”
I have used them a few times but the change disrupts my accustomed form. The idea (which makes sense) is that the centering of weight, the more natural grip, and the kindness to a sore lower back permit you to pile more weight on the bar, thus stressing your body more.
We look back and criticize the major powers in 1914 for getting involved in the constant squabbles in the Balkans but do the same thing in the Middle East, the 21st century's Balkans.
Spring is on the horizon up here. Snow piles are melting. Thoughts about the gardens appear.
I have always had a vegetable garden, as did my parents, as did my Grandpas. It's a guy thing mostly, symbolic providers only since WW2.
I had a couple of reasons for adding this hassle to my life: family tradition, tomatoes, and to teach and show my kids where food comes from. It is rewarding for kids to go out and pick a couple of cucumbers or peppers or summer squash, or a basket of beans to bring to the kitchen.
Except for tomatoes, in my view home gardening makes no sense unless you value your time at zero, which makes it pure hobby. Home-grown stuff, for the month or two it is available up here, may be marginally better, but truly marginally and often worse. And there are the bugs that eat everything.
If I were rational, I would stick with my fruit trees, tomatoes, figs, herbs, and rhubarb and forget the rest. Almost forgot my Mouse melons - they are cool. I gave up on raspberries because the birds ate them all. I gave up on the native blueberries too because they never thrived.
I have a pal who has a huge fenced and irrigated vegetable garden. Definitely one of his hobbies. He leaves bags of chard, peppers, and eggplants on my front porch. Much appreciated but I do not know where he finds the time.
With kids, definitely good to show them how to grow things, though. Kids love to dig and love to pick stuff. That's why I always grow some pumpkins.
With the inspiration of Mrs. BD (and my Mom), I have become more interested in flowering borders in recent years. Very rewarding and challenging without being edible, the bugs are no problem, and the hummingbirds and butterflies are good fun.
Do you enjoy weeding? I don't, but I enjoy the (fleeting) results. I use Preen on the flower beds, and it sort-of works for a while. I would rather take a long hike with Mrs. BD, or go to the city, or go fishing, or to the gym, than spend half a weekend day growing something I can pick up at the market for 99 cents.
Go ahead and argue with me -
Photo is a Rhubarb patch. I love rhubarb. You can even munch the stalks raw, and it never fails to come up strong. You often find a cute snake curled up in there, which makes it fun. It's a crop you can count on and do not have to do anything for other than throw a little manure or fertilizer on it in April. Do not bite into the Garter Snake because it will piss him off.
The old adage about giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish has been updated by a reader: Give a man a fish and he will ask for tartar sauce and French fries! Moreover, some politician who wants his vote will declare all these things to be among his 'basic rights.'
Details to be posted soon. You can contact us via the comments section below. We'll probably begin near Lincoln Center and head south.
Save the date if you are interested in joining us, rain or shine. Details to be announced soon but it will be a west side story. It will be in Manhattan again, maybe Brooklyn next time. Or maybe Columbia to the Cloisters next time.
We had good folks from all over the country joining us last year, around 30 of us. It was jolly to meet people, but it is a hike and not a cocktail party. We figure 8-9 miles perhaps because of all of the meandering to catch the essential sights, like Clement Moore's church and the Flower District.
There will be bathroom breaks (for all genders) and a snack and beer break somewhere fun and cheap. As usual, Bulldog will lead us and I will try to shepherd.
Sweden will ´never go back´ to the days of mass immigration after failed asylum seeker launched Friday´s truck attack in Stockholm, says the country´s shell-shocked PM
The Passover Seder, in which we follow a strict order of prayers and foods, is the Jewish way of remembering from whence we came from slavery into freedom. The question has been debated among Judaism's leading scholars whether it is more important to learn the rules of Passover or the lessons of Passover. It is largely a false dichotomy. Following the Seder rules are an act of devotion and discipline to continue the memory of our roots. The memory of our roots, however, are not just about a history but a future. In every generation we are to remember and feel the experience of the Divine liberation, and that since then there have been numerous efforts to eradicate us so it is important to build solidarity and faith for survival.
The narrative is about what the past tells us for our future. The narrative is meant to be a call to discuss and think about freedom, slavery, choice, and destiny. The Exodus is a call to revolutionary hope, rather than acceding to slavery and hardship. Because of retaining the memory of the seemingly impossible liberation, as if we had ourselves experienced it, it provides the hope and belief that the days to come will not necessarily be like today, if we work and fight for a better tomorrow. That's why the Seder ends with the affirmation of next year being in Jerusalem, of the ingathering in peace, safety and justice.
The Passover Seder is a ritual meal that serves our vision of improving our lives and world.
There's a third element that is important in Judaism: enjoying ourselves so that our connectedness is emotionally felt and ongoing via teaching in an enjoyable way. With that, I give you the latest "uptown" Passover narrative:
Here's a new 2017 description of a traditional East European Passover Seder. But, Jews have been scattered all about the Earth. Here's about those delectable foods brought to the Passover table.
A little background on the medical studies you read about. Everybody knows now that most are misleading if not entirely in error: ACSH Explains Epidemiology
26:14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
26:15 and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver.
26:16 And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
26:17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
26:18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'"
26:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
26:20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve;
26:21 and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."
26:22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?"
26:23 He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
26:24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."
26:25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."
26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
26:27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;
26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
26:29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
26:30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
26:33 Peter said to him, "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you."
26:34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times."
Third Wheel 
We recently heard a performance of Bach's St. John Passion, with the same small-size choir that Bach had (but with far better voices now, for sure), and with the original instruments. Bach pretty much always bitched about the lousy choirs he had to work with. Bitched about the musicians too.
An Everly Brothers' tune from Bob's 1970 
If you want to fertilize gardens, shrubs, lawns, trees, etc, we recommend doing it in March or early April before there is any significant budding or growth. In any event, as soon as the soil thaws. Why is that? It is because roots wake up and get hungry before anything appears visibly on plants. Some years I have fertilized right on top of a late snow.
You can use 
Spring is on the horizon up here. Snow piles are melting. Thoughts about the gardens appear. 
Details to be posted soon. You can contact us via the comments section below. We'll probably begin near Lincoln Center and head south.
Why Are So Many People 