2023

I am having trouble with a poem about 2000 US troops killed in the invasion of Iraq. Hopefully it will appear here soon. But today the count is up to 2023 (did anyone notice?) so it may seem dated when it appears.

Scalita-lite.

It is possible that bush has nominated a qualified judge in Samuel Alito. It would seem he has right wing credentials, he voted in the minority on a case in PA that would have required married women to notify their husbands before having an abortion. He seems not to be of the school that if you don't like abortion don't have one. But he is known as "Scalita-lite" to friends and enemies alike. Are we to take seriously any one much less a supreme court judge with "lite" in his nickname. It is like haveing a govenor named "Mit"

Shirley Horn

Sarah, Betty, Ella, Carmen and now Shirley. The book on that era of jazz singers is now finished. The standard they set will be met by Abby Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson, Patricia Barber (who as a pianist and singer may bare the brunt of responsibility and certainly has the talant) and a hand-full of others but it will take sometime. I will miss seeing as well as hearing Shirley, the regal presence she brought to clubs will not be easily replaced.

Accountability

Condoleezza Rice is looking for accountability? Isn’t she concerned that the world may ask for the U.S. and this administration to be held accountable? Starting with the responsibility for the 100,000 or so non-military deaths during our ongoing failure of an invasion of Iraq. How about being accountable for misleading the entire population of the U.S. about, well: WMD, Iraq-9/11 connection, global warming, tax relief (as in only for the rich), the qualifications of Harry (to name only one), etc., etc. She can’t be serious unless she is looking to justify the invasion of Syria. Could Condi be trying to shield our failure in Iraq by invading another country? Considering our perchance for blowing up wedding parties it might be sporting to warn all those planning such events in Syria to move their dates ahead for the safety of the families involved. In that vain let the Syrians be warned “Don’t let yourselves be taken prisoner”

Poets Against the War

Some interesting stuff here: http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org/default.asp

Even some (old) stuff of mine. Click: Poets/Click: Find a Poem/Last name: marfurt

Baseball

I know there is a “war” going on. I know natural disasters are rampant. I know our court appointed - corporate sponsored administration has brought forth a non-nominee. I know our economy; beholden to the Chinese may be about to tank. So it seems like a small matter that the Fox Network is tarnishing baseball. Baseball is a game of beauty with its pace, strategy, suspense. Its magnificence is in the ebb and flow of its activity. Why must those of us who can only watch the playoffs and World Series on television be bombarded with repetitive replays and over the top graphics not to mention the insult of arcane commentary? I know it’s a small thing but it hurts all the same.

New Orleans Anecdote

This actually happened last summer and it exemplifies the essence of “the big easy” an essence which now may be lost forever. I was sitting in a combination bar/ laundromat /post office in the Garden District somewhere off St Charles Street. It was a typical N.O. joint. It was late morning and I was playing cribbage. They had Turbo Dog on tap so I ordered one. It tasted all right but it was pretty flat. So being a good patron I mention this to the bartender the next time he came by. He replied just as pleasant as could be: “you know sometimes it just comes that way”. That made perfect sense to me and you know it was best beer of the day…….sometimes it just comes like that.


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