This is American patriotic impishness at its best. (The Portland protesters that is!)

No Kings. October 18th. Free speech is action. Please join in. www.nokings.org

As a secure man I endorse: “One of the best ways that you can dismantle a movement of insecure men is to make fun of them.” -AOC

Whether you're in Chicago or any other U.S. city, remember federal agents and military troops are bound by the Constitution. Know your rights if you're approached by federal forces. aclu.org/deployment_kyr

I don’t follow football, but since Bill Belichick is trending, here’s my 2¢: he’s a trumpist, a greedy pig, and, if Not a pedo, pretty damn close.

The older I get, the more I appreciate Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. A commentary on how political feuds going back years consume and destroy the most innocent: the young. A profound performance at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, this past Sunday.

Your regular reminder to donate to your local PBS channel! By the way, PBS Passport is fantastic: Rick Steves Travel Shows, Nature, Masterpiece Mystery, music documentaries, Nova, whatever you like!

In a moment like this, when tensions are high, part of the job of the president is to remind us of the ties that bind us together.

What a week! Wednesday saw Ken Burns for a talk on his new film, The American Revolution (with clips of the NJ parts of the war). Last night, saw a stunningly brilliant 80 y/o Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden.

I subscribe only to PBS Passport. The corporate-state trumpist media is all in on stifling and stamping out free speech. Boycott them. (I’d add a slight correction to the article below: first to be kicked off was Stephen Colbert.)

Violence only begets violence. Enduring change comes from building solutions, transforming minds, and cultivating what is good, in the human heart and in the world.

Need to clear the cobwebs of your mind? Treat yourself to Hummingbirds of Hollywood (Nature, PBS). Restores the wonder of nature and the good work human beings out there are doing. *then donate to PBS! www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/...

Went to the splendid Met Museum today. (Every few Sundays - almost a spiritual ritual.) I limit myself to only 2 or 3 photos. Here are two that moved me particularly: a 1925 rayograph by Man Ray, and Jean-Francois Millet’s « Autumn Landscape with a Flock of Turkeys. » (1872-73)

Why has America gotten so weird? Any ideas? I think it’s internet addiction, 24/7 news TV, and empty consumerism. Also, lack of community participation and too little interaction with people who think and live differently than them. People are also too damn scared.

excellent, honest, and courageous essay.

Interesting study. And I always go for the twisted tomatoes and baroque looking apples

The fascist authoritarian posing as president must be impeached and barred from holding office. Elected leaders, serious media folks, and us regular people should be demanding it.

Yikes! a stark warning to all of us.

Time to ditch all devices? Getting mighty creepy folks.

Peter Singer always makes one think! This one is short and to the point. Watch and share.

I just called my congressman to urge him to push for the firing/removal of rfk jr., who’s putting all our health at risk. Call was surprisingly quick and easy. Spoke with a friendly staffer who will pass on my message. Don’t forget - our reps work for us! Don’t be afraid to call.

Excellent read. Short and also insightful. You can’t fight a battle with your eyes shut.

Need a summer reading recommendation? Evelyn Waugh’s Men at Arms is a splendid one. I’ve read few writers who waste not a word. He also keenly understands humans and the various ways we try to deal with the ominous unknown.

I missed Jerry Garcia’s 30th anniversary death date by a few days. He was one of my musical and cosmic heroes. I remember the moment he died. I saved the Rolling Stone magazine memorial issue.

👀 should be unsurprising but it’s still surprising.

This is fascinating! As a 1980s Sesame Street-watching kid, and regular visitor of NYC, this resonates. Watch and share.

Look. I like George Orwell as much as anyone, but it’s time to tamp down the constant Orwell quotes. We know them. There are other great satirists and acerbic wits to read: Aldous Huxley, Evelyn Waugh, & Vonnegut, for example.

Your random, regular reminder: Give to PBS! Find your local channel’s donate info, or some rural one you look up (if not you’re not rural). They need it too.

One of my he best things I’ve done of late is donate to my local PBS, and get my family members to do the same. Ken Burns has an equally important message. Call our congresspeople! Including Dems. They need to hear from us or they too will move on.

When people ask who’s my favorite songwriter, it’s an easy answer: Gordon Lightfoot! Every song is a miniature novel - elegant, unpretentious, delicately crafted, natural flowing. (This Sunday’s vinyl)

My homemade wheat/white sourdough rounds.

PSA: Give to PBS! We’re Passport members for our local Channel Thirteen (worth it!). Just ordered a bunch of promo merch (get the PBS name out there AND help). What’s not to like about Mystery umbrellas, totes, and puzzles? Most important: Give and then give again! Feels good to help out.

Flooding here in New Jersey got pretty bad.

What kind of pillow do you folks use? I want to get away from polyester everything (main culprit for microplastics). I’m trying a Japanese buckwheat pillow - weighs about 15 lbs! Not sure I like it yet.

Another reason to love Pope Leo IX: he is a classical music buff! Loves the Bach Passions, plays Schubert and Bartok himself, and collects records— Elvis Presley gospel LPs, tangos by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, and French singer Edith Piaf.

Sometimes the good don’t die young! Happy 98th Maestro Blomstedt.

Just rewatched Amadeus this past weekend. Just what was needed to revive my musical spirit. I’ve been listening to Mozart nonstop since!

This 4th of July I’m playing records by the great British/American pianist George Shearing. He had a classic, almost French impressionist touch to his piano playing. And I love the groovy album art too.

Good advice

I’ve been reading Vonnegut recently. I dig this quote: “No matter how corrupt, greedy, and heartless our government, our corporations, our media, and our religious & charitable institutions may become, the music will still be wonderful.” ―Kurt Vonnegut

I’m fairly lefty, however I usually vote for the moderate/slightly left Dem. Something I’ve noticed is that many progressive-pegged candidates tend to become more rightwing after they win—ex: Sinema, Gallego, Fetterman (not AOC.) Just something I’ve noticed.

Jaime Raskin absolutely on the mark here.

It’s hard to overstate the genius of Brian Wilson. He was able to infuse his music with pure childlike joy, love, and wonder - yet do so in a sophisticated and magically complex way. Losing him is a gut punch.

They are stopping all international student visas?! This will not just harm universities but will obliterate the economy. Why is there no pushback? This is not acceptable.

Nothing like Chet Baker singing and playing trumpet to David Wheat’s nylon string guitar and Ross Savakus’s upright bass! Serene Saturday music.

I’ve been agitated a lot recently - work, politics of the moment, etc. For midday break, I visited one of my other favorite parks (Oak Ridge Park) for a jog and nature watching. Strange trees, busy birds. Always rejuvenates!

Why I’m the only one at Roosevelt Park when it’s a gorgeous grey day of 55°F and drizzle befuddles me. But I’ll take it! I jogged, looked at the mellow slumbering ducks, and paid my respects at the lovely little Vietnam vet’s memorial.

A splendid Sunday! Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, at the Shakespeare. I laughed the whole time. And full of nuggets of wisdom. Truly brilliant performance by the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, as always!

I’m proud of my state of NJ for our many great artists & musicians who *also* happen to be socially-conscious commentators: W.C. Williams, Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka, Sinatra, Bon Jovi, and Bruce! This new speech is politically powerful & direct, a timeless, plain-spoken American tradition.

Sunday evening vinyl! Golden Age of great Films. Lots of Korngold… Max Steiner - including the score for my favorite film “Treasure of the Sierra Madre.”