[As I work through this manuscript, The King Begins To Falter, I am, naturally, reworking or tossing out the poems that don't work. Expect many more over the next couple of months. In addition to rewriting many, I also need to delete about 120 pages of poems.]
Second Chance
by Jack Brummet
We cannot really lose
What belongs to us,
Even when we throw it away.
The gathering winds
Blowing through her heart, reverberate
In the echo chamber of regret.
---o0o---
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Photograph: John Brummet II in the army
click to enlarge
I like this 'photo. I guess if you know me, you might think 'like father, like son' and guess that's my dad on the left. You wouldn't be wrong.
---o0o---
YouTube Slideo: Jack Brummet and Jerry Melin discuss Self Love. And Shakespeare.
Every time over the last four and a half years, when I post audio files, the hosting service goes out of business, and the links are dead.
I am going to upload audio files via YouTube this time---making "slideos" of the audio files.
Here is the first. Jack Brummet and Jerry Melin discuss Self Love. And Shakespeare.
---o0o---
I am going to upload audio files via YouTube this time---making "slideos" of the audio files.
Here is the first. Jack Brummet and Jerry Melin discuss Self Love. And Shakespeare.
---o0o---
Friday, June 12, 2009
Clown Wars: Pablo Fanque reports on the factionalism, disarray, depression, hopelessness, and continuing losing prospects of The Republican Party
Click the Governor to enlarge
By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor
[Pablo Fanque's work appears in numerous journals, blogs, books, and at times, on the sides of buses and even scrawled in bathroom stalls and phone booths. After working as a community organizer for two years in southeast King County, near Seattle, he began his college education. After his expulsion from Harvard University in 1977, Fanque continued (and even completed) college while working in the publishing business, in San Francisco, New York City, and in the Pacific Northwest. Pablo's artistic output includes hundreds of paintings and drawings, including his monumental "Heads," consisting of 150 canvases, each with 16 or 96 portraits. He has completed, and is now revising his next book, "The King Begins To Falter." Fanque met Jack Brummet in 2004 at a rock show in Austin, Texas, and they have been friends, and collaborators, ever since.]
How can we analyze or understand the dissension, disarray, division, and decimation visited upon the Republican Party in the last year or two? When Pat Buchanan and Newt Gingrich emerge as the charming and likable voices of moderation and reason, you know the party has come off the rails. A simple enumeration of the [unelected] voices of the party tells the sad story:
Sean Hannity
Michael Steele (who surely will be shuffled out the door sooner rather than later)
Jon Voight
Rush "Oxy" Limbaugh
Liz Cheney
There are even a few elected Republican voices:
Sarah Palin
Haley Barbour (he's been visiting New Hampshire and Iowa already)
John Boehner
Tim Pawlenty
Mitch McConnell
Bobby Jindal (but let's face it, his pathetic performance in his state of the union rebuttal pushed him back into the wings)
John McCain
And then there are one-time elected Republicans, some of who hope to leap back into the fray, or even make the leap into The Oval Office:
Mitt Romney
Newt Gingrich
Dick Cheney
Mike Huckabee (who feels like the front runner, along with Gingrich, and Governor Palin).
______________________________________
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin appeared at a Republican congressional fundraiser Monday night, ending a long and drawn out will-she-or-won't-she mystery that, in the end, probably overshadowed the event and left the GOP even more frustrated and in greater disarray than before.
Palin -- the party's disastrous 2008 VP nominee--was originally scheduled to headline the annual Senate-House dinner. She was shunted aside in favor of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. After that, Governor Palin left the organizers hanging in the wind...even as late as Monday afternoon. [This is not the first time Palin has thrown a public tantrum over not being allowed to speak. Remember Election Night? Palin expected to give a speech, but soon learned that no losing VP candidate gives a speech on election night, particularly when they violated the VP Hippocratic oath--Do No Harm.] Let's face it. . .the GOP slapped a muzzle on the pitbull with lipstick. Last week, when it started to look like a real event, Palin's advisers told the RNCC she would be near Washington and would like to come. Uh-oh.
Republican officials involved in the discussions (who spoke on condition of anonymity--natch, because of the sensitivity of the matter), said Palin was invited to sit at a head table but would not be given the chance to speak. The GOP was worried that she might swamp, or out-maverick, Newt Gingrich. Granted, Newt isn't exactly a dynamo on the rostrum, but if you're sweating Governor Palin overshadowing you at a Republican dinner, well, friendo, your Presidential dreams are ashes.
Palin didn't like this turn of affairs one bit, and did not make clear whether she would refuse to attend, officials say. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, made a personal appeal over the weekend for her to attend and invited her and her husband, Todd Palin, to sit at the big boys' table.
Late Monday afternoon, Palin's aides informed the organizers that she and her husband would attend, although a spokeswoman for the governor's political committee would not confirm that.
Palin has her eyes on the White House in 2012. In March, the National Republican Congressional Committee, put out a news release saying that Palin would be the keynote speaker at the dinner--one of the party's largest fundraisers. Palin's representatives then weaseled, saying the governor wanted to make sure the event did not interfere with state business. Right.
It can't have helped Palin's cause that she is being accused of plagiarizing Dick Cheney's speeches (or that she is embroiled in a very public pissing match with David Letterman.) I don't know about that one. I've just always kind of assumed, when there is any content in her speeches and edicts, it was lifted from elsewhere. She is accused of snagging a substantial portion of a speech from Newt Gingrich--the man she will eventually run against in the primaries.
---o0o----
One Big Big Bird
Along with 18 pound horses and hippopotamuses (or hippopotami), this Big Big Bird, Diatryma, lived in The Pacific Northwest before us. Its prints were found along the Green River, just a couple of blocks from the house where I grew up.
It's probably just as well Diatrymas are no longer around. Can you imagine turning a corner and bumping into this fella?
---o0o---
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Phil Spector: Life without wigs
This is probably the last we'll hear of Phil Spector--the legend behind "the wall of sound." There is no question he made major contributions to pop music--and even changed the way it was made. I never really forgave him for what he did to The Beatles "Let It Be" album, which McCartney later re-released (as "Let it be...naked"), stripped of its strings and choral work . He made a mess of The Ramones' "End of the Century." On the other hand, he did produce the excellent megahits "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison, as well as his No. 1 triple album "Concert for Bangladesh." And John Lennon's hit album"Imagine" (clearly Harrison were fans of his work, while Macca was not). And then there is all his great mid-sixties music, from the Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody" to "Be My Baby" to Ike and Tina Turner's great but monumental flop "River deep and mountain high."
Spector stated on more than one occasion his philosophy of making albums. All you had to do was come up with "two hits and ten pieces of s**t".
In these photos, you see some of the hair styles fabled Phil Spector wore during his protracted murder trial in Los Angeles (which, with massive breaks, ran from May 2005 to May 29, 2009. Spector was sentenced two weeks ago to 19 years to life in prison for the murder of the actress Lana Clarkson, who was shot through the mouth in the producer's home, in 2003.
This mug shot of Phil Spector released Wednesday by the California prison system unveils Phil with his wigs confiscated. The mug shot, of a bald-headed Spector with long stringy hair on the sides, was taken on June 5 as part of the prison intake system.
---o0o---
Spector stated on more than one occasion his philosophy of making albums. All you had to do was come up with "two hits and ten pieces of s**t".
In these photos, you see some of the hair styles fabled Phil Spector wore during his protracted murder trial in Los Angeles (which, with massive breaks, ran from May 2005 to May 29, 2009. Spector was sentenced two weeks ago to 19 years to life in prison for the murder of the actress Lana Clarkson, who was shot through the mouth in the producer's home, in 2003.
This mug shot of Phil Spector released Wednesday by the California prison system unveils Phil with his wigs confiscated. The mug shot, of a bald-headed Spector with long stringy hair on the sides, was taken on June 5 as part of the prison intake system.
---o0o---
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
List: The rules of combat
This is a combination of several of the rules of combat floating around on the net....
The easy way is always mined.
Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo.
The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly
fire.
If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.
Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
A Purple Heart just proves that you were smart enough to think of a plan,
stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.
Don't ever be the first; don't ever be the last; and don't ever volunteer to do
anything.
Five second fuses only last three seconds.
It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.
Recoiless rifles aren't.
Suppressive fire won't.
Never draw fire, it irritates everyone around you.
When in doubt empty the magazine.
Never share a foxhole with someone braver then you are.
Your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
If you can't remember, the claymore is pointed toward you.
If you are forward of your position, the artillery will be short.
The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
The important things are always simple.
The simple things are always hard.
If you're short of everything except the enemy, you're in combat.
Incoming fire has the right of way.
No combat-ready unit was ever passed inspection.
No inspection-ready unit has ever passed combat.
Teamwork is essential. It gives them other people to shoot at.
If the enemy is in range, so are you.
Tracers work both ways.
The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support.
When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose ... they are both right.
The bursting radius of a grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range.
The only terrain that is truely controlled is the terrain upon which you are standing.
The law of the bayonet says the man with the bullet wins.
REMF's (Rear Echelon Mother Fraggers) are everywhere.
The best tank killer is another tank. Therefore tanks are always fighting each other ...& have no time to help the infantry.
Precision bombing is normally accurate to within +/- one mile (...or so).
Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire.
Cluster bombing from B-52s and C130s is very very accurate. The bombs always hit the ground.
Perfect plans aren't.
The side with the fanciest uniforms loses.
Professionals are predictable--it's the amateurs that are dangerous.
Armored vehicles are bullet magnets; a moving foxhole that attracts attention.
No plan survives the first few seconds of combat.
Expending material in combat is easier than filling out Graves Registration forms -- Ammo is cheap; your life isn't.
Just because you can't see the enemy; don't for a minute believe they can't see you.
The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: When you're ready for them. When you're not.
If your attack is going well, you've just walked into an ambush.
Anything you do can get you shot, including nothing.
Make it tough enough for the enemy to get in and you won't be able to get out.
---o0o---
The easy way is always mined.
Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo.
The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly
fire.
If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.
Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
A Purple Heart just proves that you were smart enough to think of a plan,
stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.
Don't ever be the first; don't ever be the last; and don't ever volunteer to do
anything.
Five second fuses only last three seconds.
It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.
Recoiless rifles aren't.
Suppressive fire won't.
Never draw fire, it irritates everyone around you.
When in doubt empty the magazine.
Never share a foxhole with someone braver then you are.
Your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
If you can't remember, the claymore is pointed toward you.
If you are forward of your position, the artillery will be short.
The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
The important things are always simple.
The simple things are always hard.
If you're short of everything except the enemy, you're in combat.
Incoming fire has the right of way.
No combat-ready unit was ever passed inspection.
No inspection-ready unit has ever passed combat.
Teamwork is essential. It gives them other people to shoot at.
If the enemy is in range, so are you.
Tracers work both ways.
The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support.
When both sides are convinced that they are about to lose ... they are both right.
The bursting radius of a grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range.
The only terrain that is truely controlled is the terrain upon which you are standing.
The law of the bayonet says the man with the bullet wins.
REMF's (Rear Echelon Mother Fraggers) are everywhere.
The best tank killer is another tank. Therefore tanks are always fighting each other ...& have no time to help the infantry.
Precision bombing is normally accurate to within +/- one mile (...or so).
Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire.
Cluster bombing from B-52s and C130s is very very accurate. The bombs always hit the ground.
Perfect plans aren't.
The side with the fanciest uniforms loses.
Professionals are predictable--it's the amateurs that are dangerous.
Armored vehicles are bullet magnets; a moving foxhole that attracts attention.
No plan survives the first few seconds of combat.
Expending material in combat is easier than filling out Graves Registration forms -- Ammo is cheap; your life isn't.
Just because you can't see the enemy; don't for a minute believe they can't see you.
The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: When you're ready for them. When you're not.
If your attack is going well, you've just walked into an ambush.
Anything you do can get you shot, including nothing.
Make it tough enough for the enemy to get in and you won't be able to get out.
---o0o---
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Witnesses tangle with lawyers, from "Disorder in the American Courts"
These quotes are from a book, "Disorder in the American Courts" -- actual transcripts of things people said in court.
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORN EY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished ..
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy ?
WIT NESS : No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
---o0o---
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORN EY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_______________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished ..
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy ?
WIT NESS : No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
---o0o---
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