An Unmarred Theme

The late Jill Clayburg in 1978's 'An Unmarried Woman'

As I work this morning, I am listening to the late Bill Conti’s superb jazz theme for An Unmarried Woman, which, to my ear, somehow manages to combine an embrace of life as it is with a smiling-through-tears acceptance of just how sharp and lonely the pain of experience can be.

The music raises its chin and keeps moving past hurt and bitterness, the acceptance finally rising to a kind of what-the-hell exuberance about existence itself.

You Are Here

Never underestimate these people. They are authoritarian sociopaths who want a feudal society with themselves as the unchallenged aristocracy. Even if you're uncomfortable with terms like "evil," these boys are basically a working definition of it — willing to crush centuries of civilization and human progress under the limo wheels. 
“End stage of capitalism is upon us as the rich presume to directly influence political affairs," as Barry Laycock said. "We are within a five-to-10 year window of total open domination by the rich of the political process through their crony Congress and hopeful presidential ticket. Obama is in their pocket as well, but not to the degree Romney and the Republicans are. We are very close to the end of any silliness about a representational government, although the media will describe it as such for decades to come."

Odin's Ravens Go to Hollywood

How cool is this? Odin's ravens are going to be making an appearance in "Thor: The Dark World," co-starring with Sir Anthony Hopkins. You've come up in the world, my Huginn and Muninn. Don't get big, black heads now.

America. An Intellectual Beacon to the World

Case in point

I don’t know why they redacted the name. The cretin glories in his ignorance. I would let the world celebrate it with him.

As my friend Deb Murphy Kerr said, “It’s so entertaining when people use the latest state-of-the-art technical devices to bash science.”

The Gems Among the Jaspers

Reading about Jasper Johns in Edmund White's memoir prompted me to look up his art. Intriguing, in terms of both visual pleasure and ironic cultural comment.

My Favorite Lexicon: Debonair

Actor Cary Grant defined "debonair" by personifying it

deb·o·nair adjective \ˌde-bə-ˈner\

of a man : dressing and acting in an appealing and sophisticated way: fashionable, attractive and confident

Definition of DEBONAIR

1 - archaic:  gentle, courteous

2 - suave, urbane <a debonair performer>;  lighthearted, nonchalant

Origin of DEBONAIR

Middle English debonere, from Anglo-French deboneire, from de bon aire of good family or nature

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DEBONAIR

Synonyms

blithe, carefree, devil-may-care, gay, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, lightsome, slaphappy, unconcerned

Antonyms

careworn

— Merriam-Webster

The Age of the Outlaw Journalist

Connect those big, flashing dots — universal surveillance, ag gag laws, free speech “zones,” corporate shill reporters, licensing of journalists and all significant government actions classified — and you can see we are entering the Age of the Outlaw Journalist.

Corporate journalists will no doubt remain free to report on whatever they like, as long as it isn’t important.