Gold Bug

Just finished The Gold Bug Variations by Richard Powers. Concentrated prose style. Intricate subject matter entwined with a very humane, personal plot. Learned a bit about genetics and theory of The Goldberg Variations. Very satisfying. I'd say its a very good novel; that's meant as high praise. To pull off something this ambitious without falling into the mud requires real talent and great discipline. Recommended to people who love writing and literature and have 650 pages of thoughtful concentration to spare. Its enjoyable, satisfying and pays dividends.

That was hard to write. It's kind of hard to explain this book.

Prince

has arguably had a longer run of pure genius than the Godfather hisself. If we grant that JB was (merely) a great stylist until Out of Sight in '64. And give him until Living in America in '85 (which is generous) thats 21 years. Prince released Dirty Mind in 1980 and if you ask me, which you have just done, he's going as great as ever. That's 26 years and counting.

Who else do we have? Duke hit the Cotton Club in '27 and never dropped the ball before passing in '74. Thats 47 years. Mingus '53 or so until '75. Dizzy counts, but didn't really reinvent himself after the awesome afro-cuban big bands in the mid-50s. Oh, duh, Miles: Birth of the Cool in '49 until passing in '91. 42 years.

So longest reign of Geniusosity, in order: 1)Duke 2)Miles 3)Prince.

Jack London

Kenwood Jack London Zinfandel '03. Lovely. Structured, big but not overripe. Less fruity than Rosenblums I've had. Opens up beautifully at the end of the bottle. $20 at the corner. **. With rice and beans. I don't like the tequila in the sausage. Adds a harsh, acidic note.

Tears When

The incomprehensible gulf between the real and the possible is recognized.

Neither Beauty

Nor grace, nor compassion.

We aim for efficiency.

Lincoln Center Electric

Flea on a Josh Redmon album. Brad Mehldau on a John Patitucci album. Marcus Miller at Lincoln Center. I was *there*, 15 years ago... What I/they see is a blending of electric/acoustic that doesn't degenerate into chops-fest because performance is subsumed in strong composition and the discipline required of great jazz. Earlier success was had by Weather Report and Miles; they were followed by jazzy jammers playing rock music that didn't rock. Give me Eddie Van Halen any time...

Also, bass guitar can blend beautifully with acoustic instruments; providing stronger harmonic support than the fuzzy intonations of an upright :).

Also, Patitucci seems to be wimping out of the quest to integrate bass guitar functionally into a post bop context. Using it almost exclusively for melodic and solo work, even playing guitar while his upright supplies the bass. So sad :(.

And what's up with the cult of Anthony Jackson? Only recent "jazz" I could find is an annoying work by Steve Smith. Bad songs, annoying keyboard, stiff stiff stiff drumming. Jackson's tone is nice. And Dave Liebman is excellent, but that hardly compensates. Please explain.

Town Hall Impeachment Event

Short Version:

Rep. John Conyers: We're slowly building a comprehensive case. We'll be able to implement it when Democrats control congress and can form a Select Committee. First charges will be on the false case for Iraq.

Michael Ratner: Comprehensive is good, but we have a prima facie "slam dunk" (twitters all around) on 3 other charges:

1) Domestic surveillance in violation of FISA

2) Torture in violation of the Anti-Torture Act

3) What was the third charge? Maybe it was disclosing identity of NOC operative. Answers here:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ccr/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2702

Also, articles based on secret Cambodia bombing actually didn't make it out of committee when Nixon was impeached. Foreign affairs may be tougher than the "slam dunk" articles outlined above.

Liz Holtzmann: Recent disclosure of concealing White House emails relating to the Plame investigation point to a clear charge of Obstruction of Justice. Nearly identical to the first thing Nixon was succesfully indicted on.

Also, with Conyers: This is doable. Think how far off the reservation MLK was when he announced comprehensive coordinated civil rights movement. How much support Nixon had when impeachment was initiated against him.

John Dean: Impeachment is technically viable and laudable. Not sure its politically plausible. Facetiously pointed out that the remedy of a Cheney presidency may be worse than the illness. Also made interesting point that (he was there) Nixon was ready and willing to fight to the bitter end. He only abandoned the effort when his staff stopped supporting. This happened after some lower-lever indictments and on the eve of congressional efforts urging him to step down.

Me: Perhaps a Rove/Cheney indictment could trigger something similar in this case.

Lewis Lapham: Impeachment is a good remedy instituted by the authors of the constitution. It provides a constitutional means to protect the Republic from extra-constitutional activities. It should be used more often.

Q&A: after being implored several times by the moderator, panelists and audience, questioners insisted on pontificating rather than presenting questions to the extraordinarily qualified panel.