Welcome to a Chronicle of Culture
Posted in Books, Life During Wartime, Music, Politics, Sports, Technology, Visual arts on Sep 5th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: Sept. 5
This morning’s coffee is from the island of Java. I’ve loaded the five-CD changer with all John Coltrane.
1, Page One at a glance: Democrats are calculating which of their candidates are hopeless causes in the November election and will [...]
Posted in Books, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Science on Aug 29th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: Aug. 29
Still no end to these awesome Upstate New York global warming mornings. The coffee’s on, last of the stuff from some island in the Flores Sea. First music of the day: Now is the Hour, Charlie Haden Quartet West.
1, In today’s lead [...]
Posted in Books, Life During Wartime, Music, Politics, Science on Aug 15th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: Aug. 15
The coffee this morning comes from an island off Sumatra. “You get a geography lesson with every cup,” said my coffee guy, Java Joe, as he filled my usual order for a pound of whatever beans he was roasting that day, and [...]
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: Aug. 8
I generally don’t remember my dreams; but last night, John Mellencamp came to stay at our house while he recorded his new album. He was kind of a talkative guy, and while we were sitting around the dining room table, listening to [...]
Posted in Books, Music, Politics, Technology on Jul 25th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: July 25
First music of the Day: The Flaming Lips’ re-interpretation of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, in its entirety.
1, Scholars who have analyzed the Supreme Court of Chief Justice John Roberts, now in its fifth year, say it is the most [...]
Posted in Music on Jul 24th, 2010
A magical mystery acid trip
In recent years, I’ve turned my back on mega-rock shows at overstuffed venues; the same re-packaged tricks, nothing new, even the best artists’ creativity stifled by the sheer logistics of bringing the ideas to stage. I’ve retreated to the intimacy of club shows, where the audience can connect with the performer.
And [...]
Posted in Books, Cuisine, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Sports, Visual arts on Jun 6th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: June 6
Nine days without a blog. Sorry! I’ve been busy. The barbecue team, The Smokin’ Dopes, stunned the Memorial Day competition here with a first-place finish (more on that in a day or two). Bob Dylan’s 69th birthday was noted with a deranged [...]
Posted in Life During Wartime, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Sports, Visual arts on May 23rd, 2010
I read the Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: May 23
First music of the day: The Allman Brothers Band’s Eat a Peach, because it was in the CD player from last night. Two big pork shoulders are already in the smoker, to be joined by a rack or two of ribs as [...]
Posted in Books, Cuisine, Music, Philosophy, Politics on May 16th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: May 16
1, The fascinating lead story of the day, “For Times Sq. Suspect, Long Roots of Discontent,” examines the man accused of leaving a bomb in Times Square. Faisal Shahzad was living a successful life in the United States, yet did not know [...]
Posted in Books, Life During Wartime, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Science, Visual arts on May 2nd, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: May 2
It is a morning of scents here. A salmon, for my friend Frank’s 70th birthday later today, is in the smoker on the deck. The lilacs have peaked, the flowering crabapple tree is an explosion of white blossoms.
1, No one’s shouting “Drill, [...]