Memorial Day May 25, 2015

Yes, today is a day to remember the dead -- not to glorify why they died, just that they did.


Some died for righteous reasons -- ending slavery, ending fascism, ending oppression. But others died in the name of Empire, unfettered capitalism, greed, psychopathic revenge, religious zealotry, inept foreign policy and artificial patriotism.


Honoring them means remembering them. And I feel mostly sad that many of them died long before they got a chance to really live and experience what joy that can be gleaned from life.


I do abhor those fake zealots, though, who wrap themselves in flag and a mythology of God when they remember these folks -- who are the most boisterous singing the National Anthem and loudest singing God Bless America at ballgames -- and who would never serve themselves or allow their children to serve -- but who are more than willing to see the others die for the artifice of "our Freedoms." The others being the poor, the less advantaged, and the ethnic minorities.

 
So yes, the dead should be remembered. But for why they really died, should be remembered as well.

45 years ago exactly to the day (Friday, May 1, 1970) In New Haven @ Yale Unversity there was a two day Free Bobby Seale rally sponsored by the Black Panthers. I was there. On Saturday, May 2nd, the rest of the Chicago Eight including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Dave Dellinger and Tom Hayden spoke out for Bobby Seale; and then they called for a national student strike with three demands: 1) Free Bobby Seale, 2)End the war in Vietnam, and 3) Free all political prisoners.

"New Haven Panther Rally Avoids Violence 'til Dark"

On Monday, May 4th, four students @ Kent State University, Ohio were shot to death by the National Guard.

@ the time, I was an 18 almost 19 year old high school drop-out working as a general laborer for a mostly African American inner city rehab construction company renovating old apartment buildings in Roxbury, MA for affordable housing for low income mostly African American families. On Tuesday, May 5th, I was out on a materials pick up with one of the other construction workers when we got entangled with a student protest walking down Mass Ave towards the Mass Ave Bridge to Harvard Square in Cambridge. I got out of the pick up truck and joined the protesters. The next day I quit my job and joined the student strike, which lasted most of the month.

One month later, the beginning of June, I was recruited to paint houses in Mill Valley, CA -- and along with three other people hopped into a beat up old retired 1962 Bell Telephone van and drove three days across the country. It was the first time I left the Northeast (farthest away I had ever been was Washington DC). But that is another story that I will talk about in June.

One particular memory is from that May 1st Friday night when some militant protesting was going on — tear gas everywhere -- in the middle of a quad green on the Yale Campus (where we were billeted for the the two days), Allen Ginsburg was sitting cross legged on a stage chanting into a microphone. Tears streaming down his face, he did not break stride in his intonations. Meanwhile an assistant periodically wiped Ginsburg's face of sweat and tears so he could continue his chanting.

Needless to say, the events in New Haven 45 years ago today had a dramatic impact on my life. And I will always remember it.

 A Poem for Thanksgiving -- inspired by William Burroughs

Fuck Thanksgiving. 

Fuck the mythical "God" created by a destructive humanity. 

And fuck white people for what they did to the red and brown people. 

And fuck humanity for the cruelty and destruction it's doing to the other species of the planet and to the planet itself. 

And fuck eating that genetically fed and modified turkey. 

And oh fuck me.

Happy fucking Thanksgiving

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

William Burroughs: A Thanksgiving Prayer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLSveRGmpIE

Thanks for the wild turkey and the passenger pigeons, destined to be shit out through wholesome American guts. 
Thanks for a continent to despoil and poison. 
Thanks for Indians to provide a modicum of challenge and danger. 
Thanks for vast herds of bison to kill and skin leaving the carcasses to rot.
Thanks for bounties on wolves and coyotes. 
Thanks for the American dream,
To vulgarize and to falsify until the bare lies shine through. 
Thanks for the KKK. 
For nigger-killin' lawmen, feelin' their notches. 
For decent church-goin' women, with their mean, pinched, bitter, evil faces. 
Thanks for "Kill a Queer for Christ" stickers. 
Thanks for laboratory AIDS. 
Thanks for Prohibition and the war against drugs. 
Thanks for a country where nobody's allowed to mind the own business. 
Thanks for a nation of finks. 
Yes, thanks for all the memories-- all right let's see your arms! 
You always were a headache and you always were a bore. 
Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.

Happy  Armistice Day
November 11, 2014

Fuck the military and war -- I feel sad for veterans that put their life on the line to protect a neo-liberal proto-fascist corporate state, and to keep the 1% happily ensconced in their mansions and driving their Ferraris while the soldier's family have to apply for food stamps while they are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The leadership in this country couldn't give a shit about those people who "defend" them -- they create an economic environment that forces poor people to join the military as they have no other choice -- then when they are discharged they treat them like shit.

And what really pisses me off are all the Baby Boomer Generation fake patriots who never served or even considering serving or would want their kids to serve who then drool all over the military, are the loudest singers of the National Anthem and God Bless America @ the ballgames, but turn their backs on them when they sitting on the street homeless and suffering PTSD.

So contrary to everyone else I say fuck the military and fuck war. And rather than thanking the veterans I say do something more for them than that or shut the  fuckup.

Let the shit storm begin.

Well the mid-term elections just happened. And we know how that went -- the slow rolling neo-liberal corporatist coup is nearly complete. The Koch Brothers and their venal brethren own Congress, the Supreme Court, most of the state legislatures and the governorships. And own even most of the presidency given Obama's record. 

So @ this point I don't give a fuck anymore -- the country's filled with fucking ignorant morons who have no clue to where they fit in history. They have no understanding how fucked they are cascading down to their kids and their future generations.

The Koch Brother has everyone sucking Koch, the Supreme Court is sealing our doom and the morons are sticking Koch covered broomsticks up their own asses.

Yup let's kill everything -- our children, the other species on the planet, and the fucking planet itself. 

So I'm done.  Going forward I'll cheer grimly every stupid decision that marches humanity that much closer to global calamity. I have enough wine stocked up so I can just drink myself into oblivion when the time is right -- and who knows, it might be sooner than we think. 

Ayn Rand said once, "It's not me who will die, it's the world that will." So who gives a fuck? All these right wing ignorant morons must think the same until I guess they really get to witness the death of the planet. There will be no Rapture. Just death. And good for them. 

Wine anyone?

My how time flies.  Here we are in 2014 and nothing changes -- humans still suck.  

Iraq is in the process of melting down -- all that money and humanity wasted by Bush and Cheney - and now there is a full fledged civil war between the Shiite government of Iraq and the Sunni fundamentalists that are even too fucked a group of maniacs for Al Qaeda.

Climate change keeps getting better and better [sarcasm].

The neo-liberal corporatist crypto-fascists continue their relentless march towards destroying the world's economy.

And humans continue to eat the planet -- killing everything in their swath.

O joy.

No.  I have no hope.  And I just keep respiring and consuming as I have been rendered helpless -- and obviously that is how THEY want me to feel.  Helpless.

Tonight's vegan non-gluten homemade dinner -- Mmmmmm...

Quinoa with citrus sauteed vegetables, steamed kale and homemade curried cashew sauce w/sauteed fresh fava beans and tarragon

1. Open the fridge -- and see what's in there - -and what is in the cupboard -- then start smooshing together -- here's what I found:
2. Shuck, blanche and shell fava beans, then saute in a little olive oil with some tarragon, salt and pepper -- set aside and can either add to the sauce or for better presentation (which I didn't do) add on top
3. Add raw Cashews, a little walnut oil and some almond milk in a food processor to make like a gritty cashew butter, then put in a pan and put on low heat -- add water a little @ a time while stirring to get the right consistency -- then add cumin, chile powder and a little curry powder and some soy sauce (or some tamari for no-gluten) and some hot sauce to taste.
4. Sauté veggies in olive oil (I used minced garlic, thinly sliced onion, julienned carrots and red pepper, small purple and orange cauliflower florets and sliced mushrooms) -- near end of the saute juice a small grapefruit and stir in.
5. Steam some chopped greens (I used kale and turnip greens)
6. Prepare some quinoa (read the package)
7. Then combine :)

A thought I had a while ago

I can't stand it. I can't stand vacuous promises by phony Liberal politicians -- that means you, OBAMA -- that let the US Constitution get shredded -- ala Gitmo -- that abandon the folks who get them elected with platitudes about how their going to put on tennis shoes and walk the picket line, but when the time comes they're nowhere to be found -- see Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Idaho, ad nauseam -- that give away the country to Corporate Plutocrats while 20% of the population is not making it, is out of work and options, and @ least another 30% is desperately struggling to stay afloat.

Nope.  Can't stand it.

Just another Monday

Sometimes I wonder why I care.  Care about the planet, care about people, care about life in general.


After all, there's a significant percentage of Ayn Randians out there who puke all kinds of  short term all-about-me who gives a fuck about the future as I'll be dead anyway rationale for justifying their Narcissistic, selfish and venal behavior.


Why shouldn't I just join them?

 Zen Far East Fusion Noodle Soup

(My soup doesn't look like the above, but I figured I should add an illustration so you know what soup looks like....) 

:)

Dinner recipe -- every now and then I whip something up that tastes pretty good.  So might as well share it -- I call it

Soup origin is that my wife requested a non-gluten noodle soup


So here you go -- you will need a soup pot, pot for boiling a bunch of water, and another for steaming some veggies (and this recipe makes a rather large batch -- so either invite friends or proportionally cut it back on the amounts


This looks like a lot of prep work, but it's really easy and takes about 45 - 50 minutes to complete from start to finish


INGREDIENTS:


Broth
*8 - 10 cups of hot water
*8 tablespoons Miso paste (I used red, a white would make it a little lighter)
*1 tablespoon rice vinegar
*1 to 2 tablespoons Mirin (Sweet Japanese cooking wine)
*1/4 Tsp ground anise


Noodles
*Package of dry Asian Rice noodles ( I used regular linguine style, but a thinner vermicelli would work too) -- and hot water for soaking the noodles)


Veggies
*Fresh ginger - finely minced (as much as you like)


*A little peanut oil for sautéing (or Canola, but peanut adds a nice little flavor)
*Bunch of Green Garlic or regular garlic (as much as you like -- minced
*1 medium onion halved and then sliced thinly
*1 medium to large yam or sweet potato -- finely cubed
*3/4 to 1 lb white mushrooms thinly sliced
*1/2 cup of water for steaming


* one bunch of Dinosaur (or regular) Kale finely chopped (I bet Bok Choy, or any leafy Chinese veggie would work too)
*Five to Six baby turnips, halved and thinly sliced (sliced Daikon would work too)
a little water in a steamer#
(Note: # I think if you substitute the asian veggies, you probably could add directly to the sautéed ones and forego the separate steaming)


*1 package of soft tofu drained and diced (and set aside
* Sesame seeds and finely chopped scallions for topping


DIRECTIONS:
Bring to boil 8 - 10 cups of water for the stock   -- once boiled keep on simmer until ready to use


Base Stock
In a separate bowl, add two cups of hot water to the Miso paste and stir until dissolved -- set aside


Heat a large soup pot, add the peanut oil
Add the garlic and onion and stir and cook a few minutes
Add the ginger
Add the yam (sweet potato) and a 1/2 cup water for steaming
Cover on medium heat and stir occasionally until potatoes are 1/2 done
Add the sliced mushrooms -- keep stirring and keep covered when not stirring 
Should take a total of about 10 - 15 minutes to have everything cooked right


In the meantime in the steamer, you will have added the kale and turnips -- and steamed on high heat for 8 - 10 minutes -- but you want the veggies crisp, but not mushy


(You want the two groups of veggies done @ the same time so turn off heat when the veggies are ready for next step, but don't wait long to add)


Noodles
Get the noodles prepared by breaking up dry rice noodles into a separate large bowl
Heat enough water (can be boiling or almost boiling) to cover the noodles
Add water to noodles and let sit for 7 - 10 minutes depending on how soft you want the noodles
Drain in a colander and set aside until ready to add to soup


The Zen of it all
In the large pot, add the steamed veggies to the sautéed/steamed ones  in the large soup pot 
While stirring,
-- add the base miso stock and the remaining cups of water
--add the rice vinegar and Mirin
-- and add the remaining water
--add the ground anise
--add the softened noodles
--add the cubed tofu


Stir gently until mixed and serve in bowls topped with scallion and sesame seeds -- a couple of drops of sesame oil might work too 


(I used a ladle for the broth and some of the veggies, and tongs to add the noodles)


So enjoy -- we did.

WHAT REALLY GALLS ME

....is that these Right Wing bastards currently in the process of destroying both the social and physical infrastructure of the country and the World, took advantage of the same public structures to get ahead.  But they are now gleefully destroying that which allows Humanity to be Humane, and are taking us back to a time where only the wealthy and their aligned toadies can get by.

These wannabe Ayn Randians, and religious fanatics (wishing to turn time back to the Dark Ages) have aligned themselves with the Plutocrats (who hate the Commons anyway) and have spent the last 30 plus years unravelling the public fabric to the point where, like with Global Warming, there probably is no turning back.


Now with Global Warming, we are generally fucked -- we cannot undo the destructive force of Man on the planet, though we might only be able to slow it down.  But doubtfully, we'd be able to reverse the effects that are already underway -- especially not with Humanity still proliferating like cancer.


But we do have options when it comes to fighting back against this venal tide of wanton greed, inequality and perniciousness.  Called -- alternatives.  But for now -- I'll leave them un-described. 

It's a Thursday

When we need to visually express ourselves...

Click on me...

**>>>>>>  G-F-Y  <<<<<<**

My e-mail I just sent to the White House:

I am completely apoplectic that the White House would cave to the destructive extreme Right Wing by considering cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in order to negotiate raising the debt ceiling.

This option is completely unacceptable.

Even if the Right Wing agrees to close a few corporate and rich people tax policy loopholes, to even think of putting the aforementioned social programs on the cutting table will surely doom both the Democratic Party; and the grand legacies of such social reformers as Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson.

Please note I not only voted for, but contributed financially to the President's campaign in 2008.

But if President Obama carries through with this Neville Chamberlain approach to solving this very grave and real economic crisis, not only will I not vote for him, I will work against any reelection of him in 2012 by supporting a Third Party candidate.

As far as I am concerned, the country will deserve a Michelle Bachmann presidency. At least you know where she really stands.

Very Sincerely,

Lee C. Block

A poem written 17 years ago to commemorate a friend's passing

a recall to Antonio 

6/23/94

He was. That is true- But now we are, and that is the important thing. And were not for him being- Then this verse of tense would be but an exercise of our mind.                                           We are. And I am sure he would say- This tense is good.                                For we learn through recall- like children- the lesson he was- And we live presently  this moment alone,    a brief celebration of our life, of him. Lee C. Block

Jasmine

A picture book story

by Lee C. Block

©2007 Lee C. Block

Jasmine is my dog.

Mom and Dad say Jasmine is old, and she is dying. 

I know something’s not right because Jasmine doesn’t come to the door any more when I come home from pre-school, but stays in her cubby.

And she sleeps a lot now.

And when we go for a walk we don’t go very far before she turns around to tell me it’s time to head home.

And when we sit together, her legs and head shake a lot.

And she doesn’t like going down the stairs anymore.

And she pees sometimes on the green rug in the kitchen even after she’s been outside.

And she no longer eats my socks and underwear if I forget to put them in the hamper.

And she barely barks when the mail carrier delivers the mail.

My Mom says that when Jasmine dies, she won’t be with us anymore. 

 Mom says that some people think dogs go to “Heaven.”

She and Dad, though, believe when it’s her time it’ll be like Jasmine will just go away and not come back.

But Mom says that Jasmine will always be inside our feelings.

Mom points to the picture on my dresser of Jasmine wearing her purple raincoat that we put on her when the weather is bad.

“That’s how you’ll remember her,” my Mom says as she rubs my head, “and we'll laugh at how much she complained when you put it on her.”

“And we’ll remember her as when we dressed her up in her red sweater and Dad’s beanie hat,” she said pointing to the photograph hanging on the wall.

I like that picture because it makes her look silly.

Dying does seem to mean that everyone is a little unhappy. 

I know that because my older sister starts getting sniffles and teary when Dad says that when it’s time, he and Mom will take Jasmine to see the vet. 

And Mom and Dad haven’t been laughing a lot lately.

“When it’s Jasmine’s time,” Dad says softly, “she’ll just go quietly to sleep.”

But I’m not sure what that means. 

When I go to sleep, I wake up again, just like Jasmine wakes up. 

But Dad says that when she’s ready, Jasmine won’t be waking up after that.

“It’ll be okay,” Dad says too, and he gives me a hug a little harder than he does usually.

And I heard Mom and Dad whispering today after dinner about whether they should get another dog when Jasmine dies.

I’m not sure how I feel about having another dog instead of Jasmine. 

 I just always want to have Jasmine like I know her.

Mom and Dad got Jasmine from the rescue shelter when my sister was still a little baby.

And Mom says that Jasmine has had a long and fun dog’s life with us.

I guess that’s good. 

 But I just don’t know what it’s going to be like after Jasmine dies.

Her cubby will be empty. 

And she won’t be begging for treats anymore.

I ask Mom if Jasmine will remember me when she dies.

She says, “yes,” as she tucks me in after reading me my bedtime story.

“Jasmine will remember you,” Mom says as she kisses my cheek.

“You are her favorite person because you give her a treats after her walk.”

And Mom says treats are her favorite things.

I ask Mom who will give Jasmine her treat after she dies.

She says, “Jasmine won’t need any more treats when she dies. 

And she won’t need any other food either.”

But before I can ask her about anything else, Mom puts her finger across her lips and says, “shhh.  It’s time to go to sleep.”

Mom kisses my cheek and says, “we’ll talk more about Jasmine tomorrow.”

And my bedroom light goes out.

And I try to think what it’ll be like when Jasmine is gone. 

But then I begin to feel like I do when my sister squeezes me too hard, and I don’t like the way that feels.

So I think about the picture of Jasmine in her sweater and Dad’s hat, and I smile. 

I like that picture a lot.

Dedicated to

Jasmine Howell

1994 - 2007