Monday Mumbling

Tom of Finland

The second person asked me why I was laying off Palin today. I think that she is played out. I want her to disappear. But the reasons are totally ideological, okay mostly ideological. I don't like her squeaky voice. And unbridled ambition always looks worse on a woman. I know I'm a sexist. Don't bother telling me.

But my problems with her start with Drill, Baby, Drill. You see the same kind of attitude you see in Alaskans in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, anyplace with a lot of resources on federal land. The locals always think it is theirs to plunder and that they are entitled to wring every dollar out of the national landscape.

Then there is no abortion even in the case of rape and incest. Why does she think that she knows better than the pregnant woman herself in the situation? And she is talking about maybe supporting democrats. What kind? Fundamentalist pro lifers no doubt. Her PAC has already raised $720,000.00 this year. Scary. A palpable hunger for power. Can't even get along with the Republicans in her state.

Her only base to me are religious zealots and horn dogs. She is admittedly kind of cute. But totally full of herself. Responding to rumors that she resigned because of some kind of pornography in her past, she feigned " between which pregnancy did I supposedly pose?" Homely old me... Someone wrote the other day that no way does she get this kind of attention if she looks like Golda Meir. Might have a point.

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People are up in arms over the new CIA revelation. I don't see a problem with knocking off Al Qaeda operatives. Isn't that what you do in a war? Who gives a shit?I think that people are steamed because the CIA Director didn't even know about it because our old V.P. had it buried so deep. But nothing Cheney set up will ever surprise me short of kidnapping Carrie Fisher and delivering her to Jabba the Hut. I guess the CIA may have discussed some domestic surveillance operation. Ho Hum.

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Had a funny experience last week in the Bay Area my wife thought I should recount. My straight friend Ron and I decided to visit Antique Maven Isak Lindenhauer at his shop in the Castro. We stopped at a nearby antique shop first. It was plastered with homoerotic imagery. Your expert host asked if one of the work's was by Tom of Finland? Then I nervously added that I was straight and that my interest was purely academic. The gay shop owner bitchily put his hands on his hips, threw his head back and looking at my crotch said, I don't care what you do with that thing, honey. It was pretty amusing.

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Saw the boogie woogie guy last night. He was truly a master of the Boogie Woogie. But how much boogie can a man really take? A little went a long way but we were treated to a historical trip down the 88 keys. Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons. Liked it when he finally threw in some blues. He said ain't it great to be miserable or something like that. Played a celeste for a few numbers. Truly great player, would have been equally at home in a faro hall, mining camp or speakeasy.

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I visited an old nineteenth century bank in Petaluma with beautiful tile friezes and high ornate ceilings that now houses an heirloom seed company. No hybrids allowed. Got two melons, a japanese eggplant, radishes, jalapenos. Amazing selection.

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Several of my liberal friends say I have been too hard on Obama. The question is, when will we have another opportunity to implement a progressive agenda again? I think he has been a little too accommodating to people that despise him and will do anything to subvert his policies.

My conservative pals were shocked at my critique of the president and several of my latest broadsides which I dare say seemed to be rather republican in nature to them. Got to call them as I sees them.

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I have been reading the Leadbelly reader, a song book by Moses Asch about the great Huddie Ledbetter. This man is so unappreciated. The songs he gave to the american music lexicon include John Henry, Salty Dog, Skip to my Lou, House of the Rising Sun, Pick a Bale of Cotton, Midnight Special, Goodnight Irene, Rock Island Line, they seem to dwarf Woody Guthrie's contribution. Born in 1888, he was a cotton picker from Shreveport who could pick a 1000 lbs a day. He said 1000 lbs, you never look back. Ledbetter lived a tough and violent youth; he ended up in jail with two murder convictions and eventually received a pardon from the governor of Texas. He played a 12 string Stella guitar and brought the experiences of the african american in the Delta and Texas to the national fore. I created a new radio station today called Woody and Leadbelly and friends today and it is pretty good. Give it a listen.