BIBLIOGRIND
The Life of a Wordsmith — Read … Live … Write
Archive for January, 2010
January 29, 2010 at 4:35 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
President Obama’s SOTU tried to cut through the cynicism found on every streetcorner, bar, and congressional chamber in America. About half the country will see its positive message. About half will become more cynical. The third block will try to exorcise that cynicism from America’s collective conscience. Unfortunately, too few of that third block —the portion that counts— includes enough congressional reps to make a difference where it truly counts: the laws passed to enrich Americans’ lives.
A few highlights:
Belt tightening in Washington will start next year: it had better begin with the Democrats of their own greed, and then they must drag the bitchy Republicans by the shorthairs, always making a point to show what assholes Republicans truly are when it comes to doing something for Americans.
Raising women’s pay to equal that of men’s: congress has been working on this since Nixon; and of late dozen years or so, enough women reps have had the chance to truly make this issue a priority. Meanwhile, women still make less than men working in the same job.
Help Afghanistan’s people overcome Al Quaeda, and meanwhile ensure women’s rights in the “new” Afghan society: good luck with this pie-in-the-sky dream. But it can be done! How? Kill all the warlords; end Afghan muslim religion control. Without these, I believe, the empty land will remain empty of “freedom”.
Get Congress to work together: See “Afghan Problem” solution
Re the Republican response to Obama’s speech by Gov. Bob McDonnel of Virginia:
He’s encouraged to hear of Pres. Obama’s efforts to bring work to American’s in need. Thanks!
He doesn’t want to use government to do anything for those out of work, or without health insurance, or who need legal representation against wrongs committed by corporations. Boo-hiss! Instead, the Gov. McDonnel wants us all (I presume himself included) to trust in businesses small, medium, and large do for us what we (you, of course: I live in another country doing just fine by myself) apparently cannot do for ourselves … and be fucking happy about it! Thanks, Governor!
Same old shit from the Republicans, who don’t want government in our lives, but want to tell us who we can or cannot fuck, marry, help to die, not pray to, or take control of our own bodies. Thanks, Governor!
The Governor wants spending reform: where were you when Bush sold the country to the corporations, the Arabs, the Chinese and scared off all our true friends after he started two wars?
He wants results, not rhetoric, and cooperation, not partisanship. Okay, Governor, then urge your Republican colleagues to vote “yes” for legislation that helps both those fears.
I could go on, but what’s the point? My skepticism will keep score, nonetheless, and I’ll see you at next year’s SOTU.
January 29, 2010 at 8:26 am · Filed under The Prague Blog
“The world is coming to an end.”
“Only we Republicans can help you!”
“Repent through the Lord; pray in school; don’t be gay.”
“Shop at Walmart and all other chain stores.”
Thanks, Republicans.
January 29, 2010 at 8:22 am · Filed under The Prague Blog
Economics was his theme. The Republicans sat on their hands; when cameras focused on them, I could see the word “nigger” spoken through their lips. Obama persevered.
Will American’s want their country, or a version installed by Scalia’s Gang of Five?
January 28, 2010 at 9:00 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
“Do I hear …Â ‘One Dollar!’?”
And … she’s compliant!
January 26, 2010 at 11:12 am · Filed under The Prague Blog
Asia’s friends flew in from London for the weekend. Romain and Micael knew Asia in Newcastle, England, while on university transfer courses (or something like that). Asia showed me lots of photos from those days, three or four years ago. They all looked so young! (and still are!)
This weekend Romain & Micael wandered around a cold Prague, and then we four met at a nice Mexican restaurant, Fosil, which is now my favorite Mex place in town (especially considering the others are crap). I had tortilla sopa and a steak taco plate. With beer, of course, but the Czech kind. We stuffed ourselves, and then tramped through Prague until our legs and fingers were frozen. Finally, Asia & I scampered home while the guys continued torturing themselves.
Sunday got us outside again, but in brilliant sunshine this time. Warmer temps let us walk around a bit, through the castle, and then stopping off at the Sternberg Palace museum, which has a nice collection of old masters, including Rembrandt, Goya, Titian and other Renaissance boys.
Up on Petrin hill is the Petrin Terrace restaurant, where we stuffed ourselves (again!) on veal shank w/spinach, and bacon dumplings. Yummy! I think I’ve put on a small layer of added suet for the cold months. Nothing to worry about, and easily lost before bathing suit season. (wink).
Sunday night saw the lads leaving on a jet plane while Asia and I went to a flamenco recital cast with students of Prague. A nice dance it was, which included a belly dancer, and a finale staring the teacher doing a solo dance that rattled the floor. The homemade sangria that the bar had made for the crowd was excellent. Lots of fruit chunks that had soaked up the wine & brandy. We sat on the stairway leading to the dance floor, the only space in the club large enough to hold the troupe.
This turned out to be the perfect spot for watching the recital and taking some photos. Asia’s photos turned out much better than my own. I think it’s about time I get a new camera, but that will have to wait until this one blows up or … I rob a bank or something.
With all the coffee and chocolates and stories and “secrets” revealed over the weekend, I’m ready for more this week.
January 25, 2010 at 12:08 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
If the stupid half of the United States’s citenry still doesn’t get it, the Supreme Court last week exorcised the money limits on which corporations can donate to political candidates’ campaign funds. What this means, of course, is that all the lies that candidates use to assure their potential constituents that THEY shall work for THEM are superfluous, because now the there will be evidence beyond all doubt that candidates don’t care what their constituents need.
Good Bye, America! It WAS a pretty good experiment at democracy.
January 23, 2010 at 9:28 am · Filed under The Prague Blog
Last night we went to one of the Palace Cinemas to see “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep & Alec Baldwin. This was a smart romantic comedy that was a barrel of laughs and even had its touching, real moments. In other words, it didn’t get all Hollywood at the end. I highly recommend the film. Good writing, excellent acting. If streep isn’t again nominated for two Oscars (“Julie & Julia” also), I’ll be surprised. Baldwin, too (fat, but oddly handsome in his frame), did some fine work in there.
Also … and I almost forgot … last week at the little Kino during the trailers before THE BIG SLEEP, the Czech PSA ran a spot on “A Popcorn Free Theater”: it showed a big guy holding a 3-foot box of popcorn, the kernels sloshing from the box as he & date moved into their seats. A babushka gendarme called him from his seat, took him into the lobby, and gunned him down with a shotgun. Good satire on keeping the theater clean. As the spot faded to black, the babushka wiped blood spatter from her mouth.
January 23, 2010 at 9:15 am · Filed under The Prague Blog
Yes, people … I entered a McDonald’s “restaurant” last night. Perhaps for the first time in 15 years.
I ordered coffee.
It seems that, since Europeople like their coffee, and coffee houses, cafés & cinemas offer capaccino, latte, espresso and machiato variations, McD’s decided its restaurants needed to offer competition. They use a machine (the self-contained kind, found all over Europe) that makes good drinks.
I don’t know if America’s McDs do this, but they should. There’s lots of competition out there in suburbia. Kids need choices, right?
January 20, 2010 at 8:39 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
I like Veletrzni museum. It’s a place I return to every couple of months. The space is big, with an open central area, well lit galleries, and the curators have used some unusual background colors to showcase the artwork.
Modern art is its mandate, which includes Impressionism through … um … whatever today’s stuff is called. Post-post Modernism?? Perhaps.
The work is primarily from Czech artists. Veletrzni Palace is part of the National Gallery consortium of museums scattered around Prague (and the country, actually). There are areas that have some French masters, and Spanish (Picasso & Goya). Otherwise, you will find Czech contributions to the major movements.
There are some real beauties here, and some avant-garde work for its time. A couple hours is about what you need to get the major works (without racing through the building). If you really stroll, and have an art companion, then your time is extra-well spent. Here are some samples, with Asia and I having some controlled fun in the arthouse. In a day or so I’ll have lots on Flickr.
January 19, 2010 at 12:35 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Sunday it snowed in Prague. A beautiful, light snow that covered everything with a patina of healthy virginal crystaline whiteness.
The so-and-so 100 film festival is playing throughout Prague, so Asia and I took in a film at a Kino just off Wenceslaus Square. “The Big Sleep” staring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacal brought out around a 100 filmgoers at its 3.30 showtime. Of course, the film ran in English with Czech subtitles, but a think that most of the crowd spoke English, as the classic Bogart reparte was working on them straight from his mouth.
Asia liked the film and she’s now a Bogart fan (maybe) … I’ll need to show her “Casablanca” and “The Maltese Falcon” to get a definitive opinion, I think.
After the film, we both had a sweet tooth, so we stopped at a cukarna for cake and took it home to have with a knew concoction we discovered: hot apple juice with cinnamon & and clove. The word on this drink: needs a shot of brandy.
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