Fear: Trump in the White House - MAGA Dystopia

The Book List 1970 - 2020

Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward, 2018

I started reading this today after downloading the e-book from our public library and well… the news stories are just the tip of the iceberg here. The context and the level of detail is a fascinating and horrifying depiction of the administration as Woodward describes the many incidents we’ve seen on TV and in the papers but there are no real surprises here. It’s just amazing seeing these snapshots and maps of crazytown all in one place and the non-denial denials just crack me up.

This book was highly entertaining but also very scary… Fear: The Movie will probably be out in 2020 starring Robert De Niro wearing a ton of orange makeup, yucky raccoon eyes and a Flock of Seagulls hairdo. It will be tremendously bigly.

Gumby could certainly do a tremendously bigly better job... and laughing at him would be OK.

Lou Reed and Todd Rundgren

Fifty years ago today I went down to the Electric Factory on a Friday night to see the Velvet Underground and Nazz. It was interesting seeing two rock icons performing with their bands before becoming big solo stars but of course I certainly didn't know that at the time. This was actually my second time seeing the Velvet Underground. I saw them earlier in the summer at a Be-In on the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park. I was still disappointed that there was no Nico on stage.

The show only cost $3.00 to get in and parents were free. I can't imagine my mom or dad going to that show. I would take the trolley downtown and walk over to the club. My parents had no idea where I was that night. I was just out. Because I was under 18 I had to go to the opening show so I was probably home by 10 pm on a Friday night. Well, maybe not. I had been working on summer at the machine shop where my father was the shop foreman which is where I got money for shows like this. And for buying albums too. I especially saw a lot of music in 1968 and 1969 before I was off to the Navy. 

Muhammad Ali - Book Shelf

 Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig, 2017

Read in September 2018

This is the definitive biography of Muhammad Ali and arguably the most famous man on the planet and certainly one of the most significant and celebrated figures of the 20th century. He was also the greatest boxer of all time.

The book was a meticulously researched document of a complicated man and the author had access to previously unreleased FBI and government files along with interview tapes and access to all the important people in his life.

This all made for a fascinating and enjoyable book. Not only was Ali a world champion prize fighter but he was also an actor, a poet, a preacher, a draft resistor, a racial justice activists, and comedian. He had changed his religion, his name and refused to fight in the Viet Nam War. He also fought in the boxing ring too long and suffered severe neurological conditions.

He was also an icon of my childhood and early adulthood. I remember him fighting as Cassius Clay and his conversion to Islam along with his name change. It was always an event when he was getting ready for a fight. He seemed to be on the news all the time when he was refusing to be inducted into the Army and I vividly recall those days as it was also a time when the Viet Nam War was on my mind and every young man approaching draft age.

Later we were always excited when he was fighting for the championship and his boxing fights were world events like the Rumble in the Jungle in 1974 and the Thrilla from Manila in 1975. Those bouts were before all the cable pay to see fights and were TV events that everyone watched. It's hard to believe people today would watch fights the way we did back in the 1970's.

It was very sad to see him in his later days as he suffered with Parkinson's. 

Sun Ra's Nuclear War

Yo La Tengo  - Nuclear War Version 2... with the children.

On Stage - Yo La Tengo

Last night we saw Yo La Tengo perform at Asbury Hall. It was an incredible show although there were some moments when I thought I was back in Philly in 1968 listening to Blue Cheer at the Electric Factory. One of the many highlights of the night was their encore version of Sun Ra's Nuclear War.

Glass of Beer - A Local IPA

Always looking for a smooth drinkable IPA and the local brewer 42 North Brewing from East Aurora NY is a good one. Borderland IPA

The Mexican Pet is an interesting collection urban myths.

Ever Said Goodbye - Heartache 2

Heartache 2 - Set 9 - Ever Said Goodbye
1 hour 35 minutes

1. Ever Said Goodbye - The Weepies, 2015
2. Don't Give Your Heart To A Rambler - Jonathan Wilson, 2011
3. Difference Is Time - Conor Oberst, 2009
4. Blindsided - Bon Iver, 2008
5. I'm Sorry Now - Will Hoge, 2007
6. If I Were Smart - Shelby Lynne, 2003
7. Can Our Love - Tindersticks, 2001
8. Lost Love - Golden Smog, 1998
9. Love & Feeling - America, 2007
10. I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt, 1991
11. Goodbye - Elton John, 1971
12. Till Tomorrow - Don McLean, 1971
13. My Love Is A Gentle Thing - Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1991
14. Disney Girls - The Beach Boys, 1970
15. Working My Way Back - The Four Seasons, 1966
16. I Can't Leav Your Love Alone - Clarence Carter, 1970
17. Yesterday's Dream - The Four Tops, 1968
18. Woman - John Lennon, 1980
19. Earn Enough For Us - XTC, 1986
20. Doors Of Your Heart - The English Beat, 1981
21. Modern Lovers - Garland Jeffreys, 1981
22. Looking For Love - Alejandro Escovedo, 2006
23. Crawling Back To You - Tom Petty, 1994
24. I Loved You Yesterday - Lyle Lovett, 1987
25. Broken Bed - James McMurtry, 2002
26. I Prefer Your Love - St. Vincent, 2015

Glass of Beer - Oktoberfest

It's mid September and the weather is turning... time for Oktoberfest beers. Here is another one. Oktoberfest, a marzen style lager from Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland.

Fool To Cry - Heartache 2

Heartache 2 - Set 8 - Fool To Cry
1 hour 30 minutes

1. Fool To Cry - The Rolling Stones, 1978
2. Bring It On Home To Me - The Animals, 1965
3. Oh Very Young - Cat Stevens, 1974
4. Junk - Paul McCartney, 1970
5. Everything I Own - Bread, 1972
6. She - The Monkees, 1967
7. There She Goes Again - The Velvet Underground, 1967
8. Little Girl - Mink DeVille, 1977
9. Little Darlin' - Dave Edmunds, 1977
10. Christine's Tune - The Flying Burrito Brothers, 1969
11. Our Love Will Still Be There - The Troggs, 1968
12. Prove It All Night - Bruce Springsteen, 1978
13. Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby) - Bob Marley & The Wailers, 1973
14. You're My Everything - The Temptations, 1967
15. Win - David Bowie, 1976
16. Don't Think About Her - Nick Lowe, 1999
17. Labelled With Love - Squeeze, 1981
18. Planet Queen - T. Rex, 1971
19. Say Yes - Elliot Smith, 1997
20. Crazy For You - Adele, 2008
21. Save It For A Rainy Day - The Jayhawks, 2003
22. Reckless Child - Joe Henry, 1992
23. Back Into Your World - Son Volt, 1997
24. Love Never Runs On Time - Paul Kelly, 1994
25. Missin' You - Little Feat, 1977
26. The Girl With No Name - The Byrds, 1967
27. Al Long As You Tell Him - Faces
28. Sister Golden Hair - America, 1975
29. Bitter With The Sweet - Carole King, 1972
30. Crazy Love - Daniel Johnston, 1974

Have My Love - Heartache 2

Heartache 2 - Set 7 - Have My Love
1 hour 35 minutes

1. Cloud 9 - George Harrison, 1987
2. Beast Of Burden - The Rolling Stones, 1978
3. I'd Wait A Million Years - The Grass Roots, 1969
4. Tired Of Waiting For You - The Kinks, 1965
5. I Can't Make Up My Mind - The Zombies, 1965
6. No Milk Today - Herman's Hermits, 1967
7. Sugar On Sunday - Tommy James & The Shondells, 1968
8. Because - The Beatles, 1969
9. 49 Bye-Byes - Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969
10. You've Got A Friend - James Taylor, 1975
11. Going Gone - Nanci Griffith, 1986
12. You Are Everything - R.E.M., 1988
13. World Where You Live - Crowded House, 1986
14. You Can't Say No Forever - The Go-Betweens, 1988
15. Her Last Fling - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, 1985
16. Lookin' For Me Somewhere - BoDeans, 1986
17. Walkin' With Sorrow - Hank Williams III, 2002
18. Now She's Gone - Steve Earle, 1996
19. Day You Said Goodbye - Allison Moore, 2000
20. Goodbye Again - Dave Alvin & Rosie Flores, 1994
21. Songs That She Sang In The Shower - Jason Isbell, 2013
22. Easy Come Easy Go - Hayes Carll, 2002
23. Calling For You - Iris Dement, 1994
24. Jessie - Joan Baez, 1975
25. I Believe In You - Rita Coolidge, 1971
26. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack, 1969