Happy New Year's Weekend! We saw about a dozen Whitetail Deer on their customary turf below the painted "F" on the hillside above our neighborhood. There was a short thaw which might have exposed some fodder for them. Right now it's close to -20 C (+5 F) and the air is murky. Frost coats the branches of trees and the peanuts on our back deck, but doesn't slow down the Flickers, Magpies, and Woodpeckers. One of the Bald Eagles caught a fish in the aereation pond, and devoured it on the ice.

Footbarn's Celebration of Theatre: Theater X-Net

Starring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Ida's Places in Paris -- from my first jet-lagged day by the Seine.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

Charity Alert: Make a resolution as the days get longer to click on The Hunger Site every day.

In The Community: Look for updates on the Hockaday Museum of Art's Website this week.

Media Watch: I happened to tune in to a live broadcast of James Brown's funeral in Augusta, Georgia around noon on Saturday. I still think it's miraculous that we are able to share events like this via electronic communications. His manager related one personal story of how Brown wrote Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud) from the podium. Mr. Brown's last wish was for people to try to love one another and do their best to raise themselves up. Al Sharpton relayed his words to Jesse Jackson and Michael Jackson -- convincing the latter to interrupt his exile in Dubai to attend the service. I can put aside my issues with certain celebrities to accept Brown's wish as my own for the New Year. I also checked out BET's Soul Brother No. 1 -- James Brown special for another look at his career. They played P-Funk music, quoted Bootsy Collins, and spent time with other musical successors too -- as well they should!

I read The Lord of the Rings every year around this time. J.R.R. Tolkien's fantastical spell still works for me as I willing suspend my disbelief for the experience of visiting Middle Earth. The magic begins in Tolkien's very personal forward to the 1966 edition -- names and scenarios from the author's long tale tantalizingly appear as he sketches out the chronology of how he wrote it. I think he was addressing those who had read the hardbound edition published ten years before, but those vivid glimpses also piqued his new readers' curiosity. The forward especially illuminates the character of the storyteller -- introduced in the third person by Prof. Tolkien, as well as a couple of personal insights into the gentleman himself as he laments lapses of copyright law and briefly addresses his critics and fans.
His storyteller persona unifies the entire sprawling narrative. The character of this storyteller is most perceivable in the Prologue and Book One, but gradually blends into the evolving tapestry of the novel, and is always there. The same storyteller guided his readers through The Hobbit as well, but was more prominent in the earlier novel. Tolkien's voice, derived from his real-life roles as father, friend, drinking buddy, and scholarly colleague is at the core of the story's appeal. Contrary to conventional cynicism, I believe that his avuncular personality was also a major factor in marketing the authorized version of Lord of the Rings to a public who were free to choose other publishers, but who made a phenomenal international success of the Ballantine paperbacks.
Tolkien, as author and public figure, astoundingly declared in his 1966 forward to the Ballantine edition: The most critical reader of all, myself, now finds many defects, major and minor, but being fortunately under no obligation either to review the book or write it again, he will pass over these in silence ...
I have had a lot of fun with this line over the years, and actually enjoy spotting fancied defects here and there. The overall momentum of the story survives them all. The quotation above actually finishes with this comment: ...except one that has been noted by others: the book is too short. I choose to think he was pulling our collective leg, but only his surviving family knows for sure if that's the way he felt.
Some of the Lord of the Rings' most dramatic creations are the Ringwraiths, or Black Riders. They intrude on Frodo's idyllic walk through the Shire as his long adventure begins, and the Ringbearer spends much of the first book running away from them. These dark pursuers are compelling in their mysterious menace. There are limits on their power, though, otherwise our naive little heroes would have NO chance against them. Exactly what comprises their strengths and weaknesses are only hinted at by the storyteller. This long pursuit is my favorite part of the novel because of the way it introduces the landscapes and powers resident in Tolkien's world to the reader. It was MY introduction to Middle Earth, and the visual images I conjured in my mind's eye during that very first reading during those long winter nights of forty years ago have never been supplanted.
Later on, the Ringwraiths take to the air, becoming much more aggressive and almost too powerful to credibly challenge or defeat. In the wonderful appendix Tale of the Years, these Nazgul were even mightier, but never as terrifying or charismatic as at the beginning.

...like a simple-minded hobbit I feel that it is, while I am still alive, my property in justice unaffected by copyright laws. It seems to me a grave discourtesy, to say no more, to issue my book without even a polite note informing me of the project; dealings one might expect of Saruman in his decay rather than defenders of the West. -- J.R.R. Tolkien

Here are Jack Gaughan's covers for the (in)famous Ace reprints of Lord of the Rings. The opportunistic cut-rate American Science-Fiction publisher previously struck gold with unauthorized Edgar Rice Burroughs reprints a few years earlier. They took advantage of a technicality to put out this softcover version of Tolkien's best-seller about a decade after it's hardback release.
I saw these first on local retail shelves as a teenager, and put the book on my "future reading" list. Rival Ballantine Books negotiated an authorized edition with still-living J.R.R. Tolkien, as they had previously done with the late Burroughs' remaining family. The author's personal appeal was printed on the cover, and convinced me to buy it on sight. The media controversy itself helped introduce this remarkable work to an international audience, who embraced Tolkien, and his preferred publishers, in astoundingly unforseen numbers.
Tolkien's success prompted a huge income tax bill a few years later, which the professor settled by selling the movie rights to his unfilmable story. Even though both animated and mixed live-action flicks have been made, they do little justice to the original. HOWEVER -- millions more people buy and read Tolkien's books as a result.

Raccoon out on the rear deck -- mooching on bird food and a dish of cat crunchies we put out for the stray. We had some snow flurries after Christmas, some light rain, and some sunshine. I'm doing my driving mid-day, before the roads glaze over from that lethal combination at night.

Footbarn's Celebration of Theatre: Theater X-Net

Starring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Ida's Places in Paris -- from my first jet-lagged day by the Seine.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

Charity Alert: Make a resolution as the days get longer to click on The Hunger Site every day.

In The Community: Look for updates on theHockaday Museum of Art's Website this week.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Gotta do wut Preznunt Bush sez -- bought a buncha crap, and now I'm gonna take it back.

Media Watch: Ex-President Gerald Ford died at the age of 93. There's stories all over the media about him now. He replaced the corrupt Spiro Agnew as Vice President, and slept in the White House after Nixon resigned. For a year and a half the tititular heads of the USA were Ford and Rockefeller (Gerry and Nelson). I was out of the country for most of that time, but when I came back the corrosive so-called "Generation Gap" had mostly healed over. That was something, otherwise his tenure in office was pretty undistinguished -- in fact, the very Presidency was diminished by the abuses of Nixon and Johnson -- Ford was just the first in a parade of people who were just not big enough for the job. Carter was too narrow in those days to lead the way out of Amerika's morrass in the 70's, Reagan was a shallow frontman for thieves, while aides like Casey, Schultz, and Weinberger ran the government. Bush One was even worse, as the treasury was looted under the command of James Baker. Clinton might have been smart enough, but his party was too hopelessly compromised to wield power. Newt Gingrich took over Congress and tried to literally handcuff the president with perpetual Ken Starr investigations, while trying to prevent Clinton from functioning as Chief Executive by accusing him of creating diversions whenever a real crisis took place in the world. "Wag the dog!" was the smug Republican mantra. Clinton tried accomodating his enemies, but all they desired was to disgrace him. Bush Two was the sad result of the right wing's methodical tearing down of American institutions. "Tax and Spend Liberalism" became "Borrow and Steal Conservatism." The country as a whole is now reeling from graft and incompetence, and our ability to function in the world is seriously damaged -- the consequences are dire, and will get worse unless those whom we have chosen to lead include REALITY on their agendas.
In the meantime, the office of President of the United States continues to be held by a stooge, and the act of running for that office has become a humiliating dog and pony show where the candidates grovel for money and spout focus-group nonsense for cynical media who are only interested in sound-bites. Brilliant people like Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rev. Jesse Jackson bray like jackasses when they go on display in this putrid arena. They, and others, undermine their good works by playing egotistical games, when they should be paying attention to the problems they are paid to solve. We need a whole new paradigm for the Presidency, and election to the office. Coarse circumstances will force changes if a responsible society doesn't decide what is best for themselves.

Some positive notes: Betty Ford is still alive, and has made enormous contributions to our society by her courage and integrity. The way she used her high social station to help repair addiction's damage to countless lives, including her own, demonstrated uncommon bravery. I will also say that Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter grew a great deal after the madness which is and was the White House almost destroyed them and their family. I'll even note that Nancy Reagan learned much from the ordeal with her husband's Alzheimer's Disease.


(Left) White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen announcing Nixon's imminent resignation in July 1974, as drawn by me from the TV screen in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. (Right) A fantasy sketch, done the next moment, of soon-to-be President Ford laughing his ass off about it all.

Life near the big woods -- those Bald Eagles continue to get TOO close to the back deck, and my cats, in the mornings. (See picture below.) The suet feeders are welcome to Flickers, Woodpeckers, Magpies, and Chickadees. I don't mind the Deer gleaning a few extra Sunflower seeds, but I'm throwing them under rocks and logs so the Pheasants have a chance of having some when they visit.


A mid-December morning on Middle Foy's Lake, with a Bald Eagle parked on the ice about thirty yards from my back deck, after he/she had dived low overhead a few minutes earlier.

Footbarn's Celebration of Theatre: Theater X-Net

Starring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Ida's Places in Paris -- from my first jet-lagged day by the Seine.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

Charity Alert: Make a resolution as the days get longer to click on The Hunger Site every day.

In The Community: I am going to update the Hockaday Museum of Art's Website over the next week and a half, otherwise I'm off work until 2007! The Hockaday published a slick-cover annual report this year for the first time since I've been there. Most of the photos were by me -- which makes sense, since that's a major part of my job.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Yes, I did it again -- went shopping on a pre-Christmas weekend. Smiles and patience are the best strategies for getting through crowds of people on foot. Cars though -- patience kept me alive and insurable in slow/stop traffic, and John Coltrane's Giant Steps with Mr. PC kept that smile on my face through those backed-up parking lots. Gotta do wut Preznunt Bush sez -- buy more crap. Speaking of which, why are there so many horror/slasher movies coming out in theaters NOW? Those ads are all over the TV -- reminds me how much I like Halloween, but REALLY...

Media Watch: Sam Raimi's Evil Dead 2 was on the satellite -- the lead actor did a great job of slapstick clowning in a horror movie context. Raimi has given the movie-going public a lot of fun over the last 20-plus years since this sophomore film. Most of his work shows a personal and humorous point of view. Hercules -- The Legendary Journeys and Xena, Warrior Princess had their unique moments on TV. He was ideal as director of the Spider Man movies, in my opinion, the first one showing on prime-time TV Christmas Eve.
Real Books -- Adventures from the Technology Underground by William Gurstelle describes people who love to create sparkling, noisy Tesla coils, model rockets that are too damn big, flame-throwers, dangerously destructive machinery, and various catapulting machines -- the latter gathered in Deleware for "Punkin' Chunkin'" competitions. Burning Man gets a mention, plus some of the San Francisco artists who enjoy playing with fire and blowing s*** up! Crimson Rose, the Naked Fire Goddess, and Burning Man administrator is not mentioned, but a number of her friends are.
Henry Louis Gates was on Book TV talking about the Encyclopedia Africana project he undertook under the posthumous influence of W.E.B. DuBois, who originally proclaimed this idea after a vivid dream in 1909 -- the lecture was funny poigniant., and even scholarly. (The Encyclopedia Judaica created enormously positive effects worldwide for another dispersed ethnicity in 1907.) Gates sure liked the multi-media embedded in his now-published encyclopedia, which was something that DuBois probably never "dreamed" about. Ironically, DuBois died the night before Martin Luther King gave the I Have A Dream speech during the March On Washington in 1963. His last telegraphed words were read to the crowd immediately afterwards.
This program was followed by a discussion about author interviews in the Paris Review -- pieces which stand on their own, even in the glare of reflected glory. On another CSPAN channel, PBS veterans Cokie Roberts, Linda Wertheimer, and Nina Totenberg shared a panel about Journalism -- they had a lot to say, but it was too bad how deeply they were in denial about their unfortunate roles as conduits of governmental and corporate propaganda (so-called talking points) in return for too-easy access to the corridors of power.
"First with a sound bite" doesn't wash as a scoop -- and accomodating corrupt right-wing apparatchiks who despise you and your employer doesn't wash as a survival tactic.
I'm dissing Roberts the most, I will never forgive her for that vile "values voters" abomination she channeled for Karl Rove in 2004, unless she apologizes one day. Twenty five years of integrity in trade for introducing a Dan Quayle-like hand-me-down cynical joke on public sensibility -- bad deal, Miss Boggs!
Totenberg has been much more timorous since she was threatened with arrest over a congressional corruption leak. Wertheimer ramblingly admitted to feeling more fear -- sad all way around.
Lightening up with NFL Football -- Winners go to the playoffs, losers go home during this part of the season. Running back Reggie Bush of New Orleans is cleansing some of the stains off of his surname. The New England Patriots are no longer unstoppable, but still dam' tough. Commercials are still dam' obnoxious -- talking boogers anyone? (Thought not.)
Snowy and cold in Denver, the alternative would be cold and snowy in Cincinatti. San Diego looked pretty strong against Seattle, but I wouldn't want to jinx anybody. I continued to calm down with the wonderfully vulgar and funny Triumph the Insult Dog plus Web Junk 2006 -- host Patrice O'Neil has the knack of milking laughs out of dorky video clips in the latter show.
Monday Night Football was played in rainy Miami, Florida. As Patrice O'Neil himself might say: The teams showed some 'TUDE! -- Ineptitude!
Zero to zero for most of the game, and when the rain slackened, both squads started scoring until time ran out for one of them.

Milestones: One of the greatest artists of the 20th Century passed away over the Christmas weekend -- James Brown lived up to all those hyperbolic titles like: Hardest Working Man In Show Business; Mister Dynamite; Soul Brother Number One; and Godfather of Funk. He was an electrifying singer, dancer, and songwriter. He also led some of the best show bands in history, with the able help of Jimmy Ellis, Bobby Bird, John Starks, Bernard Odom, Melvin Parker, and the fabulous Maceo Parker -- to pick out a few names among many.
In my own white-bread life, James Brown's groundbreaking single Papa's Got A Brand New Bag was unlike anything else on the charts in 1965. His rise to super-stardom in the wake of the Civil Rights Act was testimony to a fundamental change in U.S. culture, and his hard-driving music presented a creative challenge to the entire world in it's excellence and originality. I Feel Good (I Got You) secured his status as a star. His ever-developing rhythmic style co-opted the term Funk, and he turned it into a popular genre of it's own, as listening to Cold Sweat and Sex Machine will prove.
Clyde Stubblefield's drum solo on Cold Sweat itself is a classic -- and the "Funky Drummer" is still gigging in the Midwest. Cincinatti brothers Bootsy and Phelps Collins stood next to Brown onstage when they were barely out of high school -- after J.B. fired them, George Clinton needed their services badly and P-Funk made a quantumm leap when they signed on and started writing songs with George and Bernie Worrell. Maceo Parker even played with both Brown's band and P-Funk in the 70's and 80's.
As my informational tangents demonstrate, James Brown was a focus-point of creative energy, and his influence radiated throughout musical culture until the end -- his inspiration will continue, and I'll always appreciate him.