ZOOT SUITS AND JUICY JUICE

Walter says that I don’t draw very good cars – i.e. I don’t draw things that look like real cars. I agree. Walter is an industrial designer and his own notebooks are filled with meticulous illustrations which had very neat block lettered text next to them. Everything is properly labeled and explicated. My idea of a car is just something that triggered a vague ‘Ah, a car?’ type response. This is all that I require, while Walter wanted you to be able to recognize the make, the model and the year and thought the illustration color should match OEM specifications. There would be no need for questions for every details would have been provided in the accompanying text. Walter asks Linda where she things Mr Yellow Pants gets his outfits and told her that he and I wanted to get similar matching outfits.  Since she worked in an upscale dress shop, he considered here and expert on fashion. “No!”, she replied, more a command than an answer. Then Walter asked me if I knew were the word “Zoot” came from, “as in Zoot suit?” “No,” I replied, “but I know a place in town where you can buy Zoot suits.” But Walter wasn’t really interested in getting a Zoot suit; no more than liked accordians or goats. He says that he don’t really like accordians or goats, he likes the idea of accordians and goats. I ask Walter, “Why do they run bases counterclock-wise in baseball?”

Sometimes he’s a cheat and a quack, but he is trusted and respected. He carries the news, the undercurrent gossip from house to house and that is worth the few extra pennies, even where they’re hard to come by – Theodore Enslin – Then and Now – 1999 p31

On average each American tosses away 7.1 pounds of trash a day (102 tons per lifetime) – the average Dane generates 4 pounds and the average Japanese only 2.5 pounds a day. New York City spends $2.2 billion annually on sanitation of which $300 million is for shipping trash out-of-state.

An application of judicial power that does not rest on fact is worse than mindless, it is inherently dangerous – US District Judge Jed Rakoft – 11/28/11

The largest land fill in the US, Los Angeles’  Puente Hills, produces enough methane to generate electricity for 70,000 homes.

America’s “grown-ups” as the political class likes to think of itself, have never had much patience when it comes to the “children”, as its mere citizens are known – Paul Rosenberg – 11/29/11

Nights in the woods can be lonely but the morning after is rewarding especially when then sun begins to clear the tree line. At last then there is hope for warmth to arrive. Freezing toes and numb thumbs can be invigorating but it is not what I would call fun. Something is hopping around in the leave litter behind me; probably birds pecking for insects. Rodents would never be so noisy – not if they want to survive. There is an owl up there in that tree. He is taking no notice. A rabbit hops through the brush. “Float Camp” means accessible only from the river. All those campsites along the Current looked enticing on the map but I can’t get to them. I find an accessible camp-site (identified by the nomenclature, “Recreational Area”). I am the only camper. Vehicles come down the hill, cross the bridge and then go back up again. Trucks use their jake brakes. It quiets down after midnight and then starts up again about six in the morning. It’s a whoosh (down) and a rattle tattle (across the bridge) and a shoosh (back up) in the dark. Except for these noises these woods would not have been that different from the ones the Roman Legions marched through into Germany – the creaking of leather of 1,200 legionnaires marching like the rustling of leaves on cottonwood trees. Fatigued men marching in the dark in the woods have no need to chatter;  it will not relieve this gloom and of course they have no pills to make pain go away.

A music / a music / an echo of music - / Sound not a sound / in the quiet north country - / the snow – Theodore Enslin – Then and Now – 1999 p20

The last time I’d seen him he had been down his luck. He is addicted to day trading. He was a mud hen. I had seen him downtown in a street front brokerage office watching the monitors while the latest stock prices post. His clothes were tawdry and he had a three day growth on his face. Now things are going better or at least at this moment – he’s got himself a rice doll and he is all dressed up in a gaudy mauve suit. She is hanging on for her life in on precarious spin with her fingers of her left hand tucked into his left back pocket and her right arm draped over his right shoulder. He was not getting away from her so as long as he still had any money left. He seemed to have a lot of friends. Mostly I had seen him when he had none.

Anyone brave enough to risk his bourgeoisie contentment at an early age will spend the rest of his life wandering if it was worth it – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p107

Sunday afternoons drives.  Loaded into the car and out into the country along gravel roads fussing and fighting and arguing all the way. Mom finally has enough – turn around and head home. She had  made the threat half a dozen times, “Now you kids settle down and behave or we will go home.” But it had been to no avail. Now we are headed home. The next time she will be left at hone and she won't complain (not audibly at least). Where are we going today? Where’re we going? You’ll see when we get there and rarely did we ever (actually go anywhere). There sis no destination for a Sunday afternoon drive. Later on the old man just got in the car and left. Not a word to anyone on Sunday afternoon. Not a word gone. He was home by supper time. 

Whoever expects the arts to overwhelm him externally with the force of thunder… will never get his money’s worth from poetry – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p123

All unions of people for the purpose of solidarity or cooperation are ultimately, if sustained, insurrectionary

I’m so scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I’m frightened to death. They’re having an impact on what Americans think of capitalism – Republican strategist Frank Luntz

The aim of art is to construct cultural Trojan horses, something that it rarely manages to actualy do.

In the lonely business of sand castle construction, one learns that everything built by human hands is ephemeral. Accordingly, architects would be those people to whom the early experience of loss failed to stick… And the Writers? To all appearance, they have renounced the fight and cast their vote on the side of the sea – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p197

I write a poem

            Every day

Whether it’s needed

            Or not

Once, maybe twice,

             It actually was

But I can’t remember

            Which ones

                        Those were

The dream, as you discover when you write, is the fully authentic self – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p114

Those with boats are already on the lake. Breakfast is de rigeur with coffee and juicy juice. From now on for the rest of the day the heat will prevail. Beer and soda pop on ice are the drinks of choice. Bud lite must be kept ice cold or it tastes like horse piss. Be sure to put on lot of sun screen for your day out on the water.

The lights in the box have gotten brighter and flashier… but the truth dimmer and dimmer – Dan Rather – 11/22/11

Pie Today?

A little rain early. I stayed in bed. I start to make coffee but I’m out of grounds – no enough for a single cup. This demands a trip into town. Immediately – like right now!  I find a shortcut that shotens the distance by half. I went to the store – bread, baloney for the dog, a red bell pepper, beans, ham shanks and an avocado. I was on the way home. Damn it! I forgot the coffee. It is hell getting old. I turn around and go back. This time I remember the coffee (well I could have gone in and have came back out and stood in the parking lot scratching my head – now what was it I came all the way back to get? Wasn’t there something I wanted to pick up?).

What looks like the first time is actually déjà vu, a gala premiere after a long rehearsal period, some scene that memory has gotten expert at lighting – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p99

The heat is back – turn of the AC, play in the water, drink lots of beer

It seems almost on principle that he never cuts more than a day’s supply. Nor is he different in this form most woodsmen here – Theodore Enslin – Then and Now – 1999 p30

One in ten people born in Mexico live in the United States

Racial animosity in the US makes redistribution to the poor, who are disproportionally black, unappealing to many voters. American political institutions limited the growth of a socialist party, and more generally the political power of the poor – The Brookings Institute, 2001

It is 10:45. My only source of time is the vehicle clock. I only drive when I travel to my next camp site. Pick up provisions and get some ice which only lasts for up to two days (a lot less in the heat of the summer). The sun is already beating down. On the way out I stop at the river access – dark waters tannin stained. Water striders boat across its surface. The sun feels good. A truck arrives with a boat in tow. I need to move; get out of his way so that he can launch his boat. I eat lunch at Fred’s Fish House. The sign said best fish and hushpuppies in Arkansas. I guess you could mess them up if you didn’t change the oil often enough or tried to fry without letting the oil get hot enough. This is were every one in town – all the pick-up trucks congregated at noon. Must be good. “The special today is…” and she repeats her memorized speech so fast I am unable to follow most of what she says but I do make out that it includes four pieces of fish or of chicken (the customer's choice which). “What kind of fish”, I ask? “Catfish,” is if there was no other. It was more that I wanted but I order it anyway – four fillets of catfish deep fried in a cornmeal batter with slaw, a pickle, fries and two hush puppies, “Was everything good? Would you like some pie today?” And she’s now at a table across the room, “Everything all right. Pie today? You guys be good.” “Always good.” “Doubt that.” “Thank you and good day.” “Pie today?” And it was damn, good catfish, but hushpuppies are just hushpuppies. Eat your grits and bare it.

The eye is simply the better historian: it selects and compares and keeps space and time at a distance. The ear, by contrast, is completely engrossed by the present – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p117

Conformity is the counterpart of liberty and not injustice. There is no such thing as the liberty to conform; only the liberty to not conform

The Government argues that there are times when the interest of national security require the Government to mislead the Court. The Court strongly disagrees. The Government’s duty of honesty to the Court can never be excused, no matter what the circumstances. The Court is charged with the humbling task of defending the Constitution and ensuring that the Government does not falsely accuse people, needlessly invade their privacy or wrongfully deprive them of their liberty. The Court simply cannot perform this important task if the Government lies to it. Deception perverts justice. Truth always promotes it – Islamic Shura Council of S Cal vs FBI (9^th Cir Mar 30, 2011)

SWEETPEA

An inflated Popeye

            Would not Bluto

                        Make

As Olive Oyl shoots

                        Up

And Whimpie pays   

            Someone back

And just whose baby

            Are you anyway

            Sweetpea?

We deserve / more kindness / Than we give ourselves / To each other / we are gentle – Theodore Enslin – Then and Now – 1999 p38

Liberals feel that individuals need to be made free from the evils of society while conservatives believe that society must be made free from the evils of individuals – one belief could not exist without the other.

There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money and I can’t remember what the second is – Mark Hanna

If life were a bee

Then life it would be

There is no crisis zone on the globe or in the mind were you don’t run into poets, no dirty work for which they consider themselves too fine or too romantic – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010 p110

An Ahistoric Fork in the Road

On the waterfront they drink beer for breakfast – the dock workers are coming off the night shift – Bud man, if it’s not a Bud its just not beer. Breakfast at Red’s Java Hut. I’m having eggs and chili ranchero. No beer for me, ma’m. Coffee if you please. This place is crowed. This my friend is the working man’s home – baseball caps with bills front and center, sweat shirts with hoods and orange safety vests. Phil Matier from the Chronicle wanders in and sticks out his hand, “hey”, he says, “I haven’t seen you in while.” “Well,” I reply, “where else would I go to for my breakfast beer.” “Yeah,” he replies, “our city dollars at work.”. A port worker recognizes Phil and harangues him about his department’s lousy management. He is trying to peak Phil’s interest in department gossip – who got promoted and who is sleeping with who. “I’ll have to look into that,” Phil tells him and takes some notes and gets the guy’s cell phone number. “So this is how you get your scoops,” I asked? “Just sit and wait for it to come to you?” “Yeah,” Phil replies, “Yeah, like a crab in a crab pot. Actually, he says, I’m waiting for someone.” Phil is old school, pen and pad. Face to face interviews. Phil’s hot date is a two star police officer.

I’m only guessing based on my perceptions of the neither regions on my fifth-grade map. Aren’t we all victims of the limited perspectives of the lowest rung employee of Rand McNally? That shade of pink China was forced to wear reminded me of an upset stomach and it popular cure – Christopher Kennedy – Ennui Prophet, 2011  p54

Small arms fire

Weapons qualification

Military preparedness

Operation Devocalization

But sometimes

            Small arms fire

Is just target practice

Having no connection

            To target acquisition

Economics seemed to have fallen pray to the very social mechanism it attempted to describe and authorize; and the various theories merely confirmed or denied the privileges or fantasies of social classes – James Buchan – Frozen Desire: the meaning of money, 1997  p10

Trees – mostly oak – now

            In full leaf

Exhausted and eroded

            Farmland – National

Parks Demonstration Project

Of the Roosevelt years

            Eighty years on

The concept was to provide

            Urban access to

            National preserves

The sun tops the nearest

            Oak – The sky is cloudless

            Leaves waver in a light breeze

Scattered oaks in a mown lawn

            Encroached upon by native

                        Thickets

Patrol the roads, mow the grass

Birds flutter about – branch

                        To branch

                        Blue jays

Mostly in the open areas

            At this hour, there are

            Smaller birds in the tickets

I have been unable to shake the conviction that when you through open your arms to clasp life, you are caught up in the wind and blown backwards into the future – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010 p3

31% of applicants for health insurance are either turned down or quoted  a higher rate due to pre-existing conditions. 45% of applicants for health insurance cannot find a plan that they can afford.

The patient does not pay the physician for health per se; the patient pays an entry fee for admission to [a] relationship – William Ray Arney – Medicine and the Management of Living, 1984 p93

A two-income family of today is 15% poorer than a one-income family of 40 years ago. Using 2000 as the benchmark, in constant dollars the average wage earner earned $20 per hour in 1970 and earns $8.50 per hour today.

Adjectives of quality applied to money – good, bad, sound, cheap, dear, funny – are, nowadays, mere descriptions of quantity: they tell us only how much money there is about – James Buchan – Frozen Desire: the meaning of money, 1997  p18

To hell with getting “big government of the backs of private industry” let’s get big business off the backs of the taxpayers instead.

For money is incarnate desire. Money takes wishes, however vague or trivial or atrocious and broadcasts them to the world – James Buchan – Frozen Desire: the meaning of money, 1997  p19

57% of physicians under of the age of 40 say they are pessimistic about the future of the US healthcare system

I woke up behind the wheel and told my wife I’d been talking to Good King Wenceslas. A giant red ant wearing a crown figures in this story, as does the taillights of an eighteen-wheeler – Christopher Kennedy – Ennui Prophet, 2011  p61

Space seems to be either tamer or more inoffensive than time. We’re forever meeting people who have watches, very seldom people who have compases – Georges Perec – Species of Spaces and Other Pieces, 1997 p183 – But this was before the age of the ubiquitous GPS locator – turn left in one-third of a mile. Recalculating directions.

Lobsters are the only thing people kill with their own hands – Donald Barthelme – The King, 1990  p72

“This is a routine test of the giant voice system… giant voice system” boomed into  the woods – eiiiiiiiii! GVS poles with two to four 400 to 1,600 watts speakers each of which may be strategically selected for specific messages.

The thing about books is, there are quite a number you don’t have to read – Donald Barthelme – The King, 1990 p35

One in seven US residents received food stamps last year

Contemporary society is so media-saturated that it is literally impossible to see the exterior world except through the filter of the media – Nicolas Abnercombie – Audiences, 1998 p113

This is hell

If there is anything

            Else

It has to be heaven

The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed – Steve Biko

The ideal classification table has blank squares (the periodic table is an excellent example), for what has yet to be discovered – even if nothing ever fits into  the square. Blank space raise important questions.

A visionary, even of one hundred percent blind, is capable of penetrating to the very core of things precisely because he disregards all imperfect appearances with their accidental properties as merely blurry likeness. For him, the error-prone eye has been replaced by the soul as the instrument of contemplation – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p49

Is there anything more intimate than smell? The scent of you bores me. There was a peculiar smell to each love. It was their scent and not any that they put on, although there was that to and it can be captured.

At some point in time the world I know either vanished or withdrew, and another world came to take its place – Haruki Marakami – 1Q84

The wealth of all households headed by those younger than 35 is 68% lower today than it was in 1984

We have fed the heart on fantasies, the heart has grown brutal from the fare – W B Yates

In totalitarian systems the violence is waged against the body; in totalizing systems the violence is against the spirit.

Money sets standards and settles issues – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p92

Billions of dollars wasted. The damn tree huggers and the forest service, both worst than useless. Billions of dollars worth of burnt dead Ponderosa left standing. Tree huggers wouldn’t allow it to be logged. Lumber companies don’t want it after two years. Just wasted, billions of dollars worth. He and his dog Elijah, a Jack Sprat. Came from Arizona. Now lived in Caboo. He had just recently moved here. Lived in the mountains at six thousand feet but his kids it was too remote for someone of his age. He asked if I’d been fishing here. No, never been here before.. The sun is shining. I don’t know what time it is, the battery in my cell phone is dead. Why do I need to know the time? The coffee in the bottom of the pot froze solid overnight. I got a roaring fire going. A scalding hot cup of coffee. My breath condenses. I flap my arms together. Damn it was cold last night. Across the lake a bald eagle is perched in a dead tree. It swoops down and talons a fish and flies off to  alight on a branch a couple of feet above the water. Eerie Eerie. Knock knock, tap tap tap, three woodpeckers to my right. A bluebird lands directly in front of me. Hammering continues on my right and then stops and resumes somewhere behind me. I see the first flower of the season – it is pale with a tinged of violet. The sun begins to feel nice on the back of my neck.

The universe as known-unknown / has no discernible shape and not much / in it, we give it the limits and shape we need it to have – William Bronk – Life Supports: new and collected poems, 1997  p36

Yesterday’s article about printing messages in food coloring on Pringels got Walter to thinking. What if they got rid of school and replaced it with Pringles, he said. Then he says, that he had another great idea that involved potato chips. It involves Kudzu, he said. Can you make potato chips from Kudzu, I asked? No,he says, but you they could just Kudzu power. It makes things crispy. They could dip the potato slices in Kudzu powder before they fried them. Hey, Walter exclaims, I may have stumbled onto the Colonel’s secret ingredient.

My sister lives in Jackson, TN, I tell him, were the make Pringles. She could help us with this project, Walter say. She could contact them for us, he adds. Do Pringles come in packages, he asks? No, they come in cans – well actually canisters because they are made from cardboard. To be cans they would have to be made of metal. Can’t canisters be made of metal, he asks? Well yes, I suppose they could. The might be how the word ‘can’ was derived, a abbreviation of canister. But the new Pringles, the ones with the messages, would probably come in trays like ‘Lunchables’ Being as Pringles with separate messages would have to come from separate production lines it probably won’t be practical to stack them. And if they put them in bags like normal chips there would be a lot of breakage and you couldn’t read them. Except to a jig saw puzzle fanatic, Walter added. Perhaps there might be a niche market there, I say. Walter says, that it would allow you to sell less for more. I see that you are becoming market savvy, I tell him. And I add, they would monopolize more shelf space, which is another marketing ploy.

Writing does not care where its jumps take it, as long as it happily clutches the few crumbs its unknown consciousness leaves it – Durs Grunbein – Bars of Atlantis, 2010  p60

12.2% of the earth’s land area and 5.9% of its territorial waters are wildlife protected areas. There are 120,000 protected areas covering 8 million square miles.

We now find ourselves at a historic fork in the road we traveled to understand the laws of nature – Steven Weinberg