Sister Rosetta Tharpe. If ever I needed her, I need her now. Look sharp, Trumpolini. God do not like nasty.

 The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. - Sun Tzu

Spirit Warriors facing dogs, poison, severe cold, wounding and death with only an Eagle feather and their own fragile bodies. God bless them. I know S/he does.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe's 1944 hit "Down by the Riverside" was selected for the National Recording Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress in 2004, which noted that it "captures her spirited guitar playing and unique vocal style, demonstrating clearly her influence on early rhythm-and-blues performers" and cited her influence on "many gospel, jazz, and rock artists". ("Down by the Riverside" was recorded by Tharpe on December 2, 1948, in New York City, and issued as Decca single 48106. 

I Have Been Roaring Around the Net

I have been hiding, sort of. I cannot think. I cannot be still enough to write or organize anything more complicated than my morning shyte. Cannot even write to my friends. So I twittered at high speeds for a couple of days.

I am suffering from the rage/racing thoughts part of bipolar disorder. So I went to twitter war with Donald Trump. I figured it was something I could do, KWIM? I posted my favorite pictures to #resistanceparty and #realDonaldTrump.

Twitter, like most human groups, is dismayed by The Me Rampant and my account has been blocked. Always happens. Always hurts my feelings. And they need to suck up to the Trumpolini.

So when I come back from my Sister's Holiday Brunch and Grandchildren Admiring Party, I am going to point out an Artist who speaks to censorship of the odd and upsetting. And the duty and role of the Artist in civilization's progress and in resistance to Darkness.

Taste of community Art in video below.

Miracle of miracles. My twitter account is now working. More roaring from me will go on in 140 characters. And then I am going to post something funny. Maybe. Nothing funny about Trump. Merry merry.

I am Older than Dirt with Music

Today is my 73rd birthday. 
Happy Birthday to Me. 
And many happy returns of the day.

I ate succulent Peking duck from Sang Kee in Reading Terminal Market. And two desserts. My children sang Happy Birthday. I had some Loud. My friends were kind to me. I ask for no more. Life is good.

Support Penzey's Our Home Town Heroes with Music

Penzey's makes good clean genuine spices and spice mixtures. Before the election mess, I was a customer. I love cooking. And Penzey's is that good.

Now we discover that Mr. Penzey et al are good and they are good. This is the kind of man Bill Penzey is and why he made the news in Nashville.

Last week, Bill Penzey Jr., CEO of Penzeys Spices sent an email to customers, as he does each week, with a message that left many customers quite offended. The email focused on Thanksgiving and the United States as a nation of immigrants, with, of course, a marketing message (he is a businessman after all). The email ended with the following:

"My advice: Get at least one of the $10 Kind Heart Boxes, but a half-dozen might be even better. What happens going forward will be all about hearts and minds. The open embrace of racism by the Republican Party in this election is now unleashing a wave of ugliness unseen in this country for decades. The American people are taking notice. Let's commit to giving the people a better choice. Our kindness really is our strength."

I will go out of my way to the Bourse to buy ALL my spices now. Unthinkable to buy McCormick paprika in a pinch. Yeah that is a pun and I committed it. Make a point of shopping Penzey's where they have more than one kind of paprika. Try the yummy smoked paprika on deviled eggs!