4 'O lofty virtue,' I began, 'who lead me
5 as you will around these impious circles,
6 speak to me and satisfy my wishes.
7 Pasolini's film about Luigi,
8 can it be seen? For all the lids are raised
9 and there is no one standing guard.'
10 And he to me: 'All will be shut and sealed..'
At 4:36 when the apostles approach, the figure, I believe, on the left is Giorgio Agamben in his early twenties as St. Philip. Scorsese's Last Temptation lifts this scene almost shot for shot
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Cerrado por brujería (Closed for Witchcraft), 1963, Oil and collage on canvas, 78 3/5 × 98 3/10 in |
I.K. (in response to a Uri Avnery column): "The Syrians didn’t suddenly submit to a dictatorship in the 80s. ??? The Assads took over in 1970. Like Egypt, which it was previously unified with, fair elections have resulted and would result in leaders wanting to do something concrete for the Palestinians so the US won’t allow them, evidenced by several coups. The Assads moderated Syria’s position towards Israel and the US compared to their predecessors, but Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, and the US want them out, largely to reduce the influence of Russia and Iran.
"I agree with Uri tho that there’s zero evidence of Assad’s fingerprints on the chemical attack and that he’s way too smart to alienate the West a few days after Trump said he wouldn’t intervene in the war. Someone didn’t like the news that Trump wouldn’t intervene and did something, but it’s unlikely Assad was that person. Reportedly the Trump administration warned Assad and Putin about the attacks, which would mean they’re playing to US politics, less dangerously in this respect than the Hillary crowd would have.
“What does that say about the American people, and about humanity in general?” I agree that they watch too much TV and still take the NY Times seriously, but increasingly less so."
+ "Intended to mention that all UN statements (one, by former Swiss AG Carla De Ponte) about the various 2013 chemical attacks implicated the rebels, and the UN has made no statement suggesting any evidence of Assad’s culpability."
P.J.: "Thanks, Ian, useful comments as usual! & good to remind one that the NYT, which, given the circus, one nearly went back to take seriously again, is profoundly enmeshed with the enemies. Note that its opinion pages just acquired the services of one Bret Stephens, well-known climate change denier!"
When a person has died the men bring their little drums
Mothers of Monga yo yo pray for Monga
War has crushed him how did war crush him?
Cry my gullet, mother of Monga yo yo pray for Monga
War has crushed him O how did war crush him?
When they have finished crying they dance and sing all day long.
(P.J. translation of Tristan Tzara's translation of Mourning Song of the Ba- Totela, Batatela (Zaire))
it looks like this outside tonight only the sky is white (snow and 99% waxing gibbous)
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| René Magritte, L'Empire des lumières, 1954, Oil on canvas and gouache on paper |
Update: The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be Coach Nick. Rapidly the Eagles his starters they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Cooper! now, Quinyon! now Zach Baun and Jalen! On, Saquon! on, Johnson! on, AJ and Jalen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now beat the Rams! Beat the Chiefs! Beat them all!"
Moreover, Śāriputra, this buddha-land continuously produces heavenly music, and the ground is kelly green. In the six periods of the day and night, the heavens rain down māndārava flowers. In this land throughout the early morning, due to the precepts, all sentient beings have an abundant multitude of exquisite flowers.
(Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra)
"... each musician interpreting Alcorn's suggestion of a lone village woman raising the alarm before an encroaching military incursion ..."
