All Our Junk

Today I learned more about junk DNA, and how crazy much of it we have. Over 90% of human DNA is extra! leftover! historical! What gives? That's a heap of (unused?) information right there -- and megafoundation to evolutionary processes. Going 'small' is one way to get to the hub of biological data-passing. And who's got the longest DNA strain? Not us, by far: ready? Salamanders. No other beast comes close to holding so much extra info. What gives there? Also, today I learned Wagner's Tannhauser is not Total Wagner. That is, he didn't get into his full-voiced multi-tongued full-throttle assault til Tristan. Those before were more linear, and although the overture to Tannhauser remains my favorite, the rest of it seems almost listless compared to how he grew later. Now, he did go back and re-write some sections, but that only serves in bringing the frustrations to the front: you can hear his easy old style backed right up against some complex future combinations of melody. He stuck the ballet in the beginning, thereby upsetting the French. Also, the only real versions should be performed nude (the first bit, the humping of the satyrs). Georg Solti's 1970 recording is the best to get for this.

Robert & Rupert

Met the delightful Rupert Holmes and he was good enuff to pose for a photo with me right on. I complemented him on his 1979 masterpiece [Partners in Crime] and his brave beard. He writes mystery thrillers now. He has built a rich career in songwriting & storywriting; singing & telling. He is a genuinely sweet man and I look forward to reading more and listening more from The Pina Colada Man -- AND I shall drink many more pina coladas this autumn, mixed in my new blender, in his honor, while reading Vonnegut. Schlachthof-funf! All day today, listening to Deep Purple In Rock and Verdi's Requiem, horrific hotwords tweeting atoms into my reading eyes, up-dripping into my brain, mixing with the stereo sounds comin' in, right nice; real right righteous-ass nice Sun-day. Also, I baked a cake. For the first time. A delicious banana cake. Now I shall play "Over-Nite Sensation" side one whilst preparing treats'n'comforts for television viewing: premieres of EXTRAS and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. Happy weekend publicly protesting our wretched state of affairs, shared some time with Rupert, Kurt, and Frank.

Constitution in My Pocket

Today I've been learning about the Constizzitution and how it prolly is UN-constizzitutional itself. That is, its ability to bend with the a-changin' times is plenty good enough to keep it alive and breathing and meaningful, yet viewed through the way the term "unconstitutional" is used factionally, the document itself could actually be seen as null. Does that matter? Only as its operation as a representative of our nation's law -- not as a practicality. Clearly, it still rocks, even with a coupla flawed premises. Because judges and lawyers and students and citizens have gone over every word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, we learned its strengths and weaknesses. Then we even added to it, fixed it up, polished it -- even admitted some big mistakes {booze & slave issues- I'm looking in your direction} ... The Father of the Constizzitution James Madison even predicted its first huge test in one of his 22 essays in the Federalist Papers: he predicted the Civil War. He could see how the tipping scales -- and understanding of application of the results of those scales -- of balance of power between more and more differently thinking people will lead to violent strife. Herr Madison on point again. His notes on the Constitutional Convention are indispensable. His papers here.

Sugary Pynchon

Today I learned the mighty Pynchon can write real pretty too: Near her battery one night, driving Somewhere in Kent, Roger and Jessica came upon a church, a hummock in the dark upland, lamp-lit, growing out of the earth. It was Sunday evening, and shortly before vespers. Men in greatcoats, in oilskins, in dark berets they slipped off at the entrance, American fliers in leather lined with sheep's wool, a few women in clinking boots and wide-shouldered swagger coats, but no children, not a child in sight, just grownups, trudging in from their bomber fields, balloon-bivouacs, pillboxes over the beach, through the Norman doorway shaggy with wintering vines. Jessica said, "Oh, I remember . . . " but didn't go on. She was remembering other Advents, and hedges snowy as sheep from her window, and the Star ready to be pasted up on the sky again. Yup. Sometimes, during the mentally cavernous exercise of Gravity's Rainbow you get rewarded with sweet narrative buds like this. Bless these little pivotal valves.

Vanilla From Orchids

Today I learned Vanilla is the only fruit from the massive {30,0000+} Orchid family. Vanilla has been hand-pollenated since the 1840's. The orchid blooms around 5 a.m. and begings to wilt around 10. The flower will be dead in another 2 hours unless it's hand-pollenated. Usually a tiny bamboo stick -- like a toothpick -- is used to pollenate. If it isn't done, you get no bean. There is no aroma and no flavor in the big green bean. You gotta process it before you get the deliciousness. The Mayans, among others, figured this part out. The Aztecs prized it when they came to power and asked for vanilla as part of tax payments. So, for a while, vanilla was so rare it was worth more than money. In the 1980's it was discovered to be an aphrodesiac. Patricia Rain wrote the fab book, Vanilla: The Cultural History of the World's Favorite Flavor and Fragrance. You can hear her interview here.

Caesar Hearts Servilia

Today I learned Julius Caesar was TOTALLY in love with Brutus' mother. He loved many women of course (including those of his most trusted men), but in his heart it was always Servilia. Whoa. Here's the chunk from Suetonius' Life of Caesar : "That he was unbridled and extravagant in his intrigues is the general opinion, and that he seduced many illustrious women, among them Postumia, wife of Servius Sulpicius, Lollia, wife of Aulus Gabinius, Tertulla, wife of Marcus Crassus, and even Gnaeus Pompey's wife Mucia. At all events there is no doubt that Pompey was taken to task by the elder and the younger Curio, as well as by many others, because through a desire for power he had afterwards married the daughter of a man on whose account he divorced a wife who had borne him three children, and whom he had often referred to with a groan as an Aegisthus. But beyond all others Caesar loved Servilia, the mother of Marcus Brutus."

Hamp+Wendell+Prohibition+Suffrage

Today I learned Lionel Hampton actually helped out strongly with Richard Nixon campaigns in California ~ Lionel! What gives! Also, Wendell Wilkie, the republican candidate against FDR, was once a board member of 20th Century Fox, and also stoutly served as the NAACP's counsel for a while! Once again, huh? I also learned - hopefully for the last time - the Prohibition lasted from 1919 to 1933 ~ although, the 18th Amendment didn't go into effect until January 16, 1920 ... But that Volstead Act passed the previous October-- anyway, I got the dates. But that brings me to the ol' sufferin' for suffrage, cuz in the summer of '20, that's when the gals got it down to throw down for their first election: so what's it gonna be, ladies? Harding/Coolidge? Cox/Roosevelt? Debs/Stedman? Christensen/Hayes? Watkins/Colvin? Ferguson/Hough? Cox/Gilhaus? OK, really it was Warren Gamaliel Harding stompin' on James Middleton Cox (16 million to 9 million).

'eavy Metal

Learned loads about The New Wave of British Heavy Metal ~ NWOBHM!!! How bout some of these guys? And all them things they did, ay? Martin Popoff sure knows his stuff ~ let's see what he says. I like to think of all them band meetings, cups of tea, etc. Surely some giggles in there somewhere. Like the giggles I get when thinking about The Scorpions on a road trip in the Carolinas somewhere, arguing about where they're stopping next cuz Rudy wants grits, and Francis wants to find the North Carolina A & T campus for some reason, Klaus keeps asking truckdrivers if they "likebigloudhorn?" ... OK, back away from the Scorps Fantasy, they're a German band in an American dream---- anyway, many of those BRITISH metal bands always seemed made-up to me. Maybe that's cuz they were all indeed madeup: created. They were dreams. That's why they're succeeding in charming me ~ not terrifying me as I think some of them surely wish they were doing -- or did. Now how bout these NWOBHM GIGS!

Comics Head

Today I learned about how friggin' cool IRON MAN is. After a coupla days of diggin' the mid-60's stuff, I now know I gotta clock ALL the Stan Lee books. This is fulla boyish, promising heart. And this Gene Colan fella! Right on. And shouldn't we all be giving grander shout-outs to that letterer extraordinaire, Artie Simek? Shoot, all them cats. Today I learned about this awesome Jack Kirby Museum. Heck Yes! And just before that I learned he had a pre-Marvel life with DC Comics. A pretty significant one too with the fabulous Challengers of the Unkown and that one he did called Kamandi. Lots to look into besides all his legendary Marvel stuff: Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Thor (which I'll begin this autumn), Captain America and all those other things with which he's been involved. But this IRON MAN thing is killin' me! My Tony Stark adventures continue here in the nation's cap. Oh yeah, I also learned about the DC Archives series. Wow!

Whitman Walt

Today I learned about the early days of our National Bard, WALT WHITMAN. He was in school until he was 11, then, as part of a family of 8, he went to work. His employer recognized his brightness and gave him a library card. That fired him up for years. He soon became a teacher on Long Island. He used Socratic methods, with play and recess a big part of classtime. Rather Montessauri ... He was good but he soon grew unhappy and frustrated teaching, and started writing articles and -- more excitingly, PRINTING. During his move to DC, he was pickpocketed in Philadelphia, and arrived with no money. He eventually worked three federal jobs ~ for the Paymaster, the Dept of Indian Affairs, and the Attorney General's Office. Walt Whitman was totally awesome. You can actually HEAR him reciting here!

Beethoven's Supreme VC

Today I learned Beethoven only composed ONE violin concerto: The Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 61. It rules. There are many versions of course, but here are the cream: Heifetz, Milstein, Neveu, Menuhin. There are other special performances but these are the tops. I recommend starting with Yehudi Menuhin's {conducted by the supreme Wilhelm Furtwangler!} which you can score el cheapo ~ as is the Ginette Neveu. She plays some parts sooo small and beautiful it's like she's stroking atoms with her bow. The Milstein is heavenly and the Heifetz is sublime. Once you rock that one you're done.