We have been having an unusually cool summer here in The Old South. A little hotter during the day, but the nights are cooling off nicely...which is highly unusual...
If this is global warming then I am glad Al Gore invented it!
You may know that I am a pretty active cook at home. Usually it is too hot in the summer and I have been getting away with steamed fish with rice...
However today I made a yummy frittata. My technique is really simple:
Sautee a bunch of garlic in olive oil. Whip the shit out of a bunch of eggs. I needed to use a full dozen as I had accidentally bought medium eggs. :) Dump 'em in a pan that is just hot enough to begin the eggs a-cookin'. Using my kitchen shears, I then roughly sliced in a bunch of crisp-cooked turkey bacon. In the meantime I had added a number of spices - oregano, thyme, rosemary. One could also add cheese at this point. The choice of additions largely determines the style of course. Mine was leaning towards Italy, a replacement with chorizo instead of bacon and you are in South America, etc. Use a spatula to keep the egg from cooking up on the side. Move the half cooked egg gently toward the center allowing fresh egg to pour in and start to set. When you begin to get "that cooked egg smell" the bottom is setting up. Pop into a 375 degree oven for about 7 minutes. Pull out and flip onto a plate so that golden crust catches the eye. I like to sprinkle fresh basil on top because about 17 seconds after it hits that hot egg it gives off an aroma that may literally lead to a kind of olfactory orgasm. I have a really big nose by the way.
:)
Here is another take by Alton Brown:
6 eggs, beaten 1-ounce Parmesan, grated 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Pinch salt 1 teaspoon butter 1/2 cup chopped roasted asparagus 1/2 cup chopped country ham 1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
Preheat oven to broil setting.
In medium size bowl, using a fork, blend together eggs, Parmesan, pepper, and salt. Heat 12-inch non-stick, oven safe saute pan over medium high heat. Add butter to pan and melt. Add asparagus and ham to pan and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour egg mixture into pan and stir with rubber spatula. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the egg mixture has set on the bottom and begins to set up on top. Sprinkle with parsley.
Place pan into oven and broil for 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned and fluffy. Remove from pan and cut into 6 servings. Serve immediately.
For those of you interested in new music, my new CD - Blue Turns Black - will soon be available on ITunes (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Japan), Napster, Emusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon.
Check out the following links to preview the new CD, enjoy free downloads from my previous releases, and explore this site. You can also explore Blue Turns Black using the player on the right side of this page.
Be gentle in your sleepy hands on this world. Be a killer in Heaven.
Bastille Day shares it's July 14th with
the anniversary of the killing
of William Bonnie by
Sheriff, Pat Garrett.
And the kidsreally upandunnit thistime.
Peel the pigeons and
stoke the gate.
Mama's a-going down
to Christmas.
For those of you interested in new music, my new CD - Blue Turns Black - will soon be available on ITunes (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Japan), Napster, Emusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon.
Check out the links below to preview the new CD, enjoy free downloads from my previous releases, and explore this site.
Be gentle in your sleepy hands on this world.
Be a killer in Heaven.
I was reminded recently of the Henry Miller biopic "Henry and June".
The film is really a disturbingly flawed masterpiece. Generally derided, Phillip Kaufman's screen adaptation is based on the writings of Anais Nin, but tells the story of Miller's Paris years. The film features some great sexual energy between June (Uma Thurman) and Anais (Maria de Medeiros), a really charming Burt Ward as Henry, and the always fantastic Richard E. Grant. The film sparkles with loving homages to Dreyer's Joan of Arc, Un Chien Andalou, and the photography of Brassai.
In addition, the film became the first NC17 rated movie, winning an important war with the MPAA ratings board. Given the ground/taboo breaking nature of Miller's books, I suppose its only fitting that a film about the man would be surrounded by controversy, and freedom, and joy.
Here is a report from Siskel and Ebert about the film, and its history.
For those of you interested in new music, my new CD - Blue Turns Black - will soon be available on ITunes (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Japan), Napster, Emusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon.
Check out the links below to preview the new CD, enjoy free downloads from my previous releases, and explore this site.
Be gentle in your sleepy hands on this world. Be a killer in Heaven.
WHEEL AND---WHOA! The Great Wheel of Samsara. The Wheel of the Law. (Dhamma.) The Wheel of the Taro. The Wheel of the Heavens. The Wheel of Life. All these Wheels be one; yet of all these the Wheel of the TARO alone avails thee consciously. Meditate long and broad and deep, O man, upon this Wheel, revolving it in thy mind! Be this thy task, to see how each card springs necessarily from each other card, even in due order from The Fool unto The Ten of Coins. Then, when thou know'st the Wheel of Destiny complete, may'st thou perceive THAT Will which moved it first. [There is no first or last.] And lo! thou art past through the Abyss.
- Aleister Crowley (The Introduction to his Book of Thoth).
Whoa and welcome to this here turn on that there great wheel of fate and fortune, love and loss, give and greed, self and no self and self again and then, again, no.
According to Crowley's 777, the number 4 is associated with Chesed in the Tree of Life, and the quality of Mercy.
Regarding the year of 1776:
1776 = 1+7+7+6 = 21 = 2+1 = 3
Again, 777 would have us associate the number 3 with Binah in the Tree of Life, and the quality of Understanding.
Comparing the two numbers - 4 and 3 - with their equivalents in the Tarot, we find the two numbers are associated with The Emperor, and The Empress, respectively.
What does Crowley tell us about these two cards?
According to his "Book of Thoth":
III. THE EMPRESS This card is attributed to the letter Daleth, which means a door, and it refers to the planet Venus. This card is, on the face of it, the complement of The Emperor; but her attributions are much more universal. On the Tree of Life, Daleth is the path leading from Chokmah to Binah, uniting the Father with the Mother. Daleth is one of the three paths which are altogether above the Abyss. There is further more the alchemical symbol of Venus, the only one of the planetary symbols which comprises all the Sephiroth of the Tree of Life. The doctrine implied is that the fundamental formula of the Universe is Love. [The circle touches the Sephiroth I, 2, 4, 6, 5, 3; the Cross is formed by 6, 9, 10 and 7, 8.] It is impossible to summarize the meanings of the symbol of the Woman, for this very reason, that she continually recurs in infinitely varied form. "Many-throned, many-minded, many-wiled, daughter of Zeus." In this card, she is shown in her most general manifestation. She combines the highest spiritual with the lowest material qualities. For this reason, she is fitted to represent one of the three alchemical forms of energy, Salt. Salt is the inactive principle of Nature; Salt is matter which must be energized by Sulphur to maintain the whirling equilibrium of the Universe. The arms and torso of the figure consequently suggest the shape of the alchemical symbol of Salt. She represents a woman with the imperial crown and vestments, seated upon a throne, whose uprights suggest blue twisted flames symbolic of her birth from water, the feminine, fluid element. In her right hand she bears the lotus of Isis; the lotus represents the feminine, or passive power. Its roots are in the earth beneath the water, or in the water itself, but it opens its petals to the Sun, whose image is the belly of the chalice. It is, therefore, a living form of the Holy Grail, sanctified by the blood of the Sun. Perching upon the flamelike uprights of her throne are two of her most sacred birds, the sparrow and the dove; the nub of this symbolism must be sought in the poems of Catullus and Martial. On her robe are bees; also dominos, surrounded by continuous spiral lines; the signification is everywhere similar. About her, for a girdle, is the Zodiac. Beneath the throne is a floor of tapestry, embroidered with fleurs-de-lys and fishes; they seem to be adoring the Secret Rose, which is indicated at the base of the throne. The significance of these symbols has already been explained. In this card all symbols are cognate, because of the simplicity and purity of the emblem. There is here no contradiction; such opposition as there seems to be is only the opposition necessary to balance. And this is shown by the revolving moons. The heraldry of the Empress is two-fold: on the one side, the Pelican of tradition feeding its young from the blood of its own heart; on the other, the White Eagle of the Alchemist. With regard to the Pelican, its full symbolism is only available to Initiates of the Fifth degree of the O.T.O. In general terms, the meaning may be suggested by identifying the Pelican herself with the Great Mother and her offspring, with the Daughter in the formula of Tetragrammaton. It is because the daughter is the daughter of her mother that she can be raised to her throne. In other language, there is a continuity of life, an inheritance of blood, which binds all forms of Nature together. There is no break between light and darkness. Natura non facit saltum. If these considerations were fully understood, it would become possible to reconcile the Quantum theory with the Electro-magnetic equations. The White Eagle in this trump corresponds to the Red Eagle in the Consort card, the Emperor. It is here necessary to work back wards. For in these highest cards are the symbols of perfection; both the initial perfection of Nature and the final perfection of Art; not only Isis, but Nephthys. Consequently, the details of the work pertain to subsequent cards, especially Atu vi and Atu xiv. At the back of the card is the Arch or Door, which is the interpretation of the letter Daleth. This card, summed up, may be called the Gate of Heaven. But, because of the beauty of the symbol, because of its omniform presentation, the student who is dazzled by any given manifestation may be led astray. In no other card is it so necessary to disregard the parts, to concentrate upon the whole.
IV. THE EMPEROR This card is attributed to the letter Tzaddi, and it refers to the sign of Aries in the Zodiac. This sign is ruled by Mars, and therein the Sun is exalted. The sign is thus a combination of energy in its most material form with the idea of authority. The sign TZ or TS implies this in the original, onomatopoetic form of language. It is derived from Sanskrit roots meaning Head and Age, and is found to-day in words like Cæsar, Tsar, Sirdar, Senate, Senior, Signor, Sefior, Seigneur. The card represents a crowned male figure, with imperial vestments and regalia. He is seated upon the throne whose capitals are the heads of the Himalayan wild ram, since Aries means a Ram. At his feet, couchant, is the Lamb and Flag, to confirm this attribution on the lower plane; for the ram, by nature, is a wild and courageous animal, lonely in lonely places, whereas when tamed and made to lie down in green pastures, nothing is left but the docile, cowardly, gregarious and succulent beast. This is the theory of government. The Emperor is also one of the more important alchemical cards; with Atu II and III, he makes up the triad: Sulphur, Mercury, Salt. His arms and head form an upright triangle; below, crossed legs represent the Cross. This figure is the alchemical symbol of Sulphur (see Atu X). Sulphur is the male fiery energy of the Universe, the Rajas of Hindu philosophy. This is the swift creative energy, the initiative of all Being. The power of the Emperor is a generalization of the paternal power; hence such symbols as the Bee and the Fleur-de-lys, which are shown on this card. With regard to the quality of this power, it must be noted that it represents sudden, violent, but impermanent activity. If it persists too long, it burns and destroys. Distinguish from the Creative Energy of Aleph and Beth: this card is below the Abyss. The Emperor bears a sceptre (surmounted by a ram's head for the reasons given above) and an orb surmounted by a Maltese cross, which signifies that his energy has reached a successful issue, that his government has been established. There is one further symbol of importance. His shield represents the two-headed eagle crowned with a crimson disk. This represents the red tincture of the alchemist, of the nature of gold, as the white eagle shown in Atu III pertains to his consort, the Empress, and is lunar, of silver. It is finally to be observed that the white light which descends upon him indicates the position of this card in the Tree of Life. His authority is derived from Chokmah, the creative Wisdom, the Word, and is exerted upon Tiphareth, the organized man.
It's easy to be negative on a day like today, when our country is in so many crises at once. However, maybe today is about Dominion, a feminine doorway suspended above the Abyss, Mercy and Understanding.
It's the thinking that makes it so.
Dream Harder.
For those of you interested in new music, my new CD - Blue Turns Black - will soon be available on ITunes (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Japan), Napster, Emusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon.
Check out the links below to preview the new CD, enjoy free downloads from my previous releases, and explore this site.
Be gentle in your sleepy hands on this world. Be a killer in Heaven.
Here are the lyrics to my brand new song, "The Wicked"
THE WICKED
I sleep all day But I'm still tired This world is like A glowing wire Reaching for that pure desire Grasping my own hands on fire
It's free to start a habit But you pay the price to kick it Thrashing through that thicket There's no rest for the wicked
Evening comes The sun it bleeds Leaking like some Lonely need I thought all My slaves were freed I found them drowning In the reeds
It's free to start a habit But you pay the price to kick it Thrashing through that thicket There's no rest for the wicked
Morning and The dawn is green Crackling like Some cold machine Curving on that Cruel careen Smashing into Smithereens
It's free to start a habit But you pay the price to kick it Thrashing through that thicket There's no rest for the wicked
In case you didn't know, my new CD - Blue Turns Black - will soon be available on ITunes (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Japan), Napster, Emusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon.
Check out the links below to preview the new CD, enjoy free downloads from my previous releases, and explore this site.
Be gentle in your sleepy hands on this world. Be a killer in Heaven.
Had so much fun posting yesterday that I decided to scribble/scrab a bit more on this here e-lectronic diary.
I am watching Uriah Faber fight a WEC match against Jens Pulver. Faber is one of the most exciting fighters in mixed martial arts,
but my favorite fighter is still Miquel "Angel" Torres.
I have become a huge MMA fan, and really love the skill and intelligence involved in the strategy of each match. I have always - and still do - love boxing as well. I can't wait to watch some great matches in this year's Summer Olympics.
As many of you know, I am a huge critic of China and their appalling record on human rights. If you want to see an interesting film that outlines the collision between China's new industrial "prosperity" and the bleak life of its regular citizens, perhaps you would enjoy "Up the Yangtze".
This film is currently playing at Nashville's great art-house, The Belcourt Theatre.
Here is the trailer:
Here is an interview with the director at Sundance. He describes "'Yangtze" as "The Love Boat meets Apocalypse Now"...not quite...but still a funny thing to say...
In other movie news, watch this short film by Chris Rubin de la Borbolla, featuring my song REvolution:
In other music news, my new CD - Blue Turns Black - will soon be available on ITunes (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Japan), Napster, Emusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon.
Check out the links below to preview the new CD, enjoy free downloads from my previous releases, and explore this site.
Be gentle in your sleepy hands on this world. Be a killer in Heaven.
I wish I was writing this from the dark heart of the night in Nashville, TN, but I must confess that this correspondence finds its way through the ether from a launch pad, on a sunny porch, on a lovely, early-summer day here in The Old South.
First, forgive me.
I have been informed by more than one of you - my faithful readers - that it has been too long since I have been back here to entice, incite, and ignite any of these oddball heresies, and for that I am truly sorry.
On that note, we move on.
Some must-tell movie tips...
Be Kind Rewind is now on DVD. If you haven't seen this film...see it! It may come as a suprise - and '08 has been a slow six months for films - but BKRW is THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR.
Really and truly.
The central trope of the film - two morons accidentally erase all the video tapes at a down-on-its-heels video store and have to "refilm them all" to save the business - is only the beginnings of what makes this movie so good. Its true heart is a story about the intrinsic creativity that all people possess, and the community building transformations that can occur when that potential is made manifest. It is also a story about how we tell ourselves stories that bind us to other people. These myths are TRUE even when they are not TRUE.
Did I mention it's the best film of the year???
After a recent birthday - thanks...thank you - I received a copy of the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There. I had seen the trailer and feared the worst. Todd Haynes is not a slam dunk director (see the embarrassing Velvet Goldmine), and I was worried, but still intrigued by the idea of presenting Dylan's story using 6 different actors in the lead role. I saw the film, and by the time the tarantula crawls across the screen (you have to see it) I found myself feeling, "I want to watch this whole movie again right now!"
Now that I have the DVD, I have watched the movie/commentary nearly 10 times. Truly amazing movie.
Highlights include 13 year old Marcus Carl Franklin's performance in the role of Dylan's childhood persona, "Woody" (Franklin is the only actor who sings his own songs), My Morning Jacket/Calexico's performance of "Goin' to Acupulco", and David Cross' dead-on cameo in the role of Allen Ginsberg.
So...
What else is going on...
Oh yeah! The rising oil prices are due to the wildly inflated dollar that no one is discussing. The Presidential election is strangely full of more and more speculation in the news about an imminent terrorist attack by the end of the year, or in early 2009. There is a new robot called Phoenix on Mars, and Albert Ayler's music sounds better than ever.
Speaking of music news, my new CD - Blue Turns Black - will soon be available on ITunes (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Japan), Napster, Emusic, Rhapsody, and Amazon.
Check out the links below to preview the new CD, enjoy free downloads from my previous releases, and explore this site.
Be gentle in your sleepy hands on this world. Be a killer in Heaven.
Joe Nolan was born under a bad sign on June 13th in Detroit, Michigan in the last Metal Year of the Dog. Polymath, provocateur, inter-media artist, his tell-tale signs have turned up in music, visual art, journalism, poetry, fiction, video and film. A double Gemini, his interests range from the pharmacology of phenomenology to fly fishing; from mysticism to mixed martial arts; from Chaos to counting angels on the heads of pins. He has finished recording his third CD,
"Blue Turns Black"in Nashville, Tennessee. Click on
here, to visit his homepage and explore the rest of this site.
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