President Jimmy Carter: The United States is an Oligarchy...

This is only news to those who have been asleep for the last 40 years...It just goes to show you that even an ex-President of the United States can wake up...if he lives long enough...

What Can Make Us Care About A Painting?

What can make us care about a painter?

Brush strokes:

Shooting Star (Live)

Worldly perspective

Javier Bardem's monologue from 'To the Wonder'

The Thin Red Line (1998) - Swing Scene

The Liberal Ironist's Psalter

I've been singing from it for over three decades...

Billie Holiday: Deep Song

Radical thinkers: Ludwig Feuerbach on religion

Meta-Religion

Religion and power in world history.

Ernst Bloch

The Principle of Hope.

The Allman Brothers Band - Wasted Words

Laugh First

Then cry...

Bob And The Band

Turkish Culture

Muslim culture in general and Turkish culture in particular are cultures of hospitality: where one's sense of self worth is shaped, in part, in relation to "the guest."

But, more than that, there is an overwhelming sense of cultural confidence that comes, no doubt, with long experience. Unlike the average American, the average Turk does not appear to live in fear of cultural difference. The inhabitants of Asia Minor have seen so many different cultures come and go that there is a palpable sense of comfort (though not necessarily satisfaction) with the various ways that things can work in the world. Turkey is the size of Texas yet, whenever I return from Turkey to the States, I always feel as if I have returned to a parochial corner of the planet: white-washed and afraid of its own shadow.

What Did Coltrane Say?

"A Love Supreme" or "Allah Supreme"?

"That's All Folks!"

Summertime

One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing
And you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky
But 'til that morning, there ain't nothin' can harm you
With Daddy and Mammy standin' by...