Michael Russell

Imogen Heap has been nominated for Best New Artist? Her first CD came out in 1998. This should have been Bob Dylan's year ("Modern Times" is fantastic), yet his album wasn't nominated for Album Of The Year or Record Of The Year, ridiculous. As for the Dixie Chicks, politics aside, they are a very good pop-country band. They're not any less deserving of their nominations than any of the other artists they are up against. Mick

Seems to be a rather Boomercentric list, don't you think? Oh, yea, it's Rolling Stone. Kori, what would be your top ten songs and top ten albums of all time? Here are mine: Top 10 Songs 10: Something-the Beatles 9: Heroes-David Bowie 8: Love Will Tear Us Apart-Joy Division 7: God Bless The Child-Billie Holiday 6: Blowin In The Wind-Bob Dylan 5: Fool On The Hill-The Beatles 4: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain-Willie Nelson 3: That's Entertainment-the Jam 2: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry-Hank Williams 1: In My life-the Beales Top 10 albums: 10: Sweetheart Of The Rodeo-The Byrds 9: The Doors-The Doors 8: Tapestry-Carol King 7: Blue Joni Mitchell 6: Los Angeles-X 5: Let It Be-The Replacements 4: Harvest-Neil young 3: Are You Experienced-The Jimi Hendrix Experience 2: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan-Bob Dylan 1: Kind Of Blue-Miles Davis Of course in a top ten list you always leave something out. My apologies in advance. Mick

Don't forget desert! Pumpkin Pecan Pie Pumpkin Layer: 1 cup 100% pure pumpkin puree 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 unbaked 9-inch deep-dish pie shell (4 cup volume) Pecan Layer: 2/3 cup light corn syrup ½ cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 3 tablespoons butter or margarine (melted) ½ teaspoon vanilla 1 cup pecan halves For pumpkin layer: combine pumpkin, sugar, egg and pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl; stir well. Spread over bottom of pie sbell For pecan layer: combine com syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla in same bowl; stir in nuts. Spoon over pumpkin layer. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on Wire rack. Makes 8 servings

I was having fun on youtube this evening when I came across by one of the best bands no one has ever heard of, The Drive By Truckers. With all the debate going on about the war in Iraq, this video is a reminder of the real tragedy of war.

Turducken You better have that bottle of aspirin handy. :sick: Mick

Here's another poem from my favorite American poet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwnBoUKeTXw...search=bukowski Mick, I’m sure you’ve seen the movie Barfly? I love that movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtR05Um3J3g I don’t if I mentioned it, but I painted a “realistic” painting the Bukowski. He is cast in German Expressionist like lighting, and cigarette smoke almost obscures his features. I think you would really like this. I think even that site would like. Maybe. In any event, it will appear in Icons and Idols. -Victor- Victor, Yes, I've seen Barfly. It was a good film, but I thought that Mickey Rourke played Hank a bit too over the top. I like your caricature painting of Bukowski. That other site is full of pompous asses! I'm looking forward to the release of Icons and Idols.

So much for my Butternut Squash Gratin. :sick:

Here's another poem from my favorite American poet. [video removed by youtube]

May I share a poem?

I know. Don't tell the food police, but this dish won't work using low-fat or non-fat milk and cream. Besides, we all deserve to splurge on Thanksgiving! Mick

Here's a delicious and easy to prepare side. Butternut Squash Gratin 8 servings 3 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1/3 cup flour 1 cup grated parmesan cheese 2 large leeks (white and light green parts only), split lengthwise and thinly sliced 1 teaspoon salt 11/2 cups milk 11/2 cups heavy cream 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 21/2-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, toss squash with flour until coated. Place half the squash in baking dish. Sprinkle with leeks and half the cheese. Top with remaining squash and cheese. In same bowl with any remaining flour, combine milk, cream, nutmeg, ginger and pepper, and mix well. Pour over squash. Bake 1 hour, or until squash is tender and sauce is thick and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Indeed! And yes, in my previous post I meant "Hurt", not "Crown of Thorns". Another gem from the "American series" is "The Beast In Me" written for Cash by his former son-in-law Nick Lowe.

I believe Rick Rubin recommended that Cash cover NIN's "Crown of Thorns". Rubin is a genius. Mick

Rand's *real* thoughts on Christmas: From the Ayn Rand Lexicon: Objectivism from A to Z:

A tender poem from a "dirty old man". Confession waiting for death like a cat that will jump on the bed I am so very sorry for my wife she will see this stiff white body shake it once, then maybe again "Hank!" Hank won't answer. it's not my death that worries me, it's my wife left with this pile of nothing. I want to let her know though that all the nights sleeping beside her even the useless arguments were things ever splendid and the hard words I ever feared to say can now be said: I love you. Charles Bukowski

Victor, Lenny Bruce would be a great subject for a Victor Pross caricature. Have you already painted him?

Victor, here are some great anti Che t-shirts. You can find them here. Mick

The idiot Bush, of course, and that dick Cheney! Mick

Your painting of The Rolling Stones is hilarious, btw. Mick

Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, The Beatles, The Who, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin ... I could go on and on. Mick

Larry Flynt and Vaclav Havel. Larry Flynt for exposing the puritanical and anti freedom feminist movement as having more in common with the religious right than those who advocate for liberty. Vaclav Havel for his excellent writing and for being a champion of freedom. I've removed the pics in order to keep the focus on Victor's art. Mick

Victor, I love your painting. As for the text blocks, in my opinion they add to the painting. While reading them, I'm reminded of John Lennon's goofiness, and I say that with affection. In a world gone mad we can use a few more John Lennons in the world. Mick

Perhaps military recruiters should reach out to those ARI hawks who are gung-ho for a new crusade in the Middle East. These new recruits can call themselves the Yaron Brook Brigade. Mick

Matus, John Lennon was not a communist or a fascist. To compare him with Stalin and Hitler on the basis of his song “Imagine” is absurd. The only electoral politics that Lennon was involved in that I know of was his work for George McGovern, who was a fighter pilot against the fascists in World War II. Mick

Matus1976: "Lennon was an idealogical communist or an anarcho-socialist, as such he was anti-life, anti-mind, and anti-human. No idealogy in the world has been more harmful to human life than communism has been." I doubt that Lennon thought his politics through enough to be considered an "idealogical communist" or an "anarcho-socialist". I could care less about John Lennon's naivete and flakiness. He was a singer and guitarist for one of the greatest rock n' roll bands ever, and he wrote some beautiful songs. That's what matters to me. Matus1976 "I find it very odd that objectivist would find him 'charming' and worthy of any praise, even if America's system at the time had faults, he was not working to correct them, but to enact an even worse system of statist slavery." I'm not an Objectivist, I'm a libertarian. My "charming" comment was sarcastic and directed at you and your insensitive comment regarding Lennon's death. Whatever his politics, he certainly wasn't guilty of a capital offense. Show some compassion. Oh yeah, you're an Objectivist. Matus1976: "I don't care to go into an exhaustive examination of the Vietnam war protests, any rudimentary investigation will reveal it if you are truly interested, for starters look at the declassified soviet communications of the time and puruse any protest photos and you'll see plenty of communist front organizations flags and outright communist flags." I don't deny that communist front groups were involved in the anti-war protests. I question your assertion that the protests were "funded" by the communists. Matus1976: "I find it disturbing that people are so willing to jump on the bandwagon of comparing vietnam to iraq but know absoultely nothing about either. They are more than willing to overlook that fact that a premature withdrawel from Vietnam led to 4.5 million murders while they cry about learning lessons. Abandoning the middle east, again, to murderous terrorism, will thrust the whole of that part of the world into many more decades of brutal oppression, just as abandoning South Vietnam thrust indochina into murderous communism and sticking by South Korea has now made it one of the richest, freest, and most productive nations on earth." This is not the proper thread in which to debate the corollaries between the Vietnam conflict and the occupation of Iraq. Under the Bush 2 administration civil liberties are eroding at a rate not seen since the Nixon administration. This is troubling to me. I believe that the movie "The U.S. Vs. John Lennon" serves as a reminder of the dangers of the abuse of power. We must be forever vigilant against the threat of creeping fascism. Mick