Pretty quiet at the Spartan Bar these days. Mr. Blood must be home for the holidays, or something.
In any event, I wish a Happy New Year to all the kids. In the coming year, I hope to be a better person and to spread a message of Peace, Love, and Magic throughout the world. Feel free to join in, wherever you are.
jim p

Ahmet Ertegun, Annapolis class of 1944, passed on today without ever having signed the Spartans.

Berlin Alexanderplatz

Since I’m on the subway forty-five minutes a day each way and am also sort of broke, I have been spending my commute time with books I own but haven't read in a long time. This week it’s been Berlin Alexanderplatz, and the copy I’ve been reading was left by Lee Preston when he visited us in Switzerland, inscribed with his name and the price of the book in deutsche marks. Jim, if you want it back I’ll return it when I’m done, though it’s a little worn from four readings and twenty years on the shelf and in boxes. I also have the Fast Fun copy of Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften, which may also be due for an underground re-read.

Decorating

This weekend we got a christmas tree and decorated it, hung a few garlands around, etc. The kids take care of most of it. Jessie spent the whole time singing "The Girl with Faraway Eyes". I thought it was a good choice.

Full Moon

The Japanese I learned see the Man in the Moon as a rabbit, pounding rice for mochi. He still looks like Jackie Gleason to me.

I think that Mumbai may be in the future, I forget how the International Dateline falls but I think it may already be the 2nd in India, in which case it’s not too early to wish Jimmy a happy birthday or if I’ve gotten it backwards then I can be the first. Happy birthday Jim. We’re all brothers on tomorrow.

Ubu Graib

Wow, beautiful and Ig-worthy. Everything but the peanut butter.

You know speaking of torture and performance, I've long been struck by the resemblance between the masked victim at Abu Graib and that world-consuming conquering swine without a conscience, Pa Ubu. Maybe if I'm in DC sometime we can do a performance of Pere Ubu in the 21st Century (and invite Iggy).