I Have Lost Confidence in Our Government

 

Adlai Stevenson ran for president in 1952 and 1956 and lost to Dwight Eisenhower both times.  I found this quote of his that strikes close to home.  I was aghast to find out that a majority of the members of the House of Representatives voted against expelling George Santos.  This man blatantly lied about his credentials when he ran for office.  That alone should cause his colleagues to expel him. He also faces 23 felony counts of crimes including wire fraud, credit card fraud, aggravated identity theft, and falsifying records.  He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but I expect the utmost integrity in all elected and appointed governmental offices.  I am glad that my representative, Grace Meng, voted for expulsion.

Likewise, I cannot believe that so many elected officials believe Donald Trump's claim that the 2020 election was stolen.  The voters are stupid for supporting a man who is under indictment for 91 counts in four jurisdictions.  I pray for the sake of our democracy that he is never again President of the United States.  

Is Handy Dandy an Autobiographical Sketch of Bob Dylan?

I am currently reading Mixing Up the Medicine as I approach a contribution by Larry "Ratso" Sloman about Handy Dandy which he believes is an auto-biographical sketch of Dylan.  Listen to the song and read the lyrics and you can decide.

Handy Dandy

WRITTEN BY: BOB DYLAN

Handy Dandy, controversy surrounds him

He been around the world and back again

Something in the moonlight still hounds him

Handy Dandy, just like sugar and candy

Handy Dandy, if every bone in his body was broken he would never admit it

He got an all-girl orchestra and when he says

“Strike up the band,” they hit it

Handy Dandy, Handy Dandy

You say, “What are ya made of?”

He says, “Can you repeat what you said?”

You’ll say, “What are you afraid of?”

He’ll say, “Nothin’! Neither ’live nor dead.”

Handy Dandy, he got a stick in his hand and a pocket full of money

He says, “Darling, tell me the truth, how much time I got?”

She says, “You got all the time in the world, honey”

Handy Dandy, Handy Dandy

He’s got that clear crystal fountain

He’s got that soft silky skin

He’s got that fortress on the mountain

With no doors, no windows, no thieves can break in

Handy Dandy, sitting with a girl named Nancy in a garden feelin’ kind of lazy

He says, “Ya want a gun? I’ll give ya one.” She says, “Boy, you talking crazy”

Handy Dandy, just like sugar and candy

Handy Dandy, pour him another brandy

Handy Dandy, he got a basket of flowers and a bag full of sorrow

He finishes his drink, he gets up from the table, he says

“Okay, boys, I’ll see you tomorrow”

Handy Dandy, Handy Dandy, just like sugar and candy

Handy Dandy, just like sugar and candy

Copyright © 1990 by Special Rider Music

Dance Me to the End of Love - Bob Dylan Covers Leonard Cohen

 

Bob Dylan performed this in Montreal on October 29, 2023.  I wouldn't be surprised if it is taken off YouTube.

Bob Dylan Busy Being Born - A Documentary done in 2020

I found this by accident while searching YouTube.  There is some footage I had never seen before.

My Favorite Local Restaurants on Saturday or Sunday Nights

Once a week I must get out of the kitchen.  Lee and I go to a handful of local restaurants so that I can have a break from cooking. Here are some of our favorite restaurants:

• Uncle Bill's Diner - It is within walking distance of our home.  The decor is non-descript, but the food is good and reasonably priced.
• Ginos of Whitestone - It is also within walking distance.  Sometimes we go just for pizza, but they offer a full menu of Italian food
• Bens of Bayside -  It is the only kosher deli left in Queens.
• Applebees - the one in the Bay Terrace Mall closed so we have to drive a little further to Fresh Meadows.
• Outback Steak House - since I have steak at home, I usually order roast beef here.
• IHOP - there is one at 156th Street and Northern Blvd.  Lately, we go to the one at the Bay Terrace Mall since it is larger.  I just love their chocolate chip pancakes.  Their dinner menu is limited.

 

Mixing Up the Medicine is the Ultimate Bob Dylan Book

 

In February 2021 in this journal, I commented on how many Bob Dylan books are enough?  In the 2 1/2 years since then, there have been several books about Dylan published.  This week Mixing Up the Medicine described as the most comprehensive book published about Dylan's works was published. The title was taken from Subterranean Homesick Blues released in 1965 on the album Bringing it All Back Home.

The book is unique since it unlocks treasures from the Archive of the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  It includes over 1,100 images curated from still and moving images held in the Archive.  There are thirty original essays written by distinguished scholars.

I just started reading the book last night, so I can not critique it.  Ironically, I was listening to a podcast on Definitely Dylan about the book late yesterday afternoon when I received my delivery from Amazon.  Dylan scholar Laura Tenschert was interviewing Mark Davidson and Parker Fishel who wrote and edited the book.

As the book is 600 pages, it will likely take me a long time to finish it.  It is now 1:30 PM and the outside temperature is 73 degrees which is quite warm for NYC in late October.  I will finish this journal entry, close my computer and schlep the book downstairs to a convenient park bench.

Random Thoughts of the Day

 

I am still mulling over whether I should get a new iPhone since I have owned an iPhone 8 for five years.  It still runs well, but the iPhone 8 will not get the new IOS 17.  I think I'll decide soon.

I always examine the number of hits each post gets in Bruce's Journal.  The posts with music videos get few posts, but the post about Mumbles being my favorite Dick Tracy villain has received hundreds of hits.

The situation in Israel and Gaza is so sad especially with so many civilians on both sides being killed.

The government in Washington is so dysfunctional.  No legislation can be passed until a new Speaker of the House is elected.  I don't think that will happen anytime soon.  I just dread the thought of Donald Trump being elected president again.  How can people support an alleged criminal?  His legal problems energize his supporters.