THE SIGNAL from David Katznelson
"There was no more dangerous kind of madman than one who devoted a good brain and a courageous heart to unhealthy ambitions."-Michael Moorcock
Today…in 1865…155 years ago…the 13th Amendment is adopted into the US Constitution and slavery is made illegal…at least the overt slavery that is practiced in the South. We all know where the story leads…and with this past year I would suggest that we all have a heightened awareness of the deep damage and lack of freedom that is still felt by a huge group of people who are a part of this union of ours.
Yes, President Lincoln had a mighty impact on ending a despicable chapter of this country, but he could not end racism. And 155 years later we are still under the horrible specter of how racist, powerful people can fuck up the lives of so many.
Just a few weeks ago Democrats in Congress began trying to amend the 13th to end forced prison labor…which is just another form of slavery. The flaws are slowly (too slowly) being recognized and there is so much more work to be done. There is so much more work I need to do.
Today was a big day for this country, and there must be bigger days yet to come.
Greg Dulli's new video shows pandemic-emptied New Orleans streets
Part love letter, part documentary, part dystopian saga, Greg Dulli’s new video of his song Lockless, from his incredible recent debut solo record Random Desire, is a wonder to behold. It stars the naked, quiet, silent streets of New Orleans during Covid pandemic lockdown as filmed by Morning Forty Federation friend Baily Smith using drone technology. The end result is breathtaking…hard to steal your eyes away…with the song providing a yearning sympathy of the dark time around us. Dark…but with hope too.
Michael Moorcock releases new collaboration with Spirits Burning
Sci-fi writer guru (and birthday boy) Michael Moorcock is known to many as the longtime collaborator to Hawkwind, providing literary pros of space odysseys to surf over the bands famous futuristic heavy droning riffs. And now he is back, with new recordings featuring Hawkwind members as well as members from other prog rock greats (Nektar, Blue Oyster Cult, and more….).
Joan Kee reflects on SUH SE-OK (1929–2020)
“YOU CANNOT FORGET that ink painting is a living thing.”
Noted art historian Joan Kee takes a look at the life and art of Korean modernist Suh Se-Ok.
WEEKEND LISTEN: Professor Longhair LIVE ON THE QUEEN MARY
Saturday is the birthday of Henry Byrd aka Professor Longhair, one of the greatest artists to come out of Louisiana, whose music has defined the New Orleans signature bluesy sound. We all need to party more, and throwing on the Professor makes it impossible not to. Watch Greg Dulli’s video and imagine…remember…what it is like when the New Orleans streets are packed and everyone is vibrating to Professor Longhairs music of Mardi Gras.
Terrance Hayes and Natasha Trethewey receive Bobbitt poetry awards
Poets Terrance Hayes and Natasha Trethewey are receiving honors from the Library of Congress. Between the two poets they have won the Pulitzer, National Book Award and one was a US Poet Laureate. In the modern world where poetry has been making a comeback these past few years, these poets have lit the way.
Theories of Time and Space
BY NATASHA TRETHEWEY
You can get there from here, though
there’s no going home.
Everywhere you go will be somewhere
you’ve never been. Try this:
head south on Mississippi 49, one-
by-one mile markers ticking off
another minute of your life. Follow this
to its natural conclusion—dead end
at the coast, the pier at Gulfport where
riggings of shrimp boats are loose stitches
in a sky threatening rain. Cross over
the man-made beach, 26 miles of sand
dumped on the mangrove swamp—buried
terrain of the past. Bring only
what you must carry—tome of memory,
its random blank pages. On the dock
where you board the boat for Ship Island,
someone will take your picture:
the photograph—who you were—
will be waiting when you return.
