I This is the Fourth of July, an excellent day to be un– “A-merry-can”, as the Field Negro would put it, so I choose it as yet another day to oppose the Reeducation industry and its belief in the virtues of powerlessness. Check this out: Feeling powerless is no fun. A lack of control can … More More Support for the Opposition to the Putative Virtue of Powerlessness
Lima city water can be drunk, and there is no recycling, so if you insist on buying spring water in plastic bottles you are truly accelerating your contribution to global warming. And Peru is famous for food, so I am going to list some of the foods I encounter constantly. That I like AGUAYMANTO AJI … More NOMINA DE PLATOS
Our cook is going to Huaripampa this weekend to investigate the possibility of buying property there, and I am envious. This video of one Huaripampa musical culture is not of the Huaripampa she is going to, and it was filmed in Lima, but it is truly excellent, so I am posting it as a way … More Waripampa
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts’ desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” H.L. Mencken wrote this and just … More La Prueba
It is the weekend, so we must sing! Singing recommendations for this weekend have been made by our contacts at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. They are singing with these stars: BOBBY BLAND – Z.Z. HILL – ROBERT CRAY (especially the song “Back Door Slam”) – SIR CHARLES JONES – RAY CHARLES – JOHNNY … More Best of the Blues
Film Movement is not a service like Netflix but in some ways it could replace it. Check it out. What do you think? Meanwhile there is a complete and excellent blog on the Fujimori trial, which is ongoing. Alan García, our current president, also faces human rights charges for events including the El Frontón massacre. … More Film Movement
Anytime is a good time to study La Perricholi, a famous 18th century diva, and to consider the composition of her strange name (perra + chola). Axé.
Sara Beatriz Guardia gave an interesting talk the other night at the Café Bar Sancho Panza (Grau 209A, Barranco) – a locale I recommend, by the way. The talk on 19th century women writers Clorinda Matto and Mercedes Cabello, focused on the hatred and intolerance Lima society showed these authors. Guardia has written a paper … More Sara Beatriz Guardia
So it is São João and my official 50th birthday! June 24th is the year’s best day. Last night we leaped over fires and sang the midsummer song. In the southern hemisphere it is midwinter but we leaped over fires just the same, and drank hot cane liquor with cinnamon. * This is not necessarily … More Sankt Hans
This is St. John’s Eve, when trees receive their midsummer’s crown. Holger Drachmann‘s traditional song for St. John’s Day, is somewhat patriotic and bellicose. It is also rather eerie as it evokes witch burning, although this is also said to be a burning away of what is unwanted. It has been satirized, as the Danes … More Midsommervisen
coldhearted scientist وداد 