But I'm Not Altogether Evil, There Are Also Times When I Will Refuse to Lick or Swallow Anything That's Not Generally Available to Mankind

Jerry Garcia was born 71 years ago today. Something else I say once a year: that 4/12/78 Durham show, one of the five best nights of my life, the buzz, the girl and that week, the intimacy of the venue, the Dead on. Saw dozens of dozens of shows, others who have can vouch too, there were stinkers, there were the many meh minus to meh plus shows (though, with few exceptions, BLAST was had), then there were the shows when the band clicked, as infrequent as a come-from-behind walk-off home run home game, and made all the mehs and stinkers worth it.

• One thing I remember: in the late 70s, early 80s, there were always Talking Head shirts at Dead concerts, Dead shirts at Talking Head concerts, I was always pleasantly surprised and delighted at the overlap.
• But yes, loved them, lost them, have gained them back.
• And always the best album covers to sift seeds on. We used to have to sift seeds, youngsters.
• Slapping Toobin: We wouldn’t be having this discussion if it wasn’t for him (Snowden). Why do you think–I mean, that’s the thing I don’t understand about the climate in Washington these days, is that people want to have debates on television elsewhere, but then you want to throw the people who start the debates in jail.
• Hola NSA.
• @firetomfriedman has a blog. Who knew? Looks like he forgets about it from time to time too.
• "It's your moment, Obama. Don't blow it." 
• Obama losing his poise?
• Larry Summers and the end of political shame.
• Obama a fucking dick?
• Cat signs.

• A partial list of things John Berryman found delicious. I've been thinking about my Sillyass Deserted Island Game not including poets, more later (or not (or not here)), but Berryman is on the short list.
• Coetzee, for those of you who do.
• Beckett, for those of you who do.
• But how far do I have to go.
• The Ballad of Big Star. I have still not seen the documentary, if it's been in the area I've missed it, I was told on the radio I can stream it through Amazon, FUCK AMAZON! I'll see it somehow, sooner than later I hope.
• Julie had a Kate Bush set earlier this morning.
• It's a Bobby song, but this Dead song was requested.
• Bertha.
• Dire Wolf.
• He's Gone.
• Not Fade Away.
• Cold Rain and Snow.
• Black Peter.
• Althea.

EATING FRIED CHICKEN

Linh Dinh

I hate to admit this, brother, but there are times
When I’m eating fried chicken
When I think about nothing else but eating fried chicken,
When I utterly forget about my family, honor and country,
The various blood debts you owe me,
My past humiliations and my future crimes—
Everything, in short, but the crispy skin on my fried chicken.

But I’m not altogether evil, there are also times
When I will refuse to lick or swallow anything
That’s not generally available to mankind.

(Which is, when you think about it, absolutely nothing at all.)

And no doubt that’s why apples can cause riots,
And meat brings humiliation,
And each gasp of air
Will fill one’s lungs with gun powder and smoke.