I’m harkening back to that glorious day When I first felt the pull of the scene. On the gallery wall, I unlatched a door Setting something inside of me free Can you recall that wondrous day when The magic first fell on your ears? The record’s slow turn, the joy in its throw Like aContinue reading ““You Only Need One””
Tag Archives: books
“Supreme Idiot”
I’ve started reading “Napoleon: A Life” by Andrew Roberts and from his introduction alone several key features of the great warrior-statesman arise. The first is that he was a voracious reader and student of history, further aided by a prodigious memory. He excelled at mathematics, geography, and philosophy, devouring the texts of Rousseau, Voltaire, Plutarch,Continue reading ““Supreme Idiot””
“Carnival Life (with Tommy Treacle)”
Host: Great Exudations has the supreme pleasure to welcome back Tommy Treacle, our timeless troubadour, with his tales from the backroads of America and thoughts on the present state of our culture. Tommy, how have you been since — was it Christmas? TT: It was the Yuletide! Well, I’m mostly on the diagonal of late.Continue reading ““Carnival Life (with Tommy Treacle)””
“Mythological Inversion”
Film remakes have long been with us. A Star Is Born has been done four times (1937, 1954, 1976, and 2018), and no doubt it will be revived again. I’ve seen recent previews for the third retelling of both Lord of the Flies (1963, 1990, and 2026 on Netflix) and Cape Fear (1962, 1991, andContinue reading ““Mythological Inversion””
“They’re HERE… and they’re LOUD!!”
I started reading the collection of short stories by Martin Amis called “Heavy Water” and straight away he has inspired me. In the first story “Career Move”, we get a flailing screenwriter who has submitted numerous efforts to an industry insider but to no avail. In an angry letter after many months without reply, heContinue reading ““They’re HERE… and they’re LOUD!!””
“Old Fezziwig!”
A Merry Christmas to everyone from Great Exudations! This year we have a special treat for you. That timeless traveling troubadour, Tommy Treacle, was in the studio with me earlier this week and we were discussing all things Christmas. Below is a lightly edited version of our conversation. Enjoy! Host: Welcome back, Tommy! It’s beenContinue reading ““Old Fezziwig!””
“Trivialities”
My wife was ribbing me the other day about someone’s name I couldn’t remember. It was right there at the tip of my tongue, and, given a month or two, I would have recovered it all on my own. Sadly, now that I’m on the wrong side of 60, these these happen not infrequently. TheContinue reading ““Trivialities””
“Love What You Hate”
It’s hard to describe the unbridled joy I get from sending an out-of-the-blue book to a friend when it’s one I’m fairly sure they will utterly disdain. We are talking laugh-out-loud funny to picture them (or their spouse!) opening the package to find… wait, what?! You imagine them struggling to explain to their kids, orContinue reading ““Love What You Hate””
“Here Lies Our Democracy”
Despite the worst efforts of Trump/Musk & Co., I remain optimistic that we can and will withstand the onslaught of skullduggery and outright stupidity that defines the current administration. The United States has endured a bloody civil war, the grave injustice of the Jim Crow era, two world wars, the Dust Bowl and Great Depression,Continue reading ““Here Lies Our Democracy””
“Music Everywhere…”
It seems that music underlies most things in this life. Even traffic. I once read that the universe gives off a low hum that corresponds to a Bb note, emanating from a black hole 250 million light years away (but it is inaudible at 57 octaves below middle C). God must play trumpet. And oneContinue reading ““Music Everywhere…””
