Motley Kamuka

I'm reading The Oasis of Now , a selection of poems by  Sohrab Sepehri (1928-1980) translated into English. There's a faint ring of Walt Whitman to him, he sings to the multitudes. The bio says he knew some things about Buddhism, which is perhaps fairly rare in Iran, but he died fairly soon after the revolution when things were more open and allowed in Iran. He was also a painter who traveled all over Europe.  I'm really enjoying this poetry book, published in Rochester, by BOA . I couldn't recommend this book more, or this publisher.  I am intrigued by the other poets he's compared to:  Nima Youshij  (1895-1960), Ahmad Shamlou , Mehdi Akhavan-Sales  (1925-2000), and Forough Farrokhzad  (1934-1967) (the one female). My library has a book by Ahmad Shamlou and 2 of Forugh Farrokhzad. She died in a car crash as 32. The link reference has other Persian poets, including  Simin Behbahani (1927-2014). Parvin Etesami (1907-1941). Her mother outli...

I consolidated my blogs into this one, and now I want to unconsolidate, split them up again. First I started a movie blog  to put those places. A music one .  I'm going to have to make a music one, because I want this to remain literature, books, reading. Putting politics back onto a politics blog. Today I unfollowed all the political subreddits on Reddit, and I've withdrawn from Twitter. I'm going to vote and not think about politics ever again. That's not true.  Politics is going to my politics blog . Might as well plug my other blogs. My Buddhist one is my favorite. 

Watch and listen to this song "Hi Ren" by Ren Gill I've been watching  Elizabeth Zharoff break down the song. Fell in love with Zharoff's analysis, watching all her videos. She has another one on Ren Money Games . She interviews Ren . He's had some health problems that he talks about. He was fairly sick from 21-26. He's 34 now. Sounds like stem cell treatments helped. He's tried many things.  Links Ren discussion on Reddit Ren on Twitter . Some great clips of live music like It's Alright . Or this duet . Instagram YouTube Soundcloud Spotify

Motley Kamuka Blog endorses Kamala Harris. In general, Trump just wants to lower taxes on the rich, and do nothing, sell whatever influence he can to line his pockets. Apparently the emoluments clause in the constitution has no teeth. Harris has a set of ideas about policy that are fairly middle of the road. In most countries she's would be seen as a centrist. Spin about her radical agendas are exaggerated.  I'm not sure how he got past " grab them by the pussy ", but he did and here we are. Women: Obviously the idea of giving women pregnancy tests at the borders of the state, and then if they come back and don't have a baby, they go to jail, isn't really what most women want. Pick Harris.  I understand if you think abortion is murder, maybe you've been told that by the Catholic church, which has the same ideal of Buddhism that you don't kill--so follow your religion for yourself. Not everyone is Christian or Buddhist or even has a religion. Women are ...

First some history: My friend says Xerxes is called Ḫašayaruša in Iran. We have different names for things. The Persian king sacked Athens and Sparta. Reading about how Rome, including Marc Anthony, had trouble when they tried to conquer Persia and the Parthian empire.  Talking to an Afghanistan immigrant in the park, and he told me the Ayatollah died in 1989, and I said he was still alive. I pull up  Ali Khamenei , and he pulls up  Ruhollah Khomeini . We were both right. Seems like Iran is in a holding pattern waiting for the Israel retaliation for the latest missile attack .  A sort of continuation of the cold war, proxy wars, asymmetrical warfare, Iran meets with Putin .  Hezbollah, Hamas and and maybe Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP-GC) in Syria are all supported by Iran.  This situation is boosting Israeli hardliners ( Foreign Affairs ). Some recent articles: Here is a historical perspective about how the USA h...

I'm reading about Iran and I come across this ancient rock relief inscription that Darius (522 BCE – 486 BCE) wrote supposedly that says, "I am not friends with a man who is a lie-follower," and guess who I thought of? All my friend who I lost who voted for the rapist pedophile felon, because I can't be friends with a lie-follower. That's many years ago.  Thinking about George Harrison's Beware of Darkness. "Soft shoe shufflers." "Make you sore and what is more That is not what you are here for" I love the video of a comedian laughing and laughing when Trump said he was truthful .  Obama has outrage when he thinks about politicizing relief aid. "Why would we go along with that?"