My two favorite versions of the best song ever

Leonard Cohen is a god. If there is one, he is one.

Damien Rice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaHdeNN_ee0&feature=rec-fresh


Jeff Buckley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ

For my friend Lisa on her birthday

When I think of the kindness, the patience, the forgiveness, the ability to try and understand me - despite what a difficult old bitch I can be - I know there is still reason to be here. You're godamn proof of it lady. You reached out and touched me. Made me laugh. Let me cry. Let me be. Allowed me my foibles and faults. And you've helped me. You didn't have to. You just did.

It's hard for me to tell you how deeply I feel about the things you've done for me. I'm not so good at that. So I'm going to let Joan Baez say it for me.

Your husband is lucky. Your children are lucky. And anyone who knows you is just as lucky as could be. And I'm honored to know you. Happy birthday my dear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=favgoOn-U1I&feature=related

Super Secret TOSd People? Adieu.

I got invited to a "Super Secret Society of those whom Yelp TOSd out on their asses". What a thrill, what a joy, what an honor, what a bunch of utter bullshit.

While, as on any internet social network, there a few interesting people, most of them had the collective mental age of about 13, at best. People who actually think replying with the word "queef" to a thread, mind you - only the word "queef" - is the height of sophistication. How cutting edge, how pithy, how hep, how urbane... how pitiable.

You may think you're some kind of "Algonquin Round Table", but your just sitting at the children's table hoping for approval and attention. Ah. Dorothy Parker lives and breaths. Not.

And for a site that so hates Yelp? You seem to have no idea that you basically ARE Yelp. But in diapers. So suck on the bottle babies. Nurse your wounds or your tit of choice. But to you, I say, fuck off and die.

Solipsistic idiots are easy to find. Why would I want to be a member of that club?

Love,

Max

Panorama of Barack in Berlin

Cool stuff.

http://www.panoramas.dk/2008/flash/Barack-Obama-berlin.html

Sometimes... Sometimes Pure Beauty Helps

I think this is beautiful.

Coming out of dark places and seeing light is a wonderful thing. I have discovered many things in my travels through this strange place we call life. Faith is something I don't think I'll ever understand. But I certainly respect it. When it's for real. And when one acts in the manner they suggest others do, I'm fine with that.

So please enjoy this in the spirit it is brought to you with. It's about love. It's about faith. But more than all, it's about truth as you view it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDV7AHrYsB4&feature=related

You only get what you give

It's true. Don't give up. Words I say to myself several times a day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91WgM6dNLTE

It's allright

I haven't been posting for many reasons. Once again things brought me back to places I don't want to go to. I can't stand to read the news. But how does one avoid it? So much horror. So much terror. And why? And why does it pain me so much? I have no idea. It just does. The ugly side of this world makes me want to leave it. But I'm not going.

This whole blog started because I was so angry. Being disrespected by Yelp seemed to be cathartic to me. It wasn't Yelp. It was the world. A world where when someone speaks truth, they are silenced. A world where wrongs are so very rarely righted. A world where when a woman dares to speak... she is made to shut the fuck up.

For some time I thought it wasn't a world I wanted to live in. And yet... What would the world be without me? I am either a force or I am a weakness. You have to walk the walk if you want to talk the talk.

This world... this world. How we put one foot in front of the other seems hard to me. But there is still beauty. Beauty through pain, perhaps. Think of Vincent. Think of all we've lost to pain. Think of how our life force moves others. If I have given anyone joy? Then perhaps my purpose has been met. And it's a beautiful day. And living is a gift. And I am going to try my best to embrace it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUS49XSN6Zs

Still Crazy After All These Years

I had to run out for a few things. And I decided to stop into my favorite used bookstore. And a man coughs behind me. I look at him. It's instant. We must have looked cartoon like. He says, "Barbara!" I say, "Jones!" We hug and kiss.

We try and catch up. But a bookstore is no place to do that. So went to a little french place I like. We enjoyed ourselves. Crepes and conversation. He was surprised to see I'm no longer drinking. I used to be a party girl. But all good and bad things must come to an end.

But here's the kicker... He has a daughter. And he named her after me. I had been feeling low. But this gave me something. Can't name it. I can only embrace it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46bkXgxb66E