Words & Music

by Mike Power

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  • Another Thing That Doesn’t Exist Anymore

    Here’s another thing that doesn’t exist anymore.  He wasn’t the greatest comedian who ever lived but he was quick like Robin Williams, understood pathos like Charlie Chaplin and Lucille Ball, and he made a movie about a clown in a concentration camp. Maybe we’ll see it now. Read more

  • Nature

    “Nature” is what we see—The Hill—the Afternoon—Squirrel—Eclipse— the Bumble bee—Nay—Nature is Heaven—Nature is what we hear—The Bobolink—the Sea—Thunder—the Cricket—Nay—Nature is Harmony—Nature is what we know—Yet have no art to say—So impotent Our Wisdom isTo her Simplicity. Emily Dickinson Read more

  • The Air-Conditioned Nightmare

    “We are accustomed to think of ourselves as emancipated people; we say that we are democratic, liberty-loving, free of prejudices and hatred. This is the melting-pot, the seat of a great human experiment. Beautiful words, full of noble idealistic sentiment. Actually we are a vulgar, pushing mob whose passions are easily mobilized by demagogues, newspaper Read more

  • CitySketch – Post Office

      In 440 BC the Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the Persian messenger system that “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness of night” stood in their way. More than two millennia later, the main USPS building in NYC, the James A. Farley Post Office, ran an inspired inscription up Eighth Avenue.  “Neither snow Read more

  • CitySketch – Seward

    “One of those spirits who sometimes will go ahead of public opinion instead of tamely following its footprints.” Carl Shulz, of William Seward William H. Seward – Billy Bob to his friends, of which there were none – was the 24th Secretary of the United States. If you’re going to be a secretary, the United Read more

  • Nazi Punks (and Presidents) Fuck Off!

    Because sometimes eloquence has to take a back seat to clarity. And one of those times is when the President of the United States is a Nazi. Punk ain’t no religious cultPunk means thinking for yourselfYou ain’t hardcore cos you spike your hairWhen a jock still lives inside your head Nazi punksNazi punksNazi punks-Fuck Off! Read more