Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

Mediocre white men think RFK Jr’s pathetic midlife crisis is inspirational. The bar is set so low for them, it’s subterranean.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Republicans do not trust women.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

Books are my comfort food!

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Bark louder, little dog.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / Respite Open Thread: A Crack In Everything

Respite Open Thread: A Crack In Everything

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I spent a couple weeks in Montreal last month as a half-working half-vacation. I’d never been, but I’d heard such good things, and we got a very good deal on a sublet. Lovely city; I’d happily settle down there, though I’d have to learn French for real, which isn’t la fin du monde.

Anyway–they seem to be very proud of one of their local boys who made good:

A mural of Leonard Cohen fills the side of a building in Montreal's Plateau neighborhood.
Taken in the Plateau neighborhood

I share their love of Leonard Cohen. There’s actually a much bigger mural downtown, but I couldn’t get a good shot of it. I’ve been meaning to share this with y’all, and this gloomy-slow-day-at-work seemed like the right time.

So, without further ado, here’s a song that I find calming and centering, even (especially?) when the world is on fire.

Below the fold, a deep cut live video featuring Sonny Rollins, and a picture from a visit I made to his grave…

One of my favorite saxophone solos ever:

And, finally…Leonard Cohen's grave

Reader Interactions

94Comments

  2. 2.

    rikyrah

    He can be so funny sometimes.

    CBC Week, Explained

    Michael Harriot
    Today 1:30pm

    The Root’s Senior Writer Michael Harriot will be documenting his first time attending the Congressional Black Caucus’ Foundation Annual Legislative Conference in Washington DC, colloquially known at CBC Week.

    What is CBC Week?

    According to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s website, the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference is “the leading policy conference on issues impacting African Americans and the global black community. Thought leaders, legislators, and concerned citizens engage on economic development, civil and social justice, public health and education issues. More than 10,000 people attend 100 public policy forums and much more.”

    If a black family reunion met the March on Washington during Howard University’s Homecoming and started a long-distance relationship through a series of brunches, after a long period of courting, the couple would have a child who became the elementary school class president, eventually, finish grad school and went into public service. Of course, that baby wouldn’t be CBC Week because that is a really stupid name. But when that kid turned 26, perhaps following an after-work networking event, that child would go to Jos A. Banks and buy a suit so it could make the annual pilgrimage to Washington, DC to CBC Week.

    Basically it’s like CPAC without white people. If you’re white at CBC, they make you wear kente cloth.

    This might be the reason that there are very few white people at CBC. I also suspect it’s because they are worried that they might slip up and use that racial slur.

    The n-word?
    No, “uppity.”

    This is basically a conference filled with the people who white people think should “get off the Democratic plantation,” and “talk about black-on-black crime.” I can almost guarantee that there’s a Senator from Tennessee or a Montana congressman staring out of the window of his office right now wondering why Washington is being overrun with uppity negroes.

    …………………………………..

    CBC is like a family reunion filled with the smart cousin who went to college and now only drinks deep reds—Merlots or Black Cherry Kool-Aid. That cousin also pledged Alpha. I don’t know why, but CBC Week feels disproportionately Alpha-heavy and lapel pin-centric. Don’t get me wrong—there are plenty of politicians. But for every politico, there are three Alphas, four “aides” and six bright-eyed kids straight out of college who work on Capitol Hill because they still believe they can change the world.

    One of the biggest fuelers of my imposter syndrome is the fact that I have never “worked on The Hill.” One out of three successful black people who eat sushi and bought a townhouse before they turned 30 has worked on The Hill. For the elite black east coast professionals, it’s a rite of passage. And for those who have already had their ambitious negro bar mitzvah by working on The Hill, then CBC is like Essencefest with suits.

  4. 4.

    chris

    Hi, Balloon Juice! The power came on about an hour ago after 5 days and 5 hours. So, yay. Internet surprisingly came with it so good for them. Digital detox was going so well, too ;-)

  5. 5.

    Raven

    Winter Lady, stay a while. . .

    Trav’ling lady, stay awhile
    Until the night is over.
    I’m just a station on your way,
    I know I’m not your lover.
    Well I lived with a child of snow
    When I was a soldier,
    And I fought every man for her
    Until the nights grew colder.
    She used to wear her hair like you
    Except when she was sleeping,
    And then she’d weave it on a loom
    Of smoke and gold and breathing.
    And why are you so quiet now
    Standing there in the doorway?
    You chose your journey long before
    You came upon this highway.
    Traveling lady stay awhile
    Until the night is over.
    I’m just a station on your way,
    I know I’m not your lover.

    Meanwhile I never knew Chelsea Hotel was about Janis.

  9. 9.

    StringOnAStick

    I love the two intertwined hearts/Star of David on his headstone; very fitting and lovely. Such a fascinating guy.

    On other respite topics, the never ending question of “why do cats like this toy?” All it is is the remaining plastic stick after they tore off the fabric ribbon that was attached, leaving just the nub; you’d think it was the best toy ever created. I’m glad I didn’t throw it away after they eliminated the ribbon half. I’ve been keeping them playing with it for 4 hours now while I do work at my desk; just rub it along the ground and they will go nuts trying to get to it first. Finally I’m seeing some sleepy eyes and search for the best spot in the sun to take a nap.

  13. 13.

    Martin

    @rikyrah:

    But for every politico, there are three Alphas, four “aides” and six bright-eyed kids straight out of college who work on Capitol Hill because they still believe they can change the world.

    One of the things I learned after arriving in academia is how seriously black organizations take networking. If you are a black student, you will go to every even marginally related conference and gathering, dragged kicking and screaming if needed. You will meet every person in a position to hire, give grant money, mentor, or whatever and you will be better off for it. And when you are that person with agency, you will drag everyone you know to these events and pay that shit forward.

    And it works really, really damn well.

  15. 15.

    trollhattan

    Atop the BBC News home page are dualing denials:

    “Johnson denies lying to the Queen about suspension”
    “Netanyahu denies Israel spying on the White House”

    Of course you do, boys, of course. It’s how you roll.

  18. 18.

    Steeplejack

    I’m girding my loins and putting on the tactical gear (pants!) for a busy afternoon. The elusive fuel pump has arrived for my mother’s Explorer, so I’m going to drop off the SUV at the dealership way on the north side of town, then take an Uber back here to the south side. But first I’m going to get a Pollo Loco salad and take that to Mom in hopes of perking up her appetite. She’s also way on the north side. The whole expedition is laid out semi-efficiently; it’s just time-consuming.

    The weather is nice—barely 90° now, not going up much higher. Balmy by Vegas standards.

  19. 19.

    trollhattan

    And may I add that building possibly pre-dates Brutalist Architecture, but it sure as hell fits the term.

  24. 24.

    chris

    @trollhattan: Spoon. Power went out at 10:15am before the storm even got started. Freezer was good til Sunday morning when I moved some stuff to the neighbour’s giant chest freezer. He has a whole house generator and we’ve done this before.

  27. 27.

    Mary G

    @StringOnAStick: I get a big box about 3 feet square every month from Amazon and my cat loves to sleep on top of it while it’s full. It’s half empty now, but when I got up this morning she was balanced precariously on one flap sound asleep.

  28. 28.

    trollhattan

    @Ohio Mom:
    :-) I’d like to think that had Cohen and Nimoy ever met, they would have had a lot to talk about. Who knows, perhaps they did.

  32. 32.

    Pete Mack

    Very cool. I have tought myself to sing much better by singing along with Leonard Cohen on long (solo) car trips. Good enough now to join a church choir, hallelu–u-ujah.

  33. 33.

    Ohio Mom

    Ohio Family has been to both Montreal (once) and Toronto (twice). Toronto is the one that gave me the “Why don’t we live here?” blues.

    Of course, I might have felt differently if our visits were in the winter instead of the summer.

  34. 34.

    Steeplejack

    @trollhattan:

    Didn’t really think of that. Mom’s house is in Summerlin—11 o’clock on the Vegas clock face. The dealership is somewhat nearby at 12, and my RWNJ brother’s Black Mountain supervillain lair is in Henderson, about 5 o’clock on the dial and 30 miles away. I’ll ask and see what they say about a shuttle. That would be a pleasant surprise. Thanks for the tip.

  36. 36.

    chris

    @Major Major Major Major: Sounds like you enjoyed Montreal. I lived there from ’66 to ’69. My best memory is of Expo67 and the summer pass my Dad got through work.. We lived in Hudson Heights and my Mom would put me on the train in the morning with orders to be on the 7pm return. I was 12, can you imagine a parent doing that today?

    ETA: Leonard Cohen was regarded with deep suspicion by the adults. He was one of my heroes and now I’m going to dig my ancient copy of Beautiful Losers

  41. 41.

    chris

    @trollhattan: Heh, for most of you all of Nova Scotia would be the boonies but, yeah, I’m out in the woods. Nova Scotia Power was privatised years ago (fucking conservatives!) and bought by Emera (Hi, Betty Cracker!) an American company. Every time this happens they gobsmacked by the number of trees. Every time is getting a little tiresome.

  43. 43.

    trollhattan

    @chris:
    I feel for you. Our city has citizen-owned electricity and PG&E for gas. Thank bog we don’t have PG&E for both, they’re going through bankruptcy #2 because of their phenomenally large liability from being the cause of several yuge wildfires, fires that have racked up more than a hundred fatalities and tens of thousands of structures lost.

    Let’s hear it for private, investor-owned utilities. They’re the BEST.

  47. 47.

    Just One More Canuck

    @Ohio Mom: i’m in suburban Toronto – our winters are bad, but Montreal’s are much worse – plus driving in Montreal, especially on the island, is ‘challenging’

    having said that, I love Montreal

  48. 48.

    chrisanthemama

    I love Leonard Cohen–and the announcement of his death around the 2016 election was unbelievably hard. And then his “You Want it Darker” album released October 2016–the title song was so prescient. Also in “The Future” album (whence cometh the “Anthem” song) was the title song: “I’ve seen the future, brother: it is murder”. His lyrics ring out like they’re written in fire (fire doesn’t ring, but still).

  49. 49.

    Dan B

    @Major Major Major Major: My brother went to McGill for a year. He was impressed with the snowplows for the sidewalks. He was impressed (distressed?) by the ice mounds created by the street plows pushing snow to the curb and the sidewalk plows pushing from the other direction. Getting across the street was nerve wracking. Getting caught mid street and facing an icy climb to avoid being run over by traffic was definitely disturbing. The inderground malls sound more reasonable.

  52. 52.

    chris

    @Just One More Canuck: Sibling and spouse plan to retire to Mtl, spouse’s home. I want them to get an apartment in Habitat so I can realise my dream of staying in one of those cubes. Sadly, they are not cooperating.

    ETA: Meant this for M4 but I too love Montreal. I’m looking forward to sibling’s retirement.

  53. 53.

    Major Major Major Major

    @Raven: But of course. A friend of mine was a co-monk of his.

    @Just One More Canuck: @Dan B: The Canadians I talked to said that the winters really aren’t as bad as folks say, they just say that stuff because everybody likes to complain about the weather, and nobody actually uses the tunnels. But obviously one should visit in February (and July) before one moves anywhere with seasons.

  54. 54.

    polyorchnid octopunch

    I lived in Montreal for years; my children live in Laval (the island just north of the L’ile de Montreal) so I go through it all the time.

    It’s a great city.

    I currently live a three hour drive east of it in Ontario. We’ve got a dev from Dayton Ohio visiting the shop this week; he’s been marvelling at how we run our cities. Turns out that’s what happens when people don’t get a knee-jerk reaction to the concept of paying the price for civilization.

  55. 55.

    hitchhiker

    We went to see him twice in Seattle — still my favorite concert ever. No warm up, not a sound while the band played, a feeling of utter respect between performers and audience throughout. Every musician perfectly & warmly in sync with every other, and omg the lush voices of those women in counterpoint to his growling.

    I’d have sat there all night long.

    As a teenager yearning to get the hell out of rural northern Michigan, I played Songs from a Room so much that I still hear the tunes follow one another in order.

    He was an amazing person.

  57. 57.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Ohio Mom:

    Of course, I might have felt differently if our visits were in the winter instead of the summer.

    It’s a Celcius cold. Wait, that doesn’t make it better. Nevermind!

  63. 63.

    Yutsano

    @Just One More Canuck: Also a fair point. I really need to get to Québec some time soon. It would be great to see where my ancestors actually got a foothold. And go peek in on the wreckage of my second cousins the Dionne quintuplets.

  65. 65.

    mrmoshpotato

    @trollhattan:

    Let’s hear it for private, investor-owned utilities. They’re the BEST.

    If you listen very carefully, you can hear the subtle hint of sarcasm.

  67. 67.

    delk

    @Major Major Major Major: The 80’s gay scene in Montreal was amazing. Massive multi floor clubs with a hotel and restaurant, drag bar, leather bar, piano bar, dance floor all under one roof. One even had an ice cream shop. Probably because everyone was smoking hash.

  69. 69.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Yutsano:

    my second cousins the Dionne quintuplets.

    Seriously? Wow.

    The Dionne quintuplets absolutely fascinated me as a kid. I had the paper dolls and everything. It was only as an adult that I realised that my kind of obsession (shared, it must be said, with millions of others) contributed to (as you put it) the wreckage of their lives. Poor sad things were horribly exploited by the people and institutions they should have been able to trust most.

  70. 70.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Yutsano: My dad took my mom up there a few years ago to do exactly that. Her family ended up on the south side of the river and her maiden name popped up on some streets and a couple of priests.

  71. 71.

    Ohio Mom

    @SiubhanDuinne: And I’m telling you, you could put my Uncle Leo’s face up there too. And maybe this isn’t the kindest thing I’ve ever said, but recent photos of my Aunt Charlotte probably as well.

    Good thing the Leonard’s and Leo were all honest fellows and did not have to worry about being mistakenly arrested for a crime another one of them committed

  72. 72.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Ohio Mom:

    Oh yes. My friend Larry, Brooklyn-born-and-bred, about 85+ now, is also blessed with one of those great rubbery, deeply-creased, twinkly-eyed Jewish faces. I have a great affinity for that look.

  73. 73.

    Dan B

    @Major Major Major Major: We grew up west of Akron at higher elevation and more snow. It was at least 80 inches of snow. Roofs had to be heavily reinforced. My brother was mosyly amazed at sidewalk plows and the impediment they created to crossing the street.

  74. 74.

    Mowgli

    @hitchhiker: I took my dad (a huge Cohen fan) to see him in Atlanta at the Fabulous Fox Theater, which is an incredible venue. Your description was perfect, it was a magical night. Ever since, I just refer to Cohen as “The Master.” He truly was a rare gem.

  75. 75.

    Ohio Mom

    @polyorchnid octopunch: Poor Dayton, Ohio. It’s practically a ghost town as far as employers go. There used to be a good number of car factories, they’re gone.

    NCR (National Cash Register) world headquarters was there — Dayton is the birthplace of the cash register (as well as the automatic car starter, the pop-tab on soda cans, and a bunch of other stuff). But the NCR bigwigs didn’t want to live there anymore and moved HQ, IIRC, to Georgia.

    Lexis Nexis is still there but they missed their chance at being THE search engine for everything. They could have been what Google became, they just didn’t have the imagination.

    The Air Force base and the tech contractors it supports are the only things really going on up there.

    It’s the Rust Belt.

  76. 76.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Ohio Mom: NCR moved to Atlanta because it hired a CEO who was commuting to Dayton from his NYC home and his wife hate having to change planes and insisted he move the company somewhere they could get a direct flight.

    If it helps, NCR has a horrible reputation here as an employer. I’ve gotten at least a dozen recruiter calls about jobs there over the last 10 years, and they are almost apologetic when they say who the employer is.

  77. 77.

    Sab

    @Dan B: Will you ever tell us where west of Akron? Summit or Medina County?

    I thought NE Ohio had snow, until I moved to Grand Rapids MI. Everyone had ( and needed) roof rakes for snow. I still have mine. I use it on fall leaves on the roof. I remember my 18″ tall dogs happily tunnelling under the snow all winter. It was that high.

  78. 78.

    Sab

    @Steve in the ATL: BF Goodrich moved from Ohio to NC because its CEO wanted to dump his wife, and Ohio is a fault divorce state if the spouse doesn’t want to be dumped. Moved and up-ended the lives of thousands of people because he wanted a cheaper divorce, and the Board of Directors was OK with that.

  80. 80.

    Ohio Mom

    @Steve in the ATL: I lived in Dayton for the four longest years of my life. It was when we were newly married and Ohio Dad had a job there.

    I could see traces that there used to be things happening there, things that were never going to happen again.

  82. 82.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Ohio Mom: I dated a girl who went to UD. She was even a Flyerette. She had transferred to BGSU by the time I met her. I sure hope she wasn’t back there at the time of the massacre.

  83. 83.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Ohio Mom: Cox Enterprises moved from Dayton to Atlanta years before NCR. Just not much left there. And my corporate card number was stolen at the PF Chang’s there seven years ago and I’m still mad about it.

  86. 86.

    thalarctosMaritimus

    @hitchhiker: were you there in 2012?

    I half-expected an old man, forced back into touring after being swindled by his manager, doing the best he could but having to end after a fairly short show.

    NOT SO! I don’t have the stamina he showed for 3-1/2 hours, and he loves his audience! God, that was the best concert I’ve ever attended.

  88. 88.

    Sab

    @Steve in the ATL: Pretty much every city that aspires to be a city has an arboretum. We also have a marathon, which pretty much fucks up the city for a weekend every year, and also attracts some Kenyans and Russians who will spend nothing here. Apparently it’s mandatory if you want to be a city that matters.

    Wanted to go to the neighborhood where the neighbor who bought and knocked down my childhood home lives. Wanted to be there at 6 am with cowbells and vuvuzelas.

    Appearently they rerouted.

    Nobody sent me the memo. I will be there. Also my friends. We might have to ring until 11 or 12 when we realize no one eill show up . So sad.

  89. 89.

    J R in WV

    OK, off topic, maybe.

    Tuesday is my usual day to run to town for provisions, first day after the weekend my fav shops are open. Wife went out gardening the boulders and woods, and had a little fall, she says. No harm done.

    But that night she was restless, more than usual. then last night, was in misery. So this morning we take off to family doctor — he thinks she has a broken rib & possibly a thoracic vertebrae damaged. So then off to the Imaging center. All day mission. He sees everyone who need to see him, which is really good, but can make a long day real long.

    Have been with Doc for 40 years now… he’s eccentric, nuts also, but a good Dr and a good guy.

    Plus pain pills, as nothing much to do for ribs. Will look into an elastic brace gadget to help her stay straight, probably.

  90. 90.

    chopper

    the fact that leonard cohen’s crave is covered in hebrew fills me with a joy that i just cant describe.

  92. 92.

    Ramalama

    Heyyy I’m near Montreal! Be sure you go check out Jean Talon market (open air) or if you want to eat at the most fun and delicious restaurant go to L’Express on rue Saint Denis. It isn’t marked but everyone who knows anything knows that resto. Best times to eat there are at 9:30-10pm.

  93. 93.

    laura

    I love this post and every comment eight ways to Sunday. The everything of it all -connections, oddities, politics, travel, compassion, exploitation, public power to the people shared experiences though different times and locations and circumstance – if James Burke “Connections” and Kevin Bacon had a baby, it would be this post.

  94. 94.

    meander

    I thought it was Jack Klugman! Perhaps painted on a hospital to celebrate his time on Quincy.

    One of the great Montreal movies is “I Confess”, starring Montgomery Clift, Anne Baxter, and Karl Malden, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, released in 1953. IMDB’s one-sentence summary: “A priest, who comes under suspicion for murder, cannot clear his name without breaking the seal of the confessional.”

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