Sunday Funnies & So Much More

Ruben Bolling, on target as usual. Click to enlarge; for more, see www.tomthedancingbug.com.

Last Wednesday, we caught Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, backed by a terrific band that included T-Bone Burnett (looking like a Civil War general) and guitarist nonpareil Buddy Miller. Selections ranged from gospel a capella to spirituals to R & B to rockabilly to Townes Van Zandt to Led Zeppelin. Plant and Krauss shimmered on a slowed down version of "Black Dog" introduced by a banjo tuned to a minor key. "Nothing," the Van Zandt number, was as haunting as the Everly Brothers' "Gone Gone Gone" was spirited. Both singers clearly enjoyed themselves, and Plant even gave us a few of his LZ yowls. Gene Stout of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has more here...

Eric Alterman writes:

McCain and Palin are losing to Obama and Biden, thank God. But even the possibility that the most powerful nation on Earth is in danger of electing yet another president characterized by dishonesty, belligerence, ideological obsession and personal recklessness -- coupled with a vice president whose life experience makes her more appropriate for a casting session of "Desperate Housewives" than a Cabinet meeting -- gives one pause when considering the future of this country, regardless of whether we manage to avoid this catastrophe on Election Day.

More here. Alterman blogs each weekday here and writes about media issues for The Nation...

Whatever else it may be, the Obama campaign is relentless. Nebraska (along with Maine) splits its electoral votes, and the campaign sees a chance to pick up one of them. In a sign of how worried he is, McCain has dispatched Sarah Palin to campaign in Omaha. More here...

Friday, we joined some friends at an invitation-only dinner featuring nueva Mexican cuisine prepared by chef Naomi Andrade Smith and wine pairings from Argentina, Chile, Spain, and Portugal selected by wine consultant Catherine Reynolds. The menu and pairings:

SALPICóN DE PESCADO CON AGUACATE
Minced sautéed rockfish w/ chile and avocado with hand-cut chips
2007 Zuccardi Organic Sparkling Chardonnay (Mendoza,Argentina)

ENSALADA DE NARANJA, JíCAMA Y BERROS
salad with jicama, orange and honey-tamarind dressing
2006 Montenovo Godello (Valdeorras, Spain)

TAMALITOS DE SETAS AL GUAJILLO
Chanterelle mushroom tamales steamed in banana leaves

2006 Gougenheim Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina)

CHILES EN NOGADA
Chicken picadillo-stuffed poblano chiles with walnut cream sauce and pomegranate seeds
2005 Alto Almanzora Este (Valle de Almanzora, Spain)
2006 Araunco Pinot Noir (Valle Central, Chile)

COSTILLAS DE CERDO
Chipotle-rubbed pork ribs with jalapeño/pineapple glaze

PASTA DE FRIJOLES CON FRISEé DE TORTILLAS

Creamy coconut refried beans
2005 Quinto do Crasto (Douro, Portugal)
2005 Mas Doix Salanques (Priorat, Spain)

EL GRAN FLAN CON ZARZAMORAS
Flan for a crowd with raspberries
Broadbent 5-year Reserve Madeira (Portugal)

CAFé MOCAMBO
Villa Victoria's own roast coffee

Looking at America

The New York Times speaks for millions here.

Joel Connelly of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes about what makes Iowa Republicans tick:

• "Our presidents should be godly people." -James Patrick, Des Moines churchgoer;
  
• "Over 70 per cent of Iowans believe marriage should be between one man and one woman and nothing else [sic]. We believe this issue of marriage is important to the health and welfare of the family in this country." -Pastor Dan Barry, Cornerstone Family Church of Des Moines;
• "I've worked now in three successful presidential campaigns, but the moral climate in this country has continued to deteriorate." -Anne Perry (another Sunday worshipper, not the mystery writer).

Of course, considering the way in which the Bush Administration has ignored the ongoing agony of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast,  she may have a point. Meanwhile, John Edwards dares argue that poverty is the real threat to the health and welfare of this country, here.

Killian Read: Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Jeff Lindsay)

Killian's Downloads:

Son of Skip James (Dion)

Raising Sand (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss) As hard as this pairing is to envision, it works on just about every level. Who knew?