Thanks For The Pepperoni, J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger sought the private reader, who "read and ran."

His work was like his character Bessie Glass's chicken soup: consecrated, for the spirit in which it was offered. Nothing to be analyzed. Only drunk.

We liked his work very much.

Now, must run.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Give to Doctors Without Borders For Haiti

Laurie Konwinski of Ithaca has lived and worked extensively in Haiti over many years as a development volunteer.

Ithaca Blog has asked Laurie to share her insights on the situation in Haiti. She has responded, and we await word for publication.

In the meanwhile, Laurie endorses Doctors Without Borders as a seminal relief group for donations.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Supreme Court Jesters

Now that the Supreme Court has decided that corporations are people, what if one drives another out of business? Is it murder?

Can corporations get married?

What if they're gay?

The Supreme Court shows itself to be a politicized joke, so you might as well laugh.

Maybe the sensible thing, anyway, is to make it illegal for politicians to take bribes that corporations are now allowed to offer.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Ithaca Musicians Raise $5,000 For Haiti

A benefit concert on Sunday by Ithaca musicians raised over $5,000 for relief efforts for Haiti.

The money will be donated to the Doctors Without Borders organization.

Thanks and congratulations to the performers and organizers, especially Mike Stark, Jennie Lowe, Castaways bar, and the Suffer Jets roller derby team.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

It's Your Bet, Barack

Chances are that when candidate Barack Obama promised change, he didn't mean changing historically Democratic seats in the Senate to Republican.

But this is what he's delivered, by going from the candidate of change to the incumbent of compromise.

Voters in Massachusetts showed they are upset with the lack of progressive change, and even conviction, from a Democratic party that has held all the cards in Washington for a year, but folded time and again.

The message is that if Obama won't act, the electorate will.

As the song says, "I never saw a winner that didn't bet." It's time for Obama to take back the deal.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Concert for Haitian Relief, Sunday 17 Jan.

The Ithaca music community is reacting swiftly to the tragedy in Haiti.

There will be a Haitian Earthquake Relief Benefit this Sunday, 17 January, at Castaways.

Among the dozen or so performers are some of the biggest names locally, including Sim Redmond, Jennie Stearns, Mary Lorson, Johnny Dowd, and Hank Roberts.

The concert starts at 6 pm.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Martin Luther King Day(s) in Ithaca

On Saturday 16 January, the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) hosts its annual Martin Luther King Day breakfast, from 9 - 10:30.

Derrick McQueen of Union Theological Seminary in New York City will speak on eradicating poverty. Community members will entertain with poetry and song.

The breakfast is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and students, $10 for families of 4 and more.

For details or to volunteer, call GIAC at 272-3622.

On Monday 18 January, GIAC and other organizations from downtown and the colleges host free workshops and a lunch at the Womens Community Building. Workshops are from 9 - 11 and lunch is from 11:30 to 1:45.

Find more information at mlkdayithaca.com.

Flours From Finger Lakes Wow NYC Foodsters

A new line of fresh ground flours from our area are garnering big sales among foodsters at farmers markets in New York City, and notice in the New York Times.

Farmer Ground Flours are organically grown on Finger Lakes farms, and milled in Trumansburg. The grains - corn, spelt, and wheat - feature heirloom varieties.

The New York Times says, "to the delight of professional and amateur cooks and bakers... the flours are fresh, and have not sat for months in warehouses."

Farmer Ground Flours are sold at NYC Greenmarkets by Cayuga Pure Organics, a partner in the project. Cayuga Pure Organics has previously attracted notice from the Times for its dried beans, which are also sold immediately after processing, rather than stored.

Cayuga Pure Organic beans are sold locally at GreenStar Co-op, in the Bulk department and for considerably less than in Manhattan and its environs. We imagine the flours are at GreenStar, too, or shall be soon.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Big Changes at TCAT Will Include Partial Acceptance of Ithaca Hours

TCAT, the county's bus system, is implementing major changes in routes and in fare collection.

Computerized, renewable passes will replace disposable, paper ones.

TCAT is also planning to accept Ithaca Hours, the local cash currency, in partial payment for passes.

Details about Hours acceptance are still under review, but the new passes are available now, and their use will be fully implemented by Monday 18 January.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

New Years Eve Style Party on January 8

For those still smarting from the paucity of party opportunities on 12/31/09, a wang-dang-doodle type affair has been announced by Angry Mom Records, right on the heels of New Year's.

The 3rd Angry Mom Dance Party is scheduled for Friday 8 January, 10 pm, at the Chanti Lounge, above the Chanticleer Bar, on the corner of W. State and S. Cayuga Streets.

The motif for party #3, says co-ordinator Lee, is Afrobeat/dub/reggae.

More details are available at Angry Mom's page on Facebook.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog