The (New & Improved) HYENA KITCHEN

            So this past week- while most of you were distracted by the Yanny or Laurel controversy – the world marked the opening of the relocated U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem; and while it was conducted with all the pomp and circumstance of an alt-right ribbon cutting at a Charlotte, N.C. Krispy Kreme, I fear the repercussions – far beyond the senseless murder of sixty Palestinians protesting the move by a frightened Israeli Defense Force [ as portrayed on Tuesday by The Ohio National Guard ] – will be unimaginable and in time, remembered as a grave moment in both U.S. and World history.             Now, the current resident of The “White” House doesn’t care about this move one way or another – it does not benefit his personal or financial agenda in any way – so, he didn’t want to go. He can’t send his Christian Zionist Vice-President because it wouldn’t do to have him gleefully jumping around sc...

A very rare photo the elussive Albino Jack Hyena & the equally rare Tuxedo Hyena seen here on their natural environment - asleep on the blue plaid plains adjacent to the Kitchen. 

SO IT'S TIME GET BEHIND THIS STRANGE/HORRIBLE/INEXCUSABLE YEAR AND PUSH IT OVER THE CLIFF - AS A WARNING TO ALL FUTURE YEARS.      MAY WE BE SAFE FROM FAME,      MAY WE HOLD OUR FAVORITE SONGS CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS,      MAY WE BE FREE OF OPPRESSION,      AND MAY WE ALL, IF THE CHANCE ARISES, BE CLOSE ENOUGH      TO THAT BASTARD DEATH OR THAT BASTARD TRUMP,      TO SPIT IN HIS EYE AND KICK HIM IN THE SHIN. . . AND, MAY WE ALL FIND THAT SPARK IN OURSELVES, THAT 2016 TRIED SO HARD TO EXTINGUISH!

     There are things about living in the Pacific Northwest that catch me by surprise - surprises not found in Southern California, South Texas, New Orleans, etc - like a glimpse of motion.  I looked up from my laptop to catch a glimpse of body and left wing swoop up, across the upper left corner of the living room window and then a thump on the roof.  I love living in a world of eagles.  To see them soar far over head;  perched high above, watching; or coming close to let you know they're here.  I do love being caught by surprise.

     The road was hard, the weather harder. It took a turn or two to find the old farm. He left the motor running and stood from the driver's seat. The last he'd been here, he was certain he would never see the house again. Cold fingers had to coax the key to memory; with a rusty jiggle the lock conceded and he was certain he would never leave. . .

Sad question to start off the new year... What is wrong with this world? I know, that's a loaded question these days – I guess I should say, what's wrong with Hollywood? I went on IMDB this afternoon and the top news story was that “The Maus Awakened” had taken yet another billion dollar boffo box office record or something. The second story was the passing of cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond – the last of the greats reduced to second billing. A passing that should be heralded. McCabe and Mrs. Miller and Heaven's Gate two of the most beautiful westerns ever shot. Not to mention Deliverance , The Deer Hunter , and my first three seconds on screen The Sugarland Express . (I have to add one of my favorite films of the last twenty years, Life as a House .) Hollywood always seem to reduce a career to a footnote in favor of what is filling their coffers at the moment. I called Zsigmond as the last of the greats; as he was the last of my personal top five – Haskell We...

"Shadow of Cowardice "         by James Patrick Lockett Each and every day shadows are cast across our souls and we must dig deep within ourselves to recognize the difference 'tween one man standing in the way of the light, and the cowardice, the hatred, that hide behind the mask of shadow that creeps across us. Each and every day we must bond our souls against the shadows of cowardice and call them on out, to make light of their darkness; and in standing together, we can defeat the shadows that threaten to block our light. Muslims do night hide behind black hoods. Christians do not hide behind white hoods. Faith does not hide in the shadows, hatred does. Faith lives in the light, all faiths. Try as you might oh cowar'd shadows, you cannot block our light.