the sound of gunfire , hari krishna in new york, and that the years are not created equal

hari krishna in new york - jonas mekas, allen ginsberg, barbara rubin

from C4's midnight underground (1993 -1996) a late-night program devoted to avant garde film that horsemouth wasn't previously aware of. there are a number of clips collected here.. horsemouth actually owned a telly at some point in this era (he even had a VHS recorder).

on this day in 1871 in paris 'the sound of gunfire, abut ten o'clock, in the direction of courbevoie thank god civil war has broken out' - the situation of dual-power ends, the defeat of the communards begins, goncourt rejoices. 

' I am filled with a jubilation which I savour at length.' 

courbevoie is just out passed where la defence is now in the north west of the city, it is where the road curves away to the north (as the name suggests - nothing to do with crows as horsemouth first thought)  to get over the hills that surround paris. 

yesterday was cost of living day when the cost of living usually increases because the institutions increase their charges for the new financial year (oops. horsemouth has forgotten to turn over the calendar). it is best compared to fat cat day (usually round about the 4th or 5th of january) when your average member of the 1% has earned what the average worker (bottom 50%) will earn in a year. (it is worthwhile pointing out that the 1% is ot homogenous but very widely distributed - sir keir is a one percenter as is rishi sunak. 

ok horsemouth has just swapped over the page on the countryfile calendar - 3 fox cubs (horsemouth's parents will not be best pleased, the local fox has just slaughtered most of their chickens (they will probably regard it as the evil work of chris packham). 

there are plenty of foxes local to horsemouth. hardly a day goes by with out him seeing at least one (if he were up earlier or about later he would see more). they have become urban scavengers (and thus their survival is ensured).  

last night he watched two youtube videos on retirement. 

the first one 5 reasons to do retirement now (time and health really, the years are not created equal, when you are old old you will be able to do less, best to get the things you want to do in early). the second one retirement is dead - the way government is changing healthcare and pension rights, plus economic turbulence has undermined the ability of a retiree to plan ahead.

horsemouth is safe (or so he thinks ladies and gentlemen) because horsemouth does not mind being poor. he will not know until he sees how his (limited) savings are doing for the year how much the market volatility will have affected him. if he has to go and get a job then (fucksake) that's what it is. 

next week a zoom meeting (that will have to be re-arranged from good friday). howard is on half-term. the week after horsemouth is on holiday in the cloud forest (more zoom meetings). thereafter max's booklaunch (musicians of bremen will play) and the AGM for the communal endeavour. thereafter we will be in may (and thence june and the solstice).

meanwhile the tory MPs and landlords have been out attempting to move the EPC (energy performance certificate) goalposts   fearing that landlords will sell up if they have to insulate their homes to a decent standard.