Sunday Serendipity

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Africa, composed by William Grant Still

Africa is a 1930 symphonic poem in three movements by American composer William Grant Still. The work, originally scored for chamber orchestra, was first performed in 1930 by French flautist Georges Barrère and, in a full orchestra version, by Howard Hanson on October 24, 1930, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

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42 thoughts on “Sunday Serendipity”

  1. Jack, thanks. beautiful.

    Africa BBC style

    Streamed live on Feb 13, 2026
    Welcome to BBC EARTH! The world is an amazing place full of stories, beauty and natural wonder. Here you’ll find 50 years worth of entertaining and thought-provoking natural history content. Dramatic, rare, and exclusive, nature doesn’t get more exciting than this.

  2. moving on from out of africa to out of minneapolis

    Attribution: Minnesota Protesters Flick ICE Agent Away in Surge End by Steve Sack, Cagle.com/sack
    [For 41 years, Steve Sack was the cartoonist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune where he won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 2013. Steve is a shining star in our profession.]

  3. pog, think this has legs?
    https://lawandcrime.com/ by Colin Kalmbacher Feb 14th, 2026, 2:14 pm

    ‘Abuse of judicial power’: First Amendment groups argue Mar-a-Lago judge no longer has jurisdiction over Jack Smith report, urge appeals court to shut her out and issue stay
    […]
    In a 30-page petition for a writ of mandamus filed Friday, the Knight Institute and American Oversight are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to stay proceedings at the district court pending the resolution of their two separate appeals filed last year.

    “Mandamus relief is urgently needed in aid of this Court’s appellate jurisdiction and to ensure that Petitioners’ statutory, common law, and First Amendment rights of access to Volume II are not irretrievably lost,” the petition reads. “Needless to say, if the district court orders the destruction of the document at issue in Petitioners’ appeals, this Court’s jurisdiction will effectively be thwarted and Petitioners’ constitutional and statutory rights vitiated. Petitioners—as nonparties who have been denied intervention—will have no ability to appeal the district court’s order to prevent it being carried out.”

    Issuing a writ of mandamus – a demand issued by a court for another court, or for a government agency, to do something specific – is rare. The petitioners say the circumstances at this point in the shadowy life of Smith’s second volume justify such an extraordinary remedy.

    For one, the groups say, they simply have no other options due to how Cannon stacked the docket in favor of maintaining secrecy.

    “The parties’ unopposed, expedited motions currently pending before the district court seek relief that would, if granted, entirely foreclose Petitioners’ statutory, common law, and First Amendment rights of access to Volume II,” the petition continues.

    The filing goes on like this, at length (emphasis in original):

    A district court order directing the destruction of all copies of Volume II would result in the irretrievable loss of those rights. A permanent injunction barring Volume II’s release would also seriously damage Petitioners’ rights of access, because FOIA, the common law, and the First Amendment all guarantee a right of timely access to records that fall within their scope. The First Amendment, for example, guarantees a right of contemporaneous access to judicial documents, because “the public benefits attendant with open proceedings are compromised by delayed disclosure.”

    The groups also say they have civil procedure on their side.

    “Petitioners have a clear and indisputable right to a stay of district court proceedings because their notices of appeal divested the district court of jurisdiction over the issue remaining in this closed criminal case—public access to Volume II of the Special Counsel’s report,” the petition goes on. “Given the transfer of jurisdiction to this Court, the district court’s adjudication of the parties’ motions seeking permanent injunctive relief against Volume II’s release would constitute an ‘abuse of judicial power.'”

    The mandamus request argues Cannon no longer has authority over the specific question of “public access to Volume II” because their “notices of appeal completely divested the district court of jurisdiction.”

    In other words, the groups say the access question is the core issue at stake now, rather than just an ancillary issue, and the idea of litigating the core issue in two different courts – at the district and appellate level simultaneously – makes no sense.

    Again, the filing, at length (emphasis in original):

    Indeed, the pending motions in the district court are inextricable from the issues on appeal. On appeal, Petitioners seek access to Volume II and to a rescission of the injunction against its release. In the pending motions in the district 18 court, Defendants seek destruction of the report or, at the very least, a permanent injunction against its release. It is difficult to imagine a more direct conflict between parallel proceedings in the district court and on appeal.

    “The Petition raises ‘special circumstances’ that further justify issuance of the writ,” the petition continues. “The report’s release would shed light on the scope and integrity of the Special Counsel’s investigation, which is a matter of intense public and congressional interest.”

    The groups go on to note congressional investigators are still interested in the underlying Mar-a-Lago documents case but that Smith himself has been hamstrung by the report remaining under seal.

    “The disclosure of the report would also inform the public about the Justice Department’s understanding of the Espionage Act, a statute with broad implications for free speech and press freedom,” the petition argues.

    Finally, the groups say there are greater principles at play that support the appellate court’s immediate intervention in the case.

    “The Supreme Court has emphasized that the First Amendment was meant to protect the right of the public to freely examine ‘public characters and measures,'” the petition concludes. “The district court’s adjudication of Defendants’ motions seeking the permanent suppression and destruction of Volume II of the Special Counsel’s report compromises the interests that FOIA and the First Amendment were intended to protect.”

  5. Inspired last night by BiD and Anon (“the people cry for a chat widget”) I think I’ve found a way to include live on-screen comments during chats without a google or youtube account.
    Developing…

  7. Everything To Know About The ‘Epstein Class,’ The Term That’s On Everyone’s Tongues

    As files associated with the disgraced former financier and noted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein trickle out, critics of the Justice Department’s handling of the case — particularly its liberal use of redactions to protect those in power, rather than victims — are beginning to name what’s going on.

    “We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It is the wealthiest Cabinet ever,” Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) said in a speech on Feb. 7. “This is the Epstein class.”

    Full article on link

  9. Per my post late last night, we have a list. It includes a lot of names to muddy the waters.

    For example, Marjorie Taylor Greene is listed; Epstein was suicided in 2019, while she wasn’t elected until 2021.

    There’s a disclaimer re: missing names are unintentional. Ivanka is listed on page six (with a lot of people like mTg), but Don Jr. is MIA even though his names in an email with Ivanka.

    Anyway, we have a list. Did Bondi think this would keep Congressmembers from view the actual files in a SCIF?

    The tRUMPstein files are not going away. Bondi and Patel should be charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.

  10. Patd, I am not aware of any law or even legal construct that would give Cannon the authority to order the destruction of any of Smith’s reports. Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy, but ordering the destruction of a document produced by a government employee as an exercise of DoJ’s authority to investigate criminal action is an extraordinary order. My instinct is that the writ may indeed have legs. Be interesting to see the response brief.

    I read the Law and Crime article and clicked a link related to the motion by the Nauta and de Oliveira legal teams to destroy the copies of the document and it notes that Cannon ordered that her injunction be dissolved on Feb 24, but that motion strikes me as more extraordinary than the writ. There are issues that impact Dumbass’ jeopardy after office that are unrelated to the Nauta/de Oliveira motions that are not capable of judicial determination until he is no longer in office, such as whether the statutes of limitation are stayed while he is in office and has administrative control over DoJ, and their motions if granted would thwart a court reviewing those issues.

    The more I think about it the more I think the writ should be issued.

  11. “When it gets to Election Day, we’ve been proactive to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country.” -ICE Barbie

  12. Ok thanks to Silas Gemini (and BiD, Anon for the idea) we have a possible live chat option for our livestreams that bypasses youtube and google account requirements.

    This free version only has room for five concurrent chatters. I’ll pay for more if it works and we like it.

    It’s only going to be active during the 11am ET podcasts, but you can check it out now, bang on the pipes.

    This will be our “VIP” room for Trail Mix subscribers only to watch the podcasts and add comments via keyboard.

    Test it now👇
    https://trailmix.cc/vip

  13. SOS! I’m in a car and they are listening to a radio show telling them how good everything is, how wages are going up. So much sunshine! So many roses!

  19. I heard part of the poem and part of the song but it went silent on me.
    I’ll just do it again tomorrow
    I could still see—just no audio.

  20. AOC gets asked at Munich: “Are you still an ally?”

    Europe is asking the question behind closed doors because of U.S. partisanship—and the answer matters.

    From the $50B ICE budget to the “Symphonic Poems” of the Digital Diner, we’re digging into the data behind the noise.

    TODAY’S RUNDOWN
    00:00 Intro
    02:15 Parody or Reality? The TikTok Politician Trap
    05:30 William Grant Still: Africa as a Symphonic Poem
    08:45 AOC in Munich: The “Ally” Question
    12:10 Biden vs. Trump: Analyzing the New Approval Polls
    15:40 The $50 Billion ICE Audit: Tracking the Money
    22:15 VIP Chat Room Test & Subscriber Exclusives
    28:50 General Milley on the Constitution

  21. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/cuba/mexico-ships-humanitarian-aid-arrive-cuba-energy-crisis-deepens-rcna258804

    Two Mexican navy ships laden with humanitarian aid docked in Cuba on Thursday as a U.S. blockade deepens the island’s energy crisis.

    The Mexican government said that one ship carried some 536 tons of food including milk, rice, beans, sardines, meat products, cookies, canned tuna, and vegetable oil, as well as personal hygiene items. The second ship carried just over 277 tons of powdered milk.

    Yohandri Espinosa, a 34-year-old engineer, observed the ships arrive with his daughter and took pictures.

    “This is incredibly important aid for the Cuban people at this moment,” he said. “We are living through difficult times of great need and uncertainty, and we don’t know how long we will be like this.”

    Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has called Trump’s threats an “energy blockade” and said it affects transportation, hospitals, schools, tourism and the production of food.

    Cuban aviation officials warned airlines earlier this week that there isn’t enough fuel for airplanes to refuel on the island. On Monday, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Cuba, while other airlines announced delays and layovers in the Dominican Republic before flights continued to Havana. The cuts in fuel are expected to be another blow to Cuba’s once thriving tourism economy.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that as soon as the ships return, “we will send more support of different kinds.” Her administration noted that it still plans to send 1,500 tons of beans and powdered milk.

    Sheinbaum has previously said the humanitarian aid would be sent while diplomatic maneuvering to resume oil supplies is underway. She says Mexico has told the United States it seeks to promote peaceful dialogue and ensure Cuba “can receive oil and its derivatives for its daily operations.”

    Before Trump’s announcement, the state-owned oil company Petróleos Mexicanos, Pemex, had already suspended crude oil shipments to Cuba in January, although it has not clarified the reasons behind that decision.

    Meanwhile, speaking with journalists on Thursday, the Russian presidential spokesman declined to comment on whether Russia might send oil supplies to Cuba.

    Cuba relied heavily on oil shipments from Venezuela that were halted when the U.S. attacked the South American country in early January and arrested its leader.

    *Jared Kushner gonna build a luxury edit once all of the Cubans are dead or enslaved?

    FDT
    FMR

  23. Stur, I think you’re on an iPhone and here is an idea from our chat platform:
    Use the StreamYard Guest App
    If Safari continues to glitch, StreamYard now has a dedicated iOS Guest App. It often handles the hardware permissions much more reliably than the mobile browser.
    Download the app from the App Store.

  24. Before Trump’s announcement, the state-owned oil company Petróleos Mexicanos, Pemex, had already suspended crude oil shipments to Cuba in January, although it has not clarified the reasons behind that decision.

    Please…as Bob said “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.”

  27. listening to a radio show telling them how good everything is

    you know i appreciate your informed contributions greatly but one has to see why the magas think the malcontents are crazy

    age of madness

  28. Even a pro-Trump poll from Rasmussen is finding that folks think Biden did a better job in office. “Three examples make a trend,” and the argument that “at least he’s not Biden” is officially losing its steam.

    Watch the moment in today’s Trail Mix podcast:

  31. Israeli Has Influence Over Epstein File Release, Republican Member Reveals

    “I think Israel is influencing the Epstein file release because Israeli intelligence and our own CIA was wrapped up with Epstein, and so it would be embarrassing to our own intelligence agencies as well as Israel’s intelligence agencies for all that to come out.”

    Massie explained that despite efforts by several organizations and institutions to delay and destroy the Epstein files, the law must explain why they are classifying the files from the public.

    He added that there are thousands of sex trafficking victims in the Epstein files and that there are dozens of “powerful” men and organizations, like banks, who should be criminally indicted for them, which leads to some of the files being in danger of being destroyed.

    Massie stated that the court does not have enough resources to track down and conduct investigations on each individual or company associated with the sex trafficking case.

    *Track down? One of them lives in the WH during the week and at MAL on the weekends.

    Les Wexner is testifying this week…or will he plead the 5th like Ghislaine?

    There are thousands of tapes, per Bondi caught on tape. There are redacted photos with descriptions of what horrible thing is happening.

    We know where Zorro Ranch is, and Donald’s piece of swampland near Sebring. Ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs.

  33. https://m.economictimes.com/opinion/et-commentary/what-you-pay-is-what-you-got-the-thing-about-finlands-pioneering-income-based-fines/articleshow/113466964.cms

    Now, in highly-digitised Finland, authorities can easily estimate the earnings of a resident and levy more accurate income-based fines, known as ‘day fines’ (paivasakko). Income-based fines link traffic and petty crime fines to the offender’s income and wealth with the aim of making the financial impact of the fines more equitable across different income levels.

    *I thought this was a good idea, because if you’re wealthy, $200 means nothing to you & you would be more apt to keep speeding. I was corrected; the fines should be the same & nobody should pay less. Less? It was reframed as a person with less getting a benefit from it. MAGAt brains are wild.

  34. At NYT:

    Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, defended ICE agents’ use of masks, which is a key disagreement between congressional Democrats and Republicans that has led to a partial government shutdown.

    “I don’t like the masks either, but because threats against ICE officers are up over 1,500 percent — actual assaults — and threats are up over 8,000 percent, these men and women have to protect themselves,” Homan said in an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
    […]

    Well, they didn’t invade major cities in the US before, asshole.

  35. Huh, 8,000 % you say.

    Prove it, MushMouth. Show me the stats, Homan.

    Think of how all of the folks ICE interacts with feel. The masked F-ers are chasing kids outside school.

    Remember, ultimately a pedophile commands these masked goons.

  37. In today’s Digital Diner, Jamie put Langston Hughes on the menu (see her blog). We took a moment to listen to Aldo Billingslea’s powerful performance of “Let America Be America Again”—a poem whose sharp exploration of the gap between the American dream and reality remains as striking today as when it was first written. Plus, a huge shoutout to whskyjack for serving up the perfect musical pairing with William Grant Still’s “Africa.”

  38. …. actual assaults — and threats are up ….

    See what he’s doing there? Conflating two different things and giving no baseline. And among the assaults are undoubtedly protests multiplied by the number of participants and people like ICE’s victims- multiplied by the number of agents present and each and every attempt of the victims to pull away. Lying sacks of shit.

  40. That moment at the debate….that was knives out and into Caesar.

    Olbermann is a much bette explainificationist than I, so I’ll let him tell the tale of how Jake and them all conspired to cause the democrats to wail and gnash their teeth and while tightly grasping their pearls betray the incumbent before the 2nd term election thus guaranteeing a gop victory.
    The recent history of incumbent democrats seeking a 2’d term while having to also endure democratic backbiters and they of little faith.

  41. Old Berman

    Well, I can’t make it play, so go to Olbermann’s “Countdown” podcast if you have the opportunity and interest.

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