Elizabeth Cotten - Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie

"Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie" is not as famous as Cotten's "Freight Train," but it has been covered pretty often. Still, there's nothing like the original. This was recorded late in her life, so her voice is a little worn, but the spirit shines through, and the guitar playing is still exemplary.

When an Element of the Zeitgeist Gets Predictable

This is spot-on and hilarious. H/t Ken Levine.

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James Fallows on the Budget Showdown

Some guidelines.

This isn't "gridlock." It is a ferocious struggle within one party, between its traditionalists and its radical factions, with results that unfortunately can harm all the rest of us -- and, should there be a debt default, could harm the rest of the world too.

H/t Digby.

Jefferson Airplane - Martha

Watched a JA documentary on Neflix and got reminded of this song.

nada just showed up, sort of

Nothing today, sorry.

Ted Cruz as Political Operative

A nice summary of Ted Cruz's situation from Steve Benen.

Indeed, the far-right's senator's entire scheme is imploding in ways that he apparently didn't see coming. Cruz has lost House Republicans, who were furious when he predicted failure last week after they followed his lead. Cruz has lost Senate Republicans, who consider his hare-brained scheme ridiculous and are annoyed by his efforts to exacerbate intra-party tensions.

H/t Greg Dworkin @ dailykos.

Schubert: Impromptu in G flat, Op. 90 No. 3 - Edwin Fischer, piano

Some more EF.