Better Than Friday - 283 (Patreon)

Gooood evening friends.

Sick as a dog after the AZ trip with whatever influenza is haunting the region these days.

Hit me hard. Felt like an alternate universe. Voice dropped several octaves (I didn't mind this).

Energy is starting to return but it's sloooow going.

On top of that, heading to Mississippi in a few days for a rare visit with my family and Grandmother, who is 88, so running around trying to get everything squared away.

Thanks for your patience with coming content - it's chaotic on this end.

Currently aiming to review 'The Tower' by W.B. Yeats next.

1. A Cormac McCarthy title I need to read: The Crossing (Paid Link)

The second volume of The Border Trilogy, none of which I've read. Perhaps I should review them all in order. My wife tells me The Crossing is excellent.

 2. Sufi Dhikr

Turn it up and just try not to start stomping on the ground.

This is absolutely incredible.

The Dhikir was mentioned in the introduction of Mystery Cults of the Ancient World by Hugh Bowden, the next patron-only review (it was not saying Sufism is a 'cult', but was examining religious rituals).

I looked up 'Dhikr' on youtube and came across this. At least once in my life, I would love to attend a Dhikr like this.

3. Paul Bowles tells the story of a violent Moroccan Sufi ritual

In the comments, @hafidmostarhfir2245 explains that the practice was found within the Moroccan sect called 'Issawa', which looks fascinating.

 4. Listening to this all throughout Arizona

I somehow missed the fact that both Kurt Vile and Mark Lanegan collaborated with Tinariwen on this track - outstanding.

 5. Newsman Depressed About February

Admittedly February is much more tolerable in Florida, but I get it - I've lived in the North.

Found on instagram via @avgerinosx

 I've seen Elk before, living in the Northwest. I even once saw a herd stampede in front of my car on a country road, as though I were at a red light, in an unannounced moment of National Geographic.

But I have never been surprised by encountering one at a distance of approximately 4 ft with nothing separating us - and man, that is a different experience entirely.

While roaming along the path on the ridge of the Grand Canyon (our first time there), we came across an elk cow munching away. So quiet we never knew - until we were right next to her.

Gawking, in a state of immediate blissful idiotic fascination, I of course whip out the phone and move as close as I can (do not do this) before being cautioned by my wife - It then dawned on me what could happen if I were to spook the cow. Plainly put - She would FUCK me up.

So I adjusted my stance and we decided not to linger, though I managed to get a single photo. They are beautiful but enormous animals. Afterwards, from a distance , we saw the bull (huge) antlers and all, pulling himself up the rocks of the actual canyon ridge.

Grateful we did not meet him up close.