July 20, 2021
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Bob’s Kingdom

This week:

  • More on The American Plague and The Little Things
  • Back to the movies: Roadrunner – the Anthony Bourdain doc
  • The Basil Smash
  • We do this ‘Til we Free Us
  • Bob Dylan’s Shadow Kingdom
  • Dungeons and Dragons today
  • Listener mail and more….

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Thanks for listening!

July 18, 2021
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Now what?

Today we visited friends in Port Dover. They have a lovely 2-tiered pond in their back yard. Now our Ruby likes being in the water more than anything else. She spied the water and before any of us could stop her she was in.

Getting out, however turned out to be a challenge. Ruby has had both of her hind knees rebuilt, and now she has arthritis around both knee joints. The pond is a direct drop to the bottom, so Ruby found herself in a pond she couldn’t get out of. At least she avoided plunging over the waterfall into the second pond below!

One of our friends stepped into the pond with Ruby. I was able to get her front paws up on the patio stones above and he hoisted Ruby’s back end up and out.

Of course before that, George went over to help out. I thought he was going to land in the pond with Ruby but he had the good sense to stay topside. Hopefully the plants in the pond recover OK!

July 13, 2021
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Cocktails

Please join us for the new episode of The Agency Podcast (episode 106, not 105 – I goofed up). Listen right here or find it at all the good podcast places.
This week:
– Cocktails
– Outrageous poutine + butter chicken nachos
– Is music the most high thing?
– Fiddle great Byron Berline RIP
– The Friends of Eddie Coyle
– How the One-armed Sister Sweeps her House
– The American Plague
– Vaccinations and a post-COVID future
– How will COVID change the way we think about sick leave?
     …..and more.

We love to hear from you. Email us at theagency.podcast@gmail.com.
Thank you to our loyal listeners – we love you! And special thanks to our Patreon supporters for helping to pay the bills!

Also check out The Agency Reading List.

July 12, 2021
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Byron Berline RIP

Fiddler Byron Berline died July 10 at age 77. He was one of the great American fiddlers.

By sheer luck I briefly met him a few years ago at Midwest Banjo Camp. I had found a quiet place where I could work on a tune I had just learned on banjo and he happened by, going to one of the teaching rooms. I looked up and thought OMG that’s Byron Berline. I managed to stop myself from saying something totally stupid like, “um, you’re him”… Instead I went with a simple but effective “hi”. We exchanged just a moment of chit-chat. He struck me as being a genuinely friendly and fairly laid-back guy.

Here’s Mr. Berline in a workshop with Vassar Clements in 1992. It’s a long video. Listen to a taste or a full morsel – up to you.

Filed under: RIP
July 10, 2021
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Werewolves Beware

George with curing garlic

We harvested all our garlic today. There are 53 bulbs in all, plenty enough to scare away any werewolves, vampires or other nasty supernatural beings on Twenty Seventh Street. I’ve got it all tied in bunches and hanging from the “easy-up” on our deck, away from direct sun, where it will stay to cure for a couple weeks. After that, I’ll clean off all the clingy dirt and remove the roots, then braid it (badly) and hang it in the kitchen.

July 9, 2021
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Clarinet or Grandpa?

I’ve heard some Canadian fiddlers play the Clarinet Polka. For instance, here’s Mark Sullivan from his YouTube channel.

American fiddlers tackle it too. Here’s Vivian Williams, a fiddler from the Pacific Northwest, from 1981.

It’s also well known in Polish-American polka circles, but there it’s often called the Dziadek Polka. Dziadek means Grandfather (and Babcia for Grandmother). Here’s Zespol Chicago.

Regardless of which tradition, it’s a fabulous tune.

July 8, 2021
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Measurements for an Ark

Anybody know offhand the appropriate measurements for an ark? With all the rain coming down this morning, I hope it isn’t too late to begin construction. I was out doing some shopping this morning and already there were some crazy-big puddles. That was a couple hours ago and it has been pouring since. If the rain doesn’t stop, I’ll be able to launch off the front porch once construction is complete.

It seems we’ve had more than our share of rain over the past couple weeks. I hope it isn’t too much of a good thing for the veggie garden. Speaking of which my garlic looks like it’s about ready to be harvested. Usually I take it out of the ground around the middle of the month so it’s just a little early. The indicator is the leaves. Wait until the bottom 2 leaves have turned brown but harvest before all the leaves turn. I’ll likely harvest on the weekend. After harvest the garlic has to be cured for a couple weeks. I’ve had good success by hanging them in bunches out of the direct sun. Maybe there will be a garlic-curing area on the ark.