Steely Dan vs. The Eagles.The post The songs Steely Dan and Eagles wrote about each other: I think it drove him nuts first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

";What';s the point in fucking about?";The post Noel Gallagher: Kurt Cobain was the perfect cross between John Lennon and Paul McCartney first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

";What is sweet now‚ turns so sour.";The post Savoy Truffle: A George Harrison song for The Beatles packed full of insults first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Greta Garbo was a huge Hollywood star until she suddenly decided to retire at age 35.

Rome was an empty and broken city in 1341.The popes had fled to France where the castles werent crumbling‚ and families werent holding grudges against them. Its population had dwindled to a mere 20‚000 (the city had been built for 50 times as many people) and houses on the Tiber stood empty. It had no time or resources to develop culture and art it was simply trying to survive.It was so broken that some theologians and philosophers speculated that perhaps what was most important about Rome was its civilizational and cultural influence. If that were the case‚ it was clear to them that the spirit of Rome had moved to someplace like Paris‚ where 200‚000 souls kept the city alive and bustling‚ and where the university drove cultural and intellectual innovations for the rest of Europe. (READ MORE from Aubrey Gulick: Our Historical Narratives Should Account for Fear)But Rome wouldnt die so easily.Its senators (yes‚ the city was still ruled by a Senate) were determined to be relevant once again. The problem‚ they determined‚ was that Rome was not artistic enough. It needed to drive the culture‚ not be an addendum to it.So they started looking around for a poet.The man they found wasnt Roman‚ but he wished he were. He was well-connected in Paris and Avignon and was an Italian patriot even though Italy wasnt unified‚ although he wished it were. He was a bit of a dreamer (over nearly 50 years he wrote some 366 love sonnets to a girl who had died in his youth. One for each day of the year).Crucially‚ Francesco Petrarca thought Rome was the best thing to have happened to Western civilization. He loved its history‚ ancient ruins‚ philosophers‚ and dead politicians. Most importantly‚ though‚ he believed in its rebirth. (READ MORE: Who You Gonna Call?: Ghostbusters Reboot Reaffirms Traditional Values)And he was writing a poem.The poem wasnt about Rome (its called Africa)‚ and it wasnt finished it wouldnt be finished for another two years and wouldnt be available to the public for another 54 years after that.Petrarch had dreamed for years of being crowned as a poet on the Capitoline Hill in Rome the way the ancient Roman poets had been. Rome needed relevance‚ so the Senate and King Robert of Naples put their heads together and decided to crown him on Easter Sunday‚ April 8‚ 1341.For some reason‚ it worked.By sheer luck‚ Romes senators and the King of Naples had chosen to crown the man responsible for beginning the Renaissance. There was no immediate change (the popes didnt move back to Rome until 1374 when St. Catherine of Sienna talked them into it). But‚ with time‚ the Renaissance picked up steam. Crucially‚ it was first an Italian movement that looked to Rome for inspiration rather than Paris. (READ MORE: Snow Country in Japan)Romes Senate couldnt have known it then‚ but putting a laurel wreath on Petrarchs head was perhaps the single most effective thing they could have done to save the Eternal City.This article originally appeared on Aubreys Substack‚ Pilgrims Way on April 8‚ 2024.The post Saving Rome With a Laurel Wreath appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

As voters across America prepare to vote on abortion in November‚ former President Donald Trump prepares as well‚ with a statement released this morning that calls for national unity on abortion and life issues going into this falls election season.Our nation needs help; it needs unity; it needs us all to work closely together: Democrat‚ Republican‚ liberal‚ conservative‚ everyone‚ Trump said. We have to work together.In his statement‚ Trump clarified his position on issues like in vitro fertilization (IVF)‚ which he said he strongly support[s]. Trump also stated that he is strongly in favor of exceptions to restrictions on abortion for cases of rape‚ incest‚ and life of the mother. Trump releases statement on abortionpic.twitter.com/4k3geepeiz Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 8‚ 2024This statement comes after the former president has sent mixed signals about his position on abortion‚ telling NBCs Meet the Press last September that both sides need to come to an agreement on the issue. Both sides will come together‚ Trump told NBC. And for the first time in 52 years‚ youll have an issue that we can put behind us. (RELATED: American Catholics Back Trump Over Biden)In his most recent statement‚ Trump reiterated that the long-term and hard-fought battle over abortion has finally ended.My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint‚ the states will determine by vote or legislation‚ or perhaps both‚ and whatever they decide must be the law of the land in this case‚ the law of the state‚ Trump said. Now‚ its up to the states to do the right thing.The former president also emphasized the supremacy of the will of the people.You must follow your heart‚ or‚ in many cases‚ your religion or your faith. Do whats right for your family and do whats right for yourself; do whats right for your children; do whats right for our country and vote‚ he said. Always go by your heart‚ but we must win. We have to win.Conservative and Liberal ResponseTrumps emphasis on the importance of winning elections has concerned many pro-lifers‚ who see it as a compromise on the pro-life position.Ben Zeisloft‚ editor at the Sentinel‚ argued on X that Gods will‚ not the peoples‚ must come first. God says abortion is murder‚ Zeisloft wrote. Anything short of equal protection of the laws for preborn babies from our civil authorities is a wicked violation of duty for which they will be held accountable.Daily Wire host Matt Walsh also pushed back against Trump. There is no such thing as abortion rights. Rights are God given and God does not give anyone the right‚ under any circumstance‚ to kill children‚ Walsh posted on X in response to Trumps statement.The response from conservatives‚ however‚ wasnt all negative.Trump just took abortion off the table for 2024. It will NOT be a presidential decision‚ said Bill Mitchell‚ host of YourVoice America‚ on X.Masterful statement by Trump on abortion‚ Charlie Kirk‚ founder and CEO of Turning Point USA‚ posted on X. Hes 100% right. If we dont win elections‚ we get zero of what we want. Without political power Democrats will make abortion the law of the land.Liberal commentators‚ such as the hosts of Morning Joe‚ interpreted the statement in a different light‚ taking the opportunity to claim that it proves Trump supports crazy‚ extreme laws.It remains to be seen whether Trumps moderate stance will help or hurt his reelection efforts in November.The post Trump Weighs In on the Abortion Debate appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.