(Bootleg) Odds & Ends (with a "Who Lost the Week?" poll)

I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".

OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.

CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM, our Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.

PROGRAMMING NOTE — last week I noted that I would be travelling this weekend and thus unable to post — alas, the trip was cancelled (due to weather conditions) late in the week. So this edition will be rather truncated (but, will be back to full-strength next week).

FRIDAY's CHILD is one of the kittehs at a cat yoga class in Seattle (which has also found favor in the city of Indianapolis as well).

SURPRISE! — the head of Germany’s domestic security agency said it was foiling continual attempts by Russia to steal politically sensitive information in the run-up to this autumn’s parliamentary election ….. and that further attacks were likely.

HAIL and FAREWELL to the long running ESPN discussion show on Sunday mornings, The Sports Reporters— which had its final episode this morning (and will probably be repeated this afternoon) — and which for thirty years had a frank yet civil discussion on sports (not purely about x’s and o’s, either). This morning’s farewell was a gem.

BRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC.

IN CASE YOU NEED some comfort after this disastrous week (with health care and the religious discrimination-enabling statement) … if you haven’t seen it, read this story from the BBC about the Czech 16 year-old Girl Scout who confronted neo-Nazis.

...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… no time for a profile this week. Instead, just a song of comfort in difficult times.

After spending many years in the ministry, Al Green went back to his roots and created an old-fashioned, secular soul album in 2003 (with his old producer Willie Mitchell) — yet with all new material and instrumentation, and thus not simply a nostalgia trip — which was titled I Can't Stop— that brought his music to a new audience as well as making his old fans happy. I recall one DownBeat reviewer writing, "It's amazing to hear old-time music sound so fresh". And here is my favorite tune, Not Tonight …. far from the stereotypical meaning of that phrase.

You've been there from day one You've been there since my life's just begun I don't know just how to explain How I feel about you, I feel about you

Girl, don't get on that train And don't get on that plane Baby, not tonight Baby, not tonight

'Cause I'm in love with you And I swear, you know it's true Baby, not tonight