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 (great news!) 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.
MUSEUM NOTES — a new museum opens this week in Helsingborg, Sweden, called the Museum of Failure— yes, really. More than 60 objects and services (so far) are included: Colgate-branded frozen beef lasagna, a Harley-Davidson perfume that smells of old leather …. and a new take on Monopoly, “Trump: The Game”, with a box that proclaims …. “I’m Back and You’re Fired!”
Now showing in Helsingborg, SwedenHAIL and FAREWELL to the baseball player (and later broadcaster) Jimmy Piersall — who has died at the age of 87. He suffered a case of bipolar disorder during the 1952 season — recalling himself walking into spring training, and waking up in a hospital bed months later — which he wrote a book about, made into a 1957 movie (starring Anthony Perkins). The ending of that book, Fear Strikes Out has stayed with me: the following year (or so) after his breakdown he met an airline flight attendant who recalled him from that fateful year (but he didn’t recall her):
“I don’t remember anything — 1952 was a bad year for me”. “You mean because you were sick, Jimmy?” “Yes.” “But wasn’t that also the year that you were cured?” “Yes, it was.” “Well, then I’d say 1952 was a good year — the best of your life”.
I guess maybe she was right, at that.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Tank the Cat— an English kitteh who kept daily visits to a family who had just lost their eleven year-old son …. whose owner told the Trower family, “I think he's chosen you, you'd better keep him” — and Tank has helped lighten-the-load for the distraught family ever since.
Tank the CatTHE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at the phenomenon of figures 40+ years ago re-appearing on my TV, the Watergate time warp edition — and I’m not just referring to John Dean (who never went away).
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Zeus the Cat— an Iowa kitteh who all-of-a-sudden would not let a Des Moines woman alone and Zeus was always touching her … it turned out that Zeus was reacting to the woman’s hormonal changes … namely, he detected her unknown pregnancy.
Zeus the CatBRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC.
MY FIRST DOSE of political cynicism came just over fifty years ago (as a ten year-old). In learning of the death of Adam West, I recalled this short clip of an episode where Batman is forced to run for mayor of Gotham City (over fears that The Penguin might win against the incumbent mayor John “Linseed”).
x xYouTube VideoI gagged (even in 1966) at Batman’s rationale (“voters will decide strictly upon the issues”) ….. but the warning he sounded at the end of the clip pre-saged today.
FATHER-SON? — the late children’s author Ted “Dr. Seuss” Geisel and English rock drummer extraordinaire Peter “Ginger” Baker (from Cream and Blind Faith).
Ted Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) Ginger Baker (born 1939)...... and finally, for a song of the week ..................… a hectic week, leaving no time for a full profile. I do have time to highlight a 1979 song .. with a new lease on life.
The British band XTC was a band that the All-Music Guide’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine considers one of the great “lost pop bands” — due to being either ahead (or behind) their times — that emerged from the punk/new wave scene in the late 1970’s.
They were never a big commercial hit in their native Britain (and even less so in North America) yet developed a cult following on both sides of the Atlantic. They lasted as a stage act from 1976-1982, when guitarist Andy Partridge underwent both illness (and stage fright) and the band soldiered on for another five years in the studio — again, garnering MUCH critical praise, yet only modest sales.
They reformed in the late 1990’s and continued to 2006, when bassist Colin Moulding— the band’s other primary songwriter — announced he had no interest in performing any longer. A documentary on the band is expected to be released soon: and perhaps the reaction will determine if there is any chance of a reunion.
XTC in 1978 (Moulding 2nd, Partridge 4th)One of the band’s most popular songs (in its original incarnation) was written by Colin Moulding, entitled Making Plans for Nigel— which Moulding allows is (at least in part) autobiographical — his father wanted him to get a university education and nearly marching him down to get a haircut — due to “plans”.
Colin Moulding (born 1955)Fast-forward several decades, to the rise of the of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) — a right-wing xenophobic party — which led the fight for the Brexit campaign. Its former leader Nigel Farage — the day after winning the Brexit vote — back-pedalled on claims that savings from Brexit could be applied to Britain’s National Health Service.
Brexit leader Nigel FarageI cannot locate any articles on whether Colin Moulding’s royalties have jumped, but it is difficult to find an extended article on Nigel Farage that does not reference Making Plans for Nigel— either in the headline (or the body of the story). And following the Brexit vote, Nigel Farage came to help-out the Trumpster— unsurprising, considering their xenophobic backgrounds (and common friends, too).
Two interesting recent stories of note: first, it sounds as if the FBI is making plans for Nigel, declaring him to be a person of interest in their investigations.
And just the other day, Farage’s old party UKIP took a pounding in the UK general election— with its total share of the national vote going from 12% down to 2% (and losing its sole seat in Parliament). Along with the goings-on here: a lot of people would be delighted if events in the UK and US included ……...… well, no further plans for Nigel.
We're only making plans for Nigel We only want what's best for him We're only making plans for Nigel Nigel just needs that helping hand
We're only making plans for Nigel He has his future in British Steel We're only making plans for Nigel Nigel's whole future is as good as sealed
Nigel is not outspoken But he likes to speak And loves to be spoken to (in his world)
And if young Nigel says he's happy He must be happy He must be happy He must be happy in his work
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