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.
ART NOTES — a photography exhibition entitled Creating Camelot: The Kennedy Photography of Jacques Lowe is at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia through August 27th.
On display: Atlanta suburbsJEERS to the former head of the Italian separatist Northern League political party, Umberto Bossi— sentenced to two years for using more than $228k in funds given to political parties (by the state) to pay family expenses: travel, dinners, tuition, hotels and expensive cars. He used to be content with separating northern Italy away from the south (and be pals w/Silvio Berlusconi) but the League has now become an anti-immigration and anti-EU party … surprise.
HAIL and FAREWELL to Stubbs the Cat— the honorary feline mayor of the Alaska town of Talkeetna (who have no human mayor) — who has died at the age of 20.
The late Stubbs the CatPREVIOUSLY there were 43 recognized tribes in the African nation of Kenya — and now, President Uhuru Kenyatta has granted the country’s citizens of Indian descent official status as tribe #44, saying “Kenya’s diversity is not a cause for division … it is our greatest strength.”
CHANGE has come on two fronts in the nation of Uruguay— first, the sale of recreational marijuana at select pharmacies has begun (the first in South America to do so) … and a new text for schoolteachers to use in sexuality classes— noting gender inequality and offering guidance in preventing teenage pregnancy.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Matilda III the Cat— the current resident feline at NYC’s famed Algonquin Hotel, who will be the host of the Algonquin’s annual Celebration & Cat Fashion Show in early August.
Matilda III — Algonquin CatGREAT READ for the WEEKEND — the former deputy attorney general (and first EPA director) who resigned rather than fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox has some interesting background material about the events of October, 1973 — and William Ruckelshaus also has something to say about in his Op-Ed on what Robert Mueller is going through today.
FRIDAY's CHILD is among many feral cats around the nation who are being prepared to become factory/warehouse cats— able to thwart rodent problems at businesses …. because the rodents stay away from facilities where they even smell the presence of kittehs.
Soon …. a working kittehTHE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at an iconic NYC newsman, Gabe Pressman— a pioneering (yet non-photogenic) city reporter who (despite asking tough questions) nonetheless had the respect of politicians across-the-spectrum, worked part-time until his recent death at age 93 … and is the template for what a journalist should be (which you hopefully had one in your home or adopted city, as well).
BRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC.
OLDER-YOUNGER BROTHERS? — former TV pitchman Joe “He’s Lying” Isuzu (portrayed by David Leisure) and new Trump communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
Joe “He’s Lying” Isuzu Anthony Scaramucci...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… after a hectic week, not enough time for a comprehensive profile — but (like last week) that means it’s time for something different. So, here is a (relatively) new band, whose debut album was released just five months ago and thus are without an extensive history … yet which fans of all ages can appreciate (even us old geezers).
Southern Avenue is a thoroughfare that runs across the southern portion of Memphis, Tennessee (and reaching the legendary Stax Records studio). It is now also the name of a band from that city that combines blues, soul … or, as they tell it, just plain old Memphis music. And its guitarist hails from Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Tupelo …... actually, Israel.
Ori Naftaly brought his old band to Memphis in 2013 to compete in the International Blues Challenge … and decided to stay. Then he heard singer Tierinii Jackson (who had begun singing in the church before singing in local cover bands) and thought, “This is why I came to America”. They had some rehearsals that clicked, then Tierinii suggested adding her sister Tikyra on drums. This convinced Naftaly to leave his former band, believing he had found his true calling.
Eventually adding bassist Daniel McKee and keyboardist Jeremy Powell, they have now become a fixture on the Memphis scene. While they are usually considered a blues band — the two songs below I have heard on blues radio — that seems like a rather inadequate description, as I hear a lot of soul and R&B mixed-in. and they have an active tour schedule as well.
So, time-will-tell about this band’s future. Yet it feels good to feature a current musical act in this space: and with any luck, they’ll merit a longer profile later on.
Southern Avenue — Memphis’s futureTwo songs from the debut studio album — only one has a Concord Music Group official release, Don’t Give Up — the single release (a bit more funky).
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My favorite song of theirs is their soulful ballad of unrequited l’amour, Love Me Right — and below is an (all-too-short) live clip of them performing it.
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