Odds & Ends: News/Humor (with a "Who Lost the Week?" poll)

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

ART NOTES — an exhibition entitled Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths will be at the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. to October 20th.

ALTHOUGH COUNTRIES in Central America and Venezuela are baseball-playing nations, Peru historically has not been … yet with the country set to host the Pan-American Games for the first time, the construction of a stadium gives the Peruvian government hope that will change … helped by Venezuelan exiles.

THURSDAY's CHILD is named Loki the Cat— a Colorado kitteh who somehow wound-up in Topeka, Kansas …. but will be reunited with her family due to her microchip and someone willing to transport her in an RV.

THIS WEEKEND’s general elections in Australia will hopefully not only topple the ruling (conservative) Liberal party … but also help address gender discrimination in Parliament — with the Labor Party having nearly double the female candidates of the conservative opposition.

FRIDAY's CHILD is named Goose the Cat— a female star of the recent Captain Marvel film … portrayed most of the time by a 12 year-old male tabby named Reggie (due to an expressive face).

THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at the death of the comedic actor John Candy— just over twenty-five years ago — and the incredible story of his funeral procession on California’s 405 freeway, as told by his former co-star Catherine O’Hara in a broadcast for Canadian audiences.

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

TODAY’s POLL may seem a bit thin; am travelling early Saturday and so I may have not known of some later contenders. Just write-’em-in, of course.

OLDER-YOUNGER SISTERS? — film star Lady Gaga and California resident Amethyst Rose, who is thirteen years younger (and has a devoted Instagram following).

...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… hectic week, plus worked on the John Candy profile (and will be travelling as well) … and thus: no time for a full musical profile. Just one song from the surviving Righteous Brother (Bill Medley) from his 2007 album Damn Near Righteous.

This is a rendition of the Brian Wilson song In My Room— with not only Brian Wilson singing along, but also the late Phil Everly in a trio. Or so I thought: there is at least one other male voice (and presumably younger) ……. yet still a gem.

There's a world where I can go And tell my secrets to In my room ... in my room

In this world I lock out All my worries and my fears In my room ... in my room

Do my dreaming and my scheming Lie awake and pray Do my crying and my sighing Laugh at yesterday

Now it's dark and I'm alone But I won't be afraid In my room ... in my room