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 Laramie, Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES — a career retrospective of works of a British artist in an exhibition entitled Hew Locke: Here’s the Thing will be at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri through January 19th.
CHEERS to a great Yuletide, culminating in our annual birthday party for three old chums with birthdays during Christmas week: forty-four years we have done this, with 30+ attendees this year.
POLITICAL NOTES — in just a few short decades, Ireland has transformed itself from a socially conservative society to becoming more like the rest of Europe, even having a gay man (with an Indian-born father) as prime minister.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Tangee the Cat— a nineteen year-old kitteh that was abandoned at Logan Airport in Boston (by someone relocating elsewhere) yet who has been quickly adopted.
DEALING with HOMELESSNESS has tried the souls of many a civil servant … but a policy of Housing-first has enabled Finland to slash its rate (which may not easily be duplicated in larger countries with sky-high housing prices).
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Ember the Cat— who survived a house fire in Kentucky (although badly injured; needing an oxygen chamber to clear her lungs) … yet while recuperating, has already been adopted by a veterinarian.
BRAIN TEASER - if you haven’t already: try Part 4 of the Quiz of the Year's News from the BBC.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at the transition into 2020 — why I have cause for optimism, some goals I have set and looking forward to Netroots Nation in Denver this coming August (hoping they’ll finally open-up the block of hotel rooms they’ve promised).
YOUR WEEKEND READ is this essay by Anne Applebaum about the love that conservatives have with Russia… and how misplaced it is, in ways that even they should understand.
MOTHER-DAUGHTER? — Academy Award-winner Renée Zellweger (in the role of the Englishwoman Bridget Jones) and English film star Florence Pugh (in the role of Dani Ardor in the 2019 film Midsommar).
..... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… my annual New Year’s song. This is the very mellow, contemplative Goodbye, December from bluesman John Mayall - whom I saw give a standout show seven years ago at age 79 (and who is now 86). This tune, though, comes from his 1971 recording Back to the Roots (featuring many of his former star musicians).
This tune showcases Eric Clapton (as well as the recently-deceased Canned Heat bassist Larry Taylor). Happy New Year, everyone.
Time for reflection Winter is here Goodbye, December The passing away of the year
Watching the day of the wind Blowing the dirt from the sky Clearing the air for tomorrow Bidding December goodbye
Make celebration Another year is gone Now part of history Gotta be moving along
Look for the sunrise Old days are dead Goodbye, December Got a big future ahead
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