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 photography exhibition entitled Notes Toward the Soul of Water will be at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota through June 3rd.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #1 — especially if you are in despair over the forthcoming midterm elections — is this essay by Robert Reich, suggesting several reasons for optimism.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Boots the Cat — a Colorado kitteh separated from his family during the destructive Marshall fire … now reunited despite suffering burns (which are now healing).
YOUR WEEKEND READ #2 is this rather lengthy (and legalistic) essay written by MSNBC legal analyst Barbara McQuade — a prosecution memo (based on public info) focused solely on Trump’s efforts to pressure Pence to overturn the election.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO my mother died, although her famous telephone calls ended some time before that. These would be a soliloquy: so I would ask Mom to hang on for a second while I set-up my multi-tasking. After cradling the phone on my shoulder, I could accomplish minor tasks, while still being able to intone …
“Uh-huh …………………………… you don’t say ……………… really ………… how’s that ……..”
My main task: when relating a story, if she forgot a (very minor figure’s) name ….. I had to interject, “Not to worry, what happened next?” … or else she’d spend two minutes trying to recall.
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Ebi the Cat — who went missing seven years ago, now reunited with her family (via microchip) … who had since relocated to Tennessee.
BRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC … and the usually easier New York Times quiz.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at Various Topics — from Ukraine to 3-D printers to Doonesbury.
SEPARATED at BIRTH — two veteran English rock drummers hailing from famous bands: Mick Avory (The Kinks) and Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds, past and present).
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… forty-five years ago, there was a most unusual musical duo that made its way to NYC cabaret (which I had forgotten about until recently). And this was a former elected official from Georgia along with a former employee at his restaurant, billed as The Governor and the Dishwasher. Segregationist governor Lester Maddox (on vocals and harmonica) plus Bobby Lee Sears (on guitar and vocals) lasted less than two years as a novelty act, apparently … but this is a bizarre story, worth telling.
Lester Maddox was elected governor of Georgia in 1966 in a very convoluted way (prior to that, he lost two mayoral elections in Atlanta, plus a lieutenant governor bid in 1962). After winning the Democratic primary, he came in second to the GOP congressman Howard (“Bo”) Callaway by less than 2/10 of a percent but — since Callaway did not have 50%, as the losing Democratic primary candidate launched a write-in campaign — the legislature chose Maddox. (Subsequently, a runoff has been used).
At the time, Georgia did not allow consecutive terms as governor (as Virginia does not, now) and in 1970 Maddox was elected lieutenant governor (not as part of a running mate system) — and became an antagonist to the new governor … Jimmy Carter.
Yet it was his time as restaurant owner that defined Lester Maddox’s appeal. Located near the Georgia Tech college campus, the Pickrick Restaurant served-up meals cooked by a racially diverse staff ……..… yet served only to whites.
Maddox saw the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a threat to his business: insisting that he was not a racist but a segregationist simply defending his rights of free association to serve whomever he chose. Woe to anyone who tried to integrate his place: chased with a pickaxe handle, or by Maddox himself (with a revolver).
He closed the Pickrick and reopened as the Lester Maddox Cafeteria in the autumn of 1964 to fight a court order to de-segregate …. with this sign.
He lost a court case in February, 1965 … and closed-up shop two days later. Georgia Tech purchased the building (using it for office space) before demolishing it in 2009.
He received an honorary degree from Bob Jones University before his death in June, 2003 at the age of eighty-seven.
Somewhat surprisingly during his time as governor: he appointed more Blacks to state offices than any previous governor and integrated the Georgia State police, which earned him praise — quite improbably — from civil rights activist Hosea Williams, part of MLK’s inner circle. Maddox directed officers not to use racial slurs with Black citizens and instituted the first early-release program in the state prison system.
As lieutenant governor: one person who benefited from his help was his former dishwasher named Bobby Lee Sears (other sources list his name as Fears). He had served some time in prison on a drug offense before Maddox (as lieutenant governor) was able to help him obtain a pardon (from Jimmy Carter, perhaps?)
Anyway, this duo was a sight to behold in 1977 .. below they are in New York City.
In this short clip: besides the Battle Hymn of the Republic (1:54 to 3:47), the second tune (4:04 to 6:04, the end) is a traditional American folk song Gotta Travel On — with the best-known versions being recordings by The Weavers, and then in 1959 a version by Billy Grammer that reached #4 in the US pop charts. As the two note: they altered the lyrics somewhat for the occasion.
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
Summer's almost gone ... yes, winter's coming on
I've laid around and played around this old town too long
And I feel like I gotta travel onHigh sheriff and police riding after me
Riding after me ... yes, coming after me
High sheriff and police coming after me
And I feel like I gotta travel onPeople call the governor, but he can't help him now
He can't help him now, he can't help him now
People call the governor, but he can't help him now
Because you ain't the governor no morePoppa writes to Bobby, but Bobby can't come home
Bobby can't come home ... no, Bobby can't come home
Poppa writes to Bobby, but Bobby can't come home
'Cause he's been on the chain gang too long