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 holiday weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES— an exhibition entitled Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks— more than 130 works that illustrate the remarkable advances in art production that took place in Flanders from the 15th to the 17th century — is at the Dallas, Texas Museum of Art through October 15th.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #1 is this essay by the Talking Points Memo editor Josh Marshall— analyzing the Supreme Court term (before the final decisions, it should be noted) — and wondering what effect public opinion has had this term.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Meadows the Cat— a Texas kitteh rescued from a house fire by firefighters and revived with oxygen.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #2 is this essay by the economist Robert Reich, listing four reasons why his one attempt at elected office (in 2002) failed … and noting some famous elected officials who had those necessary four traits (or not).
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Cap’n Jack the Cat— a Florida kitteh who survived over a week on a boat (after his human died) before being rescued … and will soon be up for adoption.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at a baseball player who fell on hard times: Sandy Amorós, whose catch saved the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers championship, yet ran afoul of the McCarran Immigration act (in this country), Fidel Castro (in his native Cuba) and needed assistance from charities to overcome medical issues.
BRAIN TEASER— try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
Reader suggested OLDER-YOUNGER BROTHERS— (from Audri) — the late Swiss actor Bruno Ganz (the star of Downfall, which spawned numerous Hitler parodies) and film/TV star Zach Grenier (Fight Club, The Good Wife). Whaddya think?
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… once again, no time for a profile … instead, just a quick song: that was the audition for Graham Nash to join Stephen Stills and David Crosby.
You Don’t Have to Cry was the first song they sang together, having been brought together by Mama Cass Elliot (after Graham had left The Hollies and emigrated to the US).
Graham Nash explains it this way:
Stephen and David wanted to show me a song that they had worked on in two part harmony. The song was 'You Don't Have to Cry' written by Stephen. They sang it once, I asked them to sing it again, they sang it a second time, I asked for another performance. On the third attempt I put my high harmony on and it sounded awesome. I knew in my heart that this was something I wanted to do for the next few years. The musical, social aspect of combining these three voices with the words that we had come up with was very exciting to all three of us. We knew that we could sing, that the sound was unique and that what we had to say was worth saying.