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— an exhibition entitled Edward Hopper & Cape Ann: Illuminating an American Landscape— showcasing sixty-five of his early works, including iconic watercolor landscapes and houses — will open at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts on July 25th (and run through October 16th).
YOUR WEEKEND READ #1 is this essay by Lisa Rubin on the MaddowBlog… on why a December 18th, 2020 meeting is a focus of Jack Smith's January 6 probe.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at last weekend’s Netroots Nation convention — and how my (and others) travel plans were affected by T-storms and tornadoes (both going to Chicago and returning).
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Zebby the Cat— who is the winner of Britain’s National Cat of the Year award for acting as a deaf woman’s ears: alerting her when the phone (or doorbell) rings, even carrying the mail to her in his mouth.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #2 is this essay by the American Prospect editor Robert Kuttner — on why a campaign to promote hybrid vehicles (over fully electric models) is more a fossil fuel campaign … plus, automakers who bet on hybrids.
HAIL and FAREWELL to Harry Frankfurt— who was born in 1929 in a home for unwed mothers … and became a professor emeritus of philosophy at Princeton University, whose most famous general public work had this irreverent title:
… who has died at the age of ninety-four. The focus of his book:
The liar asserts something which he himself believes to be false. He deliberately misrepresents what he takes to be the truth. The bullshitter, on the other hand, is not constrained by any consideration of what may or may not be true. In making his assertion, he is indifferent to whether what he is says is true or false.
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Nimsey the Cat— who escaped from her family’s home in northern Colorado … then was returned to them when she was discovered near Colorado Springs (one hundred seventy miles south).
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 MOTHER-DAUGHTER (from Audri) — TV/film star Bonnie Bartlett (St. Elsewhere) and Scottish-born film/stage star Lindsay Duncan (Under the Tuscan Sun) …. Whaddya think?
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… still getting back into the swing-of-things after Netroots … until I heard this old-time swing music from a very modern band, with an international line-up.
San Lyon is a colorful Gypsy Swing quartet. Their music is a mix of early 20th century Parisian Hot Club Gypsy Jazz and American Jazz standards from the 1920's to 40's, as well as original music.
The band formed in 2019 with — Paige Herschell from San Antonio,TX on vocals, melodica & kazoo; Jenna Colombet from Lyon, France on violin, vocals and drums; Katie Cavera from southern Indiana on bass, banjo and vocals; and Dani Vargas from Santiago, Chile on guitar and vocals.
Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone (dating back to 1930) has been covered by musicians as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald, Willie Nelson, Sammy Davis Jr., Bill Haley & the Comets, Frank Sinatra, Bob Wills and Pete Seeger/Arlo Guthrie.