Yo-Yo Ma; The Goat Rodeo Sessions

You won't find me rolling in classical or bluegrass music very often, but these fellas, including Yo-Yo Ma and some other award winning types, won me over so, 

here's an AttaBoy to 'em.

Oscar Wilde and I share a thought

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."  - Oscar Wilde (My sentiments exactly, Big O, my sentiments exactly.) 

Mark Twain takes the hatchet to James Fenimore Cooper

As a little boy, I was enthralled by tales of the Wild West. Then, one day a well intentioned but sorely misguided grown up foisted  James Fenimore Cooper's, The Leatherstocking series upon me with blithe assurances that these were the first and greatest tales of the disappearing American frontier. Well ...

God is Alive, magic is afoot

The lyrics to "God is Alive; Magic is Afoot" first appeared as a passage in Leonard Cohen's novel, Beautiful Losers. I first read it when I was sixteen on a bus from wherever I came from to wherever I was going. 

Other than that it was enormously moving, I had no idea what to make of it at the time. Maybe I still don't. But Buffy Sainte Marie sure sounds like she did.

I think it must be said that when all the lyrics to all the tunes have been sung, Leonard Cohen can stake a viable claim to being as great a songsmith, poet and singer as at least one other similarly aged ethnic child of the North Country.

HL 12-30-11

James Brown & Luciano Pavarotti once shared a stage

On the new dawn of a new day in a new year in this man’s world,where James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti once shared a stage to honor women and girls, how can one not believe in miracles?

Beyond the mutual respect JB and the Big Opera Guy apparently shared for one another as musicians, however far I let my imagination wander, I cannot conceive of what they did or said to one another off stage although, whatever it was, I bet they did it to grand excess.

Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba

Dizzy Gillespie was as responsible as anyone for wedding Latin to Afro jazz rhythms in post WWII NYC starting a musical ripple that ultimately spread around the world.  That's just one of the reasons why Dizzy Gillespie should be universally revered. This is a performance of his classic 1947 composition, "Manteca", performed in Cuba in 1988 with a dream band featuring trumpeter Arturo Sandoval behind him. 

Sarah Palin on Manhood

Last fall, when some pretended that the piffle Sarah Palin spews forth under the guise of insight was of more substance than an ostrich’s feathers, she attacked her media critics as, “impotent, limp and weak”.  

More recently, she rebuked her Republican critics, again calling them, “impotent, limp and weak.”

It makes one wonder what warm terms of endearment Mama Grizzly reserves for Todd in the middle of those cold Alaskan nights.  I'm betting on, "Man up, Todd, man up!" 

Gosh darn and golly gee!

HL 1/11

Taking out the trash - Charlie Sheen Division

If I have seen more than 2 of his movies, I can’t recall them.  If I have seen more than 10 minutes of his smarmy TV show, I wouldn’t admit it.  I will admit I giggled when I learned Michael Jordan wouldn’t hang around with him even though they wear the same underwear, and that’s about all I ever needed to know about Charlie Sheen. NEXT!

HL March, 2011

When The Elder Heir expounds

I've been listening to The Elder Heir expound upon socialist economic theory followed by an explication upon the murderous dynamic between Othello and Desdemona. All the while, I’m thinking, "This guy ain't even got a high school diploma. He's gotta be guessing!" - and wishing we could turn away from the youthful arrogance of ignorance and return to that age of innocence when together we cuddled beneath the shelter of The Giving Tree. Sigh. HL September 2010

Update: Today they gave him the diploma. Now, not only is he smarter than I am, but he can parade around like "Joe Cool" and there is nothing I can do about it. I suppose it means that when he expounds, I now have to listen to him. June 9, 2013

The Giving Tree

Remember walkin' in the sand? Well, you still can!

Trust me.  Just trust me.  If you Remember Walking in the Sand; if you've wondered whether Jeff Beck was ever going to get serious again; if you love raunchy horn bands with singers who can blow from hot to cold faster than the end of summer, try this.

Van Morrison, my favorite Irish Crank is caught one more time way up on Cypress Avenue again.

Van Morrison - Live at the Fillmore - 1970

Aaron Neville and Gregg Allman Tell It Like It Is

Aaron Neville and Gregg Allman Tell It Like It Is while Bonnie Raitt loses her heart to them both.

Johnny Hartman gives up the Charade

In my truest heart I always wanted to be a great ballad singer but the sad truth is I can’t carry a tune from Do to Re if you spotted me a dear.  Now, at long last, Johnny Hartman, who really was a great ballad singer, reveals the secret in a Charade.  So, light me a Winston and gimme the downbeat, 'cause baby, I gotta song to sing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=xI-E6bUolVs

Why Arthur Brown should burn in his crazy world

I don't mind that this guy was nuts, but he helped pave the way for Alice Cooper, Kiss and other such bing-bongs into showbiz. For that, I hope he really did burn. Fun song though.

I dreamed Donnie Trump was my President

I have been forced to watch Donnie Trump’s act far too long. Now that he’s decided that he wants to be my President, I have decided to let him know how I feel about that. I hate to have to be mean about this Donnie, but you are a “to the manor born”, self-promoting, over-compensating huckster with the heart of a grifter and the soul of a pimp, whose bone marrow lacks a single altruistic impulse. I’ll be your apprentice anytime, but you can’t buy my vote! September, 2011

Updated June 2016 All jokes aside, here's a further glimpse into the heart and soul of this man. 

Know Your Candidate or, Profile of a Nut.*

This is the definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder as set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - V, used by the psychiatric profession to diagnose mental illness.

"Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism."

These are the key features of the diagnosis:

• 
  
• Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
• Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
• Exaggerating your achievements and talents
• Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
• Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
• Requiring constant admiration
• Having a sense of entitlement
• Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
• Taking advantage of others to get what you want
• Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
• Being envious of others and believing others envy you
• Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner

This link leads to the entire Mayo Clinic web page for the DSM-V diagnostic criteria of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  

That people, is quite obviously Donald Trump. I'm no psychiatrist, but I would bet every dollar the man has has multiple deep rooted neuroses. This also explains, in large measure, why he is unqualified to be the President of the United States.  

* I struggled with the propriety of using the term, "nut", to describe this man, who is clearly mentally ill. I finally decided that his vile and vulgar behavior, coupled with the fact that he is the Republican candidate for the Presidency of our United States,  led me to conclude that I could describe him in the same insulting, mean, denigrating language he uses for so many others. All is fair in love, war and politics. I learned that from watching the singularly vicious campaigns of Richard M. Nixon and George H.W. Bush, (Lee Atwater, anyone?) and now, Dirty Donny. For any and all others suffering from debilitating disorders, I extend a humble apology. 

Gods Don't Quarrel. Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash

Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash 1970

Ofays and spades got the same soul

When Jack Teagarden and Louis Armstrong first met, Jack said to Louis, "I'm an ofay, you're a spade. We got the same soul. Let's blow."

They remained close friends and collaborators for many  years thereafter even though, for many of those years, they were not allowed to appear on stage together.

Sometimes, it really is as simple as knowing we've got the same soul.

I am so delighted!

I am so delighted! Delighted to be here. Delighted not to be there. Delighted to be anywhere and delighted to be nowhere at all. So simply and truly delighted that I just had to let everybody know how truly delighted I feel!

March, 2009

I Bleed Green!

Well done, Lads.  

SIGH ...

2008 Game 6 Finals - Kevin Garnett - "Anything is POSSIBLE!!!!!!!

Paul Pierce 41 pionts v. LeBron (45) and the Cavs Eastern Conference semis

Update May, 2013 Maybe they're better than us and maybe they're not, but our guys don't back down and never give an inch to the Heat or anyone else. That's why, no matter how it ends, this has been an era that made all true Celtic fans very proud.
Game 5 - We win again! Bring it on home, guys!

Game 4

Game 3
Rondo's 44 points 10 assists 8 rebounds in 53 minutes- Game 2

The lion lay aged and crippled on the road yet

roared in the din of the night of the soon faded reign, 

Piercing Hawks and knocks and no calls. 

May Celtic warriors with broken wings soar

Through Heat, Magic and Bullish rain

where the noble vanquished may triumph again.

Or, as Bob Ryan of the Globe chronicles it;

ATLANTA - When you play for the Boston Celtics, anything positive you do always bumps into history. Whatever you’ve just done, somebody is around to tell you that somebody else did it better in the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, or even four years ago.

Nor has this bunch won anything yet. What they do have is the knowledge that when the great, gutty, inspiring road playoff victories in Celtics history are annotated, what they did Tuesday night at Philips Arena will merit one of the top spots.

No Ray Allen. No Rajon Rondo. No worries. Trailing the Atlanta Hawks by 11 points with just under four minutes to play in the third period, and very definitely trending downward, they put on a sensational closing burst to pull out an 87-80 Game 2 victory that restores order in this series and sends them back home with a chance to do some serious damage to the Hawks this weekend.

Major contributors abounded, but no one stood taller than The Captain. Paul Pierce scored off the opening tap with a spinning layup, triggering a 36-point, 14-rebound, 4-assist game.

“He got off to a fast start,’’ said Atlanta coach Larry Drew, “and he pretty much rode it to the end of the game.’’

“It ranks right up there,’’ agreed Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “Factor in no Ray and no Rondo. Literally, we don’t win the game if Paul doesn’t play like that. He knew that, and so did they.’’

It could turn out to be a doubly disastrous evening for the Hawks. Team energizer Josh Smith did something to a knee sometime around the 4:20 mark and was not available as the Celtics took control of this contest at both ends of the floor.

“I don’t know much about Josh,’’ said Drew. “We’ll know more after he’s examined. He is one of our go-to guys down the stretch. We were missing all of the things that he brings to the table.’’

Pierce, Kevin Garnett (15 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists) and Avery Bradley (14 points, 3 assists, and 3 blocks from the guard spot) were obvious standouts, but this memorable triumph would not have been possible without the contributions of a pair of forgotten men. There’s no high-fiving at the end of this one if either Keyon Dooling or Marquis Daniels hadn’t gotten off the bus.

Dooling only had two baskets, but they were vital, and the second one, in fact, may have been the biggest basket of the first two games for the Celtics. For there they were, trailing, 62-51, a floundering team going back to the 6:49 mark of the second quarter (when they led, 34-29), when Dooling nailed the second Boston 3-pointer of the series.

The first? Oh, that one also belonged to Dooling, who had broken Boston’s Pujolsian 0-for-19 3-point drought with a transition corner shot that had made it 55-49, Atlanta.

The second one was a dam-burster, launching the Celtics on a 28-10 romp in the next 12:18.

“The media knew, the coaches knew, and the players knew,’’ said Rivers about the Celtics having yet to hit a three. “When Paul walked into the locker room, the first thing he did was walk up to Keyon and say, ‘That was huge. That shot got us our feet back.’ ’’

Dooling also provided steady physical and emotional support for Bradley, especially when Atlanta chose to exert extended ball pressure.

Now if someone had told you that Marquis Daniels would have been discussed in any positive postgame context, you absolutely, positively never would have believed it.

Talk about a lost season. Mr. D was DNP’d 23 times and left inactive entirely on five occasions. But for some reason Rivers thought the most important game of the year was a good time to call his number.

“There was no reason to put him in the game,’’ Rivers admitted. “Sasha [Pavlovic] had played really well in the first half. But I just thought he might be able to help us defensively.’’

The Daniels box score contributions were modest (4 points, two rebounds), but what he did during his 15 minutes of playing time was enable Doc to strategize successfully while making sure he wasn’t killing either Pierce (44 minutes) or Garnett (40).

“Marquis allowed us to go small, and going small changed the game, offensively and defensively,’’ Rivers said.

The one Daniels basket, a dunk following a smart cut down the lane and a smooth high-low pass from Garnett, broke the game’s last tie and gave the Celtics a non-refundable 74-72 lead.

But let’s not bury the lead here. The clear man of the match was Pierce, who scored the first 9 Boston points to set a proper tone, and who then went into his Mariano Rivera mode by scoring 11 points as the Celtics moved from a 70-70 deadlock to an 85-78 lead with 1:15 remaining, the highlight a classic Pierce transition three to make it 79-72.

“A monster tonight,’’ lauded Rivers. “His leadership. His intensity.’’

Don’t forget his exquisite scoring prowess.

“I can’t take all the credit,’’ Pierce said. “Kevin was great on defense and Keyon hit a couple of threes to keep us in the game. So it was a good team win. Those types of moments are what being a professional is all about.’’

You will always take a split in Games 1 and 2 on the road, but it’s even sweeter when it’s accomplished in the face of adversity.

As the Brits would say, “Well done, lads.’’

Memo to the Bosses - Afghanistan update

Memo to The Bosses: Afghanistan exports 10 billion dollars worth of rugs and drugs and that’s about it. 
I don’t care about rugs or drugs and I don’t care about Afghanistan.

So, here’s what we're gonna do. We're gonna air drop Bourne, Bond and Rambo to clean up the mess while the overlords get to declare mission accomplished and we wave bye-bye, so long and farewell to yet another foolish, wasteful losing war!  Thanks for listening.. Now, let's find the exit door.  August 4, 2010

UPDATE: Eleven years after it began on October 7, 2012, the Dubya dubbed, "Operation Enduring Freedom" drones on. 

Books

“Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. Without books, the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are engines of change (as the poet said), windows on the world and lighthouses erected in the sea of time. They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print.” – Barbara Tuchman

(Books not only saved my life, but they also keep my kitchen table from wobbling).

On Music

When music strikes a chord that makes you want to tremble deep in your core, it’s a reminder that in another time and another place, another's heart understood your own. HL  April 2009

Ain't No Sunshine - Lisa Fischer

John Zorn and Bar Korba - Warsaw, 1999
Marc Ribot on guitar. 

Carl Sagan lit a lamp in the enveloping darkness

There's always time for the wisdom of Carl Sagan.

The Supremes share their favorite things

The Supremes share their favorite things

Our Day Will Come - Mary Wilson singing lead

Fathers and Sons

A reminder that while it is every son's birthright to lead dear old dad ‘round the mulberry bush once in awhile, it's every father's  birthright to pop 'im in the ol’ weasel (figuratively, of course) for thinking he could get away with something so monkey dumb! (They mail the report cards home, oh, young chip off the ol' block!)

When this old world starts getting you down, there's always a Gerry Goffin/Carole King Song

Gerry Goffin passed away last week. I always felt kind of bad for Gerry. With his former wife, Carole King, Goffin was one-half of the Goffin-King songwriting team that turned out so many beloved hits* over the course of the 1950's through the 1970's. Carol wrote the hook filled melodies, but it was Gerry's lyrics that people have sung and will continue to sing for generations to come.

Goffin and King married in 1959 when he was 20 and she was just 17. They divorced a decade later but continued to work together. Later, Goffin teamed with other songwriting partners.

While King went on to greater and enduring fame as a performer, Goffin's star faded, although he had several late career triumphs including the Theme From Mahogany for Diana Ross and Saving All My Love For You made famous by Whitney Houston.

Goffin's lyrics had depth, range and passion. His writing gave expression to every imaginable and inarticulate dream of every teen who ever heard them - and we all did. Beyond that, by the looks of this photo, he did it all the day after his Bar Mitzvah.  He may have never worn a Tapestry or felt the earth move, but for what he did, he should be remembered as far more than just another, “and who?”

Oh, well. At least he got to stuff his pillow with royalty checks.

* A partial list of Goffin-King classic collaborations include; "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (The Shirelles), "The Loco-Motion", (Little Eva) "I'm Into Something Good", (Herman's Hermits) "Go Away Little Girl", "Every Breath I Take" (Gene Pitney)"Don't Say Nothing Bad About My Baby", "Hey Girl" (Freddie Scott) "One Fine Day" (The Chiffon) "Up On the Roof" (The Drifters), "Don't Bring Me Down" (The Animals) "Goin' Back (The Byrds)" "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (The Monkees)  "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" (Aretha Frankin" Just Once in My Life" (Righteous Brothers).

12/23/2011

When this old world starts getting you down, remember, here's always a Gerry Goffin-Carole King song to sing. 

Part 1

Part 3

Part 4

Up On the Roof demo 

Carole King piano, Unknown on vocals

Just Once in My Life demo Carole King piano and vocals

Natural Woman demo 

I always felt kind of bad for Gerry Goffin. 

12/23/2011

Back Pages: Mama Cass, Joni & Mary Travers see the light come shining

These lovely versions of these beautiful song are from a Mama Cass TV special in 1969.

Both Sides Now, And When I Die, I Shall Be Released

Scott Brown's bikini wax reveals an ugly truth

Not only do we have a former Governor who looks as if he came out of central casting for the role of President, but our very own Massachusetts Republican Senator and candidate once posed "nearly" nude for Cosmopolitan magazine and that garners nothing more than a smirk. If any female candidate had done something remotely similar, she would have gotten no closer to being a candidate than cozying up to him in the back room. - January, 2010

Update: In October, 2011 at a debate of Democratic Senatorial candidates, Elizabeth Warren was asked what she thought about Senator Scott Brown posing in the buff to help pay his college costs.

 She replied that she "didn't take my clothes off" to pay for college.

Brown's response: "Thank God". 

   

Clare Kelly, executive director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party issued this statement, "Sen. Brown's comments are the kind of thing you would expect to hear in a frat house, not a race for U.S. Senate'. '(His) comments send a terrible message that even accomplished women who are held in the highest esteem can be laughingly dismissed based on their looks."

Not exactly a high point in Massachusetts politics, but it may still be an ugly truth. - September, 2012

Update: Scott Brown on his sexual prowess courtesy of The Boston Globe Spotlight Team: " ‘I’ve always felt that I’ve done well with older women' 'It’s very important to me to satisfy a woman I am with. ” - and it was very important to Massachusetts voters who undressed and gazed upon this wonder of wonders and found him wanting. So long, Slugger. 
10.23.14

Whippin' the Urchins!

When the urchins walk into their rooms, shut the doors and insist I knock before entering, I refuse to accept this as growing teenage estrangement. I prefer to think of it as a childish reaction to the fact that daddy finally won a ping pong game and won’t stop bragging about it! (Whipped 'em good, too!)

February, 2009

God is an ice cream man

I do not know much about God, but I do know that when I was a young boy he looked suspiciously like the fella who drove the ice cream truck that stopped by my house every day.  I also know that if he created this lovely day, he’s a pretty good dude.  HL May 2009

VM, Santana, Etta, Benson & Dr. John Dancing in the Moonlight

Van Morrison, Etta James, Dr. John, Carlos Santana and George Benson share a Moondance 'neath the cover of October skies.

Let us share an exquisite moment

Let us share an exquisite moment with Leonard Cohen

I am tomorrow - James Joyce

"I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday of some previous today." James Joyce

Hellzapoppin'!

Known by various names including "The Harlem Congaroo Dancers" and "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers", this dance troupe featured a revolving cast of performers who appeared in a number of live venues, primarily the Savoy Ballroom and feature films in the 30's and 40's. Among the latter is this spectacular dance sequence from the film, "Hellzapoppin'!" What is most amazing about this is that it was made on a shoestring budget in 1941.  Every take was done straight through from beginning to end: no editing, no splicing and no computer trickery.  Top that, Fred Astaire. 

 

'Tis Tim Tebow Day

UPDATE: August 29, 2013

It's been nearly three months since the Patriots signed him and the question remains, "What exactly is Tim Tebow doing here?" 

My firmly fixed position

My firmly fixed position is that I choose to vacillate endlessly between the ridiculously absurd and the mischievously silly finding them both to be endlessly enchanting! September 2009

King Berenger in Eugene Ionesco's Exit the King - 1977

Christopher Hitchens on this planet

A selection of Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011) in memoriam:

"My own view is that this planet is used as a penal colony, lunatic asylum and dumping ground by a superior civilization, to get rid of the undesirable and unfit. I can't prove it, but you can't disprove it either." – Christopher Hitchens, who has passed from this sphere into whatever corpus formus in which he believed or, more likely, disbelieved.

My children were born geniuses

When my children were babies, I was convinced they were born geniuses. Thankfully, laughter intervened.

12-16-11

Hoop Dreams Abound!

UPDATE: Jack the Lad carries on as captain and point guard of the BHS JV, that recently extended its'  undefeated streak to 25 games while AJ the Elder has emerged as a Varsity glue guy. Dad remains consigned to pom-poms. January 2013

Time! Time! Time!

Time! Time! Time! See what's become of me. 
When I look around at the possibilities, time has been so kind to me. 
Look around. 
(Adapted)
December 25, 2010

Sorting Laundry

I remember it like it was years ago. I was sorting laundry when the elder heir announced that since he could now find the hypotenuse of a triangle, he has decided upon his life’s work; he’s going to design roller coasters. As he merrily careened toward a suddenly certain future, I cursed mathematics and resumed folding underwear. September, 2009

A vast and splendid monument

Let our object be, our country, our whole country and nothing but our country. May that country itself become a vast and splendid monument, not of oppression and terror, but of wisdom, of peace, and of liberty, upon which the world may gaze with admiration forever. Daniel Webster (1782 -1852)

Something's Gotta Give

Frankie ponders that ol' immutable law of nature; what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?

 

Puppies and Small Children

I believe in the perfectibility of puppies and small children. Grown men, women, and smelly old dogs present longer odds. HL 

Jack and Valentine - 2005

AJ and Valentine

Jack and Valentine

If anyone can end up in the cold

In a world where anyone can end up out in the cold, isn't it best if we bring everyone in where it is warm?