Masterpiece Caturday

The resemblance to Derek Jacobi is amazing, don't you think?

More later.
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R.I. P. Elaine Stritch.

One of the very best has left us. I first saw her in Sail Away, then, of course, in Company (3 times!) She was everything and all that she put out there and her gay fans ate her up. Two friends attended her last 5 shows at the Carlisle, and said she did a different show each and every night. That takes guts and a certain rapport with your audience. As least I have “At Liberty” on DVD and can see her any time I wish.  But not tonight.  This is so sudden and so sad.

Variety:

Actress Elaine Stritch, star of Broadway hits including “Elaine Stritch at Liberty” and “Show Boat,” who was nominated for multiple Tonys and Emmys, winning three of the latter, has died. She was 89.

Stritch made her stage debut at New York’s New School in 1944. The actress understudied Ethel Merman for “Call Me Madam” while simultaneously appearing in the 1952 revival of “Pal Joey”; later she starred in the national tour of “Call Me Madam.”
Her professional relationship with Sondheim lasted decades. She made famous Sondheim’s sneeringly witty tune “The Ladies Who Lunch” in 1970’s “Company,” sang his enduring “I’m Still Here” in her 2002 solo show and performed in a 2010 revue of his tunes called “At Home at the Carlyle: Elaine Stritch Singin’ Sondheim…One Song at a Time.” The actress appeared in Garth Drabinsky’s smash hit “Show Boat” in 1994 and in Edward Albee’s play “A Delicate Balance” in 1996.
In 2010 Stritch replaced Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt in “A Little Night Music” on Broadway.
The actress was profiled in the 2013 feature documentary “Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me” (photo above), directed by Chiemi Karasawa.

Read the rest HERE.

And so it goes.

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Who Is This Man?

Anyone know who this guy is? I see his picture everywhere. I know he’s an actor and currently in the TV show, Game of Thrones, but know nothing about him. Not his name, nothing. I’ve never even heard him speak.

I just want to say that I think he’s extremely sexy.

That great scruffy hair…

That beautiful mouth. 

Those incredible eyes. 

Oh my!  Prissy, get the Rose Water!

When I look at these images my gaydar makes my head itch, so I wonder if he might be gay. Not that it matters. 

As you can tell, I know absolutely nothing about the TV show, which I am told I would probably enjoy. Well, I found something I enjoy about the show, already.

And so it goes.

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Television: What We Really Watch…

I recently posted an article about the Netflix vs. Verizon brouhaha and then this came to my somewhat divided attention.

As the graphic shows, no matter how much you may pay or how many channels your service boasts - and charges you extra for - this is the reality. More is not always better. Shitty channel content means fewer viewers, not that the providers care.  They look at the volume.  After all, 180 channels must be better than having only a mere 150, amiright? “Just look at all your viewing options!!!”

This is what most people have been viewing over the past 5 years. As you can see, people are creatures of habit. Their favorites, their old standbys, their nostalgia trips. 

When I had service 7 years ago, I too, had preferred channels that I always watched and the rest could rot in Hell for all I cared. And here I thought I was the only fool viewing so few channels with so much being offered. Just shows how wrong one can be.  Oh God, please don’t let me be normal!!!

To my mind, it is stupid and wasteful to spend upwards of $100. for TV service, I don’t care what’s in the package. I am not one to leave the TV on for company or background noise. It disturbs my concentration. To my mind, entertainment is not mindless, especially when paying for it.

Waiting in the doctor’s office the other day I had a deja vu experience. All the same TV shows that were on back then, are STILL on today. Tacky game shows with all their tinsel & glitz, and those daytime soap operas that really need better lighting.  They’re all so dark and sinister-looking. But, that’s not important.  It’s just the same old, same old. 

Needless to say, and as the graphic shows, it ain’t changed much in the last 5 years and that in itself is validation enough for saving my money. 

And so it goes.

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O.M.G. "COSMOS - 2014"

I mean, if you haven't seen this already, just look at the promo for the new series. Breathtaking!!!

Thirty four years (half my lifetime) ago, for the first 3 months of 1980 I sat glued to the tiny black & white TV set in my West 4th. Street, NYC apartment. I was captivated, mesmerized watching all 13 episodes of Carl Sagan's masterpiece series, "COSMOS: A Personal Voyage."  I also made a point of watching the series when PBS ran again it during their annual Pledge Drive later that same year.  Talk about dedication!!!

Cosmos is one of the brightest jewels in the PBS crown and, as I've viewed  episodes on YouTube, the series holds up beautifully even today.

Now I see that the late Carl's partner in life and science crime,  Ann Druyan, has taken the plunge once more providing all new information, and updating what wasn't (couldn't be) known 34 years ago. The new series begins airing this weekend on FOX and National Geographic stations. 

The frontman (presenter) this time round is my hero of Astrophysics, (after Sagan, of course) Neil deGrasse Tyson. The story of Tyson's history with Sagan going back to when Neil was 17 years-old,  proves that this series was destined to happen. It was written in the STARS, as they say.  Hey, don't laugh.  I'm holding back a gusher, here.

I have to say that THIS series would be the only reason I would love to have access to television service today.  Sadly, I do not have service and at this point, I couldn't afford it, anyway.

I won't embed it here, but if you're curious about how exciting Tyson can make you feel about science, here is a LINK to a video of his appearance on Moyers & Company back in January. The video is less than a half-hour and full of wit, humor, science, questions and answers. Enjoy.

It's off to bed for me now.  A transfusion appointment is scheduled for 7:30 am tomorrow; I think that means I'm in for a 2-unit, all-day marathon.

And so it goes.  

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No Thanks for Cell Phone or Surgeon

The rains have gone; the winds have not. There's been a 30' drop in temperature overnight and it isn't expected to get anywhere near yesterday's high. It looks as though the sun is going to appear sometime today, as well. 

Today's gay agenda was to include a stroll on the Boardwalk and some quiet time by the ocean, but it is far to cold and windy for that. 

That being the case, more videos are likely to be the order of the day. Last afternoon and evening, I watched a 3-part BBC series titled "Men of Rock" (no, not about musicians, silly!) about the geology of Scotland presented by Iain Stewart, Geologist.  Fascinating viewing with historic anecdotes. Prof. Stewart has a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes and a great sense of humor. It was interesting and educational, although I knew much of the material covered.  It was the personal stories and history behind the discoveries that was captivating. At least for me. 

On a more serious note, there seems to be an intermittent problem with the cell phone. Although it is easily within hearing range it isn't receiving calls or text message alerts as they come in.  Instead, the calls go to voice mail and the text messages show up sometimes hours later.  (There is a time stamp on them, that's how I know.) Very strange. 

Of course this would happen on a holiday. My dazzling streak of good luck continues. I will wait a few hours and make an attempt to reach customer service at Virgin Mobile and see what they come up with.

I have tried to reboot, turned the unit off and back on again.  I have removed and re-installed the battery, too. Even replaced the battery, using the spare purchased for the NOLA trip.  Nothing.  

Checked the settings, nothing seems to have changed there.  At least nothing obvious, as far as I can tell. I am not tech-savvy, so nothing has changed from the original factory defaults. The Wi-Fi signal here is very strong, so I know that's not the problem either. 

The line is fine. I can still use Face Time without any problems. Perhaps a sacrifice of chargers from various devices to the Gods & Goddesses of electronics is in order. The phone is less than 3 years old. 

This is the 4th LG phone I've purchased, never had  problems in the past.  But this is the first Android/Smart Phone I've ever had.  Are these "smart-phones" programmed to go belly-up when the warranty period expires?  I wonder…

All I know is this situation will never do. I will need a reliable cell phone if (when) I am put in hospital for treatment, surgery, whatever. 

BTW, in case you're following this Cajun's Medical Misadventures, no call (land line phone) from the Christiana Surgeon's office yesterday, so I called them late in the day only to receive a voice message that the office was closed for the WEEKEND, and would reopen on Monday, December 2nd. 

Well, I must remember not to go off and die before Monday, or whenever they choose to get back to me. The local Oncologist's office reopens tomorrow, so if I need a transfusion, at least I can get that here.

More later.

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Note: This is the first post using a new font and larger point size that seems to agree with Blogger. The editing limitations in Blogger offer only a few text options. Other than "normal",  which seems to be too small for some readers the larger options are all headers of one kind or another.  Way too big and exceedingly unattractive for my taste. So, I tried this option. 

If you find this easier on the eyes, you may try it for yourself. I like it because it's clean, crisp and easy to read. The font is available in even the simplest text programs and is very easy to size.

**Trebuchet MS font - 18 point.  Test for Blog posts.**

For The Bird or The Bayou?

Thanksgiving 2013 bursts on the scene tomorrow. Whoopee, you say?  No, not around here. The holiday doesn't mean much when one is alone with no family or friends to share the goodies and good time. I could go to the restaurant for a traditional turkey dinner tomorrow, but with the large family crowds my mask and I would be forced to the back dining room alone, so there's no reason to bother with that. I can be just as alone here.

I am feeling better today, (slept 13 hours!) but the heavy rain is causing a great deal of arthritis pain in back and hands.  Yes, it's always something, isn't it?

An the spur of the moment, I took to the kitchen this morning to do some festive cooking of family comfort food favorites. Prepared a Remoulade for boiled shrimp, made an Étouffée for chicken and shrimp, now a pot of red beans with smoked sausage is simmering on the stove as I type. An artichoke heart with asparagus & onion salad is chilling, and a baguette is at the ready.  

Since there's a good chance of staying home tomorrow, I'll have a little sample of everything and just graze all day. Preparing/cooking dishes like these a day ahead of time gives all the flavors a chance to blend well.  

There are a few interesting BBC documentaries in the You Tube cue for today and tomorrow; The Story of Electricity, The History of Celtic Britain, and Men of Rock.  All multi-episode and recent productions. I'll not be bored. Well, not too bored. I am also on the hunt for films and books related to Paganism. No special reason.  A few fave bloggers practice (or dabble), make it sound interesting, so I thought I'd learn more for myself. 

If any readers have suggestions for reading materials on the subject for the curious, uninitiated, leaving a comment would be appreciated.  

There is a special birthday celebration at the restaurant on Sunday.  My wee Irish Lass and GM, Linda is hitting the big 5-0 mark. She didn't want any fuss, but the locosguys planned the party before she could make other plans and disappear that day.  They are sneaky that way - they've done it to me several times.  I am not one for birthday parties for myself, but going along with the fun isn't a bad thing at all. Especially when the locosguys pull out the stops. Embarrassing, maybe, but that's all in good fun. I have a special gift for her as a birthday and a "thank you" as well. It was she who drove me to and from the airport for the NOLA trip, giving up half of a precious day off to do so. She's volunteered to look after the apartment if (when) I go into hospital for treatment or surgery.  Whichever comes first.  She's a good Lass and one of a kind.

Then later next week Deb, my driver and sidekick to Christiana hospital celebrates her birthday. I thought about taking her out to lunch on her day off, which is always a fun thing to do in the off season.  Restaurants are usually quiet at lunch in the off-season, so that's a plus, too. A win-win all round. Just hope I feel up to the excitement.

Waiting to hear from the Christiana surgeon's office who told the local doctor he wanted to see me earlier than the scheduled appt. date of 12/17.  The office called yesterday at lunch time and told me they had an appointment open that afternoon - an hour later.  First off, I need a ride.  Second, I couldn't make that trip in an hour.  Seems they had no idea where I lived.

Listen people!  All relevant data (address, phone, prescribed drugs, recent medical updates) are in the database staring you in the face from the glowing screen on the desk in front of you.  I mean, where else did you get the phone number to call me, if not there?  Please read the f**king database before calling with an impossible suggestion or demand.  That. Is. All.

Anyway.

Attempted calls to the sister this week have been unsuccessful.  I'll try again tomorrow in the early morning - before she heads out with her contributions to the communal Thanksgiving meal in the apartment complex.  Maybe I'll get her then. 

BTW, not sure I've written this before, but the transplant rep, sent notice that the sister's screening results indicate that she is NOT a match for a marrow transplant.  I haven't told the sister yet.  She'll be disappointed - as am I.  My name has been added to the national donor registry, at least on a temporary basis. I have no idea what happens next. Really, I don't have a clue. 

Have plans to meet friend and blogger Ron (Retired in Delaware) for lunch on Saturday; a belated birthday gift for him, too. Although we chat via Face Time, email, and blog comments, we've not had the chance to break bread in a very long time.  Looking forward to that event. Only hope the health thing isn't cause for cancellation at the last minute. In any event, we're in touch.

Oh, I am a bad boy.  I bought Egg Nog made by the best local dairy around. Only a quart, but I'll wager it doesn't make it through the weekend.  Any takers?  Thought not.

If you celebrate the holiday, I hope the day is filled with joy, good food, family and friends and that all travels see you home safe and sound.  Cheers!

PS:  Is this site difficult to read?  Blogger offers few options. I don't want to go to a huge sub-header font, but I don't want the content hard on the eyes, either.  I've been experimenting with various fonts in the original texts, but Blogger seems to blow that all away when I publish.  Let me know, please.

And so it goes.
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"Show Your Joe" Oh, Tinkerbell!

If you remember how the K-Mart "Ship Your Pants" ad got the wingers' panties in a wad, just wait til you see what happens to them this time around.  Jingle Bells!  Jingle Balls! And, a bit of Twerk-it, baby!  I'm going to get me some Joe Boxer!

Ho-Ho-Ho.  And enjoy the season.



Made my day.

More later.
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Study Finds Gulf Deep-Sea Ecosystem Recovery Will Take Decades

A Little Note Here: Whenever I was in a public place or restaurant in New Orleans where TVs were in evidence, I noted at times the sound of "boo's" or "raspberries" you know, "The Bronx Cheer."  It was noted, but nothing registered in the conscious mind.  Until, that is, Sunday while having lunch with the sister and family, with the Saints game on in the background.  I couldn't mistake it this time.  The response occurred when a propaganda ad produced by BP touting all they've done for the Gulf was shown.  In essence, no one is being taken in my the BP BS.  It's too close to home and family.  They know it's nothing more than lies as usual.

Now, there is this:

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The muddy deep-sea ecosystem around the massive 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill could take decades to recover from the effects of the disaster, researchers reported on Tuesday.
The oil spill from BP Plc's Macondo well had its most severe impact on the ecosystem in an area about nine square miles (24 square km) around the wellhead, the report in the online scientific journal PLoS One said.
Moderate effects were seen at 57 square miles (148 square km). The sea bottom's rich biodiversity was greatly reduced by the oil plume, which was up to 200 yards (183 meters) thick and 1.2 miles (1.9 km) wide, it said.
"Given deep-sea conditions, it is possible that recovery of deep-sea soft-bottom habitat and the associated communities in the vicinity of the DWH blowout will take decades or longer," the report concluded.
The April 20, 2010 disaster aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig killed 11 workers and ruptured the Macondo well, triggering the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
The research was carried out for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Paul Montagna, an ecosystems professor at Texas A&M University, said on NOAA's website that normally pollution was found within 300 to 600 yards (meters) of an offshore well.
In the Macondo case, it was found nearly two miles (3.2 km) from the well, he said.
Jeff Baguley, an expert on tiny marine and freshwater invertebrates from the University of Nevada, said on the NOAA website that the samples showed that the dominant group in affected areas had become nematode worms.
The research team included members from University of Nevada-Reno, Texas A&M, NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and representatives from BP.

So, the fat lady isn't even warming up to sing and won't be for a while.

And so it goes.
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"This Is a Woman's World" - New Release from Cher...and

adapted to The Golden Girls.  No joke.



The song is OK, (maybe it will grow on me) but the mixed  video clips are wonderful.

And so it goes.
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R. I. P. Jean Stapleton

A great, talented lady.

Jean Stapleton, who played Archie Bunker's wife Edith in the TV series "All in the Family," died yesterday (May 31) in New York. She was 90.

According to the Chicago Tribune,Stapleton's family announced she had died of natural causes.

Stapleton won three Emmys for her work on "All in the Family," reports TMZ. She was nominated for two additional Emmy awards, adds The Hollywood Reporter, for portraying Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1982 CBS telefilm "Eleanor, First Lady of the World," and as Aunt Vivian on the ABC series "Grace Under Fire." Stapleton was last seen on screen in the 1998 movie "You've Got Mail" (as Meg Ryan's co-worker).

Stapleton is survived by her children -- TV producer Pamela Putch and film and TV director John Putch, notes the L.A. Times.

Most people know her as her character noted above (which was a very good role for her). Jean was a Broadway staple (no pun intended) from the 1950s through the 1980s:

Damn Yankees with Gwen Verdon
Bells Are Ringing with Judy Holliday
Juno with Shirley Booth
Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand

And so much more.  I always loved watching her work.  She was so good.

And so it goes.

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Pet Shop Boys: Go West at Live 8

This is my Saturday night and this very live version of the Village People's hit, turned on its head is exactly fitting the mood of the moment.
The Pet Shop Boys are the best. This is the last number from their incredible 1.5 hour performance at Live 8 in Moscow. By this time Neil's voice is getting a bit iffy, but they pull it off well.   Enjoy.



And if you want to see their whole set, it is also available on YouTube

And so it goes.
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Twain, Cher, Izzard, & Elysium

Now, how's that for an itinerary? Forget the metaphors, there ain't any.

Woke at normal time (at least for me) yesterday, and chose to stay in bed and read. Seemed to be a gray day, anyway.  Finished another Kindle book of essays by Mark Twain, which was a shame because his tongue-in-cheek humor makes my day. I tend to milk these books just for the daily chuckle, but there was no way this time. It was the last entry. Bother!

After a coffee and breakfast, did my best imitation of a slug most of the day.  Had no desire to venture outdoors.  The weather wasn't cooperative, by mid-day offering only high winds and rain storms lasting through the night.

In the afternoon I streamed two concerts; Cher's "Farewell" Tour (I don't know which one) and Eddie Izzard's "Dressed to Kill" then dealt with visual overload while prepping supper. It's been a while since I've watched anything on the tee-vee.

With a Shrimp Remoulade on the dinner menu, cocktail hour began with a Sazerac as the cooked shrimp chilled. Decided to make it an international event by enjoying fresh, warm, garlic Naan instead of warm baguette. Turned out to be an excellent idea. (One can never have too much garlic.) All washed down with 2 glasses of wine. Feeling warm and cozy; took a shower, hit the sheets, and slept like a rock.

Waking well rested this morning, the 2 errands on the gay agenda were accomplished in record time. 

Took a drive down to the bay hoping to find and photograph a few local wind-surfers, but there were none.  Bother! 

I was cheered up when I got home as there was a package waiting for me.  The pre-ordered CD of the new Pet Shop Boys " Elysium" was sticking up out of the mailbox.  Snoopy Happy Dance! Really!

Listening to it now and it's kind of cerebral with some tunes containing swelling orchestrations and a beaucoup use of strings.  But, that's a first impression.  I'll make a copy CD for the car and download it to the cellphone, too.

Stimulated the senses over the past 48 hours and that's not a total waste of time, is it? Have to be at work tomorrow at 8 am, so this will be an early evening - meaning - IT'S TIME FOR OLIVES, boys and girls!!!  Oh, sorry.

And so it goes.

R.I.P Phyllis Diller

One of the best troopers, and a gifted musician. This tribute was put together by the Archive of American Television.  Watch this short clip and then click on over to read and view the rest of the interviews.

Dead at 95, she was gifted with a long life and made millions laugh and cry.

And so it goes.
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Ancient 'NYC" of Canada Discovered

This is another one of those wonderful historic detective stories that I love so much. Here you go:

Today New York City is the Big Apple of the Northeast but new research reveals that 500 years ago, at a time when Europeans were just beginning to visit the New World, a settlement on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in Canada, was the biggest, most complex, cosmopolitan place in the region.

Occupied between roughly A.D. 1500 and 1530, the so-called Mantle site was settled by the Wendat (Huron). Excavations at the site, between 2003 and 2005, have uncovered its 98 longhouses, a palisade of three rows (a fence made of heavy wooden stakes and used for defense) and about 200,000 artifacts. Dozens of examples of art have been unearthed showing haunting human faces and depictions of animals, with analysis ongoing.

Now, a scholarly book detailing the discoveries is being prepared and a documentary about the site called "Curse of the Axe" aired this week on the History Channel in Canada.

"This is an Indiana Jones moment, this is huge," said Ron Williamson, an archaeologist who led dig efforts at the site, in the documentary shown in a premiere at the Royal Ontario Museum. "It just seems to be a game-changer in every way." [See Photos of the Mantle Site Artifacts]

Williamson is the founder of Archaeological Services Inc., a Canadian cultural resource management firm that excavated the site.

"It's the largest, most complex, cosmopolitan village of its time," said Williamson, also of the University of Toronto, in an interview with LiveScience.  "All of the archaeologists, basically, when they see Mantle, they're just utterly stunned."

The Mantle people

Scientists estimate between 1,500 and 1,800 individuals inhabited the site, whose fields encompassed a Manhattan-size area. To clothe themselves they would have needed 7,000 deer hides annually, something that would have required hunting about 26 miles (40 km) in every direction from the site, Williamson said.

"When you think about a site like Mantle, 2,000 people, massive stockade around a community, a better analogy is that of a medieval town," Jennifer Birch, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Georgia, said in the documentary. "While the cultures are very different, the societal form really isn't."

There is more HERE, including more images and commentary.

And so it goes.

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7 Life Lessons You Can Learn From 'Star Trek'

Stumbled upon this and found that, with my knowledge of the original series, this made perfect sense. To my mind all the advanced technology and slick production values of the later versions struggled to capture the essence of Roddenberry's initial vision. Here are the 7 Life Lessons:

1.      The best way to travel is to boldly go where no one has gone before. This is true for vacations, for self-exploration, for life itself. If you want your days filled with adventure, laughter, love, learning and the occasional mind-meld, follow this route.
2.      The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few—or the one. Sometimes you must make great sacrifices for the greater good. And, like the Genesis device, it will all come back around.
3.      Expressing your emotions is a healthy thing. Sure, McCoy seemed angry all the time when exclaiming, “Dammit, Jim! I’m a doctor not a mechanic/bricklayer/soothsayer,” but he knew that by expressing his anger and frustration it wouldn’t get the best of him and he could then perform at his peak capacity.
4.      When estimating how long a job will take, overestimate—and when you do better your captain will always be impressed. Replace the word “captain” with “teacher” or “mom/dad” and you’ll see what I mean. Sure, Mr. Scott might have been telling the truth—maybe it would take six hours to get the warp engines back online in the heat of the battle. Or maybe he was padding things so he looked good. Either way, when the engines did come back on line, everyone was happy.
 5.     Wearing red makes you a target. This is true of cars, dresses and, most especially, shirts. Red gets you noticed—which is good if you want to be noticed, bad if you don’t want to end up vaporized.
6.      When you don’t know what to say, pause. It will give you the time to figure it out. Or at the very least, you’ll sound like you’re being thoughtful. “But….Spock…..why?”
7.      The most powerful force in the universe is friendship. It’s more powerful than phasers, photon torpedos, even more powerful than the force itself. With friends, you can accomplish any task, escape any perilous situation, defeat any enemy—and you get to laugh together when it’s all over.

And so it goes.
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R.I.P. Davy Jones of The Monkees dies at 66

He was a year older than I.  Still, he looked very good at his age.  A bit of trivia for you.  Their director (and main man) was none other than Richard  Lester (director of Hard Day's Night), the primary reason for their eventual success.
From the BBC:

He died in his sleep at his home in Florida. His publicist, Deborah Robicheau, said he had a massive heart attack.

The band, who included musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, were famous for hits including Daydream Believer and I'm a Believer. The Monkees were an American pop band, assembled in 1966.

Jones was married three times and had four daughters.

The Monkees found fame through a successful television series, popular in both the US and the UK, and had four number one albums in a 13-month period. They were famous for their clean-cut image and were marketed as the American answer to The Beatles, notching up nine top 40 hits.

Acting careerThree of the band's original members - Jones, Dolenz and Tork - reunited together last year to play a series of gigs.

He appeared aged 11 on ITV soap Coronation Street, as Ena Sharples's grandson. He also appeared in the television series Z Cars before leaving show-business to train as a jockey.

Davy Jones was the only British member of The Monkees. He came back to acting with a role in a stage production of Oliver! He appeared in the West End and followed the show to Broadway where he built up a career as an actor and singer before auditioning for The Monkees.

Music journalist Paul Gambaccini described Jones as having "phenomenal" charisma and said that in 2008, he was voted the top teen idol of all time by Yahoo! Music. "The pop world at that time loved The Beatles and that north-western English sound was something that America wanted, when they put together the so-called Pre-Fab Four," he said, referring to the nickname given to the Monkees.

Mr Gambaccini said The Monkees had been put together by the music industry, something which was unheard of at that time. "There had been individual teen idols who had been literally picked up off the street and groomed to be popstar, but there had never been a band that was put together, and they were assembled because the two producers had liked A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles' movie."

A spokeswoman for the Medical Examiner's Office for Martin County, Florida, said: "The District 19 Medical Examiner's Office has been informed of the death of Mr Davy Jones.
"The Medical Examiner's Office will take jurisdiction and a possible autopsy will be performed and evaluation of the circumstances of death and medical information."

 And so it goes.
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Ann Druyan Talks About Her Husband, Carl Sagan

I just came across this on the Intertubes today and it touched my heart.  Yes, I was/am a Sagan fan; "COSMOS" remains one of my favourite series of all time. Don't know when Druyan wrote this, but the date stamp on the webpage read 09/2010.

“When my husband died, because he was so famous & known for not being a believer, many people would come up to me — it still sometimes happens — & ask me if Carl changed at the end & converted to a belief in an afterlife. They also frequently ask me if I think I will see him again. Carl faced his death with unflagging courage & never sought refuge in illusions. The tragedy was that we knew we would never see each other again. I don’t ever expect to be reunited with Carl. But, the great thing is that when we were together, for nearly twenty years, we lived with a vivid appreciation of how brief & precious life is. We never trivialized the meaning of death by pretending it was anything other than a final parting. Every single moment that we were alive & we were together was miraculous — not miraculous in the sense of inexplicable or supernatural. We knew we were beneficiaries of chance… That pure chance could be so generous & so kind… That we could find each other, as Carl wrote so beautifully in Cosmos, you know, in the vastness of space & the immensity of time… That we could be together for twenty years. That is something which sustains me & it’s much more meaningful…

The way he treated me & the way I treated him, the way we took care of each other & our family, while he lived. That is so much more important than the idea I will see him someday. I don’t think I’ll ever see Carl again. But I saw him. We saw each other. We found each other in the cosmos, and that was wonderful.“

– Ann Druyan, talking about her husband, Carl Sagan

She's quite a woman.

And so it goes.
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No Honor in Hurting Unarmed People

This should never happen in America - to anyone.

This entire episode has blown me away.  I knew the threat was still there - since the Viet Nam era - but didn't think it would raise its ugly head in these times.  Boy, was I wrong.

And so it goes.
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James Burke's Epic: Connections - 1978

Finally, after 33 years the series is available to US consumers on DVD.  Just in time, too.  My VHS tapes, recorded off the original PBS broadcasts, are beginning to show their age, lose color, contrast and image quality.  Still, I am amazed they've held up this well for so long.

Of course, back in those days blank VHS tapes were expensive (about $10.00 each!) and of superior quality.  There are quite a few in my library from the same period that look crisp and clear.  After all, they haven't been viewed as many times over these 3 decades as Connections has. From the Documentary Website:

All New and improved DIGITALLY REMASTERED Connections 1 from the distribution rights holder! The new version is Closed Captioned for the Hearing Impaired.

This ten volume series was made in 1978 by turning science into a detective story, James Burke creates a series that will fascinate students and adults alike. This interdisciplinary approach has never before been applied to history or science and it succeeds tremendously. Winner of the Red Ribbon in the American Film Festival, the scope of the series covers 19 countries and 150 locations, requiring over 14 months of filming.

As the Sherlock Holmes of science, Burke tracks through 12,000 years of history for the clues that lead us to eight great life changing inventions-the atom bomb, telecommunications, the computer, the production line, jet aircraft, plastics, rocketry and television. Burke postulates that such changes occur in response to factors he calls "triggers," some of them seemingly unrelated. These have their own triggering effects, causing change in totally unrelated fields as well. And so the connections begin...

Product Details:
-10 Volumes on 5 DVDs
-Series Running Time: 8 Hours and 20 minutes
-Now available for delivery to Canada & United States.
-Region 1 (U.S. and Canada)
-Closed Captioned
-Rating: General audiences
-Color

This series is as relevant (if not more so) today than it was in 1978 from the "technology traps" we find ourselves in daily, to the "triggers of change" that remain right on the mark all these years later.

BTW, Connections 2, and 3 are also available and may be on my list for Santa this year.


Happy dance all round.

And so it goes.
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