• To make money when he was growing up, comedian Joe E. Brown used to shine shoes. However, one day he had to apologize and turn down a chance to shine a man’s shoes for money. The man’s shoes were tan and Joe E. Brown was so poverty-stricken that he had only one can of shoe polish—black.
• Comedians and comic actors need confidence to do their jobs, but they recognize that this confidence may be misinterpreted as arrogance. Belfast, Ireland, comic Leila Webster was once asked, “What is it about a comic character that makes it funny?” She replied, “This may sound really dreadful—me.”
• As a boy and as a young man, Will Rogers constantly practiced his roping. While at home, he roped calves. While at school, he roped girls. Eventually, he performed his trick roping—and comedy—for audiences attending the Ziegfeld Follies.
• When comedian Jonathan Winters quit his job at a television station in Columbus, Ohio, and announced that he was going to New York, people asked him, “Who do you know in New York?” Mr. Winters replied, “King Kong.”
Yom Kippur
• Jack Benny took pride in his Jewish heritage, although his brand of comedy seldom made his Jewishness evident. Once, he prepared for a program to be broadcast live just before Yom Kippur, which would begin at sundown. In LA, where the program originated, the program would end before sundown, but Mr. Benny realized that back East, the sun would have already set, and people might think that he was working on Yom Kippur and thus desecrating the holy day. Someone pointed out that the Jews would be in synagogue and so would not even see the program, but Mr. Benny replied, “I wasn’t thinking of the Jews. I wouldn’t like the Gentiles to think I didn’t respect my religion.”
Activism
• In some South American countries, people who are critical of the government disappear — agents of the government kidnap and kill them. Some relatives and friends of the desapariciones have attracted international attention to the problem by unusual protests — going on hunger strikes, sewing quilts, and dancing alone to show that they miss the disappeared.
• African-American choreographer Alvin Ailey, Jr., created Masekela Langage to protest apartheid in South Africa. In the dance’s climax, a bloodied black man staggers into a party and dies. The program note for Masekela Langage states, “Looks like it’s safer to be in jail.”
Animals
• Ballerina Alice Patelson’s mother was a former Radio City Rockette who taught ballet to neighborhood children in a studio built into her home. Whenever Alice’s mother came downstairs dressed in her leotard to begin teaching a ballet class, the family pet springer spaniel, Lady, went upstairs. When Lady thought the family was busy, she would take a flying leap into the middle of Alice’s parents’ bed, which was forbidden to her. However, the family knew what Lady was doing. After ballet class was over, Alice’s mother used to noisily climb upstairs, giving Lady plenty of warning to get off the bed before being caught.
The official state bird of Minnesota is also the provincial bird of Ontario, and it appears on both Canadian currency and the Minnesota State Quarter. What is the name of this common bird?
The common loon or great northern diver (Gavia immer) is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. Breeding adults have a plumage that includes a broad black head and neck with a greenish, purplish, or bluish sheen, blackish or blackish-grey upperparts, and pure white underparts except some black on the undertail coverts and vent. Non-breeding adults are brownish with a dark neck and head marked with dark grey-brown. Their upperparts are dark brownish-grey with an unclear pattern of squares on the shoulders, and the underparts, lower face, chin, and throat are whitish. The sexes look alike, though males are significantly heavier than females. During the breeding season, loons live on lakes and other waterways in Canada; the northern United States (including Alaska); and southern parts of Greenland and Iceland. Small numbers breed on Svalbard and sporadically elsewhere in Arctic Eurasia. Common loons winter on both coasts of the US as far south as Mexico, and on the Atlantic coast of Europe.
The common loon appears on Canadian currency, including the one-dollar "loonie" coin and the previous series of $20 bills. It is the provincial bird of Ontario. It was designated the state bird of the U.S. state of Minnesota in 1961, and also appears on the Minnesota State Quarter. Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC uses the loon in its crest and nickname.
Source
Mark. was first, and correct, with:
The loon.
Cal in Vermont said:
Ho hum. The common loon. Unlike the uncommon loons in politics just now.
Randall wrote:
common loon
Alan J answered:
A Loon.
Jacqueline replied:
The Loon
Jon L responded:
I'm guessing the loon.
mj wrote:
Every time we visit our Canadian family
We end up with a couple of loonies in our changed, called such because
of the loon embossed on the coins.
Dave responded:
Loon. Specifically the common loon, because apparently some loons are of the uncommon persuasion. We used to go to Ontario fishing, and they had plenty of loons at Rice Lake. We don’t have any in southern Michigan though. Loons have difficulty walking on land and spend almost all their time in the water or flying. They catch fish by diving under the water and swimming after them. In the winter, loons migrate to the ocean shorelines because they can’t survive where the water ices over.
Photos: Canadians call their $1 coins Loonies, Queen Liz is on the heads side | Loon with young | the soon to be impeached a second time Looney president, unless he resigns first
Daniel in The City replied:
Loon
Jim from CA, retired to ID, said:
Common Loon
Deborah, the Master Gardener wrote:
I’m going with a WAG: The state bird of Minnesota is the Common Loon. I forget where “On Golden Pond” was filmed, but I keep picturing it as one of the many lakes in the Land o’ Lakes state, and I recall loons in the movie. The birds, not the actors.
To quote the Wicked Witch of the West: “What a world! What a world!”
DJ Useo answered:
Common loon? Seems right to me. But, why have a state bird species? I suggest picking a specific bird of that species, & make it the actual state bird.
Wouldn't it be great to have a state common loon called Murgatroyd?
Billy in Cypress took the day off.
Mac Mac took the day off.
Stephen F took the day off.
John I from Hawai`i took the day off.
David of Moon Valley took the day off.
Dave in Tucson took the day off.
Rosemary in Columbus took the day off.
Joe S took the day off.
Leo in Boise took the day off.
Roy, still Antifa, still in Tyler, TX took the day off.
Doug in Albuquerque, New Mexico, took the day off.
Kevin K. in Washington DC, took the day off.
Barbara, of Peppy Tech fame took the day off.
Michelle in AZ took the day off.
Bob from Mechanicsburg, Pa took the day off.
Ed K took the day off.
-pgw took the day off.
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Harry M. took the day off.
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Roy the (now retired) hoghead (aka 'hoghed') ( Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid. ~Frank Zappa ) took the day off.
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BttbBob has returned to semi-retired status.
~~~~~
“AB Records is an e-zine and record label that promotes the music and work of authentic independent or underground artists from all around the world. Originally established in 2013, they revamped themselves in 2018 with a brand-new approach. Their first weekly compilation, aptly titled ‘The Second Coming’, was released in late 2019. They now also release original singles, EPs and charity projects.”
“Musically, I put this album together for anyone else who is a bit fed up of hearing the same old Christmas songs year in, year out. There's some newbies and some oldies in this collection but they are all independent and underground recordings; you're bound to make a festive discovery to bring you some cheer this Christmas!”
“I can listen to this instrumental version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ all year round.” — Bruce
Price: £ 0.70 (GBP) for track or for nine-track album by various artists
Local TV gets grimmer - 1 death every 8 minutes in LA.
Tonight, Saturday:
CBS fills the night with LIVE'NFL Playoffs', then pads the left coast with local crap, if necessary.
NBC opens the night with 'Dateline', followed by an old 'SNL' (from 11/20/93) with Nicole Kidman hosting, music by Stone Temple Pilots.
'SNL' is a RERUN (from 11/07/20) with Dave Chappelle hosting, music by Foo Fighters.
ABC starts the night with a RERUN'To Tell The Truth', followed by a RERUN'Shark Tank', then a RERUN'The Good Doctor'.
The CW offers some old 'Friends', followed by some old '2½ Men'.
Faux has 'TMZ', followed by a FRESH'Central Ave', then another FRESH'Central Ave'.
MY recycles an old 'Weather Gone Viral', followed by an old 'Storm Of Suspicion'.
AMC offers the movie 'The Matrix Revolution', followed by the movie 'The Matrix'.
BBC -
[6:00AM - 5:00AM] PLANET EARTH (ALL TIMES ET)
Bravo has the movie 'It's Complicated', followed by the movie 'Sweet Home Alabama', then the movie 'Sweet Home Alabama', again.
Comedy Central has the movie 'Rush Hour 2', followed by the movie 'Get Hard'.
FX has the movie 'The Martian', followed by the movie 'Jurassic World'.
History has 'Buried: Knights Templar & The Holy Grail', followed by a FRESH'Rise Of Empires: Ottoman', then another FRESH'Rise Of Empires: Ottoman', followed by yet another FRESH'Rise Of Empires: Ottoman'.
IFC -
[6:00am - 1:00pm] Saved By The Bell
[1:30pm] American Hustle
[4:30pm] Casino Royale
[8:00pm] Quantum Of Solace
[10:30pm] Skyfall
[1:30am] American Hustle
[4:30am - 5:30am] Saved By The Bell: The College Years (ALL TIMES ET)
Sundance -
[6:00am - 10:30am] the andy griffith show
[11:00am - 3:30pm] hogan's heroes
[4:00pm] stir crazy
[6:00pm] back to school
[8:00pm] monty python and the holy grail
[10:00pm] monty python's life of brian
[12:00am] monty python and the holy grail
[2:00am] monty python's life of brian
[4:00am] the andy griffith show
[4:30am] monk - Mr. Monk Goes Home Again
[5:30am] monk - Mr. Monk Stays In Bed (ALL TIMES ET)
SyFy has the movie 'John Wick', followed by the movie 'John Wick: Chapter 2'.
George Clooney has said the Capitol riots have put Donald Trump (R-Lock Him Up) and his family “into the dustbin of history”.
The actor-director reflected on the events of Wednesday (6 January) that saw Trump supporters storm the Washington DC building in an attempt to stop Joe Biden’s presidency from being certified.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney told a forthcoming episode of The Business podcast it was “devastating” to see the riot unfold on television, and called the incident the “straw that breaks the camel’s back” in regards to Trump’s presidency.
“This puts Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka, all of them, into the dustbin of history,” he said, adding: “That name will now forever be associated with insurrection."
As the incident took place, Trump posted a video in which he called his rioting supporters “very special” and said “we love you", while also repeating his false claim that he won the election.
Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless is speaking out against her former costar Kevin Sorbo after he endorsed an unfounded far-right conspiracy theory on Twitter.
Sorbo, an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump (R-Lock Him Up), reposted a message claiming that it was "leftist agitators" who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
"Do these look like Trump supporters? Or Leftist agitators disguised as Trump supporters…" reads the tweet, which includes a photo flagged by Twitter as "manipulated media."
"No, Peanut. They are not Patriots," Lawless replied, going on to slam the actor's endorsement of the conspiracy theory.
"They are your flying monkeys, homegrown terrorists, QAnon actors," she continued. "They are the d-----bags that go out and do the evil bidding of people like you who like to wind them up like toys and let them do their worst. #keepingYourFilthyHandsclean #enabler."
Nicki Minaj has agreed to pay $450,000 to Tracy Chapman over a copyright infringement dispute.
The rapper had been set for trial after the singer sued her for using a sample of 1988 song Baby Can I Hold You in her track Sorry, a collaboration with Nas which was never officially released but was played on New York radio station Hot 97. Court documents have now revealed that late last month, an out of court settlement was made instead.
Minaj and her reps had approached Chapman to use a sample for inclusion on the album Queen but their request was rejected. Chapman is reportedly on a “do not sample” list of artists who do not give the rights to use their work.
“I’m torn, y’all help,” Minaj tweeted in 2018. “Tracy Chapman, can you please hit me. omg for the love of #Queen.” In a since-deleted tweet, she also claimed to have “no clue” that the song sampled Chapman. She had also openly considered delaying the album to wait for a response.
“I am glad to have this matter resolved and grateful for this legal outcome which affirms that artists’ rights are protected by law and should be respected by other artists,” Chapman said in a statement. “I was asked in this situation numerous times for permission to use my song; in each instance, politely and in a timely manner, I unequivocally said no. Apparently Ms Minaj chose not to hear and used my composition despite my clear and express intentions.”
Laura Branigan’s legacy manager calls it “absolutely appalling” that the late singer’s celebrated song “Gloria” was played to hype up Trump and attendees of his rally on Wednesday.
As fallout continues over the "Stop the Steal" rally turned riot — which saw pro-Trump protestors storm the Capitol, defacing and stealing property in a melee that resulted in five deaths — Kathy Golik, who was Branigan’s manager until her 2004 death, condemned a video seemingly recorded by Donald Trump Jr. showing behind the scenes at the rally with “Gloria” blaring.
In a series of tweets, Golik said it was “sad” and “upsetting” to see Branigan’s “beautiful memory & legacy have any association w/ Pres. Trump & such a dark day in US history. Neither Laura, nor her music, deserve any unwarranted fallout due to actions of others.”
She went on to call it “absolutely appalling” to hear 1982’s “Gloria,” which Branigan received a Grammy nomination for, “being played in the background of a widely-circulating video of Pres. Trump from yesterday, given the tragic, unsettling, & shameful happenings that occurred at the US Capitol.”
The video seems to be recorded behind-the-scenes at the Ellipse, the park south of the White House fence where Trump addressed his supporters at length, claiming that the election was rigged against him and urging spectators to go the Capitol, where President-elect Joe Biden’s win was to be made official, to disrupt proceedings. Trump Jr. was in a tented area with his father, along with Kayleigh McEnany, Kimberly Guilfoyle and others from Team Trump as they looked at monitors and talked logistics of the rally.
They took a dump on American democracy — literally.
Some of the unhinged pro-Trump rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday defecated inside the historic building and “tracked” their feces in several hallways, the Daily News has learned.
A source close to Sen. Chuck Schumer said staffers to the New York Democrat found out about the fecal fiasco on Thursday.
The vile attackers, whose violent invasion of the Capitol left five people dead, apparently went No. 2 in a bathroom and then smeared their extremist excrement around the building, leaving behind brownish “foot-prints,” the source said.
“It looked like they tracked it around,” said the person.
An arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association, a national group representing the top law enforcement officers in their states, sent out robocalls encouraging people to march to the U.S. Capitol the day before the building was stormed by a pro-Trump mob.
“At 1 p.m., we will march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal,” said the voice on the recording, which was obtained by NBC News.
The calls, which did not advocate violence or suggest the building should be breached, was sent out by the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a fundraising arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association. The groups share funding, staff and office space in Washington, D.C.
In a statement to NBC News, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who runs the fund, said the calls were sent out without his knowledge.
A website set up to promote the rally that preceded the Capitol incursion lists the Rule of Law Defense Fund as one of the participating organizations. The site has since been taken down.
Lehigh University has rescinded and revoked an honorary degree granted to President Donald Trump (R-Lock Him Up) over 30 years ago in the wake of the deadly riot at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The university's Board of Trustee's released a statement on Friday announcing the decision.
According to the statement, the Executive Committee of the Lehigh University Board of Trustees held a special session on Thursday.
In that meeting, the members voted to "rescind and revoke the honorary degree granted to Donald J. Trump in 1988."
Lehigh University President John D. Simon called the deadly Capitol riot, a "violent assault on the foundations of our democracy- the abiding respect for the will of the people exercised in a free election and the peaceful transfer of power."
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Emergency Services announced on Thursday that a temporary morgue would be erected in the parking lot adjacent to the L.A. County Coroner’s building to handle the record number of bodies it’s seeing.
The facility will include at least five 53-foot trailers supplied by the state and five more supplied by the county, along with an unknown number of “ground refrigerated storage containers.”
County statistics showed a total of 761 beds available in the county’s 70 “911-receiving” hospitals. There were 54 adult ICU beds extant.
Those 70 hospitals with emergency rooms have a total licensed capacity of about 2,500 ICU beds. Last week, the county averaged 31 available adult ICU beds on a daily basis, with 78% of all ICU patients in the county being treated for COVID. Ten days ago the percentage of Covid-infected ICU patients in those same hospitals was about 50%.
Los Angeles County on Friday reported its first-ever count of more than 300 daily coronavirus-related deaths, at 318. By comparison, an average of 170 people die in the county every day of all other causes.
Adorable dwarf giraffes have been spotted for the first time, and with their graceful long necks tacked onto a set of chunky legs, they look like a mashup of mythical creatures. Researchers identified two wild giraffes that were around 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall — about half the height of the average giraffe. That diminutive stature could put them at a disadvantage in the wild, experts say.
One giraffe, dubbed "Gimli," after the trusty dwarf sidekick in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, was first spotted in 2015 in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park, according to The New York Times. The researchers were baffled when they first saw the 9-foot-4-inch-tall (2.8 m) giraffe.
"The initial reaction was disbelief," study lead author Michael Brown, a conservation science fellow with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, told the Times.
The giraffe's legs were unusually short, which made it look as though someone had stuck a giraffe's head on a horse's body, the Times reported.
In 2018, the researchers observed an 8-foot-6-inch-tall (2.6 m) giraffe, nicknamed "Nigel," on a private farm in central Namibia, according to a new study on the encounters, published Dec. 30 in the journal BMC Research Notes.
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