Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Marc Dion: "Where I Live: Fall River, MA, Home of Lizzie Borden" (Creators Syndicate)
We recalled the mayor, but our newly revamped city charter provides for a two-part recall ballot. The first part asks whether to recall the mayor. The second part is the election for his replacement. The recalled mayor is allowed to run on the second part of the ballot even if he loses the recall, which he did. About 60 percent of voters said they wanted Correia gone. On the second half of the ballot, Correia got around 34 percent of the votes, more than the other candidates, so he became mayor again. The matter is now before a judge.
Ted Rall: "The Greatest Projects I Never Made (Part 1 of 2)" (Creators Syndicate)
She was a terrible boss, but she was wise about work. "We are defined more by the business we refuse to take than the ones we do," she told me. That turned out to be true. My cartoons are notable for what they don't include: symbols like donkeys and elephants, labeled graphic metaphors, a reliance on caricature.
Mark Shields: Hearing the President Speak (Creators Syndicate)
The polar opposite of Ike, JFK and Reagan, Donald Trump blames the wounded and now departed American hero John McCain. Let me tell you as a childhood survivor of both scarlet fever and rheumatic fever, which left me with a heart murmur, that the pre-induction military physical for those of us facing the draft call was not sophisticated medicine. Basically, if you could see lightning and hear thunder, you passed your U.S. military physical. Of course, there was the rare prep-school type who showed up in his camel hair jacket with a stack of affidavits from his allergist, his psychologist or even occasionally his foot doctor explaining why military life would not work out for Trip or Chip or Donnie. I prefer my presidents and leaders to take responsibility and not be the rare misfit who instead takes a powder.
Lenore Skenazy: Do We Really Have to Play With Our Kids? (Creators Syndicate)
Yet in America today, a recent study of almost 4,000 parents, rich and poor, found that if a child says "Draw with me!" most parents feel they should drop whatever they are doing and draw with the kid. My take? That is not only unnecessary but almost insulting to the human race. First of all, kids are able to entertain themselves, but they have to try it to realize it. Secondly, kids also benefit from seeing that you have things you have to get done. The world, it revolves around something other than a child's fleeting request. Aha!
Froma Harrop: Are the Racists on Viral Videos Mentally Ill? (Creators Syndicate)
Most everyone who spends time on social media has come across videos in which a white person is screaming racial insults, usually at a Latino or African-American. A recent example shows a woman at a ShopRite in East Haven, Connecticut, barraging a black man with racist invective.
Froma Harrop: Democrats Look Forward by Looking Inland (Creators Syndicate)
In Texas, most politicians used to worry only about the primaries. Once they won their party's endorsement, candidates would coast to victory in November. Journalists still refer to Texas as "ruby red," meaning Republicans rule the roost. That is no longer reality. Texas is barely red, and some argue it's already purple. For statewide office, general elections now matter greatly. Small wonder Nancy Pelosi has called Texas "ground zero" for Democratic focus in 2020. Had the Democrats not chosen Milwaukee for their 2020 national convention, they probably would have picked Houston.
Connie Schultz: Excuse Me. So Sorry. Excuse Me (Creators Syndicate)
Until this week, I'd never witnessed this on a plane. I'd read numerous stories and essays about passengers trying to shame seatmates for their weight, but I was not prepared for what that sounds like or how it looks.
Oliver Burkeman: Why feedback is never worthwhile (Creators Syndicate)
Don't tell others what you think of their skills, instead describe your experience of their work.
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Presenting
Michael Egan
wrote:
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
from Bruce
Anecdotes
Latin singer Ricky Martin knew what he wanted at a very young age. He auditioned three times to become a member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo. The first audition he was rejected because he was too short and too young. He waited a while and auditioned a second time, making sure that he was wearing cowboy boots so he would appear to be taller. Again, he was rejected, but at age 13 he auditioned a third time and passed the audition and became a member of the band. Of course, he has performed in concerts all over the world, both as a member of Menudo and as a solo act later. One of his most memorable concerts among many memorable concerts occurred during a concert tour that took him to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he managed to sneak away from the paparazzi and make his way to a small restaurant in an out-of-the-way part of the city. There he put on a free impromptu concert, singing and dancing for the restaurant's lucky patrons.
At the 2006 Mercury music prize (a British award) ceremony, Richard Hawley's 4th solo album, titled Coles Corner, was nominated. Instead, an album by a group called Arctic Monkeys - his friends - won. While accepting the award, Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner said, "Call 999, Richard Hawley's been robbed." {In the USA, the number is 911.) This remark was widely quoted, with the result that Mr. Hawley began to become famous. Mr. Hawley says, "It changed things for me. I started selling f**king records." In 2007, he recorded another album, Lady's Bridge, although his father died while he was recording it. Actually, his father gave him some advice that helped him finish recording the album. Mr. Hawley says, "One of the last things he said to me-apart from, 'Don't forget my f**king beer and fags [cigarettes] when you come tomorrow' - was, 'You'd better finish that bloody record. Don't get crippled by grief.'"
One of the things that David Amram learned from fellow musician Miles Davis is that in jazz there are no wrong notes. Mr. Ashram explains, "By that he did not mean to play anything-he had the most beautiful selection of notes imaginable. But he meant anything that you can move to something else if you have a right path." For example, early in Mr. Amram's career he was playing French horn with Charlie Mingus, and the cash register went off while he was playing and it bothered him. Mr. Mingus said, "Next time that happens, play off the cash register. Use that as part of the music. If you're playing, the piano player is going blockity-block, the drum is going buckita-bucka-ding. Put that into the music and answer it. Go bita-boo-boo-bum and answer the cash register. Make that part of the whole experience."
Cellist Pablo Casals observed the 200th anniversary of Bach's death by performing at the great Baroque cathedral in the Catalan town of Prades. African-American artist Ashley Bryan attended some rehearsals, and he drew the musicians there and attended the first three concerts - students such as himself were given free tickets for those concerts. In addition to works by Bach, Mr. Casals played the Catalan song of longing "El cant dels ocells" at the end of each concert. Impressed by the song and by Mr. Casals' playing of it, Mr. Bryan made a booklet that illustrated the song and sent it to Mr. Casals, who sent Mr. Bryan a thank-you letter that Mr. Bryan describes as "very moving."
Some people know what they want. Carole King met fellow songwriter Graham Nash and asked, "So when are we going to write together?" He replied, "I'm not the guy." She then said, "Oh, fine. I'll be at your house at one o'clock." He asked, "What?" She replied, "I'll be at your house at one o'clock and we'll write." He said, "Didn't I just get through telling you?" She replied, "I don't care what you just said. I'm coming to your house at one o'clock. We can do this." She came to his house at one o'clock, and they wrote a good song together.
Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins were friends. One day, Mr. Cash told him his friend about a staff sergeant named C.V. White, whom he had known while he was in the Air Force. Sergeant White was well groomed, and although he wore the same Air Force shoes as everyone else, he would joke, "Just don't step on my blue suede shoes." Hearing that, Mr. Perkins was struck by inspiration. Grabbing a paper bag and a pencil, he wrote the biggest hit of his career - "Blue Suede Shoes" - in 10 minutes.
When Roseanne Cash was 18 years old, she started to learn to play the guitar and sing country music. Her father, Johnny, heard her and sat down and wrote a list of "100 Essential Country Songs," including songs by Woody Guthrie, Jimmy Rodgers, the Carter family, Hank Williams, and Carl Perkins. He gave her the list and told her that to be a completely educated country musician she needed to learn those songs.
In 1890, while preparing to make his London debut at St. James' Hall, pianist Ignacy Paderewski suffered from stage fright. Fortunately, when he sat down on the piano bench, the theater cat walked out and jumped on his lap. The audience laughed, and Mr. Paderewski relaxed. He played magnificently, and the cat kept on sitting on his lap. Of course, Mr. Paderewski became a world-famous musician, and he gave credit to the cat that had cured his stage fright.
Comedian Jackie Gleason was a big spender, even if he had to borrow money to spend. He once borrowed $500 from friend and bartender Toots Shor, then ordered a limousine to drive him and Frank Sinatra fewer than 100 feet to a nightclub where one-armed trumpet player Wingy Malone was playing. Jackie kept giving Wingy $100 bills to play "That's a Plenty."
Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was discovered in a very Hollywood-movie fashion. In his native Montreal, Canada, Mr. Peterson was playing in a small club. Producer Norman Grantz heard him, liked what he heard, and invited him to play at Carnegie Hall with the band Jazz at the Philharmonic on September 19, 1949. Mr. Peterson did exactly that.
A woman once asked the second violinist of the Flonzaley Quartet to let her see his violin. After inspecting it carefully, she said, "Why, it looks exactly like a first violin."
The Duke of Wellington was once asked if Beethoven's composition titled "Battle of Vitoria" resembled the battle. He replied, "By God, no. If it had, I should have run away myself."
In 1770, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited Rome, where he attended a performance of Allegri's Miserere in the Sistine Chapel. After hearing it performed once, he went home and wrote out the entire score from memory.
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In The Chaos Household
Last Night
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Vowing To Fire Agents
800 Writers
More than 800 writers and showrunners have signed a statement saying that they will fire their agents if the WGA fails to reach an agreement with the Association of Talent Agents for a new franchise agreement. Signers include Olive Stone, John Wells, James L. Brooks, John Singleton, Aaron Sorkin, Norman Lear, Seth MacFarlane, Peter Farrelly, David Chase, Colin Trevorrow, David Simon, Paul Haggis, Mindy Kaling, Carlton Cuse, Robert Towne, Darren Star, Rashida Jones, WGA West president David A. Goodman and WGA East president Beau Willimon.
The guild will return to the bargaining table on Tuesday with the ATA, and WGA members will begin voting the next day on a new Agency Code of Conduct that would ban packaging fees and force agencies to sever their ties with affiliated production companies, both of which the guild says are conflicts of interest.
Notably, the statement of support for the guild says that any new agreement should "confront practices that constitute a conflict of interest" - not eliminate them. It's not clear if this was intended as a sign that there remains some wiggle room in the guild's steadfast demand that these practices be abolished.
"We are voting YES to support guild implementation of an Agency Code of Conduct after the current AMBA expires on April 6th, if there is no negotiated settlement," the statement says. "We agree a new agency agreement should:
Notable showrunners who didn't sign the statement include Ava Duvernay, Lee Daniels, Dick Wolf, Chuck Lorre, J.J. Abrams, Ryan Murphy, Bill Lawrence, Tom Fontana, Adam Reed, Alan Ball, Marc Cherry, Michael Seitzman, and the Duffer Brothers.
800 Writers
"Vase with Poppies"
Van Gogh
A painting at a Connecticut museum that has long been thought to be by Vincent Van Gogh has been authenticated as such by Dutch researchers.
The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford announced Friday that the oil painting "Vase with Poppies" has been verified by researchers at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam as having been painted by the Dutch artist in 1886, just after he moved to Paris.
It has been in the museum's collection since 1957.
Its authenticity was called into question in 1990 by art historian and Van Gogh expert Walter Feilchenfeldt, who raised concerns about many purported Van Goghs around the world, the Hartford Courant reported. The artwork was taken out of museum displays and shelved.
Years later, with advances in technology and knowledge of Van Gogh, the museum decided to revisit the question.
Van Gogh
Can Double As Film Developer
SuperEIGHT Beer
Kodak says a new beer hitting the market can be used to develop its Super 8 movie film.
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Delaware created its SuperEIGHT beer after a conversation with people at Kodak, the upstate New York technology company most famous for its photographic roots.
Dogfish learned from Kodak that heightened levels of acidity and vitamin C in certain beers could make them a processing agent for film. That inspired the brewery to design such a beer. Kodak helped by testing it.
Dogfish founder Sam Calagione says he'll document his summer travels on Super 8 film that will be developed in SuperEIGHT beer and turned into a short film.
The beer, made with pear, mango, berries, kiwi, quinoa and salt, is set for national distribution next month.
SuperEIGHT Beer
World's Biggest
Tyrannosaurus Rex
University of Alberta paleontologists have just reported the world's biggest Tyrannosaurus rex and the largest dinosaur skeleton ever found in Canada. The 13-metre-long T. rex, nicknamed "Scotty," lived in prehistoric Saskatchewan 66 million years ago.
"This is the rex of rexes," said Scott Persons, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences. "There is considerable size variability among Tyrannosaurus. Some individuals were lankier than others and some were more robust. Scotty exemplifies the robust. Take careful measurements of its legs, hips, and even shoulder, and Scotty comes out a bit heftier than other T. rex specimens."
Scotty, nicknamed for a celebratory bottle of scotch the night it was discovered, has leg bones suggesting a living weight of more than 8,800 kg, making it bigger than all other carnivorous dinosaurs. The scientific work on Scotty has been a correspondingly massive project.
The skeleton was first discovered in 1991, when paleontologists including T. rex expert and UAlberta professor Phil Currie were called in on the project. But the hard sandstone that encased the bones took more than a decade to remove -- only now have scientists been able to study Scotty fully-assembled and realize how unique a dinosaur it is.
"Scotty is the oldest T. rex known," Persons explains. "By which I mean, it would have had the most candles on its last birthday cake. You can get an idea of how old a dinosaur is by cutting into its bones and studying its growth patterns. Scotty is all old growth."
Tyrannosaurus Rex
MAGA
$234 Billion Deficit
The U.S. federal government posted a $234 billion budget deficit in February, according to data released on Friday by the Treasury Department.
Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a $227 billion deficit for the month.
The Treasury said federal spending in February was $401 billion, up 8 percent from the same month in 2018, while receipts were $167 billion, up 7 percent compared to February 2018.
The deficit for the fiscal year to date was $544 billion, compared with $391 billion in the comparable period the year earlier.
When adjusted for calendar effects, the deficit was $547 billion for the fiscal year to date versus $439 billion in the comparable prior period.
$234 Billion Deficit
$1Billion Spent On Lobbying
Climate
The five largest publicly listed oil and gas majors have spent $1 billion since the 2015 Paris climate deal on public relations or lobbying that is "overwhelmingly in conflict" with the landmark accord's goals, a watchdog said Friday.
Despite outwardly committing to support the Paris agreement and its aim to limit global temperature rises, ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP and Total spend a total of $200 million a year on efforts "to operate and expand fossil fuel operations," according to InfluenceMap, a pro-transparency monitor.
Two of the companies -- Shell and Chevron -- said they rejected the watchdog's findings.
The report comes as oil and gas giants are under increasing pressure from shareholders to come clean over how greener lawmaking will impact their business models.
At the same time, the International Panel on Climate Change -- composed of the world's leading climate scientists -- issued a call for a radical drawdown in fossil fuel use in order to hit the 1.5C (2.7 Fahrenheit) cap laid out in the Paris accord.
Climate
Manipulating Studies
Monsanto
A toxicologist from Roundup weedkiller manufacturer Monsanto denied Friday that she had influenced scientific studies to hide the dangers of the product, in the damages phase of a trial in California.
One of the lawyers for the plaintiff -- a 70-year-old retiree with cancer -- asked Dr Donna Farmer to explain internal documents from Monsanto made public in 2017.
Among other documents, a February 2015 email sent to Farmer by another senior Monsanto scientist refers to the technique of writing scientific articles and then paying recognized scientists -- presented as independent -- to sign them.
Farmer -- who testified by video -- repeatedly denied that she participated in such "ghostwriting" and also responded "no" when asked if Roundup causes cancer.
The jury in San Francisco is weighing how much Monsanto knew about Roundup's possible risks, if it tried to hide those risks and whether the product's cans should have carried a warning.
Monsanto
Fossils of Early Universe
Milky Way
Astronomers peered into the dusky bulge of the Milky Way and found some of the oldest known stars in the universe.
In a study to be published in the April 2019 issue of the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, researchers analyzed a cluster of old, dim stars called HP1, located about 21,500 light-years away from Earth in the gut of our galaxy's central bulge. Using observations from Chile's Gemini South telescope and archival Hubble Space Telescope data, the researchers calculated the age of the stars to be roughly 12.8 billion years old - making them some of the oldest stars ever detected in either the Milky Way or the universe at large.
"These are also some of the oldest stars we've seen anywhere," study co-author Stefano Souza, a doctoral candidate at the University of Sγo Paulo, Brazil, said in a statement. [15 Unforgettable Images of Stars]
The Milky Way's bulge - a bulbous, 10,000 light-year-wide region of stars and dust popping out of the galaxy's spiral disc - is thought to contain some of the oldest stars in the galaxy.
Previous studies have tried to prove that ancient stars were hiding in the Milky Way's bulge by studying HP1 and other nearby clusters. But Souza and his colleagues analyzed the problem with unprecedented resolution, thanks to an imaging technique called adaptive optics - essentially, a method that corrects pictures of space for light distortions caused by Earth's atmosphere.
Milky Way
Knitting With A Repurpose
Plastic Bags
Rosa Ferrigno's new suit takes recycling to an extreme - she knitted it from more than 300 plastic grocery bags.
The 75-year-old woman from Greece in western New York whiled away the winter knitting a skirt and jacket from filmy brown bags scissored into thin strips that were tied together to make yarn. She lined it with cotton fabric.
The finished garment is quite chic, with a tweedy look from green printing on the brown bags.
Her daughter, Fran Bertalli, tells the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that Ferrigno has been knitting and sewing since her childhood in Sicily.
Last summer, Ferrigno saw someone's purse made from repurposed plastic bags and started her own bag projects, making two purses before the suit.
Plastic Bags
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