• In 1953, 16-year-old high school student Shirlie Blaney got what many, many journalists wanted: an exclusive interview with the reclusive J.D. Salinger, author of Catcher in the Rye. Getting the interview wasn’t that hard. Mr. Salinger was friendly with the students in Windsor, Vermont, and Shirlie simply asked for the interview. However, the editor of the Windsor Eagle, knowing that the high school student had gotten a major coup, decided not to run the interview on the high school page, but instead ran it prominently on the op-ed page. Mr. Salinger’s friendship with the high school students ended.
• An editor for the Washington Post called lesbian humorist Ellen Orleans, who lives in Colorado, to get permission to reprint one of her essays. Ms. Orleans waited until she hung up the telephone to go berserk and scream out the window: “That was the Washington Post. That’s the W-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-O-N — not Denver — Post. They like my writing. They’re even paying me real money for it!”
• When H. Allen Smith was a young newspaper reporter, he worked at the United Press, which had offices in the Daily News building in New York. He and a friend, Henry McLemore, decided to make things interesting for bystanders by taking turns running through the lobby and screaming at the top of their lungs, “Gangway! Scoop! Scoop! Scoop!”
Mishaps
• Monica Dickens is the great-granddaughter of novelist Charles Dickens. (He died in 1870; she was born in 1915.) Because she was bored with the rounds of debutante balls, she decided to go into service — that is, she hired herself out as a cook/maid to people of her own social class. Her 18 months working as a servant resulted in one of her delightful autobiographies, One Pair of Hands, which was published in 1939 and which includes many anecdotes. On one occasion when Monica Dickens was serving drinks at an employer’s party, she heard one gentleman ask another, “What station does one go from for Portsmouth?” Of course, as a servant, Ms. Dickens was supposed to be seen and not heard, but without thinking, she “answered automatically, ‘Waterloo.’ I was horrified, and they were a little startled, but being perfect gentlemen they smiled politely and said ‘Thank you.’”
• As you would expect, Carson McCullers read deeply. When she was a child, she was sent to buy groceries at a time she was engrossed in reading short stories by Katherine Mansfield. She read the stories at the grocery store counter, and she read the stories under the street lamp outside the grocery store. Once she was so engrossed in a work by Dostoevsky that she didn’t notice that her house was on fire. And when she was working a day job as a bookkeeper, she was fired because she read Proust on company time. Carson also formed crushes on other people, including writers. At Yaddo, a writers’ colony, she used to curl up outside the door of Katherine Anne Porter’s cabin, hoping to make Ms. Porter pay attention to her when she finally opened the door. Instead, Ms. Porter pretended that Carson wasn’t there and stepped over her and went wherever she needed to go.
• Some famous writers have notoriously bad handwriting — a major problem for editors attempting to provide scholarly editions of the writers’ letters, journals, and notebooks. Unintentional errors, of course, occur in this attempt. Walter Harding, the founding editor of the Thoreau Edition, believed that Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden, had used the word “Ecology” in an 1850s letter. If so, this would have been the word’s first-ever recorded use, with its second-ever recorded use occurring eight years later. In fact, the Oxford English Dictionary changed its entry on “ecology” to include Mr. Thoreau’s alleged use of the word. Unfortunately, when Mr. Harding reexamined the letter and related documents, he discovered that what he had thought was a capital E was actually a capital G. Mr. Thoreau had not written “Ecology” — he had written “Geology.”
In this doubly eponymous soap opera, she was the daughter of the Fernwood Flasher and greatly concerned with waxy yellow buildup. What is the name of this Norman Lear produced satirical soap opera of the 1970s?
Get onboard for this hit single by The O'Jays that reached number one on both the R&B Singles and the Billboard Hot 100, in February and March 1973, and was their first and only number-one record on the US pop chart. What is the title of this song?
"Love Train" is a hit single by The O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Released in 1972, it reached number one on both the R&B Singles and the Billboard Hot 100, in February and March 1973 respectively, number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. It was The O'Jays' first and only number-one record on the US pop chart.
"Love Train" entered the Hot 100's top 40 on January 27, 1973, the same day that the Paris Peace Accords were signed. The song's lyrics of unity mention a number of countries, including England, Russia, China, Egypt and Israel, as well as the continent of Africa.
Recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios, the house band MFSB provided the backing. Besides its release as a single, "Love Train" was the last song on The O'Jays' album Back Stabbers. The O'Jays' "Love Train" was a 2006 inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Source
Old Timers may recall "Love Train" as the unofficial (cough, cough) theme song of the BartCop Treehouse.
Mark. was first, and correct, with:
Love Train.
Alan J answered:
Love Train.
Randall wrote
Love Train
Stephen F said:
Love Train
Dave responded:
Love Train. A single from the O’Jays Back Stabbers Album. Back Stabbers was also a popular single, topping at #3 on the Hot 100 chart. The O’Jays started in 1958, and were still touring in 2019 when they announced they were retiring from performances. The final line up still included original members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams teaming with Eric Grant.
zorch replied:
The Love Train.
mj wrote:
Even tho it was from the motor city
The Love Train ran down the tracks of the radio waves.
David of Moon Valley replied:
and i say...
People all over the world (everybody)
Join hands (join)
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world (all the world, now)
Join hands (love ride)
Start a love train (love ride), love train
John I from Hawai`i says,
Love Train
Jim from CA, retired to ID, responded:
Happy Thanksgiving all.....get on board the Love Train
Kevin K. in Washington, DeeCee wrote:
I’m not sure this image of a rolling brothel has it quite right, but it was “Love Train”. I think we need more hokey songs on the radio now like we had in late ‘60’s - early 70’s about love, smiling on your brother, the age of Aquarius, and people gettin’ together; ‘cause we sure are falling apart. What’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding?
Jacqueline said:
Guessing The Backstabbers.
Daniel in The City answered:
Love Train
Dave in Tucson responded:
Love Train by the O'Jays.
DJ Useo replied:
The only O'Jays song I could recall was "Lonely Girl", but me spouse quickly set me straight as to the correct answer, "Love Train".
Rosemary in Columbus said:
Love Train
Deborah, the Master Gardener wrote:
And now “Love Train” runs through my head. Thanks for today’s ear worm, Marty!
Chilly and breezy morning; we rode with some friends up to Davis for hot chocolate. Clocked just under 40 miles. Now for some food prep.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Joe ( -- Vote Blue, No Matter Who -- ) answered:
None of this seems familiar to me, but the song is "Love Train." Something about the O'Jays is familiar but I don't know why.
Barbara, of Peppy Tech fame
The answer is "Love Train."
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your readers!
Cal in Vermont 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.
~~~~~
CBS opens the night with a RERUN'Young Sheldon', followed by a RERUN'B Positive', then a RERUN'Mom', followed by a RERUN'The Unicorn', then a FRESH'Star Trek: Discovery'.
On a RERUNStephen Colbert (from 11/16/20) are Jake Tapper and BENEE.
On a RERUNJames Corden, OBE, (from 9/21/20) is Alicia Keys.
NBC fills the night with LIVE'Thursday Night Football', then pads the left coast with local crap and maybe an old 'Dateline'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Fallon are Jerry Seinfeld and Bad Bunny.
Scheduled on a FRESHSeth Meyers are The Meyers Family and Kurt Vile.
On a RERUNLilly Singh (from 11/26/19) are Brenda Song and Esther Povistky.
ABC starts the night with the infomercial 'Olaf's Frozen Adventure', followed by the infomercial 'Toy Story That Time Forgot', then the FRESH infomercial 'The Wonderful World Of Di$ney: Magical Holiday Celebration'.
On a RERUNJimmy Kimmel (from 11/17/20) are Michael B. Jordan, Alison Brie, and G-Eazy featuring Blackbear.
The CW offers 'Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life'.
Faux has a FRESH'Masked Singer', follwoed by a FRESH'I Can See Your Voice'.
MY recycles an old 'Dateline', followed by an old 'L&O: CI'.
AMC offers the movie 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation', followed by the movie 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation', again.
BBC -
[6:00AM] LIFE OF BRIAN
[8:00AM] THE PATRIOT
[11:30AM] THE GODFATHER
[3:30PM] THE GODFATHER, PART II
[8:00PM] THE GODFATHER
[12:00AM] THE GODFATHER, PART II
[4:30AM] THE GODFATHER, PART III (ALL TIMES ET)
Bravo has the movie 'Shrek', followed by the movie 'Shrek', again.
Comedy Central has an hour of old 'The Office', 3 hours of 'Schitt's Creek', and 'Jim Gaffigan: Noble Ape'.
The Daily Show is pre-empted.
FX has the movie 'Jurassic World', followed by the movie 'Juarssic World: Fallen Kingdom', then the movie 'Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle'.
History has 'Swamp People', 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion', another 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion', and still another 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion'.
IFC -
[6:00am] Baroness Von Sketch Show - Baby Toe Disease
[6:30am] Jackass: Number Two
[8:45am] Jackass 3.5
[10:45am] Jackass 3D
[1:00pm] RV
[3:00pm - 12:30am] Two And A Half Men
[1:00am - 5:30am] Parks And Recreation (ALL TIMES ET)
Sundance -
[6:00am - 8:00am] the andy griffith show
[8:30am] two mules for sister sara
[11:00am] high plains drifter
[1:30pm] the quick and the dead
[4:00pm] airplane!
[6:00pm] blazing saddles
[8:00pm] caddyshack
[10:00pm] caddyshack
[12:00am] blazing saddles
[2:00am] airplane!
[4:00am] law & order
[5:00am] law & order (ALL TIMES ET)
SyFy has the movie 'Maleficient', followed by the movie 'The Fifth Element'.
TBS:
On a RERUNConan (from 11/7/19) is Conan Without Borders: Ghana, with Sam Richardson.
Saturday Night Live is getting ready to wind down after a busy and unusual year and has set Jason Bateman, Timothée Chalamet and Kristen Wiig as its final three hosts of the year.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Morgan Wallen and Dua Lipa are set as the musical guests for the episodes, which will air December 5, 12 and 19, the show said Wednesday.
It marks the first time that Timothée Chalamet, who is set to star in Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, will host the show. Ozark star Bateman returns for his second hosting performance, while former cast member Wiig makes her fourth host appearance.
It also sees Wallen appear on the show after his invitation was yanked earlier this year when he flouted Covid-19 rules. Dua Lipa is returning for her second appearance, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform as musical guest for the third time.
Bateman and Wallen will appear on December 5, Chalamet and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will appear on December 12, and Wiig and Dua Lipa will appear December 19.
Late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek was left off the nominees list for the 2021 Grammy Awards, despite his memoir Alex Trebek–The Answer Is…receiving a nod in the Best Spoken Word Album category. Instead of Trebek, who died of pancreatic cancer on November 8, Ken Jennings received the nomination for Trebek’s memoir.
“This should 100% be Alex’s Grammy nomination. He wrote this book and reads much of the audiobook!,” the Jeopardy! champ said on Twitter following the nominations announcement Tuesday. “Who do I speak to about this.”
Trebek and Jennings both narrated the former’s memoir, published by Simon & Schuster. Despite the publisher submitting both the Jeopardy! host and champion, only Jennings received the nom. Jennings was among the industry figures to receive Grammy noms Tuesday, along with Jerry Seinfeld, Tiffany Haddish, Meryl Streep and others.
The news of Jennings’ Grammy nomination came less than two days after Jeopardy! officials announced that the trivia show GOAT will be the first guest host to take over the show when it returns to production November 30.
A leading Saudi women’s rights activist who’s been imprisoned for 2 1/2 years and drawn attention to the kingdom’s hard limits on dissent will be tried by a court established to oversee terrorism cases, her family said Wednesday.
The referral of Loujain al-Hathloul's case to the Specialized Criminal Court is a setback for efforts to push for her swift release and means she will face charges related to terrorism and national security. The court is notorious for its secretive nature. A range of cases are brought before the court under broadly worded counter-terrorism laws that criminalize acts such as insulting the government and “disobeying the ruler.”
According to a 53-page report released earlier this year by Amnesty International, the court has been used as “a weapon of repression” to imprison peaceful critics, activists, journalists, clerics and others. Amnesty International says it had documented numerous cases of trials held in secret before the court.
Al-Hathloul is among Saudi Arabia’s most prominent women’s rights activists. She was detained amid a sweeping crackdown spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has ushered in wide-ranging reforms but has simultaneously clamped down on activists who have long pushed for change.
She and around a dozen other prominent women's rights activists were arrested in May 2018 just weeks before Saudi Arabia lifted its decades-long ban on women driving. The women face vague national security charges related to their activism and communication with foreign journalists, Western diplomats and independent rights groups.
Al-Hathloul and the other Saudi women activists detained in 2018 — some of them mothers, grandmothers and professors — say they were physically and sexually abused while in detention by masked interrogators. The women say they were caned on their backs and thighs, electrocuted and waterboarded. Some women say they were forcibly touched and groped, made to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and threatened with rape and death. One of the women attempted suicide in prison.
Periods are a biological predisposition of being born a female, and the average female will spend more than 2,500 days, or roughly 7 years, of her life menstruating, but many women and girls around the world cannot afford period products. On Tuesday, Scotland became the first country to legislatively combat this issue by making menstrual products free in public facilities nationwide.
The Scottish Parliament confirmed in a tweet on Tuesday that the bill had passed unanimously. According to the parliament's website, the law requires the Scottish Government to set up a universal system so that anyone in need of period products can get them for free. Schools, colleges and universities will also be required to make free menstrual products available in restrooms. Local authorities and education providers will be responsible for ensuring free products are made available under the law.
There are roughly 1.57 million menstruating individuals in Scotland, according to the bill's associated financial memorandum. Based on that figure, it's estimated the new law will cost the Scottish government roughly £8.7 million in 2022/23, although the real cost will depend on how many individuals use the products made available.
The bill was introduced by Member of the Scottish Parliament Monica Lennon in April 2019. After the bill passed on Tuesday, she tweeted that it was "about bloody time."
In a document pushing for free period products that was published in 2017, Lennon explained the harsh realities of period poverty in Scotland and the rest of the U.K. She said rising levels of poverty in general in Scotland were forcing women to choose between buying food or menstrual products.
In the early weeks of the pandemic, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota enacted drastic measures to fend off the spread of the coronavirus across its stark and sprawling prairie land.
The tribe installed checkpoints in April on roadways cutting through the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation to limit drivers without official business — part of a robust contact tracing program.
Even as case numbers stayed low, tribal officials imposed a mask mandate over the summer and rolled out mass testing events. And after South Dakota logged a record number of infections this month, Frazier on Monday began a 10-day lockdown of Eagle Butte, the remote town where the tribe's headquarters are located.
The efforts are in sharp contrast to how South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has overseen the pandemic in her state of nearly 885,000 residents.
Noem has also criticized the checkpoints set up by the Cheyenne River Sioux, as well as other Native American tribes in the state. In May, she asked the Trump administration to help intervene in a compromise to allow checkpoints on tribal roads but not state and federal ones within reservations.
Two U.S. citizens have settled a lawsuit with Customs and Border Protection after they were detained by a Border Patrol agent who heard them speaking Spanish at a convenience store in Havre, Montana, and demanded that they show identification.
The monetary settlement was announced on Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of Ana Suda and Martha "Mimi" Hernandez, alleging their constitutional rights were violated.
The amount of the settlement was not disclosed at the request of the two women, said Cody Wofsy, a staff attorney with the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project in San Francisco.
The case shows that the attitudes of some agents in the Border Patrol are "completely out of step" with the growing number of Spanish speakers in all parts of the United States, Wofsy said.
A CBP spokesman said in a written statement that the settlement should not be construed as an "admission of liability or fault on the part of the United States.”
An Egyptian mummy that was decorated with a woman's portrait contained a surprise – the body of a child who was only 5 years old when she died.
Now, scientists have learned more about the mysterious girl and her burial, thanks to high-resolution scans and X-ray "microbeams" that targeted very small regions in the intact artifact.
Computed X-ray tomography (CT) scans of the mummy's teeth and femur confirmed the girl's age, though they showed no signs of trauma in her bones that could suggest the cause of her death.
Targeted, high-intensity X-rays also revealed a mysterious object that had been placed on the child's abdomen, scientists reported in a new study.
Scans performed on the mummy about two decades ago were low contrast, and many details were hard to see. For the new analysis, researchers conducted new CT scans to visualize the mummy's structure in its entirety.
Ants are pretty organised little creatures. Highly social insects, they know how to forage, build complicated nests, steal your pantry snacks, and generally look after the queens and the colony, all by working together.
Leaf-cutter ants turn that cooperation up several notches. Leaf-cutter ant colonies like Acromyrmex echinatior can contain millions of ants, split into four castes that all have different roles to maintain a garden of fungus that the ants eat.
These farming ants might make a top-tier team of gardeners, but that doesn't mean they don't get into the occasional scrap, and living in such large groups usually also means facing an increased risk of pathogens.
For these reasons, a little protection never goes astray, and although scientists aren't entirely sure why, it seems these little guys needed protection enough to evolve their own natural body armour.
A team led by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison analysed this 'whitish granular coating' on A. echinatior and came to the conclusion that the coating is a self-made biomineral body armour - the first known example in the insect world.
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said:
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
