from Bruce
Anecdotes
Activism
• In February 2011 protesters massed in Madison, Wisconsin, in response to Wisconsin’s union-busting governor, Scott Walker, a Republican, who gave massive tax cuts to businesses, then declared a fiscal emergency and tried to make ordinary employees be the ones to pay for the tax cuts. His way of doing that was to remove the collective bargaining rights of many public employees. According to New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, some public employees — the kind who tend to be Republicans — would still retain their collective bargaining rights. Being a protester means staying on the scene for long periods of time, and of course protesters get hungry. Ian’s Pizza in Madison, Wisconsin, received a request at 3:30 a.m., asking if it had any leftover pizza. It did, and so the hungry protesters got fed. Word got around that Ian’s Pizza had gone above and beyond what an ordinary place of business would probably do at 3:30 a.m., and soon orders flooded in from people who wanted to order pizzas to be given to the protesters — a way of showing support for them. On Saturday, February 19, Ian’s delivered more than 300 pizzas to the protesters. The calls to order pizzas for the protesters came from both near and far. The far places included Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the UK. Ian’s Facebook page thanked the people who wanted to feed the protesters and added, “Believe us when we say we are not really accustomed to getting pizza orders from the entire country (let alone internationally!)”
• When Joan Baez was 23 years old and already a successful folk singer, she publicly announced that she would no longer pay in federal income taxes the 60 percent that went to armaments. Of course, the federal government sent tax collectors to each of her concerts to get money to pay for its war machine, but at least Ms. Baez had made the government aware of her beliefs. (The government also had to spend money to collect the money — money that would otherwise have gone to armaments.)
• Feminist and riot grrrl Red Chidgey performed a notable piece of activism one Valentine’s Day. She set up a table as if for a dinner party complete with plates and silverware settings. On each plate she had written two things: 1) a myth of rape and 2) a reality of rape. The activism was successful: Many people worked their way around the table, reading each plate.
Actors
• When Bette Davis — not widely regarded as beautiful — first arrived in Hollywood, the official greeter did not meet her. Oh, the official greeter was at the train station, but as he explained later, “No one faintly like an actress got off the train.” By the way, Ms. Davis wanted to rise to the top of whatever field she was in and to be the best she could be. She once said, “If Hollywood didn’t work out, I was all prepared to be the best secretary in the world.”
• Comedian Bert Lahr worried about other actors trying to steal a scene from him, so when he was a star other performers were under orders not to move when he was speaking. Once, he complained to a theatrical producer that a certain actor had been moving, but the producer denied that. Mr. Lahr said, “You’re wrong. Tonight he was moving his facial muscles.”
• When Audrey Hepburn appeared as Eliza Doolittle in the movie version of My Fair Lady, she was made to appear dirty as the flower girl Eliza. Her costume was made to appear dirty, and it even appeared that she had dirt under her fingernails. However, Ms. Hepburn always insisted on wearing perfume although she was otherwise in character.
• Sometimes Tallulah Bankhead had a weak grasp of reality, as when she said, “Cocaine isn’t habit-forming. I should know — I’ve been using it for years.” At other times, she had a firm grasp of reality; for example, in her later years, when a fan asked if she was really the “famous Tallulah,” she replied, “What’s left of her.”
• While Bob Hope was filming The Road to Hong Kong, he met Zsa Zsa Gabor, who told him, “Bob, darlink, I understand that there is the most vonderful part in your picture for me.” Mr. Hope replied, “There sure is, honey. We’ll have it written tomorrow.” Then Mr. Hope told his writers to create a part for Ms. Gabor.
***
© Copyright Bruce D. Bruce; All Rights Reserved
***
Don’t Fear the Reaper — Free Downloads
Don’t Fear the Reaper — Apple
Don’t Fear the Reaper — Barnes and Noble
Don’t Fear the Reaper — Kobo
Don’t Fear the Reaper — Smashwords
Don’t Fear the Reaper — Can Be Read Online Here at No Cost: Smashwords Online Reader
NEW BLOG - davidbrucebooks: FREE PDFs
Presenting
Michael Egan
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
BRUCE'S RECOMMENDATION
BANDCAMP MUSIC
BRUCE'S RECOMMENDATION OF BANDCAMP MUSIC
Track: "Death Race"
EP: RAW AND ALIVE!
Artist: Los Grainders
Artist Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Info:
“Los Grainders are based in Southern Mexico City and deeply inspired by the California Culture of the mid-sixties and the magnificent Surf Sound developed using Fender electric instruments.”
Kahuna Cole, a fan, wrote, “A great surf band playing some great covers from other classic surf groups! Hang all ten toes over and enjoy the long ride!”
Price: $6 (USD) for seven-track EP: tracks cannot be purchased separately
Genre: Surf Instrumental
Links:
RAW AND ALIVE!
Los Grainders on Bandcamp
Emilio Nava on YouTube (Surf Videos)
Other Links:
Bruce’s Music Recommendations: FREE pdfs
David Bruce's Smashwords Page
David Bruce's Blog #1
David Bruce's Blog #2
davidbrucebooks: EDUCATE YOURSELF - Free PDFs
David Bruce's Blog #3
David Bruce's Apple iBookstore
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
New Venture
Michael Egan
Bonus Links
Jeannie the Teed-Off Temp
Reader Comment
Current Events
Linda >^..^<
We are all only temporarily able bodied.
Thanks, Linda!
that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
The last 2 appointees to the SCOTUS, an accused rapist and the handmaid rated unqualified by the Bar Association, were selected by a failed gameshow host who tried to violently overthrow the government.
Perhaps they should sit this one out.
Dona nobis fuck'em.
Has Covid, Names Fill-In Host
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel announced this morning via Twitter that he has Covid and will be stepping away from his hosting duties on Jimmy Kimmel Live for a few days until he is in the clear.
Kimmel said his daughter brought the virus home and that everyone in his family are feeling fine. Comedian Mike Birbiglia, who was to guest on the show Tuesday, will be filling in for him while he’s on the mend.
Kimmel: Our daughter brought us covid (even though we specifically asked her not to) All feeling fine, I am double vaxxed and boosted but the show must not go on. Apologies to @TomCruise & @iliza and thanks to Mike Birbiglia @birbigs who’ll be filling in for me starting tomorrow night
It seems that was news to Birbiglia, who retweeted Kimmel and quipped, “I must be the first person to ever deplane a Southwest Airlines flight and find out they’re guest-hosting a late night talk show.”
Jimmy Kimmel
Postage Stamp Campaign
Edward Gorey
The "Doubtful Guest" peeking out from your letters? Maybe a mysterious black-cloaked “Mystery!” figure standing watch over the address? Or a top-hatted skeleton gazing out at creditors?
That type of artwork by Edward Gorey could potentially be stuck on letters, cards, bills and solicitations all over the country, if supporters are successful in convincing the U.S. Postal Service that the late Yarmouth Port illustrator and writer should get his own stamp.
The ideal timing would be 2025, marking what would have been Gorey’s 100th birthday.
The campaign to convince federal officials of that was launched on Gorey’s Feb. 22 birthday (the palindromic 2/22/22) in the first joint project by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust in New York City and the Edward Gorey House museum that's in his former 8 Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth Port residence.
The webpage has links to Gorey’s biography and accomplishments to help writers determine what to include
Edward Gorey
Sheriff Makes Point For Him
John Oliver
Sunday on Last Week Tonight, John Oliver tore into Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is facing an election this year amid allegations of secret deputy gangs, abuse of power and cover ups in his department — all of which Villanueva denies.
Said Oliver, “His re-election bid this year has been overshadowed by claims in the L.A. Times that he directed a cover-up of an incident where one of his deputies knelt on a detainee’s head for three minutes. It is a damning story about abuse of power and lack of transparency, and Villanueva took swift action against those responsible…for everyone finding out about it.”
Oliver is referring to a news conference Villanueva called last week to blast a variety of his opponents both political and perceived, including election challenger Eli Vera, county Inspector General Max Huntsman and Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian, who broke an explosive story of an altercation involving deputies’ mistreatment of a handcuffed inmate. Villanueva alleged at the news conference that the Times piece was potentially based on information stolen from the department. He listed six potential crimes involved, including burglary, theft and conspiracy.
“OK, when you’re accused of being complicit in a terrible act, being more concerned about who said it than the accusation doesn’t exactly convey innocence,” said Oliver.
Today, Villanueva doubled down on his assessment when asked if he thought the leak was worse than the conduct on display in the video.
John Oliver
Soba Noodles
Japan
Ryu Ishihara will soon be raising prices on his inexpensive bowls of soba noodles for the first time in nearly a decade, as rising costs and Russia's invasion of Ukraine take an unlikely toll on Japan's beloved buckwheat noodles.
Though seen as one of the most quintessential of Japanese foods - and eaten on New Year's Eve for good luck - a good part of the buckwheat that goes into the noodles comes from Russia, globally the top buckwheat producer.
Russian buckwheat can still be imported, but instability and shipping disruptions have hampered and delayed procurement. That has added to the pain for soba shop owners such as Ishihara who are already suffering as a global surge in commodity prices, coupled with the yen's plunge, has sent prices climbing.
Ishihara's prices run from 290 yen ($2.25) up to 550 yen, with add-ons such as tempura and sets with rice costing more.
Japan
Population Fell Again
California
California's population declined again in 2021 for the second consecutive year, state officials said Monday, the result of a slowdown in births and immigration coupled with an increase in deaths and people leaving the state.
With an estimated 39,185,605 residents, California is still the U.S.'s most populous state, putting it far ahead of second-place Texas and its 29.5 million residents. But after years of strong growth brought California tantalizingly close to the 40 million milestone, the state's population is now roughly back to where it was in 2016 after declining by 117,552 people this year.
California's population growth had been slowing even before the pandemic as baby boomers' aged, younger generations were having fewer children and more people were moving to other states. But the state's natural growth — more births than deaths — and its robust international immigration had been more than enough to offset those losses.
That changed in 2020, when the pandemic killed tens of thousands of people above what would be expected from natural causes, a category demographers refer to as “excess deaths.” And it prompted a sharp decline in international immigration because of travel restrictions and limited visas from the federal government.
California
Maria Tallchief
A bronze statue depicting one of Oklahoma’s most famous Native American ballerinas was cut from its base outside a Tulsa museum and sold for scrap to a recycling company, authorities said Monday.
Museum officials say the Five Moons statue of Marjorie Tallchief was likely removed Thursday from its plinth outside the Tulsa Historical Society, the Tulsa World reported.
Museum officials received a call Monday from CMC Recycling in southwest Rogers County to identify what was believed to be pieces of the bronze statue, the newspaper reported.
Pieces of the statute, including the head and part of an arm, are still missing.
The other Five Moons statues of renowned American Indian ballerinas depict Yvonne Chouteau, Rosella Hightower, Moscelyne Larkin and Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief’s sister.
Maria Tallchief
Bound For Alaska
Bees
Millions of bees bound for Alaska died on a Delta Air Lines flight after the plane was left on the tarmac in Atlanta, Georgia, following a diversion.
Alaska Public Media (APM) reported on Wednesday that a Delta plane carrying a shipment of around 5 million bees bound for Anchorage, Alaska, was forced to reroute to Atlanta. Most of the bees died in the Georgia city.
The shipment of 200 crates, ordered by Sarah McElrea of Sarah's Alaska Honey on behalf of 300 Alaskan beekeepers, carried 800 pounds of bees and was worth an estimated $48,000.
The crates had been due to travel from Sacramento, California, to Anchorage Airport via Seattle, Washington. But the bees did not fit on the Seattle-bound flight and were instead rerouted through the Delta hub in Atlanta.
Delta told McElrea the bees would have to wait in a cooler last Saturday but they were transferred to the tarmac the next day over fears the bees were escaping. McElrea told APM the temperature in Atlanta was 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the day they were left there.
Bees
Brightest-Ever Pulsar Outside Our Galaxy
PSR J0523-7125
Scientists have detected the brightest pulsar ever observed outside the Milky Way, revealing the true identity of a far-off luminous object previously mistaken for a distant galaxy.
Pulsars are incredibly dense neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation from their poles.
Due to the way these objects rapidly rotate, their high-energy emissions appear as short, periodic pulses when observed from elsewhere in space, kind of like a cosmic lighthouse glimpsed intermittently from afar.
The newly found pulsar – called PSR J0523-7125 – represents the much rarer discovery of an extra-galactic pulsar, located well beyond the limits of the Milky Way, in this case within the Large Magellanic Cloud.
PSR J0523-7125
| CURRENT MOON lunar phases |
