The National Champion Tennessee Lady Vols had all five starters picked in the WNBA draft this morning.
__1st - Candace Parker
__4th - Alexis Hornbuckle
_15th - Shannon Bobbitt
_16th - Nickie Anosike
_35th - Alberta Auguste
The Champs had two regular season losses, to Stanford and LSU.
The Lady Vols defeated LSU in the SEC tournament and again, in
the NCAA semifinals, 47-46. They avenged the loss to Stanford
in the Championship Game by a decisive 64-48.
Tennessee has been National Champions eight times:
1987
1989
1991
1996
1997
1998
2007
2008
Congratulations, Lady Vols!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Soliloqy
Knowing that Forrest was already AARP-eligible when he made his now-famous call to Nashville Now in the mid-`80's, knowing that he had later moved from his home in Port Charlotte, Florida, to a long-term care facility across the bay in Punta Gorda, and thinking, based upon information given to me by a FEMA Regional Director that Forrest had expired in Hurricane Andrew, it was a true surprise when I finally met him, in person last week at one of the local Tributes to Dan Fogelberg, held at Opryland Hotel.
One of the tributes was attended by celebrities plus anyone who could prove attendance at either the April, 1985, Nashville debut of Dan's High Country Snows album at the Opryhouse or the live Nashville Now TV show hosted by Jimmy Buffet that same week.
Although I never attended either, I do have one of the two original video tapes of the Nashville Now airing, which I have viewed many times, and I have a bootleg cassette tape of the concert at the Opry House, which has entertained me on many road trips. I gained attendance by answering all the screeners' questions properly. About halfway through one of the tributes, a clip of Forrest's phone call was played, and, as always, there was hearty laughter from the crowd. After that clip, Jimmy said something to the effect of "Now, hold on everybody; we've got a real treat for you tonight. All the way from Port Charlotte, please welcome Forrest Mankin!" The crowd went wild as the elderly, but far from frail, 92-year-old Forrest took the microphone, and said, after the cheering died down, "I still don't know what Dan's favorite song was that he wrote ..... otherwise." You couldn't have heard an atom bomb drop for the laughter and raucious cheering. More laughter followed as Jimmy added: "..but you did learn that Dan's favorite Dan Haggerty song was the theme song from Grizzly Adams - right?"
Then Jimmy read a few facts about Forrest and Port Charlotte, then asked, "Well, Forrest, tell us what you've been doing for the past twenty years." Forrest straightened himself, cleared his throat politely, and began to talk slowly:
"I've been suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune, sleeping, dreaming, bearing the whips and scorns of time, grunting and sweating under a weary life, and, maybe worst of all, bearing fardels."
Quiet, scattered laughter, then quiet polite applause.
Jimmy: "Fardels?" More laughter, louder this time.
Forrest: "Fardels; bearing fardels." More pockets of laughter.
Pause.
Jimmy: "I guess maybe more cheese and less beans?" Roaring laughter, wild applause.
Jimmy: "We gotta go to a commercial. Everbody run google "fardels" and the first person to call in with an explanation of "fardels" wins a pair of ugly green marsh boots.
[commercial]
==================================
==================================
For the blog readers who might not be as educated
or well-read as Forrest, er, ah, rather, as the person
who wrote his script for his response to Jimmy's
inquiry as to what he had been doing for twenty years,
we include below a snippet from Hamlet, Act III, Scene I:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action. - Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.
One of the tributes was attended by celebrities plus anyone who could prove attendance at either the April, 1985, Nashville debut of Dan's High Country Snows album at the Opryhouse or the live Nashville Now TV show hosted by Jimmy Buffet that same week.
Although I never attended either, I do have one of the two original video tapes of the Nashville Now airing, which I have viewed many times, and I have a bootleg cassette tape of the concert at the Opry House, which has entertained me on many road trips. I gained attendance by answering all the screeners' questions properly. About halfway through one of the tributes, a clip of Forrest's phone call was played, and, as always, there was hearty laughter from the crowd. After that clip, Jimmy said something to the effect of "Now, hold on everybody; we've got a real treat for you tonight. All the way from Port Charlotte, please welcome Forrest Mankin!" The crowd went wild as the elderly, but far from frail, 92-year-old Forrest took the microphone, and said, after the cheering died down, "I still don't know what Dan's favorite song was that he wrote ..... otherwise." You couldn't have heard an atom bomb drop for the laughter and raucious cheering. More laughter followed as Jimmy added: "..but you did learn that Dan's favorite Dan Haggerty song was the theme song from Grizzly Adams - right?"
Then Jimmy read a few facts about Forrest and Port Charlotte, then asked, "Well, Forrest, tell us what you've been doing for the past twenty years." Forrest straightened himself, cleared his throat politely, and began to talk slowly:
"I've been suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune, sleeping, dreaming, bearing the whips and scorns of time, grunting and sweating under a weary life, and, maybe worst of all, bearing fardels."
Quiet, scattered laughter, then quiet polite applause.
Jimmy: "Fardels?" More laughter, louder this time.
Forrest: "Fardels; bearing fardels." More pockets of laughter.
Pause.
Jimmy: "I guess maybe more cheese and less beans?" Roaring laughter, wild applause.
Jimmy: "We gotta go to a commercial. Everbody run google "fardels" and the first person to call in with an explanation of "fardels" wins a pair of ugly green marsh boots.
[commercial]
==================================
==================================
For the blog readers who might not be as educated
or well-read as Forrest, er, ah, rather, as the person
who wrote his script for his response to Jimmy's
inquiry as to what he had been doing for twenty years,
we include below a snippet from Hamlet, Act III, Scene I:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action. - Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Frankie and the Aliens
Ever heard of Frankie and the Aliens? First time I read about them was in about 1991, five years after the band ceased to exist. The band toured for a while in Colorado playing the blues, and there were no professional recordings. Surely, surely, somebody out there bootlegged a show with Dan Fogelberg as Frankie and Joe Vitale and other band members as the Aliens. I'd love to hear it. When one Googles "Frankie and the Aliens", this is all the world-wide-web has to offer:
Rocky Mountain News tribute, upon Dan's death -
Fogelberg was greatly misunderstood as a musician and songwriter. He knew he possessed a talent for writing ballads, the kind that had the ability to endure and connect with a certain segment of radio audiences. But behind it all was a talented musician who enjoyed edgy rock and roll and gritty blues. Recording the ballads he wrote afforded him the chance to live a life of solitude in both Colorado and Maine, skiing and sailing during the day and recording the music he loved at night in his home studio. Fogelberg was amazingly versatile, playing every instrument and delving into most every genre of music, including classical and bluegrass. But I think it was the blues which moved him the most. He toured regionally during the 80's with a band of friends called Frankie and the Aliens. It was a straight up blues band featuring covers of songs by Cream and Muddy Waters. It found Fogelberg in his element. I asked him about it during an interview, why he hadn't recorded a complete album of blues. He answered "You know how you make a million dollars with a blues album, don't you? ". "Start with two million" he finished. Good point. So, for him, it was back to writing the ballads. He later released a live record called "Something Old, Something Borrowed and some Blues " which was as close to Frankie and the Aliens as he got. One listen to the song "Statesboro Blues" and you'll never view the man who wrote "Longer" quite the same way.
--------------------------------
From Dan's official site Biography page:
Though his professional life was in great shape, his private life was darkened by the recent breakup of his first marriage. Drummer Joe Vitale said to him, "God, spare me, don't go home and write the ultimate divorce album." Dan promised that he wouldn't, and then proceeded to do just that, spilling all of his pain into the songs that provided the foundation for his Exiles album. He also let off a lot of steam by playing little Colorado bars in a good time rock and roll band he formed with Vitale called Frankie and The Aliens. Having shaved off his famous beard, he went virtually unrecognized, allowing him to reconnect with the spirit of pure anonymous fun he knew when first playing rock and roll in Peoria.
=================================
Lowen and Navarro Discussion Board entry:
I last saw Dan Fogelberg at WolfTrap in I think in 2003. It was the first night of that tour and it was a great, great concert. He could have played all night, but WolfTrap has an 11 PM curfew. I also saw him in the mid-80’s in Denver when he did a few shows performing as Frankie and the Aliens. I think that’s what the name was – and it was a blues band. I also loved the music he did with flutist TimWeisberg. Really talented guy. How sad.
----------------------------------------------------------
From a Living Legacy fan letter:
Dan, Do you remember playing the Rainbow Music Hall in Denver as Frankie and the Aliens? The concert was almost over before my friend and I realized you were Frankie - we could hardly believe it! And then you said something about playing something other than that "sugary stuff" (or something to that effect) and my friend burst into tears. I loved it. Seeing you play so many times at Red Rocks and at the opening of the Buell Theater - you opened yourself to reveal the human themes of love, loss, anger, joy, wonder that are within us all. Through your music I learned more about myself, which is the gift that all great poets, songwriters, musicians, and other artists can give. I count your music to be among the greatest gifts I have ever received, and will always hold you in the highest esteem.
----------------------------------------------------
Another Living Legacy fan letter:
Dear Dan, I am one of those your music has touched very deeply. I was in high school in Aurora, Colorado when a friend of mine told me, "Did you know Dan Fogelberg wrote a song about you?" It was "Nether Lands." It truly touched my soul. I never missed a Red Rocks performance after that. I also saw you at McNichols, and the Rainbow as Frankie and the Aliens. I enjoyed when you came out at Red Rocks as another band before your show. Your music, all of it, has meant a lot to me over the years.You are my favorite artist. I wish you the best and send you lots of love.
==========================================
from Murmurs (a discussion board) -
A sad day indeed. While Dan had numerous radio friendly hits, it was the other lesser known songs that I liked the best. His performances whether in a large arena or a 500 seat hall were always sincere and passionate. He had an undying love for the blues that most fans didn't know. He had a short tour in the mid eighties where he played nothing but blues music under the name Frankie and the Aliens much to the disdain of the fans who wanted to hear "Longer". What a talent and his bluegrass album was sensational. Thanks for the great memories Dan. - Jerry
Jerry, I couldn't agree more Jerry, that his lesser know stuff was the best. Captured Angel is my all time fave. I did not know about his blues tour. I'll have to research that, is there a recording somewhere? It was during his tour for High Country Snows (the bluegrass album) that I got the chance to meet him. I will never forget it. He had a presence! Thanks for your reply. - Annie
Annie, No known recordings of Frankie and the Aliens I could find, however, I did not search with much fervor. Captured Angel is my fave as well. "The Last Nail" hits home. (no pun). I'm glad you got to meet him. I was just able to tell him 'great show' once and he responded generously. Listening to the older stuff last night was so bittersweet. And it still sounds fresh and timeless. My biased opinion perhaps. Have a pleasant day. - Jerry
===================
el semenal digital -
Realizó sus primeros escarceos en grupos de pubertad: The Clan, a los catorce años, The Coachmen, con los que llegó a editar un par de sencillos en Ledger Records. Transitó por la banda de blues Frankie and the Aliens , que le dejaría cierta huella en grabaciones y actuaciones posteriores (Greetings From The West y Something Old, New, Borrowed and Some Blues)
================================
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
================================
That's all the web has to offer.
In 1987, Dan released Exiles, his divorce album. It was a different project, and, after a while, I began to believe that Dan had stopped recording for commercial distribution. Several factors led me to this belief, including, but not limited to:
(1) Exiles' final track, on LP and cassette, was "The Last Farewell", and he went so long without a new project, I thought that was his last farewell. It would be three years until another release, and Dan had never made his fans wait that long.
(2) His solo acoustic tour, Summer of `88, was the best concert I ever saw. I knew when I was experiencing it, and I knew when I left it, there would never be a better concert by anyone, anywhere. So far, I've been right.
As a result of thinking Dan had ceased to issue recordings to the public, I began to put together projects of my own mixing/finagling of Dan's work, including both studio and concert (bootleg) recordings.
The first was "Soaring with Eagles", which included all Dan's songs on which members of the Eagles sang backup.
One of the projects was "Blues and Bluegrass", with Blues on one side and hard-driving bluegrass on the other.
My current project will be called "Frankie and the Aliens" and some of the songs will be:
1. Road Beneath My Wheels
2. Nature of the Game
3. Over and Over Again
4. Don't Let that Sun Go Down
(Chattanooga bluesy version)
5. Statesboro Blues
6. Blow Wind Blow
7. What You're Doin'
8. Rhythm of the Rain
(Live bluesy version)
9. She Don't Look Back
10. Holy Road
11. What in the World
12. All Night Long
13. Layla
14. Can't Find My Way Home
(Hartford, `82)
15. Merry Christmas, Baby
and, of course,
16. The All Night Laundry Mat Blues
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Dan Fogelberg had a voice, and a stratocaster, made for the blues.
Lots of people write "I miss Dan."
So far, I don't. The music is still there. As long as the music's there, Dan's there too.
Rocky Mountain News tribute, upon Dan's death -
Fogelberg was greatly misunderstood as a musician and songwriter. He knew he possessed a talent for writing ballads, the kind that had the ability to endure and connect with a certain segment of radio audiences. But behind it all was a talented musician who enjoyed edgy rock and roll and gritty blues. Recording the ballads he wrote afforded him the chance to live a life of solitude in both Colorado and Maine, skiing and sailing during the day and recording the music he loved at night in his home studio. Fogelberg was amazingly versatile, playing every instrument and delving into most every genre of music, including classical and bluegrass. But I think it was the blues which moved him the most. He toured regionally during the 80's with a band of friends called Frankie and the Aliens. It was a straight up blues band featuring covers of songs by Cream and Muddy Waters. It found Fogelberg in his element. I asked him about it during an interview, why he hadn't recorded a complete album of blues. He answered "You know how you make a million dollars with a blues album, don't you? ". "Start with two million" he finished. Good point. So, for him, it was back to writing the ballads. He later released a live record called "Something Old, Something Borrowed and some Blues " which was as close to Frankie and the Aliens as he got. One listen to the song "Statesboro Blues" and you'll never view the man who wrote "Longer" quite the same way.
--------------------------------
From Dan's official site Biography page:
Though his professional life was in great shape, his private life was darkened by the recent breakup of his first marriage. Drummer Joe Vitale said to him, "God, spare me, don't go home and write the ultimate divorce album." Dan promised that he wouldn't, and then proceeded to do just that, spilling all of his pain into the songs that provided the foundation for his Exiles album. He also let off a lot of steam by playing little Colorado bars in a good time rock and roll band he formed with Vitale called Frankie and The Aliens. Having shaved off his famous beard, he went virtually unrecognized, allowing him to reconnect with the spirit of pure anonymous fun he knew when first playing rock and roll in Peoria.
=================================
Lowen and Navarro Discussion Board entry:
I last saw Dan Fogelberg at WolfTrap in I think in 2003. It was the first night of that tour and it was a great, great concert. He could have played all night, but WolfTrap has an 11 PM curfew. I also saw him in the mid-80’s in Denver when he did a few shows performing as Frankie and the Aliens. I think that’s what the name was – and it was a blues band. I also loved the music he did with flutist TimWeisberg. Really talented guy. How sad.
----------------------------------------------------------
From a Living Legacy fan letter:
Dan, Do you remember playing the Rainbow Music Hall in Denver as Frankie and the Aliens? The concert was almost over before my friend and I realized you were Frankie - we could hardly believe it! And then you said something about playing something other than that "sugary stuff" (or something to that effect) and my friend burst into tears. I loved it. Seeing you play so many times at Red Rocks and at the opening of the Buell Theater - you opened yourself to reveal the human themes of love, loss, anger, joy, wonder that are within us all. Through your music I learned more about myself, which is the gift that all great poets, songwriters, musicians, and other artists can give. I count your music to be among the greatest gifts I have ever received, and will always hold you in the highest esteem.
----------------------------------------------------
Another Living Legacy fan letter:
Dear Dan, I am one of those your music has touched very deeply. I was in high school in Aurora, Colorado when a friend of mine told me, "Did you know Dan Fogelberg wrote a song about you?" It was "Nether Lands." It truly touched my soul. I never missed a Red Rocks performance after that. I also saw you at McNichols, and the Rainbow as Frankie and the Aliens. I enjoyed when you came out at Red Rocks as another band before your show. Your music, all of it, has meant a lot to me over the years.You are my favorite artist. I wish you the best and send you lots of love.
==========================================
from Murmurs (a discussion board) -
A sad day indeed. While Dan had numerous radio friendly hits, it was the other lesser known songs that I liked the best. His performances whether in a large arena or a 500 seat hall were always sincere and passionate. He had an undying love for the blues that most fans didn't know. He had a short tour in the mid eighties where he played nothing but blues music under the name Frankie and the Aliens much to the disdain of the fans who wanted to hear "Longer". What a talent and his bluegrass album was sensational. Thanks for the great memories Dan. - Jerry
Jerry, I couldn't agree more Jerry, that his lesser know stuff was the best. Captured Angel is my all time fave. I did not know about his blues tour. I'll have to research that, is there a recording somewhere? It was during his tour for High Country Snows (the bluegrass album) that I got the chance to meet him. I will never forget it. He had a presence! Thanks for your reply. - Annie
Annie, No known recordings of Frankie and the Aliens I could find, however, I did not search with much fervor. Captured Angel is my fave as well. "The Last Nail" hits home. (no pun). I'm glad you got to meet him. I was just able to tell him 'great show' once and he responded generously. Listening to the older stuff last night was so bittersweet. And it still sounds fresh and timeless. My biased opinion perhaps. Have a pleasant day. - Jerry
===================
el semenal digital -
Realizó sus primeros escarceos en grupos de pubertad: The Clan, a los catorce años, The Coachmen, con los que llegó a editar un par de sencillos en Ledger Records. Transitó por la banda de blues Frankie and the Aliens , que le dejaría cierta huella en grabaciones y actuaciones posteriores (Greetings From The West y Something Old, New, Borrowed and Some Blues)
================================
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
================================
That's all the web has to offer.
In 1987, Dan released Exiles, his divorce album. It was a different project, and, after a while, I began to believe that Dan had stopped recording for commercial distribution. Several factors led me to this belief, including, but not limited to:
(1) Exiles' final track, on LP and cassette, was "The Last Farewell", and he went so long without a new project, I thought that was his last farewell. It would be three years until another release, and Dan had never made his fans wait that long.
(2) His solo acoustic tour, Summer of `88, was the best concert I ever saw. I knew when I was experiencing it, and I knew when I left it, there would never be a better concert by anyone, anywhere. So far, I've been right.
As a result of thinking Dan had ceased to issue recordings to the public, I began to put together projects of my own mixing/finagling of Dan's work, including both studio and concert (bootleg) recordings.
The first was "Soaring with Eagles", which included all Dan's songs on which members of the Eagles sang backup.
One of the projects was "Blues and Bluegrass", with Blues on one side and hard-driving bluegrass on the other.
My current project will be called "Frankie and the Aliens" and some of the songs will be:
1. Road Beneath My Wheels
2. Nature of the Game
3. Over and Over Again
4. Don't Let that Sun Go Down
(Chattanooga bluesy version)
5. Statesboro Blues
6. Blow Wind Blow
7. What You're Doin'
8. Rhythm of the Rain
(Live bluesy version)
9. She Don't Look Back
10. Holy Road
11. What in the World
12. All Night Long
13. Layla
14. Can't Find My Way Home
(Hartford, `82)
15. Merry Christmas, Baby
and, of course,
16. The All Night Laundry Mat Blues
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Dan Fogelberg had a voice, and a stratocaster, made for the blues.
Lots of people write "I miss Dan."
So far, I don't. The music is still there. As long as the music's there, Dan's there too.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Parker had something to prove
Candace Parker, the 4.0 academic average student, graduating after her Junior year of eligibility, and the 2006-2007 NCAA women's Player of the Year, was snubbed by SEC coaches who voted Sylvia Fowles of LSU as the SEC Player of the Year for 2007-2008. When asked about the vote, Candace replied: "Right now, we're all about winning the SEC championship. There's nothing subjective about that, and I'm not worried about who the other coaches voted for as player of the year. If we win the championship on the court, no one can argue with that."
Tonight, #2 seed Tennessee played #1 seed LSU on a neutral court. I watched as much of the game as I could. There were 16 lead changes and 5 ties during the game. With less than 4 minutes left in the game and LSU leading 54-51, my patient called, and I trotted dutifully down the hall to do what needed to be done. When I returned, the game was over, and the channel had picked up another game. In the final three or so minutes while I was away from the TV, the Lady Vols outscored the Bengalettes 10-2 to win the game and the SEC tourney championship by 61-56.
The head-to-head stats for this year's SEC player of the year Fowles and last year's player of the year Parker:
Field Goals: Parker 12-22=54.5% Fowles 9-17=52.9%
Free Throws: Parker 4-8=50% Fowles 1-4=25%
Offensive Rebound Baskets: Parker 1, Fowles 0
Rebounds: Fowles 10, Parker 6
Assists: Parker 1, Fowles 0
Fouls: Parker 1, Fowles 3
Points: Parker 28, Fowles 19
Turnovers: Parker 3, Fowles 5
Blocked Shots: Parker 3, Fowles 2
Steals: Parker 3, Fowles 1
Both athletes had a fine night. Parker had an edge in statistics overall, but Fowles was unstoppable when she got the ball under the basket.
LSU won the regular season with a 14-0 record. Tennessee was 13-1 with a home loss to LSU.
Tonight, #2 seed Tennessee played #1 seed LSU on a neutral court. I watched as much of the game as I could. There were 16 lead changes and 5 ties during the game. With less than 4 minutes left in the game and LSU leading 54-51, my patient called, and I trotted dutifully down the hall to do what needed to be done. When I returned, the game was over, and the channel had picked up another game. In the final three or so minutes while I was away from the TV, the Lady Vols outscored the Bengalettes 10-2 to win the game and the SEC tourney championship by 61-56.
The head-to-head stats for this year's SEC player of the year Fowles and last year's player of the year Parker:
Field Goals: Parker 12-22=54.5% Fowles 9-17=52.9%
Free Throws: Parker 4-8=50% Fowles 1-4=25%
Offensive Rebound Baskets: Parker 1, Fowles 0
Rebounds: Fowles 10, Parker 6
Assists: Parker 1, Fowles 0
Fouls: Parker 1, Fowles 3
Points: Parker 28, Fowles 19
Turnovers: Parker 3, Fowles 5
Blocked Shots: Parker 3, Fowles 2
Steals: Parker 3, Fowles 1
Both athletes had a fine night. Parker had an edge in statistics overall, but Fowles was unstoppable when she got the ball under the basket.
LSU won the regular season with a 14-0 record. Tennessee was 13-1 with a home loss to LSU.
SEC Women's Player of the Year
Congratulations to SYLVIA FOWLES of LSU, named, by a vote of SEC coaches, as the SEC women's player of the year. Broad Beam's Basketball Bulletin had named Candace Parker of Tennessee as player of the year with Bonner of Auburn placing second. Fowles was third. The editor explained to me that the staff of BBBB generally bases its player of the year votes on (1) statistics and (2) team MVP considerations. Based purely on statistics, the vote would have been Parker, Bonner and Fowles 1-2-3, but perhaps the time-honored publication failed to consider this:
For years and years, well, forever, in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee seems to win all the awards. Year after year after year, it's Tennessee. Seven national titles, too many SEC titles and Coach of the Year awards to tally on my computer, and a whole bunch of Player of the Year awards. I guess this phenomenon, this year, is sort of like the Heisman Trophy (formerly an award to be cherished) situation the year Peyton Manning of Tennessee seemed to be a hands-down favorite. Peyton had all the statistics and all the MVP considerations, yet the Heisman voters had, for some time, been maligned for never giving the award to a defensive player. Pretty much as the result of one spectacular performance on a nationally-televised game, Charles Woodson was awarded the Heisman. Manning went on to receive every other player of the year award in football, and, frankly, it is disappointing, but true, the Heisman lost most of its luster that day. Manning had won awards as a freshman, a sophomore, a junior and throughout the year as a senior, but he was riding the wrong bubble on that wave of history.
This year, in SEC Women's basketball, LSU was undefeated in SEC play and Tennessee lost one. The Lady Vols had (have) a better overall record, but one horrible night can just about ruin a season for awards, if its as bad as the night the Lady Vols had when LSU came to town. In a situation which still seems unimaginable, the Bengal Tigerettes came into Knoxville and trailed the Lady Vols by 21-2 at one point. That's when I turned the game off and did something else. Ho-hum. Another Tennessee home blowout of a nationally-ranked opponent really seemed old hat - I've seen it so many times before - and I wanted to spend my time elsewise. Imagine my disbelief when I read the morning paper's account of a double-digit blowout of the Lady Vols on their home court.
Biggest Meltdown in Basketball History? I don't know, but I still wonder what happened. Oh, yeah, I read the account in the paper, but I still can't figure out how a super-talented team could lose a 19-point lead and lose by double digits at home!
That game resulted in LSU's having the player of the year and the coach of the year, and, frankly, I think I can understand the coaches voted the way they did.
The statistics with all games, and SEC games, if different than all games:
(from official SEC statistics, Atlanta Constitution - Top 15 in all categories)
1. Parker, 2. Bonner, 3. Fowles - Scoring
1. Parker, 2. Bonner, 4. Fowles - SEC Scoring
1. Bonner, 2. Fowles, 5. Parker - Rebounds
1. Fowles, 2. Parker, 5. Bonner - Field Goal Pct.
2. Bonner, 6. Parker, 8. Fowles - Free Throw Pct.
3. Bonner, 11. Parker, 12. Fowles - SEC Free Throw Pct.
7. Parker, 12. Bonner - Steals (Fowles unranked)
5. Parker, 10. Bonner - SEC Steaks (Fowles unranked)
1. Parker, 5. Fowles, 11. Bonner - Blocked shots
2. Parker, 3. Fowles, 6. Bonner - SEC Blocked shots
13. Parker - SEC Assists (Bonner and Fowles unranked)
In the BBBB statistical individual player power ratings, where 11 is the top possible score
and in which 100 is the top RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), the three rank as follows:
Parker - 16 (95 RPI)
Bonner - 22 (89 RPI)
Fowles - 27 (84 RPI)
From blogs and boards, readers will find that Tennessee fans are disgruntled and the rest of the SEC fans are pleased with the selection of Fowles as player of the year. Sylvia was also named defensive player of the year, and so many times, statistics are geared heavily towards offensive statistics, so the RPI ratings above are not automatically indicative of the best player in the SEC. One thing we do know for sure is that tonight at the Sommet Center in Nashville (not the Summit in Knoxville where LSU already won decisivelly), #2-seeded Tennessee and #1-seeded regular season conference champ LSU square off for the tournament championship, and we can all see for ourselves who's the best, at least for this one game! Tennessee fans are accustomed to being #1 in the country, but, Vols, you can't be #1 in the country if you're only #2 in your conference.
Or can you?
For years and years, well, forever, in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee seems to win all the awards. Year after year after year, it's Tennessee. Seven national titles, too many SEC titles and Coach of the Year awards to tally on my computer, and a whole bunch of Player of the Year awards. I guess this phenomenon, this year, is sort of like the Heisman Trophy (formerly an award to be cherished) situation the year Peyton Manning of Tennessee seemed to be a hands-down favorite. Peyton had all the statistics and all the MVP considerations, yet the Heisman voters had, for some time, been maligned for never giving the award to a defensive player. Pretty much as the result of one spectacular performance on a nationally-televised game, Charles Woodson was awarded the Heisman. Manning went on to receive every other player of the year award in football, and, frankly, it is disappointing, but true, the Heisman lost most of its luster that day. Manning had won awards as a freshman, a sophomore, a junior and throughout the year as a senior, but he was riding the wrong bubble on that wave of history.
This year, in SEC Women's basketball, LSU was undefeated in SEC play and Tennessee lost one. The Lady Vols had (have) a better overall record, but one horrible night can just about ruin a season for awards, if its as bad as the night the Lady Vols had when LSU came to town. In a situation which still seems unimaginable, the Bengal Tigerettes came into Knoxville and trailed the Lady Vols by 21-2 at one point. That's when I turned the game off and did something else. Ho-hum. Another Tennessee home blowout of a nationally-ranked opponent really seemed old hat - I've seen it so many times before - and I wanted to spend my time elsewise. Imagine my disbelief when I read the morning paper's account of a double-digit blowout of the Lady Vols on their home court.
Biggest Meltdown in Basketball History? I don't know, but I still wonder what happened. Oh, yeah, I read the account in the paper, but I still can't figure out how a super-talented team could lose a 19-point lead and lose by double digits at home!
That game resulted in LSU's having the player of the year and the coach of the year, and, frankly, I think I can understand the coaches voted the way they did.
The statistics with all games, and SEC games, if different than all games:
(from official SEC statistics, Atlanta Constitution - Top 15 in all categories)
1. Parker, 2. Bonner, 3. Fowles - Scoring
1. Parker, 2. Bonner, 4. Fowles - SEC Scoring
1. Bonner, 2. Fowles, 5. Parker - Rebounds
1. Fowles, 2. Parker, 5. Bonner - Field Goal Pct.
2. Bonner, 6. Parker, 8. Fowles - Free Throw Pct.
3. Bonner, 11. Parker, 12. Fowles - SEC Free Throw Pct.
7. Parker, 12. Bonner - Steals (Fowles unranked)
5. Parker, 10. Bonner - SEC Steaks (Fowles unranked)
1. Parker, 5. Fowles, 11. Bonner - Blocked shots
2. Parker, 3. Fowles, 6. Bonner - SEC Blocked shots
13. Parker - SEC Assists (Bonner and Fowles unranked)
In the BBBB statistical individual player power ratings, where 11 is the top possible score
and in which 100 is the top RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), the three rank as follows:
Parker - 16 (95 RPI)
Bonner - 22 (89 RPI)
Fowles - 27 (84 RPI)
From blogs and boards, readers will find that Tennessee fans are disgruntled and the rest of the SEC fans are pleased with the selection of Fowles as player of the year. Sylvia was also named defensive player of the year, and so many times, statistics are geared heavily towards offensive statistics, so the RPI ratings above are not automatically indicative of the best player in the SEC. One thing we do know for sure is that tonight at the Sommet Center in Nashville (not the Summit in Knoxville where LSU already won decisivelly), #2-seeded Tennessee and #1-seeded regular season conference champ LSU square off for the tournament championship, and we can all see for ourselves who's the best, at least for this one game! Tennessee fans are accustomed to being #1 in the country, but, Vols, you can't be #1 in the country if you're only #2 in your conference.
Or can you?
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Oh, Brother!
Leo's Lyrics site:
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:EMVHatK8Py8J:www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php%3Fhid%3D3TScqIo0jvk%253D+Old+and+in+the+Way,+High+Country+Snows,+Oh+Brother&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us
indicates that Dan Fogelberg's 1985 High Country Snows is the third all-time best-selling bluegrass album, still behind Old and In the Way, as always, and now behind the soundtrack for Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:EMVHatK8Py8J:www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php%3Fhid%3D3TScqIo0jvk%253D+Old+and+in+the+Way,+High+Country+Snows,+Oh+Brother&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us
indicates that Dan Fogelberg's 1985 High Country Snows is the third all-time best-selling bluegrass album, still behind Old and In the Way, as always, and now behind the soundtrack for Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?
Dan Fogelberg - Big Cheer at Grammys
11:02 p.m. - "Other than Pavarotti, the only big cheer during the dead people segment comes for Dan Fogelberg. Huh? Really, hardly anyone makes a peep during the whole thing, even for Lee Hazlewood or Pimp C."
Rarely will I blog about someone else's blog, but this was pretty funny. Tom Breihan blogged on 2/11/08, The Grammy Awards: A Running Diary which included a minute-by-minute (more or less) account of what happened on Grammy Night, 2008. Do yourself a favor and read it, in its entirety, at:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/archives/2008/02/the_grammy_awar_4.php
The blog was interesting, even entertaining, mostly, but I began to laugh aloud at the 10:49 entry, where Tom writes that Tony Bennet trips on a line while presenting an award and comments that "it is almost reassuring that the guy is finally beginning to show signs of aging." Then the "dead people segment" followed by the 11:13 "depressing old people" segment. Having finally attained the age and position in life of what some people would undoubtedly call "old" (in my sixties, retired and receiving Social Security checks), I was particularly amused by the readers' comments on the theme of "why don't these old people just crawl off somewhere and die?" and that readers would actually be honest enough to publish such ideas on the internet! I'm laughing now!
Dan Fogelberg didn't wait until he was old. At 56, he was still sailing the treacherous waters off the coast of Maine and still apparently productive at the many forms of art at which he excelled. Funny thing that Dan should receive such thunderous applause by the Grammy audience, but by no means surprising. Dan Fogelberg never received a Grammy. Arguably the finest "singer songwriter multi-instrumentalist" ever to grace the face of the earth, Dan was nominated only once, that being for his song "Times Like These" for its inclusion on the "Urban Cowboy" Soundtrack, but awards and promotion of his music were not important to Dan. He wrote for the sheer joy of the art, and he once said something to the effect of "If one song says something to one person who hears it, then I've done my job. I'm happy," but then he went on to say he'd do what he did, the way he did it, regardless of whether it reached anyone.
Amused. That's how I always felt when I would read the critical reviews trashing Dan's artistry, like the reviews routinely written by rags like Rolling Stone and music critics like Robert K. Oermann (is that name correctly "spelt"?). It was like these writers didn't have the good sense to recognize class, style and talent! What is so amusing is that the people who bought music always seemed to have a far different opinion than the critics and that after Dan's first album, Home Free went gold, he had a consecutive string of eight albums, released from 1974 through 1984, to go platinum or multi-platinum. Dan took off on his own, ignoring music trends, and in 1985 did, of all things, a bluegrass album. I was so irritated I could have eaten my socks, but, since it was Dan, I listened, and guess what? I started liking bluegrass! Well, wait a minute - I liked Dan's bluegrass and some other new-fangled bluegrass and even the old standards, so long as they were instrumental. Try as I might, I was never quite able to listen to Bill Monroe's vocals, but I loved his "Jerusalem Ridge", probably his most famous instrumental hit. Dan's bluegrass album, though it did not achieve platinum status, became the second best-selling bluegrass album of all time, right behind the classic "Old and In the Way" project by Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead), David Grisman (Dawg music), Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements and John Kahn. Last year, someone told me they thought that another bluegrass album had recently knocked Dan's "High Country Snows" down into third place, but I never could find confirmation of that fact on the web or anywhere else.
Next, Dan did a divorce album, Exiles, which didn't go platinum. Nor did his subsequent studio albums from the `90's and into this century. But, by golly, he sure had a helluva run for the decade of the mid-`70's through the mid-`80's. No one else matched it then; no one did it before Dan did, and no one has matched it since.
But I digress.
My point, several paragraphs ago, about the applause for Dan at the Grammys, was about to be this: Singer-songwriters like and appreciate Dan. They understand what he did. Artists in all genrae of music were/are Dan fans. In my single-again period which covered most of the `80's, I was a frequent concert goer, perhaps, in part, to my son being a musician, in part to both my children loving to go to concerts, and in part, my love of music and enjoying the concerts myself. From Denver to Atlanta, from San Antonio to Chicago, and numerous points in between, I've seen Dan Fogelberg in concert, and, almost without exception in the big-city venues, I would see famous, and/or currently popular, musicians in attendance. Having lived in middle Tennessee for 57% of my life, at least half the concerts were in or around Nashville, and lots, I mean lots, of new country artists went to Dan's concerts. Garth Brooks wouldn't miss one if he was in the area. Same with Suzy Bogguss and numeous others. So, with this in mind, it is not at all surprising that the announcement of Dan's name at the Grammys resulted in a substantial reaction from the crowd, which would have been comprised largely of people who knew at least a little something about music. The author of the blog, Tom Breihan, probably was not in a position to be aware of this, thus his "Huh?" in his article.
Dan was loved. Loved by his legion of fans, which included musicians. Lots of musicians.
From Ferranti and Teicher in the `50's to Peter, Paul and Mary, Ray Charles, and Andy Williams in the `60's, and on to Anne Murray, Gary Morris, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Rod Stewart, Bad Company, Crosby Stills & Nash, and too many more to mention in the `70's, `80's and `90's, I have never seen one other musician attending all the other concerts, just Fogelberg's.
As the e~Town commentator said on the air, after thunderous audience applause for Dan's performance:
"He's good, isn't he?"
Rarely will I blog about someone else's blog, but this was pretty funny. Tom Breihan blogged on 2/11/08, The Grammy Awards: A Running Diary which included a minute-by-minute (more or less) account of what happened on Grammy Night, 2008. Do yourself a favor and read it, in its entirety, at:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/archives/2008/02/the_grammy_awar_4.php
The blog was interesting, even entertaining, mostly, but I began to laugh aloud at the 10:49 entry, where Tom writes that Tony Bennet trips on a line while presenting an award and comments that "it is almost reassuring that the guy is finally beginning to show signs of aging." Then the "dead people segment" followed by the 11:13 "depressing old people" segment. Having finally attained the age and position in life of what some people would undoubtedly call "old" (in my sixties, retired and receiving Social Security checks), I was particularly amused by the readers' comments on the theme of "why don't these old people just crawl off somewhere and die?" and that readers would actually be honest enough to publish such ideas on the internet! I'm laughing now!
Dan Fogelberg didn't wait until he was old. At 56, he was still sailing the treacherous waters off the coast of Maine and still apparently productive at the many forms of art at which he excelled. Funny thing that Dan should receive such thunderous applause by the Grammy audience, but by no means surprising. Dan Fogelberg never received a Grammy. Arguably the finest "singer songwriter multi-instrumentalist" ever to grace the face of the earth, Dan was nominated only once, that being for his song "Times Like These" for its inclusion on the "Urban Cowboy" Soundtrack, but awards and promotion of his music were not important to Dan. He wrote for the sheer joy of the art, and he once said something to the effect of "If one song says something to one person who hears it, then I've done my job. I'm happy," but then he went on to say he'd do what he did, the way he did it, regardless of whether it reached anyone.
Amused. That's how I always felt when I would read the critical reviews trashing Dan's artistry, like the reviews routinely written by rags like Rolling Stone and music critics like Robert K. Oermann (is that name correctly "spelt"?). It was like these writers didn't have the good sense to recognize class, style and talent! What is so amusing is that the people who bought music always seemed to have a far different opinion than the critics and that after Dan's first album, Home Free went gold, he had a consecutive string of eight albums, released from 1974 through 1984, to go platinum or multi-platinum. Dan took off on his own, ignoring music trends, and in 1985 did, of all things, a bluegrass album. I was so irritated I could have eaten my socks, but, since it was Dan, I listened, and guess what? I started liking bluegrass! Well, wait a minute - I liked Dan's bluegrass and some other new-fangled bluegrass and even the old standards, so long as they were instrumental. Try as I might, I was never quite able to listen to Bill Monroe's vocals, but I loved his "Jerusalem Ridge", probably his most famous instrumental hit. Dan's bluegrass album, though it did not achieve platinum status, became the second best-selling bluegrass album of all time, right behind the classic "Old and In the Way" project by Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead), David Grisman (Dawg music), Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements and John Kahn. Last year, someone told me they thought that another bluegrass album had recently knocked Dan's "High Country Snows" down into third place, but I never could find confirmation of that fact on the web or anywhere else.
Next, Dan did a divorce album, Exiles, which didn't go platinum. Nor did his subsequent studio albums from the `90's and into this century. But, by golly, he sure had a helluva run for the decade of the mid-`70's through the mid-`80's. No one else matched it then; no one did it before Dan did, and no one has matched it since.
But I digress.
My point, several paragraphs ago, about the applause for Dan at the Grammys, was about to be this: Singer-songwriters like and appreciate Dan. They understand what he did. Artists in all genrae of music were/are Dan fans. In my single-again period which covered most of the `80's, I was a frequent concert goer, perhaps, in part, to my son being a musician, in part to both my children loving to go to concerts, and in part, my love of music and enjoying the concerts myself. From Denver to Atlanta, from San Antonio to Chicago, and numerous points in between, I've seen Dan Fogelberg in concert, and, almost without exception in the big-city venues, I would see famous, and/or currently popular, musicians in attendance. Having lived in middle Tennessee for 57% of my life, at least half the concerts were in or around Nashville, and lots, I mean lots, of new country artists went to Dan's concerts. Garth Brooks wouldn't miss one if he was in the area. Same with Suzy Bogguss and numeous others. So, with this in mind, it is not at all surprising that the announcement of Dan's name at the Grammys resulted in a substantial reaction from the crowd, which would have been comprised largely of people who knew at least a little something about music. The author of the blog, Tom Breihan, probably was not in a position to be aware of this, thus his "Huh?" in his article.
Dan was loved. Loved by his legion of fans, which included musicians. Lots of musicians.
From Ferranti and Teicher in the `50's to Peter, Paul and Mary, Ray Charles, and Andy Williams in the `60's, and on to Anne Murray, Gary Morris, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Rod Stewart, Bad Company, Crosby Stills & Nash, and too many more to mention in the `70's, `80's and `90's, I have never seen one other musician attending all the other concerts, just Fogelberg's.
As the e~Town commentator said on the air, after thunderous audience applause for Dan's performance:
"He's good, isn't he?"
Friday, February 29, 2008
"The Seventh Planet"
Early man discovered that the skies contained seven objects which moved about in the skies, as opposed to the many object which remained in the same relative position night after night. Today, we know these seven objects as
1. The Sun,
2. The Moon,
3. Mercury,
4. Venus,
5. Mars,
6. Jupiter, and
7. Saturn
With the aid of magnification lenses, another object was discovered which moved about in like manner. That object was designated as
"URANUS", the seventh planet from the sun.
All my life, I have called the planet "uRAINus," with the initial "u" barely sounded and the final "us" a quiet after-syllable to the emphasized "RAIN" sound in the middle. I suppose I was in my mid-30's before I heard jokes made about how it was pronounced, and I think that came after I had heard noted astronomer, author and actor Carl Sagan pronounce the name "URINE-us". Then my dear friend Lloyd, the world traveller, asked me "What do the Starship Enterprise and toilet paper have in common?" I didn't know. "They both circle Uranus in search of Klingons."
The first 35 years of my life, it just didn't occur to me that the seventh planet had this identity problem with verbal-aural similarities which evoked thoughts of an anatomical part or of liquid human waste. In fact, the word "anus" was only used with the waste hole in a paramecium, euglena, or other simple lifeform. The comparable word for that part of a human was generally referred to in other ways. Today, I found a website - http://www.nineplanets.org.html which cautioned readers about the pronunciation, to be careful not to cause embarrassment by saying "Your anus" or "Urine us"; the site included a soundbyte so we would all know how to pronounce the name of the seventh planet.
http://www.nineplanets.org/say/uranus.au
This is truly a fine public service. We should all be thankful to the webmaster for including this training information.
1. The Sun,
2. The Moon,
3. Mercury,
4. Venus,
5. Mars,
6. Jupiter, and
7. Saturn
With the aid of magnification lenses, another object was discovered which moved about in like manner. That object was designated as
"URANUS", the seventh planet from the sun.
All my life, I have called the planet "uRAINus," with the initial "u" barely sounded and the final "us" a quiet after-syllable to the emphasized "RAIN" sound in the middle. I suppose I was in my mid-30's before I heard jokes made about how it was pronounced, and I think that came after I had heard noted astronomer, author and actor Carl Sagan pronounce the name "URINE-us". Then my dear friend Lloyd, the world traveller, asked me "What do the Starship Enterprise and toilet paper have in common?" I didn't know. "They both circle Uranus in search of Klingons."
The first 35 years of my life, it just didn't occur to me that the seventh planet had this identity problem with verbal-aural similarities which evoked thoughts of an anatomical part or of liquid human waste. In fact, the word "anus" was only used with the waste hole in a paramecium, euglena, or other simple lifeform. The comparable word for that part of a human was generally referred to in other ways. Today, I found a website - http://www.nineplanets.org.html which cautioned readers about the pronunciation, to be careful not to cause embarrassment by saying "Your anus" or "Urine us"; the site included a soundbyte so we would all know how to pronounce the name of the seventh planet.
http://www.nineplanets.org/say/uranus.au
This is truly a fine public service. We should all be thankful to the webmaster for including this training information.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Dan Fogelberg and Elvis
"Another Dan Fogelberg sighting!" came the voice on my telephone, as my Friend-in-Fogelberg Kevin reported to me after he and brother Barry returned from their daily walk at Shelby Bottoms, and he described, as he has several times in the past three years or so, a fellow walker in the lower East Nashville park who, according to the brothers, is a spitting image of Dan Fogelberg during his Wild Places period (ca. 1990), not only with similar facial features but also the pulled-back hair and pony tail. When they pass him on one of their daily walks, they greet him with "Hi, Dan!" which he always acknowledges with a chuckle.
Then as I turned to make my way back to the kitchen, the snow turned into rain, and on TV, the newscaster was saying, "Another Elvis sighting today...". Just for a moment I was taken with the idea that people would start seeing a live Dan Fogelberg in diverse places, just as they continue to see Elvis, alive and well, then I decided to google "Dan Fogelberg and Elvis", the product of which was:
(1) Glenn Spreen, who produced, conducted and directed both Dan and Elvis, and
(2) http://greenleegazette.blogspot.com/2007/12/dan-fogelberg-dies.html which described a family setting around a supper table with a particular/peculiar discussion of Dan Fogelberg just the evening prior to Dan's death being revealed. The author said that, for some unexplained reason, this has happened around that table numerous times, the first of which was Elvis. They have a particular/peculiar discussion of a famous person, and, the next day, the person is dead. The author does say that he puts no particular significance on this inasmuch as he is sure that he is not personally causing the celebrity to die, but, as he says, it is curious.
Dan lives. His music is here forever.
Thanks, Dan.
We'll always love you.
And Elvis, you know we love you too.
Then as I turned to make my way back to the kitchen, the snow turned into rain, and on TV, the newscaster was saying, "Another Elvis sighting today...". Just for a moment I was taken with the idea that people would start seeing a live Dan Fogelberg in diverse places, just as they continue to see Elvis, alive and well, then I decided to google "Dan Fogelberg and Elvis", the product of which was:
(1) Glenn Spreen, who produced, conducted and directed both Dan and Elvis, and
(2) http://greenleegazette.blogspot.com/2007/12/dan-fogelberg-dies.html which described a family setting around a supper table with a particular/peculiar discussion of Dan Fogelberg just the evening prior to Dan's death being revealed. The author said that, for some unexplained reason, this has happened around that table numerous times, the first of which was Elvis. They have a particular/peculiar discussion of a famous person, and, the next day, the person is dead. The author does say that he puts no particular significance on this inasmuch as he is sure that he is not personally causing the celebrity to die, but, as he says, it is curious.
Dan lives. His music is here forever.
Thanks, Dan.
We'll always love you.
And Elvis, you know we love you too.
The Wrong Crowd
When mama tells you, "Don't fall in with the wrong crowd," listen to her. Consider the case of Bruce Davis.
Bruce was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1942, the younger of two children. His family moved to Mobil, Alabama, then to Kingston, Tennessee, where Bruce attended Roane County High School. Bruce was the Editor-in-Chief of the Annual and was an honors student, winning the Social Studies Scholastic Award. Bruce attended the University of Tennessee for about 2 years, then dropped out and moved west where he became immersed in the hippie counter culture. In the west, Davis made a living doing construction work, and, in 1967, ran into Charles Manson, Mary Brunner, Lynette Fromme, & Patricia Krenwinkel in Oregon. Manson liked having another man around, plus Charlie and Bruce had a few things in common. Like Manson, Davis was a good musician and was interested in Scientology.
From November of 1968 to April 1969, Bruce lived in London, England, working at the Scientology headquarters, after which he then returned to the states, where he rejoined the Manson family. In the family, Davis acted as a comptroller, handling all the stolen credit cards and fake ID's.
In July of 1969, Bruce was present when Manson chopped off Gary Hinman's left ear. In late August, Bruce was present at the murder of Spahn's Ranch hand Donald "Shorty" Shea, and though he had no active part in the murder, Bruce did nothing to stop it. Afterwards, the Manson family moved to the Barker Ranch in Death Valley. Bruce was arrested and charged with grand theft auto in the Barker Ranch raid held on October 12, 1969. He was eventually released due to insufficient evidence.
On November 5, 1969, Davis was present when Christopher Jesus, aka "Zero", allegedly killed himself playing Russian roulette. While the death was suspicious, police ruled it a suicide.
In April of 1970, Mary Brunner implicated Davis as being present at the Hinman murder, and Bruce immediately went into hiding. On Manson's orders, Davis turned himself in on December 2, 1970. Bruce went on trial for the murders of both Hinman and Shea, having been what the law defines as "accessory before, to, and after-the-fact" He was convicted and sentenced to Life imprisonment. Davis was briefly suspected of being the Zodiac killer (a mysterious killer that terrorized California by committing several bizarre homicides in the 60's and 70's), but was ruled out as a suspect by the FBI.
Bruce was not present at, and had no part in, the Tate-Biana murders for which the Manson Family gained notoriety; however, Bruce remained a part of the family, knowing the murders had occurred.
In prison, Bruce became a born-again Christian in 1974, and is currently incarcerated at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California. This prison does not have secure boundaries and inmates live in dormitories. In prison, Bruce earned Certification in welding and drafting. In 1984, Bruce married a former stewardess (32 years), and they currently have a 16-year-old daughter. in 1997, he earned a Masters degree in Theology. In 2002, he received his Doctorate in Philosophy and Religion, Summa cum Laude, and is presently a candidate for his Doctorate in Engineering. Bruce teaches Bible classes for inmates, varous 12-step programs, and peer-counselling as well as classes in parenting.
Bruce was eligible for parole 28 years ago in 1980. Since that time, he has been a model inmate, having no disciplinary citations or problems of any kind. Nonetheless, when his annual review for parole has been conducted, the Board of Paroles had consistently denied it, saying Bruce is unfit to return to society, although he has repeatedly met every requirement for parole. The problem is this: Bruce was a part of the Manson family, and no Parole Board Member wants to be a part of the system which releases a Manson family member into society. The fact that Bruce actually committed no murder is of little consequence to those who must approve his release.
Bruce simply fell in with the wrong crowd. He drove Manson family members to a place where murders were committed. He did nothing to stop the murders. He has served 28 years more that most convicted murderers in California will ever spend. He is 65 years old, having been incarcerated at age 27, and he will likely remain in prison for the remainder of his life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bruce graduated from the same high school I attended. He was three years older than I, so we didn't really run in exactly the same circles, but he was popular, always seemed nice, smiled most of the time, always spoke to me (a lowly underclassman), and frequently seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere. He may have been the best-looking guy in his class and always dressed well. I would have chosen him to be the three or four people in his class Most Likely to Succeed.
No one who knew Bruce could believe that he had fallen in with Charles Manson. No one that I knew, anyway.
To me, it seems incredible that this could happen to someone who seemed as nice as Bruce, an honor student, editor-in-chief of the annual, hard worker... someone who looked like The All-American guy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When mama says, "Don't fall in with the wrong crowd," pay attention.
Bruce was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1942, the younger of two children. His family moved to Mobil, Alabama, then to Kingston, Tennessee, where Bruce attended Roane County High School. Bruce was the Editor-in-Chief of the Annual and was an honors student, winning the Social Studies Scholastic Award. Bruce attended the University of Tennessee for about 2 years, then dropped out and moved west where he became immersed in the hippie counter culture. In the west, Davis made a living doing construction work, and, in 1967, ran into Charles Manson, Mary Brunner, Lynette Fromme, & Patricia Krenwinkel in Oregon. Manson liked having another man around, plus Charlie and Bruce had a few things in common. Like Manson, Davis was a good musician and was interested in Scientology.
From November of 1968 to April 1969, Bruce lived in London, England, working at the Scientology headquarters, after which he then returned to the states, where he rejoined the Manson family. In the family, Davis acted as a comptroller, handling all the stolen credit cards and fake ID's.
In July of 1969, Bruce was present when Manson chopped off Gary Hinman's left ear. In late August, Bruce was present at the murder of Spahn's Ranch hand Donald "Shorty" Shea, and though he had no active part in the murder, Bruce did nothing to stop it. Afterwards, the Manson family moved to the Barker Ranch in Death Valley. Bruce was arrested and charged with grand theft auto in the Barker Ranch raid held on October 12, 1969. He was eventually released due to insufficient evidence.
On November 5, 1969, Davis was present when Christopher Jesus, aka "Zero", allegedly killed himself playing Russian roulette. While the death was suspicious, police ruled it a suicide.
In April of 1970, Mary Brunner implicated Davis as being present at the Hinman murder, and Bruce immediately went into hiding. On Manson's orders, Davis turned himself in on December 2, 1970. Bruce went on trial for the murders of both Hinman and Shea, having been what the law defines as "accessory before, to, and after-the-fact" He was convicted and sentenced to Life imprisonment. Davis was briefly suspected of being the Zodiac killer (a mysterious killer that terrorized California by committing several bizarre homicides in the 60's and 70's), but was ruled out as a suspect by the FBI.
Bruce was not present at, and had no part in, the Tate-Biana murders for which the Manson Family gained notoriety; however, Bruce remained a part of the family, knowing the murders had occurred.
In prison, Bruce became a born-again Christian in 1974, and is currently incarcerated at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California. This prison does not have secure boundaries and inmates live in dormitories. In prison, Bruce earned Certification in welding and drafting. In 1984, Bruce married a former stewardess (32 years), and they currently have a 16-year-old daughter. in 1997, he earned a Masters degree in Theology. In 2002, he received his Doctorate in Philosophy and Religion, Summa cum Laude, and is presently a candidate for his Doctorate in Engineering. Bruce teaches Bible classes for inmates, varous 12-step programs, and peer-counselling as well as classes in parenting.
Bruce was eligible for parole 28 years ago in 1980. Since that time, he has been a model inmate, having no disciplinary citations or problems of any kind. Nonetheless, when his annual review for parole has been conducted, the Board of Paroles had consistently denied it, saying Bruce is unfit to return to society, although he has repeatedly met every requirement for parole. The problem is this: Bruce was a part of the Manson family, and no Parole Board Member wants to be a part of the system which releases a Manson family member into society. The fact that Bruce actually committed no murder is of little consequence to those who must approve his release.
Bruce simply fell in with the wrong crowd. He drove Manson family members to a place where murders were committed. He did nothing to stop the murders. He has served 28 years more that most convicted murderers in California will ever spend. He is 65 years old, having been incarcerated at age 27, and he will likely remain in prison for the remainder of his life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bruce graduated from the same high school I attended. He was three years older than I, so we didn't really run in exactly the same circles, but he was popular, always seemed nice, smiled most of the time, always spoke to me (a lowly underclassman), and frequently seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere. He may have been the best-looking guy in his class and always dressed well. I would have chosen him to be the three or four people in his class Most Likely to Succeed.
No one who knew Bruce could believe that he had fallen in with Charles Manson. No one that I knew, anyway.
To me, it seems incredible that this could happen to someone who seemed as nice as Bruce, an honor student, editor-in-chief of the annual, hard worker... someone who looked like The All-American guy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When mama says, "Don't fall in with the wrong crowd," pay attention.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
"Demotion" of Pluto
Last year, when the World Astronomical Society reclassified Pluto from "planet" to "dwarf planet", I could finally say "I have now personally observed all the planets in my home-made telescope." At this point, I doubt that I'll ever see Pluto in my own telescope, an 8" light-bucket, which is housed in a quarter-inch plywood box and includes storebought pre-ground lenses. Before I undertook that project, which seems eons ago, I had made, from scratch, more or less, a 4" reflector and ground my own lenses. I ruined a lot of glass before I finally got it right. Buying professionally-made lenses is really less expensive in the long run, at least for a grinder like me.
For reasons which escape me, the general public seemed to be disappointed, upset or downright irate at the "demotion" of Pluto from full planet status. It was if the citizens of the world had a vested interest in the number of "planets" in the solar system and were having some of their investment purloined from them.
At age five, I had a keen interest in the skies, astronomy, space travel and the like. I believed that I would be the first man on the moon. Then one October morning, a month short of my eleventh birthday, I awoke to read in the morning Journal that Sputnik had been launched. For days, I had a sick, empty feeling, knowing that I would be too young to be chosen as the astronaut (we didn't have any at the time) to first step foot on the moon.
Before I was ten years old, I had classified the solar system objects into categories with one star, four large gas planets, four rocky inner planets, a belt of asteroids between Jupiter and Mars (at the precise location where another planet should have been and probably once was), some comets, and a bunch of moons. Having read all available information on the subject, I considered Pluto to likely be a runaway moon of Neptune. I certainly did not consider Pluto a planet, although it was classified as one.
Pluto did not have a nearly circular orbit like the eight planets. It was so elliptical that some of the time it was the 8th planet from the sun and some of the time it was the 9th planet from the sun. The fact that it crossed the area of the orbit of Neptune made me believe that it was a runaway moon, or at least something other than a planet. Its orientation in the solar system was outside the ecliptic which contained the eight planets, being tilted more than 20% outside the plane of the other planets. No one seemed to know exactly how big it was, and estimates ranged anywhere from the size of Earth to the size of Earth's moon.
When I learned about the solar system, there were 26 known moons, distributed thusly:
Earth - 1
Mars - 2
Jupiter - 12
Saturn - 9
Uranus - 2
Our scopes just weren't powerful enough to see more.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When the Russian/American astronomer/writer Isaac Asimov referred to Pluto as a "mesoplanet", or an intermediate planet, I liked the term. He never thought it was a planet, and neither did I, so I had nothing to lose when Pluto was demoted or downgraded to dwarf planet status. To me, it was a simple case of a proper reclassification of a solar system member. Asimov called a "mesoplanet" any solar system body smaller than Mercury but larger than Ceres, the largest asteroid in the inner belt. At the time, Pluto was the only member of the class. Now, we have three certified dwarf planets and 39 more objects which may qualify.
There are currently 17 objects in the Solar System larger than Pluto, including the Sun, eight planets, seven moons, and the dwarf planet Eris. There are a dozen more solar system members smaller than Pluto but larger than Ceres, including nine moons and three objects which are likely to be classified as dwarf planets.
How many more there are out there, only time, and technology, can tell.
But don't mourn for Pluto. Pluto hasn't changed, just humanity's understanding of its rightful place among the members of our system. Pluto's personality is so icy, I doubt that its feelings were hurt.
For reasons which escape me, the general public seemed to be disappointed, upset or downright irate at the "demotion" of Pluto from full planet status. It was if the citizens of the world had a vested interest in the number of "planets" in the solar system and were having some of their investment purloined from them.
At age five, I had a keen interest in the skies, astronomy, space travel and the like. I believed that I would be the first man on the moon. Then one October morning, a month short of my eleventh birthday, I awoke to read in the morning Journal that Sputnik had been launched. For days, I had a sick, empty feeling, knowing that I would be too young to be chosen as the astronaut (we didn't have any at the time) to first step foot on the moon.
Before I was ten years old, I had classified the solar system objects into categories with one star, four large gas planets, four rocky inner planets, a belt of asteroids between Jupiter and Mars (at the precise location where another planet should have been and probably once was), some comets, and a bunch of moons. Having read all available information on the subject, I considered Pluto to likely be a runaway moon of Neptune. I certainly did not consider Pluto a planet, although it was classified as one.
Pluto did not have a nearly circular orbit like the eight planets. It was so elliptical that some of the time it was the 8th planet from the sun and some of the time it was the 9th planet from the sun. The fact that it crossed the area of the orbit of Neptune made me believe that it was a runaway moon, or at least something other than a planet. Its orientation in the solar system was outside the ecliptic which contained the eight planets, being tilted more than 20% outside the plane of the other planets. No one seemed to know exactly how big it was, and estimates ranged anywhere from the size of Earth to the size of Earth's moon.
When I learned about the solar system, there were 26 known moons, distributed thusly:
Earth - 1
Mars - 2
Jupiter - 12
Saturn - 9
Uranus - 2
Our scopes just weren't powerful enough to see more.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When the Russian/American astronomer/writer Isaac Asimov referred to Pluto as a "mesoplanet", or an intermediate planet, I liked the term. He never thought it was a planet, and neither did I, so I had nothing to lose when Pluto was demoted or downgraded to dwarf planet status. To me, it was a simple case of a proper reclassification of a solar system member. Asimov called a "mesoplanet" any solar system body smaller than Mercury but larger than Ceres, the largest asteroid in the inner belt. At the time, Pluto was the only member of the class. Now, we have three certified dwarf planets and 39 more objects which may qualify.
There are currently 17 objects in the Solar System larger than Pluto, including the Sun, eight planets, seven moons, and the dwarf planet Eris. There are a dozen more solar system members smaller than Pluto but larger than Ceres, including nine moons and three objects which are likely to be classified as dwarf planets.
How many more there are out there, only time, and technology, can tell.
But don't mourn for Pluto. Pluto hasn't changed, just humanity's understanding of its rightful place among the members of our system. Pluto's personality is so icy, I doubt that its feelings were hurt.
Dan Fogelberg Theater (Peoria Civic Center)
In today's mail, I received an envelope which contained, inter alia, a clipped piece of newspaper containing the following information:
__________________________________________________
"On last week’s YOUPage of the Peoria newspaper, Metamora resident Tamara Schaidle proposed a way to honor the late Dan Fogelberg. Fogelberg, 56, died last month at his Maine home after a long battle with prostate cancer.
"The singer-songwriter had his heyday in the 1970s and early ‘80s, when he scored several platinum and multiplatinum records, fueled by such hits as “The Power of Gold” and “Leader of the Band,” a touching tribute he wrote to his father, a music teacher at Woodruff High School. He put out his first album in 1972. His hits, including “Same Old Lang Syne,” helped define the soft-rock era.
"Schaidle suggested the Peoria City Council rename the Civic Center Theater the Dan Fogelberg Theater:
“I would like to have the renaming ceremony take place on Wed., Aug. 13, 2008, what would have been Dan’s 57th birthday. I would like to see a benefit for prostate cancer also take place in the theater that night with ticket proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Dan’s name.
“I believe this is the most loving honor we could bestow on such a beloved local legend,” Schaidle said.
Misty Kelly wrote YOUPage in support of the idea.
“ ... my fondest memory of Dan Fogelberg is of his last concert in the Civic Center Theater,” she said. “Even if the Theater is not re-named for Dan, I absolutely support having a fundraiser/memorial on his birthday, to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation.”
Dianne L. Turner, of Bartonville, lovingly known to legions of Fogelberg fans as Diney Boo , also wrote in support of Schaidle’s suggestion.
“I whole-heartily agree with Tamara Schaidle from Metamora about honoring our man of music, Dan Fogelberg. I would have to go along with her terrific idea about renaming the Civic Center Theater and having a benefit to raise money for prostate cancer. Thus, to whom it may concern ... please allow me to be the first to volunteer my time on this endeavor. I shall be happy to work tirelessly to do what it takes to make this idea become a reality.”
Diney Boo wrote that Fogelberg’s music reached fans world-wide.
“Let us show music lovers everywhere how proud Peoria is to acknowledge his many gifts and talents,” she said. “I sincerely hope that other fans and friends have this same wish for honoring The Living Legacy - Dan Fogelberg.”
Posted:
January 04, 2008 at 14:35
==========================
We don't know whether the theater will be renamed as suggested, but, my God, wasn't it great to hear from Diney Boo again?
We've missed you.
Don't be a stranger, dear.
__________________________________________________
"On last week’s YOUPage of the Peoria newspaper, Metamora resident Tamara Schaidle proposed a way to honor the late Dan Fogelberg. Fogelberg, 56, died last month at his Maine home after a long battle with prostate cancer.
"The singer-songwriter had his heyday in the 1970s and early ‘80s, when he scored several platinum and multiplatinum records, fueled by such hits as “The Power of Gold” and “Leader of the Band,” a touching tribute he wrote to his father, a music teacher at Woodruff High School. He put out his first album in 1972. His hits, including “Same Old Lang Syne,” helped define the soft-rock era.
"Schaidle suggested the Peoria City Council rename the Civic Center Theater the Dan Fogelberg Theater:
“I would like to have the renaming ceremony take place on Wed., Aug. 13, 2008, what would have been Dan’s 57th birthday. I would like to see a benefit for prostate cancer also take place in the theater that night with ticket proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Dan’s name.
“I believe this is the most loving honor we could bestow on such a beloved local legend,” Schaidle said.
Misty Kelly wrote YOUPage in support of the idea.
“ ... my fondest memory of Dan Fogelberg is of his last concert in the Civic Center Theater,” she said. “Even if the Theater is not re-named for Dan, I absolutely support having a fundraiser/memorial on his birthday, to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation.”
Dianne L. Turner, of Bartonville, lovingly known to legions of Fogelberg fans as Diney Boo , also wrote in support of Schaidle’s suggestion.
“I whole-heartily agree with Tamara Schaidle from Metamora about honoring our man of music, Dan Fogelberg. I would have to go along with her terrific idea about renaming the Civic Center Theater and having a benefit to raise money for prostate cancer. Thus, to whom it may concern ... please allow me to be the first to volunteer my time on this endeavor. I shall be happy to work tirelessly to do what it takes to make this idea become a reality.”
Diney Boo wrote that Fogelberg’s music reached fans world-wide.
“Let us show music lovers everywhere how proud Peoria is to acknowledge his many gifts and talents,” she said. “I sincerely hope that other fans and friends have this same wish for honoring The Living Legacy - Dan Fogelberg.”
Posted:
January 04, 2008 at 14:35
==========================
We don't know whether the theater will be renamed as suggested, but, my God, wasn't it great to hear from Diney Boo again?
We've missed you.
Don't be a stranger, dear.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Exceeding the Speed of Light
Mrs. Welch was the high school physics teacher in Kingston, Tennessee's famed Roane County High School, yes, the same school which produced the late great Bowden Wyatt, a member of the last college team to go through its season schedule undefeated, untied and unscored upon, three-time All-American, national coach of the year at Wyoming, then head coach at Arkansas and Tennessee before his unfortunate undoing by the bottle. Coach Wyatt is one of only three humans to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. Bobby Dodd, another former Tennessee footballer and famed head coach for years at powerhouse Georgia Tech (in its Southeastern Conference days) was another. Whoever the third is, he didn't play at Tennessee, so I don't know him.
Before returning to Mrs. Welch and exceeding the speed of light considerations, I must comment on the only other player from Kingston to play at Tennessee by the time I entered the University of Tennessee. His name was Pud Jackson. Pud most often lined up as a tackle on offense but sometimes played fullback or blocking back, when the Yellowjackets employed the then-popular single wing. His most spectacular plays were when the left end stepped into the backfield and the wingback on the right side stepped onto the line on the right side, leaving Pud as a tackle-eligible player, either to receive a pass or to "pull" into the backfield for a statue of liberty play. I don't know how much he weighed back then, but by the time he got back to the line of scrimmage as a ball carrier, it took four or five guys from the other team to pull him down, and he was always good for five yards or so. And when the `Jackets got to the opponent's three or four-yard line, Pud lined up as fullback, and the opponents might as well just get out of the way, because he was going to score, and anyone who tried to stop him was in for some serious punishment.
Pud worked his way up to second-string defensive tackle for the Vols, and everybody from Kingston thought the U.T. coaching staff must be daft for not using him on offense. Boy, talk about dumb!
As a freshman at U.T., I was about to take down the opposing quarterback for a safety, but a blocker had other ideas, and he didn't mind being penalized half the distance to the goal to take me out but good with a vicious clip, resulting in my head being in about its normal position, except upside down 6' off the ground, and my feet straight up in the air. My helmet was knocked off and I hit the ground with the right side of my face, leaving it minus an epidermis long enough for it to re-grow under the scabs. Man, was I ever a sight! The coach made the entire freshman team line up and come by and shake my hand for the effort and apologize to me for not playing as hard as I did.
Lots of good it did me.
It was a little tough to get a date for a month.
Back to Mrs. Welch.
Mrs. Welch was a classy lady with high standards. I wasn't. Well, I never was a lady, but I never had high standards either. For about 45 years, I was often able to get by on my youthful looks, neat appearance, and charm. Maybe it was charm. Maybe it was guile and deceit. More than likely, it was pure deceit. When Mrs. Welch asked us to write a physics paper using all the imagination we had, but backed up with science, I wrote one which explained how the speed of light could be exceeded. Bear in mind that Albert Einstein had thoroughly covered the subject by explaining what happens to mass as it approaches the speed of light and what theoretically happens, should it achieve the speed of light (the mass becomes infinite), I wrote a paper, complete with illustrations, showing photons intersecting, with a photon moving northeast slightly clipping, from the rear oblique, a photon moving southeast, propelling it to a speed in excess of the speed of light.
As everyone knows by now, a photon (a particle of light) most often acts like a wave rather than a particle of mass, and in the scenario I described, the photons would most likely continue to act wavelike and pass through each other. That's what I thought back in 1962 when I wrote the paper. That's what I think now.
Mrs. Welch came to class a week later to pass back our papers, and she began to talk about a most exceptional student she had the privilege of teaching and that this student had written the most outstanding paper she had ever read, either in high school, in college, or in the professional field. I thought it was surely Don Hobgood (the eventual valedictorian) or Larry Howdyshell (the eventual salutatorian) or maybe Arnold Kenerly (an electronics wizard), but then she gave the name and asked me to stand.
Laughter filled the classroom, and Mrs. Welch was irritated.
I always could write a good game.
Mrs. Welch thought I was a good kid. That all changed about a week later when she entered the classroom after excusing herself to go to the office or somesuch and caught me throwing a pencil across the room at someone whose identity I no longer recall. In Kingston, the usual behavior when a teacher left the room was to throw and dodge paperwads, rubber bands, etc., and I was following normal rules of pencil-throwing, i.e., to throw in a manner so the rubber eraser was the nose of the projectile. The intended target ducked, and there was a collective gasp as it appeared that the pencil was going to hit Mrs. Welch. Fortunately, it hit the metal door-jamb next to her head and bounced harmlessly across the room, landing on her desk.
The classroom became very quiet.
Mrs. Welch just stood there, glaring at me.
After walking silently to her desk and staring down at the pencil for a few moments, she looked around the classroom and told us, "When I was a little girl, a small child, my mother told me that a pencil could be a very helpful tool when used properly. She also told me that it could put out an eye if used with disregard of my safety or the safety of others."
Then she sat down and asked me to come to her desk. I did.
"Pick up your pencil."
I did, and started back to my desk.
"Come back. I haven't dismissed you."
She handed me her tape dispenser and told me to tear off two pieces of tape.
I did as ordered.
Then she had me tape the pencil to the right upper corner of the blackboard (actually, they just painted them green a year before) and to sign under it, in chalk, my name. She had me print underneath it, in small letters, "This is a pencil. It is used for writing. If used improperly, it can put out an eye."
My pencil stayed there until the end of the year.
It may be there still.
I'm still looking for a way to propel a photon to a speed in excess of the speed of light. I haven't found it yet, but I think Mrs. Welch thought I already had.
Before returning to Mrs. Welch and exceeding the speed of light considerations, I must comment on the only other player from Kingston to play at Tennessee by the time I entered the University of Tennessee. His name was Pud Jackson. Pud most often lined up as a tackle on offense but sometimes played fullback or blocking back, when the Yellowjackets employed the then-popular single wing. His most spectacular plays were when the left end stepped into the backfield and the wingback on the right side stepped onto the line on the right side, leaving Pud as a tackle-eligible player, either to receive a pass or to "pull" into the backfield for a statue of liberty play. I don't know how much he weighed back then, but by the time he got back to the line of scrimmage as a ball carrier, it took four or five guys from the other team to pull him down, and he was always good for five yards or so. And when the `Jackets got to the opponent's three or four-yard line, Pud lined up as fullback, and the opponents might as well just get out of the way, because he was going to score, and anyone who tried to stop him was in for some serious punishment.
Pud worked his way up to second-string defensive tackle for the Vols, and everybody from Kingston thought the U.T. coaching staff must be daft for not using him on offense. Boy, talk about dumb!
As a freshman at U.T., I was about to take down the opposing quarterback for a safety, but a blocker had other ideas, and he didn't mind being penalized half the distance to the goal to take me out but good with a vicious clip, resulting in my head being in about its normal position, except upside down 6' off the ground, and my feet straight up in the air. My helmet was knocked off and I hit the ground with the right side of my face, leaving it minus an epidermis long enough for it to re-grow under the scabs. Man, was I ever a sight! The coach made the entire freshman team line up and come by and shake my hand for the effort and apologize to me for not playing as hard as I did.
Lots of good it did me.
It was a little tough to get a date for a month.
Back to Mrs. Welch.
Mrs. Welch was a classy lady with high standards. I wasn't. Well, I never was a lady, but I never had high standards either. For about 45 years, I was often able to get by on my youthful looks, neat appearance, and charm. Maybe it was charm. Maybe it was guile and deceit. More than likely, it was pure deceit. When Mrs. Welch asked us to write a physics paper using all the imagination we had, but backed up with science, I wrote one which explained how the speed of light could be exceeded. Bear in mind that Albert Einstein had thoroughly covered the subject by explaining what happens to mass as it approaches the speed of light and what theoretically happens, should it achieve the speed of light (the mass becomes infinite), I wrote a paper, complete with illustrations, showing photons intersecting, with a photon moving northeast slightly clipping, from the rear oblique, a photon moving southeast, propelling it to a speed in excess of the speed of light.
As everyone knows by now, a photon (a particle of light) most often acts like a wave rather than a particle of mass, and in the scenario I described, the photons would most likely continue to act wavelike and pass through each other. That's what I thought back in 1962 when I wrote the paper. That's what I think now.
Mrs. Welch came to class a week later to pass back our papers, and she began to talk about a most exceptional student she had the privilege of teaching and that this student had written the most outstanding paper she had ever read, either in high school, in college, or in the professional field. I thought it was surely Don Hobgood (the eventual valedictorian) or Larry Howdyshell (the eventual salutatorian) or maybe Arnold Kenerly (an electronics wizard), but then she gave the name and asked me to stand.
Laughter filled the classroom, and Mrs. Welch was irritated.
I always could write a good game.
Mrs. Welch thought I was a good kid. That all changed about a week later when she entered the classroom after excusing herself to go to the office or somesuch and caught me throwing a pencil across the room at someone whose identity I no longer recall. In Kingston, the usual behavior when a teacher left the room was to throw and dodge paperwads, rubber bands, etc., and I was following normal rules of pencil-throwing, i.e., to throw in a manner so the rubber eraser was the nose of the projectile. The intended target ducked, and there was a collective gasp as it appeared that the pencil was going to hit Mrs. Welch. Fortunately, it hit the metal door-jamb next to her head and bounced harmlessly across the room, landing on her desk.
The classroom became very quiet.
Mrs. Welch just stood there, glaring at me.
After walking silently to her desk and staring down at the pencil for a few moments, she looked around the classroom and told us, "When I was a little girl, a small child, my mother told me that a pencil could be a very helpful tool when used properly. She also told me that it could put out an eye if used with disregard of my safety or the safety of others."
Then she sat down and asked me to come to her desk. I did.
"Pick up your pencil."
I did, and started back to my desk.
"Come back. I haven't dismissed you."
She handed me her tape dispenser and told me to tear off two pieces of tape.
I did as ordered.
Then she had me tape the pencil to the right upper corner of the blackboard (actually, they just painted them green a year before) and to sign under it, in chalk, my name. She had me print underneath it, in small letters, "This is a pencil. It is used for writing. If used improperly, it can put out an eye."
My pencil stayed there until the end of the year.
It may be there still.
I'm still looking for a way to propel a photon to a speed in excess of the speed of light. I haven't found it yet, but I think Mrs. Welch thought I already had.
Tennessee-North Carolina 1-2-3-4
In early colonial days, North Carolina was at one time given rights over land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, i.e., the right to issue land grants, etc., but later, the land west of the Appalachians became Territory South of the Ohio, then the failed State of Franklin (8 counties in East Tennessee) then in 1796, Tennessee was admitted into the Union at the 16th State.
Today, that territory contains the top four-ranked men's basketball teams in the Premier Division of the NCAA. This weekend, #1 Memphis hosts #2 University of Tennessee (Knoxville-main campus). Just to the East, in the parent state of North Carolina, we find #3 and #4 University of North Carolina and Duke University, close neighbors. The following weekend, #4 Duke hosts #3 North Carolina. Duke won the first meeting at Chapel Hill.
Today, that territory contains the top four-ranked men's basketball teams in the Premier Division of the NCAA. This weekend, #1 Memphis hosts #2 University of Tennessee (Knoxville-main campus). Just to the East, in the parent state of North Carolina, we find #3 and #4 University of North Carolina and Duke University, close neighbors. The following weekend, #4 Duke hosts #3 North Carolina. Duke won the first meeting at Chapel Hill.
Other ranked teams from this area this week are:
#16 Vanderbilt, from Nashville, TN
and in women's basketball,
#2 North Carolina, and
#3 Tennessee.
A hotbed?
Yep.
~ at least for now ~
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Eagle Rock (a dance movement)
First you put your knees together, close up tight,
Then you sway 'em to left , then you sway 'em to the right.
(a modified Georgia Grind)
Step around the floor kind of nice and light,
(a Cat Walk?)
Then you twist around, and twist around with all your might,
(a hip / Pelvis Roll)
Stretch your ever-lovin' arms way out in space,
(like extended eagle wings)
Then you do the Eagle Rock with style and grace,
Swing your foot way 'round, then bring it back,
Now that's what I call ballin' the jack"...
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
In a 1942 Gene Kelly movie, this song and dance
was displayed. In 1951, Dean Martin did the
song and dance. How many, oh, how many times
have we all been asked, "What's the Eagle Rock
and how do you do it?" Next time someone asks
you, you tell `em:
"The eagle rock dance movement is performed by
extending the arms like outstretched eagle wings
and gently swaying back and forth emulating the
movements of an eagle floating in the wind."
Then you sway 'em to left , then you sway 'em to the right.
(a modified Georgia Grind)
Step around the floor kind of nice and light,
(a Cat Walk?)
Then you twist around, and twist around with all your might,
(a hip / Pelvis Roll)
Stretch your ever-lovin' arms way out in space,
(like extended eagle wings)
Then you do the Eagle Rock with style and grace,
Swing your foot way 'round, then bring it back,
Now that's what I call ballin' the jack"...
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
In a 1942 Gene Kelly movie, this song and dance
was displayed. In 1951, Dean Martin did the
song and dance. How many, oh, how many times
have we all been asked, "What's the Eagle Rock
and how do you do it?" Next time someone asks
you, you tell `em:
"The eagle rock dance movement is performed by
extending the arms like outstretched eagle wings
and gently swaying back and forth emulating the
movements of an eagle floating in the wind."
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
comments to blogs & emails to bloggers
In the week this blog has been open, I've posted six times. I'm not sure I really expected anyone to read my blog. But somehow, traffic is present, because I'm getting emails about my blogs. That's OK, but I think I expected the comments to be posted in the comment section and not sent to me by email. So far, I've received derogatory comments about my not liking "Missing You", a 1982 song appearing on Dan Fogelberg's Greatest Hits, condolences about Jennifer with assurances that my faith will see me through, a searing message about my Dan Fogelberg Real Doll post accusing me of blasphemy and berating me for unseemly commments on the recently deceased, two emails from Alabama football fans relating personal experiences about Bear Bryant, two requests from females (I think) wanting me to send, or post a picture of me without a shirt on, and six other emails with such a lack of content that it made me wonder why the person even took the time to send it.
Now I'd like to make a suggestion. If you want to comment on my blog, please post it in the comment section so everyone can enjoy it or take pot shots at it. If you want to take a pot shot at me, fine. It won't bother me. But have the courage to do it publicly so others can judge your ideas and comment on them. So far, I've only responded to the emails by thanking them for visiting the blog and encouraging them to comment publicly. Especially the two Bear Bryant emails deserved public show; I think everyone should get to read them, so, guys, if you're reading this, post them under the comments. OK? I won't post the comments for you. I understand the condolence email being personal, but even that one had good thoughts that everyone could use.
As to those emails chiding me for my comments about Dan Fogelberg, I urge you to make those public so people can see what you said. Contrary to what most of you said, I am a Fogelberg aficionado, sans equal, and I am entitled to comment if I was not particularly fond of one of his songs. I don't particularly like The Power of Gold, either, but he's got one hundred ten songs that I consider my favorites. When I list my favorite songs, my list always begins: #111. Still the Same - Bob Seger Then I list some Supertramp, some more Seger, some Eagles and a few more. More than my top hundred are Fogelberg, so I'm a fan. I didn't consider writing about a Dan Fogelberg doll on stage to be either malicious or defaming Dan's memory.
For years, I've heard things like, "Dan could just come sit on stage for an hour without opening his mouth, and I'd still buy a ticket," or, as one particularly devoted DanFan used to say, "It'd be worth the price of a ticket if Dan just walked out on the stage, picked his nose, and walked away." Somehow, I resisted the urge to ask him whether he'd pay extra if Dan flipped the content into the audience. I imagine my friend would have said he would have dived for it and fought, if necessary. He never stopped bragging about the hot summer night when he was sitting front row center and, at the end, Dan came to the front of the stage, bowed, wiped his brow with his hand, then did a "flourish" to the crowd with that same hand. He claimed that he felt "at least ten sweat pellets hit my forearm and hand" and proudly displayed a ticket which he said contained two of the pellets. So far, he has denied my request to take the ticket to the D.A.'s office for DNA testing. Frankly, I think it may be his own perspiration. Why else would he be withholding evidence from me?
Now I'd like to make a suggestion. If you want to comment on my blog, please post it in the comment section so everyone can enjoy it or take pot shots at it. If you want to take a pot shot at me, fine. It won't bother me. But have the courage to do it publicly so others can judge your ideas and comment on them. So far, I've only responded to the emails by thanking them for visiting the blog and encouraging them to comment publicly. Especially the two Bear Bryant emails deserved public show; I think everyone should get to read them, so, guys, if you're reading this, post them under the comments. OK? I won't post the comments for you. I understand the condolence email being personal, but even that one had good thoughts that everyone could use.
As to those emails chiding me for my comments about Dan Fogelberg, I urge you to make those public so people can see what you said. Contrary to what most of you said, I am a Fogelberg aficionado, sans equal, and I am entitled to comment if I was not particularly fond of one of his songs. I don't particularly like The Power of Gold, either, but he's got one hundred ten songs that I consider my favorites. When I list my favorite songs, my list always begins: #111. Still the Same - Bob Seger Then I list some Supertramp, some more Seger, some Eagles and a few more. More than my top hundred are Fogelberg, so I'm a fan. I didn't consider writing about a Dan Fogelberg doll on stage to be either malicious or defaming Dan's memory.
For years, I've heard things like, "Dan could just come sit on stage for an hour without opening his mouth, and I'd still buy a ticket," or, as one particularly devoted DanFan used to say, "It'd be worth the price of a ticket if Dan just walked out on the stage, picked his nose, and walked away." Somehow, I resisted the urge to ask him whether he'd pay extra if Dan flipped the content into the audience. I imagine my friend would have said he would have dived for it and fought, if necessary. He never stopped bragging about the hot summer night when he was sitting front row center and, at the end, Dan came to the front of the stage, bowed, wiped his brow with his hand, then did a "flourish" to the crowd with that same hand. He claimed that he felt "at least ten sweat pellets hit my forearm and hand" and proudly displayed a ticket which he said contained two of the pellets. So far, he has denied my request to take the ticket to the D.A.'s office for DNA testing. Frankly, I think it may be his own perspiration. Why else would he be withholding evidence from me?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Bear Bryant - 25 years later
The morning newspaper had a 2-page tribute to Bear Bryant, who died 25 years ago today. If I had to make a list of the Ten People I Most Admired in my Life, Bear Bryant would be in there. I don't know who the other nine would be, but Bear's in there for sure. I bet Coach Bryant was responsible for more NCAA football rule changes than any other coach. Every year, he'd have a new trick play for the Tennessee game, a play nobody had ever used anywhere before, except maybe in sandlot. It was usually good for a touchdown, and for the remaining month of the season, you'd see other teams trying it. Then the NCAA Rules Committee would create new rules so you couldn't do it anymore.
The man was a genius with the rules. He knew how far he could go with his trick plays and stay within the rules. It was comical, almost, except to Tennessee fans, that he'd have a special play for Tennessee, every year. In 1976 or 77, I think (it's hard to remember), he didn't really need the trick play to beat the Vols, but he used it anyway. Leading 26-7 in Knoxville with just over two minutes left to play in the game, the Bear unveiled one of his yet unforeseen plays to increase the lead to 32-7, resulting in a long chorus of "boooooo" from the Orange faithful.
Then the Crimson Tide lined up and went for two instead of kicking an extra point.
More boos.
The attempt failed, but the boos continued.
After the game, Coach Bryant explained, "We have a chart that tells us when to kick the extra point and when to go for two," and dismissed it with that.
As one Volunteer fan pointed out: "We had two minutes and ten seconds. If we had somehow scored three times and gone for two, successfully, each time, in that two minutes and ten seconds, Alabama would still have led 33-31, if they'd've kicked the extra point. But if we had scored four times and kicked an extra point each time, and Alabama hadn't scored again after a successful two-point conversion, Tennessee would have won by 35-34. So why in the world did they go for two except to rile the fans?"
Gotta love Bear Bryant. He had a reason for special treatment for Tennessee.
But that's another post. Stay tuned.
[p.s. - this is a memory from 30 years ago, and I'm in my sixties and too lazy to look up the details, so if you can correct any faulty memory I have, feel free to do so in Comments, below, but what I've posted is the gist of what happened - B.E.]
The man was a genius with the rules. He knew how far he could go with his trick plays and stay within the rules. It was comical, almost, except to Tennessee fans, that he'd have a special play for Tennessee, every year. In 1976 or 77, I think (it's hard to remember), he didn't really need the trick play to beat the Vols, but he used it anyway. Leading 26-7 in Knoxville with just over two minutes left to play in the game, the Bear unveiled one of his yet unforeseen plays to increase the lead to 32-7, resulting in a long chorus of "boooooo" from the Orange faithful.
Then the Crimson Tide lined up and went for two instead of kicking an extra point.
More boos.
The attempt failed, but the boos continued.
After the game, Coach Bryant explained, "We have a chart that tells us when to kick the extra point and when to go for two," and dismissed it with that.
As one Volunteer fan pointed out: "We had two minutes and ten seconds. If we had somehow scored three times and gone for two, successfully, each time, in that two minutes and ten seconds, Alabama would still have led 33-31, if they'd've kicked the extra point. But if we had scored four times and kicked an extra point each time, and Alabama hadn't scored again after a successful two-point conversion, Tennessee would have won by 35-34. So why in the world did they go for two except to rile the fans?"
Gotta love Bear Bryant. He had a reason for special treatment for Tennessee.
But that's another post. Stay tuned.
[p.s. - this is a memory from 30 years ago, and I'm in my sixties and too lazy to look up the details, so if you can correct any faulty memory I have, feel free to do so in Comments, below, but what I've posted is the gist of what happened - B.E.]
Jennifer Bozeman
This morning, I received word that Jennifer died three days ago. She was only 37 and was an avid DanFan from the time she was a little girl. There was never a sweeter little girl on this earth and she stayed sweet when she grew up, but the old bad leukemia came along and did her in. I don't really know exactly how this works, but I expect she's gotten to meet Dan by now. I can't help but smile when I think of that pretty face and sweet spirit.
I love you, Jennifer. Heaven's even brighter now. See you there.
Love,
me
I love you, Jennifer. Heaven's even brighter now. See you there.
Love,
me
Dan Fogelberg realdoll
Could they make a Dan Fogelberg realdoll? Knowing fans the way I do, if they just sat one in one of those collapsible travel chairs on a Navahoise carpet and played Fogelberg music in the background, they'd sell a lot of tickets.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Woooo--oo I'm missing you
"...I'm getting closer, but I don't know what to,
Wooooo-oooo, I'm missing you..."
A simplistic Fogelberg song, but with a bit of rock beat. Dan performed it with Dave's band, on Dave Letterman. Now it's on YouTube - the clip from Letterman's show, i.e. I never particularly liked the song, but it made #23 on the Hot 100 chart, so somebody liked it! Also on YouTube is the 1990 performance of Rhythm of the Rain on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Additionally, some of the songs from the Live Soundstage performance and from Greetings from the West can be seen on You Tube.
And then, you can see some really stupid performances by people who can't sing and can't play. I guess sort of a reverse tribute?
Wooooo-oooo, I'm missing you..."
A simplistic Fogelberg song, but with a bit of rock beat. Dan performed it with Dave's band, on Dave Letterman. Now it's on YouTube - the clip from Letterman's show, i.e. I never particularly liked the song, but it made #23 on the Hot 100 chart, so somebody liked it! Also on YouTube is the 1990 performance of Rhythm of the Rain on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Additionally, some of the songs from the Live Soundstage performance and from Greetings from the West can be seen on You Tube.
And then, you can see some really stupid performances by people who can't sing and can't play. I guess sort of a reverse tribute?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Dan Fogelberg's Grave
Somebody posted yesterday that she listed The Wild Places, a 1990 Fogelberg CD, for sale on Amazon at $30+. A stranger emailed her and said that "profiteering" from Dan's death was akin to spitting on his grave. She blogged it, and I had to chime in that Dan was cremated so her charging $30+ would have to be akin to something other than spitting on his grave, since there was no grave to spit on.
Dan wouldn't have given a big hairy Maine Coon's tail how much somebody charged for a used CD. He wouldn't have given it a second thought. I agree with the blogger, whose web name is The Naked Tapdancer, that somebody got his dander up inappropriately. The guy will really be upset if he reads my comment, and I expect an email from him. If I get one, I'll try to console him with words from Dan. I think he'll be upset to read that I said if The Naked Tapdancer had spit on the crematory fire, it probably wouldn't have made much of a dent in the occasion. And he'll really get upset that I opined that Dan would probably have liked for her to tapdance naked on his grave, had one been available.
Dan Fogelberg was quite simply the best singer these ears ever had the opportunity to experience. He was the best songwriter, the best multi-instumentalist, and the best all-around eclectic musician I've ever known.
His music was magic.
His concerts often left me spellbound and speechless.
He did it his way, and he just didn't seem to get hung up on the small stuff.
Dan lived well.
Sail on, Dan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With admiration beyond expression,
Just One, of a legion of fans
Dan wouldn't have given a big hairy Maine Coon's tail how much somebody charged for a used CD. He wouldn't have given it a second thought. I agree with the blogger, whose web name is The Naked Tapdancer, that somebody got his dander up inappropriately. The guy will really be upset if he reads my comment, and I expect an email from him. If I get one, I'll try to console him with words from Dan. I think he'll be upset to read that I said if The Naked Tapdancer had spit on the crematory fire, it probably wouldn't have made much of a dent in the occasion. And he'll really get upset that I opined that Dan would probably have liked for her to tapdance naked on his grave, had one been available.
Dan Fogelberg was quite simply the best singer these ears ever had the opportunity to experience. He was the best songwriter, the best multi-instumentalist, and the best all-around eclectic musician I've ever known.
His music was magic.
His concerts often left me spellbound and speechless.
He did it his way, and he just didn't seem to get hung up on the small stuff.
Dan lived well.
Sail on, Dan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With admiration beyond expression,
Just One, of a legion of fans
The Big Ehlo
Introduction: The Big Ehlo here. I am a 230 pound former point guard/nose guard for Stratford. I do odd jobs around the neighborhood to help out even if nobody asks me to I can throw a perfect spiral football pass for 30 yards or less and heave it 60 yards but the spiral gets a little wobbly at 60 yards. On Friday nights, you can see me at John Paul II games beating my upside down white bucket on the front row of the student section. I'm the only non-student they let sit there. I bench press 450 and clean and jerk 350. I'm as good a friend as anybody could ask for.
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