I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM, our Laramie, Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES — an exhibition entitled Invisible Worlds — an interactive experience examining the Brazilian rain forest, satellites tracing Earth's orbit and the oceans — is an ongoing attraction at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC.
Another immersive exhibit
YOUR WEEKEND READ is this brief look at the candidate challenging the embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in next year’s primary — and what made Andy Kim decide to take the plunge.
LIVING in NEW ENGLAND the news of the location of the Lewiston, Maine murderer reminded me so much of the manhunt for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ten years ago in 2013 ... also on a Friday night. Massive relief that he was taken alive without a shot ... and that the shelter-in-place was lifted.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Nanny McPhee the Cat — an English kitteh named after a children's book character who has a "famously deformed nose" … as this shelter kitteh has two noses … caused by a congenital abnormality.
Nanny McPhee the Cat
AMONGST THE TRIBUTES to the late iconic actor Richard Roundtree’s death from pancreatic cancer — it should be noted that he was already a cancer survivor. He was one of the comparatively few male breast cancer patients who went public with it (before daytime TV talk shows broached the subject). And he later became a spokesman for the cause, as less than 1% of breast cancer patients are male.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T HEARD — this coming Thursday, the “final” Beatles song Now and Then will be released. It features John’s vocals (from a 1970’s cassette given to Paul by Yoko) plus George’s guitar recorded in 1995.
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Ginge the Cat — one of two strays that have found a home at a rail depot in Blackpool, England and keep employees entertained.
Ginge the Railway Cat
BRAIN TEASER — try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a retrospective of Fred Harvey — the 19th century immigrant from England who changed the future of railroad travel in the western US and was the pioneer of chain restaurants.
SEPARATED at BIRTH —
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… time once again is my enemy this week: so I’ll just reprise the song featured in my Top Comments diary.
In the 1946 film Harvey Girls — starring Judy Garland, Cyd Charisse and Angela Lansbury — this song (written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer) later won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
What a lovely trip, I'm feeling so fresh and alive
And I'm so glad to arrive; it's all so grand
It's easy to see you don't need a palace
To feel like Alice ... in Wonderland
Back in Ohio where I come from
I've done a lot of dreaming and I've traveled some
But I never thought I'd see the day
When I ever took a ride on the Santa Fe
I would lean across my window sill
And hear the whistle echoing across the hill
Then I'd watch the lights, till they fade away
On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe
What a thrill with the wheels singing westward ho
Right from the day I heard them start
Across the Kansas plains from New Mexico
I guess I've got a little gypsy in my heart
When I'm old and gray and settled down
If I ever get a chance to sneak away from town
Then I'll spend my busman's holiday
On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe
I can't believe I'm here at last
I can't believe that anything could go so fast
Then you pull that throttle whistle blows
A huffing and a puffing and a way she goes
All aboard for Californ-i-a
On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe