October 13th, 2022
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice in the end of hostilities. It has been 229 days since Russia attacked Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
• The “Prostate Adventure” continues. We had good news this week. The PET scan located just a few local lymph nodes in my abdomen have prostate cancer present. The “team” is confident that the treatment plan they have will cure all the prostate cancer in me. It will take some intensive radiation and a couple of years of hormone treatment but they think they can fix this one. Whew!
• October 13th is the 286th day of 2022. Just 72 days till Christmas! Today in 1843, B’nai B’rith, the oldest Jewish service organization in the world, is founded in NYC; On this day in 1892, Edward Emerson Barnard discovers first comet by photographic means; Today in 1903, the Boston Red Sox win the first modern World Series, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth game.; In 1976 on this day, the first electron micrograph of an Ebola virus is taken at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Dr. F. A. Murphy; Today in 1983, Ameritech Mobile Communications launches the first US cellular network in Chicago; The mining accident in Copiapó, Chile ends as all 33 trapped miners arrive at the surface after a record 69 days underground on this day in 2010; Lillie Langtry, English actress and singer was born today in 1853; Born today in 1909, Art Tatum, American jazz pianist; Lenny Bruce, American comedian and actor was born today in 1925; Also born today in 1925, Margaret Thatcher, English chemist and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ; Neil Aspinall, Welsh-English record producer and manager was born today in 1941; Also born today in 1941,Paul Simon, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer; Sammy Hagar, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer was born today in 1947; Today in 1959, Marie Osmond, American singer, actress, and television spokesperson was born; Jerry Rice, American football player was born today in 1962; E. C. Segar, American cartoonist, created Popeye passed away today in 1939; Ed Sullivan, American journalist and talk show host died today in 1974; Bertram Brockhouse, Canadian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate passed away today in 2003; And lastly, Dario Fo, Italian playwright, actor, director, and composer Nobel Prize laureate passed away today in 2016.
Website Update:
This week:
• Week 2 for our Vocabulary Quiz
• Last week for our Musical Trivia Quiz
• I did not create any new recipes this week to post.
• The Home Page quote this week is from Bob Marley, “The most beautiful curve on a woman’s body is her smile.”
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I have started another ambitious stained glass project that will take me a while.
• I also decided to do some watercolors starting this week.
• I am continuing my streak of slacking off on the paper edits of Grandpa Stories. I just haven’t carved out any time for more chapters.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
This week we celebrate Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day. The exploitation of the indigenous people of North America by the Europeans began the same day Columbus landed. The only thing that I can imagine more shameful than the treatment of enslaved people taken from Africa and their descendants. Starting with our founding fathers continuing to some degree to today, our treatment of the indigenous peoples of America has been appalling. The mere presence of the Europeans in the new world spread sickness followed by slaughter, and pillaging these established communities for our own purposes. America was founded on some pretty ugly truths that we aren’t willing to face and as a consequence, we still do not know how to deal with effectively. Australia and Canada have both made strides in attempting to recognize and even compensate those indigenous people impacted by our policies. We, on the other hand, continue to minimize our actual history and refuse to take any responsibility for what was done by our forefathers at the expense of the decedents of slaves or indigenous people. America is a great country and is capable of great things. We cannot fix this until we accept responsibility for what has happened.
Oh! Bear 747 had done it again! He won in 2020 and again this year in Alaska’s Katmai National Park & Preserve. He is estimated to tip the scales at over 400lbs this year. You Rock Dude!
Music Update:
Once again, I drag you all through the dusty attic of my eclectic musical moments. I try to put together something for everyone but sometimes I miss and have to settle for just pleasing myself.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Doc Watson — Shady Grove — This is an old Appalachian trail song that has been done by damn near everyone – Quicksilver, Garcia, and a host of other bluegrass, folk and rock bands. It is believed that there are over 300 different stanzas written for this song. Doc Watson was a wonderful finger picker and I think does one of the most authentic versions of this old bluegrass standard. This version was captured on his 1990 compilation, “The Essential Doc Watson”.
• Dave Mathews Band — Jimi Thing — According to the pundits in the space and some quotes from Dave, this song is about the early days of Jimi Hendrix. To me it’s just a great demonstration of Dave’s band talent. This is from their “Under the Table and Dreaming ” album released in 1994.
• Carl Verheyen Band — New Year’s Day — My friend George Gomez turned me on to Carl. Quite simply he is a superb guitar player. This beautiful piece comes from his “The Road Devides” album released in 2011.
• Joe Cocker — Sandpaper Cadillac — This is a deep cut from Joe’s classic album, “ With a Little Help from My Friends” released in 1969.
• Roger Miller — Dang Me — Roger wrote a lot of C&W hits for a lot of C&W players before he started recording his own music and then just having fun making up funny songs. This one comes from his 1964 album, “Roger and Out.” He had his own prime time tv show for a while and he was really funny. He liked to make all these rather strange sounds with his voice and weave them into his songs. Made me smile.
• The Subdudes — Flower Petals — You might not find this one your cup of tea but I surely do like it. I like the harmonies and melody. This is the title song from their 2009 release.
That’s it… Do the best you can; Laugh every chance you get; Always remember… The best is yet to come! As always, thank you for being my friend!