January 13th, 2024
“ 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 at the end of hostilities. It has been 679 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
This week I learned some stuff:
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- Facebook’s rather schizophrenic algorithm continues to impress me as to how completely correct it is in predicting Reels that I would enjoy watching and how completely wrong it often is as well. Recently, my usual Reels menu of old VW Buses and various art videos from stained glass to some nice wet running paint pieces. Then they put all these clips of people having terrible trips, slips, falls and accidents. I keep selecting don’t show any more of these but they are pretty persistent. On the other hand, I have been treated to some amazing clips of extraordinary tie-dye pieces. And so it goes…
- January 13th has been a special day for me every year of my life. My mother was born on January 13th as was one of my best friends. January 13th is the thirteenth day of the year with just 346 days till Christmas. You can find out all about December 28th in history here.
This week’s Website Update:
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- As I continue to struggle with all things visual, I am only going to create new Vocabulary, and Music Trivia quizzes when I have accumulated enough information. That is to say, I will not search for entertaining words or trivia items any longer so the publication of new quizzes will be more infrequent.
- The Home Page quote for this week’s wisdom is from Goethe: “You can easily judge the character of a man by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.”
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update:
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- I was able to glaze a piece and create a new bowl this week.
- I am actively racing to finish the final edit of, “Grandpa Stories” before I am no longer able to. It takes longer and a lot of backspaces are involved but working my way through Chapter 33 now, only 19 more to go!!!
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Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- It’s probably just a function of being a tottering geezer, but it seems to me that there are a great deal of more emotive shows on TV than there used to be. I have always been a hopeless romantic. I cried at the end of “Old Yeller” and stood up and cheered at the end of “War Games” and “Independence Day” but lately…. I don’t know it seems more top of mind… like maybe I am searching for emotive stories more these days. Lately, I have been bringing on “All Creatures – Great and Small” on PBS a great deal. It scratches all my emotive itches- the animals, a rascal or two, a young couple just starting their g life together and so many others during the start of WWII in rural England I find myself rooting for the good guys and the hurt animals, admiring those brave moments people face all the time and crying at the loss of those magical moments we know but once in a lifetime. I read the book in High School, I think, as an English assignment and I do not recall being this impressed.
Music Update:
Let there be music! Please join me in my time capsule back to the 1970s.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
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- Grand Funk Railroad — Closer to Home (I’m Your Captain) —These boys exploded on the scene at the `969 Atlanta International Pop Festival. They blew everyone away with their incredibly loud 3 chord magic. This is the title cut from their 1970 release.
- Sly and the Family Stone — Dance to the Music — There always seemed to be about 100 people on stage every time Sly played. This one is the title cut from their 1970 release.
- Canned Heat — Work Together — Like Sly Stone and the gang these guys opened for everyone. For a while there, it was impossible to see anyone without Canned Heat on the bill. Which was great because they were a truly good-time band. This was originally released on their “Future Blues” release in 1970
- Marshal Tucker Band — Can’t You See — To me, Marshal Tucker always seemed like an offspring of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers band. This is from their, “Searching for a Rainbow” album released in 1975.
- Loggins & Messina —Angry Eyes — This is a deep cut from their second album Loggins & Messina” released in 1970. Known for their sweet harmonious songs of love and innocence, this hard-rocking song about conflict was a new genre for the boys. It has always been one of my favorites from one of my favorites of the 1970s.
- John Denver — Season Suite: Late Winter, Early Spring (When Everybody Goes to Mexico) — Every time I play this for someone who has never heard it before, it shocks them. John had such a beautiful voice! But this instrumental from his 1972, “Rocky Mountain High’ is one of his most beautiful songs.
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!