Month: March 2008

Shield-ed Music

If you’re over 40, and you’ve never heard of composer Leroy Shield, that’s because the music he’s best known for was written without credit. If you’re under 40, it’s likely you’ve never heard his music at all, because around 1970 the black and white films of The Little Rascals and Laurel and Hardy, produced by Hal Roach in the 1930’s, were no longer a staple on TV.

WFMU’s Beware of the Blog notes that there is now a Leroy Shield Web site. Thanks go to Tom Tastewar for the tip-off. The audio player has a couple of tunes written by Shield, performed by the Beau Hunks.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/MAR/GoodOldDays.mp3,http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/MAR/OnToTheShow.mp3]

Barack in the USA

Will blog more later. I’m busy with running, and doing taxes (I owe, I owe), and this weekend is Anime Boston!

But I would like to say that I listened to Barack Obama’s entire speech, given in Philadelphia, dealing head-on with the race issue, and I was very impressed. I’d forgotten what’s it like to hear such a lengthy, thoughtful, and coherent speech, delivered effectively from start to finish.

The Capitalism of Karl Marx Carl Barks

Donald Duck, by Carl Barks

I am truly concerned by what’s going on with the craziness in the financial markets right now. We need a clear understanding of the fundamentals of a working economy, and for that we turn to Uncle Scrooge McDuck. Click the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures and read the story.

Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951 Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #126, 1951

© Disney

This was the first comic book story by Carl Barks I ever read. If you’ve never read a Carl Barks story, now it’s your first too.

This Is Her Song

Tickets for Petula Clark’s appearance on Mother’s Day at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, a mere 80 miles from here, go on sale today at 10am.

 

P.S. I have my tickets! Ordered them online, and I have a link that lets me print them myself. Also, our man in Scotland, Dave, reports the following has been posted by the British government at this link.

Read the Government’s response

Thank you for your e-petition.

Petula Clark’s achievements in music are well known and respected. It is easy to see why so many people want to see her record formally recognised. This is underlined by the fact over a thousand people have signed the e-petition on the No 10 website calling for her to be made a Dame. Your support has been carefully noted.

This is only acknowledgment that the PET-ition has been noted, not that it is being acting upon. The whole concept of petitioning the UK gov’t online is new, so there’s no way of knowing if this is the standard response. I would point out, however, that there’s no mention of Pet being such a trouper for the troops during WWII. My feeling is her contributions to morale during the war in and of themselves warrant the title of Dame. And of course she’s had such a wonderful career ever since then!

Bear Banking

Oh, those capitalist risk-takers! They sure hate government intervention… until they’re in trouble, as victims of their own greed. Now that the Fed has agreed to back a loan to keep Bear Stearns afloat, what about every other large financial institution that runs into trouble?

[Treasury Secretary Henry] Paulson would not discuss what would have happened if the government didn’t extend a financial lifeline to Bear Stearns. “I’m not going to speculate about what ifs,” he said.

This is a ridiculous statement! The Fed and Treasury wouldn’t have acted unless they had an idea of what would happen if Bear Stearns went under. Bailing out Bear Stearns may be reassuring to Wall Street, but I think it’s scaring Main Street.