William Shatner, this morning in the Enterprise sick bay exam room at the Star Trek Tour in Ticonderoga, New York. He’s lost a lot of weight! I sincerely hope it’s for the better.
Captain Kirk in McCoy’s Sickbay
Author: DOuG pRATt
The American Behind the British Beat
Shel Talmy has died. Who?
The Who.
Talmy was an American who found his way to England and became one of the most important record producers of the 60s.
The Kinks.
The Easybeats.
Sam the Red Snowman
Folk singer and actor Burl Ives was a Communist sympathizer who cooperated with HUAC; however, Ives’ most enduring legacy is almost certainly his narration of 1964’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
A tip o’ the Dog Rat toupee to twinster Jeanie Beanie for letting me know that Rudolph is returning to NBC after decades at CBS, for a special 60th anniversary airing.
Jean and I have a possible connection to Burl Ives through our maternal grandfather. Our parents met at Eastern Illinois State College, where our grandfather, Eugene Waffle, was an English professor and later chairman of the department.
The connection with Ives is explained at this link:
However, during a “Beowulf” lecture in his English class, Ives decided to stop pursuing his degree and he wanted to become a singer. He left in the middle of class. Allegedly, the teacher made a nasty remark about him as he left and Ives slammed the door behind him, shattering the glass.
https://www.dailyeasternnews.com/2021/10/04/the-person-behind-burl-ives-studio-hall/
My grandfather became an English professor at the college in 1926, as seen here:
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/archives_faculty_sz/259/
With Ives attending the school from 1927-30, I wouldn’t be surprised if my prickly grandfather was the English professor who made the snide remark.
J.R.R. Tolkien lectured on Beowulf, having completed his translation of the epic poem in 1926. I wonder if anyone ever walked out of his class?
Hitting Below the Utility Belt
“The Bat Pill is the little blue one?”
Dorma’s Hubby, Subby
Die, Grapevine, Die!
A few of you have seen how overgrown the grapevines have become on part of my property. With loppers and a pruning saw in hand, I have been aggressive in my grapevine attacks, now that I can reach the roots.
No, there aren’t any grapes, just the vines and leaves.