the way in which an event or course of action is perceived by the public.
Optics have always played a major role in politics. The way something is seen can be just as, if not more important, than what it’s trying to accomplish. Politicians work feverishly to make sure they are put in the best light, so it’s a little strange to see someone buck that trend.
President Trump is a person who has always done things his way. From The Art of a Deal to the Trump “brand’; it has always been his way or the highway. This week, Trump meet with the Russian ambassador one day after firing F.B.I. Director James Comey for either being mean to Hillary, or for continuing to look at connections between the Trump campaign and Russia (I report, you decide).
This is not about why Trump dumped Comey, but about the optics of meeting with the Russians the next day. Trump explained to NBC’s Lester Holt that he “never thought about the optics” of welcoming Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the White House the day after he fired Comey.
“It was set up a while ago, and frankly, I could have waited but what difference does it make? I’m not looking for cosmetics. I’m looking to do a great job for the country,” said Trump.
Now some people will find that honesty refreshing. Maybe if we worried less about how the public might react to something and focus more on the job at hand, we would be better off.
Trump’s problem is that his so-called negative optics are as plentiful as opinions and are causing people to question his ability to lead and trustworthiness. Conflicting information, dismissing high level staffers like Mike Flynn and James Comey; and an ever changing narrative from his spokespersons erode the level of confidence and willingness (if you can find one democrat) to work with him.
During the campaign, the word unconventional was used ad nauseam to describe his campaign. I’m surprised we don’t hear that word more to describe his presidency.
Alexandra Zapruder, granddaughter of Abraham Zapruder, is coming to Houston this week to discuss her book “From Camera Lens to Conspiracies: What Zapruder Saw Then to What the World Sees Now.”
While the “Zapruder Film” has been discussed and dissected ad nauseam, reading about the book’s premise reminded me how much the world has changed in regards to how news is covered. Just imagine for a moment if the JFK assassination occurred today. There would hundreds of spectators with smart phones taking photos, shooting videos, steaming live to Facebook, all to be posted on social media.
Back in 1963, Zapruder protected his film by entrusting it to the U.S. Secret Service. He later sold the rights to Life magazine whose editors carefully protected their investment. Eventually, the images were stolen and used by several famous and not so famous media outlets.
Today, television stations routinely encourage viewers to record breaking news when they see it (one station even reminds viewers to turn the phone sideways before you start recording). Now we get to enjoy watching passengers being dragged down the aisle of a United Airline jet to “voluntarily” give up their seat, or road rage fights.
It appears from the excerpts of the book, Zapruder was very calculating when it came to what should be done with his infamous 26 second film. The frames are horrific and capture a dark day in our nation’s past. One can see this was not an easy decision for him to make.
Does the public have the right to see it? Is forcing the Kennedy family live with those images forever fair to them? Did we learn anything more about the assassination by seeing the film then before?
Ray Abshire Cajun Band performing on the Fais Do-Do Stage
Like to hear great live music, munch on tasty treats and enjoy some epic people watching? Then you need to get to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
I have heard about this festival for years, but can honestly say I had no idea how enormous this event was. This year’s festival featured Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Harry Connick Jr., Snoop Dog and many, many more (click here to see the complete list).
Lost Bayou Ramblers performing on the Gentilly Stage
So how does Jazz Fest pack so many acts together? Believe it or not, they have 3 very large stages (Acura Stage, Gentilly Stage and Congo Square Stage) that have bands perform at the same time. The day I attended, I had to choose between Maroon 5, Alabama Shakes and Usher. Oh yeah, there are also 8 other acts on smaller stages including the Jazz Tent, the Gospel Tent and the marvelous Blues Tent where you can hear a wide variety of interpretations on this truly Americana genre of music.
Actual photo of Adam Levine’s brain hurting
The area is so crammed with music that Adam Levin (Maroon 5 frontman) quipped “we’ll have to reconfigure our set so we’re not doing the acoustic part while the Blues Tent is shredding” (Jonny Lang was performing). “It’s literally making my brain hurt,” said Levine.
You would think Jazz Fest is all about the music, but there is lots more to take in, mainly the food. The food list is as impressive as the music line-up and features your typical Creole/Cajun servings of jambalaya, po-boys, muffuletta sandwiches, boiled crawfish, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, boudin balls, plus many other tasty treats.
Yummy Crawfish Bread!
You can’t go wrong with any of it, but locals head straight for the Crawfish Bread stand. This decadent collection of warm bread with melted cheese and crawfish will have you asking ‘where have you been all of my life’. My suggestion is to get there early and eat one as soon as you can, then head over later in the day to chow down on some Crawfish Monica which consists of a bowl of totini pasta with bits of crawfish and enough cream and butter to clog even the most healthy of arteries.
Looking for something sweet? You’ll find plenty of Sno-Ball stands, praline stuffed beignets and the infamous Roman Chewing Candy Company. Another pleasant surprise is what the festival charges for the food and drink. Water was $3 a bottle, the Crawfish Bread was $7 and beers (you knew they had to have alcohol there right?) started around $8.
After spending nine hours of listening to awesome live music, pounding down great food and hanging around with festival attendees that are as varied as the music and food, all I can say is “Laissez le bon Temps Rouler”!
Boy it’s tough to fly these days. From airlines squeezing passengers into smaller and smaller seats, charging for checked bags and overbooking flights, it’s no wonder the friendly skies are becoming more and more tense.
By now, I’m sure you along with the entire world has seen the video of a United Airlines passenger being forcibly removed from a flight from Chicago to Louisville. The video, which includes audio of the man screaming while being lugged down the aisle, is difficult to watch, but does not tell the whole story.
United was trying to make room for a flight crew to get to Louisville. An announcement was made that they needed four passengers to give up their seats which were already taken. When no one volunteered, three passengers were asked to get off with little fan-fare (although I’m sure they were not happy) and no video to post on social media. David Dao, the fourth passenger, refused to give up his seat, resulting in Chicago airport police dragging him down the aisle.
The problem? The airline was actually in their rights to ask the passenger to get off the plane. In the fine print (that nobody ever bothers read) it basically gives the airline the right to remove anyone for any reason. Each airline has their own policy on how a person is to be reimbursed, but make no mistake, United Airlines was in their rights to do what they did.
Now you can argue that isn’t fair and that United Airlines totally mishandled the entire incident (and you would be correct), but what about the actions taking by Mr. Dao? A law officer made a request which he chose to ignore. Does that mean other passengers in the future can disregard a request/command from a law officer? I’m not sure I’m comfortable going down that pathway either.
United Airlines was in the wrong, but so was Mr. Dao. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but maybe, just maybe it will generate a discussion on passenger rights for future travelers.
The debate in our nation’s capital over the Affordable Health Care Act continues. Even though Republicans own a majority in all three branches of government, there has been no consensus on how to repeal/replace it.
It seems from the rhetoric of the American people, there are actually parts they like such as having their children stay on their policy till they reach 25 years of age, and allowing people with pre-existing conditions to get some kind of health care coverage.
The biggest hurdle may be in what the act has become known as; “Obamacare”. Republicans seem to have the attitude of “we don’t much care for Obama” and anything with his name on it is an abomination. I can’t help but wonder if both sides could fix it/make it better if his name wasn’t associated with it.
Ironically, the Freedom Caucus, is asking republicans to work with conservatives and throw out the whole thing which sounds strange to me when you consider the fact that most every Republican would claim they already are conservative.
It’s not easy, even President Trump commented “who knew health care could be so complicated” (actually anyone who relies on P.P.O.’s and co-pays already knew that). Trump even threatened to work with Democrats (insert gasp here) to get something done much to chagrin of Republican law-makers.
The Republicans point out more insurance companies are bowing out and rates are sky-rocketing which is true. Democrats warn a full repeal would cause millions to lose coverage which is also true. So where does the answer lie? Perhaps in the provable middle where few dare to tread and even fewer are able to politically return.
Interested in exploring a city with a rich history, world-class museums, a vibrant culture and is less than two hours away? Than say “hola Mexico City’!
Mexico City is a colorful tapestry of art, food, modern architecture, abject poverty, clogged roadways and citizens with a passion for life. Visiting an unfamiliar city can be a little intimidating, but you might want to begin in the Centro Histórico district, which encompasses the historic downtown. There you can wander the Zócalo, the largest plaza in Latin American.
Metropolitan Cathedral
Looming over the Zócalo like a majestic patriarch is the grand Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest in the America’s. One cannot help but be reminded of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe when walking through its large doors. The Metropolitan Cathedral, which took 240 years to complete, features four facades that are flanked by enormous columns and religious artwork. The two giant bell towers contain 25 bells.
Also worth checking out nearby is the National Palace and the ruins of the Templo Mayor featuring a museum that houses artifacts recovered from the site. You’ll also discover roof top restaurants offering panoramic views of the city center to rest and refresh yourself before moving on to your next stop.
Palacio de las Bellas Artes
Taking a leisurely stroll down the Francisco l. Madero Avenue brings you to the Palacio de las Bellas Artes, a spectacular building and home to a collection of statues, paintings and murals from some of Mexico’s finest artists including Freda Kahlo, Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The Palacio de las Bellas Artes is also home to the National Theatre, whose old world charm provide a perfect setting to see a performance by the Folklórico de México Compania Nacional.
Pyramid of the Sun
No trip to Mexico City would be complete without a visit to Teotihuacán, the ancient Mesoamerican city that was established around 100 B.C. There you will find the massive Pyramid of the Sun and slightly smaller Pyramid of the Moon. Found along the Avenue of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Sun is one of the largest structures of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and third largest in the world. Not much is known about the ancient city that covers 8 square miles and included temples and housing for nearly 200,000 citizens. The Aztecs who discovered it 600 years after the city was destroyed named it “the place where the gods were created”.
Climbing the 248 steps to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun can be challenging. Mexico City sits almost a mile and half above sea level, so the air is much thinner. Still the 360-degree views are spectacular and well worth a few moments of strained breathing and catching your breath.
There are several transportation options to visiting Teotihuacán. You can take public transportation, hire a cab or private car, or book one the many excursions offered by various tour companies. Consider getting there early in the day. It is less crowded, the temperature is cooler and you can observe the hot air balloons tours gentling floating overhead, offering tourists a unique view of this UNESCO site.
La Casa Azul
Mexico City may not have a Louvre or Rijksmuseum, but it does have a little blue house where tourists line-up around the block to enter. La Casa Azul was the home to Freda Kahlo, one of Mexico’s greatest artists. The Blue House rests in the quaint Coyoacán district and offers visitors the chance to walk about where she and husband Diego Rivera worked and lived. Be sure to purchase your tickets online before you go to avoid the inevitable long lines.
You won’t find a lot of her work there, but you do get insight into her life while strolling through the rooms and gardens that inspired her life. Kahlo suffered from several injuries that are evidenced by a collection of back braces, plastic corsets and a prosthetic leg. There are also dresses Kahlo designed which, instead of hiding her need for braces, highlighted them in a very forward fashion sense.
When you’re done visiting the La Casa Azul, it is worth taking a walk down the Ignacio Allende to the Mercado de Coyoacán. It is your typical Mexican market, crammed from floor to ceiling with goods ranging from souvenirs, housewares, a pet store and a florist shop. There is also a large food court offering many varieties of dishes, fruit drinks and candies. The aisles are tightly packed and making your way through the maze of vendors can be challenging, but there are bargains to be found with a little bit of haggling.
Continuing down Ignacio Allende, be sure to stop by the Café El Jarocho for a special cup of coffee. Opened in 1953, the traditional Mexican café offers various coffee drinks from the Jarocho bean that is grown in the northern mountains of Veracruz. The coffee features a nutty taste loved by locals and tourists alike, but you may need to be patient as lines can reach up to 30 minutes in wait time.
Just a few more blocks takes you to Plaza Hidalgo and Jardín Centenairo, two charming central plazas that sit side by side and allow you to sit and enjoy the tranquil fountains, lush gardens, the impressive Parroquia San Juan Bautista. There are also many restaurants offering local fair overlooking the plazas.
Queso fundido con chapulines y mezal
Food in Mexico City is rich in tradition. There are tortillas, tacos, tostada, quesadillas, enchiladas and antojitos that are comprised of small dishes served as appetizers or snacks. There’s also central Mexican cuisine made with spices blended from the Aztec, Spanish, African and European cultures. Don’t have time to sit and eat? No problem. Food vendors seem to be on every street corner and locals swear by them.
For something outside the box, consider enjoying a quick lunch at the El Catamarán just off the Centenario Garden. The queso fundido con chapulines (grasshoppers) y mezal, served with warm corn and flour tortillas with a cold cerveza and view of the Fuente de Los Coyotes is a wonderful way to experience México auténtico.
Every great city features a magnificent park and Mexico City is no exception. The Bosque de Chapultepec offers vast green space, miles of paved walked ways leading through woods, charming gardens and lakes. The remarkable hilltop Castillo de Chapultepec, which houses the Museo Nactional de Historio, offers stunning views of the city and worth the climb even if you don’t take time to enter the museum.
The Bosque de Chapultepec is also home to the internationally celebrated Museo Nacional de Antropologia. This massive museum offers a stunning collection original artifacts and walks visitors through a very organized and complete history of the country from prehistoric Mexico to today. Be sure to arrive early and plan on spending much of the day if you wish to visit all the halls in this museum has to offer.
While there, you can make a quick visit to the Mueso de Arte Mederno that houses collections from Frida Kahlo, José Luis Cuevas, Manuel Felguérez and of course, Diego Rivera. There are also temporary exhibitions on display.
Sunday is a special day of the week in Mexico City. One resident explained ‘Monday through Friday is for business, but Sunday is for pleasure’ and its people take full advantage of it. Museums like Palacio de las Bellas Artes and the Museo Nacional de Antropologia offer free admission to its citizens. The massive Paseo de La Reforma (Mexico City’s version of the Champs-Élysées) is literally shut down and taken over by thousands of bicyclists. Couples of all ages can be found dancing to music ranging from crooners belting out soulful ballads to Chuck Berry cd’s all dressed in their finest Sunday clothes in the many small city squares that dot the city.
There is so much to see and do in the city of palaces that it can be impossible to get it all done in a single trip, but being just a two hour flight away means multiple trips to Ciudad de México just might be in order.
Super Bowl LI is in the books. The city of Houston did a wonderful job of hosting the mega-event and most people agree the game and the experience was first class. Being the forward looking city we are, Houston is already thinking about the next time the Super Bowl will come to H-Town, but as Lee Corso so famously says; “not so fast my friend.”
The Houston Chronicle ran a buzz-kill story just three days after the big event with the headline “NRG Stadium already dated compared to other Super Bowl venues”. It seems the NRG is fast becoming outdated and will require major updates to compete for Super Bowls, Final Fours and other major events.
City leaders and the NFL will tout the tremendous economic impact the host city enjoys to justify updating/building these modern day coliseums, but like most numbers, it can greatly depend on your point of view. While the Houston numbers are still being calculated, the 2015 Super Bowl held in Arizona reportedly brought in $719m. The state might have taken in that amount in Super Bowl related events, but that number does not take into account the hundreds of millions dollars needed to host the game.
Economists who study these sorts of things put the value more at $30m to $130m, a nice piece of change, but nowhere near the $719m that is promoted.
The game heads north to Minneapolis next year. The Minneapolis Star Tribune published the NFL’s list of demands back in 2014. It’s shows what the NFL expects a city to cough up for the privilege of hosting the big game.
For example:
If placing logos of the NFL, Super Bowl, and teams that are playing in the game on the field requires different turf to be installed in the new downtown Minneapolis stadium, there would be no charge for that to the league.
If cellphone signal strength at the team hotels is not strong enough, then the host committee — at no cost to the league — “will be responsible [for erecting] a sufficient number of portable cellular towers.
The NFL is also requiring the local media “to provide significant advertising and promotional time” for the “NFL Experience” in the month leading up to the game. Among them: At least 20 color pages of free space, in aggregate, in leading daily newspapers to promote the game and four weeks of free promotions on at least six local radio stations, including at least 250 live or prerecorded ads.
Now granted, those “recommendations” are from 2014 and could have been negotiated and changed, but its’ still pretty incredible to force host cities to ensure services like cellphone signal strength meets league standards, but that’s not all the all the Super Bowl requires.
They also don’t want to see laws that discriminate against a transgender person using a restroom that conforms to their gender identity. Given Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s crusade to keep our bathrooms safe, the NFL could say thanks, but no thanks to a Houston bid even if we did build them a multibillion dollar brand-new stadium.
Fact: The Buffalo Bills have no shot at being in the Super Bowl.
Alternative Fact: The Buffalo Bills are going to the Super Bowl.
A lot is being made of Kelly Anne Conway suggesting White House press secretary Sean Spicer was using “alternative facts” when asked about his claims on the size of the crowd at President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
On the surface, it appears to be another silly issue of the Trump administration not liking being told their event wasn’t as good as prior ones and how the media is trying to delegitimize his election. There are many larger issues out there like health care, NAFTA, Supreme Court nominations and our relationship with Russia. Spending time arguing about the size of the crowd seems pointless and petty.
The problem I have with this is the Trump administration seems has no problem blatantly lying to the face of the American people. Smart communications persons try to set the narrative and not get sucked into a conversation like that. Are “alternative facts” what you want people talking about? It’s inconsequential, and outside of die-hard Trump supporters, won’t change anyone’s mind. It’s mind boggling to even go down that rabbit hole.
Now I get the news media is an easy target and that a certain segment of America enjoys watching them get a tongue lashing. If I had to guess, I would say their approval rating is around the same as the congress, but it still seems to me to be a fight you don’t need to have.
So where do we go from here? I suggest the classic “Caveat Emptor” (buyer beware). Maybe I’m cynical, but I don’t trust either side.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” – Dr. Suess
2016 was a devastating year for musicians. The list of names lost in 2016 is extraordinary and covers a spectrum of musical styles that owe much to those we lost. While their talent will be missed, we can still smile because it happened.
It would be nearly impossible to feature all the artists lost in 2016, so feel free to add any names you want to in the comments section.
David Bowie
Jan. 8, 1947 – Jan. 10, 2016
How does one define an artist like Bowie? I’m not sure you can which is what makes him even more extraordinary. From his glam rock era, featuring an androgynous and flamboyant alter ego Ziggy Stardust, to a sound he called plastic soul with songs like Fame, Bowie continued to redefine himself. Bowie also enjoyed collaborating with a wide assortment of artists including Brian Eno, Queen and even Bing Crosby during on a TV holiday special. There simply is not enough room here to list all of his brilliant accomplishments, so we’ll let Bowie sum it up himself; “I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human. I felt very puny as a human. I thought, ‘Fuck that. I want to be a superhuman.”
Leon Russell
April 2, 1942 – Nov. 13, 2016
The quintessential band leader for the rock n’ roll generation, Russell’s musicianship and showmanship made him as unique as his sound. One of his early hits, “A Song for You” (which Elton John called an American classic) was covered by a spectrum of artists from Andy Williams to Amy Winehouse. Russell was the glue for shows like the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and the concert for Bangladesh. Continuing a very productive career through the 80s and 90s, he joined forces with just about everyone you can think of. Russell’s career was rejuvenated in 2010 when he teamed up with Elton John on album “The Union” which Rolling Stone named the third best album of the year and was nominated for a Grammy.
Leonard Cohen
Sept. 21, 1934 – Nov. 10, 2016
Often blending dark, subdued music with religion infused lyrics, Cohen began writing poetry in the 1950s and early 1960s and did not start writing music until 1967 when he released his first album “Songs of Leonard Cohen”. Bono of U2 fame described what is arguably his most famous song “Hallelujah” as “the most perfect song in the world”. His final album, aptly titles “You Want it Darker” was released just weeks before his death.
Prince
June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016
Much like Bowie, the artist Prince could not be pigeon holed into a genre. There was simply the Prince sound. Prince broke onto the scene in 1978 with “For You”, an album that he wrote, produced, arranged, composed, and, oh yeah, played all 27 instruments (to be fair, he co-wrote “Soft and Wet” with Chris Moon). It didn’t take long for the revolution to take over, both literally and figuratively. The ginormous “Purple Rain” gave us “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy”, both reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. At one point in time, Prince had the No. 1 album, song and movie in the country. Prince continued to be churn out music at an exhausting pace scoring No. 1 hits in the 80s, 90s.
Merle Haggard
April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016
The poet of the common man, Haggard wrote songs that were gritty and deeply felt. His teenage years involved a series of petty crimes which landed him in the infamous San Quentin at the age of 20. After being released, Haggard bounced around local clubs before getting the chance to record his own single, “Sing a Sad Song” which made its way into the top 20. Haggard continued to see success through the tumultuous late sixties when he penned “Okie from Muskogee”, a song he said started as joke, but ended up making him a political symbol. Haggard went on to have No. 1 hits on the country charts into the late 80s and was inducted in the County Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 1994. When introduced as guest on The Johnny Cash show, Cash said “here’s a man who writes about his own life and has had a life to write about”.
Maurice White
Dec. 19, 1941 – Feb. 4, 2016
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, White studied at the Chicago Conservatory of Music and found work as a session drummer in 1963. He formed his own band, the Salty Peppers, in the Windy City in 1969, but then headed west to Los Angeles where he renamed his band Earth, Wind & Fire (the name was based on his astrological chart, which had no water signs). White had that ability to mix jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, soul and pop into a sound that still resonates today. In all, White totaled six Grammy’s with the band, and received an individual award for this arrangement of “Got To Get You Into My Life.” The bands hits “Shining Star”, “September” and “Let’s Groove” helped produce a succession of gold and platinum albums throughout the 70s and early 80s.
Sir George Martin
Jan. 3, 1926 – March 8, 2016
Known affectionately as the Fifth Beatle, Sir Martin, was an audio engineer, producer, arranger composer, conductor and musician. His work with the Beatles alone put him in a league of his own, but Sir Martin also worked with Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, Neil Sedaka, Kenny Rogers, Cheap Trick, Elton John and Celine Dion just to name a few. In all, Martin scored 30 number-one hits in the UK and 23 number-one hits in the U.S. Martin, along with son also remixed 80 minutes of Beatles music for the Cirque du Soleil show Love.
Glen Frey
Nov. 6, 1948 – Jan. 19, 2016
Born in Michigan, Frey’s early career involved working with Bob Seeger. Frey allegedly was ready to join the Silver Bullet Band, but his mom nixed that idea due to his smoking weed with Seeger. After moving to California, Frey met and worked with J.D. Souther and Jackson Browne before hooking up with Don Henley and playing backup for Linda Ronstadt. This led to the two going off on their own and forming the Eagles. Frey sang lead vocals on such monster hits as “Take it Easy”, “Peaceful, Easy Feeling”, “Tequila Sunrise”, “Already Gone”, “Lyin Eyes”, “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight.” Frey also enjoyed success as a solo artist recording “Smuggler’s Blues”, “The Heat is On” and “Livin Right”.
Sonny James
May 1, 1928 – Feb. 22, 2016
Born James Hugh Loden, Sonny James was best known for his 1957 “Young Love”, one of the very first cross over hits that hit both the country and pop charts. James went on to notch more than 70 country and pop charted songs during a 30-year span including an impressive five-year streak of 16 straight Billboard #1 singles. From 1964 to 1976, James had 21 of his albums reach the country top 10. James became the first country artist to appear on The Ed Sullivan show and co-hosted the very first CMA Awards show the Bobbi Gentry in 1967.
Pete Fountain
July 3, 1930 – Aug. 6, 2016
Born in the heart of New Orleans, Fountain played Dixieland, pop jazz, honky-tonk jazz, pop and Creole in a variety of traditional and contemporary sounds. Fountain was spotted by a talent scout for Lawrence Welk and become best known for his many solos on The Lawrence Welk show. Fountain left the show acknowledging that “Champagne and bourbon don’t mix”. Fountain was a prolific artist, recording over 100 albums and CD’s and opened his own club in the heart of the French Quarter where he performed with a cast of jazz greats including his friend and rival Al Hirt.
Bobby Vee
Bobby Vee, aka Robert Thomas Velline, was a 1960s teen idol and American pop singer who scored 38 Top 100 chart hits. Vee first gained fame as a teenager when he filled in for Buddy Holly at a Minnesota gig after Holly was killed in a plane crash. His single “Rubber Ball in 1961 hit 31 on the Australia charts, making him an international star, but it was “Take Good Care of My Baby” that cemented his fame. Having a historic link to the great Buddy Holly, Vee wrote “like so many other people, I became a Buddy Holly fan the very first time I heard him sing. I’ve been a fan ever since and I guess I always will be.
Keith Emerson
Nov. 2, 1944 – March 11, 2016
Greg Lake
Nov. 10, 1947 – Dec. 7, 2016
Maybe it’s not fair to put these two artists together in single post, but it was their combination of talent that introduced millions to the progressive rock sound. Emerson has been described as “perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history” by AllMusic. Lake started to play guitar and wrote “Lucky Man” at the age of 12. Lake joined Robert Fripp to form King Crimson before going on to sing, play guitar and bass for ELP. Emerson became famous writing rock arrangements of classical music for the band Nice before teaming up with Palmer in 1970. ELP sold an estimated 48 million albums worldwide.
George Michael
June 25, 1963 – Dec. 25, 2016
Riding on the wave of the brand new MTV, Michael formed Wham with Andrew Ridgeley. Wham was an immediate success with hits like “Young Guns”, “Club Tropicana” and the chart topping “Wake Me up before You Go Girl”. Wham broke down many barriers, becoming the first Western pop music group to tour China. Wham broke up in the mid-80’s, leading Michael to even bigger success as a solo artist mixing successive lyrics with a pop dance beat. American Top 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say the title of “I want your Sex”. The second single “Faith” solidified Michael as a superstar with the album enjoying 51 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 of Billboard 200.
There has been a lot of buzz lately about “fake” news sites and how they may have impacted the recent presidential election.
Multiple stories have been written on how to spot a fake news story and even President Obama has weighed in calling it a threat to democracy.
There’s only one little problem, fake news has been around since the birth of our nation.
Back in 1782, Benjamin Franklin, who was in France as American ambassador, put together an entirely fake issue of a real Boston newspaper, the Independent Chronicle. In it, Franklin made up a story allegedly from the New York frontier and concerned wartime atrocities by Indians at the behest of the British.
The fake story was sent to his friends and was picked up by real newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island.
Columnist Leonard Pitts (who appears in the Houston Chronicle) wrote a piece on how fake news is “eating like terminates through the foundations of democracy”. He even goes on to quote Thomas Jefferson who said “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free; it expects what never was and never will be.”
It’s a great quote, but it’s hard to swallow when you learn Jefferson secretly gave money to newspaper editors to spread personal rumors about his enemies which may or may not have been true while the country was struggling to form a new government. Oh well, it still makes for a great quote.
Now in today’s inter-connected world wide web, it’s easy to see how a fake news story can take off like a wild fire. Websites like Facebook are trying to figure out how they weed these stories out (although some reports claim Facebook generates half its ad revenue from fake news sites), so I guess it will be up to us to decide what is true and what is not.
Democracy survived Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson’s transgressions, I suspect it will continue to do so after this election as well.
Optics have always played a major role in politics. The way something is seen can be just as, if not more important, than what it’s trying to accomplish. Politicians work feverishly to make sure they are put in the best light, so it’s a little strange to see someone buck that trend.
