Entertainment & Style

  'I never thought it would amount to this! For I am just a leprechaun.'

On December 8, 1980 John Lennon was shot and killed outside his and Yoko’s NYC apartment. I remember where I was when I heard the news – in my morning Geometry class, freshman year of high school. How the word spread that quickly without electronic media I’m still not certain. We were all stunned, in a state of disbelief that a Beatle was dead. The song provides the theme for this week’s blog called “The Name Game” highlighting songs featuring peoples’ names in their titles. There are so many that the lists could go on forever, but included are some of my very favorites in the first Spotify playlist, and some honorable mentions in the second, no less great, and still very worthy of a listen. The lists could go on with hundreds more, but these are songs that I enjoy and felt worth sharing. A few of my favorite songs of all-time: Janice Joplin’s “Bobby McGee,” Elton John’s “Levon” and “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters,” Dire Straits’ “Romeo & Juliet,” the Police’s “Roxanne,” and

In the Corridors of My MindFor the past year, I have a new challenging hobby: factoring out as many words (similar or not) as I can from a given word I have randomly chosen. For at least a week, I keep finding extra entries. Some of them I conjure up on my own; others I retrieve from dictionary websites.Yesterday, I was walking in my condo corridor in order to pamper my injured big toe. Within a minute, I thought of finding more items (at least four-letters long with no plurals ending in “s”) to the word redactions. My chart was so crowded with hundreds of notations that I doubted I could come up with any more material.But suddenly I triumphed. Two more words flashed in my mind: erotica and caries. I had already listed erotic; adding an “a” to the end of the word was a bonus. Just at that moment, I contemplated my next dental visit. Eureka! I have been cavity free for years: no more “caries” for me. The word caries, although ending in an “s,” is singular. There is no plural alternative

 The Leprechaun: A Tiny, Mischievous, and Elusive Creature of Irish Folklore[source: History Cooperative]A leprechaun is a mythical creature in Irish folklore, typically depicted as a tiny, mischievous old man dressed in green with a red beard and a hat. According to legend, leprechauns are cobblers by trade and are known for their love of gold and their skill in making shoes. They are also said to be very secretive and elusive, often leading people on wild goose chases in search of their treasure. In Irish mythology, it is believed that if you catch a leprechaun, he must grant you three wishes in exchange for his release. However, leprechauns are notoriously difficult to catch, as they are quick and clever. What is a Leprechaun? Usually classed as some kind of a fairy, leprechauns are small supernatural creatures that are specific to Irish folklore. Depicted as little bearded men, they might play the role of mischievous sprites or helpful shoemakers, depending

It’s Great to Be Out and AboutMy damaged big toe has healed sufficiently so that yesterday I was able to amble about (with minor discomfort) from the Elks Club to my condo, a thirty-minute walk that always manages to entertain and edify me. No longer relegated to shuffling in the corridor, I resumed my outdoor jaunts, stepping stones for people watching, one of my hobbies after retiring 20 years ago.Yesterday afternoon, I was not disappointed. An emaciated, haggard middle-aged woman near the bus-stop bench where I was seated was affording hand signals to the passing traffic. Sometimes, her gestures were obscene as she contemptuously gave selected drivers and passengers the finger. Occasionally her gesticulations were inspirational, almost a benediction, as her cupped hands indicated a Namaste moment.The woman was a contradiction. Unaccountably and abruptly, she switched from being friendly to being fiendish, from offering a beatific hello punctuated with a one-way ticket to Hell. More

 

Songs mentioning months, days of the week, years, holidays, whatever -- open to anyone's interpretation. Just please limit to one song per post! I'll start with: Tuesday Afternoon -- Moody Blues

Daylight Savings Time is going into effect this weekend.. how about some songs about TIME.

Australian astronomers identify the brightest object known to humanity and it has a Black Hole at its heart https://www.astronomy.com/science/this-quasar-eats-one-sun-a-day-for-breakfast/   

---- Fun Anecdote - Springsteen Fan’s Mom Cooks Bruce Scrambled EggsGoogle - “Bruce Springsteen's Hilariously Wild Fan Story | The Graham Norton Show”

I'll start with: Baby, Now That I've Found You:   Foundations

Songs with Old or New in the Title:  Same Old Song And Dance, Aerosmith New, Paul McCartney   

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. How many "heart" songs do we know? Here are two from Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the HeartIt's a Heartache  

 

39 Best Valentine's Day Songs to Serenade Your Special SomeoneSpanning decades and genres, this collection is the ultimate fun and romantic February 14 playlist.https://www(dot)countryliving(dot)com/life/entertainment/g30460487/valentines-day-songs/from Country LivingIt's a day late, but found this list and it is a good one, thought I would share...

AARP's Guide to Pickleball! Learn all about the joy of the sport — how to score, tips for playing, ways to win and more. It’s a fun way to connect with friends, stay fit and support your brain to help your health and happiness live as long as you do. https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/pickleball/ 

-----Springsteen Fan's Mom Cooks the Boss Breakfast!!!----link won't take...just search You Tube under:----Bruce Springsteen's Hilariously Wild Fan Story | The Graham Norton Show

Lets get started 

 

Today we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Beatles first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. In the article below, various artists share their thoughts. https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-beatles-ed-sullivan?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=XCR_NWL&utm_content=XCR_NWL_Automated_Airedale_Final&utm_term=17337092&m_i=zsA4b4htYMeTxqUXS4X8nwx65JMd54Hf0bqRMD_ZCMLyR3yGzJz7qOvzG0O%2BonCGKcxqKSWrhExmR1uBHOXdPS1BtAg0OvY4fmtsvfEizo&lrh=84c02102f6ba1d8ff91d32d83426182afe0e43bcbdf8a0e120f797a3b0292f08&M_BT=150290058101142 I remember it like it was yesterday, and I’ll bet you do to! I sat down right in front of our tv set, and was as excited as everyone in the audience. I’ll never forget the expression on their faces, too, as they all seemed amazed, if not blown away, by the audience’s reception. They sometimes would just gaze out into the audience in complete wonder. What an exciting time to be a kid! If you like, please share y

  There Are So Many Possibilities I Don't Know Where To Start.

 National Send A Card To A Friend Day on February 7th reminds us to send friendly cheer through the mail. We do that by sending a note or message on a card to the friends we hold dear. Throughout the year, we often think about our friends. We wonder how they are, miss them, and remember fond memories of times shared. Sending a card to someone for a variety of reasons dates back to ancient times. The Chinese would send elegantly designed messages as well as the Egyptians, though on different types of paper. During the Renaissance, greeting cards gained popularity for specific holidays and events. Victorian times increased the use of the greeting card for Valentine's Day, Christmas, birthdays, and more. While our more digital era may turn away from the flowery language of greeting cards, a surprising 80 percent of adults still purchase them.  [source: National Day Calendar] HOW TO OBSERVE SEND A CARD TO A FRIEND DAY[source: National Day Calendar] &

Hello. 🥢? Anyone? Each year on National Chopsticks Day, people worldwide celebrate the humble and ancient utensils on February 6th. Around 1200 B.C., Chinese cooks began using chopsticks to prepare food. These tools were likely long enough to reach into hot cooking pots. Then about 400 B.C., when fuels for cooking became scarce, food was prepared in smaller pieces reducing the number of resources needed to cook it. At the same time, the need for sharp eating utensils faded, and shorter chopsticks entered the scene. The Chinese term for chopsticks is, 'kuai-tzu.' Once these handy eating tools found their way to the dinner table, they spread around the world. Portable and elegant in their design, they also vary in style from region to region. Today chopsticks may be made from wood such as bamboo or aspen. Elaborately carved chopsticks may be cut from jade, ivory, or wood, and artisans may ornately paint some chopsticks with miniature scenes. [source: Nation

I just listened again to perhaps my favorite movie soundtrack with the most romantic songs, "One Fine Day" (1996 RomCom starring George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer), with such romance greats as:One Fine Day (Natalie Merchant)Someone Like You (Van Morrison)Just Like You (Keb' Mo')What A Difference A Day Made (Tony Bennett)This Guy's In Love With You (Harry Connick Jr.)Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)Isn't It Romantic (Ella Fitzgerald)For The First Time (Kenny Loggins)The Glory Of Love (Keb' Mo')So are there any that top this in terms of number of amazing romantic songs? I'd love to hear your favorites!!!

On February 4th, National Hemp Day proudly weaves a celebration surrounding an industry with a long and innovative history. Did you know hemp has been a part of human civilization for thousands of years? The world's earliest civilizations used hemp fibers to make fabric for clothing and other materials. Even America's founding fathers drafted early documents on hemp paper. During the last century, leaders used a "Hemp for Victory" campaign during WWII to encourage farmers to grow hemp for military use. Since then, hemp has been an essential material in the innovation of several industries. For example, shipping, construction, and textiles rely on hemp for numerous products. The construction industry started using hemp in place of concrete (known as hempcrete) since it is windproof and offers a lower carbon footprint. The Industrial Hemp Pilot Program allowed several states to grow, cultivate, and process hemp for agricultural purposes. These programs brought thousands of new