Press Conference with Bob Dylan, 1965

I am currently reading ONCE UPON A TIME, THE LIVES OF BOB DYLAN by Ian Bell.

I say “currently” although it seems I have been reading it forever, or at least months and months.  It is on an e-book, and it looks like 5 pages equal 1%.  Today I  hit the 44% mark. 

I have a short attention span so it is doubly hard to stay reading the same book, so during this time, I have already averted reading three or four other books, which of course, slowed down my pace, or delayed my finishing time on this one.

I am not ready to talk about he book.  I might do that after I finish.

To pacify my sort attention span, I took a break yesterday  and found on You-Tube a 51 press conference  Bob Dylan had in San Francisco .  He was just a kid, but had his own plane to get him and his band to gigs.

I have read in the book I’m reading that he can spot someone phony or a pseudointellectual instantly.  You can tell in this video of the press conference he picks up on that several time and almost, with a smirk,  mocks some of the reporters.

I thought “you know” was something only about a decade old of a way of delaying the answer to a question until you find the right words.  When I hear someone say that, I want to say, “No we don’t know, that is why we are asking you.”  Dylan used “You know” over and over in his press conference.   And Bob Dylan is known to be a man of words.

The press conference above in informative and interesting, click on it if you have 51 minutes.   Actually you can do it increments, It took me about four increments (my short attention span).

Changeable Roseanne

So Warm

So Lovable

Not so lovable and warm

Not

1st & 2nd Amendments

The First Two Amendments of the Constitution

Article [I] (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion) ¹³

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Article [II] (Amendment 2 - Bearing Arms)

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Thanks to the money slinging to law-makers by the lobbyists of  NRA gun owners have no fear of their guns being taken away from them. 

But just as important, but no lobbyists protecting it is the 1st Amendment.  We have a President who has frowned upon the Freedom of the Press, and Freedom of Speech and Expression.  He has even suggested those protesting maybe should leave.

Tch tch

Bow Wow!

A couple years ago Willow and I were walking on Bryant Lane, about a block away when a German Shepherd started barking at us.  We were not that concerned because he dog was attached to a long chain.  It ran towards us and he chain tightened up and jerked the dog back to reality. 

A man in the house opened the door to see what his dog was barking at, and held the door opened wide enough to shout at his dog to shut up.  While he was holding the door opened another German Shepherd ran under his arm and out towards us.  He ran up to us growling and kind of jumped on Willow, I think it was just a threat.  The man was close behind him and jerked him off and let him know he was a “Bad Dog!” and apologized to us.

Remember the incident above as this unfolds.

There is a lady in our neighborhood who walks her dog or dogs daily.  She is very identifiable.  I see her walking from time to time as far as a mile away, sometimes with one dog and sometimes with two dogs.  Sometimes another lady walks with her, like today.  Up to this point I have never spoken to her.

Walking down Bryant Lane I saw the two ladies and one dog approaching from the opposite direction.  As we got closer they suddenly looked to their left and the lady with the dog left quickly, during an quick turn.  The other lady stayed and faced a German Shepherd approach her.  It was loose!

The next moment the dog was lying on its back and she was petting it.  Then, she grabbed the dog’s collar and walked it out of sight.

Willow and I got the heck from the scene. 

About twenty minutes later on another street we approached the two women and the dog again.  I asked them what happened  and the one that stayed to face the dog said it was very friendly and wanted to be petted.  On its collar was a number to call, if lost.  She called it and it was the house that she was in the front yard when was calling.  The interrupted herself and said, “They have two German Shepherds!”

“I know!” I said, and I told them of Willow’s and my experience with them.

All’s well that ends well

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Did I ever tell you when in 1963, when I first reported to Helicopter Utility Squadron 4 (HU-4) at NAS Lakeurst, NJ, I met Don Lash in the E.M. Club and we both had too many beers and decided we were going walk down to the hangar and joy ride a helicopter? 

"How hard could it be?" My biggest objective after that promise was: "change the subject! Change the subject!" It must have and it worked! No joy riding that night. 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! And remember those who gave their lives or were wounded In the service keeping us free.

AVANT GARDE Magazine

I had to scan the cover sideways because of its odd shape.

I came across this magazine AVANT GARDE this weekend.  According to the publisher’s statement it was published in 1969.  I probably have some more AVANT GARDEs around, they will emerge someday out of rubbish, just like Phoenix.

Interesting, the editor was Ralph Ginzburg,  Ralph back then made quiet a name for himself being a trail blazer of Freedom of Speech, Press, and self-expression.

This issue has some very unflattering paintings of ugly new women; time with John and Yoko; photojournalism of a picture of a women’s legs and ass (nude) bending over in several out of context background; an article comparing Jews, Catholics, and Protestants; D. H. Lawrence; a photo journalism look at all the rooms at Ellis Island. 

I think this is issue number 8 (there is an 8 embedded in the title.  I don’t think it lasted many issues after that.

Inside cover, contents, top left.  

Directly under the title the staff is listed.

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! MAD's THE LONG STRANGER

Ripped from MAD Comicbook issue #3.  Story by editor Harvey Kurtzman, illustrated by Jack Davis,  Click on page to make it bigger and maybe funnier.  Dump your trash in the garbage can by the door on your way out.

Benjamin Hanging Out

Benjamin entertaining his grandparents (us) in his late great grandparents' (Prances) house.

Sharon, the Inspiror

Taken yesterday at the funeral home. 

Unknowingly, this young lady, Sharon, changed our lives. Her mother and Anna are first cousins. Once about 1974 She, about 4 years old,  and her mother visited us. While Anna and her mother talked of old times I took Sharon to our den to show her my hobbies, collections, etc. She impressed me with all her question. 

When they left I told Anna that "I want a child too!"

I'll Drink To That!

It is always after 5pm someplace, and thanks to our hard-working congress it is always a special day.  Today the special day is National Escargot Day, Cheers!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!

Mary Prance and Lamar Miller. 25th Anniversary, 1979

Lamar died last Sunday the 20th of May, 2018. His funeral is Thursday, Medford Funeral Home, on Canton Road,.  Call ahead for time.   Mary died  9 Jan 2014.

Mary Prance and Lamar Miller's 25th Anniversary

Clifford Prance

Franklin, Chris, & Kathy Prance

Franklin, Chris Prance, and Lila Wright

Marie picking up Rocky

Brothers Paul and Clifford Prance

Mary and Lamar's immediate family 

Ruth Bruce Prance

Sharon & Lilla

Martha Poor and Joe MaGahee

Rocky Hunter and Scott McGahee

Sharan McGahee

Lamar Miller, R.I.P.

Lamar Miller, 88, died yesterday. Lamar is the husband of Anna's father's sister Mary Prance. He is the last of that generation on Anna's father's side. RIP Lamar.  

Incidentally, Lamar and my late aunt Ruby Langely Hunter are cousins.  Ruby died last September.

Royal Luncheon

After watching the Royal Wedding and hearing the NBC commentators explain to me what was going on and the British traditions of what and why they were doing, I feel I learned some things.  Like some traditions was for very practical reasons, like the dress-code for the women that would be close to the queen, physically, had to wear something drab or unbright.  And the Queen’s dress code was to wear something bright, to make her stand out.  Isn’t that practical?  That is reason Jimi Hendrix was fired from the James Brown band, he was better than the leader.

It got me thinking, what if to get a good press coverage of the wedding the reporter and chief writer of the blog Chicken-fat was invited with an all- expense paid trip to cover the wedding.  

Look!  Here is the chicken-fat star reporter sitting down to eat at Royal After-Wedding Luncheon now.

Waiter:  Sir please, remember when the Queen enters everyone is to stand.  And also stand for the newly marrieds when they arrive.

Chicken-fat:  No problem, I got it.

Waiter:  And remember, do not start eating until the Queen takes the first bite.

Chicken-fat:  I got it!

Waiter:  And when the Queen stops eating, everybody will stop eating.  The meal is over.  Now, is there anything else I can do for you?

Chicken-fat:   Yes, there is:  a  “to-go box” please.

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! STARCHIE and STARCHIE

click on both to be able to compare and read he balloons.

Here is an unique comparison.  ARCHIE lampooned  by MAD Comicbook  in the early 1950s and again this month in MAD Magazine.  Both look like they were done by the same artist.  Wrong.  The first one (above) is by Bill Elder (died 2008) and the second (below) this month one by Tom Richmond, over 60 years later.

Will Elder’s ghost should smile at that, knowing imitation is the sincerest  form of flattery.

Happy Royalty Wedding Day!

Anybody that is Somebody will be at the Wedding of the Year.

Pass the Kool-Aid and Ammunition!

Pick Your Own Interacting Forum

Sweat Mountain Dog Park

Some people sit in a bar; some people go to book clubs;  and there other ways of interacting, including what this this picture is:  Going to the dog park daily. 

After about three visits to a dog park your dog is spoiled and expects it.  And ideally you get to meet other people that know different things than you do and you can share your knowledge.   So, you might be a little less ignorant.   You learn the other’s personalities, their wisdom of choice, share jokes and wise cracks and so on.

There is only one requirement that is expected of you:  Pick up your own dog’s shit!  

Regal New York

click to enlarge

Throwback Thursday:  Watching THE TODAY SHOW yesterday morning they were talking about the regalia of the Royal Wedding coming up Saturday.  They showed surreys, horse drawn fancy carriages and fountains in New York City.  It reminded of the mid 50s when we hit The Big Apple often.  Although I don’t remember it being called “The Big Apple”.

At the fountain in front of the Plaza Hotel, on 5^th Avenue near Columbia Circle and Central Park, left to right: Dick Hyatt, Don Lash, and Ray Shultz.  When I directed them to stand that way, I was hoping they would look more like statues.

The other pictures is a picture of horse drawn carriages at the Plaza… that’s regal – right?

Lets Give It All For the Team

UNCLE JOHN’S BATHROOM READER says that “Since 1990, cheerleaders injuries in the U.S. has increased by 110%.”

I wonder why?

Gary McKee is Live and Well

Today we were sitting in a doctor’s waiting room waiting.  The receptionist was behind her counter giving a new patient some paper work to fill out.

Suddenly I heard a squawk or squeal or some other excited tone explode from the receptionist.  I’m not sure she actually said his name but in a short moment we knew she was waiting on Gary McKee, famous Atlanta DJ of the 1970s on WQXI, a.k.a. 94Q.

I heard her apologize saying she knows she is not suppose to say last names out loud, but…..  (I don't think he mind at all).

Once he sat down to fill out the forms Anna and I had a chance to chat with him..  He actually is very human.

I told him each morning I switched back and forth between him and Skinny Bobby Hopper.  Both were very entertaining.

Some how my blog chicken-fat.com got caught up in the conversation and he seemed interested in that.

Man!  I’m so proud of me!