Fonzie: [after being humiliated by 15 uncontrollable kids] They figured out my weakness the Fonz does not hit little kids. [starts to leave]
Richie: So where are you going?
Fonzie:To find someone who does eyyy!
[After returning with his nephew spike]
Fonzie: …but if Spike hits you that’ s just one little kid hitting another and that’s not against the law.
Happy Days Football Frolics 1976
If you have the stomach for it read this post concerning the Mass Rape of White Girls in England by Pakistani Muslim men for the last 20 year and the left ignoring to preserve their multicultural myth.
Every racially aggravating factor you could imagine is present. First, there is substantial evidence that the young girls in question were targeted because they were white. In these communities of Pakistani Muslim rapists, hardly any of the victims were Pakistani Muslim women.
But if you REALLY want to see what the solution to the problem is, look at this comment in the piece:
It wasn’t just white girls, though it was mostly them, but Sikh and Hindu girls. The fathers of the Sikh and Hindu girls went after their Muslim attackers armed with swords and other weapons, and there were battles in the streets. Some might have been arrested, I can’t remember, but they didn’t face the usual left-wing go-to accusations of being “far right” or “racists.” And the Muslim men did not go after those girls again (emphasis DTG). The Sikhs set up the Sikh Awareness Society to warn their local girls of the potential dangers. No such warnings were ever given to white girls that I know of, bearing in mind they would have been told repeatedly that everyone is the same, and it’s racist to regard other races in any way except favourably. The State groomed them almost as much as those gangs…
Yes you read that right, the same “multicultural” BS that prevented the authorities from protecting White British girls from being protected from these people allowed the Sikh’s to defend and save their daughters without fear of arrest and hinderance.
And because incentives matter Sikh girls were spared and white girls were not because there was an incentive for Pakistani men to avoid targeting them.
Frankly if I was a British father in this situation I would approach the Sikh community as Bonasera did Don Corleone hat in hand to ensure that scum would be suffering that very day.
The Byrds are deservedly one of the most acclaimed rock bands. However, despite their lasting fame and their membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there are several misconceptions about them.
Formed in 1964, the original members were Chicago native Jim McGuinn (lead guitar and vocals)–he later changed his first name to Roger–Gene Clark (tambourine and vocals), David Crosby (rhythm guitar and vocals), Chis Hillman (bass and vocals), and Michael Clarke (drums).
All but Clarke were songwriters.
This is the “classic” lineup. Gene Clark, arguably the band’s principal songwriter in the early days, left the act in 1966, rejoining in 1967, and then he left for good, that is, until he joined the others for the disappointing reunion album, Byrds, in 1973.
Also in 1967, Clark quit again, and Crosby was fired. The latter gained superstar status after co-founding Crosby, Stills, and Nash–later joined by Neil Young.
In 2018’s Sweetheart of the Rodeo Live, recorded with Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Hillman remarked that by the time The Notorious Byrd Brothers was finished, he and McGuinn “were the only two Byrds flying around at that time.”
In 1968, a series of members joined, and sometimes left, the Byrds. They are Gram Parsons, Gene Parsons (no relation), John York, Clarence White, and Skip Battin.
Gram Parsons was the most noteworthy new Byrd, contributing two songs to Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and co-writing with McGuinn, “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man,” which appeared on Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde in 1969. By that time, Parsons and Hillman had left the Byrds, forming the pioneering country rock band the Flying Burrito Brothers. Over the years, Battin, Gene Parsons, and Michael Clarke later became members of the Flying Burrito Brothers.
Parsons, who died in 1973, released two groundbreaking solo albums after leaving the band he cofounded.
The Byrds arguably created not only created the folk rock, but also country rock, and with The Band, they birthed the Americana music genre.
While it was true in the post-Sweetheart era, another misconception is that the Byrds were primarily a McGuinn project. Actually, like the Beatles, in the early days each member, except for Clarke, wrote and sang leads on songs. McGuinn, on the other hand, sang lead on the band’s two biggest hit singles, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” a Bob Dylan song, and “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season),” a Pete Seeger cover.
McGuinn’s mastery of the 12-string guitar established the Byrds’ trademark sound.
As for Dylan, another misconception is that the Byrds’ creative output, outside of their Dylan covers, was negligible.
That’s absolutely not true.
So here are the rankings of the Byrds 12 studio albums.
12) Byrdmaniax (1971): Terry Melcher, who worked with the Byrds earlier in their career, was behind the boards for this over-produced mess. The Byrds had a hectic touring schedule at the time, the songs don’t have much feeling. Among the better tracks are “”I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician,” “Citizen Kane,” and the oft-covered spiritual “Glory, Glory.”
11) Farther Along (1971): The Byrds chose to self-produce this album and the sound is stripped down. Like Byrdmaniax, the best song is an old spiritual, the title track. “Bugler” and the Vaudeville-esque “”America’s Great National Pastime” standout.
10) (Untitled) (1970): This is a very strange collection. A double album, (Untitled) is half a live LP–the other half our studio tracks. Side two is an insufferable 16-minute long “Eight Miles High.” The studio songs are week, but “Chestnut Mare” is outstanding, it is the only Byrds song from the 1970s that can stand up to their earlier classics.
9) Ballad of Easy Rider (1969): Lots of people probably purchased this album, the top-selling album of the Byrds’ later career, believing it was the soundtrack to the enormously popular Easy Rider film. An acoustic version of the title song appeared on the actual movie soundtrack, sung by McGuinn, and the band’s version is also strong. Three covers, Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos),” Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” and “Jesus Is Just Alright,” which was recorded by the Doobie Brothers in 1972, are memorable.
8) Byrds (1973): The year prior, Creedence Clearwater Revival released its last album, the loathsome Mardi Gras. Dubbed “John Fogerty’s Revenge,” the two other members of the band–John’s brother Tom quit the year before–Fogerty turned the band into a democracy. The far-less talented other members, who has long objected to Fogerty’s dominance, sank CCR’s swan song. Byrds was a reunion of the band’s classic lineup, and this collection could be called David Crosby’s revenge. CSNY was on hiatus and Byrds was produced by Crosby, who believed that his 1960s Byrds’ compositions weren’t given enough respect. Only one of his songs, “Lady Friend,” was released as an A-side single during his first go-around in the band. Byrds, not surprisingly, sounds like a CSNY album. Although McGuinn denies it, the other members of the band, except for Gene Clark, were accused of saving their better compositions for their solo efforts. Crosby’s “Long Live the King” is a stellar track, but it belongs on a CSNY album. Clark’s “Full Circle” is terrific, it’s the opening cut, but it’s downhill from there
7) Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde (1969): With McGuinn being the only founding member of the Byrds left, it was a smart move to have Roger since lead vocals on every track, for continuity. Besides the aforementioned “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man,” the best cuts are the folk song, “Old Blue,” and a cover of “This Wheel’s on Fire,” which was co-written by Dylan and The Band’s Rick Danko. The original appears on The Band’s Music from Big Pink.
6) Fifth Dimension (1966): From here on in, the output is much more impressive. Shortly after recording of Fifth Dimension began, Clark left the Byrds for the first time. While he’s missed on this effort, there’s some dazzling stuff here, particularly the psychedelic hit “Eight Miles High,” which was written by Clark, Crosby, and McGuinn. The former had a terrible fear of flying. “Mr. Spaceman,” a McGuinn country rock tune, as well as a cover of “Hey Joe,” are the highlights of Fifth Dimension.
5) Younger than Yesterday (1967): McGuinn and Hillman stepped up for this album. The duo co-wrote the often covered single “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star.” Hillman’s “Have You Seen Your Face” and Dylan’s “My Back Pages” were deservedly given much deserved attention after they were released as singles.
4) Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965): The Byrds’ second album leads off with the soaring title track. There are two Dylan compositions, “The Times They Are a-Changin” and “Lay Down Your Weary Tune.” A cover of an old Porter Wagoner hit, “Satisfied Mind,” presages the Byrds’ later work.
3) Mr. Tambourine Man (1965): The title track on the Byrds’ debut album was a groundbreaking recording, and like “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season),” it reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. There are three other Dylan covers here, including “Chimes of Freedom.” A Clark song, “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” sent word that the Byrds weren’t just a covers band.
2) Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968): Although it didn’t sell well initially, Sweetheart is one of the most influential albums ever. There are only two tracks written by a Byrd, both by Gram Parsons, “One Hundred Years from Now” and “Hickory Wind” (co-written by Bob Buchanan). There are two Dylan covers here, including the opening cut, “You Ain’t Going Nowhere.” Some of the cuts are obscure, such as Cindy Walker’s “Blue Canadian Rockies.” Every song is fantastic.
And now, number 1) The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1967): One of only two early Byrds albums without a Dylan cover, the songwriting brilliance of the McGuinn, Hillman, and Crosby is on full display on The Notorious Byrds Brothers with such songs such as “Old John Robertson” and “Draft Morning.” However, the Byrds weren’t afraid to look elsewhere for great songs. “Goin’ Back” and “Wasn’t Born to Follow” are Carole King and Gerry Goffin compositions. The latter tune figured prominently in Easy Rider.
Time has not been kind to most of the members of the Byrds. Of the many performers who played with the Byrds, only McGuinn, Hillman, Gene Parsons, and John York survive. Some, such as Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, Gram Parsons, succumbed to the rock and roll lifestyle. Crosby, a notorious substance abuser, lived until he was 81. COVID claimed him in 2023.
Albums by the Byrds can be found on Amazon.com and can be downloaded on iTunes.
Harvey: When l get off this boat, l’m going to get my father to put you all in jail. You’re all kidnappers.,,,
Captain Disko: Well, l guess there ain’t nothing else for it.
Harvey: …l’ll bet they put you all in jail. ln jail for the rest of your lives, and l’m going to do it, too.[ Disko waps him upside the head knocking him down to the ship’s deck] You Hit me?!
Captain Disko: Now you just sit there and think about it.
Captain’s Courageous 1937
As we near the last days of the blog as a business venture I think back on all the stories I’ve covered. There have been a lot of stories I’ve seen that have surprised or shocked me.
As many recent graduates face complaints about how they fit into the workplace, employers report increasing hesitancy in hiring them, according to a report by the education and career advisory platform, Intelligent
You mean all that expensive DEI education is not translating into job skills?
The report, which was based on a survey of nearly 1,000 hiring managers, found that one in six employers were reluctant to hire Gen Z workers mainly due to their reputation for being entitled and easily offended.
Moreover, more than half said that this generation, which refers to people born between 1997 and the early 2010s, lacks a strong work ethic, struggles with communication, doesn’t handle feedback well, and is generally unprepared for the demands of the workforce.
Amazing! Who would have thought that people who had to have counselors if the wrong person wins an election or if someone who disagrees with them politically speaks on a campus is completely useless in the real world.
Holly Schroth, senior lecturer at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, explained that Gen Z’s focus on extracurricular activities to boost their college competitiveness rather than gaining job experience has led to “unrealistic expectations” about the workplace and how to deal with their bosses.
And even worse, they don’t come equipped with safe spaces!
Do a web search of “Gen Z” and “polite” and you’ll find a wave of stories on how this generation has no idea how to act around actual human beings.
So treating your kids as your friends and buddies instead of being the parent and spanking them then they need it produces useless idiots.
Yesterday didn’t work out the way it was expected.
I should say it started out almost exactly as planned. DaWife had to work and there was an inch of snow during the commute (meaning that the snow tires I bought for her at Viola Fitchburg Tire paid off but I digress). I had attended morning mass, a rarefy now because of my AM shift and after a pleasant breakfast with my Pastor and an acquaintance at a local diner the Cozy Corner (Under New Management as one of the waitresses bought the place from the longtime owner who is retiring) had just left my mechanic who told me my 99 Buick LeSabre would be ready in five minutes as he was just putting air in the tires which would give me just enough time to dash to my son’s house and have him drive me back.
My other son was working till 1 and would be cooking a large Christmas Eve dinner that would be ready when DaWife got home at four. After dinner we would watch Christmas movies till going to Mass, me & DaWife the 10 pm at my church they the midnight mass at St. Cecilia’s in Leominster and everyone would come here or crash here for Breakfast and a leisurely Christmas day.
It was a perfect plan until I walked into my eldest’s house and found him sick in bed. He had just come from a gathering of Friends in NYC a few days ago and while he avoided being immolated & murdered on the subway he had apparently caught something and was in no condition to take me back to the mechanics, let alone do anything else.
So after walking back to the garage and getting my car I ran some errands and saw a few friends before picking up my youngest at work. I informed him of his brother’s condition and we contacted DaWife at work. The decision was made to put off the feast till this afternoon in the hopes he might be well enough to attend (I’ll have the answer to that question an hour after this posts) so when DaWife got home, just a few minutes after I had wrapped her last gift, we hit a restaurant together and after picking up something fast for Da sick son (would you believe a large fries at McDonalds is over $5 in Massachusetts?) we pondered what to do.
DaWife didn’t want to be up late for a Midnight mass but my son was determined to go but neither wanted to go alone as Christmas Mass was a family thing, so I decided that I would take DaWife to the 10 PM “modified” Midnight Mass at St. Bernards, drop her off at home and then pick up my son to go to the Midnight Mass at St. Cecilia’s.
In Fitchburg at St. Bernard’s I had the joy of high school classmate Anita Carbone’s vocals accompanied by her husband Joe on the Piano (one of the nicest guys you’ve ever met) and a first rate sermon by my pastor. After dropping off DaWife and picking up the son we got to St Cecilia’s at about 11:40, very early for us but a good idea for a midnight mass. The place was decked out, the grand organ was taking full advantages of the acoustics of the place and my son placed us front row center as Cecile one of the best singers in the area sang a bit. I noticed that in their renovations had moved the blessed sacrament to a spot behind the alter and moved the priest’s area to the side. There was a lot of seating in the area of the blessed sacrament and the Monsignor sat there before Mass in the presence of Christ to pray and prepare, a very proper thing I thought.
After the final chime of midnight rang though the church Claire chanted the Christmas Proclimation which is done at Midnight Masses around the world.
Today, the twenty–fifth day of December, unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and woman in his own image. Several thousand years after the flood, when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant. Twenty–one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah; thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt. Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges; one thousand years from the anointing of David as king; in the sixty–fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel. In the one hundred and ninety–fourth Olympiad; the seven hundred and fifty–second year from the foundation of the city of Rome. The forty–second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus; the whole world being at peace, Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and nine months having passed since his conception, was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary. Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
And the mass began with the procession and the first of many carols.
With the choir and the organ and the additional pomp with a mass celebrated by two priests and many attendants the Mass proceeded slower, than at St. Bernard’s but as is true of all masses the structure remained the same and nothing unexpected happened…until just after the Gloria and just before 1st reading the unexpected took place.
Without warning a woman suddenly rushed into the pew next to me. She was all smiles and very excited to the point where she dropped her cell phone on the floor with a thud as the came right next to me saying in a joyful whisper: “I can’t believe you’re here!”. I was completely taken aback and looked at her without recognition, She, still with a grin on her face looked at me and again whispered, “you don’t recognize me!” but quickly turned back to the Mass and the readings.
As the readings that I had just heard a few hours ago took place I stole an occasional glance to my right to try to place her. She was a very pretty woman, perhaps as young as her late 30’s to her late 40’s perhaps just young enough to be my daughter if I had started a half a decade earlier. Thin but not too thin. She had dark black hair and her wedding and engagement rings suggested a woman married for a bit, but her very familiar face still filled with joy of both the Christmas and the meeting suggested those married years were happy ones.
I was running though my memory of people I used to see at the Friday’s morning masses at St. Cecilia’s that I had attended regularly before being forced to first shift or various Catholic events for WQPH when during the homily suddenly recognition hit me.
I had never seen her outside of her office, always in a gown, usually with a mask and always with her hair covered. We would spend time talking before and after my visit, she talking about her husband and young son who she had late in life always regaling me with pictures on her phone as he grew from infancy to being a young boy in Catholic school. We talked of faith and my sons both of who she know and spoke highly of. I would give her the what wisdom I could when needed and I prayed for her and her family daily.
It was the type of relationship you might expect with a favorite daughter-in-law not from the young lady who took care of your teeth.
It was clear that the boundless energy that I had seen for almost a decade could barely be contained even by the sacred Mass and the large hug we shared at the sign of peace was overflowing with it the spirit of Christmas.
When the final hymn was sung and the sacred procession began to depart we finally could talk. It was the first time we had spoken without a time limit in all the years we knew each other.
Her son was in bed and her husband at home with her while see came to Midnight Mass. She ALWAYS went to midnight mass as it was special to her. She sat down at the other end of the church when she had noticed me front and center with my son and was so excited to see me she decided she HAD to sit with us and waited for a moment of least disruption to rush over and join us.
To those of you did not live in the age before the cell phone, Facebook and twitter meant everyone you ever knew is always within reach you might not understand the concept of not having instant contact with someone whose company you take pleasure in and the joy of seeing such a person suddenly before you.
She was not on Twitter/X and I have never joined Facebook. Furthermore I’m likely one of the last hold outs against owning a cell phone having decided a decade ago that I liked life without it and had given it up ironically just before we had met. So I’m likely one of the few people who someone might still can have this experience with.
The three of us spent time catching up, and walked out of the church together to our cars and as we did I told her that she had given me one of the greatest Christmas presents I had ever received, the certain knowledge that someone I thought highly of took such joy at the sight of me.
What price can you put on gift like that?
I will be telling this story till the day I die and if some day I’m blessed with grandchildren I will tell them the story of the young lady who gave me the best Christmas Present a person could receive without spending a dime.
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