From this week's Biggest Best Latest Loudest awards:
Highest-Ranking Foot-in-Mouth Award: Vice President Joe Biden, who told the “Today” show Thursday he’d advise family members to avoid airplanes, subways and other “confined” places to avoid catching the H1N1, or swine flu — even while others in the Obama administration were trying to tamp down the growing (and ill-founded) hysteria. Biden’s office almost immediately issued a statement saying that the vice president meant that sick people should avoid those places.
In a related story, Americans agree that logically impaired people should avoid speaking.
Painful-to-Watch Clarification Award: Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano, who had to ask for a do-over last month, too, after a leaked Homeland Security report suggested that returning Iraq veterans might be potential risks to foment domestic terrorism. This time, faced with the Biden gaffe, she was compelled to reiterate the government’s travel policy: Carry on.
In a related story, Napolitano’s title has been changed Secretary of Apologies.
Best Headline We Could Never Get Away With Using: "Swine Flu Conspiracy — The Aporkalypse,” from an undermedicated (or densely sarcastic) conspiracy blog, ahrcanum.wordpress.com.
But What About Mad Cow Disease? Award: You get swine flu from pigs, right? What? Oops. That’s our impersonation of America, after realizing that one has nothing to do with the other. Don’t believe anyone could actually be that silly? Tell it to the National Pork Producers Council, which says the industry has taken an $18 million hit since the influenza outbreak. Pork folk blame the “inaccurate” name.
“It is not a ‘swine’ flu, and people need to stop calling it that,” said Dave Warner of the pork council. The World Health Organization announced it would instead refer to the illness as “H1N1 influenza A,” which is not nearly as catchy — but then that’s the pork council’s point, isn’t it?
Best Attempt at Out-Bidening Biden: Israel’s deputy health minister, Yakov Litzman, a member of the Jewish state’s ultra-religious party, who said earlier this week that the name “swine flu” should not be used because it contains the name of the animal banned by Judaism. He suggested “Mexican flu,” which won him no friends in Mexico. Clarification time: “Israel has no intention of giving the flu any new names. It was nothing more than a slip of the tongue,” said an unidentified government official who almost certainly was not Janet Napolitano.
Hammiest Twitter of the Week: Steve Mullen of The Commercial Dispatch of Columbus, Miss., who had the gall to announce: “Inoculated self against swine flu by eating three pounds of bacon.” Seems like a marketing opportunity the pork council ought to be considering.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Billy Mize and the Bakersfield Sound
Buck Owens justifiably gets most of the credit for defining and popularizing the Bakersfield Sound, that rollicking cousin of rockabilly, but Billy Mize — whose 80th birthday party will be held April 28 at the Crystal Palace — was on the local music scene years before Owens.
In fact Mize, along with Bill Woods, deserves much of the credit for helping the music of the late-’30s Dust Bowl migration translate into Bakersfield honky-tonk, an important forerunner of today’s rock and country, and a spiritual predecessor of the alt-country, No Depression sound coming out of places like Austin, Atlanta and Seattle.
I’d never read precisely how the music of the federal labor camps evolved into Bakersfield honky-tonk, so a few years ago I did some research and found Mize (who went on to become a big TV star in the ‘50s and early ‘60s) right there at the beginning. An excerpt:
Most weekend days during the early post-war years, younger residents of the Sunset labor camp, as the Arvin labor camp was also known, would walk a mile east to mingle with migrant workers from the squatters’ camps around the town of Weedpatch, which was not much more than a single rural intersection in the middle of acres of table-grape vineyards. They would meet, hundreds of them, at a business called the Collins Auction.
“This is how it began,” honky tonk drummer Jimmy Phillips told me. “You have all these people that’s migrated here from Oklahoma and they’re squatted there (in tents on private land all around Weedpatch) … A lot of them people would go up and they’d listen to Billy Mize and Bill Woods … come out and play. Man, I’m tellin’ you, it would be like a dream for me and many of the others, just to go up and listen to ‘em. And you would think, man, one of these days, this is gonna work, we’re gonna get to get in and do this (ourselves).”
Mize’s story is an important chapter in a story that touches on Texas-style Western Swing, federal labor camps, and the West Coast shipyards and aircraft factories of World War II. Those were some of the ingredients that came together to create the Bakersfield Sound. Here, in all its 8,800-word glory, is the entire story.
In fact Mize, along with Bill Woods, deserves much of the credit for helping the music of the late-’30s Dust Bowl migration translate into Bakersfield honky-tonk, an important forerunner of today’s rock and country, and a spiritual predecessor of the alt-country, No Depression sound coming out of places like Austin, Atlanta and Seattle.
I’d never read precisely how the music of the federal labor camps evolved into Bakersfield honky-tonk, so a few years ago I did some research and found Mize (who went on to become a big TV star in the ‘50s and early ‘60s) right there at the beginning. An excerpt:
Most weekend days during the early post-war years, younger residents of the Sunset labor camp, as the Arvin labor camp was also known, would walk a mile east to mingle with migrant workers from the squatters’ camps around the town of Weedpatch, which was not much more than a single rural intersection in the middle of acres of table-grape vineyards. They would meet, hundreds of them, at a business called the Collins Auction.
“This is how it began,” honky tonk drummer Jimmy Phillips told me. “You have all these people that’s migrated here from Oklahoma and they’re squatted there (in tents on private land all around Weedpatch) … A lot of them people would go up and they’d listen to Billy Mize and Bill Woods … come out and play. Man, I’m tellin’ you, it would be like a dream for me and many of the others, just to go up and listen to ‘em. And you would think, man, one of these days, this is gonna work, we’re gonna get to get in and do this (ourselves).”
Mize’s story is an important chapter in a story that touches on Texas-style Western Swing, federal labor camps, and the West Coast shipyards and aircraft factories of World War II. Those were some of the ingredients that came together to create the Bakersfield Sound. Here, in all its 8,800-word glory, is the entire story.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Danny Gilmore shows some courage
Danny Gilmore, the Republican assemblyman from Hanford, is taking some heat for having declared his support for Proposition 1A. That’s the initiative on the May 19 ballot that would extend by up to two years a handful of temporary fees and taxes, including the emergency 1-cent sales tax the Legislature put in place in February to keep the state from sinking into a fiscal bog.
That took guts on Gilmore’s part because it could be fatal for his re-election hopes. Bakersfield talk-radio talker Ralph Bailey said as much Monday afternoon, essentially calling Gilmore a one-termer. Bailey could be right.
Why would Gilmore do such a thing? Maybe because he has decided to do what virtually every politician says he’ll do during the campaign but almost never does once he’s elected — forget his party affiliation and answer to the greater good.
It’ll be disaster if Prop. 1A fails. Disastrous for schools, law enforcement, public health — government services most voters didn’t even know they counted on. (And just in time for a potential swine flu outbreak.)
Gilmore knows this — and I sensed he knew it back when the state senate was trying to resolve the budget deficit three months ago. Gilmore didn’t have to vote to raise taxes then because the assembly already had enough votes to make it happen. Gilmore probably doesn’t have to say so now, either, but he’s willing to do so anyway because understands, as a former CHP guy, what a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall will mean.
That’s called huevos, folks, and I respect him for it even if some of his constituents don’t.
That took guts on Gilmore’s part because it could be fatal for his re-election hopes. Bakersfield talk-radio talker Ralph Bailey said as much Monday afternoon, essentially calling Gilmore a one-termer. Bailey could be right.
Why would Gilmore do such a thing? Maybe because he has decided to do what virtually every politician says he’ll do during the campaign but almost never does once he’s elected — forget his party affiliation and answer to the greater good.
It’ll be disaster if Prop. 1A fails. Disastrous for schools, law enforcement, public health — government services most voters didn’t even know they counted on. (And just in time for a potential swine flu outbreak.)
Gilmore knows this — and I sensed he knew it back when the state senate was trying to resolve the budget deficit three months ago. Gilmore didn’t have to vote to raise taxes then because the assembly already had enough votes to make it happen. Gilmore probably doesn’t have to say so now, either, but he’s willing to do so anyway because understands, as a former CHP guy, what a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall will mean.
That’s called huevos, folks, and I respect him for it even if some of his constituents don’t.
Friday, April 24, 2009
The award for hunkiest fictional president
Goes to ... Barack P. Obama — and in case you’re wondering, the “P” stands for Photoshopped.
Obama, who’s in pretty good physical shape for a socialist, graces the cover of the latest Washingtonian magazine. The May edition shows a shirtless Obama wearing nothing but red board shorts and sunglasses.
Problem is, the photo, taken in Hawaii by a paparazzo shortly after Obama won the November election, was doctored. Obama’s conservative black trunks are now red, and his skin tone appears more golden than anyone can remember seeing it before. (The magazine denies his skin tone was altered.)
Well, give the Washingtonian credit for resisting the urge to superimpose the beefier abs of, say, rapper 50 Cent.
Obama, who’s in pretty good physical shape for a socialist, graces the cover of the latest Washingtonian magazine. The May edition shows a shirtless Obama wearing nothing but red board shorts and sunglasses.
Problem is, the photo, taken in Hawaii by a paparazzo shortly after Obama won the November election, was doctored. Obama’s conservative black trunks are now red, and his skin tone appears more golden than anyone can remember seeing it before. (The magazine denies his skin tone was altered.)
Well, give the Washingtonian credit for resisting the urge to superimpose the beefier abs of, say, rapper 50 Cent.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Happy Birthday, Billy Mize -- party is April 28
Billy Mize turns 80 on April 29, but there's a party being held in his honor April 28 at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace -- and one of the features of the gathering will be a preview of a new documentary about his life and career. For those who don't know his story, here's a short excerpt from my 1997 profile. It picks up after TV host/fiddle player Jimmy Thomason quit his TV gig to run (unsuccessfully) for the state senate in 1954 and then, out of a job, moved temporarily back to Texas:
Billy Mize, a young, handsome steel guitar player, had taken advantage of the Thomasons’ self-imposed two-year exile, stepping in to host his own program. He called his KBAK show “The Chuck Wagon Gang” and teamed for a year and a half with Cliff Crofford (later to earn a reputation writing songs for Walter Brennan and composing mid-’70s film soundtracks including those for “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Every Which Way But Loose”).
Mize “sang like a bird,” said Roy Nichols, former guitarist for Merle Haggard’s Strangers and a some-time-regular on the “Trading Post.” “Looked good, too.” “He had a lot a trouble with girls,” Red Simpson said. “Trouble keeping them away.”
Mize, who rejoined the “Trading Post” gang after the Thomasons’ return, became the show’s host in October 1963 when Cousin Herb was forced to scale back following his first heart attack. After Henson’s death the following month, the show moved to KBAK, and Mize continued as the show’s host for its final years. The Thomasons essentially switched places with Mize, landing on KERO-TV.
A native of Kansas by way of Riverside, Mize was all over the Southern California airwaves in those days. In a two-year display of road-warrior grit during 1964 and 1965, he racked up 3,000 miles a week driving his pink 1959 Cadillac back and forth between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, appearing on two live, daily TV music shows: “Trading Post” in Bakersfield and “Melody Ranch” on KTLA.
Mize performed on several Los Angeles-area TV shows, including “The Hank Penny Show,” “Town Hall Party,” “The Cal Worthington Show,” and “Country Music Time.” He eventually sold his heroic, well-traveled Caddy to Buddy Mize, his songwriting brother.
Before the Academy of Country Music gave its “TV Personality of the Year” award to Glen Campbell in 1968, Mize owned the trophy, winning three years in a row. He recorded for Columbia, Decca, United Artists, Zodiac and others, but his finest moment in the studio was probably the day in June 1966 that Dean Martin recorded three of his songs, including “Terrible Tangled Web.”
Billy Mize, a young, handsome steel guitar player, had taken advantage of the Thomasons’ self-imposed two-year exile, stepping in to host his own program. He called his KBAK show “The Chuck Wagon Gang” and teamed for a year and a half with Cliff Crofford (later to earn a reputation writing songs for Walter Brennan and composing mid-’70s film soundtracks including those for “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Every Which Way But Loose”).
Mize “sang like a bird,” said Roy Nichols, former guitarist for Merle Haggard’s Strangers and a some-time-regular on the “Trading Post.” “Looked good, too.” “He had a lot a trouble with girls,” Red Simpson said. “Trouble keeping them away.”
Mize, who rejoined the “Trading Post” gang after the Thomasons’ return, became the show’s host in October 1963 when Cousin Herb was forced to scale back following his first heart attack. After Henson’s death the following month, the show moved to KBAK, and Mize continued as the show’s host for its final years. The Thomasons essentially switched places with Mize, landing on KERO-TV.
A native of Kansas by way of Riverside, Mize was all over the Southern California airwaves in those days. In a two-year display of road-warrior grit during 1964 and 1965, he racked up 3,000 miles a week driving his pink 1959 Cadillac back and forth between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, appearing on two live, daily TV music shows: “Trading Post” in Bakersfield and “Melody Ranch” on KTLA.
Mize performed on several Los Angeles-area TV shows, including “The Hank Penny Show,” “Town Hall Party,” “The Cal Worthington Show,” and “Country Music Time.” He eventually sold his heroic, well-traveled Caddy to Buddy Mize, his songwriting brother.
Before the Academy of Country Music gave its “TV Personality of the Year” award to Glen Campbell in 1968, Mize owned the trophy, winning three years in a row. He recorded for Columbia, Decca, United Artists, Zodiac and others, but his finest moment in the studio was probably the day in June 1966 that Dean Martin recorded three of his songs, including “Terrible Tangled Web.”
Monday, April 20, 2009
How do newspapers keep their oldest readers?
How bad are things for the Hodel's Kiwanis Club? Bad enough that they were compelled to bring me in as a luncheon speaker on Monday. They asked questions about the future of newspapers and I was compelled to give them straight answers.
A couple of older members (70 plus, I expect) were not pleased to learn that things are going in a digital direction. Neither of these gentlemen know how to use a computer. Newspapers won't be happy to lose their readership -- that demographic is a faithful customer.
They posed this question: How about printing something (now, soon,whatever) on how to use a computer? While I'm not sure that's the best use of limited newsprint, it does raise an interesting point: What are newspapers doing to bring along these older readers? Are we just giving up on them? Or is there a way to connect them to our digital future? Should newspapers be offering computer literacy seminars at senior centers, or it that too far outside our central mission? Should we be partnering with retailers to put laptops into their hands? (Yes, that stuff is outside the central mission, too, but maybe we should be thinking about that sort of thing as well.) These are customers who WANT to stay with us.
A couple of older members (70 plus, I expect) were not pleased to learn that things are going in a digital direction. Neither of these gentlemen know how to use a computer. Newspapers won't be happy to lose their readership -- that demographic is a faithful customer.
They posed this question: How about printing something (now, soon,whatever) on how to use a computer? While I'm not sure that's the best use of limited newsprint, it does raise an interesting point: What are newspapers doing to bring along these older readers? Are we just giving up on them? Or is there a way to connect them to our digital future? Should newspapers be offering computer literacy seminars at senior centers, or it that too far outside our central mission? Should we be partnering with retailers to put laptops into their hands? (Yes, that stuff is outside the central mission, too, but maybe we should be thinking about that sort of thing as well.) These are customers who WANT to stay with us.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Last place in mutual stalking society's contest
Actor Ashton Kutcher became the first Twitterer to to rack up 1 million "followers" Friday morning, edging CNN. If you're wondering why celebrities who hate gossip websites would encourage people to follow them around, in a digital sense, you're not alone.
One answer: They're anxious to help usher in the birth of the next generation of mass media -- not just Twitter, per se, but all sorts of user-driven content. Plus, in this case, Kutcher's effort was for a good cause: The first one to hit a million had agreed to donate 10,000 mosquito nets for World Malaria Day.
Kutcher, whose wife Demi Moore alerted authorities to a suicidal Twitterer last month, was helped in part by 1,144 billboards donated for a day by Lamar Advertising -- including at least one in Bakersfield. A bit further back, behind Kutcher, twitter.com/stubblebuzz ended the week with seven followers. What did you expect? No billboard help.
One answer: They're anxious to help usher in the birth of the next generation of mass media -- not just Twitter, per se, but all sorts of user-driven content. Plus, in this case, Kutcher's effort was for a good cause: The first one to hit a million had agreed to donate 10,000 mosquito nets for World Malaria Day.
Kutcher, whose wife Demi Moore alerted authorities to a suicidal Twitterer last month, was helped in part by 1,144 billboards donated for a day by Lamar Advertising -- including at least one in Bakersfield. A bit further back, behind Kutcher, twitter.com/stubblebuzz ended the week with seven followers. What did you expect? No billboard help.
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