Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In

Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In was on TV from 1968-1973. It was my favorite show then. In many ways, it was a predecessor to Saturday Night Live. It had a cast with guest stars. Guest stars ranged from Hugh Hefner to Richard Nixon and John Wayne. There were lots of skits and one-liners. There were recurring jokes and lines such as “Here Comes the Judge”, “Very Interesting” and “Sock It To Me”. Laugh0In didn’t have musical guests unless you count Tiny Tim. Like all comedys kit shows, it was hit and miss. If you watched it today, you wouldn’t get a lot of the topical jokes unless you lived through the era.

One of my favorite recurring bits was at the end of the show when Arte Johnson as a German soldier wished good night to Lucy who was on another network.

Update on terrible QAnon conspiracy theory

Insane full circle story on Q and Michael Fanone

Mike was in the room when Edgar Welch was interrogated for shooting up Comet Ping Pong. Welch believed Hillary was running a child sex ring there (start to Q)

4 years later, Mike was assaulted by Q-believers at the Capitol
— Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) June 2, 2021

https://t.co/l8CQlUOyVz
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) June 1, 2021

Talk of a Myanmar-style coup in the United States has been popular among some Trump supporters and QAnon believers for months. pic.twitter.com/PVFKQ6LukA
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) June 1, 2021

QAnon conspiracy theories infect American churches https://t.co/BwkIOxbzfl
— Marc-André Argentino (@_MAArgentino) May 31, 2021

Echoing QAnon forums, former President Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn, appears to suggest a Myanmar-style coup should happen in the United States https://t.co/rBQs4Sek63
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 31, 2021

Polls find most Republicans say the 2020 election was stolen and roughly one-quarter embrace QAnon conspiracies https://t.co/lsrTwYY4Zp
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 29, 2021

I rounded up the wildest moments from the batshit crazy QAnon conference in Dallas this weekend including:

– Michael Flynn calling for a military coup
– Threats to hang Hillary Clinton
– A sitting Congressman
– An $8,000 baseball bat

And so much more…https://t.co/QGruuu1ZYn
— David Gilbert (@daithaigilbert) May 31, 2021

https://t.co/nDrJyna4Ek
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) May 31, 2021

Growing… https://t.co/uFnIhZWtUf
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) May 30, 2021

Just Trump's former national security advisor holding up a Q quilt at a QAnon conference in Dallas this weekend. https://t.co/23dMBcCKkT
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) May 30, 2021

Republicans are a threat to democracy

The events of 2020 and 2021 show how fragile our democracy is. Republicans are trying to sabotage it and I think it is reasonable to think they will try to override the results of future elections when they lose.

“Election officials throwing out enough votes to swing their state, legislatures overruling their voters…and Congress refusing to recognize the results would be uncharted territory. In 2020, Trump and his allies tried all three.” https://t.co/ia7x4irWhW
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) July 15, 2021

NEWS:

100 leading democracy scholars just issued a powerful new statement warning that our democracy is under dire threat, and that Democrats must pass sweeping federal voting rights protections, ending the filibuster to do so if necessary.

Details here:https://t.co/qnT5XTSEUX
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) June 1, 2021

"The biggest threat facing American democracy today is that 2020 may have been a dress rehearsal for what's to come in 2022 and 2024," "How Democracies Die" co-author @dziblatt says pic.twitter.com/fe06QlEYk7
— Reliable Sources (@ReliableSources) June 2, 2021

Signs of democratic erosion can be seen in every direction – for those who are willing to see them pic.twitter.com/U539gBxWmh
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 1, 2021

The last four years, however, have proven how tenuous a hold democracy has on the public.

And that if we don't fight for truth, fairness and facts, we are in danger of losing them forever.https://t.co/jy56GsiJkR
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) June 1, 2021

We're the world's oldest democracy. It's hard for us Americans to take threats of coups and even the dangers of authoritarianism seriously. But it's time to do so. https://t.co/qmTN4iHnAN
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 1, 2021

Unemployment benefits are not why people have not returned to work

Perspective: Study after study has debunked the myth that emergency benefits and stimuluses keep people out of the labor force. https://t.co/D3LJfwzOc2
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 14, 2021

Really useful research on the important question of whether the $600 UI boost is having a meaningful disincentive effect on employment. The short answer is: no. https://t.co/BKo8RJ3DEs
— Betsey Stevenson (@BetseyStevenson) August 4, 2020

JPMorgan economist: States ending unemployment early is 'politics, rather than economics' https://t.co/2qO8ZU7wE2 by @denitsa_tsekova pic.twitter.com/pqlKbXj41m
— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) May 27, 2021

Workers are expected to suffer every difficulty thrown their way—even life-threatening ones—and to be satisfied with the wages they’re offered. https://t.co/aH4YTQOK6c
— The New Republic (@newrepublic) May 16, 2021

– 21 states are now canceling the federal unemployment programs
– 3.6 million workers could see their benefits slashed or eliminated
– $21.6 billion in unemployment benefits at stake (Source:@pelhamprog)https://t.co/BXUEhZBQ9D pic.twitter.com/4Yq5HjUwOD
— Denitsa Tsekova (@denitsa_tsekova) May 18, 2021

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What economists fear will happen without more unemployment aid: https://t.co/vmjIuOnjkA
— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) August 11, 2020

Two lists of top 80 Dylan covers

In honor of his 80th birthday on May 24th, I think the Byrds cover of “Mr. Tambourine Man” is the most influential cover.

My goodness! Variety's top 80 Bob Dylan covers: https://t.co/wblEyNQFgX
— Roger McGuinn (@RogerMcGuinn) May 25, 2021

Happy birthday, Bob–and enjoy our celebration of the best covers of your tunes. https://t.co/PLLBQRprkP via @RollingStone
— David Browne (@DavBrowne) May 24, 2021

Covers: Lucille (Little Richard song)

“Lucille” was recorded by Little Richard in 1957. The best known cover is by the Everly Brothers from 1960.

Lucinda Williams on Austin City Limits in 1998

This is the entire performance. It was released on DVD but appears to be out of print based on the Amazon and eBay prices. Williams released Car Wheels on a Gravel Road in 1998. I think it’s her best album and one of the best by anyone ever. The songs from the album are the main focus of the concert. Williams is backed by a terrific band and the great support from harmonies provided by Jim Lauderdale. I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Lucinda Williams – Austin City Limits 1998 – Full Performance.

Lucinda Williams (vocals, guitar), Kenny Vaughan (guitar, backing vocals), John Jackson (guitar), Richard “Hombre” Price (bass), Randy Leago (Hammond B3, Accordion), Fran Breen (drums), and Jim Lauderdale (acoustic guitar, backing vocals).

Pineola (0:19)
Metal Firecracker (5:00)
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (8:38)
Right in Time (13:19)
Drunken Angel (17:58)
Greenville (21:21)
Still I Long for Your Kiss (25:43)
Lake Charles (30:13)
Changed the Locks (35:42)
Disgusted (39:31)
Jackson (42:45)
Sweet Old World (49:02)
Passionate Kisses (54:12)
Something About What Happens When We Talk (56:54)
Joy (1:00:54)
Can’t Let Go (1:09:33)

Godzilla Tales

Official Godzilla Instagram posts

Wilmington Blue Rocks – old photos

minor league baseball

Wilmington is high level A Ball. They’re now an affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Here are pictures I have taken at games over several years.

8/13/10:

9/4/11

Mississippi Republicans overturn public vote on medical marijuana

73% of voters voted for medical marijuana use in Mississippi. today, our Supreme Court decided to not only throw out the initiative, but the ballot initiative process that allows citizens to even have a direct, active voice on legislative measures. please don’t ask why we leave.
— Maze 👣 (@MaisieBrownJxn) May 14, 2021

With Initiative 65, a whopping 74% of Mississippians voted to approve medical marijuana in the state. It was set to go into effect this summer and a lot of people had pinned their hopes on it for treatment for a variety of illnesses.

Now, it's dead. https://t.co/NnjZoV73wZ
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) May 14, 2021

459,396 Mississippians voted for Gov. @TateReeves.

756,764 voted for Donald Trump.

816,107 voted for medical marijuana with either Initiative 65 or 65A.

Today, 6 Mississippi Supreme Court judges struck down Initiative 65 and the entire ballot initiative process. pic.twitter.com/bn8QxNK8uB
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) May 14, 2021

The Mississippi Supreme Court is comprised of 9 justices. Three were elected and the other six were appointed by Republican governors. 2 out of 3 justices elected by the people voted for democracy today. 5 out of 6 justices appointed by Republicans just voted against democracy. pic.twitter.com/mnUcPC0KEw
— Scott Santens 🧢🏄‍♂️ (@scottsantens) May 14, 2021

Mississippi Supreme Court Overturns Legal Marijuana Amendment—and Voids State Ballot Initiatives Entirely in the Process https://t.co/ZGkS6Vp0iS
— Ming Solenya Nalvany (@MingGao26) May 14, 2021