Blog called on account of TORNADO!

Ummmm...we'll talk later. I think God's mad!

Blog called on account of rain!

It never rains in California...PFHAH!!

Sorry kids...rain like we've been having makes me dreary and listless...no blog today.

But if you want to join me for some hot cocoa or a cup of soup while I watch old movies...climb under the comforter with me...it'll be fun!

See ya tomorrow.

Oliver Hardy! Where'd You Go?

Born this date in 1892, this is the 118th anniversary of Oliver Hardy. One half, along with Stan Laurel, of probably the funniest comedy duo who ever worked.

Both of the boys began their careers solo in the silent era of the 1920's, then one day the comedy insight of Hal Roach brought them together in 1927. They worked together for the next 25 years or so.

Funnier than the bejeesus, these boys were a pleasure to watch. They developed and nurtured characters the audience genuinely liked and cared about, then put those characters in situations that let their incredible timing unfold.

What's that you say? You've never seen them perform?

Well then, why not check out their work on DVD.

What's that? No one out their is releasing Laurel and Hardy's films?

It's true. Though some of their silent solo work that has fallen into public domain has been released, the bulk of their classic work lies rotting in a vault.

I think I'll leave off on this post right here. I'll leave it open ended until someone smartens up.

Aw heck...here's a clip of the boys in action. Pitifully, there's not much out there digitally of their stuff either. We'll get back to that another day.

Happy birthday Ollie! I'll be waiting!

Steve Earle: The Last of the Hardcore Troubadours!

Born today in 1955, Steve Earle turns 55. "The last of the all-night do-right, Rosalita can you come out tonight? He's the last of the hardcore troubadours!"

In the world of Jeffy's musical wheelhouse, when folk, country, rock and roll first coagulated into what is called "outlaw country", "Alt.country" or whatever label you want to put on it, the songwriters that converged around the Nashville side of things fronted by the likes of Guy Clark and Rodney Crowell and John Hiatt...there was "The Kid". How's THAT for a run-on sentence?

The youngest of this crowd, and the last to receive his own recording contract, Steve has gone on to be one of the most eclectic and prolific singer-songwriters of any genre out there.

Steve Earle had a real deep dark run in with addiction and at one point we lost him. He disappeared for a few years, vanishing into the shadows of South Nashville, where he nearly lost his life to some serious drug usage. Then he got found and went to live in "The Grey Bar Hotel" for about 5 years or so. Steve lost a big part of his life that decade. And we lost the artistry that he could have given us.

Ever since he made it back though, he's been one creative sum bitch.

I don't claim to understand anything about what he went through. What I DO understand is, I'm glad he came out the other side.

And I'm glad that when he did, he decided that writing songs and singing them to us was important.

All I can say about any of it is to share some of his songs here and wish him a happy birthday.

Here we go.

First off...the ubiquitous "hit" song..."Copperhead Road":

One of his newer songs..."City of Immigrants":

Written after returning to his hometown one time. When no one remembered him except the cops. "Hometown Blues":

Here's a song I featured on this blog once before in my Woody Guthrie post...but I never get tired of it. A song about heroes. "Christmastime in Washington":

I'll leave you with one more, then you can go find your own favorites. A song written after the death of another of his heroes, Townes Van Zandt. They really should have closed down all those honky tonks that night...it they only knew. "Fort Worth Blues":

Thanks Steve for always challenging the listener. I look forward to lots more challenges from you!

Good Advice for Troubled Times from Dr. Jeffy and Dr. Jeffy

We live in troubled times, gentle readers. I worry about all of you out there.

The crisis in the world economy by itself, without all the other troubles out there, are enough to get you sick.

That's why Dr. Jeffy M.D. and Dr. Jeffy Psy.D. are here to help.

In a world and time when so many people are unemployed or under-employed, when families are at risk or have already lost their homes and when our largest and wealthiest generation has lost much of said wealth, just as they reach the threshold of retirement, there's lots to worry about.

That's not to mention the worldwide strife we hear or are exposed to personally every day. Darfur, Alqaida and other world terrorism, earthquakes, famine and flood. We all have to cope with dealing with this every day.

The technological world we live in of cell phone, Internet, 24 hour news networks, twitter...we are subjected to more information on a minute to minute basis than the human mind was ever meant to withstand.

It's important we stay informed. It's important we remain involved and caring and empathetic.

For the challenges of keeping your livelihood and your home we have to remain diligent.

But I don't want you getting sick over it. At a certain point your stewing in your own worry-juices is not being productive.

For your own sakes, once you've done what you can, walk away from it all. Reserve your energy for the next battle.

You'll need it.

For your own sakes...not all the time mind you...but every once in a while when it gets too tough...sing this song. I learned it from Robert Earl Keen, Jr. and it's my new time of trouble mantra.



Hang in there. We're going to need you when this is all over.