We seem to be making progress. I see yesterday’s comments still are with us, although older comments are nowhere to be found. I have learned they’re out there somewhere, and when I have time I’m going to look for them. Until then, I think we can manage, don’t you? Remember Freecell? Of course you do. You probably remember paying AOL to go online. As for today’s comic strip, it admittedly was one of the last drawn during an uninspired week. However, I can say it is based on a true story. Remember the olive trees? I made a big deal out of planting them last spring. Both of them are dead. They did not survive an uncommonly harsh Zone 8 winter. I remain convinced they’d have survived 9 out of 10 winters here, and if they’d had a few years’ to grow prior to this year, who knows? However, luck was against us.
Red on Black, Friend of Jack
By Jimmy Johnson
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122 responses to “Red on Black, Friend of Jack”
Debbe –
I’ve never seen anything of Kris writing for Elton, even in his earliest days. Bernie Taupin was Elton’s almost exclusive songwriter from the late 60’s into the 80’s and then again beginning in, I believe, the late 90’s.
I could see the two of them teaming up because some of Kris’ lyrics would have fit well with Elton’s singing style.
If I’m wrong (not outside the realm of possibility) let me know.
Yesterday afternoon, I received the following text message on my smart phone (verbatim):
(Cardholder Services Alert. Achieve Direct Deposit Failed. Call: 602 365 XXXX.)
A friend received an identical message on her phone yesterday evening. Needless to say, neither of us called the number. I feel sure this is a “phishing” scheme, whereby if you call the number they will try to get you to give them account and password info so your “direct deposit” will be “completed”. I’m also sure none of you here would fall for that, although you may have friends or relatives who might. (Note that this went out a couple of days after many, many Americans would be having their Social Security payments direct deposited to their bank accounts on the 3rd of the month.)
Pass the word if you know someone who might be vulnerable to this type of scam. If they are concerned about the validity of any message related to their bank accounts, they should call only their financial institution.
emb – The Midsummer Night’s Dream you saw was from 1935 and is probably my favorite version. Hard to beat the very young Mickey Rooney as Puck and James Cagney as Bottom; the cast also includes Olivia de Haviland, Dick Powell, Joe E. Brown, and a lot of other names that for most of us fall into the “oh, him!” category. Definitely worth watching even if you think you’re not a Shakespeare fan.
There’s a 1968 version that’s more funky than good. Check it out if you get a chance – it has Diana Rigg as Helena, Helen Mirren as Hermia, and a quite scantily-clad Judi Densch as Titania.
It was a dark and stormy night. No, really…it was.
Yep, Dame Judith gave a whole new meaning to the word “pokies”. Her ears, I mean.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LN3Iz_LcpvM/UADUviUqw8I/AAAAAAAAB70/HJv7ie9MehA/s1600/titania.jpg
Lilyblack, I don’t know how to play the game of Mah-Jong either, just like the tile-matching games which use the Mah-Jong tile sets. Some of them have really spectacular effects. Anyway, I just like looking at them rather than the standard card decks.
Do a search for a site called All Star Puzzles. They have a large assortment of different types, most everything you might find in the different puzzle magazines, plus some that work best on computers.
Here is a nice treat for the bird watchers and nature lovers among us, and especially eMb — a pair of Ravens, yes, actual Ravens, nesting at Wellesley College, near Boston. These birds are not usually seen around here; farther North, yes. I have never seen a Raven in my life! Here is a link to a videocamera. http://www.wellesley.edu/ravencam
I don’t know how true it is, but I’ve read that Mickey Rooney had to play Puck while sitting on a tricycle because he’d broken his leg. If so, that’s why you only see him from the waist up.
GR6: Social Security direct deposits at various times of the month, so there would seem to be less reason for concern at any specific dates. That being said, your warning is still worthy at any time for anyone. Thanks.
Ghost, I do use a photo-deposit app on my phone, so thanks for the warning! If I get such a message I will call my bank direct and check with them.
And it was indeed a dark and stormy night.
Yes, Jean, I can’t help but wonder if we won’t all be vehemently cursing the Inter-Web-Net one day for how easy it has made it for others to steal from us.
All Social Security benefit payments used to be made on the 3rd of each month. Since May of 1997, benefits are paid on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of each month…except that beneficiaries already being paid on the 3rd of the month continued to receive them on that date. I don’t have the numbers to prove it, but I would expect that many more payments are made on the 3rd than on the other days of the month. Another interesting factoid, made available here at A&J for no charge. 🙂
Ruth Anne: ‘and James Cagney as Bottom.’ Jimmy Cagney was an earlier alum [but not a graduate] of my HS, Stuyvesant, in Manhattan. Some years after I graduated [’47], SHS awarded him an honorary diploma. We have a 2 or 3 LP set [but no player now] of the complete ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’, with Stanley Holloway as Bottom. He is superb, as good as he was as Mr. Dolittle in ‘My Fair Lady.’ ‘Wiv a little bit o’ luck, . . ..’
Charlotte: Thanks for the raven webcam, http://www.wellesley.edu/ravencam . Ravens are relatively common in the conifer and mixed conifer/hardwood forests on N. MN, but are rarely seen in town unless a severe winter drives most of the local crows S. I didn’t see any this past long winter, but they may have been around.
‘. . . conifer and mixed conifer/hardwood forests in N. MN.’
Of course, many but certainly not all of those retiring prior to May of 1997 (at retirement age or earlier if due to disability) would not still be around to draw their SS benefits now. But there seem to still be a lot of octogenarians, nonagenarians and even centenarians around, so who knows?
No bank account, hence no deposits, therefore no worries.
Dear Debbe,
You can find Snoopy’s Candy Town on the app store. It is on my wife’s iPad, though I cannot remember how we came across it—and it was a little frustrating at first. But now it is nice to while away spare time. The characters are really beautifully done. And we have not succumbed even once to paying money for anything on it.
Then where do you keep your nest egg, Loon?
Only game I have is Angry Birds on my iPad. It’s surprising how much tension one can relieve by blowing up cartoon pigs. So far, I’ve successfully resisted the temptation to start assigning names to the pigs.
Loon has a well feathered nest and an offshore coop.
Good morning Villagers..
Bryan…. thanks for reminding me….I was referring to Jackson Brown collaborating with Elton John…..at the time I couldn’t remember Bernie’s last name either as one of John’s songwriters. And yes, I feel John’s best music was from that era, late 60’s and 70’s,
….welcome back Loon, missed your one liners 🙂
GR 😉 “Then where do you keep your nest egg, Loon?” love your wit and of course, your charm. you are such a slut puppy.
Speaking of pigs….Mark (not you) did you ever attend one of Pink Floyd’s concerts where they have the inflated pig flying over? Never had the chance to see them live.
DJJG….I’ll have to ask my son what an app store is, I have a plain and simple flip cell phone, and don’t want to give it up for these new phones, even tho I’m available for a free upgrade. Plus it means another two year contract with Verizon.
My son and nephew took the long way back home Sunday (back road cruising) and the river was rushing over the road. My nephew showed me the rushing river on his phone….I do admit, those phones could be tempting. Oh, they did have the common sense to turn around and take the highway.
So today is April 8th, EOL for XP….feel like I’m having unprotected sex on the internet now 🙂
But my son reminded me that for a long time I was operating on a bootleg XP until I got copyrighted.
Lilyblack….just what is a “ho rid friend”, inquiring minds want to know 🙂
Ya’ll have a blessed day……
Good morning and food morning, and welcome to Mindy’s Soap Box.
“Critics” are giving hell to the parents of the child that became ill on the sailboat [a 38-foot masthead rigged sloop, I do believe] which resulted in the Navy [GO NAVY!] coming to the rescue…and the sloop subsequently being sunk according to latest reports. “They shouldn’t have had a child on a boat like that!” Horse hockey, in the words of me sainted grandmother. Had it occurred on a hiking or camping trip, no one would have said a word. But it was on a sailboat and therefore the parents are uncaring and abusive. More horse hockey. Where is it written that children should be kept off the water until they reach 90+ years? No one seems to pay heed to the fact that the now sunken sailboat was also the HOME of the family of four.
I now surrender control of the soap box to the next fanatical heretic in line. Ghost? John saw pokies last night. Three pair. Oh, my, three pair takes a full house?
Mindy – agreed, and well said! There is also an assumption at they must be rich…in my experience, they are most likely anything BUT, and that boat was their home. When she was scuttled, they probably lost most of what they owned.
Debbe, my mother’s friends were horrid because they smoked and drank in the middle of the day and insulted one another continuously and loudly. I was a young teenager and I hid when they came over.