Eleanor Arnason's Blog, page 119

YIP Harburg

About YIP Harburg, lyricist for "Brother Can You Spare a Dime":

Yip wrote the lyrics to over 600 songs with a variety of composers. "It's Only a Paper Moon" (1932, with Arlen), "Over the Rainbow" (1939, Arlen, which won the Academy Award), "We're Off to See the Wizard," "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead" and "Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe" (1943, Arlen, from the film Cabin in the Sky). Later, with Lane, he wrote "Old Devil Moon" and "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" The team of Arlen and Harbu

Songs...

I am eagerly waiting for my Guardian registration to go through, so I can add
"The Last Watch on the Midland" by the late, great Canadian folksinger Stan Rogers. And I also want to mention Charlie Parr, a Minnesota folksinger. Patrick used to work with Charlie. They both did outreach to homeless people, many of whom -- most of whom -- were working people down on their luck. That is what bums and hobos have always been in this country.

Charlie is from Austin, Minnesota, a meatpacking town. Hormel

Unemployment Songs

The Guardian is asking readers to recommend songs about unemployment. The replies are up close to 500. I haven't read them all. Some are songs I know: 'Youngstown" by Springsteen, "Allentown" by Billy Joel, and "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" with lyrics by the wonderful Yip Harburg, who also wrote the lyrics for The Wizard of Oz:

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
T

Wages After Unemployment

I tried to find data on the wages people get after a period of unemployment. I know I've read that many people end by making less money. I found anecdotal information in on-line news stories: people who go from a six figure income as a manager to making $12 an hour as a janitor. But these stories are obviously picked because they are dramatic. I couldn't find out what happens to ordinary workers and the mass of workers.

However I found a gazillion blogs about being unemployed.

The Seductions of Capitalism

Patrick and I decided to take a walk in the Mall of America. It's large and cool and shady, which is appealing as the weather heats up. Neither of us likes heat or intense sunlight.

Pat's been having trouble with sciatica and walking is supposed to help. We didn't walk much, as it turns out, because his leg was really bothering him. However, we did stop in the fancy pen shop at the mall and I bought a Cross pen. It's very nice. I like it.

But this kind of spending has to stop. I can't afford it r

Thought

In some countries, people take to the streets when they think an election has been stolen...

Iran

From the National Iranian American Council, a translation of an Iranian blog post:

"I will participate in the demonstrations tomorrow. Maybe they will turn violent. Maybe I will be one of the people who is going to get killed. I'm listening to all my favorite music. I even want to dance to a few songs. I always wanted to have very narrow eyebrows. Yes, maybe I will go to the salon before I go tomorrow! There are a few great movie scenes that I also have to see. I should drop by the library, too.

Weather Report

There are leaves and small branches down, and the local peonies looked beaten. There must have been a storm last night, after I went to sleep.

We are into early summer weather: thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds, also the occasional tornado. I like thunderstorms, so long as I'm inside. Best is to lie on the couch in the living room and read, while lightning flashes and thunder rumbles or crashes.

Not a Grim Post

I just got back from the Y. I am planning to exercise five days a week, first thing in the morning. This will give my life some structure -- force me up, dressed and out the door.

My posts have been sounding grim, since I decided to blog unemployment. It's an important topic right now, and I am doing primary research.

I haven't talked about what's going right -- the exercise and writing, among other things. The longer I'm away from my old job, the more I realize how stressful it was. It sucked

Another Interview

This one went better than the others. I felt more comfortable and sounded (I think) more competent. The job has gotten approximately 70 resumes. They have interviews set with six people thus far.

The guy interviewing me said most of the applicants did not have jobs, and this had not been his experience previously.

In addition to two interviews, I have written an article on science fiction cons for an online newspaper, and am working on a chapbook to be published next spring. The chapbook will be