Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 276

Motherless Children

Another for Mom's Day:  One of great songs of the past century, "Motherless Children," has been covered by dozens of greats, from Louis Armstrong and Paul Robeson to Richie Havens and Eric Clapton.  One of my favorite versions, however, comes from Van Morrison back in 1987.  I'll add some other versions later.

For Mother's Day: Getting the Kinks Out

Obscure Kinks' 1969 antiwar song, universal, "Some Mother's Son."

Even on Mother's Day: 19 Shot at Parade in NOLA

UPDATE:  Wounded toll raised to 19, including two kids, age 10.  One guy shot six times but no one has died yet.  Suspects still on loose. 

Earlier: Nothing can surprise you anymore in gun nutty USA, but still: 18 injured in shooting about 2 p.m. at Mother's Day "second line" parade in New Orleans?  At least one kid hurt, no fatalities as yet, coroner says, though could change.  Original wounded total was 12.   See photo of guy shot.  Updates here:  three in serious conditions.  Three suspects and two guns used. Some poignant quotes from marchers and residents.

Even on Mother's Day: 12 Shot at Parade in NOLA

Nothing can surprise you anymore in gun nutty USA, but still: 18 injured in shooting about 2 p.m. at Mother's Day "second line" parade in New Orleans?  At least one kid hurt, no fatalities as yet, coroner says, though could change.  Original wounded total was 12.   See photo of guy shot.  Updates here:  three in serious conditions.  Three suspects and two guns used. Some poignant quotes from marchers and residents.

Famed Nagasaki Survivor Visits Los Alamos

Surprising NYT story just posted on a Nobel-winning chemist who survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki almost 68 years ago and has now visited the birthplace of the Bomb, Los Alamos, in New Mexico, to give a lecture.  It wasn't about the bombing but the subject came up.  The chemist said that even if Hiroshima bombing was justified the Nagasaki blast surely was not--it was mainly just to test the other weapon we were developing, using plutonium.  Surprisingly, some of his hosts agree.  For more see my recent book Atomic Cover-Up and my new book Hollywood Bomb.  (You'll find them over on the right rail of this blog.) 

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Bloggers

There's one of those lists out there on the inter-tubes of "100 Greatest Songs" about moms or some such.  Here's a partial list of songs I know and actually like :

  2. Mother & Child Reunion - Paul Simon
  3. Mother-In-Law - Ernie K-Doe
  5. Mama Said - Shirelles
  6. Mama Tried - Merle Haggard
  7. Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown
  8. Mother's Little Helper--Rolling Stones
  9. Mama Don't Allow - Hank Thompson

11. Mother--Pink Floyd
14. Have You Seen Your Mother Baby Standing In The Shadows - Rolling Stones
16. Mom and Dad's Waltz - Lefty Frizzell
17. It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bob Dylan
20. Mother - John Lennon
22. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys - Waylon & Willie
45. Your Mother Should Know - Beatles
86. That Was Your Mother - Paul Simon
94. Mama You Sweet - Lucinda Williams
100. Some Mother's Son - Kinks

Update on the 3 Kidnapped Women

Statement from spokesmen and attorneys for the Cleveland women at 10 a.m.  Women express thanks to public, FBI, police, prosecutors.  Amanda Berry:  "I am so happy to be home with my family."  Requests for interviews plentiful but women will speak to no one for these reasons: 1) pending criminal prosecution and they are "victim/witnesses."  2) most importantly, they have "pleaded" for privacy so they "can continue to heal" so "please respect this most basic request."  May be a time in future when they will speak.  But "clear" will not happen while prosecution underway. 

And It's All True, Man

Alternet featuring wild excerpt from my new book Hollywood Bomb today.  Which U.S. president got actor playing him fired from big-budget film>

Sunday Morning in the Church of Beethoven

This week it's one of the great TV music highlights ever, historic meeting of Glenn Gould and Leonard Rose for the great cello sonata no. 3.

New Quadruple Murder

This time in the Midwest.  From CNN just now:  "Four bodies with gunshot wounds were found in a southern Indiana home late Saturday night, authorities said. Officials are investigating their deaths as a quadruple homicide, Bartholomew County Sheriff Mark Gorbett said.  No suspect is in custody. Three males were found dead in the living room, and a female was found dead in the bedroom, Gorbett said.  The bodies were found in Waynesville, about halfway between Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky."