Wednesday, March 16, 2022

In Concert: Gilbert O'Sullivan

Had a good time last night at the Gilbert O’Sullivan concert at City Winery, near Ponce City Market. The 75 year old Irishman sang 29 songs, including his three biggest hits from the early 1970’s: “Clair”, “Alone Again, Naturally”, and “Get Back”.

There was a crowd of about 150, including a couple of ladies from his church in Ireland. Seating was around rows of tables. We sat with a couple from Kingsland GA: Bill a retired Navy diver and his wife of 40 years Sarah, who was born and raised in Scotland. Sarah was a huge O’Sullivan fan, with photos of her with the singer.

O’Sullivan is a lefty, which led him to learn drums and later keyboards, as opposed to guitar. Sometimes he crossed his legs underneath the keyboard as he played and sang. Andy Williams recorded a few of his songs. Gilbert sang 14 songs before a short intermission, then 13 more, and finally a two song encore. Didn’t get home until like 11:15.

Before the concert we ate at the Pig & Chick in Chamblee. Chopped pork, fries, and Brunswick stew. Was good, though when I poured my soft drink into my styrofoam cup it sprung a leak, creating a mess.

Was back in the gym this morning lifting weights. Busy day at work today. Had to finish two projects. Didn't leave unil after 7 pm.

Did you see where the Grizzlies traveled to OKC for a game, and both teams came out in white uniforms? The NBA has a website showing every game’s uniform matchup for the entire season. Memphis was supposed to wear black unis at OKC. They went to the locker room and returned wearing blue.

When C was in SC in late January her mother was asking what happened to the collection of 90’s era baseball cards her father had, full years worth still sealed. At Christmas C’s mom had told Will to take them, but no one else knew that. The cards aren’t worth much, because so many cards were produced in the 90’s. Most all of mine are from the same era, and aren’t worth much either.

NOTE: this blog recently passed 500,000 views. Broke my arm patting myself on the back. Gotta remember some people I know get that many views on one post.

I have heard talk on TV news about the possibility of taking Putin out. Many say the US doesn’t need to be the first to use chemical weapons or anything that would knock out power grids, for fear of retaliation. I haven’t researched the issue. We need one of the real life book characters, those tough guy secret agent types who could do the job.

DenisonVeronika Melkozerova, a journalist based in Kyiv, writes in the Atlantic, "You never know where the Russians will drop their bombs—onto a residential building, a kindergarten classroom, a monastery, or a maternity hospital. "Don't you understand that World War III may have already arrived?" Putin clearly wants to rebuild a new Russian Empire, which could lead him to advance beyond Ukraine into NATO-allied countries and force the US into the conflict. I noted the growing concern that Russia could use "tactical nuclear weapons"; UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters, "The prospect of nuclear conflict is within the realm of possibility." China's continued escalation of its nuclear capacities only adds to the danger. Denison Ministries Creative Director Josh Miller has a new article on our website: "'Blessed are the self-sufficient': How the anti-Beatitudes explain our cultural anxieties." After exposing the fallacy of living by our culture's self-sufficient values, he asks, "What kingdom defines your life?"

CARL HUBBELL  [SABR Bio] his 45 consecutive scoreless innings is a record for lefties. “The Meal Ticket” threw 45-1/3 scoreless innings between the 7th inning of 13-Jul- & the 6th inning of 01-Aug-1933. He holds a much more famous All-Star record, but he also once surrendered three runs in one All-Star inning. Hubbell famously struck out 5 consecutive Hall of Fame batters in the 1st & 2nd innings of the 1934 ASG, but in the 1937 mid-summer Classic, Hubbell replaced Dizzy Dean to start the bottom of the 7th, then only got two outs before being replaced, three earned runs later. He is the only National League pitcher to win the BBWAA Most Valuable Player award twice. Hubbell was NL MVP in 1933, amazingly out-voting Chuck Klein’s Triple Crown year. Hubbell won again in 1936, this time unanimously.

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