Andrew Jackson

There are quite a few of our earlier Presidents, who, unlike Washington and Jefferson, were not raised on plantations, but rather came from the ranks of the settlers who were expanding our borders through sheer sweat and hard toil. Abe Lincoln comes immediately to mind in this regard. His boyhood home has been long gone, although there is a cabin at Knob Creek in Kentucky which belonged to a neighbor which is similar to the one in which Lincoln would have been born. Andrew Jackson’s story is somewhat the same.

Jackson, our 7^th President, was born in Waxhaw, which is on the border of North and South Carolina, making it hard for historians to accurately pin down the exact location, on March 15, 1767, just in time for the Revolutionary War. Although too young to serve as a soldier; as did his 2 brothers; he did serve as a courier in the final year of the war when he was 13.

This was the year in which a British officer ordered him to clean his boots, which the young Jackson refused to do. The British officer used his sword on the boy, leaving him with a severe gash in his hand. The hand would heal, but his hatred of the British would remain with him until his death. This was also the year in which he lost both his brothers and his mother to smallpox and ships fever, leaving him orphaned at the age of 14. For the next few years he lived with relatives and served time apprenticing as a saddle maker.

The Andrew Jackson State Park is located just about where he was born. There is no structure to replicate his boyhood home, although there is a small school cabin which served the children in the area when they were not working on the family farms.

The biggest attraction at the site is the massive sculpture done by Anna Hyatt Huntington. It’s an equestrian statue, showing Jackson astride a horse, much as he is often depicted at the battle of New Orleans in 1814. It’s a quiet and peaceful place with campgrounds, walking trails and even a lake for fishing. There is a modest $2 charge to enter the grounds, but it’s worth it.

It’s interesting to compare the palatial Presidential “Libraries” of today; which began in the late half of the 20^th Century; to these old homesteads, where so little remains to note the humble beginnings of some of our most illustrious Presidents. There is often much more to be said by the quiet and contemplative surroundings of these parks than by all of the documents, films and holograms which can be viewed at those more “modern” facilities. Sometimes, when viewing the past through the lens of modern technology, more becomes less; and the story of the individual becomes obscured.  In the quiet surroundings of this State Park, I found the soul of Andrew Jackson.

Andy Kaufman and Elvis (1977)

I was never much of an Andy Kaufman fan. That’s all I’ll say on that score. But while I was buzzing about on You Tube I found this incredible clip of him from his first appearance on the Johnny Carson Show on March 3, 1977. So, I missed the 36^th anniversary of this appearance by a mere 3 days.

Andy Kaufman was a performance artist; he detested being labeled as a comedian. Beginning with local nightclub appearances where he would do impressions of TV characters like Archie Bunker, he graduated to the TV screen on the hit show “Taxi” where he played Latka Gravas, a foreign born taxi driver with a heavy accent.  From there he took the largest leap of his career when he went form “Taxi”, which was at the height of its popularity, and appeared on the Saturday Night Live Show of October 11, 1975. Going from a scripted sit-com to the improvisational comedy of SNL brought him to the forefront and before long he was the opening act at Rodney Dangerfield’s club, and appearing on shows such as Johnny Carson’s, which is shown above.

Born January 12, 1949 this highly unusual and talented performance artist passed away at the age of 35, after only 10 years in the business. He was stricken with a rare form of lung cancer and then succumbed to kidney failure a year later.

Sometimes it takes a while to fully appreciate the talents of others. In this case Andy Kaufman got shortchanged by me. I could never get past that accent thing; until I watched this you tube clip. His transformation and ease with the audience have made me wander back thru you tube for a better understanding of his unique talent.

One thing he did have in common with Elvis; after every performance he thanked the audience, just as the King did. Only with Andy, it came out as, “T'ank you veddy much!”

_______________________________________

Alvin Lee Dead at 68

Another one flown away.... Nothing to say- just sit back and savor this set from Woodstock, courtesy of You Tube.... RIP Alvin Lee.

"Mafia Summit" by Gil Reavill (2013)

Depending on where you lived in America prior to 1957 determined what you called the mafia. In Los Angeles it was the “Combination”; Chicago had the “Fix”; New York had the “Mob”; and everyone knew they were connected. That is, everyone but J. Edgar Hoover, who didn’t admit the Mafia even existed until after the release of the Valachi papers in the early 1960’s. And since Valachi referred to the syndicate as La Costra Nostra, or, “This Thing of Ours”; rather than the Mafia; Hoover still insisted that he was right. There was no Mafia. Essentially, Hoover saved America from the Communists, but in doing so,  gave it to the mob.

Gil Reavill has done a superb job in researching, as well as writing, this detailed history of the mob in America, while telling the story behind the infamous Apalachin Conference in 1957 and the repercussions which evolved from that incident.

New York State Trooper Sergeant Edgar Croswell had been keeping an eye on local resident Joe Barbara for years. Their first encounter involved gas siphoning during the last days of the Second World War. But when Sgt. Croswell noticed an assemblage of high priced, late model automobiles; dozens of them; parked at Mr. Barbara’s home one morning in November of 1957, he ran the plates, and changed the course of the history of the mob in America. He also shook up J. Edgar Hoover’s little fiefdom, which had been busy chasing Communists for so long that they didn’t even have a clue about this organized  criminal element, and how far they had penetrated our very own government.

Along with the story of the Summit the author has also told the story of the syndicates in the various cities across America and how they became united. Tracing the mob wars back to the Castellammarese clan he draws a clear picture of how the power struggles of the past led to a nation-wide criminal organization which held ownership in legitimate businesses; using the profits to buy politicians and evade the law for decades.

The first real mob “convention” took place in 1928 in Cleveland. It was held at the Statler Hotel for the express purpose of deciding who controlled what territories. This was a result of the Castellammarese ‘war”. The meeting was called by Joseph Porrello, also known as the Sugar Baron. That meeting was broken up before any real progress could be made, but is acknowledged as the first summit of its kind.

The next time the mob held a meeting was in 1929 in Atlantic City. That meeting was spoofed in the hit movie “Some Like It Hot”, with many of the characters bearing similar, if not exact nicknames of the mobsters who attended the conference.

After that was the 1931 meeting held in Chicago at the Congress Hotel. This meeting was held to codify national commission to settle disputes.  By 1946 the mob leaders met again in Havana to discuss the new business of trafficking in heroin. Present at that meeting were Albert Anastasia, Vito Genovese and the newly freed; and deported; Lucky Luciano, who flew into Cuba from Italy with a fake passport.

One of the most interesting parts of this book was how far into our everyday life the mob had gone. Take a bottle of soda as an example. The main ingredient was sugar, and as such, it was a valuable commodity, ripe for manipulation. Cuba was important not only for gambling and drugs, but sugar as well. When Castro took over in the late 1950’s, we lost our sugar holdings, which affected the price of a bottle of soda for millions of Americans.

One of the reasons we went to such great lengths to overthrow Castro was sugar, which was vital to the still thriving, tax free bootleg liquor industry in America. Local bootleggers could not simply buy a thousand pounds of sugar locally without arousing suspicion. It had to be bought on the black market, which is where the mob came into play. The price of sugar rose drastically after Castro took over, and cost the mob a tremendous amount of money in lost profits here at home as well as in the casinos in Havana.

The story of the Summit at Apalachin on November 14, 1957 is well known. The images of mobsters, dressed in expensive suits, running through the late fall woods, slipping and sliding in their pointed toes shoes is a part of our culture. But the story behind the officer who precipitated the raid, and the light which was shed upon the existence of the mob in America, is a story that has never really been told in such detail as by Mr. Reavill. His attention to the details of the history leading up to the Apalachin Summit; as well as the results of exposing the connections of the various crime families in America; is fascinating and informative.

With an appendix listing the names and details of the various bosses, coupled with a chapter by chapter section of notes; along with an extensive bibliography; make this a lively and educational read for anyone interested in the history behind all of the movies about organized crime in America. 

John Lewis and the Voting Rights Act of 1964

There’s lots of talk about repealing the Voter’s Rights Amendment to the Constitution lately. The photograph above was what I saw in 1965, when I was barely 11 years old. In the foreground is future Congressman John Lewis being beaten by an Alabama State Trooper for daring to exercise his rights of peaceful protest and free speech. The Voting Rights Act of 1964 was brand new; and it was the law of the land; but the Southern states were dragging their feet on enforcement of it, which led to the Selma-Montgomery marches of March 1965.

The first march took place on what became known as “Bloody Sunday”, March 7^th, 1965, which is when the photograph above was taken; 45 years ago yesterday. The marchers were attempting a peaceful protest by marching from Selma to Montgomery; and the state capitol. But first, they would have to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This was; for some arbitrary reason on the part of the police; the line of demarcation which they could not allow the protesters to cross. To aid them in their cause they enlisted fire hoses, police dogs and tear gas; as well as billy clubs; to prevent the protesters from reaching their goal.

The initial march, on Sunday; by about 600 protesters  grew out of frustration over the inability of African-Americans to register and vote; as dictated by the 1964 law. The march was organized by the Dallas County Voter’s League and the SNCC, who both enlisted the help of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The second march grew out of the brutality of the police in preventing the protesters from crossing the bridge. That march was held the following Tuesday as 2,500 protesters turned out and forced their way across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, making their way to the other side before being turned back by a tidal wave of state and local police who were waiting.

It wasn't until March 16^th that the protesters  now stronger in numbers than ever; and backed by over 2,000 soldiers and federalized National Guardsmen, were able to begin the 40 mile march from Selma to the state capitol. At a rate of 10 miles per day, they arrived at their goal on March 24^th, where they were able to formally lodge their protest.

The move in the Congress and Senate today, which is based upon the assertion that the protection of the law is no longer needed to protect the rights of minority voters, is specious on its very face. It is nothing more than an attempt to turn back the clock in America. One of the more unusual aspects of this whole charade is the clamoring by the Right for the addition of the Voter ID requirement.

Democrats; who alleged widespread fraud in the 2000 election; are opposed to a National ID card of any type, including a Voter ID card. Republicans; who contend that there was no fraud in the 2000 election, and no problem in general; are adamantly for one. Neither side is consistent in its reasoning; therefore both positions are suspect.

Simply put, too many people have fought too hard and for too long to attain the Right to Vote for us to turn back the clock now. For us, as a nation, to return the sanctity of the voting process back to the Sates is an invitation to return again to the days when such a law was necessary, and people were beaten in the streets for asking for one. 

"Spirit In the Sky" - Norman Greenbaum (1969)

Norman Greenbaum was a Jewish kid studying at Boston University when he began to play music. After leaving the cold environs of Boston he went to California, where he formed a few bands on his own before penning this classic rock song. If it’s religious in nature, that’s because it was intentional on Mr. Greenbaum’s part. He figured a religious song would sell; and moreover; Jesus would sell better than God. It also fits better. Sing it once or twice substituting God for Jesus. It doesn’t work. He wrote the music over a period of months, and then the lyrics came all at once.

The song was inspired by Porter Wagoner’s song about a country preacher. Previous to writing this timeless song, Mr. Greenbaum had a minor hit with “The Jugband”, which was based out of San Francisco and played psychedelic music on empty liquor jugs, which had formerly been the basis of so-called “hillbilly” music.  You can find that recording on You tube. It was called "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago.” That band split in 1968 over gastronomic differences. It is rarely played anywhere.

By contrast the hit “Spirit In the Sky” has been featured in movies such as “Contact”, “Wayne's World II”, and the blockbuster “Apollo 11” as being the song played in the background during the news sequences. Astronaut Jim Lovell, who was there, has stated that in reality the song was “Aquarius” by The Fifth Dimension. The song has also shown up recently on American Express Commercials.

The song’s meaning? Mr. Greenbaum summed it up in an interview this way; "It appeals to one's inner self and the need for redemption, plus, heck, who wants to go to hell?

"The Pooch" with the Little Rascals (1935)

This is the first time I have ever seen an episode of the Little Rascals in color. I didn’t think that I would enjoy it as much as I did. I was the same way when it came to the colorizations of many of my favorite classic movies when that was first being done in the 1990’s., but I have come to really enjoy it with some films. Of course, certain movies should always be viewed in black and white; Casablanca is a prime example of that; but for the most part the colorization process lends certain clarity to the old films. It’s also interesting to be able to see the furnishings and clothing more clearly. There is so much more detail, which I did not expect.

In this 1935, the gang struggles with the everyday problem of finding enough food to eat. In the midst of the Great Depression this was not an isolated problem, but one with which audiences could readily identify. Even if they themselves were not on Public Assistance, everyone in the audience knew someone who was.

Woven into this story is a bit of Social Injustice, as Stymie tries to keep the dreaded Dog Catcher from taking his dog to the pound. Unless he can come up with the $5 necessary for a license, the dog will be gassed by the end of the day. With no money for food, it’s a stretch of the imagination to figure out where he is going to get the money to save his dog. But, they say that the Lord hears the prayers of children first, so when Stymie prays for that $5, and it just floats in on the wind, it is really no surprise. Neither is the policeman who chases him thinking the money is stolen.

When the gang finally arrives at the Pound with the money, they are told by the sadistic Dog Catcher that they are too late and the dog is dead. He actually smiles as he tells them. But things usually work out in these old shorts, and this is no exception. I used to watch these old films every day before going to school. As a kid I readily identified with their problems and the injustices heaped upon them by the adults. And, at 58 years of age, I still do.

Banana Republic - Sequestered

Sequestration (n) – (def) A. …a legal writ authorizing a sheriff or commissioner to take into custody the property of a defendant who is in contempt until he complies with the orders of a court. B. a deposit whereby a neutral depository agrees to hold property in litigation and restore it to the party to whom it adjudged to belong.

Today is supposed to be the day when the clock stops and the government grinds to a halt. The dreaded day of Sequester has arrived. As of this writing; on Wednesday; I don’t believe that either side will let the hour pass without some meaningless type of bandage being applied; thus kicking the can further down the road without resolving anything. These are, after all, politicians, and as such, doing something meaningful would be just too risky. So, here are some solutions which immediately spring to mind- my mind being a veritable spring of ideas.

First option: The amount of the money equals the amount of the Bush Era tax cuts. In keeping with the Conservative view of what we need and what we don’t; I don’t need ‘em. Scrap ‘em and problem is solved.

Second option: The money in question was borrowed from China, and in accordance with Webster’s Ninth (sounds like a symphony- especially if you like words) a sequestering of the funds is when the money is held until it is determined to whom it rightfully belongs. Well, we borrowed it- so it’s China’s money. We are not using it- so just write them a check. This will reduce our National Debt by $85 billion dollars in one day, and  affect the stock market in a positive way as we flex our financial acumen, highlighting our ability to repay our debts. Then, on Saturday; while everyone is sleeping; just borrow the $85 billion back from China. They’ll have no problem lending it to us. Hell, we’re good customers.

I know that these ideas are just off the top of my head, and as such require further study. And, with the $85 billion we will be artificially saving by using either one of the above methods, we can create some high paying jobs to study the problem a little more. Until the next time.

By the way, if you recognize your Congressman, or Senator, in the picture above, I urge you to not waste your time in calling. You see, there’s no one home.