Ramblin' with Roger

Secrets of the Advent-Christmas posts

Not that Nancy Wilson

We are now about to reveal the secrets of the Advent/Christmas posts for 2022.

Most of them I put together in late August and early September when I was recovering from COVID because I couldn’t focus on anything else.

I took this list of songs and flung them into different piles. These are songs people hate, and those are the ones that are overplayed. Of course, I always have to find a STAX Christmas list.

Do I want a Motown list? I started one and then abandoned it. Nah, they don’t move me as much. And my favorite, What Christmas Means To Me by Stevie Wonder, was on a post from 2018, which I decided to link to in its entirety. I loved those Nowell We Sing Clear tracks that kick off that piece. All of the links to that post still worked as of September 1, 2022, except one, which I switched out.

The remaining rosters I wanted to share closer to, or on, the actual holiday. Thus the songs on this list are the tunes that didn’t fit in any other pile.

Tunes

Merry Xmas (War Is Over) – John and Yoko and The Harlem Community Choir. This song always saddens me, as it’s always played in the same month as John’s death on December 8, 1980.

Mary’s Boy Child · Harry Belafonte. I’ve noted that my father’s musical stylings were clearly influenced somewhat by Harry.

Louisiana Christmas Day – Aaron Neville. This is such a fun song.

The Christmas Waltz -Nancy Wilson. This is the jazz singer, not a member of Heart. I first heard of her because her albums would be pictured on the inner sleeves of my Beatles and Beach Boys albums on Capitol Records.

Carolina Christmas – Squirrel Nut Zippers. My parents moved to NC in 1974 with my baby sister. My sister’s still living there.

Christmastime Is Here – Vince Guaraldi Trio. Why do I find the vocals of this so affecting?

Merry Christmas, Baby – Charles Brown. A great vocalist I didn’t know until I was an adult.

2000 Miles – Pretenders. The first this I heard this, I didn’t listen fully. It’s very touching.

Little Drummer Boy (African Tribal Version) – Alex Boye’ ft. Genesis Choir. This is also touching, and the family’s situation is quite believable these days.

Hamildolph! (An American Christmas Story) – Eclipse 6. A Hamilton parody, 100% a cappella.

You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch. “Written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The lyrics were written by Theodor ‘Dr. Seuss’ Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.”

Check out Kelly’s Daily DoseDaily Dose of Christmas

2023 Hall of Fame (baseball)

The PED guys

On January 24, 2023, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce the results of its 2023 Hall of Fame vote. Any electees will be inducted during Hall of Fame Weekend on Sunday, July 23. They’ll be joined by previously announced legends, such as Fred McGriff, elected unanimously to Hall on the Contemporary Era ballot.

Of the 28 people on the ballot, 14 were on for the first time. Here are the possible picks. There is an unofficial fan ballot.

Frankly, I’m happy that Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Shilling, and Sammy Sosa are off the ballot. This frees up votes for other candidates. The first three were considered on the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot in December but came up short.

If I could actually vote, the first one I’d pick would be Jeff Kent (10th year on the ballot, 32.7% of the vote last year; 75% needed for induction). Frankly, I was a bit mystified. He was one of the strongest hitters as a second baseman. However, he was reportedly prickly to the press and even sometimes to his teammates.

The next three have also been on the ballot for a while
2. Scott Rolen (6th year, 63.2%) – a fine third baseman
3. Todd Helton (5th year, 52%) – definite HoF numbers diminished in writers’ minds because his home games were in a mile-high stadium
4. Billy Wagner (8th, 51%) – a solid reliever for many years

The 50% threshold is significant because every candidate who has ever reached it has eventually been elected. Well, except for Bonds, Clemens, and Schilling.

The PED guys

I’ve consistently given a pass to those involved with performance-enhancing drugs before 2004, as the system was not enacted by MLB. So I’d vote for two, but not two others.

5. Gary Sheffield (9th year, 40.6%). By the numbers, he’s certainly worthy. Here’s an article from USA Today in 2019, noting the pros and cons. Yes, he “received substances from friend Barry Bonds during their off-season training sessions. Those substances were determined to be the ‘cream’ and ‘clear’ PEDs distributed by BALCO.” But there’s no proof that he knowingly took PEDs.

6. Andy Petitte (5th year, 10.7%). He came clean about his using PEDs early, and again, it was not banned by MLB at the time.

Alex Rodriguez (2nd year, 34.3%). A great offensive and defensive infielder, one of the greats in baseball history. As Wikipedia noted, “Rodriguez amassed a .295 batting average, over 600 home runs (696), over 2,000 runs batted in (RBI), over 2,000 runs scored, over 3,000 hits, and over 300 stolen bases, the only player in MLB history to achieve all of those feats.”

Yet, not only did he access PEDs before 2004, he was using them a half decade later and, of course, lied about it. He was ultimately suspended for the 2014 season. If the writers passed on Bonds and Clemens, A-Rod should at least wait for a few years.

Manny Ramirez (7th year, 28.9%), a quality player, served a 50-game suspension in 2012 for the second violation of the drug policy.

Other controversies

7. The problem with Carlos Beltrán (1st year) is the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. He acknowledges that the team’s 2017 World Series title is stained. “We did cross the line.” But he doesn’t know why he was singularly mentioned in a report by name when, and I believe it’s true, it was an organizational problem. He was named as the New York Mets manager but was fired in 2020. But I don’t see his culpability to be great enough to keep him out of the Hall.

Omar Vizquel (6th season, 23.9%), a great defensive shortstop, “is seeing his chances at the Hall of Fame disappear because of two scandals involving domestic violence and sexual harassment.” The latter is particularly lurid.

The others on my would-be ballot

8. Francisco Rodriguez (1st time), a solid reliever
9. Jimmy Rollins (2nd year, 9.4%) – I’m hoping his numbers go up in a less crowded ballot
10. Andruw Jones (6th year, 41.4%) – great defensive outfielder. He provided great offense, too, until his numbers took a precipitous drop.

The only other one I considered was Bobby Abreau (4th year, 8.6%).

American Library Assn’s “Unite Against Book Bans”

A patron, not a customer

A friend of mine who is on the board of trustees of the Albany Public Library told me about an action taken by the board at their November 8, 2022, meeting. The trustees signed on to the “Unite Against Book Bans” campaign of the American Library Association.

The document – I will email anyone the blank PDF form – begins, “We are organizations representing parents, educators and librarians, students and readers, authors and publishers, community and advocacy organizations, businesses and workers, nonprofits and faith groups, elected officials and civic leaders, and concerned citizens who are united against book bans.”

It shares a lot of cool stuff about reading as a “foundational skill.” “Books are tools for understanding complex issues” and “Individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions about what to read.”

“However, efforts to ban books, especially in schools and libraries, are occurring in unprecedented numbers across the country.” The number of books removed or restricted nearly tripled between 2019 and 2021.

“What is also shocking is the rise in state and local legislation which will make censorship easier, or even allow the criminal prosecution of librarians or teachers for simply doing their jobs– ensuring the public has access to a variety of ideas and perspectives. We fear that the centers of knowledge for families and communities are in jeopardy.”

Doctorow

Around the same time, Cory Doctorow wrote about “the American right-wing’s new focus on killing libraries.” It’s on Medium, and you might not be able to access it unless you’re a member. I’m going to provide some internal links, though. Let’s start with the pull quote. “Libraries are the last place in America where you are valued for your personhood rather than the contents of your wallet. At the library, you are a patron, not a customer.”

Doctorow writes: “Behind the anti-library movement is a demand for extraordinarily invasive government control over parenting.”

Here’s a “fantastic interview with incoming American Library Association president Emily Drabinski and it’s a must-listen masterclass in understanding what libraries mean and why wealthy right-wing media barons would want to destroy them.”

PEN America and, of course, the ALA also have much useful information. PEN America is the source of much of Alan Singer’s article about book bans in Missouri.

If you belong to an organization, I would like you to consider bringing the ALA campaign to the group. I will try to get my church on board since the trustee who brought the topic to my attention is also a church member.

When Kelly linked to the Doctorow article, he wrote, “You want to get me marching in the streets? Trying to kill my library might do it.” As the cliche goes, don’t mourn, organize!

Queen of memes: Sunday Stealing

Grocery shopping

This Sunday Stealing is from the Queen of Memes.

1. What do men really want in a woman?
4. What do women really want in a man?

If these are romantic questions – in which case, they are terribly heterocentric -then it depends: safety, security, sex, sanity, support, salvation, sacrifice, sincerity, sociability, silence, simplicity, and sparkle. Sometimes, in various and contradictory combinations.

Most of my friends are female, and it’s been true for most of my life. I’m still friends with some women I’ve gone out with.

2. Should marijuana be legalized?

It largely is, and I’m happy enough about it. The only time I ever purchased it, back when it was still illegal, was for a friend whose uncle was undergoing chemotherapy.

That said, marijuana has seldom been something I’ve enjoyed. It just puts me to sleep.

3. Why did the cow jump over the moon?

To show off.

5. When you are having a really good day, what usually makes it good?

I write a lot while listening to music. Then we see a movie or go to a play.

Actually, I had a good Friday evening at the art opening at the Pine Hills branch of the Albany (NY) Public Library. Several pieces were tied to the theme of redlining. The display is there until May 2023.

I introduced the new library director to a couple of Literary Legends. And I met someone willing to help me enact a scheme I’ve had in mind for several years to address certain rude drivers without keying their cars. (I would never actually DO that, BTW, but I THINK about it.)

Gone south

6. What can make your good day turn into a bad day?

Shockingly rude – racist, sexist, homophobic, and/or just entitled – people.

7. If you could “start from scratch” and turn back the clock for a re-do, what would you re-do?

Nothing. The more I think about this, the more I realize that if I had changed THIS, it would ALSO change THAT, and it would not end up better.

8. Do you make a list when you go grocery shopping?

It depends on whether I’m shopping for myself or someone else. For myself, it’s always the same things – fruit, veggies, cereal, and stuff in the dairy aisle. If my wife says, “Can you pick up X,” that’s fine. But if it’s more than three items, I have to write it down.

There was an episode of the 1990s sitcom Mad About You – I think it’s this one – when Jamie and Paul are talking about items for the Thanksgiving meal they are hosting. Intermittently, Jamie tells Paul to get another item. Paul recites the one, then two, then three items. When she requests a fourth, he says, “I’m writing this down.” So three is the maximum for the fictional Paul Buchman and the real me.

9. Do you buy more groceries when you’re hungry?

Not so much MORE as food that I probably ought not to consume calorically. So I make a point, almost always, NOT to shop hungry.

10. Coupons. Use ’em?

When I was in college, I used to all of the time, organized by category. Not so much in the 21st century, though if the receipt prints out a coupon for something I regularly buy, sure.

11. Have you ever complained to the manager of your grocery store?

Not to my recollection.

Sam Walton

12. Do you like to buy groceries at huge chain stores like Walmart? Or do you shop exclusively at food stores?

My wife goes to the Hannaford, and I go to Market 32/Price Chopper. Except when she was out of commission when I went to the Hannaford because she liked their selections better.

My problem with Walmart, as I noted here, is that it tended to drive other supermarkets, hardware stores, et al., from the market. Some people in the US can ONLY grocery shop at Walmart. That said, when my wife couldn’t get out of the house, members of our family ordered food to be delivered from Walmart. The service was quite adequate.

13. What do you typically have for lunch?

It depends. Eggs or sandwiches or leftovers.

14. If you work outside your home, do you pack your lunch?

When I was working, seldom. I was so distressed by work by the end that I didn’t even want to be in the building at lunchtime.

15. Tell us about your last lunch date and what made it special.

It was at a restaurant that my wife and I had gone to, but she wasn’t up to eating out. So my sister, visiting from California, and I went there in early October. She loved it, not just the food but the ambiance.

Despised Tunes of Christmas

older than I thought

despised songs I found The Most Hated Christmas Songs of All Time here and The 20 Worst Christmas Songs of All Time here. Some of them I don’t know, and you really need to know songs for them to be despised tunes, don’t you think?

Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney. I’ve heard some very decent covers of this song. The song isn’t bad. This recording?

Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid. When Bob Geldof called it one of the “worst songs in history,” that says a lot. Pretentious and condescending, but its heart was in the right place.

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) – Alvin and the Chipmunks. When I was growing up, my parents had this single. It’s nostalgic for me.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – The Jackson 5. It’s corny, especially when Michael says, “I’m going to tell my daddy!”

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer – Elmo and Patsy. OK, I’ll admit it; I BOUGHT this single in the early 1980s. Not incidentally, the version that I heard on the radio was rerecorded.

All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) – Spike Jones and His City Slickers. OK, so it’s annoying, but Spike Jones often is.

River horse

I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas – Gayla Peevey. I never heard of this song until Mark Evanier posted it on Christmas Eve 2017. For a ten-year-old, she has impressive pipes.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside – She and Him. The critic finds this version “overwhelmingly twee,” whatever that means. Of course, the song generally has become controversial.

Back Door Santa – Bon Jovi. One of two songs on that original A Very Special Christmas (1987) I don’t particularly enjoy.

Here is another song I imagine some people will hate. Santa’s Too Fat For The Hula Hoop – The Pixies with Thurl Ravenscroft as Santa Claus (c 1958).

Now there is a track on both lists I hate SO much that I won’t even link to it. That would be Dominick the Donkey by Lou Monte. I thought it was a fairly recent song, but no. It was recorded in 1960. But I only heard it this century.

“The song was re-released onto Amazon on September 26, 2011, on Dexterity Records. The spelling of ‘Dominick’ was modified to ‘Dominic’… It was included in Volume 2 of the Ultimate Christmas Album series produced by Collectables Records and on the Christmas compilation album Merry Xmas 2011 by Cinquenta Musica.”