Kinkikali

The Last Days of Hitler

Never one to attract good public relations, Hitler, despite his world class meanness, gets yet another book under his belt.  Not the calm narrative like Cornelius Ryan’s The Last Battle, The Last Days of Hitler goes gaga into character stalking and assassination.  Yes Hitler hung out with wackos and weirdos, but they were not incompetent buffoons either.

Interesting reading for those who into the popular “last Days” theme. Trevor-Roper goes full bore into belittling the personalities…Hitler in a perpetual froth, Goering grabbing for power, Bormann silently plotting. I am taking a guess, but chaos comes with titanic destruction by conquering armies.

This was a discount book; No doubt very used, like the Death Star exploding, worth watching again and again.

Obit: Ralph Snodsmith

Ralph Snodsmith passed away last week,  He was the voice and inspiration behind “The Garden Hotline”, a syndicated call in show–garden variety.  Like many in the agricultural trades, Ralph was home grown, down to earth, American to the root, and in many way unsung.  His show was on a local radio station when I was living in Concord NH (1999-2005) where each Sunday he aided gardeners far and wide.

Ralph passed away, working to the end, fighting illness.  Of course with the magic of syndication, Ralph passed away and the station (WTPL-FM) played his “Garden Hotline Minute” without regard or notice of the “dead guy talking” situation.

I emailed the current host (Mr. Heath) who made no mention of having played “the dead guy” just moments before.  Oh they made comment on him having passed on.

Too bad on two accounts: you died without enjoying a well earned retirement and even the media that plays you won’t let a little death mess up pre-recorded programming.

Rest in Peace Ralph

Ted Neeley

Jesus Christ Superstar was a big thing back in the 1970’s.  Ted Neeley played the roll convincingly.  Despite a low key career, he came back to a JCS revival in the 1990’s with Dennis DeYoung of Styx fame.  Now in 2010  Ted is having his second coming with a re-revival that includes a Boston stop.

Good for you Ted.  Best of luck and good wishes.  Your work is as important as it is entertaining.  And that sentiment goes for the rest of the cast and crew, past, present, and future.  God Bless.

Don Marquis

Back in the day he was the “authority” figure in High School.  He was smooth, sharp, and always rooting for the team.  He gave time, effort, and great sincerity to all those in reach.  Don gave all to Nashua and made student, teacher, parent, visiting politician feel important.  Always diplomatic, yet never wavering, Don Marquis knew the score, the game, played hard, played fair and unflinchingly worked to build concensus.  I also knew him later in life when I still had shades of student in me.  A husky handshake and a hearty hello…that was the Marquis greeting.

He’s beyond mortal reach now.  Another member of the “earlier” generation gone.  Don made good his life.  Family, Work, Community…all were important.  Thanks for your being there at Spring Rat and the High School.

Mike’s 50th

Today marks Michael Jackson’s 50th birthday.  Unfortunately his very un-Hippocratic doctor seems to have done him in with clinical precision.  Too bad.  True MJ was off the weird chart.  But he was also every bit a genius of music, art, show and tell.  He did more by age 6 than I will ever come close to doing.  He worked long and hard, against tough odds in a rough business. MJ could be Motor City cool to trippyin Thriller; with the great Sir Paul McCartney he matched titanic talent; and he could be real with the Simpsons. Stinks getting your life cut short–especially by those hired to look after you, Play on Michael, wherever you are, cause I know you will be there.