Appalling that the news team was killed.
Nothing seems to be happening in the back room, so it looks like we could use a place to talk about that and more.
Open thread.
Excellent Read: ‘My Father, Guitar Guru to the Rock Gods’
My Father, Guitar Guru to the Rock Gods
When the greatest musicians of the 1970s needed an instrument—or a friend—my dad was there.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc…— Marion Friedl (@mari-19.bsky.social) August 10, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Nancy Waleki, at the Atlantic [gift link]:
In August 2000, when I was 2 years old, my mother put me in a maroon velvet dress and stuck foam earplugs in my ears. She carried me through the backstage corridors of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium—the same venue where, in 1964, James Brown gave one of the most ecstatic performances of his career. It’s where, in 1972, George Carlin first listed the “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.”
My mother remembers the night in flashes. David Crosby—walrus mustache, smiling eyes—telling jokes. Bonnie Raitt’s aura of red hair. In the distance, the sound of Linda Ronstadt warming up. Sitting in a dressing room with Michael McKean and Christopher Guest, already in costume as Spinal Tap’s front men.
That night, the auditorium was hosting the Friends of Fred Walecki benefit concert. These friends included Crosby, Raitt, and Ronstadt. Also Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Emmylou Harris, and Warren Zevon. Three of the four original Eagles, who in this room in 1973 had performed their new album, Desperado, were there too.
One of the Eagles, Bernie Leadon, had helped put the event together. He had known Fred Walecki, my father, since they were teenagers, when Leadon started coming into Westwood Music, Dad’s musical-instrument shop in Los Angeles.
Dad had recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer and had undergone a complete laryngectomy. Surgeons removed his vocal cords and created a hole in his throat that he used to breathe; to speak, he pressed an electronic buzzer against the side of his neck. If people gawked at him, he’d joke that everyone on his home planet sounded like this.
When Leadon had learned that my father was sick, he called Glyn Johns, another of Dad’s close friends and a groomsman at my parents’ wedding. Johns is the English sound engineer and producer who worked with pretty much every major rock band of the ’60s and ’70s—the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Eagles. He and Leadon suspected that my family was struggling to pay Dad’s medical bills, so they contacted his other friends and asked if they’d play a benefit concert for him. Everyone said yes. Dad’s classmate from Emerson Junior High School, Jeff Bridges, who’d recently starred as “The Dude” in The Big Lebowski, would be the evening’s emcee.
I wish I had been old enough to remember this night of thank-yous to my father. He was 51 when I was born; I’ve only known Dad with gray hair, and I have no memory of his original voice. But Browne remembers my father’s impeccable Jimmy Stewart impersonations; he remembers Dad as the guy who turned him on to Gibson guitars. At the concert, he performed “My Opening Farewell” on a guitar that had been assembled at Westwood Music. Dad had spent hours polishing it to give it the rich hue Browne wanted.
Crosby thought of my dad as his “guitar guru,” and like many of the performers that night, he praised my father for his friendship. “Fred’s helped a lot of people when they really needed it. Really needed it,” he said. He and Nash then played their song “Déjà Vu.”…
Every time he sold one of his father’s violins, Dad would reinvest in new inventory—handmade guitars by the Spanish luthier José Ramírez; Traynor amps imported from Canada; and, for musicians who wanted their own sound system, Lamb Laboratories mixing boards from England (because Dad found that if he adjusted the board’s settings just right, it could “get you a really good Rolling Stones sound live”). Martin guitars, a favorite of folk musicians, had only a handful of authorized retailers in Los Angeles; Dad was one of them. As musicians started traveling more and more by plane, he found a man named Mark Leaf, who built fiberglass guitar cases on his kitchen table in Virginia. Dad told Leadon that a guitar in that case could fall onto an airplane tarmac without a scratch. (Leadon later learned this to be true.)…
All of them were so young. Browne was only 18 when he wrote “A Child in These Hills.” Linda Ronstadt was the same age when she moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Los Angeles. Crosby and Hillman were in their early 20s when, in 1965, the Byrds essentially launched the folk-rock genre with their cover of “Mr. Tambourine Man.” By 1970, Hillman and Leadon had fused country and rock together in the Flying Burrito Brothers. (Their pedal-steel player used Jimi Hendrix–esque fuzz distortion and was also an animator for The Gumby Show. His name was Sneaky Pete.)…
Excellent Read: <em>‘My Father, Guitar Guru to the Rock Gods’</em>Post + Comments (26)
A Couple of Thoughts about Epstein, the Sex Trafficker
This is the first time I have written about Epstein, I think, but I want to share a couple of interesting things I saw in the electoral-vote.com mailbag this morning.
This caught my eye, and perhaps it explains some things that have been inexplicable to me:
A wise man once said that high minds talk about philosophy (like what type of government we should have), average minds talk about politics (like immigration or economic policy), and small minds talk about people (like Jeffrey Epstein).
Could that explain why Epstein of all things seems to be the crack in the MAGA ship? That they can only understand talking about things at the people level and cannot think in terms or concepts or ideas?
C.K. in Jacksonville, FL, writes: A wise man once said that high minds talk about philosophy (like what type of government we should have), average minds talk about politics (like immigration or economic policy), and small minds talk about people (like Jeffrey Epstein).
Those QAnon folks have long believed that Epstein is the key to saving the world from the Satanic cabal, because they can only understand talking about people. The 1/6 insurrection and its impact on this country don’t even compute for them, but Epstein does. Who knew that Epstein would be the key to making a crack in the MAGA movement? In hindsight, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) should have launched investigations into Epstein instead of Jan 6.
I do not believe that the QAnon folks will ever vote Democratic, because that would mean they were wrong. But perhaps they can be persuaded that they have been fooled because the Republicans are in the Satanic cabal, too. Trump, of course, is Satan’s chosen one and, like Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars, has played both sides to advance Satan’s agenda. I’m sure that QAnon folks love Star Wars and can understand that—Epstein bad, Palpatine bad, Trump bad. If those MAGA voters understand the Satanic “truth”, then voting either Democrat or Republican is a vote for Satan. Then all those QAnon people will stop voting. That is a huge part of MAGA’s electorate and good riddance.
⭐︎
This also gave me a bit of hope, in an odd sort of way.
Please let it be so that the orange monster is losing his base.
J.D. in Concord, NH, writes: The New Hampshire State Capitol, located in downtown Concord, hosts protests of all kinds. “Nazis” are not an uncommon sight. These wannabe Nazis are always obnoxious and usually carry a large provocative sign of some sort. This week, the “Nazi” sign said “TRUMP LOVES EPSTEIN”:
He’s definitely losing his base…
What do you think? Can that explain why Epstein seems to be the only thing that seems to make it through the MAGA bubble?
Open thread.
A Couple of Thoughts about Epstein, the Sex TraffickerPost + Comments (93)
Lamh’s Sister Needs Our Help!
Late last night commenter lamh reached out and asked for Balloon Juice’s help:
As you know, my sister and her kids have recently left an abusive situation with her husband. I’m trying to help her as much as I can, but I can only do so much. So I decided to set up a GoFundMe to help her with safe housing and essentials.
I wanted to share the fundraiser with you and ask if you could help spread the word on BJ if it’s allowed? Or maybe forward this info to John and/or the other front pagers. Or you could send me the contact emails for other blog hosts you think might be willing to help share this, that would be amazing.
Here’s the link to the fundraiser.
I am organizing it under my social media pseudonym because my sister is afraid that her husband and or his family will find out and try to find her and the children.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support—it means a lot to me and my family right now.
Thanks,
Lamh
I know everyone is always asking for money. I also know that everything is bad right now and that part of that is the damage being purposefully done to the economy that is making everything more expensive, but if you can help out, it would be greatly appreciated.
Open thread!
Special Angel Match for Virginia (6x match is over)
We have a special $500 Angel Match from frosty this morning.
frosty will DOUBLE-MATCH up to $25 for anyone who has not yet donated to the current $30k thermometer.
That means 6x matching until his $500 is gone.
Match complete!
$5 = $30
$10 = $60
$15 = $90
$20 = $120
$25 = $150
To be matched by frosty, tell us about your donation in the comments or by email to me.
Thank you, frosty!
Oh, and of course we have $16k to go before we reach our goal, so all donations are welcome . :-)
All donations are still matched by the external donor. So $10 = $20 and $ 250 = $500, etc.
Special Angel Match for Virginia (6x match is over)Post + Comments (35)
Unity Corner Conflict & Can You Hear Me NOW?
A community redevelopment group in Winter Park, Florida commissioned a statue of MLK Jr. for a public park dedicated to the late civil rights leader. City officials awarded the work to Alabama artist Andrew Luy.
Last month, the statue was unveiled at a dedication ceremony for a portion of the park now called Unity Corner. The statue’s admirers and detractors have been brawling over it ever since. (Orlando Sentinel)
Some city residents and members of the Central Florida community have panned it as “deformed” or “cartoonish” and want it fixed or redone entirely. But many city leaders say they stand behind the artist and his statue — which was approved by King family representatives.
The city does plan to add a small sign at the site explaining the meaning behind its features — an idea Luy supports, saying the exaggerations were intentional.
Does the “if you’re explaining, you’re losing” axiom apply to art as well as politics? Unclear. But damn:
Luy said the decision was made to enlarge King’s shoes after a committee member remarked, “he had big shoes to fill,” and he felt the symbolism should be evident in the statue. It was also suggested to slightly enlarge his head to maintain visibility from the corner of Morse and Denning, Luy continued.
Additionally, the girth of his left arm was increased to emphasize the weight and power of the book he holds — symbolizing knowledge, faith and ideals that guided his leadership. Exactly what book he’s holding is left for the viewer to interpret, he said.
“Public art invites conversation and critique — and I embrace that dialogue,” Luy said. “At the same time, I stand by the intent and integrity of this piece.”
The Orlando Sentinel article linked above is illustrated by several photos of the statue. It’s a gift link, so you can click through and judge for yourselves. Mostly, I’m amused by the irony of a conflict at Unity Corner.
***
My husband Bill is hearing impaired from years of riding around on gigantic tractors and mowers. We went swimming a few days ago, and water got trapped in one of his ears. Now he’s deafer than ever.
He tried an over-the-counter eardrop remedy that isn’t working. My father, an old dive master and spearfishing fiend, is convinced that pouring a small quantity of a hair tonic that hasn’t been widely available since the 1970s cures all ear problems and recommended that for Bill.
Dad poured gallons of that same tonic into my sister’s ears and mine when we were children to treat the ear ailments that inevitably accompany a Life Aquatic, and while I wouldn’t call it a miracle cure, we can all still hear. I borrowed some from my dad and tried it on Bill, thinking it couldn’t do any harm. And it didn’t, but so far, it hasn’t done any good either.
The next stop for any sensible human being would be a doctor’s office, but Bill is resistant to medical attention except in the most dire circumstances. (He has an irrational fear of being ordered to drop trou during any type of doctor visit, including for examination of a fucking ear obstruction, apparently. I am not responsible for his irrationality; I merely report it.)
So, anyone got any sure-fire home remedies for plugged up ears? Please and thank you.
Open thread.
Unity Corner Conflict & Can You Hear Me NOW?Post + Comments (124)
Sunday Morning Open Thread
Summer’s most dazzling meteor shower peaks soon.
This year, a bright moon will dampen viewing at the time of peak early Wednesday morning.— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) August 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
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Faith leaders in Southern California have been supporting immigrant communities during increased arrests and raids.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) August 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he loves farmers. His actions, though, are rippling across the agriculture industry as tariffs raise the cost of everything from tractors to fertilizers and squeeze profits for US growers already contending with low crop prices.
— Bloomberg News (@bloomberg.com) August 9, 2025 at 12:30 AM
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Mexican entrepreneurship knows no limits…
Behold the ICE officer piñata ??— Laura Martínez ?? (@miblogestublog.bsky.social) August 7, 2025 at 7:08 PM
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@campaignlegal.org is urging the FEC and congressional ethics czars to investigate House Speaker Mike Johnson, claiming he used campaign funds to foot the bill for a Washington residence he rents from Rep. Darrell Issa. @benjaminweiss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/watchdog-say…
— Courthouse News (@courthousenews.bsky.social) August 8, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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You sure about this, Google?
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic.bsky.social) August 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM