At Home in Hespeler

From the inbox: a little ukelele chick rock for your Friday morning, The Prettiots – Boys (I dated in Highschool)

ukelele, YouTube new bands, prettiots, ukelele

The man who rescued Amanda Berry in Cleveland yesterday, Charles Ramsey, does great interview. We’re only 13 years into the 21st century, but he may have delivered the quote of it:

“Bro, I knew something was wrong when a little pretty white girl ran into a black man’s arms”

Worth noting, Charles Ramsey is a real life hero.

YouTube Amanda Berry, Charles Ramsey

(14:51)”And remember… these guys were rocket scientists. This was the smartest geeks around and it and the Yugo where the best they could do.”

h/t to the flaming kitty

freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy, YouTube John Stossel, Reason Foundation

Everybody is talking Davy Jones this week, and rightfully so. Everybody is singing Daydream Believer, myself included, so here it is:

I’m at the age where I first heard of Davy Jones from The Brady Bunch, one of the few shows in the history of TV that was cheesier than The Monkees.

Rest in Peace Davy Jones, gone too young at age 66.

Cool For Cats, YouTube brady bunch, Cool For Cats, davy jones

I’ve never been much of a Martin Short fan, but real kudos to him for this one.

h/t SDA

Funny., YouTube David Letterman, Martin Short, Osama Bin Laden

It turns out I’ve been married for 20 years. Seems strange that someone so young, fit and with such a nice full head of hair could be old enough to be married so long, but I have been. And lady Hespeler, who honestly looks the same as when I met her, how she could be married 20 years is beyond my limited imagination. Where does the time go anyway?

For our anniversary, we are off to Paris for a celebration in style (or a holiday on the cheap – your choice). (**warning: if you are thinking, “oh good, now I can go and rob the Hespeler towers,” think again. I have left an attack mother-in-law behind. Seriously, you want to wait until I get back).

As my anniversary gift, the Lady Hespeler got me a pair of tickets to see Jimmy Buffet when he rolls into Toronto. In honour of Jimmy Buffet and Paris, here is “He Went to Paris.”

I used to sing my daughter to sleep with that song, followed by Tom Cochrane’s Avenue A:

You know, the daughter would love to go to Juilliard (and Paris). Makes you wonder how much they absorb.

Cool For Cats, YouTube Avenue A, Cool For Cats, He Went to Paris, Jimmy Buffet, Juilliard, Paris, Tom Cochrane

When Led Zeppelin released a jam with piano player Ian Stewart, Boogie With Stu, they gave a writing credit to Mrs. Valens. The reason was because they had heard the Valens family had received no royalties from Ritchie Valens songs after his death. No good deed going unpunished, the estate of the late Valens sued Zeppelin for plagiarism. Considering Valens ooh my head is a rip of Little Richard’s Ooh My Soul…

Love Chuck Berry drumming on the table. And speaking of Chuck Berry, Bob Seger is hitting the road with a small tour: just another one of Chuck’s children playing his licks.

Cool For Cats, Rockin' and Rollin' and Never Forgettin', YouTube Bob Seger, Boogie With Stu, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, ooh my head, Ritchie Valens, Rock and Roll Never Forgets

Arriving in tepid Toronto this weekend, Robert Plant and The Band of Joy is doing 2 shows at the Sony Center. Here’s his latest video Can’t Buy My Love.

And the first Song off his latest album, my favourite Plant song in years, Angel Dance:

Cool For Cats, YouTube Cool For Cats, Robert Plant

Bonus: The 12 Days of Christmas with John Denver (Poor Fozzy)

Christmas, YouTube 12 days of christmas, john denver, Muppetsringing of the bells

The Bloom County gang in just the best TV special ever:

Christmas, YouTube Bill and Opus, Bloom County

…(she’s) a drunkards dream if I ever did see one…

Ringo Starr’s Allstar Band, 1989 (the first one).

Ringo Starr
Billy Preston
Dr. John
Joe Walsh (Eagles)
Levon Helm (Band)
Rick Danko (Band)
Garth Hudson (Band)
Nils Lofgren (Bruce Springsteens E-Street Band, Neil Young’s Crazy Horse)
Clarence Clemons (E Street Band)

And of course, no Ringo Starr Cool For Cats Friday would be complete without Mrs. Ringo Starr

Cool For Cats, YouTube Barbara Bach, Billy Preston, Clarence Clemons, Crazy Horse, Dr. John, E Street Band, Garth Hudson, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Ringo Starr, The Band

The Band, performing Up On Cripple Creek on Thanksgiving Day 1976:

Two years later:

YouTube Last Waltz, Thanksgiving, The Band, Up On Cripple Creek, WKRP

It was 20 years ago today…

Stephie Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990)

Friday, YouTube Steve Ray Vaughan, Superstition

Cause Fridays should be fun…

The faces reunion, August 11 at the 02 arena. They’re in good form and Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall does a good Rod Stewart.

Sure hope that rumoured tour is true… this time.

YouTube

Yesterday I posted a sweet picture of a Koala, Sam, taking a drink from a fireman. Turns out the pictures are from a video, available on YouTube. (warning: the sound does not work on my computer. I assume but do not guarantee the language is family friendly).

A second video shows Sam on the mend, along with a new friend Bob (apparently Koala’s are monosyllabic).

The Victoria RSCPA is accepting donations, if you would like to help.

Charity, YouTube