National Rabbit Day

Well - what a surprise, as I was clearing my garden for this years crop of veggies - I found a nest of baby bunnies. And so did my dog and the neighbor’s dog too, which meant i had better find them a safe place or they were gonna be some Hausenpheffer (German Rabbit Stew - recipes ). And so I have been having a wonderful time with the baby bunnies - and watching them eagerly nurse on the eye dropper filled with my special rabbit formula has brought much needed smiles and laughs.

And April 20 - will always be remembered as the day a killer rabbit tried to kill the President of the United States of America. What? you do not remember that eerie day in 1979 - a day that set off a media feeding frenzy? Well - get with the program and read all about it. (pix too). By all means - check out the tribute page here - and the new USS Jimmy Carter attack submarine which saved Jimmy’s skin.

And so - we declared today to be - National Rabbit Day. Here’s some media clips you might wanna watch to celebrate our Leporine Laugh Fest. Giant Jack Rabbit - Granny thinks a kangeroo is a Texas sized rabbit - and she wants to have it for dinner (vittles - which in this case, is Hillbilly for Hasenpfeffer). Check out Betty in Blunderland - as Betty Boop chases the White Rabbit in a whacko Wonderland fantasy. (huh - go ask Alice, I think she’ll know). Or if you want politically incorrect Hasenpfeffer - whew - here ya go. Speaking of politically incorrect - part three of Jean Renoir’s Rules of the Game offers a brutal old school Europe rabbit hunt. The film - created by the famous painter’s son (Auguste Renoir is the painter… Jean Renoir, director) is all about LOVE - and it is not about rabbits, though they have some bit parts. (and their parts are blown to bits too). And of course - there is more stuff to watch for National Rabbit Day - but make sure you check out Doggone Tired, a Tex Avery classic cartoon you might have missed.

Eric Clapton is 60 today

On March 30, 1945 - Eric Patrick Clapton was born in Surrey England. Which means - today, March 30, 2005 - EC turns 60 years old. AARP! He was the illegitimate son of Patricia Molly Clapton and a Canadian soldier named Edward Fryer. In an effort to protect him, he was raised believing his grandparents were his parents and his mom was a sister. After getting kicked out of Kingston College of Art - he would pursue his musical interests with determined resolve. I could go on and on about all the fascinating events of his life, but someone has already done that. Why some folks even thought EC was God is beyond me but there was a time in the UK when many walls were spray painted with it - though i suspect many others share the dog’s eye view of this claim. But this is sounding a lot like a rudiment.

Happy Birthday Eric - congratulations on reaching the ripe age of 60. Check out this funny video tribute for Cream’s Farewell Concert in 1968 - or sample an interview with Eric Clapton where he elaborates on the Woman Tone. We also offer interviews with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. (and LikeTelevision is even linked from the great Jack Bruce’s official web site (more) - WOW, we thought that was so cool. Especially when my daughter M’elle was learning guitar - and of course worked on the licks from Sunshine of Your Love to begin her musical journey.

And - RATS - you are too late. Cream’s Farewell Concert circa 2005 … is SOLD OUT…. But - you can check out the preview of the one from 1968 if you like.

And in case you were wondering - the Urban Legend regarding White Room’s misguided lyrics - that Jack Bruce would predict the peer to peer music revolution, and the US Supreme Court musings on the issue just before Clapton would turn 60 were initiated right here. REALLY. Here’s the fake lyrics - “At the party, she put kindness in the hard drive”… began here at LikeTelevision in 1999 with this classic blast from the past. You of course need to know the next line to fully contemplate the rest of the story. The real lyrics i think are:

At the party she was kindness in the hard crowd
Consolation for the old wound now forgotten
And speaking of old - did you know Eric Clapton turned 60 today. Old, but not forgotten. Happy Birthday Slow Hand!

Master Kan, not Chaka or Aga Khan

Yes… grasshopper - today we honor the life Master Kan, known by his real world friends as Philip Ahn or Pil Lip Ahn. He was born March 29, 1905 in Los Angeles and we celebrate his life which began 100 years ago. (and ended in 1978 after surgery). But perhaps you are confused… grasshopper would be David Carradine, who starred in a cool TV show called Kung Fu. Grasshopper, or Kwai Chang Cain was Holy man, a Shaolin priest - and was very different from his character in this movie with nun once called Sister Betrille. (She stops flying when he kicks the habit - HA!). But i digress…

Philip Ahn played Master Kan - who will forever be remembered for his fast hands which bested grasshopper for decades. Each Kung Fu episode began when Kan would say.. “When you snatch the pebble from my hand, then it will be time for you to leave.” Oddly enough, grasshopper never replied - “Best two out of Three???”. But before Philip Ahn got that cheesecake part as Master Kan - (not to be confused with Aga Khan or Chaka), he had a ton of bit parts with an Asian flavor - such as this one from Bonanza in Fear Merchants - or as Prince Tallon in Planet Outlaws with Buster Crabbe. There was always a quiet and humble air about Philip Ahn that i always found appealing and endearing. With a fondness and a respectful bow of the head - we remember Philip Ahn and give you homage.

Spring is Here!

Yessssiree - March 21 +/- a day marks the time when the sun’s direct rays move into the northern hemisphere (which is where we hang out) and as such, marks the first day of spring. Since LikeTelevision is from North Carolina - we always take this opportunity to watch Granny’s Spring Tonic, where Granny cooks up the seasons first batch of “shine” - what we call moonshine round here. Peaches, strawberries, plums or other fruits are floating in a super sweet brown liquid stored in a ball jar. Now before the folks at ATF get all riled up and bring Janet Reno out of retirement with her flame thrower - it is all gone. A very good year too. I think Granny is hitting the jug a little quick as the shine tastes best about 2 years after it is brewed. And since we live near Mooresville, the true home of Nascar and mooshine running drivers from days gone by - yep, we do have a clue.

More spring related content, Maybe I’ll Come Home in the Spring, featuring Sally Field as a washed up hippie who decides to come home after the commune style of life wears thin. WATCH PREVIEW See David Carradine as real turkey and Jackie Cooper is the tough but loving father, well kind of. He is also a bit older from early Hollywood days with the Little Rascals (see Bear Shooters for a sample).

Another fun cartoon - is To Spring, where some crazy elves use all kinds of colors to paint the landscape. And who could forget the Raggedy Ann classic, Suddenly It’s Spring. Finally - check out Betty Boop doing a bit of spring cleaning.

Lou Gehrig’s Birthday Tribute

On June 19, 1903 - one of the greats in American history was born - Lou Gehrig, a terrifc baseball player for the New York Yankees during the days of Babe Ruth who died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) when he was 37. Many of you also know that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was to be known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was known as The Iron Horse - because he Played in 2,130 consecutive games from 1925-39 a major league record until Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it in 1995. Lou also led AL in RBI 5 times and HRs 3 times; drove in 100 runs or more 13 years in a row; 2-time MVP (1927,36); hit .340 with 493 HRs over 17 seasons; led NY Yankees to 6 World Series titles.

But in truth…. he is best remembered for showing grace while the disease slowly ended his career, and made life very difficult for those he cared for and loved. And yes… one can clearly draw parallels with the Gipper, Ronald Reagan and how our 40th President and his family showed grace in the face of extreme hardship. If you never heard his farewell speech - we created a small 176k wave file to give you an idea…. (right click, save target as to download it)… or better yet - check out this clip from The Lou Gehrig Story of Lou Gehrig’s wonderful farewell speech- which is part newsreel footage - and part dramatization.

And by all means - check out the entire classic tv show - The Lou Gehrig Story, sponsored by Chrysler, complete with some vintage commercials - and yes - Russell Johnson is the disgruntled player in the show - and is best known as the professor from Gilligan’s Island. The You Asked For It clip - is also very cool.