Sunday Drive: Blue Tango

A number-one hit in 1952, written and first performed by Leroy Anderson and his orchestra:

Waitin' for the Weekend

Grace and Frankie

M.P. and I just discovered this Netflix series by accident last night, and OMG we laughed and howled until it hurt.  The cast is stellar - Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston - and the writing excellent.  Do check it out, fellas - you'll be glad you did.




BTW, your Head Trucker remembers the first time he ever saw a gay character in a movie was in 1972's That Certain Summer, starring the late Hal Holbrook and Martin Sheen as lovers.  The movie portrayed them in a sympathetic light, which was shockingly radical at the time.  Quite interesting to see the thoroughly heterosexual Sheen return to a gay role at this late date - which he performs brilliantly, I think, as do all the lead actors.

British Cocktails

This one goes out with Cheers! to my truckbuddy Tim, for today is his eleventy-first birthday - or something like that.

Sunday Drive: Delicado

Waitin' for the Weekend

Getting There Is Half the Fun (1950)

Cunard offers you a gay, luxurious voyage you'll never forget!

American Accents

Young people around the world attempt American accents - some of them do surprisingly well:




And some Irish folks find it all very amusing:




The interesting thing is, all these folks may not sound like us, but they sure look like us, don't they?

Sunday Drive: La Vie en Rose

70 Years On: VJ Day in Color

Alfred Eisenstat's famous photo of the "Kissing Sailor" in Times Square on VJ Day, as originally published in black and white in Life, and as colorized by Swedish artist Sanna Dullaway in 2012.  Click to enlarge.

World War II ended 70 years ago yesterday.  Here are some scenes of jubilant crowds in America and England celebrating the victory in the warm August sunshine - and getting a little rowdy too.





Life magazine published some fascinating pictures taken that week around the United States, showing what life was like for ordinary folks, as well as some interesting commentary on what the end of the war meant for the world and its future. Worth a look here.

Waitin' for the Weekend

Australian MP Recalls His Beloved Gay Uncles

This week, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a former Catholic seminarian, torpedoed a parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage by Australia's federal parliament, instead pledging to hold a non-binding plebiscite on the issue if his governing coalition is re-elected next year.

Senator Eric Abetz, leader of the government in the upper house, told his fellow Senators that gay marriage is "the latest fad" and the example of Dolce & Gabbana shows that "lots of homosexuals don't want to get married."

Senator Tim Watts, calling Abbott and Abetz "anachronistic jokes" for their anti-marriage attitudes, delivered a moving speech about his two gay uncles, well worth your time to listen to:



For background on the marriage situation Down Under, see the Wikipedia article.

25 Maps

An unverified, but mildly interesting little vid:

What Makes a Good Party? (1950)

Do you give careful thought to planning your parties? A skillful host ensures that everyone has a good time with well-chosen refreshments and games that everyone can play.

Sunday Drive: Dream a Little Dream of Me

Waitin' for the Weekend

Isn't Brit Romantic?

Kate Arnell schools us in the language of love, British style:

Stonewall

To be released September 25th.  Seems way melodramatic to me, but see what you think, fellas.

Sunday Drive: Vivaldi, Summer

As recomposed by Max Richter for the album on Deutsche Grammophon:

How to Be Well Groomed (1948)

Don't let your slip show!