The Writer's Life 4/12 - J & Others

RIP J. Geils, 71, founding member, guitarist of his eponymous band. He played trumpet in college, influenced by his dad, who was a fan of Jazz and Big Band. Geils formed his group in the '60's, beginning as an acoustic trio, eventually switching to an electric sound and adding members. They worked the club circuit for years before hitting it big, building a reputation as a great live act. They found great commercial success in 1981 following the release of the album Freeze-Frame, which went to #1 and achieved triple platinum status. The title track rose to #4 on the singles chart, and Centerfold spent six weeks at #1 in '82. Overall, 17 of the band's singles cracked the Billboard Top 100. Love Stinks has been used on several film soundtracks. The band broke up in 1985, but reunited for several tours through the years. Geils released two solo jazz albums post 2000. He also recorded albums as a member of Bluestime and New Guitar Summit. Well done, sir. (Facts from Wiki & Billboard)

According to Reuters, China has sent a flotilla of 12 North Korean freighters loaded with coal back to their home port. Meanwhile, it has placed massive orders for the steel-making commodity with U.S. producers. The move reflects the country’s commitment to join other nations in punishing North Korea for its continued nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development program. China is suspending North Korean imports for the rest of this year. This sounds like great news. Did the summit with President Trump have anything to do with it?

Here's sobering news from a blurb in today's NY Post, edited by yours truly: According to the renowned Mayo Clinic, a second opinion changes an original diagnosis 88% of the time. 21% of the time it changes completely, 66% it is refined or redefined.

I like this guy. A Montana man, convinced he was being screwed by the tax man, vented his displeasure by adding a note to his $745.77 check. In the Memo line he wrote: "Sexual Favors." So far, the check has not been cashed, as "it isn't clear what the funds should be applied to." It's quite simple, really. I believe the gentleman was referring to being told to "bend over" by the government. I've been tempted to write something nasty on every check I've written to pay an alternate side parking violation, which in each instance had been a matter of forgetting, not intentionally ignoring the regulation. I resisted, afraid it would lead to trouble. I'm sure the guy hasn't heard the end of it from government gangsters. (Adapted from the Weird But True column in the NY Post.)

My thanks to Ira, who bought a bio of Walter Cronkite and a book on the Kennedys, to the gentleman who bought three Russian translations of Frank Herbert's works, and to the elderly woman who purchased a Fern Michaels thriller.

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