Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts passes
Earlier on this page, before the cancellation of the 2021 Jazz Fest where the Rolling Stones were to have performed, we reported that drummer Charlie Watts
would miss the show while he recovered from unspecified successful surgery. But yesterday, Charlie went to Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven. Caesar's Superdome in New
Orleans paid tribute that night with an exterior light show. [8/25/2021]
Dome tribute to Charlie Watts »
Everly brothers both gone now
Don Everly of the Everly Brothers, died August 21, 2021. His brother Phil preceded him in death by roughly 10 years. Don was 84, and Phil 74.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a family spokesperson said Everly died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee. [8/22/2021]
Everly brothers gone »
DEA seizes life savings of New Orleans grandfather without charging him with a crime
See money, seize money. That's what the DEA does. Is it legal if there's no crime? No, but as President Biden will tell you, the government can try it even if
they know it's illegal. New Orleans grandfather Kermit Warren is finding that out the hard way. [8/18/2021]
DEA seizes grandpa's life savings »
Climate scientist says global warming saves lives
“You don’t hear this, but so far climate change saves 166,000 lives each year.” So says climate scientist Bjorn Lomborg on the day the UN's 6th annual report on
climate change has been released, warning again of imminent danger. But one NASA study found that over a period of 35 years, climate change has added an area of green
equivalent to twice the size of the continental United States. Don’t expect to read about this in any of the breathless articles on climate impact. [8/10/2021]
Global warming saves lives »
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigns
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is following former Governors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson out the door of disgrace. Cuomo has resigned, effective August 24,
after multiple scandals involving alleged sexual harassment and nursing home COVID deaths due to his inept policies. [8/10/2021]
Governor Cuomo resigns »
2021 Jazz Fest canceled again
It looks like New Orleans is just not going to get to see the Rolling Stones at Jazz Fest. The entire Jazz Fest has been canceled due to COVID concern.
It was last held in 2019, its 50th anniversary. Folks with tickets for the Rolling Stones appearance on October 13th will receive automatic refunds. Other
ticketholders will get an email detailing the refund or rollover process. [8/8/2021]
Jazz Fest cancelled again »
Charlie Watts will miss Rolling Stones’ Jazz Fest date
In 2019, it was Mick Jagger’s heart valve replacement that screwed things up for Jazz Fest. Now, it’s surgery for drummer Charlie Watts. But his friend Steve
Jordan will sit in for him, and barring any other bad surprises, the Rolling Stones will still be at Jazz Fest on October 13th.
Charlie Watts will miss Jazz Fest »
Dusty Hill, ZZ Top bassist dies
Dusty Hill, the bassist for blues-rock trio ZZ Top, has died. He was 72. Hill served as the still-active group’s bassist for over 50 years. In 2004, Hill was inducted
into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group, which was founded in 1969.
Dusty Hill dies »
New Dell computers banned
California, along with five other states, has banned certain new Dell gaming computers becuase they use too much power. Dell's Web site will tell you, “This product cannot be shipped to the states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Vermont, or Washington due to power consumption regulations adopted by those states. Any orders placed that are bound for those states will be canceled.”
New Dell computers banned »
Rolling Stones added to Jazz Fest
The Rolling Stones have been added to the 2021 Jazz Fest lineup. They'll play a standalone Wednesday, October 13 gig on a customized Acura stage at the Fest at the New Orleans Fairgrounds. [7/24/2021]
Rolling Stones added to Jazz Fest »
Eric Clapton won't play where vaccinations required
“I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show,” says Eric Clapton. This after U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said vaccine passes would be required at clubs and venues. [7/22/2021]
Eric Clapton on coronavirus restrictiions »
Chuck E. Weiss gone at 69
Chuck E. Weiss, the subject of Rickie Lee Jones’ 1979 song Chuck E.’s In Love, died Tuesday, July 20. The singer and songwriter was a fixture on the Los Angeles
music scene with his band the Goddamn Liars for decades. In addition to Jones, Weiss had worked with Dr. John, Tom Waits, and many others.
Chuck E. Weiss gone »
Jeff Bezos flies to space on New Shepard rocket
The world's richest man, his brother and the oldest and youngest people to fly into space safely landed from the first suborbital spaceflight to include a paying passenger on board. [7/20/2021]
New Shepard space flight »
Robby Steinhardt of Kansas dies
Robby Steinhardt, whose violin playing and vocals were a cornerstone of the American progressive rock band Kansas during its heyday in the 1970s, has died from complications of acute pancreatic and sepsis on July 17, 2021. [7/20/2021]
Robby Steinhardt dies »
Why Facebook sucks
Here's more on why you'll find JD on MeWe now, but not Facebook. MeWe founder Mark Weinstein explains why Facebook sucks and MeWe doesn't. [Opinion 7/12/21]
Facebook sucks »
Chinese Vice Minister of State Security defects to U.S.
Dong Jingwei, Chinese Vice Minister of State Security, defected to the U.S. in mid February, 2021. He brought with him his daughter and terrabytes of extremely sensitive information which he gave to the U. S. Defense Intelligence Agency. It includes early pathogenic studies and models of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and names of U.S. citiznes, businesses, and government officials working with China. Those names likely explain why it has taken so long for Dong's defection to become public knowledge. [6/28/2021]
Chinese defector »
2021 Jazz Fest Lineup
The 2021 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival lineup has been released. Jazz Fest will take place October 7-17 over two weekends. [6/27/2021]
2021 Jazz Fest Lineup »
Proof: COVID-19 virus engineered in and leaked from Chinese lab
The proof is available, and some of it for a year: The COVID-19 virus was engineered at the behest of the Chinese military and leaked from a Chinese lab.
Our government now has additional evidence that a virus that killed 600,000 Americans, sickened millions more, nearly destroyed our economy, and inflicted
untold collateral damage, was a bioweapon created by the Chinese military and deliberately released. [6/12/2021]
COVID-19 virus a bioweapon »
Voodoo Fest canceled
Producers of the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience announced June 10th that the 2021 edition of the festival has been canceled.
The plan now is to return to New Orleans' City Park in 2022. What would have been the 21st Voodoo Fest was scheduled for Halloween
weekend, Oct. 29-31. Meanwhile, Satchmo Summerfest will take place July 31-Aug. 1. Essence Festival of Culture, which was online
last year, plans a hybrid festival June 25-27 and July 2-4. And The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, usually the last
weekend in April and the first in May, will be Oct. 8-17. [6/11/2021]
Voodoo Fest canceled »
Louisiana legislature decriminalizes marijuana
The Louisiana Senate voted 20-17 to decriminalize marijuana. Possesion of less that 14 grams (not quite 1/2 ounce) is now a misdemeanor with a fine
of $100 or less and no jail time, assuming Governor John Bel Edwards signs the measure into law. The Louisiana House voted to approve the bill last
month by a vote of 68-25. [6/7/2021]
Marijuana decriminalized »
Dr. Fauci Tied to Scandal Involving Human-Animal Hybrid Experiments with Aborted Fetal Parts
Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's COVID-19 pandemic advisor, and head of NIAID, is apparently connected to human-animal hybrid experiments using aborted
fetal parts which have taken place at the University of Pittsburgh. [6/6/2021]
Dr. Fauci Scandal »
B. J. Thomas Gone at 78
Five-time Grammy award winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, B.J. Thomas, died May 29 at home in Arlington, Texas at the age of 78 from complications
due to stage four lung cancer. Born Billie Joe Thomas in 1942, the musician had hits across the genres of pop, country and gospel in the 1960s and 1970s.
He originally performed with musical group The Triumphs, but went on to work as a solo artist. Some of his most popular songs included Hooked on a Feeling
in 1968 and (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song in 1975. His version of Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head was featured
in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, winning the Oscar for Best Original Song and topping the charts. [5/30/2021]
B. J. Thomas »
Louisiana partly ignores new CDC mask guidance
As of May 13, the CDC eliminated its guidance that fully vaccinated people wear masks. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, however, chose
to keep requiring masks in State offices. Without evidence, he claimed that masks work. The Democratic mayor of New Orleans left the city's mask mandate for all
in place. She won't lift it until herd immunity is achieved through vaccination of 75% or more of the population, ignoring the level of natural immunity gained
by those who contracted and recovered from COVID-19 infection. The Democratic mayor-president of East Baton Rouge parish also kept a mask mandate for city-parish offices.
Nearly all states and municipalities run by Democrats keep their mask mandates in place, contrary to CDC guideance. [5/14/2021]
Mask mandates »
Peer-reviewed study: Ivermectin works against COVID
A peer-reviewed study just published by the American Journal of Therapeutics concludes:
Meta-analyses based on 18 randomized controlled treatment trials of ivermectin in COVID-19 have found large, statistically significant reductions in mortality,
time to clinical recovery, and time to viral clearance. Furthermore, results from numerous controlled prophylaxis trials report significantly reduced risks of
contracting COVID-19 with the regular use of ivermectin. Finally, the many examples of ivermectin distribution campaigns leading to rapid population-wide
decreases in morbidity and mortality indicate that an oral agent effective in all phases of COVID-19 has been identified.
[5/9/2021]
Ivermectin works »
Singer Lloyd Price gone
New Orleans music star Lloyd Price died of complications from diabetes on Monday, May 3, 2021. Price first hit the charts with Lawdy Miss Clawdyin 1952.
Other big hits included Personality and Stagger Lee in 1959. [5/9/2021]
Lloyd Price dies »
Why are you on Facebook?
Van Morrison has some new music out. He asks, "Whay are you on Facebook?" JD kissed Facebook goodbye last August. It's MeWe for JD now. [Opinion 5/8/2021]
Why are you on Facebook? »
Blue at the Zoo Canceled
JD was about to voice his disgust at the cancellation of “Blue at the Zoo,” but he discovered his old radio pal Scoot had already done so. [Opinion 5/6/2021]
Blue at the Zoo »