Changes at the top

Recent polls indicate that in national and provincial politics, both the governing federal leader and British Columbia leader are in disfavor with the electorate.

This is not to say their parties could not regain control in the next election, which both leaders hope will take place sometime in 2011, when most voters will be nonfunctional. 

However, some changes have been recommended.  On the national scene, it has been noted that PM Harper could be defeated by Stompin' Tom Connors, Rita McNeil, or several deceased prime ministers.

In British Columbia, polls show that a new government could be formed by a party led by Dal Richards, Smokey the Bear, Stanley the dog, or a holograph. 

A good evening to politicians everywhere.

Mitch and Bird

We were surprised, this week, to read an obituary for Mitch Miller; surprised because we assumed the spade-bearded A&R giant and singalong maestro had departed this planet decades ago.  He had not. Mitch Miller was on the scene, if not actually seen, until age ninety-nine.

Probably few persons under the age of sixty would have known who Mitch Miller was.  The obituary writers made up for that.  But they left out what was, for some of us, the most interesting part of his long and varied career:  the fact that he had played oboe on the initial recordings of Charlie Parker with strings.

The year was 1949, and Parker--Bird--recorded six 78 rpm tracks. With him, and a group of classically-oriented string players, were Stan Freeman, piano; Ray Brown, bass; Buddy Rich, drums; and Mitch Miller, oboe.  Apart from Parker, only Freeman and Miller got solos, and Miller's were significantly large.    

Parker was not only the leading figure in post-1945 jazz, he was, in the opinion of New York music educator and "Metronome" writer Barry Ulanov, "the greatest improviser since J.S. Bach."  Many of his admirers thought recording Parker with strings was an artistic vulgarization.  Stan Kenton said Parker's playing was like "a pearl in a puddle of mud."  But those recordings have stood up remarkably well, and one of them--"Just Friends"--is among the best of Parker's legacy.

Mitch Miller was a secondary figure on these recordings, but a perfect balance for Parker and the strings.  Most people who remember Miller will remember "The Yellow Rose of Texas," "Come On-a My House" and "Sing Along with Mitch."   We'll remember "Charlie Parker with Strings"--Bird and Mitch.

Cool off with Herbie

Song of the week:  Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man."

Missed Invitations

Events to which we were not invited:

* Chelsea Clinton's wedding

* Michael Ignatieff's bus tour

* Conrad Black's coming out party

Breakthrough for US Auto Industry

A report today from the Highway Loss Data Institute is being hailed as a victory for the US auto industry in its attempt to regain the edge over Asian auto makers.

According to the institute's study, the most popular vehicle for auto thieves in 2009 was the Cadillac Escalade, with more than ten vehicles out of every 1,000 stolen.  The Caddy was, in the words of an institute spokesman, the vehicle "most preferred by thieves."

Number Two on the list was the Ford F-250 Crew Cab.  The spokesman declared "Thieves are after chrome, horsepower and Hemis." 

This is a dramatic turnaround from 2008, when the most popular vehicles for thieves were the Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry. 

Asian manufacturers are said to be huddling with engineers and designers, hoping to return to first place among felons.  "But for now," said one US auto industry titan, "we're Number One!" 

BC Day explained

We have arrived at BC Day--August 2, brought into law as Bill 61, which states, in part, "Whoa, it's been a long time since Victoria Day! Let's get some beer and sit in a ferry lineup for 48 hours!"

Bill 61 was introduced in 1964 by Provincial Secretary Ernie Hall, but the true author of Bill 61, the creator of BC Day, was that feisty East Ender and pride of the NDP, Premier Dave Barrett.

And that is how BC Day was given its name.  Most people assume that "BC" stands for British Columbia.  It does not.  It stands for--wait for it--

Barrett's Coup. 

BC Day explained