Bob Bogle, one of the founders of The ventures, the seminal surf band, has died. He was 75.
He was a great musician and he and Nokie Edward formed one of the best teams in rock music. Surf's up, my brother.
Here is his New York Times obit.
And here is one of his greatest tunes, Walk, Don't Run.
Yep. Those are some fun things to do in York, Pa.
Koko Taylor, queen on the blues, has died. She was 80.
Here she is, doing "Wang Dang Doodle" with Little Walter.
Twenty years ago.
Hard to believe. The man in the photo is believed to be dead, killed by the government whose tyranny he valiantly stood up to.
He was a symbol of one person standing up for what's right, for freedom, against terrible odds. Seeing that photo filled us with hope, that the people of China would arise and win their freedom. That wave never had a chance of cresting. The revolution was crushed.
And what's changed since then?
Not much. The same thugs rule China. Human rights in that country are merely a rumor. School children do not even learn of the Tiananmen Square uprising and the subsequent massacre of hundreds or maybe thousands of people whose only affront to the public peace was standing up for their rights.
Well, one thing has changed. China is now rich, one of the most powerful economic engines on the face of the Earth.
A wealth built on people who will never see freedom.
Update: An indication of how little has changed, the New York Time reported this:
"BEIJING -- China blanketed Tiananmen Square with police officers Thursday, determined to prevent any commemoration of the 20th anniversary of a military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters that left hundreds dead.
"Visitors to the sprawling plaza in central Beijing were stopped at checkpoints and searched, and foreign television crews and photographers firmly turned away. Uniformed and plainclothes officers, easily identifiable by their similar shirts, seemingly outnumbered tourists.
"A few pursued television cameramen with opened umbrellas trying to block their shots -- a comical dance that was broadcast on CNN and BBC. There was no flicker of protest. Other than the intense police presence and the government's blockage of some popular Internet services, the scorchingly hot day passed like any other in the capital."
