Southern Bookman

Familiar Masters announcers give sense of continuity

I was happy while watching the Masters' opening round Thursday to hear Verne Lundquist's reassuring voice.

At 80, Verne was back at his regular perch calling action at the par 3 sixth and 16th holes, giving Masters fans a sense of continuity as the tournament unfolds beneath autumn foliage instead of the traditional spring flowers.

Because of Covid 19, the tournament's famous "patrons" are also absent, eliminating the roars that for years accented the competition.

Along with Lunquist, longtime CBS Masters host Jim Nantz also described play with his soothing voice. Masters watchers also heard the familiar banter and tournament lore of former champion Nick Faldo, and the commentary of Ian Baker-Finch and Dottie Pepper.

The CBS crew participated in ESPN's first-round coverage along with the sports network's Scott Van Pelt and Curtis Strange.

Augusta National appeared softer than usual after a morning rain, and autumnal greens didn't appear as fast as those of spring.

But with Lundquist, Nantz, Faldo, Baker-Finsh and Pepper, it still seemed like the Masters.

Keith Richards hopes Rolling Stones can launch one last tour

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards doesn't know if the band will ever tour again.

The 76-year-old Richards, "laying low" during the pandemic at his enclave in Connecticut, said Covid-19 raises doubts about the aging band performing in concert again.

But Richards ended an interview with the Wall Street Journal on a positive note, expressing hope for future appearances by the Stones. "Another final tour," he said with a laugh.

A new Stones album is also in limbo, Richards said in the interview with the WSJ, which surprisingly covers boomer rock better than The New York Times. Richards said that he and Rolling Stones co-leader Mick Jagger are still working on songs for a new album.

But Richards fans won't be bereft: A live album by his band, the X-Pensive Winos, will be released Friday. The box set "Live at the Hollywood Palladium" was recorded on Dec. 15, 1988, when Richards was feuding with Jagger.

Richards said that his experience as a front-man for the X-Pensive Winos gave him a new appreciation for Jagger's talent. The X-Pensive Winos, with a looser sound than the Stones, perform several of their songs on the album, along with some written by Richards.

The X-Pensive Winos album features Richards' duets with noted guitarist Waddy Wachtel, which gives the music a distinctive flavor, Richards told the WSJ. The band also included drummer Steve Jordan, bassist Charley Drayton, keyboard player Ivan Neville, singer Sarah Dash, and the  late saxophonist Bobby Key

As the pandemic's autumn resurgence rages, the album from a distant time will be a melancholy reminder of when people could gather together to hear music.

Rolling Stones fans will listen with the hope that those days return soon and that the band will be back onstage throughout the world.

 

 

Random musings on Veterans Day

One more reason to worry: China's way ahead of the United States in rolling out 5G technology, according to a Wall Street Journal special report.

The Chinese can download a movie in 15 seconds, while it takes an American 15 minutes. Movies are censored in China, however.

China's huge lead in 5G technology seems like a major national security concern. But, as with climate change, there's no sense of urgency.

A strange Veterans Day, on the eve of the Masters beginning. A big story is how Augusta National's fall foliage compares with its usual April azaleas. Will players get a free drop from fallen leaves?

ESPN's College Game Day will broadcast Saturday morning from Augusta National's Par 3 course. Good the gang can talk about golf, with so many football games canceled because of Covid-19.

I never thought America would turn into Belarus. Trump in refusing to accept Joe Biden's election is acting more and more like Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Following Saturday's spontaneous street celebrations of Biden's victory, Americans now need to stage massive protests as the people of Belarus did.

Christmas TV commercials have arrived again. I'm puzzled at car companies recycling last year's ads. Haven't the models changed?

World War I  ended on this day 102 years ago, followed by a global flu epidemic. Now, Covid-19 is resurgent throughout the world.

On this somber day, let's remember those lost to our 21st century pandemic and hope that an effective vaccine arrives soon.

 

 

Luc Sante recalls days on New York City's gritty Lower East Side

Luc Sante delivers vintage Lower East Side nostalgia in "Maybe the People Would Be the Times."

The collection of musical, literary and art reviews, profiles, autobiographical essays and fictional meditations looks back at Sante's days in the gritty New York City neighborhood during the 1970s and 1980s.

Before gentrification conquered the area, it was home to avant garde artists, poets and writers and punk musicians who loved the rank air of freedom on the crime-ridden streets.

While some of the pieces bog down in self-indulgent, meandering prose, Sante gives a fresh take on often covered subjects such as Patti Smith, CBGB, David Wojnarowicz and Rene Ricard.

Sante shines a light on obscure bands, albums and songs. His jazzy, insular language evokes the era's gauzy, dreamy atmosphere.

Nostalgia for the times and the ravaged neighborhood is a flourishing subgenre. Sante's hip writing will be treasured by his dedicated fans. Despite its narrow focus, the book offers pleasures for a wider readership, even at its most experimental.

Farewell, Alex Trebek

Alex Trebek's battle with cancer ended Sunday, surprising "Jeopardy" fans who'd come to believe that the dapper and genial "Jeopardy" host would go on forever.

The Canadian-born TV icon, who died Sunday at age 80, made "Jeopardy" America's daily cocktail party, a throwback to 1960s television.

Trebek's "Jeopardy" enjoyed a widespread popularity only eclipsed by pro football. Like Johnny Carson and Walter Cronkite, Trebek was welcome each night in American homes.

Recalling Carson, Trebek was a witty straight man. Trebek's cool demeanor complemented the oddball personalities of a series of "Jeopardy" champions. His interviews with contestants were like strange absurdist plays, or Nichols-May routines.

While he showed brief moments of consternation when contestants whiffed on easy questions, Trebek was mostly encouraging and sympathetic, the classic TV Dad.

In his months-long battle with pancreatic cancer, Trebek presented a model of composure, courage and devotion. Even when suffering tremendous pain, he persevered with the show's grueling daily schedule of shooting several episodes.

Resembling the French nobleman in Jean Renoir's "La Grande Illusion," he was always Trebek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia hunkers down for Biden

Georgia has at last turned blue, or at least purple.

Clayton County, previously known as the home of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Bulldogs stars Hines Ward and D.J. Shockley, put Joe Biden over the top in overtaking Donald Trump Thursday night.

It appears that Biden will be the first Democratic presidential candidate since Bill Clinton to carry the state.

Also coming from behind to take the lead in Pennsylvania, Biden's closing in on winning the election. Now I'm sure that for the good of the country, Trump will honorably concede. Right.

Watching cable TV's horse-race coverage Tuesday night, I marveled at MSNBC's indefatigable Steve Kornacki, who looks like a cool high school teacher with his nerd glasses, khakis and rumpled shirt with rolled-up sleeves.

Kornacki at his map, juggling numbers in his head from various Pennsylvania and Georgia counties, blended humor, expertise and show-biz. I kept waiting for him to crash, or lose his cool at Rachel Maddow, Brian Williams or Joy Reid, but he kept going, a magician who couldn't be stumped.

Georgia will remain in the national political spotlight with two U.S. Senate runoffs.

Along with Biden's surge in the state, Democratic Senate challenger Jon Ossoff piled up enough votes to force incumbent Sen. David Perdue into a runoff when Perdue fell short of a majority.

A runoff Jan. 9 was already set between incumbent GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock.

With control of the U.S. Senate hinging on the Georgia Senate outcomes, the state will be a raging political battleground through the holidays. Both parties will hurl tremendous amounts of money at the campaigns, bringing a barrage of TV ads and superstar appearances.

Kornacki better buy a few more pairs of khakis. He'll be a busy man.

 

An ominious turn: United States officially abandons climate change treaty

Overlooked in the chaotic battle for the White House, the United States on the day after the presidential election officially left the Paris climate change agreement.

With millions voting for climate-change denier Donald Trump, the United States abandoned the global commitment to reduce carbon emissions.

Trump announced in July 2017 that the United States would leave the 2015 pact that seeks to limit global temperatures. But the treaty required a three-year waiting period for a country to withdraw.

If Trump takes back the White House, the United States, with 15 percent of global greenhouse emissions, will commit itself further to promoting fossil fuels.

Trump has relentlessly reversed President Obama's climate change efforts, from weakening auto-emissions regulations to promoting the coal and petroleum industries.

He has also begun steps to open petroleum drilling in Alaska's Arctic Wildlife Refuge and other long protected wilderness areas.

Democratic candidate Joe Biden, near a presidential victory, promises to return to the Paris agreement. If Biden is elected, the country would have a month to rejoin the treaty.

Biden calls for a massive effort to make buildings more energy efficient and developing wind and solar power to shift from a carbon-based economy.

The treaty seeks to keep global temperature increases this century to under 2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial averages. It calls for additional efforts to reach a 1.5c threshold.

Climate change has already advanced further than earlier projections, with soaring temperatures, drought, melting arctic ice, fires and hurricanes. Rising ocean levels will threaten coastal nations and cities.

The United States must rejoin the effort to reduce emissions if the world is to have any chance to limit climate change's devastation.

 

 

 

 

 

Nation turns its weary eyes to Georgia

Georgia's at the center of the presidential cliff hanger after years on the margins.

Perhaps the home of the late John Lewis can give Joe Biden his illusive presidency.

As the Fulton County vote counting continues, I wonder if my mailed-in ballot is among those that might put Biden over the top. My vote could even be the decisive one that puts Biden ahead of Trump. 

I checked my ballot’s status and found it was accepted. It’s heartening to believe my vote might make a difference.

The signs look propitious for a Biden win with votes still being counted in several states. But I'm increasingly worried that Trump will snatch victory at the last moment with his dubious legal shenanigans.

Once again, the country's electoral college system bring chaos over democratic order. Like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden overwhelmingly won the popular vote and should be president. Instead, the country has to undergo prolonged uncertainty.

 

 

Another Democratic horror show

Tuesday night felt like a horror movie sequel in which the monster comes back.

What a dismal night for the Democratic Party. Even if Joe Biden does eke out an Electoral College victory, his presidency will be crippled by the GOP-controlled Senate. Rather than building their House majority, the Democrats treaded water, losing six members.

The GOP's rogue gallery marched on, invincible to Democratic attacks. Oceans of money, ridicule and ethical censure failed to defeat Mitch McConnell, Lindsay Graham, John Cornyn, Kelly Loeffler, David Perdue and Joni Ernst. Even embattled Susan Collins sailed to victory in Maine.

Even if Biden claims victory Wednesday, Donald Trump will do everything to hold on to the presidency. Legal precedent and federal law favor Biden, but this Supreme Court cares little for that. Trump like the Godfather will demand repayment from his Supreme Court appointees.

But maybe the so-called justices will rule in favor of American democracy, and the principle that every vote counts.

Lincoln appealed to "the better angels of our nature." Trump appeals to our worst traits. Trumpism is now a primary force in American politics.

But hey, the sun rose this morning. Autumn's in the air. I heard a song when I took a walk. Carpenters were working on houses down the street.

Through the years, I've seen the political pendulum swing back and forth many times. Happy days will come again.

 

 

 

 

Democrats look for surge in Georgia

Democrats hope that Georgia's blue wave arrives at last.

Joe Biden's chances look better and better in Georgia, forcing Donald Trump into late campaign appearances in the state.

Democratic candidates glimpse victory in the state's two U.S. Senate races. And the party appears on the cusp of retaking the House in the Georgia Legislature.

Former state Rep. Stacey Abrams, who fell short of a runoff against GOP Gov. Brian Kemp in the 2018 gubernatorial race, expressed optimism in an appearance on Chris Hayes' MSNBC show Monday night for a Democratic breakthrough.

To her credit, Abrams has led efforts to register and galvanize the state's new voters, most of them members of minorities who support Democrats.

The state has added 4 million new voters since 2016, according to a report by the New Yorker's Charles Bethea on the party's improved prospects in Georgia.

Forgotten as Democratic odds increase is Jim Martin's U.S. Senate campaign in 2008, in which he took incumbent Saxby Chambliss to a runoff, without the national support that Abrams and other Democratic candidates have received in subsequent years.

As with Abrams' bitter loss to Kemp, Democratic hopes have been crushed several times in statewide races. Kemp ran for governor while he was still Georgia's secretary of state, using that position to suppress black votes.

According to Bethea and others, many black voters are going to the polls for the first time this year, and record-setting early voting favors Democrats. Long lines have not dampened the turnout.

With Democratic candidates gaining in the state's two U.S. Senate races, the party is optimistic at reversing a long string of losses in state races. Georgia has two Senate elections because of the retirement of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, one of the GOP's last moderates. A double win in Georgia might carry Democrats to control of the U.S. Senate.

In the campaign for Isakson's seat, Raphael Warnock, pastor of Martin Luther King's Ebenezer Street Baptist Church, is a more appealing candidate than the Republicans' ghoulish Doug Collins and Kelly "Atilla the Hun" Loeffler.

Warnock gave the eulogy for the late civil rights leader John Lewis, and has received endorsements from Barack Obama and other Democratic heavyweights.

With overwhelming campaign contributions, he's run a positive TV ad campaign, while his GOP opponents have been drawn to attacking each other, giving no attention to Warnock.

Democrats fear that the hapless campaign of Matthew Lieberman, Joe's son, might derail Warnock's chances of gathering enough votes in the race's so-called jungle primary to prevent a runoff.

Republican voters likely will close ranks in a runoff despite the Loeffler-Collins mud fight. Republican turnout would be galvanized if GOP control of the Senate hinges on the runoff outcome.

In the other race, 33-year-old Jon Ossoff has thrown a scare into incumbent U.S. Sen. David Perdue, whose main accomplishment in his first term was total fealty to Donald Trump. Polls indicate Ossoff is tied with Perdue, who backed out of his final debate with his quick-witted opponent.

The sixth congressional race between incumbent Lucy McBath and GOP retread Karen Handel is also drawing national attention. McBath beat Handel two years ago in the Democratic wave to gain control of the U.S. House. Lost by Ossoff to Handel four years ago, the sixth is one of those suburban battlegrounds undergoing rapid demographic change.

A couple of other Democratic candidates appear in good condition to take congressional seats.

Roy Barnes, the state's last Democratic governor, told Bethea that he sees signs of a Democratic surge. That would represent a wonderful late-life gift for 96-year-old former President Jimmy Carter and former U.S. Sens. Sam Nunn and Max Clelland. They and other Democratic heroes are primed to celebrate after years in the political wilderness.