Monday, February 12, 2024

A00065 - Must See TV for February 2024: PBS: Gospel Live! and Gospel

 


Today is February 9, 2024.  On my viewing calendar for today is Gospel Live! Presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.


and on my viewing calendar for February 12 and February 13 is Gospel

Gospel | PBS


As my local PBS station program guide reads: 

"Dig Deep into the origin story of Black spirituality through song and sermon in the newest historical series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

"Musical styles come and go, but there's one sound that has been a constant source of strength, courage, and wisdom from the pulpit to the choir lofts on any given Sunday.  Gospel music has become the dominant form of African American religious expression and provides a soundtrack of healing and uplift to those at the front lines of protest and change.

"Coming out of slavery, blending with the blues tradition, and soaring to new heights during the Great Migration, gospel music has defined and inspired generations.  Thanks to artists like Mahalia Jackson and Kirk Franklin, these deeply meaningful songs have reached the present day, enjoying a new heyday from the last century to today."

For this February 2024, for this Black History Month, my Must See TV recommendation is to watch both Gospel Live! and Gospel.  

Praise Be!

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
February 9, 2024



----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To: Everett Jenkins <skipjen2865@aol.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 02:14:57 AM PST
Subject: Must See TV for December 2023: PBS: Frontline: Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To: 
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2023 at 03:39:52 AM PST
Subject: Must See TV for December 2023: PBS: Frontline: Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza


For the Month of December 2023, the Must See TV program is the PBS Frontline program "Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza"


The program is set to air next week on your local PBS station and I would encourage you to watch.  I know I will.

Also, I encourage everyone to learn about the Nakba


The Nakba began 75 years ago, and from the perspective of many, continues to this day.

Peace .... Please,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 06:13:05 AM PST
Subject: Must See TV for November 2023: PBS: Frontline: Shattered Dreams of Peace: The Road From Oslo

For the Month of November 2023, the Must See TV program is the PBS Frontline program "Shattered Dreams of Peace: The Road From Oslo".  The program is actually a review of events from 20 years ago.  However, by watching the events from the past one can see the seeds for the garden of thorns being sewn. Today, the thorns are being reaped and, perhaps, even more thorn seeds are being sewn.

Thankfully, ten thousand years from now, our successors will look back on these times ... and not remember that these times existed at all.

That may be the ultimate blessing that God can bestow. 

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins





----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 04:46:30 AM PDT
Subject: Must See TV for October 2023: PBS: The American Buffalo: A Film by Ken Burns


For the Month of October 2023, the Must See TV program is The American Buffalo, a film by Ken Burns.  The two-part, four-hour program is airing on PBS this week.  Please catch it, if you can ... and please contemplate how the exploitative impulses that are chronicled in the program are still present today. 

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
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A00064 - Toby Keith, R.I.P.

 


It was with surprising sadness that I read about the passing of my fellow Oklahoman, Toby Keith

Toby Keith, Larger-Than-Life Country Music Star, Dies at 62 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

In the 2000s, I became quite familiar with the music of Toby Keith as I traveled down I-5 every two months or so when I went to visit my children who were then living in San Diego.  During much of the I-5 drive, I found myself listening to country music because the country stations came in clear and because the songs tended to be distinctive enough to keep me awake.  It was during this time that Toby Keith was at the height of his popularity.  

His "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" was a widely heard response to the events of 9/11. 

(4) Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American) (Official Music Video) - YouTube


and his "As Good As I Once Was"

Toby Keith - As Good As I Once Was (youtube.com)


became an anthem for middle-age men like myself who had begun to recognize the realities of the passage of time.

However, what really cemented Toby Keith in my list of favorite country stars was his tribute song to a fellow Oklahoman, Wayman Tisdale.  Wayman Tisdale was one of the greatest basketball players to come out of Oklahoma

Wayman Tisdale - Wikipedia

Wayman also was a great jazz guitarist who had only begun his professional musical career when he was struck down by cancer at the young age of 44.  In response to this tragic loss, Wayman's good friend Toby Keith wrote and performed this song 

(4) Toby Keith - Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song) ft. Arthur Thompson, Marcus Miller, Dave Koz - YouTube



Toby Keith, a towering figure in country music, will be missed here on Earth, but I do believe that Wayman has already welcomed Toby in Heaven, and the music there is sublime.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
February 6, 2024


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A00063 - And the Grammy Goes to Tyla for "Water"

 

I have been battling a viral souvenir that I brought back from my air travel from the Philippines, so yesterday, I found myself going to bed at 6pm.  As a result, I missed watching the Grammy Award show.  So, I did not see Taylor Swift win her record fourth album of the year award for "Midnights" nor Miley Cyrus' record of the year award for her brutal (for Liam Hemsworth) song "Flowers".

Nevertheless, I read about the awards this morning and noted with some great interest that a new category was created this year.  The category was Best African Music Performance.  


and that the first recipient of this award was none other than the South African artist Tyla and her song "Water"




Perhaps my hearing and seeing is not what it once was but, honestly, it seems that Rihanna has sent her brand of music to South Africa.  I am still more enamored with Freshlyground, Zahara and Sara Tavares but perhaps I am just showing my age.  Nevertheless, this is now a new award, and, in the coming years, African artists will have a spotlight shown on them.  And that, I think, is a good thing.

Peace, 

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
February 5, 2024
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A00062 - The Soul of Bentley and The Colors of the Wind

 


Today was a sad day in the Jenkins household.  Today at about 11:25am our beloved Bobrador  (Border Collie/Labrador mix) passed away after receiving a dose of sodium pentobarbital.  The ten-year-old Bentley had been suffering from prostate cancer and the cancer had spread to his bladder and his bones.  Bentley had been beloved by all who came to know him, even by my sister and my former girlfriend who comes from a culture where dogs are still eaten rather than cherished as pets. 
For me, in recent years, Bentley was the one family member who stayed up with me during my nocturnal hours.  We had become companions and friends.  For me, he long ago ceased to be merely a dog.  His soulful eyes revealed that he was much more.
So, as I sat next to my middle daughter, as Bentley took his last breaths, i tried to comfort her by telling her that she would be with Bentley again one day.  Being very bright, she sort of shrugged off what I said and I did not pursue it further.  However, in the ensuing hours after Bentley's passing, I have reflected on what I casually said and I have come to believe it even more.
I began to recall a song that I played for my two youngest daughters almost every day when I drove them to their Christian elementary school some 25 years ago.  It was a popular song back then, but I do not believe that they ever paid full attention to the words.  Thinking about Bentley's passing suddenly brought this song back from a distant memory and, on this day, I think it is fitting to play it again and provide the printed lyrics so that everyone can ponder the meaning of The Colors of the Wind.
Vanessa Williams - Colors Of The Wind HD (youtube.com)


Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Fairfield, California
February 2, 2024

Vanessa Williams - Colors Of The Wind Lyrics | AZLyrics.com

Vanessa Williams Lyrics




Play "Colors Of The Win…"
on Amazon Music Unlimited (ad)
"Colors Of The Wind"
(from "Pocahontas" soundtrack)

You think I'm an ignorant savage
And you've been so many places I guess it must be so
But still I can not see
If the savage one is me
How can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know

You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon,
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How high does the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper-skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind

You can own the Earth and still
All you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind



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