Happy Birthday, Ma!

I'd like everyone at Rocket Fever to raise a glass to Gretchen Kirby, the picture of compassion, the quintessence of motherhood. For closing in on 30 years now (gulp), she's done an outstanding job raising her children, and she can still bake a mean batch of shortbread at Christmas. Happy Birthday, Mootah! Can't wait to see you in October!

Detroit and Cleveland Think They Have It Bad?

In the Rust Belt when a home is abandoned, often no one complains because the other homes around it are already abandoned. But here in L.A., where foreclosures are starting to become as fashionable as iPhones, actual humans live next to newly emptied houses. So what's the big deal? There's no one to pay the pool boy!

Seeing as Rocket Fever is coming up way short in fulfilling your soul-enrichment-via-Internet needs, check out the ever-excellent
City Desk and today's Friday Facts. That should do your aura some good.

Great Haven Is Not Fictional

It exists everywhere, brothers and sisters.
That's the magic of the place, don't you see?

Look what Mikey Did!

Congrats to Hud and all his associates on the launch of
Red Letter, the official Dodge blog.

Drums Go Silent

Much love to Max Roach, the last to go from the masterful, one-time-only trio that created one of my favorite albums, Money Jungle. When a giant like Roach dies, it always makes me wonder what the world would be like if Bird, Coltrane, Dolphy, Clifford Brown, Bill Evans would have lived into old age.

Junk in the Grand River.

Introducing: HUDSON & GAINES, EPISODE 19

• New, hilarious spots, three of which are voiced by members of the Muzio family.
• Tom Short, the dean of Great Haven sports broadcasting, makes his debut.
  
• An appearance by Lynne Jepson.
• The WBFK Money Dog chimes in.
• Wrinkles may be coming home.
• A full-length, in-studio interview with one of the most powerful people in the Tricounty.

hudsonandgaines.com

Or search "Hudson & Gaines" from the iTunes podcast page.

Happy Birthday, Mr. H.!

Jean, Hud, Gaines, Mr. Keith Hudson, and You-Know-Who

A well-deserved Rocket Fever huzzah goes out to Keith Hudson, who's among other things bestowed upon the world some hot clarinet licks, the gift of musical knowledge to hundreds of young Greenvillians, and one Mike Hudson. The esteemed Mr. H. turns 61 today!

Keith and his wife, Jean, were out for a visit recently and spent lots of quality time with Maggie June. All indications were that they had a great time.

I hope Keith is spending his special day on one of his five sail boats. ... Hey, Cap'n, this one's for you.

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Speaking of Keith Hudson and sail boats, he's selling a member of his fleet. Anyone interested in additional details should e-mail Hudson & Gaines at goatlord44@gmail.com.

TomatoBank!

Photo by Karis Eklund, RF Official Archaeologist

I hear they got in a lot of trouble a few years ago for refusing to lend to artichokes.

Link

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For those of you keeping score at home, mustard won the poll, 23-17. That's fine. I can just see there's lots of education that needs to happen.

Pat Muir: Love the Camera ... Hates the Camera ... Loves ... Hates

Most of you know Pat Muir, Rocket Fever's version of Thompson mixed with a smidge of Bukowski. Well, prepare to see him as you've never seen him before. Maybe Mr. Muir can be so kind as to give us the back story.

For main site, click here.

Works Every Time

Why can't every television commercial be this amazing?

We can dream, can't we?

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Another boss used to say, "I'm up to my ass in alligators," whenever he was super busy.

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Modern-era Ray Bradbury continues to do battle with classic-era Ray Bradbury.

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Savvy move by the State Department getting Ozomatli to do a series of good-will concerts in the Mideast and South Asia. One question this LAT piece didn't explicitly answer: Is the band forbidden from criticizing U.S. foreign policy onstage during these performances? Nontheless, it's a pretty cool idea.