Hello again!

3 for 3. Big stuff.

We’ll just get right into it, I think. What do we got?

Delights of the Day: 11.8.19

Today in History: The Birth of HBO

You’re looking at the original logo for HBO, which launched on this date back in 1972, nearly 50 years ago. While now known as the home of countless original feature films and television shows, the very first program to be shown on the channel was actually a live NHL hockey game between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks. Sure, it now boasts billions in revenue and over 140 million subscribers – but on the day it debuted, nobody was interested enough to show up to its launch ceremony, including the city manager of Wilkes-Barre, PA, where the company was founded. Even the CEO of Time Inc. (then the parent company of HBO) didn’t make it because he got stuck in traffic on the George Washington Bridge leaving Manhattan. At least, that’s what he said…

Today’s Photo: Ragged Jagger

Annie Leibovitz shot this portrait of Mick Jagger while the Rolling Stones were on tour in 1975. Here are her words about this very moment:

At the end of the performances, the band would do two or three encores that had been planned. Nothing was ad-libbed. They were professional in a way I hadn’t seen until then. They’d been doing it awhile. After the last encore, when everyone in the audience thought they were coming onstage again, they would get out of Dodge. Mick dumped several pails of water on his head every night as part of the show and he would leave the stage totally wet, with his eye makeup running. He wrapped himself up in towels and jumped in the car. Usually the band went straight to the plane, but we were staying in town the night I photographed him in the elevator. The picture was taken on the way up to Mick’s room. He and I were alone. We were on some level out of it. Not because of drugs, but because of all that travel, and sleep deprivation, and the exertion of the performances.

Rock and roll.

Song of the Day: “Indian Girl”, Rolling Stones

Seems apropos to feature a song sung by the man seen above. And one that’s perhaps a little mellow in tone, reflecting the energy levels on display in that portrait. I hope this tune helps you to drift into the weekend with ease.

See You Next Week

We’ll be back at it again in a few days. Until then, I encourage you to do something a little out of character for a change – perhaps asking yourself…“Why not?”

Cheers,M

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