Stuff YOU Should Know
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
Legends of the music world have been honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame each year since its creation in 1983. While the foundation and museum are located in Cleveland, Ohio (where local radio helped establish the credibility and early popularity for the music) the induction ceremony happens in either New York or Los Angeles, where most of the artists and industry leaders live. Each year, there is speculation over who will be inducted. The groups that get the most attention are those who have reached their requirement of 25 years after the release of their first record and those considered long-overlooked.
In the former category was Nirvana, long considered a shoe-in for consideration. In the latter category was KISS, who have been on the ballot many times in the past. Other honorees included: Daryl Hall & John Oates, Linda Ronstadt, Peter Gabriel, and Cat Stevens. Former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham and former Beatles manager Brian Epstein both received Lifetime Achievement awards for non-performers and Bruce Springsteen’s backing band was also recognized. The induction ceremony is made up of famous musicians giving speeches and a background bio on each inductee. There is also a lot of jamming, some by the bands themselves, others by invited guests. The notable performances of the evening included 1. the four women (Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, St. Vincent and Lorde) who took turns fronting Nirvana in place of deceased front man Kurt Cobain, and 2. another woman super group made up of Stevie Nicks, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, and Emmylou Harris filling in for an ailing Linda Ronstadt.
What Do You Think? What bands that you like now do you think will stand the test of time and make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the 2030s? Why?
Anniversary of King Assassination
Last year, btw dedicated several stories to the 50th anniversary of the March of Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Sadly, this month marks the 46th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s untimely death. Only 39 years old, Dr. King had traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to support the city’s 1,300 African American sanitation workers on strike to protest lower wages than their white co-workers.
King was standing on the balcony of his hotel in the evening when he was shot with a single bullet. The damage was so extensive that he died at the hospital. News of his murder led to widespread rioting throughout the country. Today, King remains one of the most influential people in American history. His legacy continues to inspire activists of all races to fight for equality and against injustice.
Dig Deeper Civil Rights leader Andrew Young said that King’s “I Have a Dream” speech got Nelson Mandela out of jail, brought down the Berlin Wall and inspired Chinese students to organize in Tiananmen Square. What do you think he meant by this? Explain your answer.
Obamacare Claims First (Political) Casualty
The Obama administration suffered many challenges while rolling out the HealthCare.gov website for the Affordable Healthcare Act. The head of Health and Human Services, Kathleeen Sebelius, recently resigned her position. Before becoming this cabinet secretary, Sebelius was a highly regarded Kansas governor. Sebelius will reportedly be replaced by the current director of Office of Management and Budget, Sylvia Mathews Burwell.
This resignation is widening the split between those divided over the new healthcare law. Critics say this shakeup in leadership is more proof that the program is a terrible idea for the country. President Obama, however, is focusing on positive news. He announced that the goal of 7 million new enrollments by March 31 has been exceeded. An additional 3 million adults gained access to insurance by the new law that allows them to be covered on their parents’ insurance under they’re 26. There will likely continue to be much attention paid to the implementation of the new laws as Burwell assumes her new position.
Dig Deeper Do you know anyone who sought out insurance through the online Health Insurance Marketplaces? If so, what was their experience like? If not, ask around, or find two articles that give both a positive and negative experience.
The Artist Formerly Known as President George W. Bush?
It is not uncommon for people to take up new hobbies in retirement. Former U.S. presidents are no exception. After leaving office in 2009, George W. Bush took up painting. A new exhibition of his art called “The Art of Leadership: A President’s Personal Diplomacy” is being held at his presidential library in Dallas, Texas. The collection features 24 portraits of world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the Dalai Lama, and former British prime minister Tony Blair. In a statement, Bush said that the paintings are an expression of friendship.
Response to the former president’s new hobby has been mixed. Some art critics consider him a decent amateur, while others are less kind. Attention for Bush’s work started last year when a computer hacker intercepted a number of the former president’s personal emails, including attachments of his early paintings. These images were leaked onto the Internet and went viral.