With the members of the Palos Verdes Breakfast ClubNO POLITICS - NO CAUSES

Just Neighborly Fellowship, Fun and Frolic!!PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA August 19, 2017 Vol. 71

2016-2017 OFFICERS President......................Henry Bazak Vice-President.............Ram NadellaTreasurer .....................Andrew MeinzerSecretary .....................John BaskettSgts-at-Arms................Frank Clark, Steve Freije Howdyin’ Around.........Rick Higgins, John Booth Jim Flanigan, Mike Mangano, Bob Blindbury Gene Rogers,Karl Jackson,Allen Lee____________________________________________

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2015-2017 DIRECTORS Charlie Peterson Russ Barto

Gene Rogers Bob Blindbury

2016-2018 DIRECTORS Scott Sharpe Toby Tobias Roger Biggeln Mike Moody

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Our Mission: To make time to do the stuffthat makes for stories that others can’t

wait to tell!

THE MEETING

Our distinguished Prez Hank Bazak called toorder precisely on time!The Music Program was Bernie Pearl, Blues guitar extraordinaire. (He was kind enough to edit the following notes and add some of the lyrics!)Bernie brought 3 guitars - two guitars for slidenumbers, in different tunings (keys of E and A), and one standard tuned guitar. The purpose was to illustrate the styles of several different Mississippi blues players. He is associated with the "Jazz Church", the Morningside United Church of Christ, located in Inglewood. Their Jazzabrations organization presents an award each of 11 months to a notable Jazz musician. One month is reserved for a Blues artist. Bernie is sharing the day with Joe Kincaid, a well-known band leader and guitarist in South L.A.He led off with Elmore (Elmo’) James “I Believe I Dust My Broom”, meaning to leave and not come back.And "You Gotta Move" by “Mississippi Fred” McDowell, a traditional spiritual that was eventually used (probably with a few changes) by the Rolling Stones'Bernie invited everyone to get up and dance but when no one took him up on it, he said

“Now we’re going way down south for the song “Cross Cut Saw”. The original had only 3 verses so I saw some opportunity for improvisation and added a few verses.” (One new verse referred to a “Brand new band saw”). This engineer can relate. (The first version was recorded in 1941 by Mississippi bluesman Tommy McClennan)Bernieprovidedsome musicaleducation bydescribingthe relationsbetween the“two firstfamilies ofAmerican folkmusic”, theLomaxes andthe Seegers.Charles Seeger, New England, and John Lomax, Texas, were the most prominent Folklorists of their time. Seeger's son, Pete, became a world-renown folksinger and activist. The Lomaxes did much to bring America's folk music to public attention.“Al’s father went south in the mid-1930s to record folk music .I believe it was one of the WPA arts projects. The recordings, I believe, belonged to the Library of Congress, and were highly influential.”Bernie brought a 1951 Valco/Bluebird amp to our meeting to provide just the right sound forhis next selection, “I Can't Be Satisfied”, and

related a story about that song that Al’s daughter Bess Lomax Hawes shared:Alan returned to Mississippi in 1940 to look for blues singer Robert Johnson, only to learnthat he had been murdered. Alan inquired if there were any comparable blues singers around, and was told yes, there is a young local man called “Muddy Waters” who lived around Stovall Plantation.Alan drove there and offered a ride to a young man walking with a guitar; the man said “my name is McKinley Morganfield, but people call me ‘Muddy Waters”. Alan asked if he wanted to record his songs, and the rest ishistory. McKinley performed a song for Alan called “I Be's Troubled”, and later recorded the same song for Aristocrat (later called Chess Records), using the title “I Can't be Satisfied”, his first hit.Bernie’s last piece was his version of another Fred McDowell tune. Again, he made a few revisions and added some verses; he has recorded an earlier version, but he performed a different version for us:I call it "Hollow Log Blues", but the full title is "I Been Drinkin' Water Out a Hollow Log".I been drinkin' water out a hollow log (twice) I can't be your kid man, I sure ain't gonna be your dog.Woke up this morning, blues lyin’ by my side (twice) My baby she done quit me, sayin' she wasn't satisfiedGood morning blues are you here to stay (twice) Said, "Look for me on the pillow where your baby she used to lay".Bernie confided, It's always a great pleasure to play for the Breakfast Club. I feel warmly welcomed and appreciated. We gave him a standing ovation, and hope we will see him again soon.

At this point in the meeting a rude and inquisitorial reporter type (strongly resemblingRick Higgins) got up to announce his dissatisfaction in the “failed Presidency” of theillustrious Hank Bazak. The deplorable flack announced a “Presidential Reeducation Course”, seated Hank in plain view of the whole Club, and introduced the instructor, Sister Mary Agnes Terese, of the Sisters of Sorrowful Pain, who said she was here to help. Sister pointed out, brandishing a large

ruler, that foranything shesaid, the response is ALWAYS, Yes Sister!

She offered many observations on Hank’s style:Timing: As president you should be here at 7:00 not 7:15, 7:45…or any other time.Dress code: That jacket makes you look like you shot your couch.Presence: You have to control the meeting! Where is your sergeant at arms? You have tocontrol the old guys- they can’t hear anything.Conduct: Are you chewing gum?Club knowledge: Did you read the presidential instruction guide? (We didn’t think so.)Timing: Don’t just ring the bell! Ending the meeting entails a lot of steps! (Presenting a list:) This is big list!At which point another rude member asked, “Is it anything like ending a skit?”The most important step, of course, is to end the meeting at exactly 930! Then we realized -Sister Agnes is taking over!She cleared a path to the podium, grabbed the microphone, and proceeded with the normal Saturday agenda! (Just like Mike Mangano is always trying to do.)

She called on Scott Sharpe for Cheer-Up- he mentioned that Dave Evans is recovering from knee surgery, that Jim Bruce’ wife Elainehas broken her hip, and that Tony Arminio has recovered so well that his hand shake is so strong that it’s dangerous. We wish them all continuedrecoveries!

Sister A., grippingthe podium, hadkept CharliePeterson stayingafter school toprepare the slate of

Club candidates for next year. He pointed out that the advisory committee included 17 pastpresidents! (Whereupon thesame rude member shouted “We have to do something about that!)

Unfazed, Charlie said the committee met last night and made the following nominations: John Booth and Tim Kelly-- Sgts at Arms; Albro Lundy, Bob Kennedy, Henry Bazak, and Ed Direnzis – Directors; Joe Graziano – Secretary; John Baskett – Treasurer; Andrew Meinzer – Vice President; and Ram Nadella – President. The Club will vote on this slate soon!

Sister then called on the Club’s own Mr. Warmth, Craig Caryl, to conduct guest introductions.

First up was Dennis Walgren, a genuine New Yorker from the Bronx. (I always thought that was a mountain range, like the Ozarks.) Dennis is a union stage hand who plays golf. CC quote: “a union guy, lots of time to goof off”. Dennis’ favorite groups are Pearl Jam and Nirvana.Next up was Robin Biggins, an Australian from Perth: a “Wonderful country”. Robin was trained as a mechanic and is a classical music fan. CC.: what kind of classical? Answer, “All of it.” And a fan of classical music boxes! CC question: Do you play with that little ballerina who spins? Then CC said something about “Devil in your midst”, (I think Craig was mixing this up with a Monty Python skit) and somehow proceeded to “Fishing in the Great Lakes” and stories about “fish that

got away.” Robin insisted, “I never let one get away.”Next victim guest was Steve Hack, a businessman originally hailing from Oak Pak, Illinois. His career involved managing doctor’soffices, and his avocation is AYSO soccer referee. CC question: what do you do WHEN SOCCER PARENTS ATTACK? Steve: “Call the cops”. How did Steve connect with the Club? “Sam Pheng sold me my wedding ring 20 plus years ago.”Next was Brian Cook of PVE. Originally from Boston, MA, he is NOT among the alt left, but is a bulwark against women breaking into the Breakfast Club! Lou Skelton brought Brian to the breakfast, but we won’t hold that against him.Finally, we welcomed Mark Meinzer of Mansfield, Ohio. Mark is retired, and spends his time with golf, biking, and fishing. His favorite band is the Eagles. His connection with the Breakfast Club apparently began some years ago, when Mark’s wife gave birth to current member Andrew Meinzer.

Finally, the meeting ended with the event we were all waiting for: a serious, cerebral, and exIstential discussion (flying in the face of 75 years of Breakfast Club tradition!!!). Deborah Palmieri presented “Understanding Russia”. Deb is a business advisor and diplomat, a graduate of Pomona College and a former assistant dean at USC, and maintains a homeher on thePeninsula. She hasstudied atLondonCollege ofEconomicsandpromotedAmericanbusinessinterests inRussia.Her credo: “study the facts and follow the money”. Cognizant of Breakfast Club tradition, she started with a few jokes: How does every Russian joke start? By looking over your shoulder. Where do Russians get milk? From Mos cows.(Many groans). I here delete her last (off-color) joke and add a Bob Hope line from 60 years ago: “They have

television in Russia, but in Russia, the television watches you.”Deb has just returned from a 3 week fact finding trip to Russia. She started her talk witha quick sketch of Russia and the USA in WW2, including Japanese subs off the U.S. West Coast, Russia’s turning the tide in the East at Stalingrad, and proceeded to Russia’scurrent economy.Deb began advocating American business cooperation with Russia as a graduate student, pointing out that - 60% of the Russian economy is not energy, but includes wheat and poultry. (And non GMO, at that!)- Russia’s National Debt is 15%b of GDP, while the US is 106% of GDP.- US rocket motor deals with Russia provide our access to the International Space Station.- Major U.S. corporation investments are taking place in Russia, with very low profile strategies.She described the “Logic of sanctions”- that Putin would be “taken down by accountants”. [This Chicago native’s comment: like Al Capone was taken down by the I.R.S.] Deb avers that sanctions are harming the USA more than Russia, and points out that sanctions are fostering enhanced Russia- China financial and military cooperation- not in the interests of the USA.And the most stupendous of Deb’s contributions to the Breakfast Club: she insisted that the recess bell be sounded at exactly 9:30! And so we did. Thanks, Deb!

Sincerely, your scribe this time,Allen Lee

Our Greeters

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