JumpStart by Robb Armstrong for February 08, 2015

I wouldn’t even choose Pharrell Williams…I don’t mind him, I just wouldn’t choose him when it comes to Black History Month.

Who is Pharrell Williams?

I think the kid’s teacher is not going to be “Happy” about this.

His answer was a bit snarky maybe , but not necessarily rude. Your attempt to set him straight though did tend to lean in that direction. You got to practice what you preach.

I suspected HAPPY HAPPY.Practically Duck Dynasy.pschearer is faultless in responseReminding people that they have the power of Google at hand is good.

If I chose a black entertainer for black history month, it would be “Moms” Mabley, Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, or especially Josephine Baker. Ms. Baker was part of the French Resistance in WWII. So I would have picked her for the shear history she was involved in Pharrell Williams? Just a singer and song writer with not enough of a history or hit songs to BE history yet. Maybe later but not now.

Just “googling” won’t always get you a correct answer — when you REALLY want to know — ask a Librarian

Can anyone explain what Ponce de Leon has to do with Pharrell? I know who both are but I don’t get the connection.

Rarely do I explain my gags to people, but Pharrell is in his 40’s and looks about 23. Like Ponce , he has apparently discovered the fountain of youth.

I like the comparison of the two subjects. One has made a ton of money by producing a product in demand, created a lot of jobs in the process, and improved the lives of countless people, and the other is the American president.

I often want to instruct people to Google something if they have questions about it, but often don’t because I don’t want to come across as snarky. What to do about that quandary? Anyhow, youtube.com, as well, can be very helpful in letting us see what someone like Pharrel Williams has accomplished. For instance, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

Glad for the explanation from Robb, bizarre though it was.

You think I’m rude?! I’m actually one of the sweetest and nicest posters around. I never expected anyone to be so defensive about a little harmless irony. If you feel offended, I’m sorry, but not for what I said.

(So Williams will be 42 in April but looks 20 years younger. Good for him! But my own experience is that it will do no good to be 120 and be told “You don’t look a day over 100!”)

Thanks Robb Armstrong – normally I “get” the references but our whole family was stumped by Ponce de Leon.

Why can’t we have a white history month? W.E.T.? White preferential hiring? Because "people wouldn’t stand for it- would they? But say your oppressed, and the world becomes your oyster-at least in these parts. My great grand parents were slaves in a northern arian country and fled here to America to get away from it. They learned the language and customs and tried to blend- and they did it 40 years after our “civil war”- so it can be done. I am so sick of everyone trying to be unique- why not try just being plain, old, American?-Perhaps it could be known as the more benign “Ethnic History Month”, and focus on the positive contributions to America by the Italians, Irish, Greeks, Scandinavians, Bulgarians, Germans, Jews, Poles, Czechs, French, Spanish, Hungarians and so forth. They are numerous, not the least of which are the cuisines (YUM).

Ah, I almost fell for it. Well-played! I defer to your masterly irony.

Pity he’s never shown any leadership in six years. Thank God he can’t be elected for a third term.

Hunter7: Quite few went to Europe for a non-segregated career. The 369th New York Infantry had to fight WW-I in the French army and were given occupation duty in Germany after the War rather than coming home. Their regimental band played concerts, having a major influence of the “le jazz hot” movement in France, which, in turn, influenced the Harlem Renaissance.

“It makes sense to me that if a person has the ability to be reading comics on the internet, that person also has the ability to do a search when they come across something they want to know more about. "

THIS. All the sniffy-air-of-superiority that Tater can exude cannot change this simple truth. Fortunately for him, the incredibly-subtle “bawana” and a couple of other butthurt racists came running to bleat OBAMA BAAAAAAAAAHD at the strip, and snatched away the “Shmuck of the Day” crown.