The Wrecking Crew Finally Is Recognized

​Those of us of a certain age grew up listening to the greatest music ever to have been played and enjoyed by so many. We could not believe that we were privy to some of the best musicians ever to grace the varied genres of the art ever.

But we were wrong.

Other than the Beatles and Rolling Stones, and perhaps a few others, the music credited to the front men and women of those great songs was actually played by the same unknown men and women with the credit they truly deserved. And did not get until much later.

We all know that the Monkees were a result of actors playing musicians in a television show. Certainly, they could all sing, even write some of their own songs. And perhaps, over time, they learned to play the instruments they pretended to play each week for several years.

Instead, the music was played by a group of session musicians aptly named, The Wrecking Crew. They were all accomplished musicians which played on the records of not only the Monkees, but also on some of the greatest artists of the 60s and 70s.

You would be surprised to learn that they were the music we enjoyed credited to the Beach Boys, the Carpenters, the Tijuana Brass, the Association, both Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis, the Mamas and Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, the Ronettes, Sonny and Cher, the Shirelles, Ricky Nelson, Jackson Five, Michael Jackson, and countless others. There was no harm to these musicians as they were paid very well for their talents, although they did not get the recognition or credit they deserved at the time.

Key members included drummer Hal Blaine, guitarist Tommy Todesco, bassist Carol Kaye and keyboardist Leon Russell. Other members included Plas Jackson, Glen Campbell, Bill Pitman, Steve Douglas and Lew McCreary.

Producers like Herb Alpert, Lou Adler, Phil Spector, Richard Carpenter, Brian Wilson, Lionel Ritchie, Jerry Moss, Quincy Jones and Todd Rundgren used the same Wrecking Crew members consistently.

And when you watch the TV shows of the time, the theme songs of Bonanza, The Dating Game, Batman, The Monkees, MASH,  Get Smart, Hawaii 5-0, Green Acres, Mission:Impossible, and Twilight Zone feature their music. The same is found in the movies like The Pink Panther, Viva Las Vegas,  Midnight Cowboy, Romeo and Juliet, A Little Less Conversation,  MASH (again) and many others.

So when you listen to the 60s; 70s and even 80s music, and the varied styles of music being played, remember that these were the men and women who created some of the best music ever. And while the credit was given to those who fronted that music, they never would have been noticed or succeeded without those people who backed them. 

There was a little-remembered documentary called The Wrecking Crew which was released in 2008 with some of the many members of legendary Wrecking Crew who reminenced with us giving their perspectives of the time they lived, and played, with fondness of their experiences. It is an enjoyable discovery of how we all enjoyed the greatest music of our time.

It was a well-worth one hundred one minutes which brought back how wonderful that music really was. And it was done before it had even begun.

Take the time to watch it on Netflix or Tubi and learn how it all was produced. For so many generations to enjoy.

An Alternative Guide For Spring Break 2026

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As you consider your Spring Break destination this year, it might be wise if you cross Acapulco and Cancun off your desired dream spots. It has become increasingly risky to take that trip “south of the border, down Mexico way.”

It would be in your best interest to find a place you always wanted to see, right here in the good old USA.

Travellers have begun canceling their spring break plans to Mexico after cartel violence engulfed Puerto Vallarta following the killing of the country’s most brutal drug lord “El Mencho” last weekend, according to a top travel security expert.

The violence could even impact the World Cup this summer, with games scheduled for Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, and the home base of El Mencho’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), William Ruiz, Senior Security Manager for Latin America at International SOS.

“My advice is if the spring break destination is in those affected areas, and they already have the tickets purchased, they should strongly reconsider the travel plan for now, until officially informed that the security environment has improved significantly,” Ruiz said.

Sounds pretty reasonable. Yes? Perhaps this would be a good year to visit spot closer to your home. A place where you don’t need expensive airline tickets or immunizations.

There is so much to see all across this beautiful country of ours. Some examples include Historical Williamsburg, our newly safe Nation’s Capital, Pennsylvania Dutch Country in Lancaster, PA, the Alamo, the Grand Canyon, or even the Disney Parks in California and Florida.

If you are looking for a more wintry view, think about the snow-filled Northeast. Nature even filled in many of those locations this past weekend.

The point is to keep your family and yourself safe this season. So much better for your wallet and your peace of mind, for sure.

And you help to keep our economy in a much more robust chance to continue its rebound from the last few years of decline. Why give your hard-earned dollars to businesses who don’t really care about you, when you can help grow American businesses!

These are all valid points to consider as you plan to get a few days away from your winter doldrums. And stay safe in the process.

And soon enough, you will be looking forward to planning for that hard-earned summer vacay. With a few extra bucks in your pocket.

Have a goad, fun and SAFE Spring Break, My Friends!

A Testament to Champions

Forty-six years. Almost a half century. So many things to consider with numbers of years between events of history.

For example, it was forty-four years which elapsed between Stanley Cup championships for the New York Rangers. And they are well on the way (thirty-two years) to make that number again.

Or forty years, since the New York Mets, with all their pitching history, won the World Series.

Or, forty-seven years since Iran celebrated real freedom, without the dictatorial rule of criminals, who have no problem killing the people who protest for their freedom from bullies who dress up in robes and pretend to worship God.

How about the years many of us lived through the forty-five years of the Cold War, from the end of World War II, until the Soviet Union took its last breath on Christmas Day in 1991. 

All long times, yes?

Well, this period of years is recognized and celebrated again today. It has been forty-six years since the USA last won a Gold Medal in Men's Olympic Hockey. To the day, or at least to the days. And the USA Women's team joined in the celebration by winning the Gold Medal in THEIR event two days earlier!

Neither these women or men were gleams in their parents' eyes when the USA last won the gold. In fact, some of their parents may not have been born yet either. It was so long ago.

But now, the Women showed the Men how to do it, and both teams are destined to live in History. Because of one magical week in February, 2026. 

And it is a good feeling to write something positive of a time which spans years, decades, even an almost half century to celebrate happiness for today's men and women destined to be our future. Maybe not tomorrow, but certainly within the next forty-six years.

Continue with your upward climb to succeed in all you do for the betterment of all yet to come. And may your next forty-six years be better than what came before.

A Girl Who Found Her Joy and Wants to Have Fun

So many of us are always searching for the joy in our lives and find it a struggle to achieve. Sadly, so many of of us fail.

We were witness on Thursday, February 19, 2026, when we saw Joy unrevealed to us in the person of twenty-year-old Alysa Liu, when she skated in Milan with abandon, not caring if she won her routine. She only wanted to have fun, as most real girls always want.

And she succeeded to her most "funnest" way: she skated with abandon and won the Gold Medal in the process 

Her goal was to go out to the ice to have fun, not caring if she won. She said this many times before she competed. And she did.

Her face and demeanor revealed it when she went out there; not caring what the audience, and the world, thought. She was not nervous or tense, as other skaters appeared. She smiled a joyful smile, relaxed in her approach, skating like it was only fun for which she was searching.

And for seven or so minutes, it was only her and the ice, along with Donna Summer's version of MacArthur Park which mattered to her. It showed as she was flawless, joyfully skating to HER routine, in HER costume of choice, after she came back from an early retirement following her performance after the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Her story actually begins in 1989, before she was even born, when her father left for the United States, following his escape from the People's Republic, due to his involvement in the Tianneman Square uprising and protest. But she learned early on that it was America which gave her the opportunity to freely achieve all she wanted. Without government interference.

She showed her inner joy as she wrapped herself in the American flag afterward, sharing her joy with teammates and competitors alike. That joy seeped into all who came into contact with her in the arena that night. Without jealously or bitterness. Only with a similar joy they felt from her to all of them.

Some have criticized her hair, her costume choice, her music, all to no concern by her. She doesn't care; she is only out to have fun. And Joy.

So, thank you, Alysa, for showing us all how to find our Joy, as you have found yours. And Girl, you continue to have Fun!

The Anomoly of February Weather

Once again, Mother Nature has decided to show us that She will decide the next few days of weather across the country and laughs at the "experts" that climate change is the cause. 

Of course, we can all agree that the earth has warmed globally by ONE WHOLE DEGREE since the late nineteenth century; however, if you recall, the earth also experienced a mini-ice age for the previous four hundred or so years. It proves weather is cyclical.

Nevertheless, this weekend will show us who is in charge: the climatologists or Mother Nature!

Yes, in central Florida, it will be sunny, with a mid-February humidity of 55% to 60%, with a minimal chance for rain and a temperature in the mid 80s. Conversely, New York, Long Island and other parts of the Northeast will be subject to a Blizzard Warning, with temperatures in the 20s and maybe the low 30s, with snow accumulations projected from 10 to 24 inches. Or maybe even more.

But, that is February in the winter. Not climate change.

And surprisingly, it is the way Mother Nature heals the earth. The Long Island region is presently experiencing a bit of a drought as the area heads toward its spring growing season. Getting two feet of snow in one wallop will result in approximately four inches of needed water. This will make a huge impact on a drought.

So, for those of you in the Northeast, sit back and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature's last vestiges of winter as the snow falls across the lawns and roads to bring her beauty to the fore. And for the kids who enjoyed the February mid-winter break, you will probably get a bonus day to extend the break, as schools will be closed for at least one more day. If not more.

Soon enough, March will arrive with its own weather anomolies, leaving this weekend snowstorm as a fond memory. And then suddenly, Spring and Summer will be upon us once again.

Just stay safe as Mother Nature shows us all who really is in charge.

The Short-Term Stop Sign On Tariffs

Today, the Supreme Court put up a stop sign on the Trump Tariffs. It was not unexpected by anyone,  including President Trump, who understood the concept of separation of powers as defined by the Constitution.

In fact, the stock markets reacted as if the decision was expected with the ho-hum reaction it received, by not reacting with an explosive buy or sell-off to panic anyone.

DUMBOCRATS, like Hiccup Jeffries and Schmuck Schumer are celebrating the decision as a victory in their opposition to Trump, while not recognizing that he has other options to continue his current focus to drive forward the American economy 

However... Democrats are not seeing an even bigger picture. The opinion gives relief ONLY to companies who filed as plaintiffs in the original suit. 

We all know that Presidents from both parties in the past have utilized tariffs to offset costs by other nations as we import those foreign goods. By Trump utilizing these tariffs, he was able to negotiate better trading outcomes which which had been previously penalizing American consumers.

Now, the Trump Administration and the Congress, with this ruling, will need to find a "middle ground" in order to continue the application of the tariffs. It does ONLY limit the extension of Executive power.

And ironically, while the Democrat left may be celebrating the ruling today because, in the short term it short-stops President Trump's agenda which they despise, ultimately, today's ruling also prevents a future DEMOCRAT President from utilizing tariffs without CONGRESSIONAL consent, as well. So, celebrations may not be a good image for Democrats to take.

Surely, by no means, is the discussion closed. Anyone with any intelligence can see this. In the end, a compromise will be forthcoming which will give guidance to handle tariffs in the future.

And whether it is later today, or next week when President Trump delivers his State of the Union address, you know he will have a lot to say.

Be ready for it.

Why Christians Celebrate Lent

​Today is Ash Wednesday, a day which commences the Lenten season in many Christian faiths. Each denomination interprets how it follows the  next forty days until Holy Thursday, which was the night of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples on the night before Passover.

During this time, Christians will sacrifice a pleasure one enjoys, whether it is meat, ice cream, a sweet, etc (fast), give alms, pray, and are reminded that Jesus did the same for us before He died.

Certainly, there is nothing any of us could do to achieve what was done for us by Him. But it is a worthy gesture of remembrance which we offer in His name to each other.

This period of reflection is not unheard by Jews or Muslims either. The forty-day Jewish period of reflection is dedicated to introspection, repentance (teshuvah), and reconciliation, honoring the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai seeking forgiveness for the Golden Calf.

The number forty holds significant spiritual weight in Islam, often representing a period of transition, purification and transformation. While specific rituals for a forty-day period are frequently cultural rather than strictly mandated by the Qur'an or Sunnah, several practices and beliefs revolve around this timeframe.

Forty is a highly significant, symbolic number in several religions besides the Abrahamic faiths. Hinduism, Zoroastorism and others also recognize this measure of time as it is generally representing a period of testing, trial, probation, or transformation. It often signifies a necessary transition, such as the forty days or years required for purification or preparing for a new beginning. 

While these periods may fall at other times in the calendar for the many faiths which exist in our human lives, it is important to remember that is a human construct to dedicate time for reflection. 

In Christendom, this period ends with a remembrance of the Crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, and celebration of His Resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday. 

So, as we begin the Lenten season, we should reflect on how we can be a better person during the next year, being kinder to others less fortunate, and how we can dedicate ourselves to goals which may seem out of reach, but can be achieved with some extra effort. It really is not all that difficult.

After all... as many people seem to say as they challenge us, "What would Jesus do?"