Sunday, April 26, 2009

Happy Birthday Duane Eddy!

Rebel Rouser ... Cannonball ... 40 Miles of Bad Road ... Shazaam!

These are some of the signature tunes of one the true legends of the music world -- the one, the only, Duane Eddy.

The guy who invented the "twangy" guitar was born this day, April 26, 1938.

So a big "Happy birthday" to one of my guitar heroes. Here he is, playing Cannonball ...

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Queen Converts Buckingham Palace to Buckingham Bed & Breakfast


Apparently the financial crisis is hitting home in England as it is around the rest of the world. And it seems that Queen Elizabeth has found a new way to deal with the current economic difficulties facing the Royal Family.

Like governments worldwide -- and millions of individuals -- the Royal Family finds itself short of cash these days.

So effective today, Buckingham Palace is being converted to the Buckingham Bed & Breakfast. (This is a photo of Liz and Phillip's first guests, the Obamas.)

It won't be a cheap place to stay, but Liz figures there are enough people out there who would be happy to spend a few dollars (or Pounds or Euros) for the privilege of sleeping in a palace -- and sitting at the breakfast table with the Queen herself.

She'll accept all major credit cards, except American Express, because their fees are too high.

It's been well-documented by insiders for years that Elizabeth has always been a frugal royal, going so far as to sit in coach, even on overseas flights. And to save a buck on the fees, she just goes with carry-on bags only now ... and brings a sandwich from home.