Heard this song today in a coffee shop after my morning swim. Brought back a flood of memories of Friday night in the Beer Barrel in the west end of Portland, Maine in the early 1970s. It was a small, dingy place and the gang that gathered there were mainly young workers, prone to drink and smoke (in a double sense) too much, and most of us were so clumsy socially that we could only hope to identify with the Chi-Lites’ beautiful lament – “Have you seen her” – on the juke box. That said, we bonded and had a lot of fun in that west end bar. But, oh my, the next morning did we ever suffer – hangovers and pockets emptied of our meager paychecks. Of course, that never stopped me and others from “buying the bar.” (full disclosure: a bottle of Bud was 50 cents and it was, as I said, a small place.)

On this date in 1970, four Kent State University students were shot dead and nine wounded in Kent, Ohio, by the National Guard during a protest against the Vietnam War and the newly revealed U.S. invasion of Cambodia by the Nixon government.

The four martyrs were Allison Krause, 19 years old; Sandra Lee Scheuer, 20; Jeffrey Glenn Miller, 20; and William K. Schroeder 19. (From People’s World)

Trump wins 5 primaries and looks like the nominee. Hillary wins 4 and also looks like the nominee. Time for sober thinking and unity on the part of Hillary and Bernie and their supporters. The dangers of a Trump presidency should become the main talking point of both candidates (assuming Bernie stays in the hunt).

The tributes to Prince on ESPN are coming fast and furious. Listening now to Jemele Hill and Michael Smith, co-hosts of His and Hers – great show by the way – who are celebrating his life and his music. Basketball arenas were filled with his sounds last night. Maybe everyone knows that he loved basketball. Only recently he attended a Golden State Warrior’s game. He took great delight in the play of Warrior guard Steph Curry, which isn’t surprising when you think about it. He must have seen a kindred spirit in Steph. After all, on the court, the Warrior guard is innovative, magical, rule breaking, and free flowing. Off the court, he is modest and kind. Much like …

Tonight will break out some good wine and beer and lift a glass or two or … to Prince. Might even dance a step or two, but maybe I should think a bit more about that.