Billy Eckstine: The Rise and Fall of Billy Eckstine ~ by Gary Ginell

Billy Eckstine (1994-1993)

Billy Eckstine: The Rise and Fall of the Fabulous Mr. B
[... all due to an innocent LIFE magazine photo ! ]
By Gary Ginell
[ Excerpted from  ARSC - Academic Journal Article ]

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In 1950, Billy Eckstine was one of the most famous singers in the world. Screaming teenagers swooned to his sold-out performances in overcrowded concert halls, he was married to a beautiful socialite, had a spacious home in a fashionable Los Angeles suburb, and was looking forward to a career in motion pictures and television. But a controversial photograph published in a Life magazine profile halted the momentum of his career right at its peak. There are those who believe that although Eckstine was successful, he never reached his potential, and played out the rest of his career as a Las Vegas lounge singer.

 

The Geography-Challenged Americans ~ by Hénock Gugsa

The Geography-Challenged Americans 

~ by Hénock Gugsa ~

Hénock Gugsa : ===> I know exactly to what this relates. When I returned to Ethiopia after my one year in New York State (at East Rochester), I had a hard time explaining that I was not in NYC all that time ! 🤠 😃   
Pat K : ===>  Hénock, I have to explain that all the time and I just live in Ohio! 
Hénock Gugsa : ===> Pat, what is more amazing is the confidence and conviction behind such wrong ideas or conceptions. In the same vein, people have been known to confuse countries with continents.  I think it is all due to a deficiency of schools that ignore or exclude "Geography" from their curricula. 
I have a funny but true anecdote* about a Nigerian student in Rochester many years ago. He had gone to a X-MAS party, and while there he was being introduced around to the other guests. So, an affluent elderly lady who happened to be quite well-traveled asked the student what country he was from. 
He politely answered, "I'm from Nigeria."
The old lady stiffened up as she fixed her unwavering eyes on him.  She clearly was struggling to conceal her indignation as she cleared her throat and said aloud, "You mean Algeria, don't you, young man?"
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 *  The story was told to me by my dear "Aunt" Caroline Branch, who along with her husband,  "Uncle" John, were my sponsors and dear benefactors.