Kinky Friedman, known for his satirical and often provocative style, has passed away at 79. A post on his social media announced, “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends.
Kinkster endured tremendous pain & unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit.
Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”
Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman earned a cult following for his unique take on country and Western music.
He released numerous albums, starting with “Sold American” in 1973, a record that laid the foundation for his career.
Known as the “governor of the heart of Texas,” he even toured with Bob Dylan during the “Rolling Thunder Revue” and made history as the “first full-blooded Jew” to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Apart from his musical endeavors, Friedman was a prolific writer. He wrote detective novels and contributed as a columnist for Texas Monthly.
He also ventured into politics, running for Governor of Texas in 2006 with the campaign slogan “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy,” securing 12.6 percent of the votes among six candidates.
Born in Chicago and raised in Texas, Friedman studied psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.
His passion for music led him to form King Arthur & the Carrots and later Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys. He described the latter as a “country band with a social conscience, a demented love child of Lenny Bruce and Bob Wills.”
Reflecting on his life, Friedman once wrote, “Somewhere in heaven, I’m sure there’s a quiet corner with a big easy chair, a bright floor lamp, a big stack of biographical books, and a few old dogs wagging their tails to the faint smell of cigar smoke.”
You Won’t Believe What These Old Items Are!
Have you ever stumbled upon an old object and wondered what it was used for? It’s fascinating how antiques remind us of how much things have changed over the years. Some everyday items from the past are now completely irrelevant, while others have evolved dramatically. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and test your knowledge of these 18 old items. Don’t worry, they aren’t too tricky! See how many you can correctly identify and share your score in the comments below.
Let’s start with an easier one. Can you guess what this item was used for? If you guessed a coffee grinder, then you are absolutely right! Back in the day, coffee beans were sold whole, and you had to hand crank them before brewing your morning cup of joe. Imagine the effort required before even having your first sip of coffee!
This next item is still used today, but it has definitely changed over time. Can you guess what it is? If you said a vacuum cleaner, you are correct! The vacuum model pictured here is called the Baby Daisy. It was designed in France and dates back to 1910. The Baby Daisy was a manually-powered vacuum that required two people to operate it. One person would stand on the base of the vacuum, moving it back and forth using a broomstick in the holder, while the second person would do the actual vacuuming with the hose. It’s a good thing vacuum cleaners have come a long way!
Let’s head back to the kitchen for the next item. Take a good look at the photo below. Any guesses? If you guessed a toaster, you are right! Toasters as we know them today began to appear when Albert Marsh developed a safe heating element in the early 20th century. Before that, people used to toast their bread over a fire! And here’s a hint, this item goes well with the coffee grinder from item one.
This old item may not be as common in kitchens today, but it’s still used by bakers. Can you guess what it is? If you said a flour sifter, you are correct! Running flour through a sifter helps aerate it, making it lighter and easier to mix. Perfect for making bread to go with your toasted slices!
Take a look at this simple item. Can you guess its purpose? This is a boot scraper! It was used to scrape off the excess mud and dirt from the bottom of your shoes before entering a home. No one likes a messy floor!
Last but not least, can you identify this item? If you guessed an ice cream maker, you are right on the money! This old-fashioned ice cream maker used a hand crank and two bowls. One small bowl contained the delicious ingredients while a second, bigger bowl was filled with rock salt and ice. The rock salt allowed the ice to absorb the heat from the ingredients, creating a creamy, frozen treat. Yum!
Leave a Reply