Editor’s Note- After last month’s scathing editorial on steroids, and the accompanying incriminating photo, our regular writer has been summoned to Washington D.C. to testify before a Congressional Steroids Committee. Instead of his normal column, we present an excerpt from his latest book- a mystery which takes place in South Louisiana featuring famed Cajun detective Dollar Bill. Our apologies…From “Private Eyes in Public Places”

When I woke up Super Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn’t hurt, I was vaguely aware of a ringing in my left ear. Not the right organ of auditory that had been ringing since that unfortunate seating placement that put me next to Jimi Hendrix’s amplifier in 1968. More

Remember when you were learning the alphabet in school? You probably learned the way I did, the song; “A B C D E F G H I J K eleminnow P Q R S ....so on and so on.” Ironically there is no catchy little song to help you learn the musical alphabet. Last month I  introduced you to the musical alphabet and gave you some homework. I want to elaborate on this exercise to show you the importance of learning the neck of the guitar.

Quick review: The musical alphabet is made up of 12 notes: A, A#, B,C, C#,D,D#,E, F,F#, G, G# (#=sharp) or A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab(b=flat). The notes with sharps or flats after them are called accidentals. There are no accidentals between the notes B and C and E and F. That's pretty much all you need to know. Let's relate this to the guitar.

The guitar has six strings: E(6th), A(5th), D(4th), G(3rd), B(2nd),E(1st). Start on the 6th string, which is the thickest string. If this string is played open (not using your fretting hand on the neck) it is an E note. If you press down on the 1st fret on the 6th string, it's F, 2nd fret, F#, 3rd fret,G and so on. You should also practice this exercise with flats: Open string, E, 1st fret, F,2nd fret Gb, 3rd fret, G,4th fret,Ab and so on. Keep going until you arrive at the next E note, which is one octave higher in pitch, which is on the 12th fret. More

No one really knows where or when the custom started -- and many of us don't care! Some people trace it to the Romans, whose pagan orgies were held during the spring season. A few other places celebrate Mardi Gras, but no one does it like New Orleans -- the City that Care Forgot! 

The French in New Orleans were having private masked balls and parties in 1718. When the Spanish government took over, parties and street dancing were banned. It wasn't until 1827, when Americans were in power, that the right to party in mask was restored. During the 1850's, the city's elite and their elegant Mardi Gras parties  were quite a contrast to the wild partying and near-rioting in the streets. It was soon clear that all celebrations were in danger of facing another ban. 

In 1857, a group of men formed a secret society called the Mystick Krewe of Comus. They knew that Mardi Gras could be preserved with planning, organization, and management of the celebrations. Comus planned the first parade around a theme and used flambeauxs to light the procession. The Krewe of Rex formed in 1872 --principally to entertain the visiting Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia. 

Since America didn't have royalty to properly  welcome the Grand Duke, the men in Rex created a ‘King for the day’ so the Grand Duke could be royally received. They secretly anointed one of their own to be the King of Carnival. More

Once a year revelry and stupidity takes me over and this year was no different.    

Our crew, The Nemisis Riders lined up downtown Baton Rouge for the Spanishtown Parade and this year’s float theme was “DISCO DUCKS”. 

We were wearing colors of orange and yellow and supporting some stupid looking garments. Not as shocking as the black tights with the pink thong and feathers that I wore some years earlier, but fun all the same.

We were wearing, big orange duck feet complete with orange leggings to look like duck legs and hats that had duck eyes. We were a sight to behold.

As we waddled around the float throughout the crowds this day took on a ‘Quazy’ turn. More