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Home , Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Monty Python, Pythonesque (play), Terry Jones

4C • The Daily Sentinel • Sunday, January 26, 2020 DailySentinel.com IN MEMORIAM , a very naughty boy, a Python like no other

BY CHRIS JONES Jones, of course, had a famous Tribune fondness for appearing in , which included playing Brian’s The Pythons — the living ones, mother, Mandy Cohen, in “Life of anyway — can be funny about Brian,” hence the famous mater- death. The point of this column is nal line, “He’s not the . to say surrealists like these guys He’s a very naughty boy.” should be funny about death. In the 1960s, of course, Jones Some of us could use the help. played a succession of female “Two down, four to go,” tweeted authority figures on the BBC’s Wednesday, react- “’s Flying Circus,” ing with affection to the death many withering in their potency. of Terry Jones, maybe the least He did so with a confidence atyp- of the Monty Python ical for the era, even in the world team, maybe the most. of the Pythons. And somehow Cleese’s kicker, referencing the when Jones appeared in a sketch death of way you didn’t so much think funny as back in 1989, was consistent with surrealistic. a man who has in his pro- Jones was their reason they file, “Yes, I am still alive, contrary were not just another all-male to rumor.” comedy troop of upper-class “HE WAS A VERY NAUGHTY Oxbridge graduates who had used BOY!!” Tweeted , their intellect for silliness. Jones “and we miss you. Terry (Jones) was, even in the early days, par- was someone totally consumed taking of a transgressive artistic with life ... a brilliant, constantly movement, which is the reason questioning, iconoclastic, righ- why the Pythons, a strange and teously argumentative and angry AP file photo eclectic bunch, remain so beloved. but outrageously funny and In this Oct. 15, 2009, file photo from left, actors , John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and All the Pythons have to die, generous and kind human being ... attend the IFC and BAFTA premiere of “Monty Python: Almost The Truth (The Lawyers Cut),” in New . Terry Jones, a of course. We all do. But when a and very often a complete pain in member of the Monty Python , died this week at 77. person has , like Jones, the ass. One could never hope for it becomes harder to plan your a better friend.” the most iconoclastic. He never same day as Jesus Christ and he and the other Pythons were own death. Your own narrative Eric Idle, a man usually known allowed himself to be trapped in right next door. If you weren’t also using the core story as a has changed and old stories and for looking on the bright side of one genre, any single perception. around in 1979, it’s hard to imag- way to satirize a whole bunch of legacies are in process of slipping life, said that Jones’ death, follow- He could slip away. ine the indignation and outrage other things, from trade unions away. Quietness, blissfully, takes ing a lifetime of making people Jones wrote children’s books. that greeted the release of the to armchair progressives. Most of over. laugh, was “too sad if you knew He penned op ed articles. He , even if the campaigns of that went over my head in 1979, But I hope Cleese, Idle and the him.” But if you didn’t? “You will wrote about . He contemporaneous moralists like but I quickly figured out that this rest of them go out kicking and always smile.” came up with all manner of TV Mary Whitehouse only resulted was a crack in British religious grinning — after about fifty more Idle’s emotion, expressed with shows from fictions to documen- in more publicity. Still, numerous orthodoxy, that the Pythons years, of course. his typical concision, clearly taries. Michael Palin was correct local authorities in Britain out- were pushing the boulders as far , their contempo- flowed from the diagnosis of Wednesday when he called Jones right banned the film. I remember as they could be pushed and it rary, treated his exit as a spectacu- dementia that Jones received in on his Facebook page a “Renais- vividly walking past picketing behooved any interested parties lar piece of performance art that. 2015. This had been, then, a slow sance ,” by which I think nuns when I defied my parents to jump with them into the hole. Once we eventually figured out goodbye, achingly familiar to any he meant that Jones used com- and went into the cinema to see The Pythons had other perceived what he was doing, it struck many family, be it of blood or not, who edy as a kind of creative entree, the film — which was, of course, peaks but it was “Life of Brian” of us as perhaps the greatest way has been afflicted with that hor- not just into different forms, but strikingly sweet and generous in that put them at the top of the to die, ever. Bowie was retiring ror. The Pythons were all about genres. Ideas, too. And activism. tone, not unlike Jones himself. BBC News. a character and also leaving us the quickness of their minds, and Jones directed , including, In “Life of Brian,” Jones was And that, primarily, was Jones’ himself. one of their number had been brilliantly, “Monty Python’s Life satirizing religion and poking fun doing. People were so busy being Jones had a similarly broad losing his. Especially cruel, given of Brian,” a 1979 film about a guy at the irrationality of many of outraged they did not see the qual- range of guises. Just a different that of all the Pythons, Jones was who happened to be born on the his beliefs and assumptions, but ity of the direction. final exit, influence intact.

ON GARDENING Borgman » From 1C Maybe no one gave me way to know. this bug. Maybe I gave it to But that doesn’t mean I’ll The year of the lantana, a myself-inhaled at the wrong stop wondering. Or compil- time, rubbed my eyes with ing suspects. some microbe on my finger- Lori Borgman is a colum- tips or yawned wide when a nist, author and speaker. Her germ caught a ride on an air new book, “What Happens at lusciousBY NORMAN WINTER group of colors current and sailed my way. Grandma’s Stays at Grand- Tribune News Service The truth is there’s no ma’s” is now available. Hats off to the National Garden Bureau for designat- ing 2020 as the year of the lantana. If you are looking for a flower that gives vibrant color from late spring through frost, then the lantana is probably the plant » From 1C for you. This does come with a WARNING. You will most likely have tigers, zebras and some flashy ladies Calendarabused and neglected children cards, tax papers, bank routing hanging around your garden all growing season. through the court system. information and a copy of last The passion for pollinators is skyrocketing and you 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fredonia year’s tax return. 9 a.m. to noon can hardly do better than lantana. My suggestion Hotel and Convention Center, Mondays. Free. 1112 North St. would be to pair it with salvia the 2019 Plant of the Year 200 N. Fredonia St. www. and you’ll want to invite the neighbors over to not just casaofdet.com. Monday, Feb. 3 see the beauty, but to experience the Serengeti-like Adult learn-to-make: activity in the garden. Saturday, Feb. 1 Nacogdoches Public Library hosts a The lantana is related to the verbena and, in fact, has Tiny Food Party: The public session on “Lean to Make Cheese” a common name of shrub verbena; in the last decade, library presents session focusing as part of its adult learn-to-make the number of varieties has exploded. The Garden Guy on making and eating tiny series. 5:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up likes bold colors but you may want those a little more burgers, cakes, sushi, donuts only. Free, but registration required. subdued. and more. 1:30 p.m. Free, but 1112 North St. 936-559-2970. The Garden Guy likes those 24 to 30-inches in height registration required. 1112 North www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/library. with an equal width especially since I will be combin- St. 936-559-2070. ing with Rockin salvias, Blue Boa Agastache and Ver- Tuesday, Feb. 4 millionaire cuphea. My son, on the other hand, works Monday, Feb. 3-April 6 CW dance lessons: VFW Post with varieties that require a small chainsaw or hedge Tax help Mondays: Trained 1836 in Lufkin hosts country trimmer and that’s ok, too. volunteers from AARP offer free western dance lessons every Today’s newer varieties have been selected for tax preparation and electronic Tuesday, no partners required. non-stop blooming vibrant colors that will make your filing for individuals and families 7 p.m. beginners, 8 p.m. landscape look like Carnival in Rio. I haven’t planted Norman Winter/TNS of all income levels on Mondays advanced. $10 per session per lantanas at my home and I can hardly wait for spring. This Luscious Marmalade lantana was lunch for this at the public library except March person. 1800 Ford Chapel Road, There is, no telling what varieties your favorite garden American Lady butterfly. 16. Bring photo ID, social security Lufkin. center will have on the shelf. Most of the country grow lantana as annuals while zones 9 and warmer may blooming to occur. While they aren’t finicky on soil, choose to let them become perennials. Their incredibly I seem to always have clay. Therefore, I like to incor- long season of bloom makes them at the top of the list porate a little organic matter to help with not only of value for your garden dollar. drainage but good root expansion for the new plants. Keep your eyes open for the Luscious series coming Plan on spacing your pants 2- to 3-feet apart depending » From 4C from Proven Winners. This group that boasts 10 colors on your variety. GardenAn orientation will kick Master gardeners are ex- has garnered an unbelievable 231 awards from trial Throughout the season don’t be afraid to prune a off the program at 1 p.m. pected to complete 50 hours gardens throughout the country. This year’s new Lus- little as needed to maintain size or shape or to stimu- Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Na- of community volunteer cious Goldengate has already won 22 awards. late new growth and more blooms especially during cogdoches County Exten- service such as answer- The Garden Guy is going bold and can hardly wait to the August blitz of heat. Fertilizing is no big deal with sion Office, 203 W. Main St. ing gardening questions, get the iridescent orange Marmalade, the Berry Blend lantanas but they do respond with a light application Most classes will be held on speaking to local garden featuring shades of fuchsia with red and yellow, and as a little pick me up in mid-summer. Those in contain- Tuesdays and Thursdays, clubs, working with youth Citrus Blend a shocking red, orange and yellow. These ers being watered daily need regular fertilization. and training will end in late and assisting in the demon- will go in the backyard with an assortment of salvias As a pollinator lover, here is a hearty thank you to April. The course is taught stration garden. including this year’s new Rockin Blue Suede Shoes. the National Garden Bureau for making 2020 “The by Texas AgriLife Extension To apply and for more Besides the ability to withstand torrid heat, and a Year of the Lantana” and from this growing season specialists and local experts. information, contact Master wide variety of soil conditions the lantana seems to be onward may we always include them in the landscape. A fee of $100 per garden- Gardener John Anson by a real favorite of both butterflies and hummingbirds. Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and er includes a copy of the email at ansonjohn14@ It’s not uncommon to go to a garden center that has author of, “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and Texas Master Gardener gmail.com or call the Nacog- several lantanas and get the feeling you are on a Na- “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Handbook and access to doches County Extension tional Geographic photographic shoot. Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinter- online training modules. office at 936-560-7711. Remember sunlight is a key ingredient for the real TheGardenGuy.

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