Published: May 15, 2008 12:19 am            

Spider drawn into long standing Neil Young-Lynyrd Skynyrd feud

You may have heard that Jason Bond, a biologist at East Carolina University, has named a newly discovered species of a trapdoor spider after rock star Neil Young.

Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi was so named, according to Bond, because of Young's long track record as an activist on environmental, social and political issues.

But, being the kind of conspiracy theorist that I can be, I have to wonder if there isn't "more to the picture than meets the eye," as Neil sings in "My, My, Hey, Hey (Out of the Blue)."

Because you see, the species of trapdoor spider Bond named after Young is indigenous to Alabama!

Ha!

We're all familiar with the reference to Neil Young in 1974's "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd:



Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her,

Well, I heard ole Neil put her down,

Well, I hope Neil Young will remember,

A Southern man don't need him around anyhow



Johnny Van Zant still ceremoniously flips off Neil Young after he sings that part of the song in concerts today. The original band didn't like Young's songs "Alabama" and "Southern Man." So it was a response record of sorts.

I think the Alabama trapdoor spider being named for Neil is a response to the response, particularly since Bond was quoted by the Associated Press saying: "I’ve got about 30 new species of trapdoor spiders from California that I have in the queue to put names to and I’ve got a few people in mind.’’



What a thrill for

Michael Jackson



And, it's that time of year again when the Library of Congress preserves recordings for their cultural significance.

A total of 25 selections were added to the National Recording Registry Wednesday.

This year's inductees include: Michael Jackson’s ‘‘Thriller’’ album from 1982; jazz artist Herbie Hancock’s ‘‘Headhunters’’ from 1973; the 1977 record of Earth sounds that flew aboard the spacecraft Voyager; recordings by Roy Orbison, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Kitty Wells and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; a collection of Navajo songs; President Harry Truman’s 1948 Democratic National Convention speech; and the original cast recording of ‘‘My Fair Lady.’’

See the Library of Congress National Recording Registry Web site: http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/.

        

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