THURSDAY---Another Edition of....

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

Nobody Asked Me But:

1) I am certainly hoping that people still love radio as much as I do and support the program(s) on WFDU for the eclecticism and the listener friendliness in our annual fund raising drive.

2) Some people, when you say “...I read this in the NY Times...” respond in an ever so prideful manner “..I NEVER read THAT paper”. Seems that openmindedness is not a very wide spread trait.

3) The Times reports that there is a uptick in heart attacks during Super Bowl (or other big event) days. Glad I never felt the need to care about athletic outcomes since the main outcome is obscene rewards for athletes that create tension and---as follows---heart attacks for those who care so much.

4) Why is it that Saturday Night Live lives on as it becomes less and less clever and MadTV is gone when it was getting better and better?

5) Have you ever noticed how your perception of yourself in other people’s eyes is not the perception they have---and, probably, the same is true in reverse---your perception of them is not what they perceive themselves to be?

6) I am hoping that someone someday will produce something that will put Phil Ochs into the category and importance that Bob Dylan has acquired. Might that be because he outlived him?

7) It was nice to see my feelings about “The Blind Side” agreed with by a critic on NPR----all that cloying “schmaltz” must have been bad for the cholesterol levels.

8) Whatever happened to less being better and making things more appreciated---think Kids, TV, and all the instant gratification we get from the Internet and its sites? That is the more part and is it better?

9) When your neighbor sells his house should one be happy because he was a bad neighbor or worry the next one might be worse? I’ll stick with “happy” and tell them “come on the lawn”.

10) With NYC (and other areas) gentrifying what happens to the poor people being priced out of even the most humble abodes---that now rent/sell in prices that are in the stratosphere?

11) Should I dress up to watch The Oscar ceremonies in front of my TV set since they are selling tickets (for hefty prices) to see them in a movie theater along with overpriced cocktails.

12) Does having the ceremony in a theater make it interactive---sort of like Purple Rose of Cairo where the actors step out of the screen to chat with you?

13) It is a delight to be able to say---Happy 90th Birthday to a musical icon---OSCAR BRAND

An Interesting Rarity

Many of you who are listeners to TRADITIONS know of my thoughts and feelings about Phil Ochs. You may also have picked up on my feelings about him vis a vis Bob Dylan. What follows is a clip from You Tube (we live in an amazing techno world now) that I hope you will enjoy and then go to You Tube to read the story behind the clip. More after you view this----


Yes, that was John Lennon and after discovering this clip I really wanted you all to see this as well. After you go to You Tube you can read the history of it---but do not read the comments since most are inaccurate regarding Dylan / Ochs. The story is quite different and I have the tape where Phil states his version of events.

Suffice it to say Phil left us too soon and may well, in my opinion, be on an equal--if not higher--footing than The Bob---Kennedy Center honors included.

Take a peek now at THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER and see some other great entertainers of importance in our musical history and also ones that I have had the pleasure---no ==honor --of presenting on SUNDAY SIMCHA and TRADITIONS.

Once again I urge you to send me any names of people you want a focus on for either of those programs and I shall surely get on it even when our many guests are scheduled to appear. There is room for everybody---well, let's avoid the Grammy Winners in the main categories and stick to those that the Grammys do not feel worthy of TV coverage---after all when you go to WFDU you are on the " Right place on the LEFT Side of the dial". Love that slogan---and love the thought it conveys and one of our very early guests did as well by her intonation of it in our ID---Ronnie Gilbert.

Since we have spoken of YouTube and this Blogspot (which is owned by Google) I would like to recommend a book to you that truly puts this brave new techno world into perspective---GOOGLED by Ken Auletta. Trust me---long but you will not put it down. And, if you are of a certain age, you will see how far we have come from the days of 7 TV channels that needed a roof antenna to hundreds of channels on cable and satellite that have little on them and how interactivity via the internet is replacing all this. You reading this now---you prove it.

THURSDAY --_Another Edition of........

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

Nobody Asked Me But:

1) WFDU still has not offered 30 Million to get me off the station. To paraphrase Sally Field on her Oscar award---“...they like me”. Damn.

2) It is a truism that technology advances used to take decades and now they seem to take nano-seconds. Google achieved more in 5 years than Microsoft did in over 10 and IBM and Xerox wanted to forget all about it. Guess they thought typewriters and photo=copy machines were the end.

3) What a loss was having Kate McGarrigle leave us at a fairly young age. So many Kates gone too soon---let us hope Kate Campbell sticks around for a very long time.

4) Why do some people think it is immoral for a homeowner to walk away from an “underwater” home (mortgage) and not think of the predatory banking industry and its wheeling and dealing in those same issues?

5) Did not Tishman/Speyer do the same thing after failing to raise rents high enough to support their gamble on the NYC investments? They did, legally, to their backers the same thing dear old Bernie did illegally since they had a property.

6) When did corporations get vocal chords so that they could enjoy “freedom of speech”. The Supreme Court thought that they---artificial entities for commercial purposes—did. Why does it take the eldest of the group to demur and realize they are not people?

7) Cell phones are ubiquitous and I have to wonder why people cannot ---teenagers, adults, et al; manage to walk, shop, and drive without constant contact and conversation. As to danger---no more need be said there.

8) Laurel & Hardy and their humor stand up after all these years and, thankfully, one can view them on TCM at times

9) I surely do hope that the multitudes who view this blog will support both TRADITIONS & SUNDAY SIMCHA during the annual WFDU fundraising month---which, unlike others, is an annual and not a monthly, bi-weekly, or eternal experience. It is the price of a truly eclectic and non-commercial station that offers talk, music, and variety in a non confrontational vein. Also we don’t puncture any of your veins to draw out a pledge---we trust you ---as Sally Field said—above---“....you like me”.

10) I am happy to report that the Met. Museum believes they can repair the tear in the over 100 year old Picasso painting---as they said “...it was not in a focal point”---looks like the “tush” will be intact---Hallelujah. Thank heaven for such important things.

11) After reading the Radiation Therapy pieces in the NY Times it has really dawned on me not to put so much faith in the wonderful tech advancements; especially since it involves even more people to run them and human error is all too prevalent.

FUNDRAISING FEBRUARY UPDATE

To bring you an update on some of the artists and recording labels that have generously donated their talents and works to TRADITIONS here is a listing of just a few of them---more to follow. Please look below (to the earlier post) to see the pledge schedule for CDs---though, my guess is that many of you will just want to support the program and the station and this gift is just our way of saying thanks to you---and, of course, the artists who support the program doing said same thing---pictures and links to the artists follow:

APPLESEED RECORDINGS



DAN BERGGREN
COSY SHERIDAN

In addition to these amazing artists---

Buskin & Batteau


In addition to all these there will be many more; including the likes of Joe Jencks, Evy Goldberg, Kim & Reggie Harris, The Capitol Steps, John Jacob Niles (for the real aficionado), Mara Levine, Wolf Krakowski, and---you know---the famous many others.

The schedule is below and the CDs are pre-packaged so you would receive a single or a variety in that package; depending on the pledge amount---and let the surprises await you when you open your package.

As mentioned earlier---feel free to e mail me at wfdutraditions@yahoo.com with a pledge---if you want the Pete Seeger gift I would urge you to do that.

The bottom line---as the expression goes---is you are supporting a program you feel a homeplace on Sundays and a station that still maintains its belief in bringing eclectic programming to you---programming that the commercial stations and, surely, some non-commercial stations have abandoned quite a while ago.

AN OFFER YOU CAN'T (hopefully) REFUSE

If you checked the playlist page you were re-directed to come here to see some of the premiums that will be offered for SUNDAY SIMCHA during our fund-raising time in February---the only time in the year we come to you to ask for much needed support for the station and also to support the programming you want on the airwaves.

While we will have premiums for both programs---SUNDAY SIMCHA & TRADITIONS this posting will list only the ones for SUNDAY SIMCHA along with the guidelines for them:

1) A pledge of $36.00 receives a CD. Each additional $18.00 receives another until a total of 5 CDs is reached.

2) Every pledger over $10.00 receives a station bumper sticker---you supply your own bumper

3) You can call me on Sundays in February between 10-11 AM (202 692-2012) or you may e mail me at any time at sundaysimcha@yahoo.com. and include your name, address (mailing) phone #(in case of a problem). Also, your choice of premium.

Be assured that no information will be kept once the premiums and pledges are fulfilled.

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The list of premiums for your information:

2010 PREMIUM LIST

SUNDAY SIMCHA

WOLF KRAKOWSKI Unbounded

FRAIDY KATZ Die Alte Kashe

SUSAN COLIN Every Day

SUSAN COLIN Prayer of the Heart

SUSAN COLIN Shabat Favorites

MARGOT LEVERETT The Klezmer Mtn. Boys

JOY KATZEN GUTHRIE Seasons of Joy

JOY KATZEN GUTHRIE How Good & How Pleasant

JOY KATZEN GUTHRIE The Heart of Ancient Promise

THE CAPITOL STEPS VARIOUS

==========================================================================

The quantities in all categories is limited but plentiful and at this time I want to thank the artists who have so generously supported the program with their gifts, their talent, and their hope that "Yiddishkeit" will be able to continue as it has for over30 years on WFDU---it really is part of making it the "Right Place On The Left Side Of The Dial" I realize that premiums/gifts are a nice thing but I am sure you realize the important thing is your support no matter what you feel you can afford----it is all appreciated and something that will be doing as "mitzvah" for us and also for yourself.

Let also urge you to click over to the playlists if you have not been there and see a wonderful clip of Bruce Adler and Mike Burstyn together in a few favorite numbers.

NOW---- TRADITIONS

I can only repeat what was said above about premiums/gifts and the pledging of what can be afforded and it is all appreciated. Sincerely. TRADITIONS, started by Ron Olesko some 30 years or so ago now and joined by yours truly some 16 years ago will also be hoping you find this kind of programming important in this world of homogenized programming up and down the dial except for that oasis on a Sunday afternoon where you can hear insightful commentary about meaningful music from meaningful musicians from two hosts ---one of which, apparently, likes alliteration.

Should you care to pledge via e mail you can e mail wfdutraditions@yahoo.com and now let me give you the premium schedule---a list will follow later--

$40 1 CD

80 3 CD

100 5 CD

All pledges over $10.00 will receive a bumper sticker (if you want it)---and as above---supply your own bumper and give me the car.

My thanks, again, to the artists that have supported us with their talent and generosity---too numerous to mention here but you will see it when the list is published----people we all know and love and are generously sharing their talent and support with you and us.

THURSDAY---Another Edition of.....

And the weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

Nobody Asked Me But:

1) Count the times people on interview programs say “....at the end of the day”. Cliches abound---or as Shakespeare said ---“...signifying nothing”.

2) Many times I am asked about the radio programs and, frankly, At The End Of The Day I hope they were appreciated and if not---well---it is still the end of the day.

3) Whatever happened to the start of the day, or at high noon (when it was time for Kate Smith---and her mooning could have destroyed an entire mountain), or just plain old sunset?

4) A delight to find so many elders---they are now called senior citizens,-- enjoying a trip back to an earlier time with my presentation at the JCC in Washington Township NJ

5) My feelings of sadness are mingled with my joy at having been able to experience The McGarrigles at some point in time---farewell Kate who has brought so much musical joy and feeling to myself and to so many others.

6) I like the quote of the day from an unknown source: “..kids spend over 53 hours a week on electronic media---and when they are finished they still say--"what now—I am bored”.

7) I had a epiphany the other day---Dave & Busters in various malls is a horror but, frankly, when I was a wee one Coney Island was probably the same horror that my parents thought it. Different generations/ different media/ same results. I worry about the adults without kids there.

8) Avatar is a film I have not seen nor intend to see. I still like character and story driven films as opposed to effects. That noted, perhaps Cameron does make parables and meaningful moments ala Shakespeare. Perhaps it is generational and I will stick with Will having been born in his time---I beat good old Abraham for age then.

9) Erich Segal, the author of Love Story died this week. I bet he never had to say he was sorry.

10) Google’s slogan---“Do No Evil” is a wonderful aim but you have to wonder how two “naive” tech nerds made billions---yes, billions (going higher) without a small bit of business acumen and pragmatism. So they say whilst cruising the corporate jet. Bill Gates is re-born and somewhere down the line---given the speed of innovation now; very soon---the next heir will be upon us.

11) But what is all the fuss about Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and such? They started out (well, Oscar did) as industry awards---hype will get you everywhere.