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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon  (and a day late---probably a dollar short as well).

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

    

1)    The translation into German of the name “Austria” is East Reich.  Sort of tells you something about that “invasion” in 1938.

2)    Since airplanes are now flying cattle cars (for high prices to board the “sty”) it is nice to recall the days of Piano Lounges, decent food, and the drama that once was air-travel.  Railroads, as well, had quality service with (on commuter trains) drinks served in a bar car among other amenities.   What a glorious time it was for “Mad Men”  and other commuters.

3)    A Shakespeare play opened next door to the ill fated Spiderman----fraction of the cost, just as exciting, and more meaningful.  Nothing more to say on that matter other than no one really got hurt---not even financially.

4)    Speaking of wonderful entertainment moments---Larry Siegel at the Orangeburg Library was a great hit.  This proves, once again, the best things in life are free---you do not need to pay exorbitant prices for quality at Arenas or Bway---hype does not mean quality.

5)    Since NYC is, allegedly one unit does not the expression “the outer boroughs” sound condescending?  And you wonder why Manhattan gets plowed out right away.

6)    President Hu is here---does that mean VP What is in China and where is the ever popular I Don’t Know?

7)    Dick Cavett’s book  “Cavett” is a good read---and his Groucho stories are delightful---Couple spy Groucho in a restaurant and the man says “...Would you say something funny and insulting to my wife---Groucho:...looking at your wife I should think you would have enough insulting remarks to make on your own”.

8)    Has anyone ever wondered why one name never appears on my playlists? And why?  Occupants of this phone booth have plenty of room to write down an answer. We are not overcrowded yet.

9)    If someone is a big fish in a little pond does that have to make that person a bully or just egotistical?

10)                      I do believe that I have it right about semantics and advertising. “ More” is less and “new and improved” is same old crap under a new name.   The banks have it down perfectly---I bet you won’t get that “free meal from Chase”  but you sure as hell will get the new charges they are billing to you. 

11)                      Bless DVR to help avoid seeing some of the above.

12)                      Speaking of Advertising---it surely has changed with the Internet---now just images and not even clever copy.  I will admit that an ad for Honda on TV was subtle and a knock on the Ford ads---I wonder how many people got it?

                                                        

Some Thoughts About Hypocrisy and Current Events

Welcome to the phone booth---I hope our small contingent is not too crowded and that we all showered so that the soap suppliers do not have to receive a bonanza.

Given the events of this past week and given all the commentary about it I thought the following would be appropriate---it is something I posted to Facebook as a response to another item (having to do with Dylan and the subject)---which seems to have disappeared. Who know why things appear and disappear on that site---algorithms, I suppose. I do not know that damned word even means---anyway---below is my post which I felt was pertinent to the events of last week:

I am certain that Phil Ochs would have a just as pointed and meaningful a commentary---but it matters not since the deed is done and the tragedy happened---for whatever reason. Thankfully, Pres. Obama has properly evinced the moment with c...ommentary on healing and hope for a more meaningful and peaceful discourse since we are one nation and should not be swayed by the acts of a "lunatic"---at least here we do not have to worry about the legalisms of comments--years back we also did not---now we and the Pres. have to watch the words we use---cannot even call a "nut job" that---he is "mentally challenged" and the police will try to find out his motives---well, they will do better than "shrinks" then----no one else seems to have wanted. legally,to invade the territory of---basically---a nut case and this is what the results are.

OK---Time for Phil Ochs

 

THURSDAY ---Another Editions Of....................

A flip of the fedora to, as always, Jimmy Cannon

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

    

1)            Was is it not pleasant to find out that Mayor Bloomberg was not even there for the first storm and all the while giving a 1^st person account of the problems “he” faced.   Lindsay was there.  So good to have that silky skin that allows things to slide off even when ---politely now---prevaricating involvement.  I bet there was no ice or snow in Bermuda.

2)            We mourn the loss of such a talent at so young an age—59.   Debbie Friedman.  We shall commemorate her on Sunday Simcha this Sunday ---1/16/11

3)            Is there really a reason we have to be gentle in finding the motives of a horrendous murderer who “allegedly”---mandatory word since the days of “take em” out an hang “em”, even though we know they performed an act?  Well, at least to satisfy our curiosity.  

4)            Jeremy Brett still seems, to me, to be the ultimate Sherlock Holmes---Dick Cavett’s opinion, in his latest book not withstanding. He loved Basil Rathbone.  Basil Rathbone hated the role---just did it for the money.

5)            Jon Stewart has to be complimented for his brilliant monologue after the Arizona tragedy and his wonderful seque into another matter (shtick) not involving him to lighten the moment. Bravo!!

6)            Loved the commentary recently about “..presumed innocent until proven guilty”---all the lawyers (except female ones) got it wrong.  It is not stated anywhere---basically you are guilty and the Defense Attorney has to prove you innocent given the preponderance of evidence.   Sounds right to me.

7)            I am still trying to understand when and how a $30,000 house became worth $500,000 and an apartment in NYC in Harlem became worth over $1,000,000.  Even, as it is said, “adjusted for inflation”.  That is not inflation---that is an explosion.

8)            Which brings to mind the other thought about people who have lived there and been “gentrified”---I doubt they are in Florida (God’s Waiting Room).

9)            NYS has a new administration and I have to mourn the loss of an idealistic Governor because he was not politically correct or popular.

10)      My daughter has it right---have a Funeral Rehearsal---like a Wedding Rehearsal---at least you get to be feted while you are still alive and not have to miss all the belated BS you would have enjoyed.  Hopefully!!

11)      Why does not the public hold that good old “snow removal grudge” against M. Bloomberg as they did against John Lindsay.  He was idealistic and this dear mayor is just pragmatic.  Who gets it?

12)   Bravo to Pres. Obama on his speech and his unifying and peace provoking moments rather than the hate filled rhetoric one might have heard.

                                  

Crosshairs & Hindsight

Sarah Palin---what more is there to say. Out of nowhere she becomes a wealthy and celebrated celebrity that has the mentality and knowledge of a cauliflower and the  morals of dear old Mephistopheles. 

Hard to understand that a person that was almost---well not even close--President is the person that McCain would choose such a non-entity as a running mate and create such a media frenzy about her.  And make rich  with her speaking fees, her FOX contracts, and such.   May I quote Christine Lavin---who, as many folk artists, have more insights than  many politicians....
"....what was I (he) thinking".

You surely know that this refers to the horrendous events in Tucson and my comments about the good ole bear killer are not the thing that instigated it.  It was that piled upon the rants and raves of media in this day of instant communication and gratification affecting one sick mind.   Time to slow down, think things out reasonably, and pay more attention to committing the mentally ill to places where they can be either helped  or held from doing harm. 

As to Arizona.   Guns and heat---what a great combination.   What does it take to make people realize that guns are used only  by  the criminals and the "crazies"?   You can get hunting permits if you really feel the need to kill some poor "critter" in the woods---are there any woods in Arizona?

Stick around for tomorrow's Nobody Asked Me But---just a little preview here---but as to the Music and Radio portion of this blog---well, a  few items--

1)  January 16---SUNDAY SIMCHA ---we remember and commemorate Debbie Friedman
2)  January 23---TRADITIONS---------Richard Berman joins me as a guest to play and talk of his meaningful and insightful music. This is a far cry from the Top 40 and Sinatra---for sure.

This might be a good time to leave you with some music from the above 2:

THURSDAY and Another Edition of...........

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

    

1)        Why is parking available for 3 handicapped spaces and unlimited taxis / buses only at the various monuments in Washington when the signs clearly state “Parking” with an arrow pointing to the area?

2)        It is good to see that, finally, there is film to allow the memory of Phil Ochs to be resurrected and the public will finally find the forerunner to Dylan---and, in my own opinion---just as or more creative in his music.  Had he lived longer he may well have been the Kennedy Center honoree if that means anything at all.

3)        Given all the instant gratification and communication that the internet and computers provide us how much more “instant” moments will the next generation want---or need?  Sometimes slower is better for digesting ideas and thoughts.

4)        My compliments to the Gilbert & Sullivan Players for their annual (36^th) season in NYC at Symphony Space and for keeping this miraculous musical memory alive---in a true interpretation.

5)        Gov.  Cuomo is going to cut spending and lower salaries to help the NYS fiscal problems---so, how much did the venue for his State of The State speech cost.  The Capitol was free and a lot of paid time spent on his Power Point tech cuteness.   Ah vanity!

6)        I am hoping to get the contract for the handkerchief concession at the capitol and will surely find a great customer in the new speaker of the House---oh, those teary eyes.  A bonanza!!

7)        Do you think that they offer Senior Citizen prices on a par with Children’s prices at venues because of 2d Childhood?

8)        Euphemisms are strange.  Senior Citizen is really -- Old Person---let us be honest about it.  Troubled Teen---Juvenile Delinquent fills that bill just as a person fighting cancer is a person that is suffering from cancer (the doctors are doing the fighting).

9)        If there is “honesty in advertising” should not Sloan – Kettering Hospital be prevented from using the term “..best cancer care anywhere” since that is only their opinion and I can mention some as good or better-----and less self serving and arrogant?

10)  Speaking of semantics (which we were with euphemisms) when did blatant advertising morph into Public Service Announcements as seen on PBS and heard on NPR?  

11)  Banks are cutting costs by urging more use of ATMs and not having people deal with people and their advertising uses wonderful euphemisms that translate into “We make money, the government bails us out, and screw you”.  Who recalls Russell Baker of many years back and his witty piece in the NY Times about ATM machines when Citibank (who else) was trying to charge people with a smaller balance than $5,000 from using a human teller?  They stopped that---until this new wave of machinations.

12)  Juan Williams has a strange view of things---NPR (according to him) does not allow for divergent opinions (they fired him---properly, I believe) but his employer (while employed by NPR also) is FOX news---“fair and equal”.  Right!   The pun does not work here—you know about calling a kettle black--- A 3 million dollar contract will soothe Mr. Williams hurt feelings for his own offensive comments---for which he was fired by the network that is fair and equal---NPR.

                                                  

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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon 

 For those who do not know the name---a sportswriter for the NY Post---when it was a newspaper & not the dead fish wrapper that it is today---columnists like him---Max Lerner, Frank Kingdom, James Wechsler, Earl Wilson, Leonard Lyons, etc; were published unlike what the paper has become---NewsCorp is now working on turning the WSJ into the same ---SO---the unfortunate thing in the end is---I suppose---the greed by Dorothy Schiff (NYPost) and the family that owned WSJ for selling to money hungry right wing Cretans.

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

    

1)      Year end surely needs some Best of” or “Most memorable”—so here are some in no particular order:     

a.      Another wonderful year of music and commentary on

TRADITIONS (and sharing this mutual interest w/ Ron Olesko) and SUNDAY SIMCHA.

b.      Meeting and “discovering” people and music that I had never expected to find or meet.

c.       Still appreciating the only station that I know of that allows the freedom of choice and commentary that we all have---WFDU and the 2 folks who create a family like atmosphere. 

d.      My raise this year at WFDU---from $0   to $00---hey---not everyone gets another 0 added.  Do they?

e.      Realizing that I am happy with some older technology that is only a   few years old---stop the world I am getting off.  (OK---I did not invent that)

f.        The loss of some people of talent and substance some young and some fully lived:

                                                              i.      Kate McGarrigle

                                                            ii.      Tuli Kupferberg

                                                          iii.      Irwin Silber

                                                          iv.      Susan Reed

                                                            v.      Richard Holbrooke

                                                          vi.      Jerry Bock

                                                        vii.      Lynn Redgrave

                                                      viii.      Jimmy Dean

                                                          ix.      Ted Sorenson

                                                            x.      Les Paul

                                                          xi.      Fess Parker

                                                        xii.      And, of course, as always,  the famous many others.

2)      The blizzard was a few days ago and the boroughs (outside of Manhattan---I hate calling them Outer Boroughs) can wait until hell freezes over (it did) for snow clearance.  Shades of days of yore---the difference---Mayor Lindsay was highly criticized and the Imperial Highness  Bloomberg fields questions with proper pronouncements of the “situation”---one that had better technology and forecasting than the unfortunate—and much maligned Lindsay.   Yet---Manhattan, as always, was prioritized.   Draw conclusions if you will===they cost nothing.  Living in Manhattan does.

3)      Do you think now---in hindsight---that making NYC a unity of the 5 boroughs was a good idea?   Would Bklyn and Bronx and Staten Island---even Queens--- fared better?   Outer Boroughs---the expression alone tells a story.  Shades of Tom Wolf---Center of the Universe.

4)      May I suggest a subscription and a donation to TDF (theater development fund)---they truly do make tickets to overpriced Broadway (and other) venues affordable and accessible.

5)      A laugh a day will keep you in better stead than an apple a day---the doctor never gave a damn for the apple if you believe that old tale and it did not keep him away since he never made house calls to you---only you.  Marx Bros. films, Family Guy, Married, With Children, and such---can truly do a better job in “keeping the doctor away”.  Feel free to pick others---these work for me.  After that you can make an appointment with the MDs automated voice mail---good luck.  Stick with me on this!

6)      Getting into and out of “The Center of The Universe” becomes more expensive tomorrow—for a change.

7)      In 1960 did anyone contemplate the possibility of a $25,000 house (which was $5,000 20 years earlier) being $500,000 today? My old RE prof. did---probably talked of it while I slept through the course.  He had a great quote---“buy in 1960 dollars and sell in 1999 dollars”—OK—randomly selected years.   I believe he stated that through my nap.

8)      Does anyone wonder how many people line-up to view the apartments that sell for over 5 Million Dollars (advertised each Sunday in the NY Times Magazine)?   Probably people who know the street will be plowed and the limo will get through.  Which brings us to the question of ---3 classes in NYC---Upper, Middle, and Lower---how did we get rid of Middle?   OH---gone to Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and suburbs where their commuting costs can eat up any savings.  An essay on that subject could well be forthcoming by popular demand---by the entire crowd in the phone booth requesting such.  Seriously—one should write a PhD thesis on this subject.

9)      Strange how things work out----Jane Jacobs beat Robert Moses in his attempt to “ruin” Manhattan but the net result was its out-of reach real estate for the average person and not the thing she envisioned.  Perhaps that is why she ended up in Canada.

10)  A New Year is coming and a time to hope for the best and to reminisce about our past year(s)----for me---I would rather look ahead.  The past is history (there is a cliche of the many I can use) and some of it seems from another life.