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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

Either a day early or a week late----whatever:


NOBODY ASKED ME BUT..
1) Before there was “texting” there was “conversation” and it seemed a lot more civilized than being with someone who is also staring at a screen and thumbing.

2) There was a time when we had “friends’ and we had “acquaintances”. Now with Facebook and other sites you have “friends” that are not even “acquaintances”. Do not ask them for a loan! You may get a virtual one.


3) I suppose I should not even think of who I want to win a tournament (Wimbledon) I could well be the kiss of death. Check the results and you will see what I mean.


4) How many remember when wars were fought on battlefields and not in civilian terror attacks?


5) The question has to be asked---a conscript army or a paid volunteer army? Sounds like the difference between “patriotism” (of the founding fathers time and all wars up to Viet Nam) and “the business of war”. Good read on that is Si Kahn’s book about privatization and all the implications.


6) Some great new recordings by some greatly talented people have flown in over the always open transom at WFDU---here are a few: Brother Sun, Hungrytown, Caroline Solabello, and some wonderful stories in song from Claudia Nygaard.


Join me this Sunday at 3 PM at www.wfdu.fm and hear all of them along with a tribute to Dave Van Ronk (who would have been 75 around this time) and Harry Chapin in anticipation of the annual event at Eisenhower Park (Nassau County NY) on July 18 and on July 16 a Chapin Family Concert in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the loss of Harry Chapin. That will be at Hecksher Park in Suffolk County, NY






7) All that criticism of Cy Vance (NY DA) is over the top. He did the right thing---as did the NYPD. They stopped someone in a rush to leave and then honestly started to investigate the case. The tabloid—note—“tabloid”—media were the ones that rushed to judgment. Could that also be the case in Florida---I don’t know. I was not on the jury.


8) A DVR can be a great time machine to travel to a time when TV had quality programming unlike most of purely prurient pastiche posing as meaningful material.

                                                        

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon :


 

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT..

1)   In thinking of the horrible (where did horrific come from anyway?) news of the tragedy in Long Island at that pharmacy one has to wonder why we have to constantly cater to obviously guilty parties and protect their dignity and rights.  Did they ever think of that for the victims?   The rule of law is of great importance and it has evolved well---but there are exceptional circumstances.   This miscreant is one and is truly of a “rush to judgement” and incarcaration---or worse.

2)                  Sorry that I never met the late Huguette Clark.  I might have charmed her whilst she was living at Beth Israel Medical Center in good health and shared some of the bounty of her large estate.  The people who guide one at Newport, Rhode Island talk of the creators of fortunes and the inheritors---she was that perfect definition---and lived to 104. 

3)                  Wimbledon is on and the volume is ever so loud.  Why oh why do female players have to shriek at every shot they make?  Forget the inane excuse by one of the participants that it is her form of breath control.   Trying to upset her opponent and annoy the public sounds a lot more logical.

4)                  There are so many choices for diversion. Broadway musicals (unlike the “classic era” of them) costing in the range of over 150.00,  Movies over 10.00 and then there is radio (the theater of the mind) that has programs like “Moth Radio Hour”, “Prairie Home Companion”, and always think of the left side of the dial and WFDU.  The cost---nothing except a voluntary donation annually.

5)                  Given today’s comments I would have to add a line that I wish I could attribute to John McCain but cannot----“...get off my lawn..”.   We codgers like that even though, admittedly, some younger folks have more interest in lawns than I.

                                     

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.



NOBODY ASKED ME BUT..



1) I sure have to wonder when Broadway Musicals became Disneyland East devoid of good music and drama but filled with special effects and obscene prices. Spiderman is only that latest incarnation of a show that wants to be a mediocre film.


2) Given the prices on Broadway would it not be less expensive to see a film and stick to some quality that Broadway, rarely now, can offer? Usually drama.


3) Larry Kramer (The Normal Heart) hit it on the head---even though he sounded petulant in an interview---to paraphrase—“....the best material is Off Bway and the Tonys are just an exercise in promoting Bway shows to make money touring big venues—forget content and quality...”


4) Have you noticed the new punctuations are --- and not ,,,? I guess Walter Winchell was ahead of his time but a true pain in the ass in his own time.


5) What do you think old Bill Shakespeare would have made of this: U r a pitha and I lol at u. Gee---so close to “...to be or not to be....”.


6) Where have all the flowers gone? In my house---died. They never complained as a dog or cat might have. Just as well---less to do and I gave them a good send off. I think. Earth to Earth and plants appreciate water---so a toilet flush should suffice for farewell prayers and offerings.


7) So hard to resign from an office, embarass yourself, and still collect your pension in the 7 figures. One has to sympathize---and look at how many weiners a Weiner can buy with that number.


8) One would think that a man with such a name would think twice before becoming a punch line----he could really cash in by riding along on The Wiener Mobile---there is such a thing.


9) There was once a judge by the name of Putz===happily, he avoided becoming a punch line.

                                                   

A BIt of Nostalgia

We shall for, for the moment, forget the Thursday column, the radio program updates and spend a few seconds with 2 folks that brought meaning into a fairly meaningless life---No captions needed.

That pretty much says it all.

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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT..

1)                The obvious question is why someone with the name of “Weiner”  would allow himself to put in this position---of all the definitions of “Weiner” he has proven to be the most accurate---a Putz.

2)                If politics does not work out anymore---and it shouldn’t given his propensity stupidity and arrogance---a job driving the Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile---a perfect solution to all things Weiner.

3)                You thought doctors and psychiatrists had it good with the fees---think about Private Tutors (for students and SAT).   $450.00 for 50 minutes.  That is one great 50 minute hour that will not create leaders rather, pampered and sheltered kids who’s parents have high hopes---like a rubber tree plant.

4)                Did A. Lincoln, HST, DDE, and such have private tutors?

5)                Mike Wallace is now some 94 years old and, sadly, suffering from dementia.   Yet, in reflecting on his career, I recall his early show==Nightbeat where he destroyed his guests---yet, 2 interviews ring out.  Mike Quill and Burt Lancaster.  Each one, for valid reasons, walked off the stage in a live segment because of Mr. Wallace’s demeaning and insulting queries.  Bravo for them.

6)                You have to hand it to the bank folks.  They take the money and try for even more by trying to keep insane debit card fees alive and well.  Huge profits, bailouts, and big bonuses seem to be the order of the day whilst doing great advertising to show how friendly they are.  Did you ever get that free lunch from Chase?

7)                A great punch line for a restaurant that has a sign that says---Cash Only –but No Worry –We Have an ATM.   The punch line should read---Big Worry--- I have no account anywhere---sure did enjoy the meal.

                                     

THURSDAY --Another Edition of.....

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT..

1)            Sometimes it is nice to start with some positive nostalgia and some thanks for people and places that have truly proved to be, as the songs says, “...stops along the way..”.   WFDU is the first to be named for allowing and supporting my type of programming whether it be “folk” or “Yiddishkeit”---which they suggested.   Ron Olesko has surely to be thanked for introducing me to the station and to asking for my participation.  Jerry Treacy, also of WFDU, for his friendship and interest.  Now if I knew “hyperlinking” we could “hyperlink” these names----Christine Vitale, Bob Westphal, Marc Copeland, Rich Sibello, and leaving out the names of those that have made WFDU a truly memorable moment in the ---stops along the way.

2)            The biggest bargain for a musical show---and a good one—is for The Adventures of Hershele Ostrapolyer with Mike Burstyn.  It ends this run on June 26 at the Baruch PAC ( www.folksbiene.org ) and is equal to the likes of Fiddler and other great musical moments.  Think---The Sting in Yiddish set to music.

3)            Many years ago the creator of Homicide---Life on the Streets received a McArthur genius award and it was a good choice.  Wonderful drama that you can still view on Centric/TV.   Strange to now see the cast in so many different roles---Melissa Leo---Academy Award Winner, Andre Braugher---an amazing variety of dramatic roles on stage and screen, Reed Diamond—So many TV/film roles, and last but not least, Richard Belzer---what can you say.  The program was everything that Law and Order (in later years) was not.

4)            Who says that idealism and politicism are contradictions in terms?   Mubarack was what he was---and supported U S policy and the new regime may or may not support U S policy but still stifles free speech.  Has anything really changed?

5)            How is it that some “blogs” have thousands/millions if readers and I have you as we sit and chat in our undersized telephone booth?   As to telephone booths.   Another anachronism---you can always get this on your smart phone---which is, probably, smart enough to not have an app for this.  My problem.

6)            Mr. Blagojevich is one again on trial in Illinois---his hair goes on trial in another courtroom at another time to answer to charges of “teasing”

7)             Does anyone seem less “Presidential” than either Trump or Palin?   These in a nation that had the likes of FDR, HST, Wilson, and, yes, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and, of course,  Mr. A. Lincoln.  We won’t even mention the earliest presidential acting people.

8)            The release of the wonderful 6 DVD set of The Work of Ernie Kovacs truly shows what a comic and innovative genius he was.  As to trivia queries---who knows the identity of at least one of The Nairobi Three?

9)             In the “who is so stupid department” the local Shoprite had 2 very expensive beers on sale—just one bottle of each.  One was priced at $150.00 and it went.  The name of the beer was “Sink The Bismarck”.  I wonder if the buyer knows that this was a song and the whole thing a piece of perfect promotion to idiots.

    
10)   I have about 400 yards of shoreline measuring tape for sale along with 1 set of keys for the oar locks that can be used to measure that shore line.  Interested parties can contact 1-800-478-8743 (check the spelling of those numbers on your keypad).