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

A flip of the fedora to JIMMY CANNON

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)   The obvious question is if one ever thought history would repeat itself when looking at the tragedy of the Italian cruise ship.   Well, it did not really repeat itself since the Captain of The Titanic did stay on board and kept command and not doing show-off maneuvers in this age of pre-programmed routes.

2)  It amazes me to find that when one goes on a cruise the ship is not staffed by nationals of the country of origin---except for the Captain (lucky you).  Most crew members, who are now suffering, are from India, the Philipines, and other nations ---not Italy.   Did they really expect untrained waiters to man and command lifeboats?  

3) Before leaving the subject I do have to say that there was a time when professionals ran ships and planes (and railroads---Casey Jones included---he did his best) in the manner of, say, Pan American World Airways (the full name) with their Clippers and professional staff (and they were not all spies and hookers as TV would have you believe).

4)   Whatever happened to “debates” as opposed to “political road shows”?  The Republicans are truly boring and worse than a bad sit-com---which is pretty hard to do.

5)   Newt is one card short of a full deck since diplomacy is not his strong suite.  Rick S. tells it like it is but not the way it should be. Mitt is the one person that looks presidential if he keeps his make-up properly maintained and spoke less. Ron Paul can pull the wool over the eyes of those youngsters who really think that that was the way it all was.

6)  Pres.Obama has to be mentioned and it has to be said that the GOP seems to forget that we actually have a pragmatist, and idealist, and, whatever faults he may have, a person who seems to have kept most of his promises.   That includes the unfulfilled ones of W and the salvaging of whatever disasters were foisted upon him from the previous, alleged, administration.

7)     When it comes to idiots--- never argue with them because you will get down to their level and they will beat you with their much broader experience in stupidity.  

8)   It seems to me that films that don’t require special effects and graphics but just a good story line and good acting are far superior to all the gimmicky products.  The Descendants comes to mind even though I did not feel Geo. Clooney should have received a best actor award.  DeCaprio deserved that for J. Edgar even though I, surely, did not deserve—nor receive --- a best film award.

9)   Have you ever wondered why some spouses die in such a short time after the demise of their partners?   I wonder what the statistics are.

10)                Since there is a commentary in the bible---somewhere---about ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and so on why do some faiths preclude cremation---instant dust.  Perfect.  They know how to handle these things by the River Ganges.  If you love rivers grab a ticket to ride and get there.

                                                                               

                                                              

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)   Has anyone ever wondered what the inverse equation is to the improvement of TV technology and the deterioration of the content on the programs?  Bright side is that the commercials are even clearer and louder.

2)   I am surely hoping that you will be tuning in to TRADITIONS this Sunday when I present our usual features and some favorites (or most meaningful to me) of the prior year.   Not 10 and not 20---just a few I thought memorable.  It is all subjective and as you cannot compare apples to oranges why compare artists to other artists.  Then again---never forget Eve---she did try to get Adam to eat that apple---all he wanted was an orange and look what, supposedly, happened.
 

3) SUNDAY SIMCHA is not Chopped Liver and I do hope you will be tuned in because we have an interesting program and also a remembrance of Adrienne Cooper.   While it is too late to make mention on the program we also mourn the recent loss of Yaffa Yarkoni.

4) I do believe that “Chopped Liver” should not be derogatory---I love the stuff before it spoils.

5)  Is it a generational thing about visiting grandparents and in-laws on a weekly basis?   Seems much better now without the obligatory and worthless get-togethers that were appreciated only by the elders.

6)   Whatever happened to privacy?  Some folks feel the great need to announce every ache, pain, infirmity, and bowel movement on Facebook and then complain about the intrusion by said venue on their privacy.  

7) All this instant communication leads to a dearth of thought and proper response to situations.  Diplomacy is a perfect example.   It takes time. 

                                        

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

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)   Riding the subways has not really changed much over the years.  People never made eye contact but, rather, read newspapers and now they don’t make eye contact and cannot take their eyes from their electronic gadgetry.

2)  What are the odds that a judge will reverse the toll increases by the NYNJ PA?   I am open to wagers for all those who vote in the affirmative so I can collect some Shekels.

3)  I am delighted that the webmaster at WFDU ( www.wfdu.fm)  changed the picture of me on the website.  So, does one tip a webmaster?

4)   Speaking of WFDU, I do hope you will be tuned in this Sunday for both Sunday Simcha and Traditions since we have a really moving Comedy Corner w/ Sally Fingerett (amongst other great material) and a truly interesting mix of non-traditional seasonal music mixed with our usual features---and an extended “Voices We Should Keep Remembering”---Yes=--that was the consensus for the title of that segment.

5)  Christmas is upon us as well as Hannukah.  A holiday made to compete with the merchants for Holiday business---now we also get Kwanzaa and I do believe merchants had nothing to do with that.  SO---Hannukah and the Miracle of the Oil.  I will not repeat the tired joke I have used on the air many a time---just think about your car, gas prices, and---it is obvious.  Alevai!! As the expression goes.

6)   There is a town in NJ where the stores and the people put signs in windows counting down to Christmas starting in late Aug. or early Sept.   You have to wonder how depressed they must get on Dec. 27.  Dec. 26 has fond memories of their dreams still.  Mostly never up to whatever was expected and who knows what that impossible thing was.

7)   When you were a child I bet you, as I, many times were touched by some of the TV specials---Charlie Brown for one.   Please do check out the annual Family Guy show for the holiday.   It will truly touch your curmudgeon heart and, yet, have an uplifting ending since Santa does survive.  Nuff said there---but be alert for one great and corny joke about a Canadian and his leg given to Stuie and Brian on their trip to the North Pole to assassinate the jolly fat fellow.

8)   I am hanging my stocking where it will not be seen because people might think me a transvestite for having stockings----the bras and corsets are OK.  And, Oh those delightful pumps.

9)  My hat---or, better, my Yamulke (as if I wear one) is off to Zalmen Mlotek for his brilliant “birthing”, if you will, of Shlemiel 1 at The Skirbal Ctr. In NYC.   All in English with a wonderful bit of Yiddishkeit attached to some brilliant dancing and musical numbers.

10)                You have to give credit for ingenuity to the fellow who attached a cable to his license plates and flipped them when going through the GWB  EZ Pass toll plazas so they would read the wrong number.   Makes you  want to recall the early protesters dealing with the British Stamp Act.  

11)                Strange how the Port Authority passed that toll increase and now is not using the money for what they claimed it was for.   I am sure the TBTA is no better---and far more expensive trip is encountered when using their facilities.  Rob’t Moses would be proud.

                                     

SOME PERFORMANCE AND MISC. UPDATES

 Since the request for concert and performance announcements was made I do believe it incumbent to now give you a few links to some local venues (some of which are already on the site) and, also, list a few upcoming gigs in this area---this area being NY NJ CT---
First some links:
The Turning Point
Acoustic Cafe
Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club

Those are some of the local venues that will of interest.  More will be added later.  In the meantime here are some upcoming performances in addition to those you will find on those sites that might be of interest--

Pat Wictor-----Place House Concerts--Livingston NJ    Jan. 8, 2012
Tom Chapin---Turning Point, Piermont, NY          Dec. 28/29 , 2011
Hungrytown---Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club              Jan. 7, 2012


We will let it go at these local events (for this area) but do check the websites for those listed for more dates.   More will be added and local updates will also be added.

As to the misc. updates---I do hope you will be tuned in to WFDU 89.1 FM (or on the web---I still wonder who really sits at a computer for this "nonsense" (honesty there) because on this coming Sunday we have a truly interesting SUNDAY SIMCHA planned (no holiday material there--well, just one piece) and a really fun filled afternoon of TRADITIONS.  Holiday music in all its different incarnations along with our usual fare of some great new musical moments in addition to the features----with a special emphasis on one---AND--we have a winner for the title of that segment---Past but Perfect Voices to Remember.

Here is one of them right now----

A FEW COMMENTS AND UPDATES

Having attended a truly wonderful performance by the amazingly talented and personable Pat Wictor today I was put in mind, by some attendees, of putting more information on this page regarding upcoming performances by artists in that genre.  Good point!  And so it shall be.  Keep looking here for updates for some of your favorite artists and venues such as the aforementioned Pat Wictor, Brother Sun, and ever so many more along with venues like Acoustic Cafe, The Turning Point, and ever so many more---that is what Bing and Google are for.  A fairly complete list will be here in a day or so.

For those of you who attended today's concert at The Orangeburg Library I am sure you were delighted with Mr. Wictor and when you heard his comments (and mine) about Brother Sun you may well have wondered what we were raving and about---unless, of course, you purchased the CD. Well, here is a sample----



If you find them in your area believe me that they are not to be missed. Individual performers in their on right but together---I cannot describe the feeling. Greg Greenway has a stage presence that is not to be believed, Joe Jencks has a voice and a charisma from heaven, and Pat Wictor you, who read this, know what I cannot properly describe about magnetism---and together---it is a truly powerful magnet.

We will get back to NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.. this Thursday (hopefully). Jimmy Cannon, sadly, is still dead but I will try to carry on the tradition as often as possible--one comment to dwell on---

Nobody Asked Me But---Subway manners have not changed. Years back people avoided eye contact and stared that their newspapers---now they avoid eye contact and are glued to electrcnic devices. Safer, I add, than doing it while driving. Another plus for public transportration---though , as it turns out, is not much less than your own car. Check those tolls today. You need a passport and a visa to go from one side of the Hudson to another---and on to Long Island---or is it a mortgage? Yes. the latter since there are no EZ passes for passports which cost even more. No one wants you to leave this bucolic land of plenty--"plenty" as in plenty of red tape, high costs, and, yet, still the best place to be. Some other time we can talk of when tolls were .25 for the TBTA and .50 on the GWB and, of course, houses were not McMansions and priced as if they were Mansions.

Stay tuned for Concer Updates--and radio updates.

Some Brief Musical & Misc. Comments for a Rainy Tues.

Going first with the musical comments I just want to say thanks to to folks who have e mailed wfdutraditions@yahoo.com  to let me know that they like the new feature about the voices that we have lost and want to hear again---and requests for that segment are always welcome.  This is in addition to the other features of the program----The Tops in Pops, The Best in The West, and The Thrills of The Hills (and, as always a tip of the faithful fedora to Dave Miller/WPAT/1950s) and our story segment.

This coming Sunday one of the artists will be John Hartford in the segment about voices we have lost.  Be surprised with the others.

As to the Misc. Thoughts. 

Not wanting to sound like Scrooge I do admit to not reading the NY Times "Neediest Cases" anymore since it seems to me that some of them are truly a bit over the top and hyped by the paper.  Yes,  they do bring a tear to my eye---actually both of them.  Yet, if you read the details you realize that there is more to the story as is the case in most articles in the paper---and, yet,  incomparable to the papers that are best used as wrappers of dead fish---we know who those are.

If you want a really good cry do read this past Sunday's NYTimes magazine about the couple who married in and assisted living place while both were victims of a fatal cancer (she died prior to publication).   I am still drying my eyes.

Finally---good to see protest movements like the OWS and all deciding to take a winter break.  Unlike the protesters with singular causes---Viet Nam, WW1 vets in DC, and other single issue protests these folks know about winter cold and comfort----well, once the spring arrives and their warm winter evenings are over I am sure they will be back with another bundle of banter amidst budding blossoms in various park like settings.