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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

   

1)       Societies are different and one has to wonder how it is that the Japanese have so much more caring for the elderly than we do. We had “founding fathers”---bet we would have put them into a “home” and avoided them.  Ben could really be a pain in the ass.

2)       There is a convention celebrating typewriters---bless them. Frankly, I love being able to type this, overwrite, delete, and move on.  I had typewriters---and correction fluid and, like Jerry Steinfeld says in his routine---The Chinese had Chopsticks and they knew of forks and knives---so.  Bottom line---I like this---and now to save the ecology I am able to delete and not erase with rubber on pristine paper when I can distribute this over the truly magical internet for my reader---there is only one I guess.  Anyway rubber has better uses now given the AIDS situation.

3)       As the song said---“...how many roads must a man walk down, etc;...” which makes me wonder how many roads he must walk down before getting old and redundant.

4)       If the government shuts down (and the animals in the Zoo do get fed) how is it that the IRS refund checks are held up but not the electronic collection process? Or the late filing penalties?

5)       History sure does repeat itself.  Think back to the strife between David Ben Gurion (Hagannah) and Begin (Irgun).  Now think of PLO and Hammas---there will be a result---but more splintered than the Israeli one was those many moons ago.

6)       Whatever happened to people wanting to assimilate into the nation of their choice---their dream of being in that place?

7)        Always the proper and pragmatic thing to back those who are underdogs---the only thing is how do we know who they are. 

8)       Whether or not you agree with Capitol Punishment you do have to wonder why, when it is the law, there is this great concern about the drug(s) used when the killers did not think of the pain and suffering they caused. 

9)       Sad that Manning Marable died on the eve of the publication of his greatest work about Malcolm X.

10) Whatever happened to “appointment TV”?  Quality programs that had some resemblance to intellect as opposed to the “reality”, the “coupon” and the weight loss programs.  Not to mention all the other---dare I say it “crap”---- from Dancing With The Stars to Idol?

11)  On a positive note it has to be said that PBS will be airing the latest version of Upstairs/Downstairs starting this Sunday---and there are always the re-runs of the best Police drama ever---Homicide on Centric

12)    Speaking of Television---all those chef shows---why?   Does anyone really care?
 Rhetorical question---of course people do which is why they watch and then go to Wendys.

13)  If Al Capone was sent to jail for tax evasion how is it that the government cannot find a reason to prosecute Pastor Jones for something that does not interfere with his Freedom of Speech rights---in his case Freedom of Hate and Freedom to Garner Publicity rights?  How about littering---he has polluted the airwaves (certainly with the help of media)?

14)   Artificial Intelligence is still something that is being worked on.  How is it that my computer does what it wants when it wants and I sit around watching paint dry while it does whatever it does?   Only good thing---it does not need to be walked and does not need house-breaking since I was not going to clean up if it messed up around here.

                                 

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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

   

1)           You have to wonder about getting involved in uprisings when it isn’t knows who the participants are---or what they stand for.  There might have been a time when it was thought the maniacal Colonel was a good one to back---and, as it is said in that area, so it shall be=---praise to whoever.

2)            The crises that keep arising made me take note of some of the subtle changes in prices---forget gasoline.   The oil problems amongst others have really had an impact on the grocery items---higher prices or smaller sized packages. 

3)           Geraldine Ferraro will surely be missed and let us never forget—to put it plainly---she was bright, on point, and everything that Sarah Palin, who inherited her groundbreaking achievements, is not.

4)            Science has now found that “cavities” in teeth can be transmitted from one to another by kissing.  So---stay away from the person with the bad teeth and bad breath---find a breath alert monitor—if there is such a thing. 

5)           What an amazing thing---no one dies.  Well, they don’t on You Tube as we slowly move away from reality and real time.  Check out a great comic—deceased—Dennis Wolfberg. You can also see a clip on my blog.

6)           This whole Internet and You Tube thing is playing havoc with seances---messages from the dead just keep on coming—provided they had a video-cam.

7)           A complimentary comment or two for the hosts at WFDU is called for.  As Si Kahn said to me that “...it is a wonderful thing that there is such a station on the dial since it gets people and music to people who not otherwise hear it anywhere else.”  While he was speaking of me and TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA I can assure you that most every host of a program on WFDU is well versed and knowledgeable in what is presented---and presented in a most entertaining way.  As I like to say on SUNDAY SIMCHA---the “Eclectic Weekend Sound” of WFDU even though the rest of the week is just as eclectic---and I did say “most” –nothing is ever “all”

8)           This coming SUNDAY SIMCHA is not to be missed-----The creators of the very special Passover Program starring Tovah Feldshuh (and an all star cast) will be my guests. We follow with the extended Comedy Corner (THE CAPITOL STEPS) April Fools Edition---exclusive to this program in the NY NJ CT area.  Do not miss the Bill Clinton segment---even though it is all riotous.

9)           How is it that this country had Founding Fathers but so many others had overthrown monarchs or coups by maniacal dictators.  Could there be a semantic or cultural divide here?

10)            Did any nation have founding mothers?

                              

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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

   

1)       “Trust” is a word in the title of many banks.  Given their propensity for self interest (plus the interest they charge vis a vis what they pay out) the use of that word combined with “bank” is an Oxymoron.

2)       That was a truly moving piece on NPR about the returning Veteran and his PTS and the truly professional police response to the incident that occurred. Now one does have to wonder why his father thinks keeping an arsenal in his house is such a good thing, how it is that an emotional and very professional female police officer can calm the situation, and best of all not have anyone shoot this poor soul.   He is now recovered thanks to judicial intervention to get him into a VA facility.   One other thought----where was the Govt or the VA prior to all this?

3)       With the 100^th Anniversary of the tragedy at the Triangle Shirt Waist Factory it is good to see so many tributes and, yet, it was a tragedy that need not have occurred.  Watch the wonderful documentary on the subject on HBO and also the honest comments by a descendant of the partners who owned the place.

4)       You have to love it when the NYPD decides to personally apologize for a bicyclist’s speeding ticket---he was going 25 MPH when bikes are limited to 5 MPH (in 1911).  In fact the limit is 25 MPH—just like cars.

5)       The Book of Mormon sounds like a really “fun” show with a clever concept.  Can you imagine a spoof musical about Islam getting produced and, better, not having a Fatwa placed on the writers and cast?

6)       Why do people keeping so much money to see a show that never seems to open?  They can see a car crash for free if they wait on the street long enough and would be just as entertaining as Spiderman.

7)       True story I was reminded of recently while doing a radio interview---

                 Many years ago there was a comedian who I knew---Dennis Wolfberg.  He won a few stand-up awards after he gave up teaching and started performing.  One of his great routines was about taking his South Bronx students on a field trip---his dialogue with a student follows (loses something if you do not hear it)---

               S(tudent)—Hey, Wolfshit, where we goin’?

               W(olfberg)—First of all my name is WolfBERG---and to you it is Mr. Wolfberg

                S-----Hey, man, I didn’t know you was married.

          Dennis Wolfberg died very young—just when he was at the start of a great career.

                     

Some Insights from March 20 Playlist

As was noted in the comments at the start of the Playlist for Traditions of March 20 (link is above) the audience for both Sunday Simcha and Traditions are truly knowledgeable in the music that is offered on the programs.  It made me realize that while you are listening I am also getting an education in much of the material offered by your comments, suggestions, and also your questions. As an aside---your calls yesterday were certainly uplifting except for one caller (who some of you picked up on when I answered your calls---that person is in serious need of medical/mental intervention).

You will recall that yesterday I asked for which of the 3 versions of Rivers of Babylon that were played was the most popular among you.   Having rcvd 10 votes I can tell you that it was close but by this tally---
FULL FRONTAL FOLK   4
BONEY M                         3
LAURA WETZLER           3

You see who came out on top.  But amongst all the calls there were some interesting comments regarding many other versions and one caller requested Bob Marley (which was not  in our library and I did not have with me) and another pointed out that he believed that the original version was done by THE MELODIANS.  All good points and I will on April 3 play some of those for you---So many others have recorded this gem---Don McLean, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Sinead O'Connor, Linda Rondstadt, and---you know--the famous many others.

It started out in  1970 when written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton for their group---The Melodians (a Rastafarian group) and its metaphorical interpretations have been used in many faiths (it is based on Psalm 137 of the Jewish Liturgy) and that is what attracted me to focusing on this piece.  It is now used by Reform Jewish Congregations, Unitarians, Rastafarians, and more.  Just as Amazing Grace, it transcends one particular culture or faith.  You can be assured that it will get played (as it has) in one version or another on Sunday Simcha as well.

Since it was not possible to honor the requests yesterday on Traditions (on air) it will be featured next time as I said; but, in the meantime---the original group thanks to the input by one of our loyal and knowledgeable listeners---which is what this kind of radio station and programming is really all about:




If you have any particular piece of music in the format (which is pretty wide) for either program that you would like to have a focus in depth please let me know via e mail or comments on this page.

Since Rivers of Babylon and Babylon are metaphorical and there was a request for Bob Marley (which could not be  honored) let us give a listen now to Bob Marley doing Babylon ---and its metaphorical meaning for all of us---even at this time of more wars in the Middle East


Stay In Touch---Stay Well!!

THURSDAY--Another Edition of....

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

   

1)       Tragedy abounds and so does irony in the fact that Japan embraced nuclear energy as so much of the world did------including U S.

2)       You have to know the expression “penny wise/pound foolish” is correct when you think of folks saving some pennies to ride the laxly operated buses from Chinatown.  Bet they would not get on an airplane that had reckless, tired, criminal pilots—and the airlines are kept in check.  That is worth some pennies for sure.

3)       It is always such a delight and honor to find that the folks that have pledged to Sunday Simcha and Traditions always honor their pledges.  Must be some sort of a wonderful record to have just about 100% fulfillment of pledges when most public stations are happy (I believe) to rcve. Some 20% or so in their efforts.

4)       You really have to feel the pain of the Bronxville, NY homeowners having to support the salaries of teachers when they have to pay some $48,000 in R E taxes annually.  It must be truly painful for them to maintain expensive exclusivity by hoping to deny a living wage to others.

5)       What delight that in London a sunken galleon was found and it contained the original Round Table of King Arthur---the discovery was authenticated by the  initials of the Knight who created it carved into its side---Sir Cumference

6)       Tis the day of St. Patrick and we are all wearing the Green.  With me it is my complexion.  Anything to stay current.

7)       The thought for the day is---let us forget history (which is hard to do) and mourn those who’s forebears wished us ill ---on both sides of this sad feuding world.

8)       The other thought might well be---Always Stay On The Sunny Side---and keep a good sense of humor.  That will get you through much difficulty.  Always recall why the chicken crossed the road.  Surely, you know.

                      

ANOTHER SUNDAY SIMCHA UPDATE

We have some really interesting things coming up on the program during next month or so----

March 20----A focus on the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirt Waist Fire with some music by Si Kahn who will be appearing in a commemoration of this tragic event at the Middle Collegiate Church on 3/26.  Check the website  www.circle.org  for more information.

March 27----Adrienne Cooper joins us the day after her performing in the abovementioned event to talk of her newest recording (Enchanted) and her work withb The Three Divas

April 3----.We have an extended Comedy Corner as we present 30 minutes of  THE CAPITOL STEPS in the exclusive NY NJ CT Metro presentation of their quarterly hi-jinks.

April 10---YALE STROM (Hot Pstrami) and Elizabeth Schwartz join us to talk of the very special program that will air next week with an all star cast.

April 17---A very special treat for the Passover Holiday.  The entire program will be turned over to a brilliant radio drama with an all star cast starring Tovah Feldshuh.  THE WITCHES OF LUBLIN. Basically---a holiday treat as in the Golden Days of Radio.