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).

                                 

THURSDAY--Another edition of..............

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT..

1)            For meaningful moments of memorable memories let me add a visit to the V A. Great organization that truly helps Vets—well, to some extent.   Some anecdotal moments about that---called in for eye exam by the OD who does not speak but rushes helter skelter---her call---Mr. Harn.   Exam and then you will be called again when your eyes dilate.   20 Min. later.  Mr. Harn---oops---there is a Mr. Harn there so the OD is very angry now why I came in---mispronounced name? (I said) –I never mispronounce names (she said).   Bottom line---she never confirmed my ID and if that other person had been using some drops that were not part of the standard tests my blindness would have been very upsetting to the OD.  Moreso, to me

2)            Putting the VA in a very positive light now.   A call from a nutritionist who spent some 20 min. on the phone to advise me on a proper diet after seeing blood test results relating to Potassium and Sugar levels.   Overboard on panic but On Board for empathy and caring.

3)            In the What Comes Around department the news that Cuba is investing in Golf Courses after years of saying it was an evil rich person’s pursuit just shows things do come around---even the silliness of rich folks trying to put a little ball into a hole in the ground---if it brings in the Dinero.

4)            Huguette Clark is dead---and you  don’t even know who she was.  Neither did I.  And, frankly, after a wealthy and very reclusive life—who really cares?

5)            This Sunday I have 2 great conversations on my 2 radio programs:

SUNDAY SIMCHA---Mike Burstyn joins me to talk of The Adventures of Hershele Ostropolyer.  Having seen it I can assure you a great evening in the theater—AND—the now are offering weekday tix for $33.00 on the Folksbiene website.   Sure beats Bway.

TRADITIONS---Andrew Calhoun joins me for an hour of great conversation and music of his own creation---and of a certain few others---for a reason.

6)    You have to love Pres. O’Bama ( you know the Irish guy)  in olde Erin. Everyone, it seems is Irish---reminded me of some classic episodes of Family Guy and Married With Children.  Years back a I joked about my co-host’s love of everything Irish before a St. Patrick’s Day program---My comment (in dialect)   “...good ole Ron O’Lesko will be with ye next week---he is now busy polishing up his apostrophe...”  He really found it offensive---well, the dialect.   I, for one, thought it good—but generic. Which brings me to a true tale. Coming up next.

7)   Just having heard an interview on “Fresh Air” with Sarah Silverman I have to say to start---I do not like her.   That said she did tell a story to which I could relate and it had to do with her use of the word “Chink” which some people found offensive and rightfully so.   Though people like Lenny Bruce and Geo. Carlin had made great points using such material to show our hypocrisy.  On, now, to the true story---I am a little guy (some 10 yrs. Old) and on Sunday nights an uncle asked us to join him for dinner.  This has to be prefaced with—“...an idiot uncle with many prejudices”.   So, says, he---“...how about going to the Chinks tonight?”   Amazing the amount of years before I knew it was not a chain of restaurants.  Can you imagine this a franchise along the lines of McDonalds---?

I do have to admit a Sarah Silverman moment that did make me laugh---her comment about a friend who put a .25 piece on his forehead and said---hey today is Jewish Ash Wednesday---self deprecating humor is OK to me---the rest---Lenny Bruce she is not.  Richard Pryor she is not.

8) NYC was a dangerous and affordable place in the 1980s/1970s/ and early 1990s.  Now it is a fairly safe place that is unaffordable by most people.  It has subway cars free of graffiti and “in-places” for the illiterati.  The question then is---which is the better place?

9) When did a 5 floor walk-up in a tenement in lower Manhattan become a “luxury pied-a-tierre” listing at over $1,000,000? Either I slept a long time like good old Rip or the world has truly ended and Harold Camping just went to the wrong heaven.

10) What a kind thought from a listener to mention that since my programs are now on the World Wide Web (as a live stream) these are major programs---good news for me since now my head will not be banging against those edges of the little pond in which I am a big fish.

                              

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

The flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT..

1)            For meaningful moments of music best to check stations like WFDU.  I admit I am partial and WNYC also has much to offer in intelligent conversation.  I do hope you will be joining me on Sunday May 29 when conversation and music come together with Andrew Calhoun will come together. 

2)            Another great performance by Mike Burstyn and an amazing cast doing another performance of The Adventures of Hershele Ostropolyer---to which, rightfully, are raving.  Mike will be my guest on SUNDAY SIMCHA on May 29.

3)            If I checked into a hotel I am happy that the room is cleaned and I do leave a tip—and always wonder how people do this hard and menial work.  Even Oreck (who I had on my Tabletalk program) tried to ease the work load—and garnered much money for his innovation.

4)            An update---Bin Laden is still dead.   Right there with Franco and Hitler and other people of little worth.   I do quote the official sources here---but, in our cynical world, I do believe them.  After all, Adolf is gone---Franco---ditto.  Oh we do miss Benito--the trains did run on time for a time

5)            I think the house arrest (etc;), in Manhattan, for Strauss- Kahn will be more pleasant than the forced look for privacy by his accuser.

6)            Whatever can make an IPO for something like “Linked In” so valuable?   Spam is really worth something, I suppose.

7)            Where oh where do they get the time—running for office, not running for office and hearing the voice of God all the time to help them with their choices whilst having their illicit affairs?   Busy Busy Busy.

           Flip Wilson had it all right---"God Made Me Do It"--OK dated material.

8)            It is always a deight to me when one get fortunate to find some physicians that are good, caring, relatable  with (on a personal basis), and actually have people who answer the phones---people ---not robotic voices with menu selections.  I am blessed to have some like that---and I will not mention the disaster that used to be the practice I went to in Rockland County----sometimes big is not better.   Well, for patients.

9)            NY NY its a wonderful town---too bad it is pretty much unaffordable for the
”great unwashed” these days.   Sadly, the term---“great place to visit but I would not want to live here” has to have the last sentence replaced by “...cannot afford to live here”.  Great comment by the performer Moby (now in LA)---loved it in the 70s and 80s---dangerous as hell but a mecca for creativity---now it is safe, Disneyfied, and totally unaffordable for an average person.   Agreed---unless you want to live in a closet for $1,200.00/month.   Is that your dream?  Not mine.

 There is a wonderful tenement museum in lower NYC which you can visit---then, of course, you could move to NYC in that area and live in one (walk-up and all) for over the price above.  Sounds like a really bad plan unless you believe that makes you an interesting and creative person.   If so—more power to you and also---good strong legs. Get pointed shoes 

Random Thoughts from A Random Mind--and a few updates.

As to updates.  Let's start with that.  SUNDAY SIMCHA this Sunday features an interview with Leila Levinson and we speak of her book---Gated Grief.  It is brief but meaningful so I do hope you will not miss that.  Check www.wfdu.fm for time and also for the archiving.  TRADITIONS  has some real surprises this Sunday---new material, voices from a while back---and some thematic material you will want to hear---and we start with a great piece about John Prine---which he may not be happy about but is factual..

The random mind does have some random thoughts since what else should a random mind be doing.  Trying now to stay on focus let us start with Broadway, money, and the world having changed. 

When I was a lad (and I am not going to sing from Pinafore now) I still recall the first show I ever saw.  An aunt took me to see the D'oyle Carte Company doing The Gondoliers.  To this day I have not forgotten it and also how it whetted my appetite for theater and cultural events.   While I realize there is a different price scale today for such an awakening it is not in an economic equivalent to reality.   Yes, tickets then may have been in the $20 range(high for the time) but now to introduce someone to a Broadway experience (unless you can garner something on TDF) will set you back some $125.00 plus all kinds of unexplainable charges.   I have always wanted to help restore theaters---now that is a charge,  delivery---a charge because they held them. and so it goes.  Then there are on-line sites where people sell their tickets and hope for a vast profit.

Then what is the Broadway experience?   When it comes to musicals we are speaking here of what are in fact "Tourist Trapping Moments" (you know---I saw it on Bway) .  Then there are the wonderful dramas and plays.  Their runs are never very long.   That is unfortunate since that is what theater is all about.   Theater is also all about dramatic musicals---not special effects. Or Juke Box Musicals---Abba, Jersey Boys. Faux Beatles.  Think instead Carousel, West Side Story, In The Heights and the like.

Times do change, admittedly.  Sometimes they are really not for the better.   Standards are lowered,  prices are raised, and hype makes people believe they are on to something really special.  They are.  They are getting ripped off.  Think of some of the local venues you might attend that offer great moments of entertainment for a fraction of Broadway prices.  Of course there is the parking and transportation.  No problem locally, I should think.   Of course you do miss the "drama" of  "The Big Apple"===but that lil ole worm has finally bored his way in to that.  I do believe I know the specific day it happened.

When all is said and done I do believe that I could introduce a youngster to theater and he would fall in love with it and I would not have to suffer the Mortgage Costs.of Broadway.

All the above said I do have to admit that there are good reasons why I am not a booker, an investor, or a promoter.   Today I was in conversation with a wide spectrum of people of various ethnic make-up and I found, to my surprise, that they had all seen Lion King and were raving about it.   My grandson just saw it and raved about it and I appreciate that my daughter introduced him that Broadway experience.  One does have to say that the experience of today is quite different to what I might think of as impressive---say, South Pacific, Gilbert & Sullivan (my first experience with D'oyly Carte-already noted)) or any of the others mentioned above.  One can only hope that "special effects" do not overtake a true musical drama with memorable music---again, think of the previously mentioned.  In addition one has to pray that real drama still has a place on the "Great White Way" when the runs for those seem rather short lived.   That Championship Season is closing.   I saw Thurgood a while back---brilliant and closed. 

So, final thought on Bway experience---stick to TDF or TKTS and don't support these over the top prices.  Prices that equal one evening's entertainment for the entire budget of some family's for sustenance.  By the way---Al Pacino in a one man show (I do not know what he plans to do in it) is on Stub Hub for ---hold your breath----$1100.   Any takers?

The random thoughts were plural so it is only proper that I add a few more..  I have already mentioned the programs (TRADITIONS & SUNDAY SIMCHA) and  do have tell you all how delighted I am with the increasing popularity of SUNDAY SIMCHA.  The listeners keep recommending others and so the Ponzi Scheme here goes on.  We are just like Social Security, I suppose.  The best legal Ponzi scheme I know of.

Which leads me to the last random thought about a conundrum.  How is it possible to know someone for years and not know that person is capable of violence?  How is it possible that this person has always been thought annoying and irritating by many and yet some slight (of his own making) can set this person off to violent behavior?  Stay tuned for News At 11---they always find those folks.

Well, since we talked of a Broadway experience and also Gilbert & Sullivan---and how that one does not necessarily have to be on Bway to have an experience---well---whey not---

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

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon :

 NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)            You have to hand it to the Orthodox Jewish newspaper from Bklyn.  for narrow mindedness,  and making lying not a sin when they altered the iconic photo of the tension of awaiting the Seals capturing Osama Bin Laden. 

2)               Here is the ethical thing---don’t publish the shot.  In altering it you have shown disdain for women, a penchant for lying, and, perhaps worst, opened yourself for legal problems since the photo came with specific instructions it not be altered.

3)               Best that the publishers of Die Tzeitung (that is the paper) go to Pitkin Avenue and look for Joe & Paul---they know from altering---from coats to suits to gabardines----OY can they a bargain bring.

4)               How many recall when Adlai Stevenson had a problem in running because of his divorce?   Now we have Presidents who have affairs and now a contender who has his 3d wife (who he dated while married) to be his testimonial to his “family values”.  Say another hello to Newt Gingrich.

5)               With all the hype about Broadway musicals and Spiderman in particular has anyone noticed that the only “Broadway” shows of significance are dramas (that do not run for long) and 1 or 2 musicals?   All the rest is now Disneyland East---spectacles with no serious or comedic content (save 1 or 2)   Most good things are now Off Bway or regional.   Think of this---South Pacific---Lincoln Ctr. / War Horse—Lincoln Ctr. / West Side Story—Bellport NY.  Now if you want Juke Box Musicals and tourist attractions Bway is THE place---The Million Dollar Quartet, Jersey Boys, Abba, Lion King—and so on and on and on.

6)               Does anyone really care that Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife separated?  If so—well, let me look into Bartlett’s Book of Quotations---here it is---“get a life”

7)               Andrew Calhoun is one hell of an honest songwriter---stick around for the day I have him on TRADITIONS---probably on 5/29.   You do not want to miss it and all the other material that day.

8)               I have to repeat a great joke which was told by the grand-daughter of Sholom Aleichem.  She is now 100 years of age and teaching a course in Jewish Humor.  Married to a man who is 94 she makes the point that he likes older women---OK—the joke:

        “The Frenchman says: ‘I’m tired and thirsty. I must have wine.’ The German says: ‘I’m tired and thirsty. I must have beer.’ The Jew says: ‘I’m tired and thirsty. I must have diabetes.’ ”.

       Bel Kaufman is the author of the best-seller Up The Down Staircase.

9)              I don’t have a “smart” phone since it would make me feel truly stupid---a phone smarter than myself.  Horrors.

10)       Stu Marcus, the force behind the annual Harry Chapin concert on Long Island attracts some terrific talent for this Free event (you do have to bring food for the local pantries) and wondered how he might get Billy Joel to appear.  He has all the creds for this---Long Island,  stated many times his music is mistaken for Harry Chapin, and, while it is always a “sold out” event---this could really make it even more-so---and put a great feather in the cap of Stu Marcus, who desperately needs another feather in his cap.

11)       I wonder why John Prine never got around to writing a song about Steve Goodman---who, besides being a great friend, pushed him to the fore at the beginning.   He states, in Clay Eals’ book that he still has not had the inspiration.   Strange.  Think Harry Chapin/Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin/Pete Seeger, Eric Bogle/Kate Wolf.  Inspiration!

12)       Make sure you do not miss the segment about songwriters and singers on Traditions this Sunday----it may well explain the above---Andrew Calhoun will be my guest 2 weeks from then.

                                  

Some Thoughts and Some Suggestions Required

On TRADITIONS, as you are aware, I always start the program with some, what I consider, wonderful new music that was sent over the proverbial transom.   That will not change.  But I could use some suggestions about a thought I had for the program.  You, hopefully, are listeners and appreciate the program and all the wonderful guests that join us (that will not change).

In thinking of it I am so delighted that there are many "elders", so to speak, that are still with us---Pete Seeger being the lead off hitter in that category.  Yet,  we have lost so many before their time.   It is, sadly, a long list.  Yet, their music should always be recalled.    I speak here of people like Steve Goodman, Kate Wolf, Harry Chapin, Phil Ochs---oh---many more.   SO--the question.  Would you want about 20 or so minutes devoted to these people on a bi-weekly basis (one at a time)---you requests would be honored.?

Your input on this would be greatly appreciated.   I know how I feel about it but I always want to keep the program to be something you--the listener--wants to hear.

No picture and no influence today.  Just an honest question.