Random Thoughts after MIssing Nobody Asked Me But...

My apologies for having missed posting the ever popular item (?) this week--we will try for next week.  Popular---well, that is what the question mark is for.  Let me know.

Now to the random thoughts---

I really want to thank all the people who so loyhally pledged to both SUNDAY SIMCHA and TRADITIONS during our annual fund drive and I want to single out a few people---

I won't mention the name but here financial support is keeping this vessel(s)  afloat. Another party is from NYC and pledged(and paid via credit card) to Sunday Simcha.  Her note w/ her pledge are truly moving.  I am so delighted that I am making a difference in someone's Sunday memories and life.  Got Zei Dank .  

Moving on to Traditions.   Once again my most effusive thanks for your wonderful support of this particular program on WFDU   It is something to be celebrated what with all those that have come and gone.  A gem (started by Ron Olesko of many years back) and, hopefully, carried forward with features today that harken back to those days and bring us into today..  Not make it sound that Ron is not there---he is still there and, between us, I hope, we are presented what you want in this day of very splintered radio programming---or perhaps---niche programming is a better word/  That is open for another discussion.   Today---just thanks for support and enjoyment of what we do on WFDU-=---Traditions and Sunday Siucha.

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)            I should certainly start by thanking all of you most generous supporters of both SUNDAY SIMCHA & TRADITIONS  during this  one time a year (and only one time a year) fund raising drive to keep the station up to date in technology and programming.

2)            Those of you who pledged on line I do think that is a wonderful innovation and I have been contacted about those generous ones of you who have selected either program on line---and, for SUNDAY SIMCHA-----Vus Gun Ich Zugen? Figure that out phonetically. You have outdone yourselves in the loyalty and generosity departments. 

Let me know if you want a bumper sticker for your car’s tuchis or your own.

3)            It seems that in death the amount of attention given by the news media is pretty much equal to that given to artists in their lifetimes.  Did we really need newscast updates on Whitney Houston’s funeral cortege from Newark airport?  How much attention was given to the death of, say, Steve Goodman or Kate Wolf lo those many moons ago?

4)            Here is a bumper sticker slogan for you---mental image first of Whitney Houston and then mental image of the children victims of starvation, civil war, genocide, etc----“  Millions care about 1 death and very few care about millions of deaths”.   You do need the sad visuals for this.

5)            Why are people getting upset—well, a niche few---about program changes on XM/Sirius radio when all they have to do is cancel their subscriptions.  That will truly piss of the mgmt.  Which makes me ask---where did that “piss off” expression come from.   Sounds like it would be a urinary relief.  Better that such an entity become constipated and truly be full of some of the material they promulgate.

6)            I do wonder why people feel the need to post their daily routines and problems on Facebook.   I also wonder why so many people respond to those postings.   Seems like the gossip mode is now electronic.

7)            Here is a trivia question---on Curb Your Enthusiasm there is a particular piece of music that is played during the “chase” or “rushing about” scenes---do you recognize it?

8)            You have to hand it to Gov. Christie (NJ) not only to come up with the scheme to honor Whitney Houston and then defend his decision for honoring a very talented and, yet, disturbed and addicted person.  Not a role model, not a leader, not a hero, but a talented and disturbed individual (who also became very rich) .  In his defense, he does answer all criticism personally—and, offensively.  Just get a Twitter account and you too can prove to the world how insensitive you are.

9)            Has anyone ever wondered how we got along before things like Twitter?  Perhaps we stopped and thought about matters before going off half-cocked?   Another expression I need to learn the origin of.

10)      I have finally found out why the chicken crossed the road----running a way from the Shochet for good reason.
11)  Since so many are clamoring for more educated children to keep the nation apace with the world why is college (not to mention earlier schooling---since so many need private schools given the poor quality of public schools) so expensive that less and less people can afford it?   There are a few explanations and they are all proving the point that corporate greed has reached into the halls of education too.

                                 

NOT THURSDAY BUT---Another Edition of................

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)            Since it is not Thursday and this Thursday it would not have been possible to publish the mandatory and ever so important piece of memorable, meaningful, and momentous missives it will have to be today;  With a bit of a different slant and format.   Never without some thing to offend some.

2)   Has anyone ever wondered why we celebrate (and spend needed dollars on parades) football winners and still do not commemorate in the same manner returning vets from an unnecessary war?   True, some of the players might have gotten injured.  Oich, such a pity!

What if one of the players got hurt in the parade car---another parade?

2)            Let’s think for a moment about “folk music”.  Here us where the format changes into a bit of an essay---

a.    How would you define the genre?  Perhaps you would think of it as the folks sitting on the good ole porch strummin’ dat good ole banjo---just like that good ole Stephen Foster told us about---he who was a commercial songwriter. If you tune to You Tube you can hear some of Roscoe Holcomb.   Truly folk.  Today that sound (this is subjective) is truly bad. 

b.    Then we have what we call “folk” today.  Sure, we also call the old timey material that and we also call our Singer/Songwriters that as well.  I appreciate them and their great talents.  I do not consider it folk music.  I do consider it some wonderful work by talented and creative people.

c.    What “folk” music is to me is something that is hard to define.  After all, what makes Mozart or Beethoven more memorable, musically, than some current composers?  I would define “folk” music as music that survives over many years and people recall---be it Bway Musicals (3 Penny Opera comes to mind), Pop songs that are still sung and such.   I bet some of you still recall and hum some old tunes from, say, The Andrew Sisters, Buffalo Springfield, and such.  Let us also never forget the likes of Harry Chapin and Phil Ochs---I doubt they sat around the ole front porch and sung a song or two.   But they are in our collective memory.

3)                I suppose this is a good time to bring up, once again, the mention of WFDU and our fund raising efforts for the month of February and the only time we come to you to ask for support.    They may not admit it but it is a “folk” station.   Think about the eclectic material that is offered there.  TRADITIONS is not the only “folk” show there.   All the offerings are what “FOLK” want---that is why they are there.   Even TRADITIONS---I speak only for myself on this---offers an eclectic mix of material.  Material from, say, Bway musicals to Phil Ochs, from current singer/songwriters to icons of “folk”. I am always delighted when I find---not discover since they are already there---a wonderful artist that truly blows me away and I, then, find it did that our listeners as well.  Three come to mind of recent vintage----Claudia Nygaard ( a guest of mine a while ago), Mara Levine, and Jenei Huff.

4)            The point to the above is that the station is eclectic and, thankfully, so is TRADITIONS  and also SUNDAY SIMCHA.  Pushing the edges of the envelope---if that is the proper expression—is what I believe is the proper way to go and also, from the responses to both programs, our virtual radio community seems to agree.   I am delighted by the response to “new” material on SUNDAY SIMCHA as well as the nice comments last week for the musical selections on TRADITIONS.  Hank Williams would have been proud----he can certainly be considered a “folk” icon----as I said—a subjective definition.   In the past the audience has also heard from Gilbert & Sullivan and from “New Girl In Town” (if you want to know more about that just e mail me).   Wherever you look---there is “folk” and when you tune in to WFDU there is eclecticism.  Some support is appreciated.

                                  

ereHereH

THURSDAY--Another Edition of--

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT.......

1)   I have to say---(that’s redundant since I am saying it)—that the late THEODORE (Brother Theodore for latecomers to his talent) had it right when he said (in an interview with me)”...how do you think I feel when the 25 year old Theodore looks into the mirror and sees the 92 year old Theodore?...) I now know what he meant.  He died about 2 years after that and was still performing.

2)  That was when I was still doing my “Tabletalk” program (on WFDU) so I have no place to re-broadcast it unless someone can tell me how to podcast it on Facebook (perhaps).   Certainly had myriad interesting people on that program but 3 programs were a bit much to do and still maintain quality that I wanted to continue for the program.

3)  This is a good time to mention, once again, WFDU.  The right place on the left side of the dial---when dials had left and right sides.  I know of no other station that still reflects what radio is supposed to be about when it comes to “free form” and eclectic programming that allows hosts to present programs that attract a real mix of listeners who appreciate knowledgeable and personable personalities that are expert in their genres of programming.

4)  To end the not too subtle point about WFDU let me just say the following:

a.This is the annual fund-raising month and your support is needed to keep what YOU want on the air.  That’s the only rating system the station has.

b.Fund raising comes just one month a year.   Can you think of any other station that does that?  Don’t think too hard---the answer is---0

c.My two programs SUNDAY SIMCHA & TRADITIONS will be offering you gifts (CDs) for your financial help and you may also go to www.wfdu.fm  and securely pledge on line and mention the program you are supporting.  You can also get some station bumper stickers (no charge) and---if you are really a braggart---and you have a Yiddish Bumper  (say a Mitzvahmobile) you can get one that has the SUNDAY SIMCHA slogan on it---you know what it is.

5)       Time now for a TV recommendation as an oasis in the phrase coined by Newton Minnow---“That Wasteland”.   Try “Family Guy” since it makes some valid topical points and many go over children’s and people’s heads.  Their opening episode this season (Jan 29) took on Medicine, Religion, Police Corruption in the most hilarious manner and made some great points.  Great way to get a message across---humor with no preaching.

6)   If you did not know why the chicken crossed the road I will tell you---escaping a crazed Shochet.  Hey,  I host SUNDAY SIMCHA =---I should know. 

7)    In this age of so much multi media nothing is ever past.   With You Tube people that you are missing still live on in eternity with no decomposition just some beautiful music and memories.  Bless all those people who, for whatever reason, post music that was way before their time.

8) With all the talk about Pres. Obama and the economy has everyone forgotten the nailbiting scenes he viewed in his most risky order to capture or kill Bin Laden?  Coolness and fidelity to truth seem like virtues no remembered by the GOP wannabees.

9) Has anyone noticed that the GOP hopeful wannabees never say Pres. or Pres. Obama---just Obama.   That has to tell you something of what they think of the office.

10)                David Letterman had a 30^th Anniv. on his program and no fanfare.  Good for him.  EXCEPT his guest---Howard Stern.   One of the reasons I don’t really watch Letterman---his taste leaves much to be desired if he is comfortable with the sultan of sleaze.  Howard Stern.   I wouldn’t spend a nickel on Sirius / XM since he is, not only a star there, but the single entity bringing them down financially from the stupid pandering the mgmt. did to get this arbiter of anal acumen on the station.  OK—I would not subscribe to that nonsense known as Sirius/XM anyway---see above for a better choice.

11)                I am not a Mitt Romney fan but I will say that when some of his comments are truncated or taken out of context there is no debate just some very uncivil dialogue.

                               

NOT THURSDAY BUT---Another Edition of................

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT....

   1)  There is only one comment today to encompass some thoughts and comments and deliver some honest thoughts about blogs, the internet, and such.
            a)  Starting with Blogs (which, if you are curious is an acronym for web log).  It gives people, such as myself a forum from which to publish opinions and thoughts that were not possible years ago.  It also makes us feel, honestly, that there is an audience for that.  Given that the Huffington Post and such sites have an audience one has to wonder why not "me".  Frankly, I agree. 
           b) Aging and knowing your peers are in that same category makes you realize how fleeting time is.  It also makes you count your sorry small blessings to find that many have fared not as well.  Some better.  That is, I suppose, what is called "life".
           c)  Having heard that a neighbor died some 3 or months after losing his spouse makes you wonder why some people survive a death of a spouse for years and others pass on  so rapidly.  I know not.
           
       2) WFDU as you know, unlike other stations on the left side---and even the center of the dial---have a much needed fund raiser only one time a year (how necessary multiple times are for the others I know not) and it is always in February.  I do hope that you will support the station and most particularly---our own rating system--TRADITIONS & SUNDAY SIMCHA.  I look forward to your support at this crucial and singular time.  You may call while the programs are airing (I am live---as I can be) at 201 692-2012 or via e mail to me at sundaysimcha@yahoo.com    
or wfdutraditions@yahoo.com 

Your support---and, better, OUR support (since these programs are about you--the audience) is much needed and appreciated.   

That is the brief and personal column for this day---

                                                                        

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.