October 11, 10/11, is WCBS-FM 101.1 Day

 

Today's WCBS-FM is not the station that was my favorite in the 1980s and 90s that played the oldies of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  Today it plays the hits of the 80s, 90s and beyond as it tries to appeal to listeners in the 25-54 age range.  They don't want baby boomer like myself who are not desired by advertisers.  They made a terrible mistake in 2005 when they flipped to the dreaded Jack format.  They learned their lesson and became a "Greatest Hits" station in 2007.  Since that time they gradually phased out the 60s and 70s music.  All of the radio personalities from the oldies era are gone.

I listen to the station just once a week on Sunday mornings.  They have a Yacht Rock show from 7 AM - 10 AM.  There is no radio personality nat that time.  Audacy, the company that now owns the station, is trying to save money,

9 of My Favorite Albums

 

It was very hard to pick 6 of my favorite albums.  I did this off the top of my head.  I avoided Greatest Hits collections and only picked 3 Bob Dylan albums.

10/10 is 1010 WINS Day

 

With the demise of WCBS News 880 1010 WINS is the only all-news radio station left in NYC.  It became an all news station on April 19, 1965 and began a simulcast on 92.3 FM on October 27, 2022.  This move was done since the AM dial has lost popularity in recent years.  Today, most people get their news from their smartphones and are less reliant on radio.  I listen to WINS a few times a week.  I remember listening to Murray the K back in the early 1960s when WINS was a top 40 station,

So Trump is Giving Roger Clemens the Medal of Freedom Award - Mike Piazza and Other Hall of Famers Deserve it as Well

 

USA Today reports that President Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Roger Clemens who has been denied election to the Baseball Hall of Fame because of his involvement with steroids.  Hall of Famers including  Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente*, Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Mariano Rivera have received that prestigious award but numerous other Hall of Famers have not.

I have hated Clemens since he beaned Mike Piazza on July 8, 2000.

 

In the second game of the 2000 World Series Clemens threw a piece of Mike Piazza's bat at him.

I feel Trump's award the medal to Clemens is a stunt to get Republican votes in the midterm elections  Hopefully, the next president will award it to Mike Piazza.

Random Thoughts of the Day - October 6, 2026

 

• The Yankees are one game away from being eliminated in the ALDS.  The hitting has not come through for them.  If Aaron Judge were playing, would it made a difference?
• From 2023-2025 the Chicago White Sox lost 100 games.  Now they are one game away from beating Cleveland in the ALDS.  Is there hope for the Mets in 2027?
• A wooden fence was built around Whitestone Lanes and its parking lot.  Other than that there has been no other work done.  I guess the affordable housing at that site is at least a few years away.
• After 40+ years nothing has been done at the site of the RKO Keith's Theater at Northern Blvd. and Main Street.  The lobby of that theater has been deemed a landmark, but how can something be a landmark if it has not been seen in over 40 years?
• Whenever I drive around Queens, I always encounter construction.  I guess the work has to be done.

My Comments about the News Media

 

I have always felt that very often the news media creates the news rather than report it.  Over the years there have been many high-profile stories that predominate print and electronic news sources.  They often drag on for months and even years while they don’t affect our daily lives.  Let me give a few examples:

·       The British Royal Family – Should Americans care about what they do or say?  The most import Royal, King Charles III, gets less attention than anyone else while he is the most important.

·       The rape case at Cornell University.  Must the public be advised of all the details?  It is unfortunate as it affects the university community. Will” applications to Cornell University declinw? Does it have bearing on the general public?

·       Luigi Mangione.  There are thousands of murders in the country every year, but why does this one get so much attention?  Do we need to see a video of how he was arrested?  Do we know who called the police in Altoona, PA?  Do we know much about Brian Thompson who was murdered.

·       The Lindsay Clancy trial.  It is so sad that 3 small children were killed.  Do we know the details of the legal proceedings.  Does this situation affect our daily lives?

·       Celebrity romances.  I couldn’t care less.

I guess it is part of the “media culture” that unusual situations are reported and blown out of proportion.  Maybe I am the exception for objecting to this.

To me, the weather forecast is the most important item in the news as it affects everyone.

 

The Beatles Rubber Super Deluxe Box Set is Released Today

I remember buying Rubber Soul at Alexanders record department in Rego Park in December 1965.  I guess the record company wants to make more money from the Beatles, so they have produced  this boxed set.  It includes alternative takes of the songs and also distinguishes between the American and British versions of the original release.  I bought it from Amazon.com and am awaiting its delivery.