The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio

 

Bob Radil played my request for this on his 60s 70s show, even though it was released in 2012.  I suppose God created the radio to provide entertainment and information for its listeners. Sadly, radio broadcasting has deteriorated over the years due to the major corporations that own radio stations.  They must cater to the advertisers, not the listeners.

Mets 5 Nationals 0 as David Peterson Pitches a Complete Game Shutout

 

This Wednesday night game was included in our season package for Sundays.  To honor Brian Wilson, a few Beach Boys songs were played on the stadium's loudspeaker system.  In recent years, complete games are rare in MLB.  Complete game shutouts are even less common, but David Peterson did the trick.  Brandon Nimmo hit two home runs and Juan Soto hit one to give the Mets the 5-0 victory.

The Mets have now won five games in a row and are 44-24.  Is this 1986 again?  There are still 94 games to go.

Game Recap

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys Passes Away at 82

 

Like millions of others, I am saddened by the passing of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys at age 82.  I cannot add to the volumes of tributes that will be written about him.  There are numerous biographies of the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson.  Here is his obituary in the New York Times.  It is normal journalistic practice to write obituaries before the subject passes away.  Shown above is a video of his album Smile.

Ten years ago, I wrote a journal entry about the link between Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson.  In that entry, there is a YouTube video with Bob and Brian collaborating in 1988 on a song called Spirit of Rock 'n Roll.  There is also a YouTube Video of the Beach Boys doing a parody of Dylan.  Both of those videos were deleted from YouTube.

A reader of that entry commented The Beach Boys covered Times They Are A-Changin' in 1965 on the Party! album, lead vocal by their resident folkie, Al Jardine.   He also said the Spirit of Rock' n 'Roll was meant for an album called Sweet Insanity, which was never officially released but did leak out on bootlegs a few years ago later.

Random Thoughts of the Day June 9, 2025

 

• I was thinking about shopping for a new air conditioner this afternoon, but I was tired after doing the laundry and some house cleaning.  I'll try to do it tomorrow as there is no big hurry,  I assume I'll have to wait for delivery and installation anyway.
• Young women find me on Telegram.  Now, I just ignore them, and they'll go away.  You never know when the friendly chat will turn into a romance scam.  I learned my lesson.
• I belong to a Facebook Group called Jewish Singles 65+.  Within this group, there was a side chat for people in NYC.  Last Saturday, the group had a luncheon in a restaurant in the Theater District.  I was the only man among 6 women.  I did feel a lititle uncomfortable, but it reminded my days working in a pharmaceutical company library from 1979-82 when I was the only man in the department.  Now they are chatting about holding a brunch later this summer.

I am a Bob Dylan Fan but Certainly Appreciate the Writings of the Scholars

 

A fan is someone who shows a strong interest and admiration for something or someone, often with enthusiastic support.  I have been a Bob Dylan fan since I first heard Like a Rolling Stone in 1965.  I am aware of some Bob Dylan fans who have done some extraordinary things, such as traveling hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to see him in concert. A few have seen hundreds of his concerts over the years, even if the set list is the same.  I consider them fanatics.

Dylan's work is examined through the lens of various disciplines, including literature, musicology, history, and cultural studies.  His song lyrics are considered literature as he won the Nobel Prize in 2016.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books analyzing his works.  There is also an open-access scholarly journal called The Dylan Review.

I have many Bob Dylan books in my personal collection that I have read over the years.  Since I have little room in my apartment for books, I have read many Dylan e-books on my Amazon Kindle.  Most of these books are scholarly.  I appreciate all the authors.

I often take lines from Dylan songs out of context and apply them to my situation.  Here is an example from Memphis Blues Again.

An’ here I sit so patiently

Waiting to find out what price

You have to pay to get out of

Going through all these things twice

Two Air Conditioners Broke Down on the First Hot Day of the Season

 

Since it was in the high 80s yesterday, I decided to turn on the air conditioners in the apartment for the first time of the season.  The air conditioner in the bedroom just wouldn't turn on.  The electrical outlet worked, so I concluded there was a problem with the machine.  The air conditioner in the living room conked out 30 seconds after I turned it on.

Both air conditioners were over 10 years old.  Of course, no product lasts forever, so it is time to get new ones.  I will likely buy one at a time starting this week.  I just read there was a recall of certain air conditioner models.  So when I go to the appliance store, I'll bring the list of the recalled models.

At least my car air conditioner worked.  A few years ago, I had to bring it to the dealer for it to be repaired.

Treat Her Right by Roy Head - Random Oldie as I Have Writer's Cramp

 

It is one of those days when I don't know what to write about so I'll just post a random oldie.

Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango - Oldie of the Day

 

This was a hit in the Summer of 1973 when I was a student at the University of Rhode Island.  For some strange reason, it reminds me of a former friend.  Felix Hernandez plays it on his Rhythm Revue show on WBGO.  Manu Dibango passed away from COVID in the early days of the pandemic.

Mets 5 Rockies 3

 

In 1962, I suffered as the expansion New York Mets were 40-120.  Last year, fellow Bob Dylan enthusiast Henry Bernstein suffered as his Chicago White Sox lost 121 games. This season, the Colorado Rockies are now 9-50 with a .153 winning percentage.  At that rate, they could lose more games than the Cleveland Spiders of 1899, who finished 20-134.

Today, the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the hapless Rockies.  All the scoring was done through home runs.

For the Mets:

• Pete Alonso
• Francisco Lindor - the Mets have won the last 28 games, including the 2024 postseason, when Lindor homers.
• Juan Soto

For the Rockies

• Tyler Freeman

Box Score

Mission Impossible Final Reckoning at the AMC Bay Terrace 6

 

Since the College Point Multiplex closed last May I hadn't gone to very many movies.  Today I decided to drive over to the Bay Terrace Shopping Center to see Mission Impossible Final Reckoning.  I saw all the other films in this series, so I may as well see this last one.  It had excellent special effects making Ethan Hunt played by Tom Cruise, the hero.

Review in the New York Times

Reportedly, Bob Dylan Will release a Final Farewell Album

I only read about this on a British Website. I am not saying that this is fake news, but I would think that Sony Records would make an official announcement.  None of my Bob Dylan friends commented on this.  Dylan has been so busy touring that I don't know when he found the time to record this album.

Stayed tuned.

 

Ghosbusters Theme from the Movie Inspired Me to Write About Ghosting

 

Ghosting is defined as he practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication.  It is most commonly applied to dating apps, but can refer to any online communication, romantic or not.

If you are interested in reading more, I found this article What is Ghosting

Let me relate some of my experiences with ghosting over the past year or so with younger women.

In all cases, I stated my age and that I was a widower and obviously could not date them or even meet them since they were at a long distance from me.

• Connie found me on Facebook, stating she would like to friend me since she found my postings interesting. You never know when people are telling the truth, but she said was in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Syria.  Since she could not use her credit card until she returned to the USA, she asked me to buy a Steam Card for her.  When I refused, she ghosted me.  Several months later, she tried to friend me on Facebook with the name Tessa. I recognized her picture. I didn't fall for it this time.
• Carolyn friended me on Facebook.  She lost her husband and had a five-year-old son. She moved the chat to WhatsApp.After flattering me for several days, she said she needed money to pay her rent.  Like a fool, I gave her a small amount.  A few days later, she insisted she needed more money.  I ghosted her, but about 6 months later, she chatted with me again for a day and then ghosted me permanently. Never send anyone money.  This is the Romance Scam.
• Allyson also friended me on Facebook. Like Carolyn, she started to flatter me after telling me she had lost her husband.  After she said wasn't working, I suspected something.  Sure enough, she cried that she could she couldn't feed her children and begged me for money.  I learned my lesson, and goodbye. This was another Romance Scam
• A few Asian women found my account on Telegram and started to chat with me. In all cases, they had good jobs, so I knew these would not be romance scams. Cindy was from San Francisco and even told me I could stay at her house if I came to her city.  After a while, she talked about investments.  When I said I wasn't interested, she ghosted me.  Apparently, she friended me to try to do financial business with her. Gina lived in St. Petersburg, Florida and kept sending me pictures.  One day, she said she was in church and prayed that our relationship would last forever.  A few days later, she ghosted me.  They say one thing and do the opposite.  It reminds me of a library manager I once knew.

I guess I am amused by all of this.

My Misadventure with a Dating App

 

About a year after Karen passed away, I started to think about returning to dating.  There were two basic issues:

• ·       Finding someone
• ·       Will a date become a relationship, and then something serious

I dreaded those miserable singles dances back in the late 60s and 70s.  We jokingly called them “meat markets” where the meat was kosher.  I met several young ladies at dances back then.

First dates were often difficult for me as I had trouble initiating a conversation with a new person.  Sometimes, I thought a first date went well, but when I asked for a second date the young lady would reply “I’m busy.”  Other times a relationship would fizzle out after a few dates.

I was reluctant to face those issues decades later.  In 2023 I dabbled with dating apps.  I had a Facetime chat with one woman, but I decided not to pursue it.

Very recently, I decided to try dating apps again.  I thought it would be nice to have some female companionship four years after I lost Karen.  I signed up with JDate a service for Jewish singles.  I decided to sign up for just one month to see if it was worth it.  I filled out the questionnaire and posted my profile.  I stated I only wanted matches 25 miles or less from home.  Most of the matches were from places such as Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia, more than 200 miles away.  I contacted a few from NYC, but they never responded.  That is fair game.

For the next three weeks I got no new matches and thought of cancelling my membership at the end of the month.  All of a sudden I got a slew of potential matches, including New Jersey and Long Island.  I thought to myself, do I really want to travel a long distance for a date?  I am not desperate to find someone.  I remember in 1969 when I had a date in the Bronx, my father remarked, aren’t there enough girls in Queens.  That date didn’t work out anyway.

I did connect with a woman named Joan whose profile said she was in NYC.  We started to chat within the dating app for a while and then she asked for my email and suggested we communicate that way.  A little while later, her JDate profile disappeared.

In one of her emails, she said:

I value sincerity, and I'm seeking a genuine, romantic, and fulfilling relationship. I am down-to-earth, honest, non-judgmental, and giving in my relationships and intimacy. My heart is big, and my personality is warm and caring. I’m someone who truly wants to experience love in its fullest sense. I am sociable, outgoing, and well-balanced in my life. My character is grounded in the belief of giving everyone a fair chance.

After a few more emails I suggested we have a video chat or meet at a neutral location for a face-to-face meeting.  Her response:

As for meeting in person, I appreciate your suggestion about a neutral location. That's a good point! I live in Ocala Florida . Since you live in Flushing, Queens, if we're both comfortable with traveling, we could potentially meet somewhere in the middle or a place that's convenient for both of us

I think this qualifies for an “Oy Vey.”  She said she values sincerity, but why did she say in her profile that she was in NYC while she actually lives in Florida.  Am I really going to travel to Florida to meet a woman?

This was her last communication with me:

Let's discuss the video chat over the next weekend but we can continue sharing emails and see how that goes. If we both feel comfortable, we can then plan an in-person meeting at a neutral spot. What are your thoughts on this approach?

I decided to stop communicating with her.  Long-distance relationships rarely work out, especially when they begin as a long-distance situation. If she sends me an email, I’ll politely say that this won't work out.

I also decided to end my subscription to JDate since it was creating too much anxiety for me.

My nephew in California met his wife through JDate, so dating apps do work.

 

Mets 3 Dodgers 1 on Memorial Day Weekend

 

The game started on a bad note, as Shohei Otani hit Kodai Senga's second pitch for a home run, giving the Dodgers the lead early. After 71 consecutive plate appearances without a home run, Pete Alonso hit a two-run blast to put the Mets ahead. The Mets scored one more run in the third inning.  Senga pitched into the sixth inning without allowing another run to the Dodgers.  Reliever Ryne Stanek, Max Kranick, and Reed Garrett closed the door as the Mets took the series 2-1 against last year's World Champions.

Box Score

When we arrived home, we were able to catch the end of Game 3 of the Knicks—Pacers series.  The Knicks came from behind to win 106-100.

Random Thoughts about Bob Dylan on His 84th Birthday

 

• At age 84 he is still touring.  He must really enjoy it as he obviously does not need the money.  Tonight he will be playing in Ridgefield, Washington.  I assume that many of my Dylan fan friends will be there.  They will either sing or hold placards wishing him a happy birthday.  I doubt if Bob will acknowledge them.
• There are Dylan fans who travel around the world to see his concerts.  For me, once a year is enough.  I will see him at Jones Beach on August 1.
• On Substack, writers and creators can publish their work and profit from paid subscriptions.  I just refuse to pay to read people's thoughts on Dylan.  There is enough free stuff to read.  I do subscribe to Bob Dylan Isis magazine.  How much can you read about him?
• I attended the World of Dylan symposium in Tulsa in 2019.  There was a mix of fans and scholars.  I also attended the 2021 conference, which was completely online during the COVID pandemic.  I was told the attendance at the 2023 meeting was lower than the one in 2019.  I am not going to the one this coming July since it will too scholarly for me.  I did visit Tulsa again in 2022 to see the Bob Dylan Center.
• I run an online video meeting every month.

Gimme Little Sign by Brenton Wood - Oldie of the Day

 

I can't think of anything new to write today.  I guess it is a case of writer's cramp.  Anyway, I just heard Gimme Little Sign on 60s Gold with Phlash Phelps so I thought I would post it.

The Rick Nelson - Bob Dylan Connection

 

On May 15, Bob Dylan covered Rick Nelson's Garden Party at the Chula Vista, California Outlaw Music Festival. Dylan actually sang about himself.

Taken out of context:

And over in the corner

Much to my surprise

Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes

Wearing his disguise 

Back in 1969, Rick Nelson covered Dylan's She Belongs to Me originally recorded on the Bringing It All Back Home album in 1965.

Another Evening at Flushing Town Hall: Global Mashup: Middle Eastern Rock Meets Western Swing.

 

Since Flushing Town Hall is within walking distance of home, I have attended several events documented in this journal. Last night's program was titled Global Mashup: Middle Eastern Rock Meets Western Swing. After two dance workshops, each band played a set, and then the two met and jammed for the third and final "Mashup" set.

The first group was Chogan, a Middle Eastern rock band founded by Mehrnam Rastegari, a master kamancheh player, composer, and singer. With her original compositions, she celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East while blending it seamlessly with the universal energy of rock music, delivering a sound that is both deeply rooted and refreshingly.

Queen Esther fronted the second group.  She was raised in Atlanta and rooted in Charleston’s Lowcountry traditions; her work fuses Black Southern heritage with Americana, blues, jazz, and alt-country, creating a rich, reclamation-driven soundscape.

It is nice to do something different on a Saturday night.  On  early Sunday afternoon, I am listening to the recording of Cousin Brucie's radio show.

Thank Goodness I Don't Have to Cope with a New Jersey Transit Strike

 

For 25 years (1992-2017), I commuted from Flushing to Newark, NJ, using the New York City Subway and New Jersey Transit.  Over that time, I encountered numerous delays for different reasons.  Believe me, that miserable commute took its toll on me.  I documented many of those problems in my companion commuting blog.  In those 25 years, I never experienced a strike by New Jersey Transit workers.

Today, the engineers struck over wages (what else?), impacting about 350,000 commuters. Some substitute bus service is available, but that could only accommodate 20% of those affected. Traffic is bad enough in the Garden State, but this situation will force more people to drive to work.

Since I have been retired for over 7 years, I don't have to worry about this, but it gives me an excuse to write a blog entry.  I could have used the PATH trains to travel from Midtown Manhattan to Newark, but I assume those trains would be jam-packed even for reverse commuters.  Perhaps my employer would let me work from home as was done during the COVID pandemic.  But not everyone can work from home.

I was amused by this article in the Gothamist that criticized current Governor Phil Murphy for not fixing the problems on New Jersey Transit, which this article states that the system is worse now than it was when he took office.  So commuting would have been worse for me had I not retired.  Anyway, at age 68, it was time to pack it in.

Since term limits prevent Murphy from running again, there is a primary battle for the Democratic nomination.  In the umpteen commercials I've seen by the various candidates, there is no mention of how they will solve the problems on New Jersey Transit.

I wish the best of luck to current commuters.

Trying to Juggle Jeopardy, the Knicks, and the Mets Last Night

 

Last night's game at Citi Field was part of my 20-Game package for the Mets. It was raining all day and at about 5 PM I decided not to go.  This is a rare decision for me, but I didn't want to feel uncomfortable sitting in a damp and cold stadium with the possibility of a rain delay.  But I have plenty of games to see in the future.  In any event, the Mets lost 4-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  There was only a short 15-minute delay at the start of the game.

The TV schedule last night:

• Regular Jeopardy 7 PM
• Wheel of Fortune 7:30 PM
• Celebrity Wheel of Fortune 8 PM (we recorded this on the DVR)
• Mets vs Pittsburgh 7 PM
• Knicks vs Celtics 7 PM
• Jeopardy Masters 9 PM

We watched Jeopardy and Wheel between 7 and 8.  At 8 PM I turned on the Knicks and watched until halftime.  At that point, I watched the Mets until 9 PM.

The answers on Jeopardy Masters were really tough.  When I was watching it, I saw on my phone that the Knicks lost to the Celtics 127-102, forcing a Game 6 on Friday at MSG.

Jeopardy was the big winner of the night.

Is Chronicles Volume II - An Autobiography of Bob Dylan Being Released Soon?

 

In 2004, Bob Dylan wrote an autobiography called Chronicles Volume I. There were supposed to be three volumes in this series, but after 20 years, nothing has been said about the next two volumes.  Sean Penn, who narrated volume 1 said that he was just getting ready to record Chronicles II but he hadn't read it yet. To be clear, he mentioned it by title so we're not talking Bob's recent book on music.

Dylan has always been secretive about what he does, so we will have to wait and hear for an announcement.  I really should reread Volume 1 as it has been cited by the Dylan scholars.

Mets 6 Cubs 2 on Mother's Day at Citi Field

The Mets took a 1-0 lead as Luis Torrens hit a triple in the second inning to drive in Starlin Marte.  In the top of the sixth, Pete Crow-Armstrong homered for the Cubs to tie the game. The Mets traded Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs at the trading deadline in 2021 for Javier Baez, who did not sign with the Mets in the off-season.  Mark Vientos homered in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead.  Nico Hoerner drove in a run in the seventh inning to tie the game again.

The Mets rallied for four runs in the eighth, featuring home runs by Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo, to win the game 6-2.

Game Summary

I made a fashion statement at the game.

 

It's Alright by Adam Faith - Random One-Hit Wonder of the Day

 

It's Alright by Adam Faith hit #31 on the Billboard Chart in 1965.  I remember this record being played in the film Good Morning Vietnam.  Adam Faith had more hits in the United Kingdom.

In the Last Week I Got Two Final Jeopardy Questions Correct While All 3 Contestants Miss

It is very unusual when I get a final Jeopardy question correct while all three contestants miss.  This happened twice within the last week.

Best New Artist at the 7th annual Grammys, this band would be nominated the next 6 years, but not again until the 39th & 67th events

The correct question is: Who are the Beatles? This was a wild guess on my part.

 I did a little "research" into this. The Best New Artist would be in 1964, while the next six years cover the time until 1970, when the group actively recorded.  They were nominated in the 39th event for The Beatles Anthology as Best Long Form Video, and Free as a Bird for Short Form Video.  At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, they won for "Now and Then" as Best Rock Performance.  I wasn't overly thrilled about "Now and Then."

Of the 4 independent nations of the Americas without English or Spanish as an official language, it’s the smallest in area

The correct question:  What is Haiti?  Two contestants guessed Suriname, where Dutch is the official language.  However, Haiti, where French is the official language, is smaller in area.

Those questions in the Jeopardy Masters Tournament are really tough.  Yogesh Raut is really a terrific player and could win the tournament.  I watched the Jeopardy tournament last night and missed the Knicks' second comeback win of the series against the Celtics.

 

Rainy Days and Mondays [Tuesdays Too] by the Carpenters

 

It looks like there will be two rainy days in a row.  Yesterday I watched the movie Diamond King on Amazon Prime Video.  It is about Dick Perez, the Official Artist of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Maybe today, I'll do some reading.

No More Bagels in My Immediate Neighborhood

 

The JK Bakery on Union Street in Flushing, around the corner from my building, has closed permanently. The discussion about this on Nextdoor and Facebook assumes that the landlord has raised the rent so high that the business could no longer be profitable.  There was no sign on the front at all, so assumptions must be made.

When I moved into the neighborhood in the mid 1980s Jews owned the business, but shortly thereafter Koreans bought it.  I don't know if the same woman has owned it for all these years.  The current owner only sells bagels, coffee, and bottled water.  In the past, we could buy assorted pastries, sandwiches, and sodas.

The owner always listened to 1010 WINS, the all-news station.  That station must be repetitive and assumes only short-term listeners.  I asked the owner once if she is bored listening to the station all day.  Her response was "I like the news."  Maybe she does, but I sure don't.  All you hear about is crime, fires, natural disasters, and corrupt public officials.

For the past week, I got my bagels at Stop and Shop when I do my bi-weekly trips there.  Their bagels are not as good as the ones from the JK Bakery.  There is another bagel bakery at 34th Road and Union Street about 1/2 mile away.  Once in a while I will have to walk over there.

Nothing in this world is permanent.

It is Sad that the President Signed an Executive Order to End Federal Funding for NPR and PBS

 

This article in the New York Times states that the president wants to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS.  I have some concerns:

• The current president is overusing Executive Orders.  He thinks he can do whatever he wants without consulting Congress.
• He perceives the news on NPR and PBS stations is biased against him.  I believe they are objective and present all sides of the issues.
• Music and cultural programming on these stations will be adversely affected.
• I am a sustaining member of WFUV, WBGO, and WNET (TV).  They will be more aggressive in their fundraising in the future, which is understandable.  
• I hope that the quality of their programs will not suffer.

Mets 8 Diamondbacks 3

 

Our 20-game Sunday plan includes some weekday games, so Lee and I were at Citi Field last night.  The game featured two-run home runs by Francisco Lindor and Starlin Marte and a solo homer by Pete Alonso whose batting average is now .346.

The Mets had a spectacular defensive inning, as seen below, with amazing plays from Mark Vientos, Tyrone Taylor, and Francisco Lindor.

The Mets improved their MLB-leading record to 21-9 and their league-best home mark to 13-1.

Box Score

Happy 92nd Birthday to Willie Nelson

 

At 92 years old, Willie Nelson will appear at the Outlaw Music Festival this summer.  The tour will stop at Jones Beach on August 1, when Lee and I will be there.  Last summer he skipped the stop at Jones Beach for health reasons.  Of course, I picked his cover of Bob Dylan's What Was It You Wanted.

Where the Action Is (Was) - A Follow Up on a Journal Entry from 2011

 

Last night, Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon was a guest on Cousin Brucie's show.  It did not come up in the conversation, but I remembered that Freddie sang the theme to Where the Action Is, a TV show in the mid 1960s hosted by Dick Clark that featured performances by the rock stars of that of that era.  I searched my journal and discovered an entry I wrote in 2011.  It refreshed my memory and stated that I have two DVDs of shows from that series.  I will have to re-watch them now.

There is now a detailed article in Wikipedia describing the show.

Check out this full episode:

Chicago the Musical at the Ambassador Theater

 

Today, we continued a family tradition of seeing a Broadway show at birthdays.  Lee decided to see Chicago The Musical.  It originally opened on Broadway in 1975 and ran for about two years.  It was revived on Broadway in 1996 and holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

It tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife who murders her lover, and Velma Kelly, a vaudeville star, as they both navigate the legal system and the media circus surrounding their crimes. 

I observed that all the actors were dressed in black.  There was no scenery as the orchestra was always behind the actors and dancers.

Oy Vey - A Man Was Fatally Stabbed for Stepping on Toes in the NYC Subway

 

Stepping on toes is an idiom meaning to upset or offend someone, especially by doing something that is not their responsibility or that encroaches on their area of authority.  A former colleague always mumbled to herself that she shouldn't step on people's toes, but kept on doing it.  She would regularly offer to do someone else's job.  After the normal one-year probationary period, she was terminated.  This happened about 12 years ago.  I hope she is doing well wherever she ended up.

Anyway, I rarely see that expression used literally.  Today, I read that an argument about someone's shoes being stepped on aboard a rush-hour 6 train ended with a man being stabbed to death at the City Hall subway station in Lower Manhattan.  I have heard of many crimes in the subway, but this has to be the stupidest.  I have ridden on many crowded trains in my years of riding, but I have never stepped on anyone's toes.

Don't Think Twice by Eric Clapton - One of My Favorite Dylan Covers

Don't Think Twice was originally recorded by Bob Dylan in his Freewheelin' album in 1963.  It has been covered umpteen times in many musical genres.  Eric Clapton recorded this version at the 30th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden on October 16, 1992.

Still Crazy After All These 76 Years

 

Where did all these years go?  I don't feel or look like I'm 76 years old.  Thankfully, I am in good health.  As we age, we fear that some ailment will arise, leading to our demise.  Nobody knows how much time the Lord has given us.  My mother lived to 95 while my Uncle Sy lived to 101.  Other family members were not as fortunate.

When I was growing up in the 1960s, I enjoyed baseball, Bob Dylan, top 40 hits, and Jeopardy among other interests.  I still enjoy those things today.  That helps me "think young."

I already received many birthday wishes from my "Facebook community of friends."  Many of them I have never me face to face while others I have known for years.  I appreciate all the kind wishes.

Mets Defeat Cardinals 7-4 to Complete a 4-Game Sweep

If it's Sunday, Lee and I are at Citi Field to Meet the Mets.  The Mets bats seem to be coming alive as Francisco Lindor had three hits, including a leadoff homer and Juan Soto had three RBI, including a two-run double to cap a three-run eighth.  It nice to see they are earning their respective multi-million dollar salaries.

The Mets took a 3-0 lead, but the Cardinals tied it up in the top of the 7th inning. Brandon Nimmo robbed Jordan Walker of a home run in the sixth inning and singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh.

So far, the Mets are 3-0 in games that I attended.

Box Score

 

Today is the 60th Anniversary of All-News on 1010 WINS

 

Radio stations often change formats to attract different audiences, but 1010 WINS, as an all-news station, has lasted  60 years.  I remember listening to Murray the K when 1010 WINS was a top 40 station until April 19, 1965.  On October 10. 2022 WINS began to simulcast on 92.3 FM.  They still use the slogan "You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world."

The news stories on 1010 WINS are usually very brief.  One must watch TV News or listen to WNYC for more in-depth coverage. The station must be very repetitive as it expects its listeners to stay only a short time.

There is an Asian woman in my neighborhood in a bagel bakery who always listens to WINS.  I once asked her if she is bored listening to news all the time.  Her answer was "I like the news."  To each his own.  In any event, the news on any outlet is so sad as they report murders, crime, fires, accidents, natural disasters, and political nonsense.  I like to keep informed, but once a day is enough.

One Program Providing Virus Protection is Enough

 

On April 10th, I described my problems in reinstalling Microsoft 365.  After two people from Microsoft couldn't solve my problem, I was referred to a Tier 2 support person.  I had to wait a week for this person to contact me, so I had to use a free version of Microsoft Word in the meantime.  Finally, today the person contacted me by phone and determined that the problem was caused by my having more than one virus protection programs on my computer.  After we deleted the two unnecessary programs, I was able to reinstall Microsoft 365.  As an added bonus, my computer worked much faster.  It turned out that the programs were interfering with each other.

All's well that ends well.

Wink Martindale Was Also a Radio Personality

 

Yesterday, we found out that Wink Martindale, best known as a game show host, passed away at age 91.  In 1959, he had a top ten spoken word hit Deck of Cards.  He was also a radio personality.  The information below is from Wikipedia.

He started his career as a disc jockey at age 17 at WPLI in Jackson, earning $25 a week.

After moving to WTJS, he was hired away for double the salary by Jackson's only other station, WDXI. He next hosted mornings at WHBQ in Memphis while a college student at Memphis State University, before graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1957. While at U of M, Martindale became a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

On the evening of July 10, 1954, Martindale was showing the WHBQ studio to some friends when he realized that his colleague on the 9 p.m. to midnight shift, Dewey Phillips, was getting many reactions from listeners after airing a new song. That song was Elvis Presley's first record, "That's All Right." The song was recorded at Sam Phillips' recording studio on the evening of July 5, 1954. Sam, who had brought the record on July 6, was in the WHBQ studio on the first airing night and had Elvis' telephone number. DJ Dewey Phillips wanted to interview Elvis during his program, so Wink endeavored to contact Elvis. Still, Gladys Presley, Elvis's mother, answered the phone and said Elvis was so nervous that he had gone to a movie theater. Gladys and her husband Vernon brought Elvis to WHBQ and Dewey interviewed Elvis without his knowing that he was on the air (Martindale reported that Elvis later admitted that he would have been unable to talk otherwise).

Today is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball

 

Above is a video from MSNBC discussing the significance of Jackie Robinson Day, observed every April 15. On that day, all players, managers, and coaches wear uniform #42, permanently retired by all MLB teams.  This tradition started on April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of Jackie's first appearance with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  I highly recommend my readers visit the Jackie Robinson Museum in lower Manhattan.

I Only Have Eyes for You - Flamingos and Art Garfunkel Versions -Which is Your Favorite

 I just listened to a radio interview with Art Garfunkel on BBC2. Please access this within a month since it will be taken offline.  I Only Have Eyes for You by the Flamingos was popular with listeners of WCBS-FM back when the station played the hits of the 1950s.  I also liked the version by Art Garfunkel that appeared on his Breakaway album.  Which is your favorite?

Another Chat Relationship Ends Abruptly - No More for Me!

 

On March 23 I described some chatting relationships that I had with younger women.  I described the latest encounter as follows:

"This last chat is ongoing.  Emily is from Singapore and lives in St. Petersburg.  I met her on her business account on Telegram.  She then moved the chat to her personal Telegram account and said that her name was Genevieve, but I should call her Gina." The chat has gone reasonably well and appears not to be a romance scam.

She said "Honestly I saw your number In my contact list so I texted you." I don't how that happened so I continued to chat with her.  As always I stated my age, location, and status as a widower.  I told her I was twice her age and obviously could not date her.  We had a pleasant chat for about two weeks and also exchanged photos.  She always wished me a good night and sent a welcoming text every morning.

Last Sunday she said, "I'm going to church in the afternoon to pray that our relationship will last forever."

Two days ago I noticed that she deleted her personal account on Telegram.  I went back to her business account and said good morning to her.  I have not heard back from her.

I assume I was ghosted.  But don't say something and then do the opposite.  She went to church to pray that our relationship would last forever and then days later "disappears".

I learned my lesson.  No more chatting relationships with anyone.  At best, they are a waste of time.  At least she didn't try to hit me up for money.

Remembering Lenny Welch (1938-2025)

 

It was recently announced that singer Lenny Welch passed away at 86. As noted in this obituary in the Asbury Park Press, he was a native of that town.  I am looking at my Joel Whitburn book Top Pop Singles and observe that Since I Fell For You was his only Top 10 national hit.  He was more popular in the NY/NJ area than he was nationally.  Darling Take Me Bake I'm Sorry seen above hit #4 on the WMCA survey in 1965, but only hit #72 in the national Billboard chart.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Adventures with Microsoft 365

 I have had Microsoft 365 for years. It includes Word, Excel, and Powerpoint among other programs. Suddenly, when I opened the program, it said I had an unlicensed version. I tried by myself to rectify it and couldn't. I contacted help at Microsoft, and two consultants still couldn't fix it.  Even uninstalling and reinstalling it didn't fix the problem The second person referred me to a Tier 2 support person, but I had to make an appointment for next Thursday, April 17. I have already spent several hours on this.  

I usually use those programs for my work for SABR (Society for American Baseball Research).  In the meantime, I'll have to use Google Docs and Google Sheets, but their features are limited.  There is also a free version of MS Word, but that too is limited in its capabilities.

In the 1980s when I worked at NYPL I used WordPerfect which dominated the market when PC-DOS was the operating system.  I found out that it still exists, but its market share must be very small.

The Weight - The Band and Aretha Franklin - Which Version Do You Prefer

 

Mets 2 Blue Jays 1

Since this is a Sunday and the Mets are at home Bruce and Lee were at Citi Field.  There was not much hitting by either team but the seven hits by the Mets were enough to beat the Toronto Blue Jays.  Pete Alonso singled in the third inning and drove in Hayden Senger with the first run.  Later that inning Brandon Nimmo drove in Juan Soto with a sacrifice fly.

Andres Jimenez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning to drive in the Blue Jays only run.  Edwin Diaz came in the ninth, hit two batters, but held on to get the save.

Box Score

Mets 5 Blue Jays 0 in Home Opener at Citi Field

 

Our 20-game package included Opening Day at Citi Field.  Before the game Ed Kranepool who passed away last September was honored.  The players will wear a patch with Ed's #7 on their uniforms this season.  Al Leiter & John Franco, teammates of the  2000 NL Pennant-winning Mets and Bartolo Colón & Juan Lagares, teammates of the 2015 NL Pennant-winning Mets, each threw out the first pitch today.

Francisco Lindor led off the game with a double after the sell-out crowd serenaded him with My Girl recorded initially by the Temptations  Two batters later Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer.  The Mets rallied for three runs in the 6th inning with doubles by Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo.

Tylor Megill pitched 5 1/3 innings of shutout baseball and was relieved by Reed Garrett, A.J. Minter, and Max Kranick who shut the door on the Blue Jays.

Box Score

There is a Johnny Tillotson - Bob Dylan Connection with Blowin' in the Wind

 Sadly many of the artists of the golden oldies era have passed away.  Yesterday we heard of the passing of Johnny Tillotson at age 86.  Most of his hits including Poetry in Motion and Talk Back Trembling Hits charted in the early 1960s.  Leave it to me to find a connection to Bob Dylan as Johnny covered Blowin' in the Wind.

April Fools Day With Bob Dylan

 Mike Riccio, the moderator of the Oldies Message Board compiled a list of the Top 20 "Fool" songs based on the weekly Billboard  Hot 100 lists through 1990:

1. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," Connie Francis (1960)
2. "Poor Little Fool," Ricky Nelson (1958)
3. "What a Fool Believes," Doobie Brothers (1979)
4. "Foolish Beat," Debbie Gibson (1988)
5. "Chain of Fools," Aretha Franklin (1968)
6. "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," Elvin Bishop (1976)
7. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," the Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon (1956)
8. "Fool #1," Brenda Lee (1961)
9. "(Now and Then) There's a Fool Such as I," Elvis Presley (1959)
10. "Everybody Plays the Fool," Main Ingredient (1972)
11. "The Fool," Sanford Clark (1956)
12. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," Diana Ross (1981)
13. "Foolish Little Girl," the Shirelles (1963)
14. "She's a Fool," Lesley Gore (1963)
15. "The Fool on the Hill," Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (1968)
16. "(Fool) If You Think It's Over," Chris Rea (1978)
17. "Nobody's Fool," Kenny Loggins (1988)
18. "Kissing a Fool," George Michael (1988)
19. "What Kind of Fool," Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb (1981)
20. "Fools Rush In," Rick Nelson (1963)

Bob Dylan covered Elvis Presly's (Now and Then) There's a Fool Such as I on the Basement Tapes.

Lee and I Saw Hell's Kitchen on Broadway

 

It was a family tradition to see a Broadway show on our birthdays.  This year Lee wanted to see  Hell's Kitchen.  It is a jukebox musical built on the music and lyrics of Alicia Keys, with a semi-autobiographical plot about her upbringing in Manhattan in the 1990s.  The play is best described in its Wikipedia entry.

We enjoyed the music and the dancing in the show.  Afterward, we stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, but as usual, it was very busy.  Instead we ate dinner at Applebees.

NYC Casey Stengel Chapter of SABR meeting in Midtown Manhattan

 

For the years (excluding the pandemic years) I have been involved with SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) there has been an annual meeting at NYPL or the Scandinavia House in midtown Manhattan.

There were two panel discussions:

• The Pulse of New York Baseball: Present and Past featuring:
• Laura Albanese - writer for Long Island Newsday
• Billy Altman official scorer and former baseball beat writer for the Village Voice
• Anthony McCarron is a freelance writer who has appeared in Baseball Digest and MLB.com. and others

They discussed various issues including analytics and changes in baseball rules over recent years.

• Met Stories I Only Tell My Friends and Other First-Hand Baseball Stories
• Art Shamsky - Member of the 1969 Mets
• Matthew Silverman - author of several baseball books
• Marty Appel - another author of baseball books who was also an executive with the Yankees

Art discussed his recently published book.  I bought a copy that he autographed for me.  The panel discussed the Yankee-Met rivalry including the 2000 World Series.  The panelists concluded that since the Met signed Juan Soto luring him away from the Yankees, the rivalry will heat up again.

Happy 37th Birthday Lee

 

It is hard to believe that Lee is now 37 years old.  Where did all these years go?  Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital.  We will be celebrating tomorrow by seeing the Broadway show Hells Kitchen.

Uniform #37 was retired by the Mets and Yankees to honor Casey Stengel.