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.