Afternoon at the Paley Center

Since the weather forecast called for rain today I decided to visit the Paley Center instead visiting another park in Queens.  Sometimes I go there was some ideas on what TV shows I would like to view, but today I was somewhat impulsive.  Here is what I did:

1. Since Morley Safer recently passed away I did a search on him and found a show on CBS where he interviewed Charles Kuralt as he retired in the early 1990s.  Those two were really heavyweights in broadcast journalism and great assets to their profession.
2. Eight is Enough - this was one of my favorite series in the late 70s and early 80s.  They only had one episode in their database which I viewed.
3. Room 222.  If you turn the clock back another 10 years, this was one of my favorite series in the early 1970s.  Sadly its star Lloyd Haynes passed away in 1986.

The Johnny Cash Muhammad Ali Connection

I don't know the date of the photo above, but the connection between Ali, Johnny Cash and other members of the Highwayman is best describe at this web site.

Staycation Week in June This Year

I usually take a staycation week in May, but this year I am doing it in June since one of my colleagues scheduled a vacation in Europe in late May just after classes ended.  I need a break from commuting and the work grind.  I don't have anything much planned.  It is a good time to get some reading done and maybe take a stab at writing an article for the SABR Games Project.  I guess New Jersey Transit loses its most reliable customer for one week.

The Bob Dylan Muhammad Ali Connection

This morning we heard the sad news the boxing icon Muhammad Ali passed away at age 74.  There are a few connections between Ali and Bob Dylan.  In the photo above Ali met with Bob backstage at the Night of the Hurricane concert at Madison Square Garden on December 8, 1975.  This concert, part of the Rolling Thunder Revue, was a benefit for box Ruben "Hurricane" Carter.

Here are lyrics taken out of context from I Shall Be Free #10 which appeared on the Another Side of Bob Dylan album in 1964.

I was shadow-boxing earlier in the day

 I figured I was ready for Cassius Clay

 I said “Fee, fie, fo, fum, Cassius Clay, here I come

 26, 27, 28, 29, I’m gonna make your face look just like mine

 Five, four, three, two, one, Cassius Clay you’d better run

 99, 100, 101, 102, your ma won’t even recognize you

 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, gonna knock him clean right out of his spleen

What is the Future For David Wright?

It was announced today must refrain from baseball activities for 6 to 8 weeks since he has a herniated disk in his neck.  David will undergo physical therapy for this condition for now instead of surgery.  For the second season in a row he will miss significant time for injuries.  He is now 33 years old and is obviously not getting any younger.  Any athlete's skills will erode with aging, so the question is what is David's future?  He already suffers from spinal stenosis which is a permanent condition and not an injury.  Can he bounce back or will he be forced to retire early?  Only time will tell.

The Fans of Harry Harrison Facebook Page

I think it was around 2007 or 2008 I initiated the Fans of Harry Harrison page on Facebook.  He was the morning radio personality on WMCA (1959-68), WABC (1968-79) and WCBS-FM (1980-2003).  From Fall 2004 until May 2005 he did a Saturday morning show on WCBS-FM.  Today Steve Gilinsky who is a personal friend of Harry posted a hand written note from him thanking us for setting up and maintaining the Facebook page.

It is my pleasure to do this Harry and I always remember your saying "Every brand new day should be unrapped like a special gift."

Bob Dylan's Fallen Angels Hits #7 on Billboard

Who says Bob Dylan should retire?  His newest CD Fallen Angels has debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts.  22 of Dylans albums have now charted at #10 or higher which extends his record as the male artist with the most #10 or better albums since 1963.