Another Return to Normalcy Today

 

Shopping at department stores was never a favorite activity of mine.  Very often I made purchases online to avoid going to a mall.  Over the past 6 months, I have bought clothing on Amazon.com since the retail outlets were closed.  I never wanted to buy shoes online since I would have to return them by mail if they didn't fit.  I feel that I have to try on shoes before I purchase them.  Anyway, I needed a new pair of sneakers, so I walked to Macy's in downtown Flushing not knowing if it was open as it was during the pre-COVID days.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was open.  I was able to try on a couple of pairs of sneakers and make my purchase.

I still don't know when I will go to a restaurant to eat at a table.  I am just afraid that with only 25% of the tables open, there will be a long wait.

Random Thoughts at the End of September

• Singers Mac Davis and Helen Reddy passed away the same day at the age of 78.  Both had big hits in the 1970s
• I really hope that Joe Biden wins the presidential election in a landslide.  Donald Trump is a pathological liar who never deserved to be president in the first place.  The Electoral College really stinks as someone who lost by 3 million votes wins an election.  He will wreak havoc if he loses by a small margin and perhaps will cause a constitutional crisis.
• I found through an online chat that there are no plans to reopen the New York Public Library Research Libraries.  It is understandable, but disappointing as there are so many print resources not available online.  I wish they could devise a plan so that researchers could order materials online and could access them in a reading room with a limited number of patrons and social distancing.  I have used many online library resources over the past 6 months.

 

The New York Mets in Popular Culture edited by David Krell - Book Review

 

We are very often so deeply involved in our popular culture that we don’t realize that this culture exists.  Sports very often provides an escape from our daily problems.  The Mets have been a large part of the popular culture of New York City since the team’s inception in 1962.  The team often intersected with other entertainment venues including movies, television, and music as shown in this book.

I have read many baseball books that are very scholarly and provided numerous statistics and details that are suitable for the serious baseball researcher.  Editor David Krell received contributions by several academics whose contributions are suitable for the casual Met fan who want more detail about the “Beloved Amazins”. Krell, a noted baseball writer, made two contributions. I have been a Met fan since 1962 and learned quite a bit from reading this book.

For example, I always enjoyed Bob Murphy’s broadcasts but knew little of his career before he joined the Mets.  Donna Halper, a professor of media studies, provides a detailed account.  Likewise, there is an excellent biography of Joan Payson, the first owner of the Mets, by SABR member Leslie Heaphy.  I was also amused to read more about Mr. Met.

Each contribution included a long list of notes that provide a reference to original newspaper articles so that serious baseball scholars can get more detailed information.  I highly recommend this book to all baseball enthusiasts even if they are not Met fans.

Today's Visit to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

 

Sculpture from the Judd Exhibition

We were able to get tickets today for the Museum of Modern Art as they are only allowed to admit 25% of capacity.  The last time we were here was in November 2019 so there were obviously new exhibits when the museum reopened.

The first exhibit we visited on the sixth floor was devoted to the works of Donald Judd, wo used industrial materials and production processes, to explorations of color and surface through his “boxes” and “stacks" as seen above.

Another exhibit was Félix Fénéon The Anarchist and the Avant-Garde—From Signac to Matisse and Beyond.

There were several paintings by Pablo Picasso in the collection.

There has always been a helicopter in the museum

Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) Lotte Lenya and the Doors

 I heard Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) by the Doors way back in the late 1960s when it was on their first album.  I was certain that Bob Dylan would play it when I heard that a new Theme Time Radio Hour would feature whiskey songs.  He did play the Lotta Lenya version of it back in 1930.  I must say that it is a very deep track and that Dylan must have an encyclopedic knowledge of music.

Galen Faison Should Be Father of the Year

 Galen Faison joined the NJIT Library in 1995, 3 years after I did.  While he was employed there he obtained Bachelors's and Master's degree in Professional and Technical Communications.  He also became an Adjunct Professor.

After 25 years he decided to bow out gracefully and will teach in the mornings and become a stay-at-home dad for most of the day.  He is the proud father of one son and two daughters.  I am sure he is also glad that he can spend more time watching football.

I wish him well in all his future endeavors and nominate him for Father of the Year.

Galen with his youngest daughter

at my retirement party in December 2017

500 Best Albums of All Time According to Rolling Stone Magazine

 

I have written more about top oldies (singles) as selected by listeners or contrived by radio stations.  I received an announcement from Rolling Stone magazine announcing the 500 Best albums voted by over 300 Artists, producers, critics, and music-industry figures.  I don't want to peruse the entire list, but my readers can click on the link.  The number 1 album is What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.  Number 2 was Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys.

The top Beatle albums were:

5- Abbey Road

11- Revolver

The Top Bob Dylan albums were:

9- Blood on the Tracks

18 - Highway 61 Revisited

I guess I should examine the entire 500 list in detail.  Obviously, the list would be different if voted by readers.