WABC Rewound 2007

If you see my blog entry of Janury 1, 2006(http://journals.aol.com/bruces8852/BrucesJournal/entries/2006/01/01/bruce-the-radio-enthusiast/184) you will read about my history as a radio enthusiast.  From 1960-82 77 WABC radio was the premier top 40 station in America.  Back in those days a radio station would play only the top hits of the day.  WABC featured the top disk jockeys such as Harry Harrision, Ron Lundy, Dan Ingram, Bruce Morrow and others.  Since 1999 on Memorial Day the station features WABC rewound where tapes of shows from the past are replayed.  Right now I am listening to Dan Ingram from the summer of 1975 when I worked as a chemist for UOP Fragrances.  I am listening to the special intermitantly while some radio "nuts" will be listening from 6 AM until 8 PM.

Yankees lost today 4-3

Yes Din, the family went to the first of two Yankee games today. We were sitting in the Upper Deck Section 33 in right field.  Although the Yankees took a 2- 0 lead with Mike Mussina pitching, the relief pitching couldn't hold the lead and the Bronx Bombers lost 4 -3.  The Yankees had the tieing run on third base with 2 outs in the 9th inning, but Derek Jeter flow out to Center Field to end the game.

Pirates of the Caribbean

The following movies were playing on the 12 screens of the local multiplex:

Shrek - 5 screens

Pirates of the Caribbean - 4 screens

Spiderman - 2 screens

It seems that the movie producers can not be original any more.  They take old movies and just recycle them.  We saw Pirates of the Caribbean.  Good for special effects and  costumes.  It was a hot day and good to stay for a few hours in an air conditioned theater.

Energy Conference on Bob Dylan's Birthday

I needed some intellectually stimulation today so I decided to go to an American Chemical Society local meeting titled "Living Natural Gas - Safe 'N Sound" held at Hofstra University.  A company called Broadwater wants to construct a liquefied natural gas terminal in the middle of Long Island Sound that will connect with an existing natural gas pipeline in the Sound.  The speakers discussed the pros and cons of building such a structure.  I would discuss the details here.

 

Of course today is Bob Dylan's birthday.  I listened to WFUV at home and in the car going to and from the conference.  The station played one dong by Dylan and one cover version each hour.  This limitation is a result of the Digital Millenium Copyright ACt which restricts the number of songs by a single artist that can be played on an Internet radio station.  Since WFUV does webcast, it must abide by the regulation.  Years ago WFUV would devoted its entire programming day to Dylan's music.  Right now I am listening to XM Deep Tracks which is also featuring Mr. Zimmerman.  At 5 PM the family will watch the Video of Dylan covering the period 1966-78.  During dinner Lee will pick a Dylan CD.

Rego Park May 2007 Visit

No need to repeat what I wrote a year ago http://journals.aol.com/bruces8852/BrucesJournal/entries/2006/05/25/my-yearly-visit-to-rego-park/322

This year I walked to the Queens Center Mall and noted that it was greatly enlarged since I last visited there.  Back in 1962 my Bar Mitzvah reception was at a restaurant on Queens Blvd. one block away from the Rego Park Jewish Center called Le Flamboyan.  It closed years ago, but until recently there was a furniture store on that site.  Within the last year it became a men's clothing outlet.

This afternoon Karen and I walked to the Macy's in downtown Flushing and did some shopping for clothing.  When Lee came back from school we walked over to Uncle Bill's Diner for dinner.  It is nice not to have to travel to Jersey to feel frustrated.

Met Roy for Lunch Today

I have known Roy since my Forest Hills High School Days in the 1960s.  My parents and his were also friendly.  Most years during my May stay at home vacation I would meet him for lunch in downtown Manhattan.  Until recently Roy worked for the Office of City Planning in the Municipal Building across the street from City Hall.  A few months ago he retired at the age of 56.  It seems that when his parent passed away, they left him a lot of money, thus he could afford to be a gentleman of leisure at such a young age.  Today I met him in front of J&R Music World a few blocks from City Hall.  We ate lunch at Burger King and  later walked to the World Trade Center site where the Freedom Tower is under construction.  We walked back to J&R.  Music stores are quite rare these days.  In recent years I have bought most of my music over the web.  I bought greatest hits CDs of Otis Redding and the Searchers.  I went to the video store downstairs and bought a DVD covering the history of Bob Dylan from 1966-78.  I celebrate Dylan's birthday all week.  More on that Thursday.

Felt like a Retiree Today

Since Lee haad to go to school today I woke up at my usual time.  I surfed the web from about 7 AM - 9 AM.  At that time I drove out to Hempstead Lake State Park and took a hike listening to a recording of the last Saturday Night Oldies.  Since I got home from the Mets game at 8:45, I missed the first 2 Hr 45 min of the show.  Mark Simone interviewed Larry Kane, a TV journalist from Philadelphia who talked about the Beatles and John Lennon in particular.  Larry was promoting his book Lennon Revealed.  I left that park and drove to the Bay Terrace Shopping Center in Bayside.  The Gap didn't have jeans in my size so I went to the Barnes and Nobles to buy the book.  I stopped at Bens Deli and got my pastrami sandwich.  I then drove to nearby Crocheron Park where I ate my lunch and read the Sunday New York Times.  On the way home I stopped for gasoline which was $3.35/gallon.  At least I don't drive to work.  I was grateful that I didn't have to deal with the workplace today.

The Mets Won Ugly Today

The terrific three went to Shea Stadium to see the Mets play the Yankees.  There was a light mist through most of the game , but we stayed to watch the game.  David Wright hit two two-run home runs to stake the Mets to  an 8-2 lead.  But the Yankees fought back to come to 8-6.  The Mets scored two more runs to take a 10-6 lead bu the Yankees scored a run in the top of the ninth to make it close.  The final was 10-7.  Alan B dropped by and had his radio listening to Saturday Night Oldies.  After the game we ate dinner at Burger King.  I was able to catch Saturday Night Oldies from 8:45.  The picture above was not taken at Shea, but at Miller Field in Milwuakee last summer.

Beginning of my stay at home vacation

Now that the Spring semester is over, I take my annual May vacation when I stay at home like a retiree. I need a break in the routine. It started out tonight on the right track since the Mets beat the Yankees 3-2 at Shea.  We are going to the game tomorrow.

Annual Staff Retreat

Every year the NJIT Library has a staff retreat.  The boss takes us to another library in New Jersey.  There is a speaker, followed by a tour of the host library and finally a full staff meeting.  This year he schleped us to The College of New Jersey near Trenton.  I think we have visited almost every 4 year college in Northern, NJ.  He rented a bus to take most of the staff from Newark to Trenton.  To summarize the thoughts of my colleagues, it is nice to get away for the day, but these retreats have no lasting effect.

New Jersey Chemistry Olympics

Since 1984 the Chemistry Department at NJIT has held a chemistry olympics.  High school students from all over New Jersey come to compete.  Since the mid 1990s I have run the information search.  I pick a chemical substance and the students must search the internet to find information on it.  The kids seem to enjoy it.  NJIT uses it as a tool to recruit students.  Every year I have received a shirt with a different color.

What a Retirement Reception!

Lynn Mullins, the head librarian at the Rutgers-Newark library is retiring at the end of June.I've had a few official meetings with her over the years, but my encounters with her were usually accidental on New Jersey Transit trains since we both commute from NYC to Newark.  I was invited to her retirment reception today at the Dana Library.  Wow!  I have never seen or heard so many tributes at a retirement party.  There were several speakers thanking her for her contributions to Rutgers University and the Newark community.  She always gave me compliments as we rode the train.  She will be sorely missed.

Mothers Day 2007

It is hard to believe that my mother is 87 years old. She is generally in good health.  She has some minor problems, but nothing major. Longevity runs in her family.  My grandmother lived past the age of 90.  My mother's brothers are 90 and 84.  Today I picked her up in Forest Hills and brought her to my sister's house in Dix Hills where we had a barbeque.

Saw Spiderman 3 Today

We walked up to the local multiplex and got ticket right away for Spiderman 3.  What a difference a week makes.  The theater was about 3/4 full with 4 screens out of the 12 showing it.  As I have discussed before, these movies are for kids anyway.  In a few more years there will be Spiderman 4.

Friday Night at Shea

We usually go to Met games on Saturday afternoons, but we had bought a 7 pack of tickets so that we can go to a Met Yankee game.  This package included last nights game agains the Brewers.  The Mets won 5-4 with home runs by David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Damion Easley.  Jorge Sosa was the winning pitcher.

George Harrison Videos

George Harrison had to be the underrated Beatle.  It is a shame that he passed away at the age of 58, my age right now.  Tonight I went to Youtube and did a search for his videos.  Faster, All Those years Ago, Crackerbox Palace, and Got My Mind Set on You.  Even when an artist passes away, his works last forever.

Shame on WCBS-TV for interviewing the Son of Sam

It seems that the morons running WCBS-TV news will do anything for the almighty rating point during sweeps month.  Who in their right mind would want to watch an interview of the Son of Sam.  I am old enough to remember the summer of 1977 when he terrorized the city.  He does not deserve any recognition from the media.  Thankfully the police apprehended him before he could kill anyone else.  I am not in the TV new business, but my message for the WCBS-TV news management is Shame on You!!

Spiderman was sold out!

Spiderman 3 came out this weekend.  It seems that it is part of the popular culture that it is the "in thing" to see a blockbuster movie the first weekend of its release. It was playing at 4 out of 12 screens at the local multiplex, so we didn't think there would be a problem getting in.  When we arrived at 11:45 AM all shows until 10:30 PM were sold out even though the ticket lines were short.   In this day and age people can go to MovieTickets.com and buy the tickets online.  We saw the move Next starring Nicholas Cage instead.