Happy New Year

I wish all readers of Bruce's Journal a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.  Whether you are a regular reader or just found one entry through a search engine, I thank you for stopping by and hope that reading my thoughts have benefited you in some way.

Cool Bobby B - Facebook Friend of the Day

Above is a photo of Cool Bobby B with his biggest fan Alan Berman.  It is a shame that Doo Wop music is no longer heard on terrestrial radio, but since I have SiriusXM I make it my business to hear at least part of Bobby's show on 50s on 5 Sunday nights at 9 PM.  Bobby is also heard on WLNG from Eastern Long Island on Tuesday nights.

You can find more information about Bobby at:

• List of radio stations that carry his syndicated show
• Wikipedia entry
• Doo Wop Stop Web Site

You can make a request by phoning 1-800-DOOWOPP

A Double Dose of NJIT Basketball on ESPN3

ESPN3 is a TV station that can be accessed on a laptop, desktop or smartphone.  Both the NJIT men's and women's basketball teams were scheduled at 7 PM tonight to appear on ESPN3.  The mens team lost to Villanova 70-60 in a game where they were close most of the time.  They are now 0-15 against Big East teams in the 7 years that NJIT has been in Division I.  Your team still loses whether it is by one point or 50 points.  The women lost to St. Johns 55-37.

Summary of Men's Game

Sinister Pop Art at the Whitney Museum Today

We decided to be "culture vultures" today by taken our annual trip to the Whitney Museum on Madison Avenue at 75th Street. They had an interesting exhibit called Sinister Pop which featured some of the counterculture pop art of the 1960s and 70s including artists such as Andy Warhol.  There were a few funny pictures of Richard Nixon including one portraying him in a negative fashion and encouraging people to vote for George McGovern.  This exhibit on the second floor will be shown until March 31, 2013.

Wade Guyton and Richard Artsschwagel were featured in other exhibits in the museum.  It is nice to do something different once in a while.

Visited the Paley Center Today

Karen and I visited the Paley Center on West 52nd Street as we do a few times a year.  There was a photographic and video exhibition for the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones.  There were numerous photographs on the wall in addition to a television monitor showing 10 television appearances of the Stones.

From there we went upstairs to the library to view some old shows.  Since Karen is very much into Alfred Hitchcock we viewed 3 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents which was on the air in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  We also saw one episode of All in the Family and one of One Day at A Time.

Car 54 Where are You by Martin Grams

Regular readers of Bruce’s Journal should know that for 50 years I have been a big fan of Car 54 Where are You that originally aired from 1961-63 on NBC.  I recently reported on an excellent web site on the show that lead me to this book which is the definitive volume on this show.

Grams, M. (2009). Car 54 where are you?. Albany, GA: BearManor Media.

It tells a lot about how Nat Hiken conceived the series.  Most police shows back then demonstrate the excellent work that officers do in fighting and preventing crime.  Hiken saw the need to demonstrate that policeman are people too with lives away from their jobs.  He was quoted as saying “I want to show that cops are human beings.  They’re regular guys underpaid  for what they do. And have human failings and problems.“  The working title for the show was “The Snow Whites” since back then the tops of police cars were white.  Back then two-tone cars were popular.  My dad had a 1957 Chevy Bel Air with a black body and white top.

The show was filmed in the Bronx with a red car  since in the early 1960s police cars were green.  This way Car 54 would not be mistaken for a real police car.  Reaction to the show was mixed.  For example the New York Times wrote an editorial praising the show for its humanizing police officers.  There was some criticism of the show’s portrayal as police officers as clowns.

One can not argue with success as the show garnered very high ratings in the two seasons that it was on the air.  Until I read this book, I did not know the reason that the show was only on the air for two years.  The author reports  that according to Fred Gwynne (the actor who played Officer Muldoon) Nat Hiken was under great stress to write, produce, and direct the series.  He just couldn’t handle that and sadly pulled the plug on the series.  Hiken was a heavy smoker and sadly passed away in 1968 at age 54.  I thank him for the two seasons and 60 episodes of the series.

The author provides a synopsis of the 60 episodes and an appendix of unused plot suggestions and outlines.  He provides biographical information on most of the cast members and much minutiae about the series.  No book is perfect, I would have liked to see more information about cast members Beatrice Pons, Hank Garrett and Charlotte Rae.   I must commend Martin Grams for providing a lengthy bibliography of sources he used to write this book.  It is highly recommended for Car 54 fans who saw the show in the 1960s or those who found it in later years.

College Basketball at the Barclays Center

We really wanting to see a sports event at Batclays Center after seeing Bob Dylan in concert there in November.  Since the price of professional basketball tickets is prohibitively high, we wanted to economize and pick college basketball.  There was a tripleheader there today:

• Hofstra vs Tulane - 3:00 PM
• Manhattan vs South Carolina - 5:30 PM
• LIU Brooklyn vs Seton Hall - 8:00 PM

Since we have seen games at the Mack Arena on the Hofstra campus for many years we decided to come for game 1.  The two schools were tied at 30-30 at half time, but Tulane scored 20 unanswered points at the beginning of the second half.  Tulane coasted to an 83-62 victory.  Game Summary

We stayed for the first half of the second game which ended with South Carolina winning 63-56.

Seton Hall beat LIU Brooklyn in the third game 89-58

The World Did Not End Today

Congratulations Mike Wallace of Sunnyside

I picked up one of the Queens local newspapers and saw a mention of Mike Wallace of Sunnyside, appearing on Jeopardy on December 20.  I turned on the show as usual at 7 PM and saw him win the game with over $20,000.  It is always nice to see a local person win on the show, so I wish him well in his future appearances.

Ken Jennings still reigns supreme with 74 victories with Dave Madden a distant second at 19.  Good luck Mike.

Ring Them Bells - A Very Timely Bob Dylan Song

Ring them bells, ye heathen
From the city that dreams
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries
’Cross the valleys and streams
For they’re deep and they’re wide
And the world’s on its side
And time is running backwards
And so is the bride

Ring them bells St. Peter
Where the four winds blow
Ring them bells with an iron hand
So the people will know
Oh it’s rush hour now
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
Upon the sacred cow

Ring them bells Sweet Martha
For the poor man’s son
Ring them bells so the world will know
That God is one
Oh the shepherd is asleep
Where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled
With lost sheep

Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf
Ring them bells for all of us who are left
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through
Ring them bells, for the time that flies
For the child that cries
When innocence dies

Ring them bells St. Catherine
From the top of the room
Ring them from the fortress
For the lilies that bloom
Oh the lines are long
And the fighting is strong
And they’re breaking down the distance
Between right and wrong

Copyright © 1989 by Special Rider Music

I thank Harvey Holiday of WOGL - Philadelphia for posting this on his Facebook wall.  There is a Bob Dylan song for every occasion.

Thanks R.A. Dickey - It Was Short but Sweet

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of reading R.A, Dickey's biography:

Dickey, R A, and Wayne R. Coffey. Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball. New York: Blue Rider Press, 2012.

He was very candid about his sexual abuse and how his baseball career struggled as he went from team to team at the major and minor league levels.  His 20-6 season as he won the Cy Young award was one of the few highlights of the 2012 Mets whose record was a terrible 74-88.  His trade to the Toronto Blue Jays was finalized today.

The Mets get:

• 23-year-old Travis d’Arnaud considered an excellent catching prospect
• Noah Syndergaard - a pitching prospect
• John Buck - a veteran catcher
• Wilmer Becarra - minor league outfielder

The Blue Jays get:

• R.A. Dickey - age 37
• Josh Thole
• Mike Nickeas

Any trade is a risk.  Since Dickey is a knuckleballer he doesn't have to throw very hard.  It is hard to predict how long he can pitch.  Perhaps last season was a fluke or maybe he can pitch effectively for several more years.  Will the 4 young players become superstars or busts?

Bill Madden of the New York Daily News states that this trade could be Sandy Alderson's Gary Carter trade.  Back in the 1980s Frank Cashen gave up popular Hubie Brooks to get Gary Carter who was a superstar for the Mets in the 1986 World Series.

Only time will tell how this trade will work out.  I will certainly miss R.A. Dickey.

Still Blowin' in the Wind after all these years

  

This song is very timely. The Stevie Wonder version is one of my favorites

The Tragedy in Newton, Ct

Why did he have to kill small children?  It so sad that there have been so many mass killings in recent years.  There is a list of mass killings in the United States since Columbine in 1999 at http://www.newsmax.com/US/mass-shootings-us-colorado/2012/07/20/id/445971  .It is so sad that too many mentally deranged people carry guns.  Can changing the gun laws prevent similar tragedies?

All I can say that I send my condolences to the family and friends of those who perished in this senseless tragedy.

Ravi Shankar Dies at 92

It was reported today that Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar died at age 92. He is best know to followers of pop music as teaching Beatle George Harrison to play that very complex musical instrument.  Back in the late 1960s Ravi did teach at City College of New York when I was a student there.  My condolences to his family and friends.

Random Thoughts of the Day

We have a bank CD coming due in the middle of January.  We can get only 1.04% interest if we renew this CD for 5 years.  How low can they go?

There are 9 more working days until the holiday break.  The university wide holiday party will be this Thursday at 3 PM.  While the library luncheon will be Thursday the 20th.  This Wednesday is the last day of classes as final exams begin on Friday.

As the days go on it appears more likely that there will be no hockey season.

I just hope the Mets keep R.A. Dickey.  How can a team trade away the Cy Young Award Winner?

Car 54 Where Are You Web Site

 I was looking at the Car 54 Facebook page and I found a reference to a terrific Car 54 web site.  It includes everything you ever wanted to know about the show.  It includes, photographs, videos and biographies of the members of the cast.  As far as I know Hank Garrett (Officer Nicholson) and Charlotte Rae (Sylvia Schnauzer) are the only cast members still living.  I was impressed by a biography of Bea Pons who played Lucille Toody.  Until now I was not able to absolutely ascertain if she were still leaving.  She passed away in 1991 at the age of 85.

I certainly thank John J. Williams of Nottingham, UK who is the web master. I suggest to Alan Berman the number one reader of Bruce's Journal to check it out since he is likely not going to try to get his first hole in one until 2013.

It was Hitchcock Day in the Slutsky Family

Karen has been a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and his movies for many years.  Back in the 1980s when we first got a VCR she taped many of his films.  She has been anticipating the release of the new movie Hitchcock staring Anthony Hopkins.  It wasn't playing at the local multiplex so we took a short drive to the Kew Gardens Cinema.  Hopkins was absolutely superb in his portrayal of Hitchcock.  This movie showed his role as director of Psycho released in 1960.  The shower scene in Psycho was considered very violent in 1960, but is quite tame by today's standards.  We recalled that back then a movie opened in one or two theaters in Manhattan and weeks later came to neighborhood  cinemas.

When we got home we couldn't resist going into our library of VHS tapes and viewing the original Psycho.

The Greatest Concert Performance Ever

A picture is worth 1000 words - My Back Pages and Knockin' on Heavens Door

I Ate My Last Ring Ding Tonight

A few weeks ago it was announced that Hostess Brands is ceasing operations.  One of their products was Drake's Ring Dings.  For many years I have eaten either and Ring Ding or a Yodel made by the same company after dinner.  It looks like my ritual may be coming to an end.  I am just hoping that another company picks up Hostess Twinkies and Drake's cakes.  All I can do is hope.

Jeopardy News

I was not home last night so I so the show on tape early this morning.  The Final Jeopardy Answer:

Category - American Icons
Question - He won the Presidential Medal of Freedom and is a member of the Rock and Roll and Minnesota Music Halls of Fame.

The question - Who is Bob Dylan?

The three contestants got it wrong, but Lee got it right!

I found out yesterday that the Jeopardy game will be taken off Facebook on December 18. :(

Viewing Demolition Sites on the Way to Work

I spend most of my commuting time reading  newspaper, magazine or book.  I do pick up my head and look at the scenery in Queens and New Jersey.  When I moved to Flushing in 1984 I took my car to Paul's service station at the corner of 35th Avenue and Linden Place.  He was an excellent mechanic until he retired around 2002.  For the past 10 years the property was used as a parking lot, but the garage remained intact.  Over the past few days the garage was finally demolished.  Perhaps a building will be constructed on that property.

Last May I reported in this journal that the former Hartz Mountain factory in Harrison, NJ was finally being demolished.  After 6 months the job is finally complete.  They now have tons of rubble to clear away. Hopefully an apartment complex will come to that site.  It is certainly very convenient to public transportation.

The deconstruction (I am not saying demolition here) of Shea Stadium was the saddest.  I just hated to look outside the window as the #7 train passed by the site.

Already Thinking Ahead to the 2013 Baseball Season

This weekend Jay Buckley announced his baseball tours for 2013.  If you search on the box at top of the page under Jay Buckley you will see that we went on his tours in 2006, 2007 and 2010.  We always like to visit new cities as we saw that Tour 11 visits Tampa Bay and Miami.  Since we have never been to those ball  parks, this tour is appealing to us.  I would not look forward to visiting Florida in early August.  It is many months away so we have plenty of time to decide if we want to go.

St. Johns 57 NJIT 49

For many years I have gone to college basketball games at Hofstra, Queens College, And LIU Post.  For logistical reasons it is difficult to attend games at NJIT.  The mid-week games end very late and it would be difficult for me to get home as the trains run less often.  It is tough enough to commute to Newark 5 days a week; thus I don't want to have to travel a 6th day for a basketball game.  Today the NJIT played the St. John's University Red Storm at nearby Carnesecca Arena in Jamaica.  I was able to get tickets from the Athletics office and sat in a section with about 20 NJIT students who made the trip from Newark.

The Highlanders started off well as they were ahead 35-23 at the end of the first half.  They fell apart in the second half as St. John's won 57-49

Game Summary

I found another Bob Dylan Internet Radio Station

I just have a knack for finding things on the internet by accident.  Regular readers of Bruce's Journal know that I just bought an iPhone and just love the Tune In radio app which includes thousands of internet and terrestrial radio stations.  I was updating my favorites list and was looking for Pete Freckelton's Dylanradio.com which has been discussed in this journal.  I have listened to it for at least 4 years and appreciate Pete's efforts in producing this station.

By accident while I was seeking Dylanradio.com, I found Bob Dylan Tracks which is run by Dan Murphy of Hollis, NH.  It is on Live 365 and is is described at http://www.live365.com/profiles/dylantracks?play=2  .  To be honest, I just haven't had the time to listen to it, but it is on the agenda for tomorrow morning.  The playlist on the web site indicates that it plays more mainstream Dylan and cover versions.

Wishing Kate Palmer a Speedy Recovery

I heard that oldies enthusiast extraordinaire Kate Palmer recently had a hip replacement operation.  I certainly wish her a speedy recovery.  Hopefully hearing Bob Radil's 60s 70s show on Friday nights will cheer her up.  Maybe Kate can come up to Citifield next season to join us when the Mets play her beloved Phillies.

Oh No! Not Another Bob Dylan Cover CD!

There was a story in the recent Bob Dylan Fanzine Isis called Diggin' on Dylan by Denny Freeman.

Of course, I had to get it.  Briefly, it instrumental versions of Dylan classics.  There is a short review in the Austin Chronicle.

Jimi Hendrix Sings Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

It was really an odd track out played on Dennis Mitchell's Breakfast with the Beatles.

Eventful Thanksgiving Weekend

1.  I got a haircut.  I was lucky on Wednesday since as soon as I walked into the shop, the barber was able to take me.
2. The Bob Dylan concert at Barclay's Center - see earlier entry.
3.  Thanksgiving Dinner at Joyce's house in Dix Hills.  Mom seems to be feeling better, but arthritis at age 93 is rough.
4. The movie Skyfall with Daniel Craig.  It was good, but I prefer the earlier Bond movies with Sean Connery as 007.
5.  I received the Rolling Stones Greatest Hits CD set called Grr.  I have several of the early Rolling Stones albums on vinyl.
6.  I received two Bob Dylan Magazines:
-Isis - a British Fanzine
-Montague Street - a Dylan literary magazine edited by Brooklynite Nina Goss.
7.  I saw the movie Lincoln starring Daniel Day-Lewis.  It was excellent
8.  I got an iPhone5.  I had an iPhone 3 GS for about three years so it was time for an upgrade.  I spent sometime this afternoon learning how to using the IOS 6 operating system and downloading apps that I used for the older model..  There will be a learning curve on using the new model.  When will the iPhone 6 come out?

Bob Dylan - The Never Ending Narrative 1990-2006

I guess people could talk and write about Bob Dylan indefinitely.  So much has been said in many forms of the media about Dylan in the 1960s and 1970s.  Certainly over time interpretations change.  However, there is very little written or said about the later Dylan.  Quite by accident I found the video listed above.  It features interviews with Dylan experts Johnny Rogan, Derek Barker, Clinton Heylin and Nigel Williamson.  It shows how Dylan recovered from a career slump in the early 1990s.  It is quite rare for anyone to be active in show business for over 50 years.  With the Tempest CD and the Never Ending Tour continuing there will have to be a future video covering 2007- .  Let's hope that Bob Dylan will stay Forever Young and never retire.  I highly recommend this video for all Dylan fans.

Bob Dylan at Barclay's Center

Brooklyn, New York Barclays CenterNovember 21, 2012

1.	You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
2.	Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (with Mark Knopfler on guitar)
3.	Things Have Changed (with Mark Knopfler on guitar)
4.	Tangled Up In Blue (with Mark Knopfler on guitar)
5.	Early Roman Kings
6.	Chimes Of Freedom
7.	The Levee's Gonna Break
8.	Visions Of Johanna
9.	Highway 61 Revisited
10.	Soon After Midnight
11.	Thunder On The Mountain
12.	Forgetful Heart
13.	Ballad Of A Thin Man
14.	Like A Rolling Stone
15.	All Along The Watchtower
	(encore)
16.	Blowin' In The Wind

The set list above was taken from Bill Pagel's Boblinks page and was online less than one hour after the concert ended.

It's nighttime in the big city as the big city was Brooklyn this time.  We made our first trip to the Barclay's center which recently opened.  Mark Knopfler did the opening set and as you can see from the set list he played with Dylan on three numbers.

Dylan appeared at 9:30 and started out with a country version of You Ain't Going Nowhere.  The highlight had to be Lee's favorite Tangled Up in Blue that featured a harmonica solo.  One song that has not been heard recently is The Levee's Gonna Break which is about flooding.

Last night's show ends this leg of the Never Ending Tour which usually takes a break around Thanksgiving.  Hopefully there will be a short appearance at the presidential inauguration in January.  May the tour return to NYC in 2013.

Below is a video of Blowin' in the Wind from the Concert

Cry for a Shadow - A Beatles Rarity

Dennis Mitchell just played it on Breakfast with the Beatles. It is an instrumental written by John Lennon and George Harrison.

More Random Thoughts

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here.  We were so engrossed in Hurricane Sandy, so the holiday is only 3 days away.

There is a rumor on the radio message boards that 94.7 FM will become a country radio station after it is purchased by Cumulus.  I hope this happens since until 1996 WYNY, NYC's last country station, was a favorite of mine.

We are getting ready to see Bob Dylan at the new Barclay's Center in Brooklyn.  We are keeping an eye on the set lists.

Claudia Marshall, formerly the morning DJ, moved to Vermont and has a weekly two hour radio gig.  Sometimes I wish I could leave the rat race of NYC and move to a rural area.

That's about it for now.  I guess I have a little writer's cramp.

Random Thoughts for the Weekend

We went to see Mom at the Bristal in Westbury yesterday.  She seems to be doing better.

We went to a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at the Samuel Field Y in Little Neck today.

I am listening to Cool Bobby B's Doo Wop show on SiriusXM 50s on 5.  Radio personalities should know that when they come to an oldies meet and greet their listenership goes up.

Right now Karen is thinking up her 7 favorite oldies to vote in Mike Riccio and Tom Natoli's yearly poll.

Getting ready for the Bob Dylan concert on Wednesday.

Remembering the Prodigy Radio Message Boards

When I got my first computer in late 1994 the Internet was in its infancy.  I signed up for an online service called Prodigy.  Back in those days we had to use a 1200 baud phone modem to go online.  There were several radio message boards on Prodigy.  The gentleman in the photo above with me is Jonathan Binstock whom I met back then on Prodigy.  Since that time I have met him when I have traveled to the Washington, DC area where he lives.  He is a lawyer who has a convention in NYC the second weekend in November.  Luckily, he was free on Saturday afternoon and came to the famous oldies radio meet and greet.

I also met Walter Parker on the Prodigy radio boards.  In addition to being an oldies radio enthusiast Walt is big into horse racing.  I have met him a number of times in NYC and in Philadelphia where he lives.  Even though Walt has not lived in NYC for many years Walt is still interested in New York radio.  When Prodigy faded away Walt transitioned over to AOL where he started the WCBS-FM folder where I first encountered Mary Shaw, Linda Cohen and Al Gordon.  In June 2006 Walt came to the Meet and Greet we had at Ellen's Stardust Diner.

Another big radio enthusiast whom I met on Prodigy is Victor Monachelli.  In July 1995 I visited him at his pet store in Yonkers.  He was such as enthusiast of WCBS-FM that he would close his store to go into Manhattan to see concerts sponsored by the station.  He moved to Florida and is very active on Facebook.

Two other people on the Prodigy boards are Famous Amos (Russ Dibello) and Anita Bonita who are regulars to our gatherings.

You Grew Up! The Life and Career of Paul Reed

About 5 years ago in this journal I wrote how I have been a big fan of Car 54 Where are You since the show was first on the air in 1961.  In fact I sang the theme song when I phoned into a now defunct radio show.  I won’t get into the details about that here.  The major stars of Car 54 were Joe E. Ross and Fred Gwynne who played Officers Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon, respectively.  One of the other characters on the show was Captain Block played by Paul Reed.

A few days ago I found on the Car 54 page of Facebook reference to the following biography of Paul Reed:

Teed, Paul. You Grew Up!: The Life and Career of Paul Reed. Albany, Ga: BearManor Media, 2010. Print.

Of course, I just had to get the book so I ordered it through Amazon.com to find out more about Mr. Reed.  It turns out that the book was written by Paul Reed Jr. , his son

It turns out the Paul Reed was born Sydney Kahn, but changed his name when he got into show business.  He appeared in many Broadway shows including:

Guys and Dolls
The Music Man
How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying
Here’s Love - Fred Gwynne also appeared in this show.
Promises Promises

An interesting tidbit was that Paul appeared in scenes in Car 54 in the morning and acted in How to Succeed in the evening.

I enjoyed the  numerous photographs that the author provides and the list of his appearances in various shows, movies and TV appearances.   Paul was also a very good singer.  I was very disappointed that very little was said about his two years in Car 54.  I was hoping to read many anecdotes about the many episodes where Captain Block was a major character.  There was no bibliography, so the author relied on his memory, and interviews with his  family and with some entertainers listed in the acknowledgement section.  He did interview Joe E. Ross, Fred Gwynne, Nipsey Russell, Al Lewis, and Hank Garrett of the Car 54 cast, but so little about this show was in the book.  I vaguely remember that Paul Reed appeared in several TV commercials during the 1980s.

Paul Reed lived to the ripe old age of 97.  I thank his son for writing this biography of his father which provided me much information about the man I didn’t know.  It must be difficult to write a biography of your father so I commend him for doing that.

Below is a clip from a Car 54 show featuring Captain Block

No Milk Today - Song for the Meet and Greet

Today's Radio Log

Here is what I listened to on the radio today:

WINS - News
WCBS-FM - Sue O'Neil
Pop Gold Radio
American Top 40 with Casey Kasem on WLS-FM Chicago
Breakfast with the Beatles on Q-104.3
Sounds of the 60s with Brian Matthew on BBC2
Cousin Brucie on SiriusXM 60s on 6
Jim Kerr on SirusXM 50s on 5
Cool Bobby B on SiriusXM 50s on 5

The 2012 Oldies Radio Meet and Greet was the Best

I must say that the 7th Annual Meet and Greet of Oldies Radio enthusiasts had to be the best.  About 60 people came to share their enthusiasm for the “soundtrack of our lives.”  I took that expression from Soundtrack of the 60s that was heard on WYNY from 1981-84.  There were several  radio personalities including:

• Carol Miller 
• Jim Kerr
• Cool Bobby B
• Bob Radil
• Rich Appel
• Don Tandler
• Alan Seltzer

The two highlights of the day:

Louise Murray, formerly of the Jaynettes, singing her version of My Guy which recorded by Mary Wells.

Pete Ritzert singing the Kinks hit Sunny Afternoon.

The most important thing was to get together with people who share a passion for oldies radio.  You really don’t “know a person” through Facebook or message.  You must meet and greet them face to face.  It was also nice to keep our mind off the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

You may find 154 pictures taken by Bob Gilmore at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaN3LRu1bNWjsQ

My Misadventure on the Gasoline Line this morning

This was a very trying week for with commuting to work.  New Jersey Transit was on a reduced schedule while I confronted two major commuting delays not related to the storms.  Since I have an even numbered plate, I felt I should try to fill up my gas tank.  I consulted the Gas Buddy web site which indicated a station at 17th rd had gas with waiting less than 30 minutes.  I drove over there and discovered they had no gas.  Gas Buddy indicated that a station near my home at 20th Avenue and Parsons Blvd. was open.  I used that station several times for repairs and was happy with their service.  When I passed by there they appeared to be open.  I got on line at 8:15, but after 15 minutes there was absolutely no movement.  I really didn't need the aggravation of waiting indefinitely, so I decided to leave the line and drove home.  If I needed my car for business, I likely would have waited it out.  My gas gauge now read 1/4 tank left, so I most have about 4 gallons left.  It is a shame that one must use gasoline to find gasoline.

At about 10:30, I rechecked Gas Buddy which stated that this station didn't start pumping gas until 8:45 with about a 90 minute wait.  I feel that I made the right decision since I did not want to risk missing the Oldies Meet and Greet or go there aggravated about my search for gas.  Hopefully in the days to come this situation will alleviate itself with deliveries to more stations.  I did search Twitter using the tag #queensgas. It seems that in other parts of Queens there were short lines for gas.

I still must count my blessings that my inconveniences from Hurricane Sandy were minimal.  Sadly many lost power for several days while others lost their homes.

Odd even gasoline rationing begins tomorrow

I still have about 5 gallons left in my tank.  The mayor just announced an odd even gas rationing system in NYC. Since my license plate ends in a 6, I will have to go hunting for gas on Saturday morning.  There is a web site http://www.gasbuddy.com/Sandy which reports the availability of gas.  There are so few gas stations in Queens that are open.  Hopefully the rationing system will help alleviate the problem.  I thought that by now the situation would have been resolved.  I also suggest people be forbidden to get gas if their tank is more than 1/2 full.

More Adventures in Commuting

New Jersey Transit is still running on a greatly reduced schedule on the Northeast Corrider.  On the positive side the Newark Light Rail resumed service running every 15 minutes instead of every 6 minutes.  At least I didn't have to walk a mile in this snowy weather.

On the way home I had problems with the MTA.  When I got to Times Square there was a smoky condition on the #7 line so I had to walk underground to 8th Avenue to pick up the E train.  I changed to the #7 at 74th Street.  There was a delay as we approached the Main Street station.  At least I was not on the LIRR tonight as the entire system came to a standstill.

On a day like today I wish I was a consultant who works at home.

Random Thoughts of the Day

Another bad commute today on the New Jersey side.  The only slight improvement was that Rutgers offered a van from Newark Penn Station to their campus which is across the street from NJIT.

I voted at 6:50 AM, but Karen told me the polling place was very crowded when she came about 12 noon.

Right now I am listening to Breakfast with the Beatles featuring rarities.

Jeopardy was pre-empted on Channel 7 since they started their election coverage at 7 PM.  Only 3 states closed their polls by 7 PM.  I think the presidential elections of the 1960s and 70s were much more exciting.

My First Day Back At Work

The public transportation was good on the New York side of the Hudson, but when I arrived at Penn Station I saw that New Jersey Transit was operating on a greatly reduced schedule.  I usually get on the 7:36 or 7:44 train, but I had to wait until 8:14 to depart.  When I arrived at Newark Penn Station I saw that the Newark Light Rail was not operating.  In the past substitute bus service was provided, but not today.  Thus, I had to walk a mile to NJIT in the University Heights section.

Many of my library colleagues still did not have power at home.  I really am lucky to have weathered the storm with minimal inconvenience.  Tomorrow is another day.

Trying to get back to normal after the storm

Tomorrow will be my first day back to work after superstorm Sandy.  After seeing the devastation on television, I must still count my blessings that my inconveniences over the past week were minimal.  This has to be the worst natural disaster to hit New York City in my lifetime.

My normal commute is tough enough as it is.  Let me try to predict what will happen tomorrow.

1. Bus from home to Main Street - should be normal
2. #7 Train to Times Square - full service on the #7 line resumed yesterday.  I am guessing there will be only local service available.
3.  #1, #2, or #3 to 34th Street Penn Station - Should be normal
4. New Jersey Transit from New York Penn to Newark Penn - Service has resumed on the Northeast Corrider line.  I am guessing that certain trains will be cancelled, so it may take a little longer.
5. Newark Light Rail to NJIT - As of now there is no service.  In the past when the light rail was down substitute bus service was implemented.  There has not been an announcement about this yet.  If I have to I can walk 1 mile from Newark Penn to NJIT.

We all must take this ordeal one day at a time.

Keith Whitener - A Chemist is a 7 Time Winner on Jeopardy

I think I should finally change the subject and move away from Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath.  There have been many librarians on Jeopardy who were big winners on Jeopardy.  Vijay Balse was a chemical engineer who was a big winner on the show, but until now I can not remember any research chemists who won big on my favorite TV show.  Keith Whitener from Charlotte, NC introduced as a research chemist won 7 times with about $148,000 in winnings.  In a tough match tonight, he didn't make it to victory #8.  I congratulate him will be rooting for him when he returns for the Tournament of Champions.

I used my librarian skills and found 3 publications of his in Scopus.  There are likely more in Scifinder Scholar, but I was just lazy :)  He published in some prestigious journals.

Whitener Jr., K. E., Cross, R. J., Saunders, M., Iwamatsu, S. -., Murata, S., Mizorogi, N., & Nagase, S. (2009). Methane in an open-cage [60]fullerene. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(18), 6338-6339. Retrieved from www.scopus.com

Whitener Jr., K. E., Frunze, M., Iwamatsu, S. -., Murata, S., Cross, R. J., & Saunders, M. (2008). Putting ammonia into a chemically opened fullerene. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 130(42), 13996-13999. Retrieved from www.scopus.com

Whitener, K. E. (2010). Theoretical studies of CH4 inside an open-cage fullerene: Translation - rotation coupling and thermodynamic effects. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 114(45), 12075-12082. Retrieved from www.scopus.com

I Cry When I See the Storm Stories

I am so lucky that I faced minimal inconveniences during and after Hurricane Sandy.  The devastation in Staten Island is just tragic.  There are still thousands of people who have not regained power.  Mass transit is coming back albeit slowly.  As of today the #7 line is running only from Main Street to 74th Street.  Service on New Jersey Transit is minimal.  I really don't have to be concerned about this until Monday.  There are lines for gasoline that are reminiscent of the 1970s.

This too shall pass.  Normalcy is a relative term as some people will have to completely rebuild their lives after losing their homes.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this storm.

So Many Sad Stories

It was so sad to watch the TV news as the devastation from Hurricane Sandy was described as we just start to clean up.  The worst areas were the New Jersey shore, Staten Island, and the Rockaways.  Friend and radio enthusiast Mary Shaw had to evacuate from her Staten Island home and has lost many possessions and may have even lost her house.  My prayers go out to Mary and thousands of others who lost so much.

I was very saddened to hear this story of the Staten Island women who lost her children as they were ripped from her arms by waves generated by the storm.

I must count my blessings as my family faced minimal inconvenience from this miserable storm.

Hurricane Day #2 - The Storm Ended - Such Terrible Damage

Several radio stations were off the air due to storm damage.  1010 WINS was broadcasting on 92.3 FM.  Several AM radio stations including 570, 620, 820, and 1280 were completely off the air.  We watched the TV news which included press conferences by NJ Governor Christie and NYC Mayor Bloomberg.  It turns out that 95% of Newark including NJIT lost power.  There was some very bad storm damage along the Jersey Shore and in Rockaway where a fire destroyed over 80 homes.

A little later in the day we watched the movie Ghost starring Demi Moore and the late Patrick Swayze.  Afterwards we decided to take a little walk around the neighborhood and noticed that North Flushing had minimal damage.  We only saw two downed trees and are grateful that there was no other damage.  Upon returning home I received a phone call from NJIT stating that classes and administrative will be closed until further notice.  I have no way of getting to work until service on the NYC Subways and NJ Transit are restored.

Hurricane Day #1 - I Should Count My Blessings

It started to rain early this morning in Queens as the winds picked up.  I received notification that NJIT will be closed today and tomorrow, but is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday.  I started my day by listening to WCBS-FM, WFUV, WBGO and SiriusXM 50s on 5.  We watched the TV news intermittently as there is only so much you can watch.  I spent some time reading Sunday's New York Times and watched the movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Kostner.  Karen and collected many movies on VHS tapes in the 80s and 90s so today was a good time to see an older movie.  In the afternoon Lee selected a DVD about the Traveling Wilburys to view.  They were some supergroup.

Anyway when we turned on the TV news in the late afternoon they showed a big flood at Linden Place and the Whitestone Expressway within walking distance of my apartment.  There is always poor drainage in that area.  We looked at the window and saw that a tree on the co-op's property had fallen over.  Thankfully, nobody was injured, but there was a report of the first storm related fatality in NYC.  As a read Facebook I noticed that over 2,000,000 in the NYC area have lost power.

I did not venture out of the apartment today and should count my blessings that until now my incoveniences have been minimal.  It will likely take days if not weeks to clean-up after the storm finally ends.  We have to take it one day at a time. Below is a video of Hurricane Sandy in Far Rockaway.

Waiting for Sandy

I decided to take it easy today as we wait for the big hurricane,  As of 7 PM, there has not been a drop of rain, but the winds are getting stronger.  I went outside with Lee for an hour or so in the morning.  I have been facing stress with family and work related issues recently, so I felt I had to relax today.  I watched part of the Jet game as they lost badly to the Miami Dolphins 30-9.   I received a message stating that NJIT will be closed tomorrow.  Karen and I looked through our collection of VHS movies that go back to the 1980s.  We decided to watch Field of Dreams tomorrow.  Right now I am listening to the Lost 45s with Barry Scott on WROR-Boston.  I will turn on Game 4 of the World Series later.

Here is a Bob Dylan song that is really not appropriate.  Hurricane here refers to the boxer Ruben "Hurricane" Carter,

Sandy Anxiety One Day at a Time

I always believe in taking life one day at a time.  Today was quiet before the storm as I visited my mother in Long Island in the early afternoon and saw the movie Argo in the evening.  I checked my work e-mail and saw that the METRO Annual Meeting for Monday was already cancelled.  By checking Facebook I found out that classes at Fairfield University in Connecticut and Rider University in Central NJ have already been cancelled.  NJIT has not yet made any announcements.

The questions are when will this storm begin, how long will it last, and how extensive will the damage be.  I am not sure yet what I will be doing tomorrow.  I just hate driving my car in heavy rain.

Let's take it one day at a time.

Appropriate Songs by Dion DiMucci and Bob Dylan

In November 2009 we saw Bob Dylan at the United Palace Theater with Dion DiMucci as the opening act. There is a new commonality between Bob and Dion with songs that are appropriate for the predicted major hurricane that will come to the northeast. The obvious one is Sandy by Dion. The other is Shelter from the Storm by Bob Dylan.

Corny O'Connell to become Acting Morning DJ on WFUV

WFUV announced that Corny O'Connell will be acting morning DJ after Claudia Marshall leaves on Friday. Corny has been with the station for many years and perhaps he will get that morning gig permanently.  He has a soothing voice and knows the artists and the music played on WFUV.  Morning drive is the most prestigious shift for a DJ, but he/she has to get up in the middle of the night to get to the station to start the day.  Good luck to you Corny.

Claudia Marshall Announces She is Leaving WFUV

About two years ago I wrote that Claudia Marshall is one of my 3 favorite current morning drive personalities.  On a typical morning I try to find time to listen to WCBS-FM, WFUV, and WBGO.  On today's show and in her WFUV blog she announced she was leaving WFUV after 12 years.  I understand that it is difficult to wake up at 3:30 AM to get to the station by 5:00 AM.  She is leaving to pursue other interests.  I certainly wish her well in her future endeavors as she will be missed by her listeners.  I have not yet heard of who will succeed her in morning drive.  It is possible that an inside person will fill the job temporarily while a permanent host will announced later.  Stay tuned.

The Beatles are Re-Releasing Magical Mystery Tour on DVD

The Beatles music and films transcend the generations.  By now the grandchildren of the Beatles 1964 are likely listening to the music of the Fab Four.  I enjoyed the music from the Magic Mystery Tour, but the film itself was silly and childish in my opinion.  I vaugely remember seeing it on Channel 5 with Cousin Brucie as the host.  Everyone is out for the almighty buck, so they are re-releasing the film on DVD.  I will take a pass by not purchasing it.

Thinking about Past and Present Presidential Campaigns

The passing today of Senator George McGovern caused me to recall some of the presidential campaigns of the past.  Yes, the presidential campaign of McGovern vs. Nixon was the most polarizing one that I remember.  Differences of opinion about America’s involvement in the Vietnam War created a lot of bad blood.  The issues of Watergate and its cover-up were revealed after the election.  It seemed that Nixon wanted to derail the presidential campaign of Edmund Muskie who would have been a formidable opponent.

The first presidential campaign I can remember is the Kennedy-Nixon rivalry of 1960.  I worked for the Democratic Club on Saunders Street handing our flyers for JFK.  Tricky Dick came close to winning.  The course of American history would have changed had he been elected in 1960.

Back in 1976 when I lived in New Brunswick, NJ I gave out flyers supporting Jimmy Carter.  It seems amazing that he came from being an obscure former Governor of Georgia to become President.

Then in 2000 there was the Florida controversy that led to the election of George W. Bush over Al Gore.

The current campaign of Obama against Romney seems very dull to me.  It seems that almost everybody has his mind made up.  With the election based on the Electoral College rather than the popular vote the candidates are campaigning only in a handful of battleground states.  For that reason I am in favor of abolishing the Electoral College.  Back in 2000 Al Gore actually had more popular votes than George W. Bush.

This Week's Radio Log

I haven't done this in a while.  Here is a list of some of the terrestrial and online radio stations I've heard this week:

• WCBS-FM
• WFUV
• WBGO
• WINS
• WFAN
• WEPN-FM
• Pop Gold Radio
• Rewound Radio
• Hy Lit Radio
• Dylan Radio
• Johnny Cash Radio
• SiriusXM 50s on 5
• SiriusXM 60s on 6
• Deep Tracks on SiriusXM
• Classic Vinyl on SiriusXM
• Willie's Place on SiriusXM
• Outlaw Country on SiriusXM

More Random Thoughts of the Day

I just hate those baseball games that are longer than 3 hours.  The manager just has to take out the pitcher after facing one batter.  Years ago it just wasn't that way.  There are also more deep counts and fouled off pitches.  They Yankees are now down 3-0 against the Detroit Tigers, but after what happened in 2004  against the Red Sox, anything can happen.

There will be a big change in New York Radio as the religious station WFME at 94.7 FM was just sold to Cumulus Broadcasting.  The amateur radio station executives on the various message boards are have a field day as they are speculating what format will come to 94.7 FM.  I am not making any comments since the "Powers that Be"  will do what's best for the almighty dollar.  I am sure they don't pay attention to what is written on the message boards.

Have a nice day.

The 7th Anniversary of Bruce's Journal

This is the 7th anniversary of Bruce’s Journal.  I have been very prolific over these years writing  over 2100 entries about my background and experiences.  My output is declining somewhat since I may be running out of new ideas.  I try not to be too personal, since there are always some issues that I don’t want to share with just anyone surfing the web.  My favorite topics are:

• Bob Dylan
• The New York Mets
• Jeopardy
• My family
• Oldies Music

If a few days go by with writers cramp on my part, I will post of Youtube video of a song.

I analyze the use of my journals from data  from Google Analytics and from Blogger.  Some of my most popular entries were:

• The Tale of the Two Dollar Bill 
• Congratulations to the Beach Boys on their 50th Anniversary
• TGIF
• Jason Keller - Jeopardy Superstar
• Yom Kippur
• Remembering the Beatles Butcher Cover

People from all over the world have hit Bruce’s Journal over the 7 years.  There have been over 150,000 hits.  I am aware of a few people who read it regularly, but must people do Google searches and land on a page.

Thanks for stopping by.

Newsies the Musical

Karen and I usually like to see a Broadway show to celebrate our anniversary.  This show takes place in New York City in 1899 long before computers and the internet existed.  Back then people got their news by reading newspapers.  The Newsies were the kids who stood on the street selling newspapers.  In the show the Newsies go out on strike for more money.  I remember the big NYC newspaper strike of 1962-63.  Now only the Times, Daily News, and Post publish in NYC.  You wonder how long the print vesions of this newspapers will last,

I'm So Tired by the Beatles

It was one of those really busy weeks as I came home really tired. I'll let the Beatles express my sentiments tonight.

Happy Birthday John Lennon

Today would be the 72nd birthday of John Lennon who was tragically taken away from us on December 8, 1980.  We never know what wonder music John would have created had he lived.  Bob Dylan collaborted with George Harrsion in the early 1970s, but never worked with John.  On the new Tempest CD there is a tribute called Roll on John.

Back in the 1960s there was a documentary produced called Eat the Document which was supposed to be seen on ABC television, but was only shown on Channel 13.  I have a bootleg copy of it on VHS tape.  Anyway below is an excerpt from that film showing a conversion between Bob Dylan and John Lennon.

WFAN to be Simulcast on 101.9 FM

There was big radio news today as after months of speculation it was announced that CBS Radio bought the 101.9 FM frequency from Merlin Communications and will simulcast WFAN there beginning in November.  That is fact, but the "experts" on the various radio message boards are now speculating on what will eventually happen at 660 AM.  If my readers are interested they can go to the New York Radio Message Board or the Radio Discussions Message Board.  My opinion is that the new CBS Sports Radio Network will appear on 660 AM while local sports talk will be on 101.9.  The message board posters are speculating that CBS will have to sell one of their radio stations since they will be over the FCC limit for owning media properties in the NYC market.

For years I have been an irregular listener of WFAN.  I may listen for no more than 30 minutes a few times a week.  There are too many callers speculating on player trades and other items in the sports news.  The 101.9 FM frequency has had a checkered history.  I listened when it was WQCD smooth jazz CD101.9 which is now heard on 101.9 HD2. My guess is that smooth will leave when CBS takes over.

To quote Mr. Mathis from Forest Hills High School "We shall see what we shall see."

Shanghai Noodle Factory by Traffic - Classic Rock Song of the Day

Since I spend most of my work day sitting at a desk, I just have to take a walk around the NJIT campus during my lunch hour.  I was tuned in to SiriusXM's Deep Track Channel the other day and heard Shanghai Noodle Factory by Traffic which I have on the Last Exit Album in vinyl.  I hadn't heard that in ages.  Here goes.

Trouble with the Curve

We took a short ride to the multiplex in Douglaston to see Clint Eastwood in Trouble with the Curve.  I was actually one of the youngest people in the audience.  Apparently the kids who regularly go to the movies are not into Clint Eastwood.  There have been many baseball movies over the years, but this must be the only one where a major league scout is the main character.  Amy Adams plays his daughter who is very protective of her father who has developed visual problems.  He is scouting a high school prospect who can hit the ball a mile, but has trouble with the curve.  The was the best movie I have seen in quite a long time.

Random Thoughts of the Day

Bobby Valentine was fired today after being manager of the Boston Red Sox for only one season.  You can't fire the team so you fire the manager.

Webinars have become very popular and are advantageous since traveling to professionals for training is not necessary.  Today I attended one for librarians.  Two talks by colleagues I know were very good, but a keynote address was totally worthless since it didn't offer any new information.The person just spoke about the use of Web 2.0 tools in the library for the umpteenth time.  It was just a waste of  my time.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles "Love Me Do."

Some cliches of the day:

• A little common sense goes a long way in this world
• If it is too good to be true, then it is.
• I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.

The Season Finally Ends for the Mets

The 2012 Mets season ended on a positive note as they beat the Miami Marlins 4-2.  However, it was very disappointing as the Amazins finished at 74-88 and have not had a winning season since they moved to Citifield.  The highlight of the season was the no-hitter thrown by Johann Santana on June 1.  We waited for over 50 years for that.  The other highlight was the 20 win season by R.A. Dickey with his back to back 1-hitters.

My hope for the off-season is that both David Wright and R.A. Dickey will get long term contracts.  Losing David Wright would be almost as bad as losing Tom Seaver in 1977.  There are plenty of web sites, newspaper articles and phone calls to talk radio speculating on what moves will be made over the winter.  I will refrain from making any predictions here.  It's now wait until next year.

Final Jeopardy Question Tonight

This female recording artist had #1 albums in every decade from the 1960s to 2000s.






Who is Barbra Streisand?

Edinboro 31 LIU Post 24

After sitting up in 7th heaven at Met Life Stadium to see the Jets and Giants a few weeks ago it was nice to sit up front to see the LIU Post football team play today.  The name of the school was changed from CW Post to show more of an identification with the parent Long Island University.  Most of the games we have seen there have been high scoring blowouts, but today's game was close.  Edinboro University located in northwestern Pennsylvania tied the game with 28 seconds left in regulation.  They scored a touchdown in overtime to win 31-24.

Bob Dylan and the Band - Perfect Together and Apart

This is surely an eventful time for fans of Robert Allan Zimmerman with the release of Tempest and the forthcoming concert at the Barclays Center.  As you can see above a new DVD was released about Dylan and his Band.  It traces the history of the group from it inception as the Hawks as the backup band to Ronnie Hawkins.  It tells how they hooked up with Dylan for tours in 1966 and 1974.  It features interviews with Garth Hudson, John Simon, Mickey Jones, Charley McCoy, Barney Hoskyns and others.  I highly recommend it for all Dylan fans.

Congratulations R.A, Dickey on your 20th Win

I would have loved to be at Citifield today, but I had to go to work.  Somebody has to pay the bills :).  I was able to follow the game on and off by looking at ESPN.com.  R.A. left the game in the 8th inning with a 6-3 lead.  Jon Rauch gave up a two run home in the top of the 9th, but Bobby Parnell held on to get the save as the Mets held on to win 6-5 to give Dickey his 20th victory.  He is the first Met 20 game winner since Frank Viola in 1990.  I sure hope he stays with the Mets for a few more years.  I highly recommend his autobiography to my readers.  I think there will be an updated edition covering the 2012 season.

Dickey, R A, and Wayne R. Coffey. Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball. New York: Blue Rider Press, 2012. Print.

7th Annual Meet and Greet of Oldies Radio Enthusiasts

Readers of  Bruce's Journal are invited to the 7th Annual Meet and Greet of Oldies Radio Enthusiasts to be held:

Saturday November 10 2 PM - 4 PM
Bens Deli (http://www.bensdeli.net)
209 West 38th Street
New York, NY

This is a golden opportunity to meet new and old friends who share the same enthusiasm for oldies radio.  This event does not endorse any radio station or program.  In the past celebrities from major radio stations have appeared.  Presently we are inviting some well known personalities and will announce special guests after they have confirmed their appearance.

We choose Ben’s since they are moderately priced and have always allowed to have a private room without an additional charge.  You only have to pay the restaurant on the day of the event.  We may ask for $1 from each person to pay for the lunch of any special guests.  This is an open event, so please invite any friends who are interested.

The organizers are:

Alan Berman (alan707@verizon.net)
Jeff Scheckner (jmandjs@aol.com)
Bruce Slutsky (BruceS8852@aol.com)

Please feel free to contact any one of us for information.  Please e-mail one of us just so we can get a count of people who will come.

Below is a picture of Alan Berman from last year's event.  He is wearing a Pop Gold Radio shirt.  Hopefully, Don Tandler will come.

Some Thoughts as Yom Kippur Approaches

People interpret their religion and holidays in different ways.  I certainly respect orthodox Jews who observe everything to the letter of the law.  Reform Jews chose what and how they want to observe each holiday.  In my opinion all Jews must see the Day of Atonement as a time to reflect on the past and hope for the future.  We must think of what went wrong in the last year and what can we do different in the year to come.  I chose to fast for 24 hours on Yom Kippur.

I wish my Jewish friends an easy fast if they chose to observe the holiday that way.  Gentiles mean well when they wish Jews a happy holiday for Yom Kippur; obviously it is not a nice holiday.

Mets 4 Marlins 3

Perhaps the Slutsky family should go to more Met games since the Amazins were 7-3 at games we attended.  I bought the ticket for this game in early July when I though the Mets could be in contention for a wild card berth in the playoffs, but I was wrong as the team collapsed after the All-Star break.  It will be interesting to see if R.A. Dickey wins 20 games as he was the starting pitcher today.  Jason Bay and Scott Hairston hit home runs as the Mets lead 4-0 after 8 innings.  Dickey gave up two hits in the ninth as he was relieved by Jon Rauch who gave up a 3 run homer to John Buck to make the game close.  Thankfully, the Mets held on to win 4-3.  Two of the three home runs were reviewed by the umpires.  Perhaps the video review should be extended to other situations.

Game Recap