Happy New Year to Readers of Bruce's Journal

I wish all readers of Bruce's Journal a happy and healthy new year.  I appreciate your stopping by whether I know you or not or if you are a regular reader.

Hofstra 75 NJIT 64 in Men's Basketball

It is unusual when the NJIT Highlanders come to NYC or Long Island to play, but they faced the Hofstra Pride last night at the Mack Arena.  So we drove over to see the game.  Since it was played during the Christmas-New Years break, the crowd was small.  The Highlanders got off to a slow start as Hofstra scored 9 unanswered points to start the game.  I felt that NJIT was not penetrating and was relying too much on 3 point shots.  They trailed during the entire game, but late in the game cut Hofstra's lead to one point.

Game Summary

I was able to take a photo of the Hofstra mascot seen below as he circulated throughout the stands.

The NJIT Highlander mascot seen below was not at the game.  Perhaps he was on vacation.  Maybe I'll run into him when I return to work.

It Wasn't Rocky Balboa vs Jake Lamotta

In 1980 Robert De Niro starred as Jake Lamotta in the film Raging Bull.  Likewise beginning in 1976 Sylvester Stallone starred in several Rocky movies.  Since it was raining so hard today we decided to go over to the local multiplex to see Grudge Match where De Niro and Stallone starred as fictional boxers Billy "The Kid" McDonnen and Razor Sharp.  They originally fought each other 30 years ago, but came out of retirement to fight each other again.

During the movie an inconsiderate person started to use her smartphone which created some visual discomfort in a darkened theater.  I asked the person to put it away.  When she persisted Karen went out to get the theater manager to stop her.  If you want to surf the web or text message, why go to the movies?  Just stay home.  I guess some people are just addicted to their phones.

College Basketball at Barclays Center Today

There was a college basketball tripleheader at Barclay's Center.  In the first game St. Johns faced Columbia in a battle of locals.  The defenses were very tight as there were many forced shots coming shortly before the 35 second shot clock expired.  I was impressed on how Columbia stayed in the game but the Red Storm held on to win 65-59.

Recap

The second game was a blowout as Kansas State beat Tulane 72-41

Recap

We did not stay for the third game which featured Virginia Commonwealth against Boston College.

I do think that a festival like this should feature 6 schools from the NYC region as attendance at this event was very low.  Most of the fans left after the St. Johns/Columiba game. I think there are likely few alumni of Kansas State or Tulane who live close by and would come to Brooklyn to see the game.

Jewish Museum Today - Art Spiegelman and Marc Chagall

If I remember correctly Karen and I vistited the Jewish Museum last year just after Christmas Day.  We went today to specifically see Co-Mix, a retrospective of Art Spiegelman and Chagall: Love War and Exile.  When we got to the museum just before opening time at 11 AM there was already a line of people wanting to get in.  Art Spiegelman grew up in Rego Park as I did and was only a year older than I.  I vaguely remember his name back then, but I was not acquainted with him.  He is noted for writing the book Maus using comic book characters to tell the story of his parents in the holocaust.  The exhibit featured other works of his.

Marc Chagall was a Jewish artist born in Russia who emigrated to France after the revolution.  Many of his paintings wer shown. I was surprised to see how crowded the museum was especially at the Chagall exhibit.

The upper floors were permanent exhibits that we saw last year, so we did just took a quick look.

The exhibits are described in detail at http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/Exhibitions

Boxing Day for Me

It was a pretty active day for me since I am off from work until January 2. Karen and I went to the bank to move money from one account to another.  It is a shame that the interest rates are so low these days.  The rate for our savings account is only 0.2%.  We set up a 5 year CD with some money for 1.5% interest which is still very low, but it is the safest investment possible.

When I went home I did some reading and viewing of Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour.  I read a few chapters of this book was on my Kindle:

Muir, A. (2013). One more night: Bob Dylan's never ending tour. S.l.: Createspace

I also went into my library of DVDs and dug out the following:

Watson, W., Dylan, B., Garnier, T., Jackson, J., Baxter, B., Gilbert, J., Rivera, S., ... MVD Visual (Firm). (2009). Bob Dylan never ending tour diaries: Drummer Winston Watson's incredible journey. Oaks, Pa.?: MVDvisual

After that I watched Who Wants to be a Millionaire with Cedric the Entertainer.

From there I drove out to Douglaston and walked around Little Neck Bay.  We ate dinner at Ben's Deli in Bayside.

On and off throughout the day I listened to Rewound Radio featuring the top 77 as voted by the listeners.  I am not a "survey guy" as I believe that if I like a recording, I don't care what number it is.  I commend Tom Natoli, Mike Riccio, Frank Thomas, Allan Sniffen, and Bob Radil ( I apologize if I omitted anybody) for all the hard work they put into this programming.  I am especially impressed by the anecdotes about each of the songs that made the survey.  I was please to see that Like a Rolling Stone was voted #15.  The important thing was that this was an honest compilation of the actual votes. Many commercial radio stations do surveys, but the results are obviously "fudged" so that songs consistant with the stations format make the survey.

Being Jewish at Christmas

You can read what is in the picture above or read what I have to say.  I always have that "funny feeling" of being left out at Christmas time.  We don't open up gifts on Christmas or have a large family gathering.  Many gentiles do forget the significance of the holiday as it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

I remember back in the 1970s before I was married there was always a Jewish singles dance on Christmas Day or Eve.  It was your last chance to get a date for New Year's Eve.  In the mid 1970s when I lived in New Brunswick, NJ there was a group called the Dunhams that held such an event.  We called it a JAP Festival. (JAP=Jewish American Princess).  That expression and singles dances have become passe over the years.

I will take in a movie tomorrow, but pass on the Chinese food.  It will be nice to be off from work until January 2.

Survey of Readers of Bruce's Journal

About once a year I like to survey readers of Bruce's Journal to get some feedback.  About a year ago survey results advised me that I make too many typographical errors.  I have tried to correct this, but inevitably I will make some errors.  The survey is short, so if you have a minute or so, I'd like to hear from you.

Thanks

  Click here to take survey

Anchorman 2 - Avoid this Movie!

Maybe I am just getting too old for the mainstream movies. (I think I have said that in this journal before).  Anyway, I thought the humor in this film was stupid, warped, obnoxious, etc.  There were only 10 or so people in the theater and I didn't hear too many laughs.  My next trip to the multiplex will be on Wednesday.  Hopefully, the movie will be better.

Bob Dylan - Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

I was surfing on Facebok and I found a reference to a film cover Dylan's early career.  The name is Bob Dylan Keep Your Eyes on the Prize.  The film interviews people in Hibbing, Minnesota who knew Bob when he was growing up there.  There are extensive interviews with people including:

• Clinton Heylin
• Derek Barker
• C.P. Lee
• Mickey Jones

They discuss his early career from 1961-66.  Just click on the link below and can view it for free.

Don't You Just Hate These Small Snowstorms?

When there is a big snowstorm as seen above schools and businesses close and everyone is "happy" to get a snow day.  Today there is a forecast for 2-4 inches of snow.  Mr. G said it will be light for a while but will be heavy from 11 AM - 1 PM.  This is the third light snowstorm we've had in the last week.  These small snowstorms are a nuisance since everything is open and we have to travel in poor conditions.  You know the old saying. "People talk about the weather, but don't do anything about it.

Happy 65th Birthday to Bob Shannon

I found out on Facebook that today is the 65th birthday of Bob Shannon formerly of WCBS-FM.  The photo above was taken at the CBS Radio Expo at Yankee Stadium in June 2010.  Bob has not been heard on WCBS-FM or WLNG since December 2011.  There was never a statement made by either station.  We heard from the various radio message boards that he left due to health reasons.  No specifics were given and I certainly want to respect his privacy.  He was an asset to WCBS-FM for the many years that he worked there.  I remember him fondly for announcing Lee's birth on his show in March 1988.  He played "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong and said "what a wonderful world it is that we can welcome a new listener."  Lee has been a loyal listener to WCBS-FM for all those years.

My best wishes for a happy and healthy birthday to you Bob.

My Favorite Seasonal Hit From the Early 1960s

I remember first hearing this on Cousin Brucie's show on WABC all those years ago.  I haven't heard it in many years, but thanks to YouTube, I just heard it.

Folk Rock Set on Bob Radil's 60s 70s Show

Bob Radil now features a theme set at 9 PM on his 60s 70s show on Friday night.  I am glad that he used my suggestion of a folk rock set last night.  Here is the set list:

9:07:12 PM 63_174 Tom Cat - The Rooftop Singers
9:09:14 PM 62_180 Where Have All The Flowers Gone - The Kingston Trio
9:12:13 PM Rewound shout
9:12:13 PM We Wish You a Merry Christmas - The Kingston Trio
9:15:39 PM 65_086 It Ain't Me Babe - The Turtles
9:17:44 PM RewoundRadio-1964
9:17:49 PM 64_416 It Ain't Me Babe - Johnny Cash
9:20:50 PM Rewound Radio Acappella-5
9:20:51 PM 1970 shout
9:20:51 PM Deja Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
9:24:57 PM Those Fabulous Sixties (Bob Dylan parody) - National Lampoon
9:26:42 PM RewoundRadio-1965
9:26:49 PM 65_029 Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
9:32:49 PM 1970 shout
9:32:49 PM 70_630 Eve Of Destruction - The Turtles
9:35:23 PM Eve of Destruction - P. F. Sloan
9:38:31 PM 60s70sRewound-1965
9:38:40 PM 65_302 The Dawn Of Correction - The Spokesmen
9:46:05 PM 63_519 Jenny Brown - The Smothers Brothers
9:48:03 PM Priority1-Rewound Radio
9:48:05 PM 1967 shout
9:48:05 PM 67_248 My Back Pages (stereo single) - The Byrds
9:50:37 PM RewoundRadio-1964
9:50:43 PM 64_250 Tell It On The Mountain - Peter, Paul and Mary
9:53:32 PM 60s70sRewound-1961
9:53:42 PM 61_011 Michael - The Highwaymen
10:01:18 PM Sunny Goodge Street - Judy Collins - In My Life

Mississippi - Bob Dylan Song of the Day

Thanks to WFUV for playing this at 6:10 AM.  It was a good wake up song.

How Much E-mail is Useful These Days?

I started using email in 1992 when I started at NJIT.  Back then it was a novelty as it made it easier to communicate with friends and colleagues.  Over the years e-mail has become more of a waste of time than anything else.  I have:

• One account for work
• Two AOL accounts
• One Gmail account
• One Yahoo Account

How many of these e-mails are useful these days?  On all accounts most e-mail is advertising.  After making online purchases I am bombardeded by emails advertsing more products from that vendor.  Very few emails are useful these days.

Oy Vey another Root Canal

I did a search on Bruce's Jounal and found several entries to my adventures at the dentist in recent years.  It used to be a visit every 6 months for a check-up and cleaning, but as I have gotten older dental problems surface.  A few weeks ago my periodontist (gum specialist) found an infection in my gums.  She suggested that I visit an endodontist (root canal specialist) whom I visited today.  More tough luck as I will need a root canal.  Stay tuned.

Dedications to John Lennon - 1940 -1980

Empty Garden by Elton John

All Those Years Ago - George Harrison

Here Today - Paul McCartney

Roll On John - Bob Dylan

Holiday College Basketball Festival at Madison Square Garden

Over the past 3 years Madison Square has been renovated and modernized.  It is better to do this than to build a new arena.  I believe the cost of these improvements must have been about $1 Billion.  Of course the fans must pay for this when they buy tickets.  Since tickets for the Knicks are prohibitively expensive, we decided to go to a few college basketball games at the Garden.  We came in the middle of the first game as LaSalle defeated Stony Brook 65 -57.

The second game was one--sided to say the least as St. Johns defeated Fordham 104-58

Major League Baseball Comments of the Day

The Mets signed Curtis Granderson for $60 Million over 4 years.  It seems to be a step in the right direction, but I am concerned with his strikeouts and his ability to hit home runs in spacious Citifield.  He does the potential to hit 40 home runs a season, but many can turn into long flyball outs in Flushing.  Let's hope he doesn't turn into another Jason Bay.

The Seattle Mariners signed Robinson Cano for $240 Million over 10 years.  He is a very good ball player, but is not worth that money.  The Mariners will really be burned if he sustains major injuries in the middle of the contract.

The Yankees could be in serious trouble next season especially if Derek Jeter can not return to form. Jacoby Ellsbury has been injury prone in the past. Their farm system is weak and may not be able to replace those who retired or moved to other teams.

We'll have to wait and see.

In Memory of Nelson Mandela - Under African Skies by Paul Simon

When I think of Nelson Mandela I think of Paul Simon's Graceland album.  Under African Skies was one of my favorite cuts from that album.

Richard Kearney - Facebook Friend of the Day

Richard Kearney is a librarian at William Paterson University.  Has he won the honor of being my Facebook Friend of the Day for bein a Met fan?  No, but that helps.  He has won it for being a Bob Dylan fan and tagging me on Facebook.  He wrote:

"Interesting excerpt from a new book about the Chelsea Hotel. I'm betting Bruce Slutsky and Jack Axcelson will dig it too."  The book he is talking about is:

Tippins, Sherill. Inside the Dream Palace: The Life and Times of New York's Legendary Chelsea Hotel. , 2013. Print.

Bob Dylan wrote at least some of the songs on Blonde on Blonde at that hotel.  I took at look at a description of that book and figured out that it is likely that only small portion of the book would be about Dylan.  Anyway, I decided not to buy this book.  I got thinking that I hadn't book a Bob Dylan book in several months.  I found this book on Amazon.com:

Muir, Andrew. One More Night: Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour. S.l.: Createspace, 2013.

So, I bought an electronic copy for my Kindle.

I was looking at his Facebook photos and found this.  Could he be playing  a Bob Dylan song.  Will he be performing at the VALE annual meeting in January?

I did encounter Richard at a Dylan concert at the United Palace Theater in upper Manhattan in November 2008.  Richard and I attended a Dylan concert at William Paterson University in 1997, but I didn't see him there.  That night was historic for the Slutsky family since it was Lee's first Dylan concert.  He was only 9 years old at the time.

For being a fan of Bob Dylan and the Mets, Richard has earned the honor of being my Facebook Friend of the Day.

Making Facebook Friends with Radio People

Over the years I have mad Facebook friends with many radio personalities.  I have met a few of them at the oldies meets and greets over the years.  Off the top of my head some radio friends are:

• Cousin Bruce Morrow
• Famous Amos (Russ DiBello)
• Herb Oscar Anderson
• Anita Bonita
• Broadway Bill Lee
• Pat St. John
• Cool Bobby B
• Bob Radil
• Scott Fybush
• Joe Causi

Anyway, today I received a friend request from Bob Dearborn seen above.  His name sounded familiar in the radio context.  He worked at many radio stations in different locations over the year.  He is best known for his time (1970-76) at WCFL in Chicago.

Nice to meet you Bob!