Triplicate Arrived Today

You can't run to record stores to buy a new release because they just don't exist anymore.  So instead I received a package from Amazon.com since I pre-ordered Dylan's new 3 CD set.  I am just disappointed since there are no new Dylan compositions here.  They are all covers of adult standards from years ago.  There is actually a track called P.S. I Love You, but it was not the same song done by the Beatles in 1962.

Tempest released in 2012 was the last Dylan album with his compositions.  Does he write songs anymore?  How long will this adult standards phase last?  And the beat goes on.

Hey Apple - Take it Easy With the Updates IOS 10.3 is Here

A day or so ago I found out the Apple has released IOS 10.3 for the iPhone and iPad which is an upgrade from 10.2.1.  It took about one hour to download and install this update, which is in my opinion, no big deal.  The only thing that I like is that it increases the disk space available.  I have an iPhone 6 with a 16 GB hard drive.  It increased my available space from 2 GB to 3 GB, so I'll be able to download a few more apps.  From what I know the smallest hard drive on in iPhone 7 has 32 GB.

I think the Youtube video seen above answers all questions about IOS 10.3

Bob Dylan Archive at the University of Tulsa Opens

It was announced in Rolling Stone that the Bob Dylan archive at the University of Tulsa is open, but not just anybody can access it.  This archive will be granted to individuals wth a qualified research project.  Qualified researchers must consult with the finding aid and make a request to the librarian.  Hmm, maybe I should apply to become a librarian at the University of Tulsa.

I am quoting directly from the article in Rolling Stone:

Select items from the collection will eventually be exhibited at the Bob Dylan Center, the primary public venue for the archive. The George Kaiser Family Foundation's Executive Director Ken Levit, and University of Tulsa President Gerard Clancy, announced that they are now accepting design proposals for the Bob Dylan Center, which will be housed in an existing building in Tulsa's Brady Arts District. An expected opening date has yet to be announced.

The opening state could be at least several years away since design proposals are first being accepted now.  Be assured that when it does open, the Slutsky family will be making a trip to Tulsa.

More information from Rolling Stone.

After reading these articles, I am tempting to make my retirement home in Tulsa.  :)

Happy Birthday Lee! You are 29 years Old! Where did the years go?

It is hard to believe that March 28th is Lee's 29th Birthday.  I can remember bringing him home from the hospital in my white 1985 Chevy Cavalier.  I also remember his Bar Mitzvah in 2001 when he entered the room as the DJ played Mr. Lee by the Bobbettes.  I think I picked the right photo as he is the #1 Wheel of Fortune player in the family.

Pilot of the Airwaves by Charlie Dore - One of My Favorite One Hit Wonders

This hit was released in late 1979 and first charted in Billboard in February 1980 and peaked at #13.  Charlie has had a multifaceted career as indicate in her website and Wikipedia entry .  I checked the list of songs that should have been a bigger hit that I sent to Rich Appel, and I forgot to vote for it.  Hey Rich, can I send an amended return?  I don't to create any additional work for him, so I'll be sure to vote for it next year.

School of Rock at the Winter Garden Theater For Lee's Birthday

Every year we take Lee to a concert or a Broadway show for his birthday.  This year he chose to see School of Rock.  We saw the movie a few years ago, but live music is always better.  The show follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school.  It includes 14 new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and all the original music from the movie.

After the show, we wanted to eat at Ellen's Stardust Diner, but the line to get in was literally a block long.  It seems that after the matinees ended, people just flocked there.  It seems that the best way to get in is to go while shows are in progress.  We haven't been there in a few years, but we really enjoy the singing waiters and waitresses.  Instead, we ate at TGIFridays.

Preview of Bob Dylan's Triplicate CD and An Unusual Interview With Him

Facebook friends often provide useful links especially when there is a shared interest that made you connect on Facebook.  Scott Warmuth is certainly a Bob Dylan fan extraordinaire as he has been referenced in the Dylan fanzine ISIS,  Today he made a link to selections from the forthcoming CD set called Triplicate.  It will be released on March 31, but I am sure that radio stations like WFUV will start to play these cuts.

Anita Bonita is a Facebook friend whom I met at one of the oldies meets and greets.  She is best known as a voiceover professional.  She made a link to an interview of Dylan by Bill Flanagan.  It is very unusual when Dylan give a lengthy interview that is quite forthcoming.  Since it is on the BobDylan.com website, it really means that he wants to communicate this with his fans.  It is very rare when he gives an interview on radio or TV.  I wish that the late Pete Fornatale would have interviewed him back in the 60s or 70s.

Tim Tebow is Assigned to Mets Class A Farm Team at Columbia, SC

Likely, few players at the Class A level will ever make it to the major leagues.  The dream for many baseball players ends somewhere in the minor league.  Tim Tebow gave up on pro football and signed with the Mets last Fall and played in the Arizona Fall League.  His performance there and in the Grapefruit Leagues have been mediocre at best.  He deserves a chance to prove himself over an entire season.  He was just assigned to the Mets minor league Class A farm team at Columbia, SC.  If he does well, he'll be promoted.  If not he'll be released like any other minor leaguer.

The Wikipedia actually provides a list of players who played in both Major League Baseball and the National Football League.  Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders are the most famous.  Time will tell if Tim Tebow will make that list.

My Favorite Jimmy Breslin Book - Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?

I just found out that New York City newspaper columnist extraordinaire Jimmy Breslin just passed away at age 88.  I am not a political person, but over the years I have read his columns in various New York newspapers.  I also remember in 1969 he ran for President of the City Council on a ticket headed by mayoral candidate Norman Mailer.

My favorite book of his has to be:

Breslin, J. (1963). Can't anybody here play this game?. New York: Viking Press.

This book was about my beloved 1962 New York Mets.

Anyway, I suggest my readers check out this excellent obituary in New York Magazine.

Columbus Blue Jackets 3 NY Islanders 2 in OT at Barclay Center

We took a long subway ride to Brooklyn to see the Islanders play the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Barclay Center in an unusual afternoon game.  The game was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, but Cam Atkinson stung the Islanders playoff push with the game-winner 1:19 of overtime.

Game recap

No Particular Place to Go - My Favorite Chuck Berry Song

Early this evening I found out that Chuck Berry passed away at age 90.  Needless to say, he is the father of rock 'n roll music.  I remember hearing "No Particular Place to Go" on WABC when I was at Camp Wel-Met in Narrowsburg, NY in the summer of 1964.

RIP Chuck

One Irish Rover - Van Morrison and Bob Dylan

Saluting our favorite Irish singer on St. Patrick's Day.  He has a very distinguished friend.

A Wintry Mix is Worse Than All Snow

The original weather forecast for the March blizzard called for 12-18 inches of snow in NYC.  All the models were wrong as the storm moved inland with warmer air by the coast.  Thus the snow turned into a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain.  Although the snow accumulation was limited to 6 inches there was a sheet of ice over the snow.  Thus, it was very difficult to dig out.  When the precipitation is just snow, it is lighter and easier to shovel.

This weather is expected in January, but not in the middle of March.  People talk about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.

Snow Day During Spring Break Week

The original forecast was for 12-18 inches of snow in NYC, but I think the actual amounts are now projected to be 8-12 inches.  It seems that there will be some sleet that will minimize the accumulation.  Most schools announced closures yesterday afternoon in anticipation of a big snow storm.

I just hate it when it snows this late in the season as I'm looking forward to the baseball season and nicer weather.  Just a week ago we had 60-degree weather, but all of sudden it got colder.  Snow in March usually melts quickly as the temperatures are warmer and the sun is stronger.

Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.

Random Comments of the Day

They are calling for 12-18 inches of snow on Tuesday.  This has been some strange winter as a few days ago the temperatures hit 60 degrees.  At least the usually melts quickly in March.  NJIT is on Spring Break this week, so it seems likely they will close the administrative offices if there is a significant snowfall.  If not, I can take a vacation day.

It is a shame that Preet Bharara was fired by King Trump as the U.S. Attorney for the southern district of New York.  He was a man of utmost integrity and was doing his job quite well when politics reared its ugly head.  I just hope that his probe of DiBlasio's campaign finances will continue under his predecessor.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has hired two Florida fundraisers as he eyes a possible bid for the 2020 presidential nomination.  I really hope he goes for it.  I think he will have a good chance of beating Trump or Mike Pence.

My Interview with Teddy Smith on WPAT about Oldies Radio

In November 2015 I met Teddy Smith at the Oldies Meet and Greet at Ben's Deli.  He invited me to his studio, so over a year later, I took him up on that.  He interviewed me on oldies radio.  You can hear it by clicking on the link below.  I come on after Bennie and the Jets by Elton John.

American Radio Stations Should Play Elton John's Music

There was a report in the Daily Mail stating that Elton John complained that American radio stations are ageist and didn' t play his latest album because he and his listeners are just too old.  I guess these are the same people who killed the oldies, adult standards, and beautiful music formats because the listeners are just too old.  Screw them!  Here is one of my favorite Elton John hits.

Oh No Another HD Radio - This one is from Sangean

A couple of days ago I reported that my TEAC HD radio broke down after 6 years use.  It didn't take me long to get a Sangean HDR-16 HD Radio/FM-Stereo/AM Portable Radio which is a relatively new model.  I didn't get much of a chance to play it tonight, but it is much smaller than the TEAC radio.

I have said before that programming on HD-2 and 3 stations is disappointing.  I wish 101.1 HD2 would be the WCBS-FM of old playing the 50s and 60s music.  Likewise, I wish the old WNEW-FM would be recreated on 102.7 HD2.  Right now a smooth jazz station is on that frequency.  For a few months, the HD on WFUV has been off.

One of these days I will have to inventory the radios that I have kept.

Tony Blackburn Takes Over As Host of Sounds of the 60s on BBC2

I am listening to the podcast of Sounds of the 60s as I usually do on Sunday mornings.  Tony Blackburn has become the permanent host of the show after a 3 month stint by Tim Rice.  There is a good biography of him in the Wikipedia.

I am disappointed that Brian Matthew will not return after recovering from an injury.  He is certainly an icon in British broadcasting and deserved to return to the show.  Sadly, ageism has reared its ugly head.  Brian will do specials for the BBC in the future.

My TEAC HD Radio Finally Went Kaput

In April 2011 I bought a TEAC HD radio as documented in this journal. Over the 6 years that I owned it, it has acted erratically as it often changed stations by itself and even turned itself on.  The reception and sound quality were always good, but at times was "goofy" for lack of a better word.  Since I live in Queens I am able to pick up the HD2 and HD3 signals.  Smooth Jazz on 102.7 HD2 was the only station I listened regularly.

Today the radio just stopped playing.  It just doesn't pay to have it repaired so I ordered a Sangean HDR-16 HD Radio/FM-Stereo/AM Portable Radio from Amazon.com.  It is supposed to arrive on Monday.

Let's Abolish the Electoral College

Below is an e-mail I received from Congresswoman Grace Meng who responded to my e-mail to her about abolishing the Electoral College.  There is something very wrong when the candidate who has about 3 million more popular votes loses the election since we have an anachronistic Electoral College.

Of course, this would require a constitutional amendment.  Thus both houses of congress would have to pass it and then the president would have to sign it.  At that point, state legislatures in 75% of the states would have to approve it.  I doubt this will happen, but let's give it a try.

Dear Mr. Slutsky

      Thank you for contacting me to express your support for eliminating the Electoral College.

      The framers of the Constitution created the Electoral College as a compromise to protect the interests of both small and large states. I understand your frustrations that the Electoral College winner determines the outcome of the presidential election and not the winner of the popular vote.

      As you may know, H.J.Res. 19 would propose a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the Electoral College thereby determining the winner of the presidential election based on the majority vote. H.J.Res.19 is currently pending before the House Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.  Should H.J.Res.19 or any other legislation that would restructure the Electoral College reach the House Floor for a vote, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

      I appreciate you taking the time to share your views with me, and I hope that you will continue to do so in the future.