Easy Fast for Those Observing Yom Kippur

On Yom Kippur our fate is sealed for the next year.  Jews should observe in whatever way is best for them.  If you choose to fast, I wish you an easy one.

Can You Figure Out What My Retirement Song Is

I don't know if I'll have 30 songs to play at my retirement party, but there is one that is really very appropriate for me.  I think it is a no-brainer to figure out who is the recording artist and writer of this song.  I am sure that Pete Freckelton, Scott Warmuth, Richard Kearney, and Mike Byrnes who are also fans of this distinguished songwriter can figure it out.  For others, you may go to this website and peruse the list and see if you can figure it out.  For my radio enthusiast friends, it likely was never played on Bob Radil's 60s 70s show,  Don Tandler's Pop Gold Radio, or on That Thing With Rich Appel.  I know it was never played on WABC or WMCA, but it could have been played on some of the progressive FM stations back then.  I have heard this on WFUV.

Go Figure

I announced My Retirement Today

Today, went to the Human Resources Department and filled out the necessary paperwork to retire as of January 1, 2018.  My last day of work will be Friday, December 22 which is the last day before the holiday break.  My career spanned about 41 years including 3 years as a chemist and 38 years of a librarian.  My early career was checkered, but I ended up with 25 years at NJIT.  I am 68 years old an want to enjoy whatever time the good Lord has given me.  Thankfully, I am in good health and will spend my time doing what I really enjoy.

I worked for the following organizations:

• Rhodia
• Naarden/UOP Fragrances
• Pfizer
• Schering-Plough
• H.W. Wilson
• New York Public Library
• St. John's University
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)

I will not miss:

• Information Literacy
• Citation Searches
• New Jersey Transit
• Managers who talk too much
• Students who use their skateboards on campus

Nationals 3 Mets 2

When I bought my tickets for this season several months ago,  I thought this would be a meaningful game.  Of course, I was very wrong as numerous injuries killed the Mets' chance to be a contender this season.  The team was 3-10 in games that I attended.

Jacob deGrom pitched well for the Mets, but Max Scherzer outdid him for the Washington Nationals.  The Mets could have won the game, but could not get clutch hits in the 8th or 9th innings with runners in scoring position.

There is just one week to go for the Mets to look at some of their younger players who came up from the minors.  There is speculation that Terry Collins will retire and there will be a new manager next season.  What player moves will the Mets make during the offseason?

Game recap

Brian Wilson Pet Sounds at the Radio City Music Hall

Several months ago I bought tickets in the third balcony of the Radio City Music Hall.  After I climbed the steps to the top level I was greeted by a pleasant surprise as we were offered a free upgrade to the orchestra.  Apparently, the show was not sold out so they moved people down.  Our seats were in the 15th row on the left side.

Of course, Brian Wilson was there and was joined by original Beach Boy Al Jardine with his son Matthew.  The 10 or so backup musicians were absolutely terrific.  In the first set, the group played many of the Beach Boy hits from the 60s.  After the intermission, the group played the songs from the Pet Sounds album in sequence.  God Only Knows got the biggest reaction from the audience who were mostly old farts like me.  Likely these people grew up with the Beach Boys in the 1960s.

The encore set was more 1960s hits including Help Me Rhonda and I Get Around.

Librarian Adventures on the Walk Home From Synagogue

We went to services at the Free Synagogue of Flushing for the second day of Rosh Hashana today.  We were walking home on Union Street and two gentlemen asked me directions to the offices of Congresswoman Grace Meng.  Her offices were on Union Street about 100 yards from where we stopped, but I knew that her local office was moved.  I took out my trusty iPhone and Googled Grace Meng and found out that her office was now at 159th Street and 40th Avenue about 2 miles away.  The man thanked me and said I was a genius.  I can use my librarian skills walking down the street.  Maybe the next time someone will ask me a chemistry question.

The Mitchell-Linden branch of the Queens Library was about 1/2 block away.  Lee wanted to go in to get a few movies.  I looked at the new bookshelf and found:

Marshall, S. M. (2017). Bob Dylan: A spiritual life.

I wasn't even looking for it, but it was there.  I didn't have to use the online catalog, I just walked up to the shelf and picked it up.

Bob Dylan Bootleg Series Vol. 13 Trouble No More to be Released November 3

I just received an email from Isis, the Bob Dylan fanzine from England stating that Bob Dylan Bootleg Series Trouble No More will be Released November 3.  This represents the Born Again Christian period of Dylan which is not my favorite.  There will be a 2 CD version and a deluxe 8 CD version.  I just checked Amazon.com which states that the mp3 version can be pre-ordered.  Nothing yet was mentioned about the CDs.

Happy New Year

I wish a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year to all who observe Rosh Hashanah.

Apple Strikes Again With a New Operating System

Today Apple released iOS 11 for the iPhone and iPad.  As the picture above indicates, the new operating systems enhances the iPad more.  I have an iPhone 6 with on 16 GB of memory.  If I download the update it would likely eat up all my disc space.  I decided to wait for a few months to get the new iPhone 8 with IOS 11 already installed.  Before you know it all the apps will need IOS 11 to operate making your old phone obsolete.

Take What You Need - A Collection of Dylan Covers by British Artists (1964-69)

I regularly read a Bob Dylan fanzine called Isis published in the U.K.  Very recently they announced a new compilation of Bob Dylan covers recorded from 1964-69 by British artists.  I listened to most of it before dinner tonight.  The versions seemed very mellow.  I never even heard of some of the artists on this CD.  I do recommend it for my Dylan enthusiast friends.

 1. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - the Fairies
  2. Blowin' in the Wind - Marianne Faithfull
  3. Oxford Town - the Three City Four
  4. The Times They Are a Changin' - the Ian Campbell Folk Group
  5. If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Manfred Mann
  6. It's All Over Now Baby Blue - the Cops 'N Robbers
  7. Mr. Tambourine Man - Chad & Jeremy
  8. Love Minus Zero - Noel Harrison
  9. One Too Many Mornings - Julie Felix
  10. Visions of Johanna - the Picadilly Line
  11. Tom Thumb's Blues - Alex Campbell
  12. To Ramona - the Alan Price Set
  13. Absolutely Sweet Marie - the Factotums
  14. All Along the Watchtower - the Alan Bown
  15. I Shall Be Released - Boz
  16. I Am a Lonesome Hobo - Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & the Trinity
  17. I'll Keep It with Mine - Fairport Convention
  18. Million Dollar Bash - the Mixed Bag
  19. Down Along the Cove - Cliff Aungier
  20. Tears of Rage - Country Fever
  21. Just Like a Woman - Joe Cocker
  22. Lay Lady Lay - Sa

Record and CD Show on West 57th Street

For many years I have been on a mailing list for a record and CD show that takes place monthly at a hotel on West 57th Street.  Today we finally went to one.  It was a little smaller than I thought it would be and the selection was not the greatest.  The CDs we bought were either $1 or $3, so we didn't break the bank.  Here is the list of the CDs that we bought:

• Neil Sedaka's Greatest Hits (best find)
• Harry Connick Jr. - Come by Me
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Bang Bang Bang
• Kenny G - The Moment
• James Taylor - New Moon Shine
• Jose Feliciano
• Crosby Stills, Nash - After The Storm
• Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost of Tom Joad
• Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
• The Best Soul Album

Carole King Live At Hyde Park Live CD and DVD

Back in July I reported in this journal that we saw a special screening of Carol King Tapestry: Live in Hyde Park at our local multiplex.  Today I received a CD and DVD of this show from Amazon.com.  Whenever one orders a CD from Amazon, the music is available from the Amazon Echo.  We listened that way while the package was sitting in our mailbox.  Right after dinner Lee went downstairs to retrieve this from our mailbox.

Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour Will Come to Long Island in November and I'll Be There

At age 76 Bob Dylan keeps on going.  After a short break, the Never Ending Tour resumes this fall and will come to Long Island.  On November 8th he will appear at the Nassau Coliseum.  The pre-sale started today and of course, I got my tickets.  I hope to hear the Duquesne Whistle blow that night.  I must assume that he will sing some of the adult standards that appeared on his recent albums.

Random Comments of the Day

Who can forget the tragic events of 9/11/2001?  I certainly have discussed my thoughts in this journal before.  It is also tragic that so many first responders have died in the years since then from diseases caused by exposure to the toxic air at Ground Zero.

Today I found out that Bob Dylan will be playing at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, November 8.  The pre-sale starts on Wednesday.

The 34th season of Jeopardy started today.

I tried to poll readers of Bruce's Journal about a week ago, but only 3 people responded.  All of them have met me in person.  I guess people don't like to respond to surveys.

Reds 10 Mets 5

I guess the Mets can not win on Sundays, as today was no exception.  Jacob de Grom who was trying for his 15th victory was shaky in the first inning but settled down and left leading 5-2 at the end of 6 innings.  However, the bullpen imploded allowing 8 runs in the last 3 innings.  The 6 pitchers for the Mets struck out 14 Reds, but that is just a statistic when the team loses.

Game Recap

Viewing Glen Campbell TV Appearances at the Paley Center

Every few months we visit the Paley Center on West 52nd Street in Manhattan.  Since we are members, we don't have to pay every time we visit.  We came today with the thought in mind of seeing what they had on Glen Campbell who recently passed away.  We viewed the following shows:

• GLEN CAMPBELL SPECIAL, THE: THE MUSICAL WEST - this show aired on March 8, 1974, and featured appearances by John Wayne, Burl Ives, and Michele Lee.
• THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL HOSTED BY HELEN REDDY - SALUTE TO GLEN CAMPBELL BILL BRAVER, ROGER DALTREY, MERLE HAGGARD, OHIO PLAYERS - this show aired on November 5, 1975

After seeing these shows we saw an episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire hosted by Regis Philbin.

Highway 61 Revisited by Johnny Winter - Bob Dylan Cover of the Day

I just heard it on Tom Petty's Buried Treasure Show on SiriusXM.  I listen to it on a channel completely devoted to that show.  Johnny played it at the "Bobfest" on October 16, 1992.  I also like Ben Sidran's cover of it.

Random Comments of the Day

Hurricane Irma is really threatening Florida.  My father-in-law lives in a nursing home in Boynton Beach, so I certainly hope he'll be safe.  I don't how they could evacuate elderly people who are not ambulant.

There are two new hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic Ocean.  Hopefully, they will not be threats to populated areas.

Classes started yesterday at NJIT.  It seems strange for the campus to be so crowded after it was so much less populated over the summer.

The New York City Public Schools open tomorrow meaning that the buses and subways will be much more crowded.

Mets 11 Phillies 7 with an NJIT Connection

For the first 4 innings, the game appeared to be a laugher as the Mets took a 10-0 lead with home runs by Jose Reyes and Asrubal Cabrera.  Starting pitcher Rafael Montero seemed to be doing well but started to falter in the 5th and 6th innings as the Phillies narrowed the lead to 10-5.  The Phillies closed the gap to 11-7 in the top of the 9th as closer A.J. Ramos had to come in to get the last out.

The NJIT connection was Phillies starting and losing pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. who graduated from NJIT a few years ago.  Coincidentally, a young man sitting a few rows ahead of us was wearing a NJIT t-shirt.

It always pays to state you are at the game on Facebook as I met up with my nephew Adam Feuer was also there.

Game recap

If You Ever Go to Houston by Bob Dylan

I seem to remember the older Bob Dylan songs more than the newer.  If You Ever Go to Houston was on the album Together Through Life which was released in 2009.  It completely slipped my mind when I went there this July and during Hurricane Harvey.

Recording of If You Ever Go to Houston

If You Ever Go To Houston

WRITTEN BY: BOB DYLAN WITH ROBERT HUNTER

If you ever go to Houston

Better walk right

Keep your hands in your pockets

And your gun-belt tight

You'll be asking for trouble

If you're lookin' for a fight

If you ever go to Houston

Boy, you better walk right



If you're ever down there

On Bagby and Lamar

You better watch out for

The man with the shining star

Better know where you're going

Or stay where you are

If you're ever down there

On Bagby and Lamar



I know these streets

I've been here before

I nearly got killed here

During the Mexican war

Something always

Keeps me coming back for more

I know these streets

I've been here before



If you ever go to Dallas

Say hello to Mary Anne

Say I'm still pullin' on the trigger

Hangin' on the best I can

If you see her sister Lucy

Say I'm sorry I'm not there

Tell her other sister Betsy

To pray the sinner's prayer



I got a restless fever

Burnin' in my brain

Got to keep ridin' forward

Can't spoil the game

The same way I leave here

Will be the way that I came

Got a restless fever

Burnin' in my brain


Mr. Policeman

Can you help me find my gal

Last time I saw her

Was at the Magnolia Hotel

If you help me find her

You can be my pal

Mr. Policeman

Can you help me find my gal

If you ever go to Austin

Fort Worth or San Antone

Find the bar rooms I got lost in

And send my memories home

Put my tears in a bottle

Screw the top on tight

If you ever go to Houston

You better walk right
Copyright © 2009 by Special Rider Music and Ice-Nine Publishing

LIU Post 42 Virginia Union University 13 in College Football

Although we have 3 baseball games left to see this season we took a drive out to Brookville to see LIU Post play football against Virginia Union University.  Before today, I never heard of the opposing school, but you can click on the link to read about this historically black college in Richmond Virginia.

It turned out to be a rout for the home team as they dominated play and won 42-13.

Game Recap