Saturday Morning Function - An Excellent Radio Show on WBGO Lives On After its Host Bob Porter Passed Away

 

Some of the best and unique radio programming are heard on not-for-profit stations.  The Saturday Morning Function is heard from 8 AM - 10 AM  on WBGO at 88.3 FM in the New York-New Jersey area or on its website.  It provides a mix of classic soul and rhythm and blues.  Its host Bob Porter who passed away in April 2021 received many awards for his professional achievements.  I thank the management of WBGO for keeping this program alive after the host's passing.

My Vaccines for 2021

 

I have never received a flu shot until today.  I guess I was persuaded by Dr. Dave Choksi, NYC Health Commissioner, to get the shot this year.  In all the years I didn't get the flu shot, I never contracted the disease.  This year I received:

• Moderna #1 for COVID-19 -  March 3
• Moderna #2 for COVID-19 - March 31
• Shingles Shot #1 - August 16

In all three cases, I developed a fever within a day of the vaccination.  I am hoping I won't develop side effects for today's or future shots.

Within the next few weeks I will get:

• Moderna Booster
• Shingles Shot #2

I should also get the Prevnar vaccine to fight pnemonia.

Eddie's Sweet Shop in Forest Hills

 

There was a good article recently in the New York Times about Eddie's Sweet Shop in Forest Hills.  I must say that it was one of a kind in selling homemade ice cream.  I remember in the early 1980s during my Queens B'nai Brith Singles days I went there regularly with, Herb, Gary, Lenny, and Howie.  The article states that apparently there was no Eddie, but I distinctively remember an elderly man named Eddie there.  In later years Karen, Lee, and I went there after seeing movies at the Cinemart Theater just across the street on Metropolitan Avenue.

Cara Mia by Jay and The Americans - 1965 and 2011 Performances

 We heard the sad news yesterday that Jay Black passed away at age 82.  I know that his Cara Mia was always a favorite of my friend Cara Sieden.  I found two versions of this song on Youtube from 1965 on Shindig and 2011 from PBS.  Which version do you prefer?

1965 on Shindig


2011 on PBS

Goodbye Country Music - Hello Classic Hip Hop on 94.7 FM in NYC

 

It has been a long time since there was a major format change in New York radio, but today 94.7 FM flipped from country music to classic hip hop.  The ratings for country music were not good in NYC and apparently, the advertising dollars coming in did not satisfy Audacy, the owner of 94.7 FM, and other radio stations in NYC and other markets.  Historically, country music appeals more to listeners in the suburbs than in the city.  94.7 FM adopted country music in January 2013 when it was owned by Cumulus and branded as Nash-FM.  It was sold to Audacy and was branded as New York's Country as seen in the logo above.

Classic Hip Hop is heard on radio stations in other cities.  It remains to be seen if it will succeed in the Big Apple. It will be branded as 94.7 The Block and adopt the calls WXBK. Country music can still be heard at 94.7 HD2 and on the Audacy app.

Random thoughts of the Day

 

Working with banks can be a real pain.  I had several joint accounts at my local bank with Karen.  Now I have to close those accounts and open up new ones.  It can be a tedious procedure.  Also, I can't access my safe deposit box until I get an order from the Surrogate Court.  I sent them the required paperwork, but it will take weeks before I hear from them.

Jonathan Fisher has now won $193,800 in 8 appearances after dethroning Matt Amodio after 38 victories.  he is an excellent player, but I don't think he will finish among the elite.  There is a website comparing the performance of Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, and Matt Amodio.  I would love to see a match among the three, but I don't think that will happen since Ken now works as Consulting Producer for Jeopardy,

I asked Don Tandler to play I Only Have Eyes for You by The Flamingoes on Pop Gold Radio at about 12 noon today.  In the early 1980s I dedicated it to Karen on Jack Spector's Sock Hop heard on Saturday Night on WCBS-FM.

Deep Track of the Day - As You Said by Cream

 

When I can't think of anything to say, I usually post a song in my journal.  One of my favorite stations on SiriusXM is Deep Tracks which obviously plays cuts not usually heard on terrestrial classic rock stations.  This morning I hear As You Said by Cream.  I remember buying the album Wheels of Fire with its shiny silver cover back in 1968

Tribute to Dan Ingram - Podcast from WABC Radio

 

My radio friends who read my journal will enjoy this recording.  I thank Mary Ellen Brown for bringing this to my attention.

Merrimack College 43 LIU Post Sharks 5

 

I did a search in Bruce's Journal and found out the last time we went to an LIU Football Game was in November 2017 when LIU Post defeated Merrimack College 49-7.  Four years later things changed as the LIU Post Pioneers were rebranded as the LIU Sharks.  The result of that game was reversed today as Merrimack won 43-5.  There was an enthusiastic crowd on Homecoming Weekend, but the home team fell to an 0-5 record.

The only highlight for the Sharks came in the second quarter as they blocked a point after touchdown and ran it back to the end zone. It was scored as a safety.  Thus, the 5 points were gained by a field goal and a safety.

Box Score

The Beatles are at it again - A Remastered Version of Let it Be is Released Today

 

Let it Be was the last album the Beatles released as a group in Spring 1970.  As they did with other albums at or near their 50th anniversary a newly remastered version is released.  Giles Martin, son of legendary producer George Martin, did the remastering.  This re-release is available in a variety of sizes and formats.  I resisted the temptation of buying the super deluxe version with 5 CDs at $118.  I compromised and bought the 2 CD version for about $20.  The second CD includes outtakes and alternative versions.

I guess the bottom line, literally, is that there are big bucks for everyone including the record company, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison.

Remembering Angelo Perna Professor of Chemical Engineering at NJIT

 

Professor Angelo Perna was a good friend to me during my 25 years at NJIT.  Sadly, he passed away at age 88 in July 2020.  There was a virtual celebration of life for him held in December 2020.  I just found out about it a few days ago.  I'd like to share it with my readers.

Bob Dylan's Series of Dreams

 

Last night I had a crazy dream that I was teaching a class about Bob Dylan and apologizing to the students that I have degrees in chemistry, not literature or music.  There are several Bob Dylan songs that consider dreams:

• Series of Dreams
• Bob Dylan's Dream
• Bob Dylan's 115th Dream
• Talkin' World War III Blues

In Talkin' World War III Blues Dylan says:

They were my own dreams and they’re only in my head

Well, now time passed and now it seems

Everybody’s having them dreams

Everybody sees themselves

Walkin’ around with no one else

“I’ll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours”

Thankfully, I forgot most of my dreams when I wake up in the morning.  They rarely make sense.

Random Thoughts of the Day

 

Today, I went to a major department store looking for long-sleeve shirts.  Why were there so many short-sleeve shirts on the shelves?  I thought department stores work one season ahead.  I thought I'd buy clothes from a brick-and-mortar store for a change.  I did buy three shirts.

Matt Amodio is on schedule to break Ken Jennings' record of 74 victories in about 5 weeks.  Wouldn't it be ironic if Ken Jennings was the host when Matt tied or broke his record?

Why do I have dreams about going back to work at previous employers?  Is my subconscious trying to play tricks on me?

Preliminary Announcement of the Oldies Zoom Meet and Greet - Saturday November 13 2 PM - Careers as an Oldies Radio Personality - The Long and Winding Road

 

Keith Allen Verdi and Don Tandler will be our guest speakers discussing how their careers as oldies radio personalities developed.  We are more likely to be aware of the career paths of well-known DJs including Cousin Brucie, the late Dan Ingram, and the late Harry Harrison among others.  Keith is best known for his time at B-103 on Long Island while Don worked at NJ-101.5 and Pop Gold Radio. Both of them worked at other radio stations and experienced successes and setbacks.  They will be pleased to answer questions.

It will take place on Saturday, November 13 at 2 PM.  More information including the Login information will be sent later.  I thank Bill Dillane for allowing Jeff Scheckner and me for using his Zoom account for this meeting.

Hopefully, we will meet in person in the near future.

Day 4 – October 3 – Big Game at AT&T Stadium – Dallas Cowboys vs Carolina Panthers

Game time was 12 noon, but we left our hotel at 9 AM.  By the time we arrived at the stadium at 9:30 AM, there were people already tailgating in the parking lots.  The tour guide told us there was no public transportation to the stadium, so everyone had to drive.  It cost about $40 to park.  At about 10 AM we entered the stadium I must say that Texans really love their Cowboys.  Almost every fan wore a jersey of their favorite player.  There were many fans of the Carolina Panthers as well.  I assume they all made a trip from North Carolina just to see the game.  The fans were shouting at every play.  The Cowboys beat the Panthers 36-28. (Game Summary)  There was a big traffic jam after the game.  It took the driver over an hour to get back to our hotel that was only 3 miles away.

We returned to the hotel and ate dinner at a Cracker Barrel.  When we arrived at the restaurant, we were told there was a 20-minute wait.  When we were finally seated, I observed the dining room was ¾ empty.  The problem is that restaurants are having problems getting help.

We left Monday and flew back to New York.

 

Day 3 – October 2 - Return to Arlington – Tour of AT&T Stadium – Texas Rangers vs Cleveland Indians

Photo of the Tour Group taken during our tour of AT&T Stadium

On Saturday morning we boarded the bus and headed north on I-45 back to Arlington.  Our stop was at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. There was quite a bit of activity in the stadium for a non-game day.  At 2 PM we met Phil our tour guide who is quite knowledgeable about the team and stadium.  He showed us the locker rooms of the Cowboys and the cheerleaders.  The highlight of the tour was sitting in owner Jerry Jones's private box.

After the tour, we took a short drive back to Globe Life Field where the group had tickets to the game with the Rangers playing the Cleveland Indians who will be renamed the Guardians next season.  Since both teams were not in the playoff picture, the game was essentially meaningless.  The Texas Rangers lost over 100 games.  Since the weather was in the 70s, the retractable roof was opened.  The Rangers won 7-2.  Box Score

 

Day 2- October 1 – Tour of Globe Life Field - Trip to Houston – Oakland A’s vs Houston Astros

 

Minute Maid Park

There is always action in a Jay Buckley Baseball Trip.  We left the hotel at 8:30 for a short drive to Globe Life Field for a tour.  When we arrived at the stadium, we saw a statue of Nolan Ryan.  I must remember him for the worst trade the Mets ever made.  Anyway, we were given a tour of the stadium for about 90 minutes.  The tour guide told us about the history of the Texas Rangers franchise since 1972 when they moved from Washington, DC. The stadium opened for the shortened 2020 season.  It has a retractable roof since the climate is very hot in the Dallas-Arlington area.  The previous stadium that was constructed in the 1990s is still in use for soccer and college football. There was plenty of photographs of players from the team over the years.

From there we drove to Houston.  We stopped at a restaurant in Centerville called Woody’s Smokehouse.  We arrived in Houston, stopped at our hotel, and then to Minute Maid Park.  Karen, Lee, and I went to a few games there in 2017.  In today’s game, the Oakland A’s faced the Astros.  In a game that lasted almost 4 hours, the A’s beat the Astros 8-6.  Box Score.

Day 1 – September 30 – Confusing flight schedule and Faulty iPhone Charging Cable

 

Concourse at LaGuardia Airport

We woke up at 6 AM to get a cab to take us to LaGuardia Airport for a 9:10 flight to Dallas.  Shortly after I got into the cab, I received a message stating that the flight was changed to 10:10. This would just mean one more hour at the airport.  When we arrived at LaGuardia, the time was moved back to 9:10.  About a half our later the time was changed to 9:30 since the crew was late in arriving.  Finally, the plane took off and arrived at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport at about 12 noon.  The hotel offered free van service from the airport to the hotel.  When I arrived at the hotel, I discovered that the iPhone charger was not working.  If I were at home this would not be a problem since I had extra cable, but I obviously could not leave the hotel to find an electronics store.  At 8 PM the tour escorts held a meeting to explain the itinerary and some procedural issues.  The tour escort let me use her charge for a few hours.  I decided at that point to use my phone sparingly as not to bother anyone.  Thus, I only took a few photos.  In later journal entries, I may use photos from the Facebook Group, Friends of Jay Buckley Baseball Tours and will attribute the photographer

Bruce's Journal Returns after a Short Hiatus

 

Some of my regular readers may wonder why I have not posted a new entry in several days.  I was at the Ultimate Game Day Weekend by the Jay Buckey Baseball Tours (JBBT).  If you search in the upper left-hand corner of my journal under Jay Buckley you will see accounts of my trips in 2006, 2007, and 2010.  This weekend featured baseball games at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Globe Life Field in Arlington, and a football game at AT&T Stadium with the Dallas Cowboys.  I will follow this with a journal entry for each of the days of this trip.  This has been a tough year for me with Karen’s illness followed by her untimely passing.  I had to take on more domestic responsibilities as well.  I thought it would be good for Lee and me to get away for a short vacation doing things we enjoy.