Health is My Most Important Wish for 2022

 

As people age, they inevitably face health issues.  The human body is like a machine with parts that can wear out.  Most of all, I wish all of my friends and acquaintances a healthy new year as we become one year older.

I never thought that the COVID-19 pandemic would persist until 2022.  It may never completely "go away",  At least there are now vaccines that can make the infections weaker.

We must always keep in mind that problems will not go away as the calendar changes.

My best wishes for a healthy new year for readers of my journal.

Wanted Man - Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash Together

 

If you listen carefully at the end you will hear that Johnny Cash has a good sense of humor as he improvises.  It is certainly nice to see Bob Dylan smile here.

Should Jeopardy Limit Winners to Five Victories?

 

As of this writing, Amy Schneider has won 20 games and is still going strong.  Earlier this season Matt Amodio won 38 games and was dethroned by Jonathan Fisher, another big winner.  Until 2004 champions were limited to five victories.  In that year Ken Jennings set the record with 74 victories.

You can look at this two ways:

1. Big winners generate interest in the show drawing more viewers.
2. Big winners create boredom as people think why should they watch when they know who will win.

I think ratings for the show will answer that questions.

In my opinion, overconfidence eventually defeats a long-time winner.  They will bet big on a Daily Double and get it wrong.  In yesterday's game, Amy lost $6,000 on a Daily Double but still won.

Stay tuned.

The Top 100 Favorite Records as Voted by Listeners of Rewound Radio and Posters on Oldiesboard.com

 Mike Riccio and Alan Sniffen and others compile this list voted by oldies enthusiasts every year.  The results vary, but Hey Jude by the Beatles has been #1 almost every year this survey has been compiled.  The only Bob Dylan song that made the Top 100 was Like a Rolling Stone that came in at #29.  I appreciate the efforts that Mike and Alan and others put into compiling this list every year.

Rank Title Artist Year
1 Hey Jude Beatles 1968
2 God Only Knows Beach Boys 1966
3 Satisfaction Rolling Stones 1965
4 Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon and Garfunkel 1970
5 Rag Doll Four Seasons 1964
6 Good Vibrations Beach Boys 1966
7 MacArthur Park Richard Harris 1968
8 Light My Fire Doors 1967
9 In The Still Of The Nite Five Satins 1956
10 Ain't No Mountain High Enough Diana Ross 1970
11 American Pie Don McLean 1972
12 Be My Baby Ronettes 1963
13 Can't Find The Time Orpheus 1969
14 Stairway To Heaven Led Zeppelin 1971
15 My Girl Temptations 1965
16 Aquarius Let The Sunshine In 5th Dimension 1969
17 I Want To Hold Your Hand Beatles 1964
18 Hotel California Eagles 1977
19 Wichita Lineman Glen Campbell 1968
20 Cherish Association 1966
21 Nights In White Satin Moody Blues 1972
22 She Loves You Beatles 1964
23 Dawn (Go Away) Four Seasons 1964
24 You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' Righteous Brothers 1965
25 Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) Looking Glass 1972
26 Beginnings Chicago 1971
27 California Dreamin' Mamas and the Papas 1966
28 Runaway Del Shannon 1961
29 Like A Rolling Stone Bob Dylan 1965
30 The Rain The Park & Other Things Cowsills 1967
31 Cara Mia Jay & the Americans 1965
32 Sugar Sugar Archies 1969
33 Go All The Way Raspberries 1972
34 Let It Be Beatles 1970
35 Born To Run Bruce Springsteen 1975
36 Layla Derek & the Dominos ( Eric Clapton ) 1972
37 Will You Love Me Tomorrow Shirelles 1961
38 Mack The Knife Bobby Darin 1959
39 One Less Bell To Answer Fifth ( 5th ) Dimension 1971
40 Up Up And Away Fifth ( 5th ) Dimension 1967
41 Happy Together Turtles 1967
42 Thunder Road Bruce Springsteen 1975
43 I Only Have Eyes For You Flamingos 1959
44 Walk Away Renee Left Banke 1966
45 Theme From A Summer Place Percy Faith & His Orchestra 1960
46 I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) Four Tops 1965
47 I Get Around Beach Boys 1964
48 In My Life Beatles 1966
49 What's Going On Marvin Gaye 1971
50 Wedding Bell Blues 5th Dimension 1969
51 To Sir With Love Lulu 1967
52 Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley 1969
53 Superstar Carpenters 1971
54 A Hard Day's Night Beatles 1964
55 Since I Don't Have You Skyliners 1959
56 You Belong To Me Duprees 1962
57 Strawberry Fields Forever Beatles 1967
58 Things I'd Like To Say New Colony Six 1969
59 The Long And Winding Road Beatles 1970
60 Wouldn't It Be Nice Beach Boys 1966
61 Morning Girl Neon Philharmonic 1969
62 Yesterday Beatles 1965
63 Here Comes The Sun Beatles 1969
64 It's Too Late Carole King 1971
65 Red Rubber Ball Cyrkle 1966
66 Incense And Peppermints Strawberry Alarm Clock 1967
67 Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) Swingin' Medallions 1966
68 Poor Side Of Town Johnny Rivers 1966
69 Please Please Me Beatles 1964
70 Daydream Believer Monkees 1967
71 Imagine John Lennon 1971
72 Groovin' Young Rascals 1967
73 I'm A Believer Monkees 1966
74 Stayin' Alive Bee Gees 1978
75 Stoned Soul Picnic 5th Dimension 1968
76 Get Back Beatles 1969
77 Don't Worry Baby Beach Boys 1964
-----------------------------------------------
78 Dreams Fleetwood Mac 1977
79 Elusive Butterfly Bob Lind 1966
80 Ariel Dean Friedman 1977
81 Crystal Blue Persuasion Tommy James and the Shondells 1969
82 Baker Street Gerry Rafferty 1978
83 My Sweet Lord George Harrison 1971
84 The Boxer Simon and Garfunkel 1969
85 What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong 1988
86 Summer Wind Frank Sinatra 1966
87 The Tears Of A Clown Smokey Robinson Miracles 1970
88 I'm Not In Love 10cc 1975
89 Downtown Petula Clark 1965
90 Close To You Carpenters 1970
91 Because Dave Clark Five 1964
92 He's A Rebel Crystals 1962
93 Mr Dieingly Sad Critters 1966
94 Time Won't Let Me Outsiders 1966
95 Day After Day Badfinger 1972
96 Sloop John B Beach Boys 1966
97 Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) Crystals 1963
98 Honky Tonk Women Rolling Stones 1969
99 Moonlight Feels Right Starbuck 1976
100 When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) Beach Boys 1964

American Underdog - A Good Movie for Christmas Afternoon

 

I have never been much of a football fan since I am so engrossed in Major League Baseball.  During the fall and winter months, I need to get away from sports.  It is especially tough on New York City football fans with the Jets and Giants doing so poorly.

I am marginally familiar with Kurt Warner, but I am not knowledgeable of the details of his career.  I certainly would classify American Underdog as a biopic.  Kurt Warner played college football with Northern Iowa which was in Division IAA.  Since he couldn't land a job in the NFL, he ended up playing in the Arena Football League. Considered the NFL's greatest undrafted player, Warner is the only undrafted player to be named NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP, as well as the only undrafted quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory.  He played most of his career with the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals.

I recommend this film for all.

Good Luck to Dave Chokshi after March 15

It seems that every time you turn on the TV there is a public service announcement by NYC Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi about the COVID pandemic.  Even he said that he is tired of talking about it.  It is certainly the most serious health crisis in 100 years.

The Health Commissioner is appointed by the mayor.  With the change in administration the incoming mayor, Eric Adams has a right to make appointments.  Dr. Chokshi was asked to stay only until March 15th when a new Commissioner will take over.  I think Dr. Chokshi has done an excellent job and should stay in that position as long as he wants it.  Certain positions in government should not be political.

I wish Dr. Chokshi well in his future endeavors.

 

Wooden Ships by Crosby Stills and Nash - Random Album Cut of the Day

 

For your listening pleasure.

Happy 39th Birthday David Wright

 

It is a shame that David Wright's baseball career was cut short by spinal stenosis.  2014 was his last full season playing for the Mets when he was only 31 years old.  Had he played a few more full seasons, he would likely be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  It is just a matter of time until his number 5 is retired and he enters the New York Mets Hall of Fame.

Will Buck Showalter Bring a World Series Victory to Citi Field?

 

When Steve Cohen purchased the Mets he stated the Mets would win the World Series within 5 years.  I think he made a good move by hiring Buck Showalter as Manager.  He has had some significant accomplishments in his managerial career.

• With the Yankees, Showalter ended a 14-year playoff drought
• With the Orioles, he ended a 15-year drought.
• With the Diamondbacks, he led them to the playoffs in just their second season.
• He won the Manager of the Year Award in 1994, 2014, and 2014

The Mets made some significant moves in the off-season before the lock-out and will likely make more transactions once there is a new collective bargaining agreement.  Steve Cohen is certainly willing to spend money, so let's hope Buck will bring a World Series victory to Citi Field in the near future.

Bob Dylan - Greeting the audience and band intro - Beacon Theatre, New York City, Nov, 21, 2021

 

The quality of this bootleg video is quite good.  Dylan talked to the audience for about 2 minutes.  I was at the show the previous night.

Random Thoughts of of the Day

It appears that the Major League owners and Players Association are not even talking at this point.  Hopefully, they will meet shortly after the holidays to try to come to a new collective bargaining agreement.  A few reporters from The Athletic speculate that an agreement will be reached in February shortly before the beginning of spring training.  I think that there will be a backlash by the fans if games are lost.

The New York Knicks are now 12-16.  Should they make trades are let their current players develop?  They have not won a championship since 1973.

A new mayor has a right to make appointments.  Dermot Shea did a good job as Police Commissioner and apparently will take a position in the private sector.  Mayor-Elect Adams will name Keechant Sewell the first female NYPD commissioner.  Likewise, Daniel Nigro has done a good job as Fire Commissioner.  Perhaps Adams will retain him.

I think the position of Public Advocate should be abolished as almost every incumbent has used it as a stepping stone to a higher elected office.  Jumane Williams is running for Governor.

 

Bob Dylan in the Big Apple Troubadour Tales of New York

 

There have been countless Bob Dylan books written by scholars.  They are very detailed and researched exhaustively including extensive bibliographies.  Bob Dylan in The Big Apple: Troubadour Tales of New York is written by Keith Miles, a Dylanologist but not a scholar.  Am I a Dylanologist?  Keith presented a paper The Unknown Muse- Robert Graves and the Tregunter Road Encounter at the 2019 Dylan conference in Tulsa.

I did not meet Keith when I was in Tulsa, but I "met" him on Twitter where I have Tweeted about 9,000 times.  I was quite intrigued by the book as he announced it there.  Ironically, it is easier to get the print version of it in the United Kingdom than it is in the USA. Amazon will not officially release it in the USA until May.  I received my copy as an e-book on the Amazon Kindle.

The book does not claim to be exhaustive, but the author details Dylan's activities in Greenwich Village during the early 1960s.  Some of his appearances in the 1970s and beyond are mentioned.  I was disappointed that Dylan's appearance at the Woody Guthrie Tributed in early1968 was not mentioned.  It was Dylan's first appearance since the motorcycle accident of July 1966.  Likewise, the author didn't consider the "Bobfest" of October 1992.

I highly recommend this book for casual and serious Dylan fans, especially those who live in NYC.  Dylan scholars would be highly critical of the lack of completeness.  However, there are many more fans than scholars.  Keith reports that the book has sold very well in its first days after its release.

If you have read this journal entry, I suggest you listen to this song:

Mike Nesmith as a Songwriter

 

Yesterday we heard the sad news that Mike Nesmith passed away at age 78.  Of course, he is best known for being one of the Monkees, but Mike was also a songwriter.  He composed Different Drum that was a big hit for Linda Ronstadt.

Recalling my 50 years as a Member of the American Chemical Society

 

I just received a letter from the American Chemical Society congratulating me for being a 50-year member.  I joined while pursuing a Master's degree in chemistry at the University of Rhode Island.  My first major contribution was a Careers in Chemical Information Workshop held at the City University Graduate Center in November 1989.  It was to advise students of an alternative to working in the laboratory.

Slutsky, B. (1991). A Careers in Chemical Information Workshop. Journal of Chemical Education, 68(1), 43-45. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ed068p43

Over the succeeding years, I organized several similar workshops held at the American Chemical Society National Meetings n various locations.

I was also a Careers Consultant offering advice on a one-to-one basis to chemists needing guidance.

I organized the Tri-Society Symposium in 1999, a joint venture of the ACS, ASIS, and SLA,

I was the Chair of the ACS Division of Chemical Information Publication Committee.  As part of this role, I edited the division's newsletter.

I organized the ACS on Campus event at NJIT in December 2012.

For many years I participated in the New Jersey Chemistry Olympics for high school students.  This was an ACS event.

I feel that over the years I was an asset to my profession.

Flowers on the Wall by the Statler Brothers - Country Crossover Hit of the Day

 

Remembering John Lennon on the 41st Anniversary of His Passing - Just Like Starting Over

 

I went to sleep early the night of December 8th, 1980.  I didn't find out about his murder until the next morning.  John's music will live on forever.

Finally - Gil Hodges is Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame

 There is always some prejudice as to why some players are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame while others who are worthy are denied that honor.  Gil Hodges played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s and 1950s before this era of analytics.  He finished his playing career for the New York Mets in 1962 and 1963.  He appeared in 8 All-Star games and won the Gold Glove Award for first basemen 3 times.  His statistics are detailed in Baseball-Reference.

His biggest accomplishment was turning the New York Mets from perennial losers to World Champions in 1969.  His wife Joan survives him almost 50 years after his untimely passing in 1972.  To use an old cliche, better late than never.  Certainly, many of the living 1969 Mets will be at the induction ceremony next summer.

Gotta Serve Somebody - My Favorite from the 2021 Tour

 

This video was taken at the Sunday, November 21 show.  Of course, the quality is poor since the "filmmaker" was filming blind.  He was lucky to escape the "Beacon Theater Police".  I assume that in the future it will be deleted when the YouTube Police find it.

Below is the studio version from the Album Slow Train Coming.

What Will Bob Dylan do in 2022?

 

There were 21 concerts from November 2 to December 2 on this leg of the Never Ending Tour.  According to the graphic above this was part of a worldwide tour from 2021-2024.  Before the pandemic, the tour would resume in the spring.  My guess is the next leg of the tour will be in Europe.  Perhaps in the next months, he will record some new material.  If so, there could be a new album late in the year.  Will Bootleg Series #17 be released?  If so what will it feature?  I would love to see a Never Ending Tour sampler.

I guess my speculation is as good or bad as anyone else's.

The Multi-Millionaire Players are Locked Out

 

The bottom line is that everybody is out for the almighty buck.  The most divisive issues that caused this lockout include revenue sharing, years to arbitration, and the luxury tax.  Someone will be getting $43 million per year to pitch 32 times a season if healthy.  Relief pitchers get millions for pitching one inning.  My feeling is that a settlement will come before the start of spring training as not to jeopardize the 2022 season,  Too much money will be lost if games are canceled.

In the end, the fans will be paying increased ticket prices.  Will it be $75 to sit in the upper deck of Citi Field?

Nobody's Child - 2 Versions of a Very Sad Song

 Here I go again.  I heard Nobody's Child by the Traveling Wilbury's on the Deep Tracks Channel.  I vaguely recall hearing a Beatles version of this from the early 1960s.  Tony Sheridan was the singer in the latter version.  George Harrison holds the distinction of being on both versions.