I Donated to the Harris-Walz Campaign with Dylan Fans for Harris and Walz

 

I absolutely hate politics and have never donated to a candidate for office. I strongly feel that Donald Trump must never again become President of the United States. I don't have to repeat what he has said and done that should disqualify him from any elected office. His actions on January 6, 2021, alone should disqualify him from the presidency. Sadly, he duped millions of voters into thinking he is the greatest. I donated to show my support for Harris and Walz.  The concert includes covers of Dylan songs by various artists.  Below is the set list.

The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa Comes to the New School with Rare Dylan Films

Steve Jenkins Director of the Dylan Center and Anne Margaret Daniel, a Dylan scholar with the New School, presented a one-hour program of short films and videos from the Bob Dylan Archive. The program featured rare and previously unreleased clips of Dylan on stage and in the studio. There is a detailed description of the event at https://event.newschool.edu/bobdylancenter.  My favorite clip was the performance of Maggie's Farm at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

A gentleman sat next to me and asked if I was Bruce?  He said that he was a regular reader of this journal.  It is nice to know that someone is interested in my writing.  I am curious to know how many other regular readers there are since people like to be anonymous when they surf the web.  I also saw Danny, Walter, and Phil who are regular participants in the monthly Dylan video chat.

 

Random Thoughts of the Day - August 28, 2024

• Even though NJ Transit has free rides this week, I know of two major delays.  Yesterday morning, there were delays in trains in and out of Hoboken terminal.  In the evening delays were coming in out of Penn Station.  That would have affected me.
• I wish I didn't have such a good autobiographical memory.  I just remember too many bad experiences of the distant past.
• With that thought in mind, I sometimes have dreams about meeting people I haven't seen in years if not decades.
• I enjoy listening to oldies on internet radio stations, but some of my radio friends are too "gung ho" about countdowns.  If I enjoy a song, its number on a survey is not of interest to me.

 

I Will Still Not Ride on NJ Transit Even with Free Rides

To make up for all the poor service NJ Transit provided this month Governor Phil Murphy is offering free rides this week.  No, thank you.  That agency gave me much aggravation for the 25 years (1992-2017) that I commuted from NYC to Newark.  Many of these delays were documented in my companion blog.  If I had $1.00 for every hour I was delayed on NJ Transit in those 25 years, I would have obtained a small fortune.

I have not set foot in the state of New Jersey since I retired in December 2017.  I once had relatives in Bergen County, but they all relocated to the San Francisco area.  I have discussed in my journal that I do not want to visit my former employer in Newark.  I do not harbor any animosity toward the university or any individuals, but it is in my best interest not to revisit the past.  Moving on and letting go is important to me.

Even with free rides, there can be significant train delays.

I am Still a Diehard Mets Fan Even Though I visited Yankee Stadium Today

 

Since I have a 20-ticket plan at Citi Field, I have been reluctant to trek to the Bronx to see the Yankees.  Lee convinced me to get tickets for one game.  This game was quite exciting.  In the seventh inning Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton hit back-to-back-to-back home runs.  Judge also hit a homer in the first inning and has 51 for the season.  Gleyber Torres hit another homer for the Yankees in the eighth inning giving the Bronx Bombers five dingers for the afternoon.

There was a freak accident as home plate umpire Nick Mahrley sustained a concussion and was carted off the field at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon after being hit by the barrel of Giancarlo Stanton’s broken bat.  Let;s hope he will be OK.

Box score

Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel ("The Graduate" Film Version) and Traditional Hit Version

 

It has been many years since I saw the movie

Mets 4 Orioles 3 in a Walkoff

 

For the first time since Citi Field opened in 2009, I sat in the 300 level instead of the 500 level.  Once a month I usually join other local SABR members and talk to early-onset Alzheimer's patients about baseball.  Instead of talking about it, we went to a game today. We met by Apple and went to our seats in the 300 level.

Starting pitcher Sean Manaea dominated the game by retiring the first 17 Orioles.  A hit batsman followed by a home run by Austin Slater tied the game at two.  The Orioles tied the game at 3 in the eighth inning while Jose Buto pitched.  Edwin Diaz pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth.  Manager Carlos Mendoza sent Jesse Winker as a pinch hitter who homered to win the game.  This was the second time in three games that a Met hit a walk-off home run off Orioles right-hander Seranthony Domínguez.  Francisco Alvarez did the honors on Monday night.  Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos homered earlier in the game for the Mets.

Box Score

Today is National Radio Day

 

Since today is National Radio Day.  I will list the terrestrial, satellite, and online radio stations I hear in a typical week.

• WBGO
• WFUV
• WABC
• WCBS-FM
• WFAN
• WEPN
• WINS
• Pop Gold Radio
• True Oldies Channel
• Rewound Radio
• 50s Gold
• 60s Gold
• Classic Vinyl
• Classic Folk
• Willie's Road House
• DeepTrack
• Soul Town
• Outlaw Country
• Elvis Radio
• Classic Rewind
• BB King's

Marlins 3 Mets 2

 

Since the game was carried on the Roku streaming service, the game started at 12 noon.  It was raining for most of the morning, but the weather cleared up by game time.

Poor baserunning by the Marlins did not prevent them from winning as three were picked off by the Mets.  Three walks by relief pitcher Reed Garrett in the 7th inning killed the Mets.  Derek Hill's RBI single in the 8th inning provided the margin of victory for the Marlins.  The Mets hitting just wasn't there today.

The Mets have played about .500 since the All-Star break.  They will have to pick it up if they want to get into the playoffs.

Game Recap

Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) 1966 (studio version) and 1974 Concert Version with The Band

  

From the Album Blonde on Blonde 1966

Live at Madison Square Garden 1974

Mets 9 Athletics 1

 

Last night's game was part of our 20-game package.  The Mets were coming off a four-game losing streak and were involved in a tight race for a wild-card berth in the playoffs.  They performed well as Pete Alonso had four hits and David Peterson was again solid as his record improved to 7-1.  Francisco Lindor homered in the third inning for his 100th home run as a Met.

Game Recap

Random Thoughts of the Day - August 14, 2024

 

Everybody and his brother on Facebook or radio message boards has commented on the demise of  WCBS News Radio 880 as ESPN radio will take over that frequency.  I have nothing more to add.  It is quite sad that many radio professionals will lose their jobs.  Fewer people now rely on radio for news, so I guess only one all-news station (WINS) is enough.

According to Blogger, this journal has exceeded more than 2,000,000 hits.  I always wonder how many are by real people and by robots.

I have tickets for tonight's Met game against Oakland.  The Amazins have lost four games in a row.  How far will they go if they reach the postseason?  IMHO there have been too many roster moves.  The last time I checked I observed 57 players have been on the roster this season.

Paul McCartney 1964 Eyes of the Storm - The Book Instead of the Museum Exhibit

 

There is an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum that presents photographs that Paul McCartney took in late 1963 and early 1964.  I noticed that this exhibit is to close on August 18th.  Instead of traveling to Brooklyn this week, I thought I would buy the coffee table book with the photographs.  Whenever I see a book at a museum gift shop, I observe the price on Amazon.com is significantly less.

Paul actually took these photos using an inexpensive camera and preserved them for almost 60 years.  Few of them were seen beyond his immediate circle of family and friends.

I assume this exhibition will travel to other cities, but anyone can purchase the book and enjoy the photographs.

Rare photo of John Lennon with eyeglasses

The Jewish and Guggenheim Museums All in One Afternoon

 

Our original plan was to visit the Whitney Museum but when I checked its website this morning I found out that the second Sunday in the month is free and that visitors needed a reservation.  Since it was sold out, we decided to go to the Jewish Museum instead. We could visit the Whitney another time.

When we arrived we found out there was only one open exhibit on the ground floor and that the admission charge was lower. It was titled Overflow, Afterglow: New Work in Chromatic Figuration which featured New works by seven emerging artists who use supernatural color and uncanny luminescence to challenge the boundaries of traditional figuration. 

Since it didn't take much time to view that exhibit we walked over to the nearby Guggenheim Museum.

Jenny Holzer: Light Line was the main exhibition. Climbing all six ramps of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed rotunda to the building’s apex, the site-specific installation transforms the building with a display of scrolling texts, featuring selections from her iconic series, such as “Truisms” and “Inflammatory Essays”.

You Talk too Much by Joe Jones - A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley - Two Songs that Complement Each Other

 The Joe Jones song was just requested on the Cousin Bruce show.  It got me thinking how the Elvis Presley song complements it.  There are too many blabbermouths out there.

Stay - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - Four Seasons Versions

 This week we found out that Maurice Williams, the lead singer of the Zodiacs passed away at 86.  So many of the 1950s and 1960s recording artists are no longer with us.  The Zodiac's version in 1960 is the shortest record at 1:39 to reach #1 on the national charts.  The Four Seasons cover reached #15 in 1964.

Switch and Split Second - Game Shows that I Watch Over the Summer at 7 PM

 I watch Jeopardy at 7 PM for most of the year and Wheel of Fortune at 7:30 PM.  Since reruns are aired over the summer, I turn to GSN and watch Switch and Split Second which are also quiz shows.Below are episodes of each show.

Walking in the Rain by the Ronettes - It Didn't Happen for Me Since I Stayed Home

 

I was thinking about going to the Whitney Museum in the Meat Packing district of Lower Manhattan today.  I would have to take the A, C, or E train to 8th Avenue and 14th Street and then have to walk several blocks to the museum.  The weather forecast was for the chance of heavy showers with wind in the afternoon.  Since I feared being caught in the rain, I decided not to go.  At 4:15 PM there was a 1 hour and 49 minute rain delay at Yankee Stadium.  There was only a little rain in Flushing, Queens.  I don't know how much it rained in lower Manhattan.  I can go to the Whitney another time.

Meteorology is not an exact science.  I don't know if I would have been drenched in Manhattan or Queens had I gone.

Cousin Brucie Tribute on PIX-11 News from Two-Years Ago

 

I didn't know what to put on my journal today, so I searched YouTube for Cousin Brucie.  I found this piece from PIX-11 news about two years ago honoring him.  I don't remember seeing this.

The Deals that the Mets Made Do Not Excite Me

 

I obtained this list from The Athletic:

Trades:

• Acquired LF Jesse Winker from Nationals for RHP Tyler Stuart

• Acquired RHP Paul Blackburn from A’s for RHP Kade Morris

• Acquired RHP Ryne Stanek from Mariners for OF Rhylan Thomas

• Acquired LHP Nicolas Carreno from Pirates for LHP Josh Walker

• Acquired RHP Tyler Zuber from Rays for RHP Paul Gervase

• Acquired RHP Huascar Brazoban from Marlins for SS Wilfredo Lara

• Acquired RHP Phil Maton from Rays for cash

• Acquired C Luis Torrens from Yankees for cash

• Acquired LHP Matt Gage from Dodgers for cash

• Acquired 3B Pablo Reyes from Red Sox for cash

• Traded Cole Sulser to Rays for cash

• Traded  C Andriel Lantigua to the Rockies for cash

The best acquisition was Luis Torrens as the backup catcher.  I am surprised the Yankees made a deal with the Mets.  I sense that David Stearns likes to make trades just for the sake of making them.  It will take time to see how the deadline acquisitions will work out, but I am not overly optimistic.