Random Thoughts of the Day - October 31, 2024

• Today is Halloween.  In recent years only a few kids came to my apartment trick or treating.  I bought a bag of Kit-Kats for them.
• Yesterday, the World Series came to an end as the Yankees lost to the Dodgers 4-1.  The Yankees should have won game one since the wrong pitcher was brought in to face Freddy Freeman.  The fifth inning of game five was a disaster as the Yankees committed three errors that allowed the Dodgers to score five runs.
• The Hot Stove League starts today.  For those who are not baseball fans, that term means speculation and rumors about free-agent signings and trades in the off-season.  The big question marks are will Pete Alonso sign with the Mets and will Juan Soto sign with the Yankees?  In any event, the salaries are outrageous.  Is any athlete worth $40 Million per year?  Both teams also must make decisions about other players whose contracts have just expired.
• This afternoon I passed by a building in my neighborhood where a construction crew was installing sidewalk sheds.  It was obviously their lunch hour as all eight of them were lying on the grass looking at their cell phones.  There is a love affair with the American public and their cell phones.

Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan vs Timothée Chalamet in the Forthcoming Film A Complete Unknown

 

I first saw this in 1967 when I saw the documentary Don't Look Back.  It is best known for Dylan flipping the cards with Allan Ginsberg in the background.  Subterranean Homesick Blues is a typical Dylan song that nobody understands.

 

It seems that bits and pieces of the forthcoming biopic "A Complete Unknown" are being shown on YouTube.  It whets my appetite to see the film when it is released on Christmas Day.

I bought a New Dell Laptop Today

 

The old Dell laptop just working right lately since I was have problems with the power.  I bought in September 2019 as documented in this journal.  I got plenty of use out of that laptop as I used it twice daily for five years.  It owed me nothing.

I decided to buy another Dell since the last one was very reliable until very recently.  I bought it at Microcenter that gives prompt and courteous service.  I will have to learn to use Windows 11.  I hope to get five years use out of this computer.

Sunny Goodge Street - Donovan and Judy Collins Versions - What A Difference

 

My Comments on World Series Scheduling

 

• In the 1960s, all the World Series games were played in the afternoon.  I remember taking a small transistor radio to school to hear the game.
• If I remember correctly, in 1971 one game was played at night.  After a certain date, all games were played at night.  Money is the name of the game.  Audiences are larger at night so the networks get more money from advertisers.  
• In the 1960s, there was one announcer from each team and one from the TV network broadcasting the game. Today, the announcers are from the Fox Network.
• 8 PM is a late starting time for people in the east.  Couldn't they start at 7 PM so very young fans can stay up to watch the game?
• I assume people in the West don't like the 5 PM PT start. On weekends it will interrupt their dinner, while they commute home on weekdays.

This is What I Will Be Watching on Christmas Day

 

All Bob Dylan fans greatly anticipate the biopic A Complete Unkown that will be released on Christmas Day.  It is a biopic covering Dylan's early years including his transition from folk to rock music.  The trailers including the one seen above are very promising.  Timothée Chalamet is the actor playing the young Dylan.  The film should be historically accurate.  I don't expect to learn anything new about this era of Dylan's career, but hopefully, it will attract some younger people to Dylan.

Sunshine Superman by Donovan - Random Oldie of the Day

 

I didn't know what to write today, so I opened Joel Whitburn's Top Pop book and placed my finger on a charted song.  I picked Sunshine Superman by Donovan that hit #1 in 1966.

My Thoughts on the 2024 Mets Season

 

Let's turn back the clock to May 29 when the Mets' record was 22-33. 2024 would be a repeat of 2023 when their record was 75-87.  But at that point, the team started to turn things around.  For the rest of the season, the Mets' record of 67-40 was the best in MLB. David Stearns made several roster changes that helped the team.  About 60 players were on the roster for all or part of the season.  The team clinched a spot in the playoffs on the day after the regular season ended.  They beat Milwaukee in the Wild Card series and then the Phillies in the Division Series.  They were tough against the Dodgers in the LCS, but lost the series 4-2.  The Mets have nothing to be ashamed since they improved so much over last season.

As we look ahead to 2025, five pitchers and five position players, including Pete Alonso, have contracts expiring. My gut feeling is that Pete will re-sign with the Mets.  They should look for bullpen help.  Some of their top prospects may be ready to be promoted to the team.

I will be rooting for the Yankees in the World Series.  Shortly after it ends, the Hot Stove League commences with free agent signings.  We'll have to wait and see what happens.

My Girl by the Temptations - Original vs Citi Field Version

 

Late this season Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets made My Girl by the Temptations as his walk-up music.  Since it has become very popular with the fans, the Temptations were invited to Game 5 of the NLCS to sing it before the game.  Sadly, most original Temptations who recorded the song in 1965 have passed away.

The fans sang My Girl when Lindor came up to bat during the game.

Shake by Sam Cooke - Oldie of the Day

 

Today's Question of the Day on WFUV asked for Shake songs.  Listeners can suggest songs on the WFUV website or on a Facebook page.  By the time I finish breakfast at about 7 AM I look at those pages and all the most relevant songs are already listed.  For that reason, I rarely respond.  Shake by Sam Cooke was played.

Today is the 19th Anniversary of Bruce's Journal

On October 15, 2005, I started this journal and continued.  The entries range from the ridiculous to the sublime.  Let me try to classify the 5000+ entries:

• Autobiographical
• Baseball especially the New York Mets
• Music especially Bob Dylan - I posted many YouTube videos that were later taken down
• Radio
• Facebook
• Movies
• Family

I will think of other categories later.  According to Blogger an entry titled TGIF was my number 1 hit, but I don't why. Some of my entries were "classics" while others were just trivial.  Blogger states that my journal was hit over 3 million times, but I don't know how many were real hits and how many came from robots.

I am only aware of a few regular readers of  Bruce's Journal.  Most people are anonymous when they surf the web.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

Super/Man The Christopher Reeve Story at the AMC Empire 25 at Times Square

 

For the first time in at least five years, I traveled to Manhattan to see a movie since Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story was not playing at any local theater.  It was a documentary tracing Christopher's career emphasizing his role in the Superman movies.  The focal points were his treatments after his tragic accident and his relationships with his family who were supportive of him. Many were interviewed for this documentary.  He fought back after the accident and served as a role model for those suffering from similar injuries.

The film is quite sad when it shows Christopher in poor physical condition.  The saddest part was at the end when he and his wife Dana passed away.

I have always been a fan of Superman since the George Reeves TV series of the 1950s.  I certainly enjoyed the films where Christopher starred as The Man of Steel in the 1970s and 1980s

Review in the New York Times.

Mazel Tov to the Shapiros of Walnut Creek, CA

A hearty Mazel Tov to my nephew Justin Shapiro and his wife Rachel on the birth of their daughter Paige Harper.  She joins her brothers Ethan and Teddy seen above.  They will have their hands full with three kids, but the more the merrier.

Justin was born in Bergen County, NJ,, and went to school at Duke University.  He relocated to northern California some years back and lives close to his twin brother Scott and their sister Faith.

 

Can the Mets Go All the Way in 2024?

 

Anything can happen in a short series.  The Phillies were six games ahead of the Mets in the regular season, but they just beat them 3 games to 1 in the Division Series.  Francisco Lindor was the hero in last night's game with a grand slam homer.  In the NLCS the Mets will play either the Dodgers or Padres who are now tied at two games each in their Division Series.

In 2022 the Padres beat the Mets 2-1 in the Wild Card Series even though all three games were played at Citi Field.  In 1988 the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Mets 4-3 in the NL CS.

Let's take a look at the American League.  Currently, the Yankees are leading the Kansas City Royals 2-1.  The winner will play the winner of the Cleveland-Detroit series.

I would love to see another Subway Series so the Mets can get revenge on the Yankees for the 2000 World Series.

The key for the Mets or any other to win the World Series is to get hot at the right time.  Last years World Series participants, the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks were wild card teams.  To advance and win the World Series, Lindor, Alonso, and others must stay hot and the pitching must not fall apart.  

Random Thoughts of the Day - October 8, 2024

 

• The situation in Israel is tragic one year after Hamas killed 1200 and kidnapped 250 Israelis. Hezbollah and Hamas are determined to destroy Israel and kill all Jews.  It is devastating to see so many civilian casualties.  The extremists on both sides will prevent everlasting peace.
• The political situation in NYC is chaotic with the mayor indicted and most of his inner circle resigning. He should resign, but if he does there will be more mayhem when the Public Advocate becomes acting mayor and must call for a special election in 90 days.  Several candidates including former Governor Andrew Cuomo are likely to run.  The winner will serve until the end of 2025.  There is a general election for Mayor in November,
• The issue of integrity has yet to be discussed in the presidential election.  I can't understand why millions of people will vote for a man already convicted of felonies and was indicted on charges of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election,
• Tonight's game 3 is pivotal in the National League Division Series between the Mets and Phillies.  In a short series, anything can happen.

Two Sundays in a Row at Flushing Town Hall -Mini-Global Mashup: Daniel Devātman Marcellus Givens, Gongs & Bowls Meets Kaethe Hostetter, Violin

This performance featured Givens’ mesmerizing fusion of jazz, electronic, and world music, combined with Hostetter’s innovative blend of Ethiopian traditional sounds and modern experimentalism, which promises an unforgettable evening of cross-cultural musical exploration.

 

The Magic is Back Again - The Mets Come from Behind to Beat the Phillies 6-2 in Game 1 of the NLDS

 

Highlights from the 8th and 9th Inning When the Mets Took the Lead

We met some Bob Dylan fans for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.  We came home in time to watch the game starting at 4 PM.   Zach Wheeler was really tough on the Mets for seven innings, but the Mets got to the bullpen in the 8th and 9th inning as seen above.

Pete Alonso OMG!

 

The Met bats were cold last night until the ninth inning when Pete Alonso hit a three-run homer to put the Mets ahead 3-2.  They scored one more run to make the score 4-2.  Dave Peterson held the Brewers scoreless to get the save.  We can all jump for joy, but the next step is the best three of five NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies.  That will be a tough series.  We are all concerned about Pete's future with the Mets since he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

There was a watch party at Citi Field.  Below is a report from WCBS-2 News

Shana Tova by the Muppets

 

You can find the strangest videos on YouTube.

To all my readers who observe the Jewish New Year Shana Tova.