It Don't Come Easy - George Harrison Version

 

It was 23 years ago today that George Harrison passed away.  Ringo Starr had the hit version in 1971 as I discussed in this journal in October 2011. George produced Ringo's version also helped write the song, but Ringo received the writing credit on the record.  Bob Radil played both versions on his show tonight.

Thank You Very Much by the Scaffold - Song of the Day

 

This group features Mike McGear, the brother of Paul McCartney.

The World of Dylan Symposium is Scheduled for July 24-27, 2025 in Tulsa

 There were symposia held in Tulsa in 2019, 2021 (online only), 2023, and now 2025 to be on the 60th anniversary of Dylan's appearance at the Newport Folk Festival.  I didn't go in 2023 because I thought the presentations would be too scholarly for me.  I consider myself a fan and not a Dylan scholar.  Two of my Dylan friends told me the attendance for the 2019 meeting was higher than the 2023 symposium.  There is a Call for Papers and Proposals with a deadline of February 28.  Everyone will have seen the biopic A Complete Unknown starring Timothee Chalamot by then.  I am certain there will be a symposium about that film  I wonder if a young lady with the X handle @Ithrewtheglass will present a paper on Hearts of Fire.  I just saw that movie on Amazon Prime and it was just as bad today as it was in 1987.

I am certain that many of my Bob Dylan friends will be there, but like I did in 2023, I will take a pass on this.  I am sure it will be excellent, but again it will be too scholarly for me.  Perhaps in a few years I will make a return trip to Tulsa to see the Bob Dylan Center.

Out of Sight Out of Mind by the Five Keys and Little Anthony and the Imperials

 

Near the end of Cousin Bruce's show last night he played Out of Sight Out of Mind by the Five Keys.  It wasn't a big hit as it only reached #23 on the Billboard chart in 1956.  Earlier in the show, he interviewed Anthony Gourdine of Little Anthony and the Imperials.  It turned out that they covered the same song in 1969.  It only reached #52 on the chart.

I have too good of an autobiographical memory as too many people and events have been out of sight for many years, but they are not out of my mind.

Classic Album Cut of the Day - The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix

 

This song represents the mellow side of Jimi Hendrix.

What Will Bob Dylan Do in 2025?

 

The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour ended last week at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  We can only speculate on what he will do in 2025.  Here are my thoughts:

• The Never Ending Tour will resume in the Spring with a new set list.  The question is where will he play?  He seems to enjoy touring and obviously does not need the money.  This is quite possible.
• He will record an album with new songs.  He is now "off" for several months so this is a possibility especially since it is over 4 years since he released the Rough and Rowdy Ways album.
• Will he meet Timothée Chalamet after the release of A Complete Unknown?
• Steven Jenkins of Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa reported there will be a new bootleg series featuring very early Dylan recordings.

Of course, Dylan is very unpredictable.

I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbit - Appropriate Oldie of the Day

 

I requested this song on Bob Radil's 60s 70s show on Friday night. It has not rained much on the East Coast in the last month or so, creating drought conditions that have resulted in numerous brush fires.  If it rains at night people's plans for the day won't be ruined.

My Thoughts on Congestion Pricing in NYC

 

Much has been written and said about congestion pricing in NYC over the past few years. This article from MSN summarizes the latest developments.  Here are my thoughts:

I never drive my car into Manhattan to avoid the above congestion and not pay exorbitant fees for parking in private garages. Back in the late 1960s, I would drive into Manhattan on Friday nights to go to the Sigma Beta Phi fraternity house on 6th Avenue and 28th Street. Since then, I have only driven into Manhattan on rare occasions.

Congestion pricing would not affect me.  The MTA needs more funding to maintain its infrastructure and will rely on funds from congestion pricing.  I hope modernizing the signals will be a priority.  Over the years I confronted numerous agonizing delays from signal problems.  Expediting the construction of elevators in the subway system should also be prioritized.  For those reasons, I am in favor of congestion pricing.

Numerous cars enter Manhattan from New Jersey via the Holland or Lincoln tunnels.  Funds collected from those cars should go to New Jersey Transit since that agency desperately needs to improve its infrastructure.  After 7 years I am still grateful I never have to ride their trains.  I do take subways and buses, but not as often as I did when I worked.

Random Thoughts of the Day - November 13, 2024

• Does the media report the news or does it create it?  I am especially critical of sports journalism where so many articles are just speculative.  This is happening now with free agents in baseball on the market.  The big story is who will land Juan Soto?  This article from Major League Baseball is typical of a story based on conjecture.
• Whenever there was a professional opening in academia, it would usually take several months to fill. 
• The position would have to be approved
• Advertisements are then placed.
• The resumes are evaluated by a committee
• Candidates are invited for the first interview.
• Leading candidates are invited for a second interview
• An appointment is finally made.
• I observe that the NYC Mayor and President-Elect make appointments within days.  There is a saying "To the victor belongs the spoils."  Shouldn't there be a committee to appoint a new School's Chancellor?  I question some of the appointments made by the President-Elect within days of his election.  Shouldn't ambassadors have some experience as diplomats?
• The Mayor of NYC wants his trial date moved so it won't interfere with his re-election.  There is no way I will vote for him.

 

What's New Pussycat by Tom Jones - Random Oldie of the Day

 

For some strange reason, this song came to mind this morning.

Today's Visit to the New York Historical Society

 

Over the years I have visited the New York Historical Society as documented in this journal.  Every museum has permanent and short-term exhibits.  Let me outline some of the exhibits we saw today.

• Pets and the City - explores the visual history of New Yorkers and their animal companions over the last two and a half centuries.  I was amused by a video showing pets in TV series.  Another video showed presidential pets.
• “Turn Every Page”: Inside the Robert A. Caro Archive - Offers Unparalleled Look at Caro’s Research and Methodology as a Reporter, Biographer, and Writer.  Caro is best known for writing a 1200 page biography of Robert Moses and a multi-volume biography of Lyndon Baines Johnson.
• Gallery of Tiffany Lamps - this is a permanent exhibition.

Some Political Thoughts Post Election

 

I don't consider myself a political person, but here I go.

• In my opinion backlash against Biden was a major reason Trump won.  Kamala could not answer the questions of how she would differ from Biden
• Biden should have dropped out in late 2023 allowing for a primary season where several candidates could have run for the nomination.  I can't think of anyone else besides California Governor Gavin Newsome who would have run.  Many Democrats may have felt that there should have been a choice.  Kamala's truncated campaign likely hurt her chances.
• To quote a Bob Dylan song title "I Pity the Poor Immigrant", only a few migrants are criminals.  These people who crossed the border are seeking out a better life.  The migrants should not be demonized, but they have put stress on New York City's resources.
• I am afraid that Trump will cut aid to Ukraine so that his buddy Putin will eventually take over the country.

Let's hope for the best.

Oy Vey - I Pray for the Future of this Country

A convicted felon duped the American public into thinking that he is the best person to lead this nation in a very turbulent time.  He was already convicted of falsifying business records to hide an affair with a porn star.  He was indicted for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election and for having classified government documents in his home.

The question in everyone's mind is what will he do when he assumes office.

• Will he pardon those convicted of crimes on January 6, 2021
• Will he spend billions of dollars deporting all illegal immigrants?  Most of them are honest people trying to make better lives for themselves.  There must be a new policy toward immigration, but will he completely close the border?
• How will the conflicts in Israel and the Ukraine play out?  Maybe he can convince his pal Putin to stop the war.
• Will he circumvent the Constitution and do whatever he wants?  The Constitution provides for a system of checks and balances, but I fear he will become a dictator.  Since the Republicans will have a majority in the Senate, it will be impossible to impeach him (again) and remove him from office.

I pray for the future of this country.

There are Quincy Jones - Bob Dylan Connections

 We heard today of the passing of Quincy Jones.  To say the least, he had a phenomenal musical career.  His obituary in the New York Times  outlines his long career.

He had at least two encounters with Bob Dylan.

In this video,  Quincy coaches Bob during the recording of We Are the World in 1985.

In 2012, Quincy introduced Bob at Montreux.  This is audio only.

If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time by Tyrone Davis - A Couple of Thoughts

 

If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time by Tyrone Davis hit #3 on the Billboard chart in 1970.  It is popular today since we turned back the clock one hour as we returned to standard time.  We can never return to the past.  We heard this week that the Newark Star-Ledger, a major New Jersey newspaper is ending its print edition while some other newspapers are ceasing publication completely.  I always enjoyed flipping through the Sunday New York Times, but now I have a subscription to the online version.  Perhaps soon even the New York Times will end its print edition.

I always think back to people I haven't seen in decades, but I can't turn back the hands of time and restore an old friendship.  I have reconnected with people through social media, but that encounter is always brief. I met SG who now lives in Toronto in 2000.  He was an old friend from my Rego Park days.  We walked around the old neighborhood, but since that meeting, I have had no contact with him. I have been to a few high school reunions, but there have been no follow-ups.

I Googled some old friends but didn't want to contact them.  MH is a successful attorney, while AA is a CPA in private practice.  I have discussed in this journal my failed attempts to reconnect with former colleagues.

We must look ahead to the future, not back upon the past.

Jaywalking is Now Legal in NYC but......

 

Jaywalking is crossing the street in a way that contravenes traffic laws, typically outside of crosswalks, despite oncoming traffic. Every day, millions of pedestrians in NYC must "compete" with cars, traditional bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters for the right of way on sidewalks and streets.  Until recently, jaywalkers could be given a summons and forced to pay a fine.  The law was repealed since there was a claim that 

Blacks and Latinos were given a disproportionate amount of summonses.

There are bad pedestrians and drivers.  If two cars collide, the drivers have some protection, but when a car hits a person, a fatality is very likely. Pedestrians don't have carte blanche to do what they please if they can't be given a summons.

As a driver and a pedestrian, I observe much lack of good judgment on the part of everyone in a hurry to get to their destinations.  Many cars jump red lights and many pedestrians don't look out for cars and cross in the middle of the block.  I remember one occasion when I was driving and saw two young men crossing against the light with their heads in their cell phones.

Common Sense and Courtesy Everyone!