...City Streets You Used To Walk Along with Me...
My music feed has been mostly radio. Muesli as such, with the premix and hodgepodge invitation for infiltration of the psyche. I speak of the random input of compilation by dj. Music not sought out, and I recognize it, Life like, not controlled by me despite having some dials to twist: to the left or right; up or down; on or off. A bit more treble or bass if my equipment was up to snuff, which varied widely. To call up a song-- on demand-- that was a power of disc/cassette I just didn't have for a very long time. By which I mean purchase, not in dollars, but in the means to go fetch.
Let it be known, I grew up in the official Boondogs.
Pointing the antenna took considerable learned skill.
As did capturing songs on mix tape...
Residing on the East coast mountains, it would seem that the feed would be mostly from the Tristate area, and predominantly NYC as largest hub.
I listened to AM and FM. The AM very poor in connection and rapidly changing. Staples were actually WMU (*that's Western Michigan University Public Radio) based NPR, and Temple University Radio (*a Philadelphia broadcast from what I was later "informed" was a black leaning school, from former professor...). NPR is where I tuned into for classics, but also to find occasional wonders like "Who Shall I Say is Calling?" which when unattributed prompted a flood of questioners and the All Things Considered main guy returned shortly with a statement of apology to listeners.... Guess they didn't really think we were listening....
https://youtu.be/6VHQq-XTSEk?si=4Bw1KWcYayrSYSLZ
Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah & Songs from his Album
Early morning public university radio played stuff local radio didn't like Euro Beat tunes and stuff in foreign languages (French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Scandinavian). I'm still looking for that fun foreign accented tune with English refrain... hey, hey, supergirl...
One of the first cassettes I ever owned, given to me for Christmas, fresh, age 10 was:
https://youtu.be/TIQyAitAcPk?si=oJslHOtysCtoQmiehttps://youtu.be/LCzgsZi_zfg?si=2oH_bAFb9klWkOGR
Beats International - Let them Eat Bingo
Jazz, funk and swing, especially electroswing are my blood type. And that's where Temple University radio was a sustainer. One of my first vinyls insisted on, later:
https://youtu.be/HFz1RbQg9gE?si=OTnrFDsMmVL-BRkw
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
Sure, I listened to local pop radio as well, and Casey Cason's Top 40 weekend countdown, and it was informative to a time... until Clear Channel swept through and started buying up stations and stacking the same cue of tracks on rerun. No matter what local station you tuned your dial, it seemed suddenly Clear Channel was sitting on it, and playing the same stuff over and over and even in the same damn sequence day after day. Maybe I listened to intently or too often; it really seemed a blatant take over of the airwaves. And I stopped listening.
I started buying CDs, and now mp3s.
From the Register:
As a grocer, it isn't all that bad
you see a lot of people,
and their natural habit
cell phoned, business
attired,
or in shorts,
T-s and flip flops
the way they scratch and pat
their stomachs
things they avoid
purchase of
what they can no longer have
little indulgences they divy
with pals
like fresh cartons
from our baked goods rack
you see a lot folk
run in last min
for Tylenol, Lactaid or milk
or to grab the paper
though that happens
more, and more, seldom
nowadays
we still sell flowers
and safety pins
light bulbs and small household
odds and ends,
thumbtacks
we have a substantial
array of dips, snacks and chips
in the decline of cigarettes
that's where the profit is
you'd be surprised,
or maybe not
at how it all adds up
04.23.2024
Unconventional Careers #3: Grocer challenge @AJAY9979
~On Produce Isle~
I've always thought
of a Producer
as the ambivalent
who stocks shelves
at the general store
or local delicatessen
the one who doesn't
really hand pick
and...
no one knows
how much weight
he or she has to lift
or how much say,
in the way things
are arranged
to find, buy...
or disorganize
I definitely
don't know
the guy...
I just listen
to the stuff.
04.22.2024
Unconventional Careers #2 - Music Producer @AJAY9979
...One More Dog
I'm thinking about having a dog.
I can think of lots of good reasons, worthy.
I'm thinking maybe a Whippet or a Frenchie, or a favorable mix, because that would match the family lifestyle. It would be good to care for a dog, young or old.
Having my eye on this, someday, I noticed a bulldog-pooch pic lockscreen on my co-workers phone the other day. I don't remember her name. We run into each other like once a year. It's a big company. I was displaced momentarily on call at one of our sprawling locations.
"Is that your dog?" I ventured, stricken. It could after all have only been some cute wallpaper stock.
"Yeaah, that's our Lavendar," she beamed behind tinted glasses, and touched me. On the arm, like we were friends. A sort of pet.
I'm not against touch. There's just something about some people's touch that takes something from you. That's what I felt. I hoped it didn't show on my face.
"Is it a bulldog, Frenchie; or a Boxer... or a mix...?" I said displacing my disturbance with sincere interest, small talk. I had only seen the picture for a couple seconds.
"Both! how did you know?! but she's on the small side. Takes after the French Bulldog more, right?"
"Oh, I love Frenchies," I added remembering a delightful monograph I'd read in which the writer/enthusiast said Frenchies are like potato chips... you can't have just one... and that is saying a lot...
She interrupted my thinking: "But I told my family No More. No more babies, no more puppies. No more rescues. No more. And I can't deal with either end," she said sweeping the bangs off her brow, and holding her temple like staving off a migraine.
My visuals all over the place, but I tried to keep pace: "Uh, huh."
She touched me again.
"I just can't deal with the potty training, or the incontinence. I can't. I'm DONE."
I nodded, sympathizing, for her as much as for her charges.
She looked about 65, though, it's not age that matters. She faded good humoredly.
"You're right," I thought to myself: "Best save your strength-- for when you need it."
First
Crocus is the Bertha
of flowers...
by the harsh
cold nomification
and hard edge
pronunciation,
that emphasizes
labor over beauty,
breadth of sentiment
in personification
and the notion
that Rose
is also
a difficult name
to say in duration
however
germane...
it doesn't either
roll sprightly
as its scent might
from soft velvet petals
on thorned stem
in heat of summer...
The small and mighty
dust of the lowly
bloomed Crocus,
pale and lilaceous
over the crusted
evaporating snow,
weighing in
with 24 karats
dust of saffron,
most precious
gold flavored
Spring...
and I plant this
strange light bulb
into the topsoil
with great hope,
and hoarse voice
to signal
for me
the end
of winter
04.19.2024
...a favorite flower... challenge @Last
staples
a candle used to be light
it used to be my utility
heat and safety pack
a must for weathering
the storms of every day
imagination
it used to be
the illusion
on the kitchen table
of getting more, for less
it set the atmosphere
like steaming tea
now it's truly luxury
I hold the glow in my heart
a reminiscent blade
and haven't seen one
in years, close up.
not safe! I tell myself
battery operated...
it's like I've grown clumsy
among infants in old age
04.10.2024
A lit candle challenge @KarenKitchel
The 24 Spinz
maybe Spinoza would 360
in the grave today...?
change his mind
split hairs
with God
for hygienic
distance
draw a blind
or a double,
hide his head
in the sands
of the glass
While tipping
upside down
refute existence
of either this or that
as all influx...
Ostrich like,
from China
to British Columbia
disputing
which way
is up...?
...and
humming
in the calcium
of eternal sleep
he would dream...
It's the Spin
it's the sPin
it's the spIn
it's the spiN...
04.09.2024
Spinoza turning in his grave challenge @Prose