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This jaunty little guy, a Tufted Titmouse, is a kind of bird I usually see hanging out with its cousin, the Black-Capped Chickadee, but this one was foraging all alone. They have a distinct way of flying from a branch down to the ground—they dive bomb straight down headfirst as if they were a gull about to catch a fish, so that even though they’re small, they can be identified from a distance.
Prospect Park
Brooklyn, New York
Chuck McCann, from his 1960s afternoon local television show, with one of his many characters.
Thanks to YouTuber wowinkorporated
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First Robin I’ve seen since the beginning of winter. I trust the birds more than the groundhogs.
Prospect Park
Brooklyn, New York
“El Yiyo,” on the right, whose real name is Miguel Fernández, and his younger brother, Ricardo, bring some amazing Flamenco-influenced dancing to modern audiences.
Thanks to YouTuber MIQUEL Gascon
It’s fun to see how out of date the premise is, and yet how hilarious Elaine May and Mike Nichols were, both with impeccable timing.
Thanks to YouTuber pianopappy
And here’s Part Two of our interview with singer/songwriter Roy Zimmerman. Last week in Part One we talked with Roy primarily about his more comical satirical songs. This week, in the final part, the conversation takes a turn as Roy talks about how he writes a song with heavier political content–maybe songs that can change some minds.
Click on the triangle or mp3 link above to hear Part Two of my interview with Roy as broadcast today on the Arts Express radio program on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the nation.
Part One can be found here: https://jackshalom.net/2021/02/16/yer-a-socialist-satirist-roy-zimmerman/
More Roy at Roy Zimmerman
Monday morning, John and Paul pre-figure Amazon.
Still holds up to my ears, almost sixty years later.
More at TheBeatlesVEVO TM
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Gerritsen Avenue
Brooklyn, New York
Here in NYC we were blessed in the 1960s with at least three incredibly talented daytime television hosts. They masqueraded as children’s program hosts, but they produced thousands of hours of hilarious comedy with no budget to speak of, and whose studio audience was usually only an appreciative camera crew. There was Soupy Sales, Sandy Becker, and perhaps the most talented of them, Chuck McCann. Here’s Chuck as the failed escape artist, The Great Bombo. I believe his sidekick here, Sid Slick, is played by Jim MacGeorge.
Thanks to YouTuber sandysoup
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Prospect Park Lake
Brooklyn, New York
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Avenue U
Brooklyn, New York
Roy Zimmerman has been described as “Lenny Bruce meets Stephen Sondheim meets Phil Ochs in Brian Wilson’s living room.” He’s a master of satirical political songwriting, the lyrical heir to Tom Lehrer, as well as a damned fine musician. I’ve been listening and laughing at his sharp wit for years, and I was very happy to do an extended interview with him.
Click on the triangle or mp3 link above to hear Part One of my interview with Roy as broadcast today on the Arts Express radio program on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the nation.
Part Two is here: https://jackshalom.net/2021/02/23/who-wants-their-mind-changed-roy-zimmerman-part-two/
More Roy at Roy Zimmerman
Monday Morning, John’s SMS messages, IMs, email inbox, and smartphone notifications have been wiped.
Thanks to YouTuber Starr’s Music
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These Mourning Doves, despite the snow-covered ground, have found some tasty seeds and insects.
Marine Park Salt Marsh
Brooklyn, New York
Satirist Roy Zimmerman says hello to the folks on the other side of the curtain.
More at Roy Zimmerman
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This male (the red nape) Downy Woodpecker looks a lot like a miniature version of its larger cousin, the Hairy Woodpecker. They’ve both got very similar markings including a white back, but the Downy is around 6″ compared to the Hairy’s 9″.
One advantage of trying to photograph birds in winter is that you can get a clearer shot without leaves in the way.
Marine Park Salt Marsh
Brooklyn, New York
In which your friendly neighborhood healthcare insurance company sends a letter of mild request to Roy Zimmerman…
One more example of Roy’s great witty songs.
More at Roy Zimmerman
Here’s a re-working of an essay that I originally printed on this blog some time ago, and revised for radio broadcast.
“Well everyone’s all aflutter these days with our newly elected overlords, and far be it from me to burst anyone’s bubble. I mean, what fun is it in having enemies if you can’t beat up on them and blame them for all the country’s ills? Of course our unelected overlords still continue apace, but today I want to talk about a different level of reality that remains largely unspoken...the one incontrovertible fact about life in these United States regardless of who is ruling is the following…”
Click on the triangle or link above to hear it as broadcast today on the Arts Express radio program on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the nation.
Monday morning, junk gets in your eyes.
From Paul McCartney’s first solo album. I like the way Carson and Josh swap the high parts as the song progresses.
More at Josh Turner Guitar
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Marine Park Salt Marsh
Brooklyn, New York
David Stone is consistently entertaining no matter what he does. I really enjoyed this card to impossible place routine.
More at David Stone
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Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
Brooklyn, New York
In which Nellie McKay answers that burning title question–and sings a version of “Moon River” to boot.
(The expert panel of the Language Acquisition and Identification Department of Shalblog® Industries is identifying the language in the song, within a 2-3% margin of error, as being Portuguese.)
Thanks to YouTuber Caffe Lena
