(from Outsider in the White House by Bernie Sanders with Huck Gutman)
". . . The problem with television is not just what is reported but, more importantly, what is not reported. it's no accident that we get thousands of hours of discussion about the O.J. Simpson trial and almost no discussion about the growing gap between rich and poor or our regressive tax system. Why is it that there is massive coverage of airplane crashes, but almost no coverage of corporate disinvestment in the United States?. . . "
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
I guess I really used to be much more of a romantic than I am now. That's not to say that I still don't harbor some romantic notions. The thought only crossed my mind recently while watching some episodes of the 'old' (I say with much reservation) television series 'Ally McBeal'. Now THERE (the character Ally McBeal) is a 'hopeless romantic' who feels that a potential romantic ideal exists for everyone and she is bound and determined to find hers. In the last episode I watched, one of two founding partners (it's still early in the show's run) of the law firm where she is employed, tells Ally (I'm paraphrasing) that she should never lose her 'romantic' notions. And I think maybe there is something inspirational about that. Pragmatism, divorced of all hope of something greater; something that transcends our mundane everyday existence, is woefully inadequate if one is to find meaning in life. Life offers us so much more . . .
. . . like music . . .
Third-Hand Intelligence
vocal, guitar and piano tracks by OHO (Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak) with Bill Pratt at Bratt Studios, Baltimore May 2015
OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
. . . on the Joan Rivers bandwagon (I don't generally jump on them, you know), yes indeed!. (Hey, isn't that what everyone in media is supposed to do now?)
No disrespect intended, I assure you. I can also assure you there will be NO Ray Jozwiak bandwagon to jump on at all when I go . . . but I digress.
Joan Rivers has been visible to me ever since I knew what a television was. I thought she was funny. She was, in fact, always funny. Never lost it. I'm not sure what to say about all the plastic surgery. . . it's all already been said anyway. But hey, she didn't hurt anyone. What can I say about "E" and making your schtick criticizing how people dress. I can say, I never watched her there. In summary, a strain, talented woman who was successful in a very tough (and also a "Man's") business. I respect that. I respect that in much the same way as I respect Madonna's (or GaGa's - is THAT how you spell it?) business savvy even though I don't buy their music.
On her preferences for a funeral service . . .
"I want craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way. I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents. I don’t want a eulogy; I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing “Mr. Lonely.” I want to look gorgeous, better dead than I do alive. I want to be buried in a Valentino gown and I want Harry Winston to make me a toe tag. And I want a wind machine so that even in the casket my hair is blowing just like Beyoncé’s."
– Joan Rivers
OHO's
"Ocean City Ditty," the
CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if
you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak
My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:
(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)
As I approach the finale of the old television series Frasier on Netflicks (which it seems I've been watching sporadically for at least two years and running), the actress Laura Linney is now a major character (Frasier's new love interest). Laura Linney has always reminded me of my tenth-grade biology teacher in high school. That, of course, got my mind pondering my youth (adolescence to be precise) and the whereabouts of some of the friends and acquaintances from those days which led to thinking about perception, life, philosophy and much more.
One of my more cogent observations from this, my mature vantage point, is that when I was in high school there was very little boredom during my daytime, committed, serious hours (those spent at school). Conversely, now that I am older and know very well the nature of my true passion(s), my daytime, committed, serious hours (those spent at my economic livelihood) can frequently become boring. The one constant however is, I do (and have for a long, long time) fully, constructively and joyfully occupy those hours that are my own. And the one pastime with which I fill this time is the truest and most wonderful passion one can imagine . . . making music!
OHO's
"Ocean City Ditty," the
CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if
you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)
My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:
(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)
I watched WAAAYYYY too much television than is healthy when I was a child. Now I barely have time to watch ANY! And I don't feel like I'm missing much. Yes, there are some clever, cutting edge television programs on these days. Matter of fact, the sheer number of choices of television entertainment available today is mind boggling compared with that of my youth, yet I watched it like a hawk then, but avoid it like the plague now.
Go figure. . .
BTW- the photo above is Rose Marie, co-star of the Dick Van Dyke Show (one among MANY other shows of the era) which ran from 1961 through 1966 and which, one of my good friends and musical OHO compatriots feels, sounds (or at least formerly sounded) very much like the lead vocalist in this legendary prog-rock ensemble, theory with which I can hardly argue . . .
OHO's
"Ocean City Ditty," the
CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if
you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)
. . . or NOT? (not to be confused with 'Black & White Then Back' [see below])
. . . all the hubbub about the smug Fox News reporter who said that both Jesus and Santa Claus were white would be laughable IF IT DIDN'T BECOME THE NEWS ITSELF! (Yes Virginia, Marshall McLuhan was right- the media HAS become the message.
Personally, I don't put ANY stock in television news at all - let alone Fox News. Nor does watching pretty, smug and snooty little egocentric blond girls on television do anything at all for me.
BUT, SANTA CLAUS. Give me (I was gonna say effin', but will refrain) a BREAK!! Adults, in the year 2013, are actually spending valuable time thinking about, listening to, watching television programs or debating the skin color of a mythical figure based upon a 13th century religious figure??
The Washington Post wrote that an NBC-WSJ showed that seven in
10 people agreed with the statement that Republicans are “putting their
own political agenda ahead of what is good for the country”. At the other end, only
27 percent said that the GOP is “demonstrating strong leadership
and standing up for what they believe in.”
House Republicans repeatedly said that their efforts to derail the Affordable Care Act were in response to the wishes of the American people.
WHAT American People???? I shouted at the radio or television every time I heard it.
Why didn't our dear friends in the press, who daily bring us the mealy-mouths and pasty faces of these cartoonish "public servants", ASK THIS QUESTION???
I think the outcome of this debacle answers MY question.
(from wikipedia.com)
". . . (Mitch) Hurwitz was chosen by Ron Howard to create a sitcom about a rich dysfunctional family, which eventually turned into Arrested Development. Hurwitz wrote the pilot in 2002, which was filmed in March 2003. FOX added the show to its schedule in May. Although the show premiered to stunning reviews from television critics around the country, the show was plagued by low ratings throughout its three-season run. In July 2004, the show was nominated for 7 Primetime Emmy Awards and won 5, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.
In the second season, ratings decreased further and the show was cut down to 18 episodes instead of the planned 22 episodes. Nevertheless, the show was still critically acclaimed and was nominated for 11 Emmy Awards.
In the show's third and final season on FOX, Hurwitz tried to keep Arrested Development on the air, but did not have the advertising funding to promote the series. The show was again cut down, from 18 episodes to 13. FOX announced the cancellation of the show before the production of the final five episodes.
After seven years off the air, Arrested Development returned for a fourth season on the online movie & tv streaming site Netflix on May 26, 2013. . ."
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