Back of the Book links for the January 7, 2002 program

Good grief, it's Sunday night 1/20/2002 18:07:43 and I'm only now getting this web page done. Meetings, computer and DSL problems, all sorts of things going on here. Oh well, it's a new year and listeners heard an old sound at the very beginning of the program. I've gotten my old intro together on a CD and this should last until they bounce me out of WBAI, as opposed to my old carts which the machinery ate a few years ago. It's a very bizarre time at WBAI these days, so who know what I'll say. Mike Feder was “suspended” the Friday before this program for mentioning things that are true. Meanwhile General Managers of some Pacifica stations are attacking the interim Pacifica National Board on the air. While there are two major factions involved in a civil war at WBAI, there are more than a couple of factions involved in the bigger fight for the Pacifica Foundation. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the licences of the stations could be getting jeopardized at this very moment. I got through some mail on the program, although not enough to catch up! As usual, you'll find a mix of tenses on this page which are artifacts of it having been written and updated more than once. And I'm declaring this page finished at last, time to start on the next one!

Here is the latest on the theft of Pacifica. The new interim Pacifica National Board is going to be holding its next meeting here in New York City next weekend.

Some listeners are convinced that only open elections will provide a long range cure for the Pacifica Crisis. Here's an election proposal.

Our colleagues from Off the Hook now have both a RealAudio streaming web cast operating, and their new MP3 stream working at 8:12 PM last night. The MP3 feed is now the preferred feed.

I'm going to talk about the end of the universe again! I covered the fate of life in the universe, now that it seems that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, a while back. The New York Times has finally broached the subject. They have an article on life in the very far future, and I'll read some bits from that tonight, and put in a word or two of my own.

I also talked a bit about the then upcoming iPNB meeting held in New York City over the weekend of January 11 to 13. Unfortunately, they didn't get the exact venue nailed down until the Wednesday afternoon before the meeting, so I couldn't announce that on the air. But here's my summary of the meeting, which lasted all weekend long.

And we did get through some mail on the air. We read a number of letters sent to us via the USPS, as well as some E-mail. As usual, the E-mail will be presented here.

We start with an E-mail from Fernando. We'd skipped this one on the previous program because he'd already had a lengthy missive read then. So here that one is. As I've said before, so many times, George W. Bush is not the President of the United States of America, he is a usurper in the White House. If Gore had gotten all of Florida recounted he would have won.

Subject: The Broadcast of November 13
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 22:24:38 -0800 (PST)
From: Fernando
To: rpm@glib.com

Dear Martin,

I have written before on occasion and many times we have disagreed on matters of politics. I had hoped to write in response to your broadcast of November the 13 but I have been sidetracked by the Thanksgiving holidays and I am in the process of throwing out all of my clothes. Now I am responding to that show while I listen to your broadcast of November 26. I am thirty two years old.

There were a few points I specifically wanted to address:

1) Yet again you attempt to undermine the Presidency of President George W. Bush. You cited a recent report in which it was announced that had an initial state wide recount been allowed to go through, Gore would have won the 2000 election. This is very suspicious and leaves me with many unanswered questions such as does this take into account all of those absentee and military ballots Gore fought hard to negate. It should also be pointed out...AND THIS IS KEY...that it was Gore who derailed the initial recount and insisted on his illogical and inconsistent recount parameters. It would be the height of irony had he lost the election due to his own twisted machinations. I would love it. Recently however, two Miami newspapers held their own recounts which were truly objective...in fact one paper has a VERY leftist reputation and I would like it investigated...but they both declared Bush to be the legitimate winner.

Before you cry Seminole County again, please keep in mind that the VERY ultra-leftist black female judge in the case found no wrong-doing in the matter on the part of the Republicans. Once again, Bush wins all the way around and to say otherwise...especially AT THIS TIME IN NEW YORK IN PARTICULAR...is grossly in bad taste and treasonous. R.Paul, I am very disappointed in you in that regard.

2) Ever the Civil Liberties alarmist, R, you mentioned a story in which a woman was prevented from flying because of her opinion. This was a very suspicious story that needed more details and facts. What was her opinion? In what form did her opinion manifest? Was it on a t-shirt? Was she reading something? Was she screaming it out loud? The authorities were more than likely justified in stopping her.

3) You once made mention of a connection between Earthlink and the Scientologists. Could you please elaborate as I am personally interested in a scientologist? Please explain if you can the L.Ron Hubbard connection and how John Travolta and his son fit in.

4) You questioned the usefulness of having the National Guard at the airports. I however, am glad they are there. Sure. The terrorist can find ways around these soldiers but they may also be useful in ways other than as a deterrent. They do provide additional security and can lend aide should a situation arise. If they weren't there and a crisis did occur, THEN everyone would be clamoring for them so I'm glad they are there and I hope they stay.

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to this next broadcast, sir, and I am interested in any merchandising you might put forward.

Sincerely,
Fernando
Florham Park, NJ

Well, apparently I'm a genius to 12 year olds but after they hit 20 the scales fall from their pubescent eyes and they sit before their radios disillusioned. Hell, I thought I was a genius when I was 12 too! And I've gotta tell you that I'm even more disillusioned than you listeners are!

I told Elvis that maybe we might have a mission to Mars with people on it around 2050 or so, but it was not going to be 200 people. The logistics are just too much. For those of you who have looked at my photographs on this site you know that his idea of what I look like is other than accurate.

Oddly, Susan From Long Island wrote a letter which I read on this same program sending along what seems to be a copy of a letter she'd sent me years ago saying that the letter I was supposed to be sending her could be dropped.

Subject: (no subject)
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 19:49:06 EST
From: Elvis
To: rpm@glib.com

(You can read this on the air)

I thought I'd say hi again, since I'm surprised to find you still on the air. I first listened when I was 12 (egad) and now I'm 20. I then thought you were a genius, but I have to take that statement back upon further examination.. heheh.. but I still think you're alright with what you've got.

That universe stuff you talked about is pretty scary. What do you know about the advances NASA and others have made in making travel to other livable planets possible (and safe)? How long into the future do you think it will happen? Could it be in our lifetime? Will it be like 200 ppl on one craft, or what's the deal?

I didn't want to look at your picture on the net cuz it would ruin my image of you, whatever that is. Still think of you as a Dennis Hopper type, btw.

How do you know you only have 18 listeners? What kind of device is capable of reading how many ppl are listening to the station at one time? Does such a device even exist?

Have you ever seen the movie "Talk Radio"? I recommend it as it's one of my faves.

Did you ever write back to Susan from LI? Was that just a joke you did every show or is it for real?

Could you talk about the nuns that you used to beat you up when you were a kid some more? That was entertaining. Could that be part of why you're such a freakin athiest?

OK, I must go. Hope you get better.. I had an MRI recently, and it takes a good 20 min... I'm not claustrophobic but it got to be scary after a few minutes. So get Pickles to hold your hand (or other things, whichever you prefer) during the damn thing. But you've been in war, so I guess it couldn't be that bad for you. Pickles sounds cute btw. How old is she?

Take care, Elvis

Subject: OK to Read On Air
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 23:36:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Ken
To: rpm@glib.com

R.Paul---

The way things are going, it may be March by the time you get to my letter. Let's hope we've all had a good winter and that there have been no September 11th's! As I'm writing, er, typing this, it is mid-December and another bleak winter is rolling in.

On your “last” program you read a letter by Fernando (I think), in which he asks you about Uncle Floyd Vivino and his grudge against Joe Franklin. Well, as a member of the Uncle Floyd Show Fan Club, I feel I must add some relevant information. Uncle Floyd was on the air for many years on UHF stations in New Jersey before coming to Channel 4 for a brief time, at like 2 in the morning. The show was loads of fun---he and his pals put on skits like Julia Stepchild and Bruce Stringbean, and yes, alas, Joe Frankfurter. It was all in good fun, mind you---I'm sure Floyd had nothing but admiration for those he spoofed. But Mr. Franklin's sense of humor wasn't so accomodating. On one fateful episode, which I did not see but heard about, they did a Joe Frankfurter skit using a prop---which was---you guessed it---a hot dog. Suffice it to say that something which was construed as obscene occurred with said hot dog---what exactly I can't remember. But good ole Joe sicked (sp?) his big-time lawyers on Floyd, and poor Floyd, being just a schmoe from Deep in the Heart of Jersey, couldn't possibly afford to defend himself, thus the Floyd show, by then the darling of the Lower East Village set, was forced off the air, breaking hearts like mine throughout the tri-state area. I heard he had a comeback show on a cable network, without his cronies, but I never got a chance to see it, and besides, it wouldn't be the same without the other cast members. So, basically, Joe Franklin is the Anti-Uncle Floyd!

On a side note, we had some very warm December days recently---even hitting 70 degrees---and this prompted you to call it proof that global warming is happening. Well, it may or may not be happening, and before I say this, I have to say: when it comes to things scientific, you are the guru. I am but a child in kindergarten. I am serious. You are the Doctor Science of the airwaves. Having said that, I'm surprized that you would base your conclusion on global warming on the rise in temperatures in ONE GIVEN PLACE on the globe. After all, it is called GLOBAL warming. If it's 70 degrees in New York, maybe that's negated by it being 20 below in Wisconsin, if you get what I'm saying. I KNOW you KNOW this, but still---going on and on about the temperature in New York is a little misleading. My question is: are scientists able to accuratly measure the earth's average surface temperature, and how is that done? That would be an interesting statistic.

Well thanks for reading my letter, and regards to Pickles, the Schmegeggi Doorman, the snoring Evil Morlab, Fernando, the dormouse, and the letter to Susan from Long Island.

Subject: Yuletide Greetings
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 21:46:54 -0500
From: William
To: rpm@glib.com

And best wishes for the New Year. One of WBAI's other hosts defines a zoo as “an inter-species entertainment vehicle.” Now he was talking about Ringling Bros. (he would no more violate the gag rule than you would, R. Paul) but it makes you wonder just what it would be like to be a shop steward when the animal world is feeling grouchy and out of sorts. Imagine, if you can, having to wipe away all those crocodile tears, trying to teach the allegories to walk on their hind legs, just putting up with all those roars and growls, it must be deafening sometimes. Gosh it must make you feel like you fight with everybody sometimes, when really all your trying to do is just help. And the mules! You know when General Grant was a young man he had to work with mules and he said later you really need to watch your mouth around them. Good God, what I'm trying to say is thanks for all the hard work we never hear about. And my resolution for the New Year is to re-read Alice. What in heck did that dormouse say anyhow?

I didn't read the whole next message on the air, but follow the link to the satire JayKay sent, if you want.

Subject: Twas the night before Ramadan
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 22:20:19 -0800 (PST)
From: JayKay
To: rpm@glib.com

Hiya R Paul,

As always it is a pleasure to listen to your show on WBAI; I have been a listener via the internet (perhaps your 19th) for close to two years now and am not known for being the big writer, such as Fernando is (thank goodness for that). I sometimes wonder where some of his absurdity comes from, but then again the world does actually need people like him too, and one day (hopefully sooner than later) a little light bulb will go on upstairs and he will find his purpose in life. I highly doubt that purpose is writing to you 24-7 as it appears this is all he does everytime he has something to write down.

Anyhow, my purpose in life isn't to ramble on or complain about Fernando and his writings, so I will get on with mine....

I just love the imagination and patriotic spirit our fellow Americans show these days. While excersizing their rights to “freedom of speech,” “freedom of the press” or just plain ol' “freedom.” One way or another we all manage to get our points across, and in some instances very unusal ways. Perhaps, the parody at the bottom of this E-Mail (found somewhere on the WWW) is a prime example of how really mixed we are; as a culture and we DO recognize all kinds of religions and their holidays, we are all a part of that "Great Melting Pot"...(just hope we don't drown in it). Please kick back and listen with an open mind when as you read this short parody to "Twas the Night Before Christmas" called "Twas the night before Ramadan" and keep this thought in mind...As strangely off, odd or weird this parody may be, without humor, the world would be a very sad place for all of us to live in indeed. Keep smiling!!!

Wishing you & PoTN the best of everything during this holiday Season. Stay safe!

Respectfully, JayKay

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twas The Night Before Ramadan

And, finally, we have a missive from North American Shirley with season's greetings and an interesting story.

Subject: joyeux!
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 15:55:43 EST
From: North American Shirley
To: rpm@glib.com

Joyeux Noel! etc (although I can't pronounce it) ... and Joy with any other holidays you may be celebrating. A couple of years ago a sweet Hispanic woman was persuaded to serenade us with ALL the words to Feliz Navidad on a New York bus ... And then the whole bus joined in a gaggle of seasonal singing. I'd never have believed it if I hadn't been there on the bus. One of those amazing New York minutes ... and may there be many more amazing minutes (New York or otherwise) for all in your milieu;
~North American Shirley

There are a lot of issues that we can't talk about on the air at WBAI. But there is an Internet list called “Free Pacifica!” which you can subscribe to, and these issues are discussed there. If you subscribe to it you will receive, via E-mail, all of the messages which are sent to that list. You will also be able to send messages to the list.

The above list has occasionally produced a high volume of E-mail because of the attention that these issues have drawn. If you would prefer to subscribe to a low volume list that only provides announcements of events related to these issues then subscribe to the FreePac mailing list.

Another list that's sprung up is the “NewPacifica” mailing list. This one is very lively and currently includes over 400 subscribers coast to coast. Being lively, of course, it sometimes also gets a bit nasty. All sorts of things are happening on this list. With that warning in mind, you can look at the NewPacifica list here, and you can join the list from that Web page too, although you'll have to deal with Yahoo! to do so.

There is also the more WBAI specific “Goodlight” Web based message board. This one has a great many people posting anonymously and there's also an ancillary board that's just totally out of hand.

The “Goodlight” Web based message board has expanded to cover all Pacifica stations.