Web links related to the Back of the Book program of February 14, 2005


Okay, it's Sunday night 2/27/2005 19:33:44 and this Web page is finished at long last! Getting to be a habit, this. We have some topics we covered below and the E-mail we did on the air.

The WBAI Local Station Board (LSB) will meet next on Wednesday February 16, 2005, at DC-1707, 75 Varick Street, 14th floor. Take the 1, 9, A,C, or E train to Canal Street. Photo ID required by building security. First 30 minutes will be in executive session. 7:00 pm doors open for public portion of the meeting. Wheelchair-accessible location. Public comment welcome during public part of meeting.

Did you know that I've got a brief synopsis of almost every WBAI LSB meeting so far? Well, I do.

WBAI has a program schedule up on its Web site. The site has gotten many of the individual program pages together to provide links and such, so check it out.

Our colleagues from Off the Hook now have both a RealAudio streaming web cast operating, and a new MP3 stream. The MP3 feed is now the preferred feed. Both were operating at 11:11 PM last night.

The Pacifica Foundation, which owns WBAI, has revamped its Web site and now has something called the Pacifica Lounge where you can post messages about Pacifica, WBAI and other Pacifica radio stations. This may be a good thing, and of course there are other, long term fora in which to participate.

WBAI also has a forum on its Web site now. You have to register to post messages, but anyone may read the messages.

We spoke about the Lynne Stewart decision on this program. My approach to this one is not as simple as some people's. I deplore the surreptitious video taping of the lawyer/client conference, but I also think that Ms Stewart did something stupid and got caught at it.

I personally hope that she's sentenced to community service and a fine or something. And of course if she can get it all reversed on appeal that's a good thing too. And she's apparently the target of another group that wants to driver he neighbors crazy and make them driver her out of New York! Sounds illegal to me.

We talked about some folks who have passed away lately. Ossie Davis' and Arthur Miller's lives were really open books and the details were pretty well known. But the third famous person who died in this fortnight was boxer Max Schmeling. And there were some revelations in his obituary which surprised me. Schmeling had in fact not been in with the Nazis. He hid Jewish kids during the infamous Kristallnacht of 1938. And in later years he did well and gave financial help to Joe Louis, who had spectacularly knocked him out in the first round of the biggest heavyweight boxing championship match of the first half of the 20th Century. in the end he even paid for Joe Louis' funeral expenses.

Pickles of the North talked about Star Trek: Enterprise being cancelled. We both agreed that it was a badly written series and the idea for going back before all of the Star Trek history was not a good one. They had to ignore or go against a whole lot of that history, which regular fans of the franchise know, and which some know by heart and in great detail. In any case, the last show will air on May 13.

We got to some mail on this program. We began with one E-mail that we'd skipped on a previous program.

Subject: Artie Shaw, R.I.P.
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 03:06:33 -0500
From: Bill in Manhattan
To: rpm@glib.com

I was introduced to his work by a friend who loved the Big Band era. His master work, I believe, was “Swing Swing Swing.” We should remember him, too, as a veteran of the Second World War. He went to the recruiting station within days -- if not hours -- after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Navy of course was savvy enough to use his talents as a bandleader -- however, the brass ran true to form because they always wanted him to play for the o-clubs. Shaw was furious about this, because he felt his duty was to entertain the enlisted men. His was an extraordinary talent, but see what comes of screwing with talent, this dispute led to one of his nervous breakdowns. I had a teacher, very bright, never missed an episode of “McHale's Navy.” He said it was therapy, because he had officers just like that, too. I feel, R. Paul, that this is almost the right moment to say a good word about Bob Hope. Wait for it! Best wishes in the year five, Bill in Manhattan.


Subject: Hi R. Paul! About the WBAI web radio link
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 12:24:18 -0600
From: Gail
To: rpm@glib.com

Dear R. Paul,

I hope you're very well.

I'm writing because I've moved to Chicago and the only way I could hear your's and Sidney's shows would be via the web link.

Well, I can't get it to work with either WMP or Real Player which I installed only for WBAI. When I click on the link, a box whizzes up on the screen that's like in a split second and much too fast to see, and then nothing happens. I updated WMP to WMP 9, again just for WBAI. I can listen to the preset stations that are in WMP, but I can't listen to WBAI at all.

I'm running Win 2K, Service Pack 4 with all critical updates. I did try turning my antivirus off, still no luck, and my IE privacy settings are at Medium.

A friend can listen to WBAI from the link - I guess WMP just gets invoked when she clicks the link. So it has to be a system problem on my end. If you could help, please? I really would like to be able to hear the late night shows again.

Missing you!

Gail

We're building up quite a number of listeners over the Internet who used to list over the air in our listening area. We did some back and forth on this with Gail and one of her friends was able to help her out to get the WBAI stream. We're always glad to have folks able to listen to us however that happens.

Subject: New Virginia License Plate
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 19:14:21 -0800 (PST)
From: Susan from Virginia
To: rpm@glib.com

Here's the new plate we can get for our new vehicle!

Susan

(Excerpted from an Equality Virginia Mailing)

HB 1660 -- Special license plates; supporters of traditional marriage -- Del. Scott Ligamfelter (R-Woodbridge)

Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to supporters of traditional marriage. The design of the plates is to include the legend: TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE and two interlocked golden wedding bands over a red heart.

And Susan is another transplanted listener! Jeez, I guess that Virginia isn't for all lovers!

Subject: You're welcome
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 01:38:32 EST
From: Sharon, the Wicked Witch of the East (Side)
To: rpm@glib.com

Dear R. Paul,

Last October, when you were pitching, I called in a pledge. Three months later, I have not received any response from the station. (I know they got it, because it came up on my credit card.) I don't expect a brass plaque for $50 but always, in the past, there was a letter of thanks, a receipt, a Folio, SOMETHING. Are they just trying to save on paper and postage, or is this another symptom of the go-to-hell attitude of the Faction In Charge? I realize you're not responsible for this kind of thing and probably don't have an answer, but if there is a Folio I'd like to get it. Any suggestions?

Be sure to wear your body armor to the LAB meeting.

Sharon, the Wicked Witch of the East (Side)

I've suggested to Sharon that she tell me the details and I'll communicate them to the premium folks at the station. Maybe that'll work.

Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 00:06:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Susan From VA
To: rpm@glib.com

Very funny, interesting, informative program.

But, why was the web page so thin anyway?
Perhaps, I missed the answer.

Susan From VA

The hard drive went nuts! There were some other problems as well.

Subject: Need help on the phones for this Marathon?
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:48:08 EST
From: Seth
To: rpm@glib.com

Dear R. Paul,

Please let me know if you need help on the phones, if you're pitching this Sunday-Monday night.

'regards to P.O.T.N.

--Seth

And indeed, Seth came in and helped us out for the January 31, pitching shift! Thanks a lot, Seth!

Subject: air-check
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 15:29:52 -0800 (PST)
From: David
To: rpm@glib.com

Dear R. Paul,

Hello, I listen to your program via recorded stream. Utilising an application called Radio Lover for mac, it enables one to record in VCR fashion. All of my favourite radio programs are automatically recorded for me, I can simply drag the mp3 to my ipod or listen from the computer. Very convenient, the downside is, the stream provided by 2600 is only 16 kbps, resulting in very poor audio quality. However this satisfactory considering the alternative, as I moved here (Canton, OH), from NYC area a few years ago.

Let me know if you have acquired your air check from the 31 of January 2005, if not I should be happy to send you a copy.

Walk Good.

David

Among other aspects of disaster I couldn't get an air check of the January 31, Back of the Book program. A couple of listeners helped me out with air checks. And I note that David is yet another of our Internet listeners.

And, finally, here's a local listener who also made an offer, and she sent us an air check. Thanks to all listeners who've helped us out in this mess.

Subject: Sunday's air check
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 13:15:08 EST
From: Susan From Brooklyn
To: rpm@glib.com

I just got thru listening to last Sunday's show . Do you still need a tape of the show? Susan

There are a lot of issues that are considered hazardous to talk about on the air at WBAI, even now that the gag rule has been lifted. However, there is the Internet! There are mailing lists which you can subscribe to and Web based message boards devoted to WBAI and Pacifica issues. Many controversial WBAI/Pacifica issues are discussed on these lists.

Probably the most popular 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 and official announcements are frequently posted there.

You can look at the NewPacifica list here, and you can join the list from that Web page too. If you subscribe to the “NewPacifica” mailing list you will receive, via E-mail, all of the messages which are sent to that list.

There is the option to receive a “digest” version of the list, which means that a bunch of messages are bundled into one E-mail and sent to you at regular intervals, this cuts down on the number of E-mails you get from the list. You will also be able to send messages to the list.

This list also has a Web based interface where you can read messages and from which you can post your own messages.

There is also the more WBAI specific “Goodlight” Web based message board. It is sometimes referred to on Back of the Book as “the bleepin' blue board,” owing to the blue background used on its Web pages. This one has many people posting anonymously and there's also an ancillary “WBAI people” board that's just totally out of hand.

When the computer in Master Control is working we sometimes have live interaction with people posting on the “Goodlight Board” during the program.

And then there is the historic “Free Pacifica!” list, which has been used to help organize resistance to Pacifica Management hijackers since the mid-90s. It's become a low volume mailing list because it's been eclipsed by some of the newer, more technologically advanced, lists. Just click on this link and follow the instructions, and you'll be subscribed. This is a mailing list only, it doesn't have a digest option nor does it have a web interface.

My voice mail number at WBAI is 212-209-2996. Leave a message.

You can also send me E-mail.



WBAI related links

Free Pacifica Web site

WBAI Listeners' Web page

WBAI Management's official Web site


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The contents of this Web page are copyright © 2005, R. Paul Martin.