Web links related to the Back of the Book program of April 14, 2003


Oh, Hell, it's Sunday night 4/27/2003 21:43:59 and this page is finally finished. I got through the below topics plus more, and Pickles of the North and I read a bunch of mail. The E-mail is below, and now I have to get the next program's Web page done!

Here is the latest on the saga of Pacifica. The big meeting of the interim Pacifica National Board was held March 7-9, in Los Angeles, CA, to discuss and possibly even pass the new bylaws for the Pacifica Foundation. Well, it was a big flop, the various schemers sank the bylaws again. I'll be updating this link soon.

WBAI now has a program schedule up on its Web site. It's not completed yet, they still haven't gotten the individual program pages together to provide links and such, but it's a start and it's official. Here's a schedule made by a listener who has Web links for various programs and producers.

Our colleagues from Off the Hook now have both a RealAudio streaming web cast operating, and a new MP3 stream both of which were working at about 11:08 PM last night. The MP3 feed is now the preferred feed.

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.

Hey, you've got to love the reality twisting spins provided by Iraq's Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf. Some news outlets described his final couple of news conferences as “surreal.” And he's gotten fans in America too!

I spoke about the war rather a bit on this program. Allowing the Baghdad Museum to be looted and ransacked is something that's going to be a stain on history from now on.

I also spoke about death in this war. There was the young Corporal who fired a round into a car that was refusing to stop and which continued to drive towards him even after warning shots were fired. He killed the two guys in that car. He felt bad about it, but I say he shouldn't. Things happen in wars and people have to watch out for themselves. I can't imagine what the two guys in the car were thinking when they kept driving towards the GIs who were firing warning shots. The corporal had no way of knowing if they were trying to kill him or not.

But then there's the attempt tp Kill Saddam Hussein by dropping four large bombs on a restaurant in a residential section of Baghdad. Okay, you want to kill Saddam Hussein, but what is the calculus of collateral casualties in such a case? How many civilian deaths are okay if you get Hussein? Who really names the number? Or were civilian casualties not even taken into account in this case? And in the end was this particular bombing attack “worth it?” We may never know, and this is also a part of the tragedy of war.

We also have the future to worry about. Who's going to end up in charge in Iraq now? I don't mean in the short run, I mean for the future, as in for decades to come. We could end up with the same bad news Mohammedan fundamentalists who run Iran running Iraq as well. Not a good scenario. And there are a multiplicity of other bad guys, bad organizations and detrimental creeps who could end up in charge over there. And I have to wonder if this could be sorted out even if anyone has given it some thought. We may be seeing a colossal crap shoot here in terms of a post war Iraq.

Of course we got mail, both electronic and on paper. Pickles of the North read some of the E-mails, and we present those here.

We started with someone who was having a problem with getting the program over the Internet.

Subject: Streaming audio
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 01:16:00 -0500
From: Frank
To: rpm@glib.com

Doesn't work R. Paul. Not in Media windows Player, or Real Audio. A good god damn to Streaming Audio!

Frank/ The mouse is feeding his head. It only took me 5 Years! to figure that one out!. Oh well , Just getting old! <lol>

Next we have a missive from long time listener, correspondent and supporter Seth. I did a program segment about the building in question some while back, and then I had another bit on it later, and Seth has written to us about it before as well..

Subject: Re: Cities Services building
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 18:58:18 EST
From: Seth
To: rpm@glib.com

A metal parts and technology company is now making small metal models of 20th century office buildings. Our favorite is among them, and you can see it (and buy it if you want) at:

http://www.infocustech.com/skyscrapers/cities_service.htm

Pricey, but unique.

xxx
--Seth


Subject: Dum de dum dum
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 18:36:00 -0500
From: Bill in Manhattan
To: rpm@glib.com

Say what you like about Joe Friday, he sure went by the book. So how come no Miranda rights these days? I thought the first show was a bit on the morbid side, too. The genius of the original was that they went to great lengths to show the unglitz of police work. There were lots of episodes dealing with petty crime, with the partners detailed to the bunco squad. Usually some old lady lost her life savings to some dashing guy with a twinkle in his eye and extra-large pockets. I think the old ladies were a little maudlin, but surely no one since the Greeks had a sense of character-is-destiny to match Jack Webb's. But no discussion of “Dragnet” should fail to mention the man always looking over the producer's shoulder, and that was Chief Bill Parker. His influence was not, I feel, entirely benign. They say that crime always goes up after wartime, so Parker was a very good man for that era, with his determination to be well-trained and up to date. “Dragnet” was a brilliant attempt to get the people of Los Angeles on his side, but even so it could have been a lot better if it had not been so black and white. There was no overt hostility to minorities that I remember, just not enough involvement. I wonder if that is an opportunity the new show will take advantage of. In the meantime, I am more interested in MIchael Kitchen in “Foyle's War” on PBS. After all, Raymond Chandler did go to school in England. Be seeing you, Bill in Manhattan.


Subject: Hi RPM
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 05:08:15 EST
From: Seena
To: rpm@glib.com

Hi R. Paul- How are you and Pickles? I'm a longtime listener to your program and I like it very much. You trials and tribulations are fun to listen to, and most of your viewpoints are a much-needed breath of fresh air. I'm writing for a couple of reasons. First of all, I know you've been dealing with this diabetic diet stuff lately, and although I'm not a diabetic, I am trying to lose weight, and have come up with an easy, pretty tasty veggie dish. Just buy one box frozen chopped broccoli (not florets), and one box frozen cauliflower (both about 10 oz.). Put both in the same large microwaveable bowl and spray both with butter-flavor cooking spray (ie, Pam, or store brand). Cover and cook in microwave for approx. 37 minutes. If it burns on the edges a tiny bit, that's okay. Eventually you'll know the exact temperature for your microwave. I usually melt a little American cheese over it and it's good to go. I hope you enjoy it and it helps a little. I'd be interested to know if you like it. I'm also writing to perhaps ask for your professional services- I'm not sure. Being relatively poor I'd have to know your fees, etc., and also tell you my basic situaion. Let's just say Idon't even have Windows 95!!!! Yes, it's the old 3.1 I want to either buy a new computer or update this old crap that I have. My head starts to spin when I try to figure out what to get. I am NOT a technical person. Anyway- I have to gonow. Please get back to me when you can. Thanks- Seena ;-)

As it happens, I'm not really doing that exact sort of stuff these days. I would also feel really funny about getting gainful employment via my WBAI radio program. Yeah, i know. Others feel the opposite, but that's how I feel. Good luck, Seena.

Next we hear from Seth again, who was taking pledges at WBAI for our pitching shift in February.

Subject: Cott soda
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 13:32:08 EST
From: Seth
To: rpm@glib.com

Greetings.

It was great to see you and P.O.T.N. last night!

I've done some checking into Cott sodas. Apparently they are a Canadian company--but according to their website (www.cott.com) they have a large presence in the US.

I've e-mailed their headquarters, telling them of my fond memories of their sodas (particularly the Black Cherry!)--and asking them about obtaining their product in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Perhaps they have a local distributor that serves our area. I'll let you know if I get anything useful from them.

Best regards,
--Seth


Subject: Black Capped Chickadees
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 21:33:06 -0500
From: Jim
To: rpm@glib.com

Hello R. Paul and Pickles O. T. N.,

On Back of the Book this past Monday morning you read a letter from a gentleman asking about the plumage of black capped chickadees and whether or not they have separate winter and summer colorations. I have just gotten back into trying to attract birds to my yard and these little fellers were about the first to show up. To the best of my rather limited knowledge they do not change seasonally but rather exhibit a difference in habitat preference during the winter months. If I may quote from The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds (Eastern Region): “Habitat: Deciduos and mixed forests, and open woodlands; suburban areas in winter.” It goes on to say: “Flocks of this tame and inquisitive bird spend the winter making the rounds of feeders in a neighborhood, often appearing at each feeder with striking regularity. Chickadees form the nucleus of mixed flocks of woodpeckers, nuthatches, creepers, and kinglets that move through the winter woods. Occasionally they move south in very large numbers, many thousands passing through even our largest cities. In spring, chickadees disband and move into the woods to nest. They often feed upside down, clinging to the underside of twigs and branches in their search for insect eggs and larva. Easily tamed, they soon learn to feed from the hand.”

I cannot, however, vouch for that last statement.

I hope this is of help to my fellow listener. Keep up the good work!

Jim


Subject: Audio files anywhere?
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 21:27:11 -0500
From: Elizabeth
To: rpm@glib.com

Paul,

Thanks for the many helpful links on your site.

Since I missed your last show, I was hoping there was an audio archive. Easier said than done, right?

I've carefully checked all the WBAI websites, in the hopes of finding such archives, but it looks like Amy is the only one with the resources to maintain such audio files. Is it possible that I missed something and that there is a way to find old shows?

I look forward to listening on March 2.

Regards,

Elizabeth

Unfortunately, there has been no archive for the WBAI radio programs, as some other radio stations have. However, it has been announced that we are going to have an archive of WBAI programs starting any day now. I am told that the archive will be there for something like two weeks after a program airs, so folks will be able to download them and listen when they please. I'll post an alert about this when it's finally implemented.

There are a lot of issues that are considered hazardous to 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.

If you want to subscribe to the “Free Pacifica!” list just click on this link and follow the instructions, and you'll be subscribed. Could open your eyes a little bit.

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.

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 © 2003, R. Paul Martin.