You want a Lamborghini, sip martinis, look hot in a bikini, you better work bitch. Haha. Man, I just listened to Britney's new single and I don't know what to say. The new Britney Spears song is at least 1908134982x gayer than gay marriage, and yet, which one is legal throughout America? Alright, it's Monday, this is the Phile, how are you? Samsung has unveiled its new smartwatch. It will go on sale later this month in 140 countries. It's a smartphone wristwatch. Experts say this could revolutionize the way senators play poker at Senate hearings. Officials in Iowa are facing criticism over a new law that lets blind people own guns. The law has actually received support from two major groups: the NRA and deer. This is almost sad news... Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez, the 112-year-old former coal miner who held the Guinness title as the world's oldest man, died Friday in his nursing home in Western New York. Sanchez-Blazquez only held the record for three months, since the previous world's oldest man Jiroemon Kimura, aged 116, died on June 12. The deaths appear to be unrelated. A brightly-multi-colored, company-logo-emblazoned, seven-foot-camera-tower-having Google car smashed into the side of a bus while mapping the streets of Bogor, Indonesia last week. After pulling away from the bus, the driver, apparently hoping no one would be able to identify his car, attempted to flee the scene and immediately rammed into a second bus. The Google car just drove into my house and took a picture of me in the shower. Who watched the "Miss America" show last night? Miss New York Nina Davuluri became the first woman of Indian descent ever to be crowned Miss America. The Internet, true to form, responded to this historic moment by vomiting racism, xenophobia and generally pathetic meanness all over everything. Partially at issue was that judges had the temerity to choose a ethnic-ish person over a "Real American woman" like Miss Kansas Theresa Vail, a blonde Army soldier who bow-hunts, proudly displays her Lord's Prayer tattoo and is blonde. The new Miss America sends the dangerous message to young girls that white people don't win and control everything. Haha. Wait, there was a Miss America contestant with a tattoo? What? I gotta see a picture of her.
And she didn't win? What kinda bullshit is that? Haha. After finding a backpack containing $40,000 in cash and traveler’s checks and a Chinese passport outside a Massachusetts mall, an unidentified homeless man who is a way, way better person than pretty much anybody you're going to meet this week promptly delivered the bag to the police without even having stolen a grand or two for his trouble. The owner of the bag turned out to be an employee of Best Buy who clearly knows a lot more about hard drives and LCD TVs than about banks and not doing stupid shit with your money. What an idiot! He could have bought like three extended warranties with that. Seattle police went undercover as San Francisco 49ers fans during yesterday's game at CenturyLink Field, in the hopes that some drunk asshole Seahawks fans would mess with them. This is in part to help curb bullying behavior that has landed some rival fans in the hospital and in part because police love a good excuse to act like police. And in other football news... the Giants lost again. So, I have been showing you the latest trend in which rapper's have their own cereal out brands out. I had no idea who was on yesterday's ad, but Phile readers told me it was 2Chainz. I never heard of him. Anyway, here's another...
I know who that is, that's Ludacris. So, do you watch "Duck Dynasty"? I have never seen it but I have been showing you what those bearded guys look like without their beards. It's kinda stupid, but here is the last one.
Hey, do you remember the show "Captain Planet"? I barely do but they are making a Captain Planet movie. I wanted to see what he was like, so I looked him up and saw this ad for the old TV show.
His name is Captain Planet, not Captain Earth. And he's blue and almost naked. I don't get it. So, here in Florida we have a branch or two of the University of Phoenix. I saw their latest ad and I was kinda confused.
Why are here knees scraped up? That is so not attractive. Haha. I'm such an idiot. Alright, I have been showing you different sport teams with odds names. And I have another one for you. The Webb Institute is a specialized private college in Glen Cove, New York, that has only one program, which is undergraduate. Each graduate of Webb Institute earns a Bachelor of Science degree in naval architecture and engineering. Their team is called The Webbies. I can only imagine laptops lined up along the field. The coach calls in a play to the quarterback via I.M. through the tiny personal PC strapped to his arm.
Okay, so, over time Facebook has banned certain pictures and people for different reasons. But, what Facebook doesn't show, I will. So, once again, here's the pheature I call...
Facebook has banned the name of an Irish town, labeling it as “offensive,” which raises questions over whether or not profanity filters are causing more problems than they solve. The town, Effin, bears the same spelling as a common alternative to using a certain “F” word, but it is actually a real place in County Limerick in Ireland that has existed for hundreds of years. In fact, the name comes from the Irish pronunciation of Saint Eimhin, a Bishop from early Irish Christian history. A University of Limerick employee, Ann Marie Kennedy, has been campaigning to get her hometown recognized by the social network, because so far it will not let her enter it onto her profile. All I can say about this incident is: what an Effin joke.
Okay, I live in Florida, not New Jersey. You know that, so you are probably thinking why is Jason stating the obvious? Well, a politician named Cory Booker who is runing for the Senate in New Jersey wanted to come on the Phile and I guess talk about what he's about. So, please welcome to the Phile... Mayor Cory Booker.
Me: Hello, Mr. Mayor, welcome to the Phile. So, I have to ask, why would someone want to go to Washington and serve in the Senate at all?
Cory: It's a fair question these days, Jason. My answer: some people run from big challenges... I run toward them.
Me: So, you're running for Senate?
Cory: I'm running in the October special election to be New Jersey's next United States senator.
Me: What do you think of your opponent?
Cory: In a sign of the times, my extreme opponent has turned his campaign into an attack on President Obama and his agenda.
Me: Alright, so, how are you gonna be different, Mayor?
Cory: Too many of America's leaders turn their backs on the big challenges we face as a nation: the kinds of challenges that could make the lives of our children harder than our own.
Me: And your extreme opponent doesn't feel this way?
Cory: People like my extreme, out-of-touch opponent are more concerned with sticking it to President Obama than sticking up for American families.
Me: Mayor, this has been going on a long time, but there's skepticism about politics that is everywhere. What do you say about that?
Cory: I understand the skepticism today. I saw it when I took office as mayor of Newark, New Jersey Some people said we couldn't create jobs or attract businesses.
Me: Okay, how is New Jersey now?
Cory: Today the city's population is growing for the first time in 60 years, and while Newark represents only three percent of the state's population, it's now home to one-third of all commercial and multi-family development.
Me: So, New Jersey is a good place to live? It gets a bad rap.
Cory: Families can see a better future for themselves here.
Me: Okay, but can things get better?
Cory: I believe that we can do better. I know that when you bring people together to focus on our problems, even the most difficult things become possible.
Me: And again, what does your opponent think? I am sure he's not all bad.
Cory: My opponent promises to put his extreme ideology above all else. He calls Social Security a "Ponzi scheme" and wants to do away with Medicare. He would outlaw abortion even in cases of rape or incest. He advocates a "tax increase for the poor" while eliminating the corporate income tax.
Me: Ummmm... okay, so this is not good, Mayor.
Cory: This is the type of divisive agenda that would undo decades of consensus and pull our nation backward.
Me: And how do you feel?
Cory: I reject division and skepticism.
Me: So, for the Phile readers in New Jersey that don't know, when is this special election?
Cory: Our special election is coming up fast: October 16th.
Me: That's a month away. I don't really know what a special election is or for, can you explain?
Cory: These special elections are wildcards... we've seen out-of-touch candidates get elected in these typically low-turnout contests.
Me: Okay, so you don't have time to waste, do you?
Cory: No, and we can't risk losing this seat.
Me: Well, I appreciate you taking time out to be on the Phile, and I am sure you're appearing on other blogs to get the word out. Anything else you wanna say, Mayor?
Cory: The author Jim Rohn once said, "Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change."
Me: Okay, so, if anyone asks you why are you running, what will you say?
Cory: I'm running because the truth I've lived in Newark is that people who care can find solutions to even the most difficult challenges.
Me: Thank you for being here, Mr. Mayor. Good luck in a month.
Cory: Thanks, Jason.
It's 11:59, 84°F and Kelly is so excited to announce she's teaming up with Green Mountain Coffee as an ambassador to help people understand the importance of Fair Trade.
I want that coffee, especially if she touched it.
Okay, the 35th artist to be pheatured in the Phile's Art Gallery is Branko Vranic, and this is one of his pieces...
Branko will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks. For sure.
This kinda sucks, today's guest was supposed to be Sid Bernstein, an American music producer and promoter. Sid changed the American music scene in the 1960s by bringing The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, The Moody Blues, and The Kinks to America. He was the first impresario to organize rock concerts at sports stadiums. Last year he came out with his own album "Sid Bernstein Presents..." which is available on iTunes. Well, sadly on August 21st, Sid passed away. Luckily, singer Deirdre Broderick, who sings "Crying" as a duet on the album volunteered to step in. So, please welcome to the Phile... Deirdre Broderick.
Me: Deidre, thanks for being on the Phile, I know you weren't planning to, but you were so graciously volunteered after Sid passed away. What can you say about Sid?
Deirdre: Thank you, Jason. I will forever cherish the years of his friendship, his irrepressible dreams, and his boundless love.
Me: How did you become part of the album, and do a duet with Sid, Deirdre?
Deirdre: Not long ago, I had the honor of producing the album of songs with Sid. These were a handful of songs that he particularly cherished from his past. After decades of making music happen, he confided to me that he wanted to try making music himself. I believe what we captured in those recordings is his love for all the people he's worked with and worked for all those years.
Me: Sid was a rock and roll legend, and I am glad he wrote a few books about your life. Anyway, with his Beatles history I was surprised he didn't put a Beatles song on the new album, but he did a great version of "Imagine". How did he come to choose that song over a Beatles song?
Deirdre: There are a number of Beatles songs that Sid absolutely loved to sing... “The Long and Winding Road” is a top pick, but for this collection, Sid wanted to focus on those songs in particular that became part of the fabric of his whole life. “Imagine” was chosen because its music and message are a kind of anthem for the way Sid has so gently and powerfully lived his life. When Sid sings those words, he’s expressing his own dream for a peaceful, loving existence on this planet.
Me: He was a big part of the British Invasion. What about that music that he liked the most?
Deirdre: Sid has told me that during that period, he was fascinated by what pop culture was exciting people overseas. He would get a hold of the entertainment news and keep up with the trends. His investigative skills gave him the heads up that this new group The Beatles was setting the British scene on fire. His promoter instincts motivated him to want to be the first to lure them to the States to share their magic and ignite that kind of fire over here. Those same instincts told him that with the Beatles he was only scratching the surface. So he did what any world-class talent scout and music promoter would do. Bring more bands!!!
Me: Okay, let's talk more about "Sid Bernstein... Presents" which I downloaded from iTunes and love. This was his first album, am I right?
Deirdre: This is most definitely Sid’s first album!
Me: Was Sid known to be a singer as well as a promoter?
Deirdre: Sid has told me that singing was never really a pastime or even an aspiration for him.
Me: Well, how did the idea come up for him to finally release his own album?
Deirdre: It was an idea that came up a couple of years ago in response to someone asking him to sing on their album. Unfortunately that record never happened, but the seed was planted and Sid decided he wanted to give singing a try after decades of being on the “other side” of the music.
Me: Why do you think he waited so long to record an album himself, Deirdre?
Deirdre: I suppose singing wasn’t high on Sid’s list of “things To do” while he was busy for 70 years changing the face of the music industry and influencing world culture!
Me: Good point. Your single from the album is "Crying", which is a duet with yourself. How did you first meet Sid?
Deirdre: Sid and I have become very dear friends since we first met on the corner of 72nd and 2nd Avenue in New York City almost ten years ago. I’m a singer and a songwriter and had been composing the film score for a documentary about his life. Being a huge Beatle fan, I kept asking the producers to introduce me to Sid. Weeks had gone by and still no introduction. Then by chance one afternoon, waiting for a downtown bus, there was Sid standing a few feet away from me! I rushed over and nervously introduced myself... it was THE Sid Bernstein, after all... but his gentle demeanor and warmth immediately put me at ease. That was the beginning of many adventures together over the last ten years, some of them musical, but almost all of them involving a nosh!
Me: I have a great photo of you two working on the album that I have to show.
Me: The album is full of legendary songs, Deirdre. How did you pick which songs were gonna be on the album?
Deirdre: Working together on Sid’s album grew out of months of just getting together to sing songs for the sake of singing them. Sid asked me out of the blue one day if I’d help him “learn how to sing”. He’d never really sung before but loves music and wanted to give it a try. So every week for a year I’d go over to his apartment with my guitar and we’d sit in his living room. He’d give me an ever-growing list of favorite songs he wanted to try and we’d holler at the top of our lungs and just have a grand old time of it. After awhile we decided it would be fun to record the best of what we’d been up to. The songs that he enjoyed singing the most were the ones that eventually wound up on his album.
Me: On the album he does a tribute to Tony Bennett. I am guessing those two were good friends. Do you know if Tony heard the song?
Deirdre: Sid and Tony Bennett worked together “back in the day” and became very close. Sid believed in Tony’s talent and helped to foster him into a new surge in popularity around the song “I Left My Heart In San Francisco”. I don’t think Tony’s heard Sid’s track yet, but I know Sid was looking forward to his reaction!
Me: Who plays on the album with you?
Deirdre: This album was definitely a labor of love for all of us involved. Besides the musical contributions of Sid and myself, co-producer and recording engineer Frank Dickinson played drums and percussion. Guitar legend, three-out-of-four-Beatles-solo-career contributor, and dear friend David Spinozza can be heard on three of the tracks... most notably providing the incredible electric guitar solos on “Imagine”. Sid’s buddy, Nashville DJ and Beach Music great Steve Jarrell ("The Daddy-O on the Patio") provides sax and background vocals. The rest of the crew includes good friends sax-playing Bud Maltin and Gary Keller, and accordion master Jim Henning.
Me: I loved the CD and wanted more. Will you be releasing any more music that wasn't on the album?
Deirdre: A year ago, Sid wasn’t expecting to be releasing THIS album. But, no, no more music was recorded.
Me: Thanks so much for stepping in and being on the Phile and talking about the album and Sid, Deirdre. Please come back on the Phile again soon. Sid had a website, right, do you know what it is?
Deirdre: Sidbernsteinpresents.com.
Me: Thanks again, Deirdre.
That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Mayor Cory Booker and of course Deirdre Broderick. The Phile will be back next Saturday with Steve "Lips" Kudlow, lead singer for the legendary heavy metal band Anvil. Then on Sunday it's Demetrius Green, CEO of Full Moon Entertainment Pictures. And a wek from today, songwriter Jill Krachmer. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Strawberry Blondes Forever!
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