My friend Julie White has a great new essay on her blog, My 45th Year. Go read it!
Leave a CommentJason Crane Posts
Several years ago, I tried shaving with a shaving mug and brush, plus some Burt’s Bees shaving soap. I used a Gillette Sensor razor, and just didn’t see that big a difference.
For Christmas, Jen bought me some Nutragena Men’s Triple Protect Face Lotion. I decided to take out the mug and brush again. This time, I bought some shaving soap from Herban Cowboy. Even with the modern-day razor, I’ve been enjoying the new feel and the more relaxed, mindful shaving experience.
Then I discovered A Guide To The Gourmet Shaving Experience at the Leisure Guy site. I took his advice and bought a safety razor from ClassicShaving.com. The model I bought — a Merkur “Futur” from Germany — arrived today. I’m going to take my first-ever whack at shaving with a safety razor in the morning. I’m excited, which is a crazy thing to say about shaving.
As you probably know, Al Franken is running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Here are two reasons to support Al:
- He’s a good guy.
- The incumbent, Norm Coleman, is not.
Al just launched two TV ads:
If you’d like to throw some cash his way, as I did, visit his site.
Leave a CommentAs I may have mentioned, I work for UNITE HERE, the hotel workers union. I’ve worked for the union for several years, a fact which is not unknown to my extended family.
Today, I was visiting my grandmother in her nursing home. My mom was there, too. My grandmother had an old photo on the bed with her, and I asked her what it was. Turned out to be a photo of my grandmother with the staff of the — wait for it — hotel at which she worked.
That’s right. My own grandmother worked at the Wendell Hotel in Pittsfield, Mass. She was a switchboard operator for about five years in the late 40s and early 50s. And no one ever mentioned it to me. Oy!
Here’s a picture of my grandmother with the Wendell gang. She’s in the front row, fifth from the right. This photo was taken at a company picnic somewhere in the Berkshires. (Click for a larger version.)
And here’s the Wendell in about 1912:
I did some preliminary research on the hotel, and came up with these:
- A collection of images of the Wendell Hotel throughout the years
- An essay about Park Square in Pittsfield, on which the hotel was located (scroll down for photos of the hotel)
I also discovered this paper (PDF) by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which has the following note:
March 1926: Pittsfield on the air for the first time in its history when AIEE [American Institute of Electrical Engineers] broadcasts the very first words, “We are broadcasting tonight From the Wendell Hotel, in Pittsfield Mass. at the AIEE’s annual banquet”.
The following is from the book Pathfinder to Greylock Mountain, the Berkshire Hills and Historic Bennington by William Hamilton Phillips, published in 1910:
Crossing the line into Pittsfield on the Berkshire trolley road the first objects of interest are Arrowhead, the house of Herman Mellville, the author, and once the site of an Indian village; the former summer residence of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, whose ancestor, Jonathan Wendell, was an early settler of the town and from whom the Wendell Hotel in Pittsfield was named.
The Wendell is mentioned again in The Practical Hotel Steward by John Tellman, published in 1913.
If you’re interested in learning more about my union, you can visit UNITE HERE’s Web site.
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David Morris is co-founder and vice president of the Institute for Local Self Reliance in Minneapolis, Minn., and director of its New Rules project. He was also a guest on The Jason Crane Show back when it was on Rochester’s Air America affiliate.
Now he’s written a very useful article reminding us what Clinton-esque politics got us back in the 90s. It’s worth a read.
Leave a CommentAll About Jazz just published its Top Twenty Interviews of 2007 list. I’m very honored to have two of my interviews on the list:
You can read the entire list at AAJ’s site.
Leave a CommentJen and the boys and I are in Saratoga Springs after a week in Lake Placid. While we were on vacation, I scribbled this poem about being a dad.
Fatherhood
Guardian of sleep
Protector of winter dreams
Chronicler of snow stories
Teller of bedtime tales
Snuggler on winter nights
Hugger with gentle arms
Gazer of wistful looks
Namer of newborn boys
Holder of tiny hands
Crosser of busy streets
Dreamer of far-off scenes
Kisser of sleeping limbs
Singer of simple songs
Soother of nighttime cries
Carrier of tired limbs
Father of children.
29 Dec 2007
One CommentLast year, I decided that I would stay in my pajamas on Christmas Day, no matter what. I went to my folks’ house in pajamas, ate dinner, etc.
This year, I stayed in my pajamas again, including during visits to my parents’ house and to the nursing home where my grandparents live. Here’s the evidence:
Jen and I at my parents’ house. I’m wearing the Superman jammies Jen got me, and a crown she got for the boys. I’m a boy, right?
Me, Bernie, Jen and John at the nursing home
From Lois Gilbert at JazzCorner.com:
George Cables Healing Fund
As many of you know, George Cables received a liver and kidney transplant in early October 2007. His recovery is going very well, but of course, bills are mounting. We have set up the “George Cables Healing Fund” to help offset some of George’s expenses. The money will go directly to George with no operational costs (except what PayPal takes out) or administrative costs. George will also get a copy of every donation made, and you have an opportunity to write a short note with your donation.
To donate, visit GeorgeCables.com and click on “Healing Fund.”
If you prefer sending a check, please make it payable to:
GEORGE CABLES
c/o JazzCorner.com
245 West 25th St. #2F
New York, NY 10001
You can learn more about George Cables and his relationship with Art Pepper on The Jazz Session #34: Laurie Pepper on Art Pepper
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On the new episode of The Jazz Session, Jason Crane interviews Laurie Pepper, wife of the late alto saxophonist Art Pepper (1925-1982). Laurie has recently put out two sets of previously unreleased live recordings by Art Pepper — Unreleased Art, Vol. 1: The Complete Abashiri Concert — November 22, 1981 (Widow’s Taste, 2006) and Unreleased Art, Vol. 2: The Last Concert (Widow’s Taste, 2007). Both concerts show Pepper at the height of his emotional expression, and still very much in command of his instrument. In this interview, Laurie Pepper talks about the concerts and the process of releasing them, and also gives insight into the troubled and triumphant life of her husband.
Leave a CommentHere’s a 94-year-old writer who started in the union back when he was writing for radio. (He worked on the classic Life of Riley show, among others.) This cat is hip, man!
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