At WBUR's Fundraiser 2016

WBUR's Tom Ashbrook in center of photo

Thanks to Martha McCool for finding the above photo on WBUR's website.

Volunteers at WBUR's Year-End Fundraiser

Marash Girl joins volunteers at Boston University,                                                                       answering telephones for  WBUR's Year-End Fundraiser. Photos below.

WBUR is proud to be Boston's National Public Radio Station.

If you look carefully out of the window, you may see Tom Ashbrook doing his morning stretches on the deck under the shining sun.

WBUR, Bread and Kisses

Marash Girl's friend Bilal was volunteering at WBUR with his little one year old son in tow -- his blonde one-year-old son who signed to me (just as Dylan Marie does) that he wanted more! (Apparently Bilal had just fed him a treat from WBUR's breakfast table!)

Noting the child's sign language reminded Marash Girl of an old expression that her family often used.  Öp de başına koy.  Literally, Kiss (it) and place it on your forehead. Öp (kiss) başına (on your head)  koy (place, put).  An expression that Bilal also remembered from his childhood!

According to both Bilal and Marash Girl's friend Murat, the expression means (in general) to be thankful for what you have -- (and stop complaining!) In other words, be thankful to God (for  the bread or for whatever you may be kvetching about.)

Often, if a member of Marash Girl's family dropped a piece of bread, another member of the family would give the advise, Öp de başına koy.  (Pick it up and) kiss it and put it on your forehead.  Be thankful . . . give a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

If the family member hesitated, Marash Girl's father would add in English, "Don't worry.  You have to eat a pound of dirt before you die!"

WBUR On Tap: The 2016 Presidential Election

This past Thursday, a beautiful summer's evening, WBUR political enthusiasts gathered on  'BUR's outdoor deck to enjoy a light repast preceding a talk by Mark Singer, author of Trump and Me, and Ellen Fitzpatrick, author of The Highest Glass Ceiling: Women’s Quest for the American Presidency, the talks  moderated by WBUR Executive Director of News Content, Richard Chacón.  Although the festivities preceding the talks were upbeat, the talks themselves left the audience  asking the question, "What can we do?"

Game show on the deck!

Mark Singer offers his book, TRUMP AND ME, for sale.

"Contribute to WBUR, Boston's National Public Radio Station!" Tom Ashbrook

Tom Ashbrook (center),  host  of WBUR's On Point,

 thanked volunteers yesterday at WBUR's on-air two day fundraising event.

"On Point’s host, Tom Ashbrook, an award-winning journalist, was brought to public radio following the attacks of September 11, 2001, when he was enlisted by NPR and WBUR-Boston for special coverage, after a distinguished career in newspaper reporting and editing."

WBUR's Bob Oakes talks of Vietnam

Photo by Marash Girl  

During a recent WBUR fundraiser, Bob Oakes took a moment out of his busy morning to regale a group of volunteers with colorful tales of his recent trip to Vietnam.  Unfortunately, Marash Girl was too busy answering telephones to get the details of the conversation!                                                                                                                                                                                          

Robin Young and Bassem Youssef converse at the Kennedy Library

Bassem Youssef converses with a member of the audience at the Kennedy Library after
 his on stage conversation with Robin Young.                                 Photo by Marash Girl

Bassem Youssef, an Egyptian satirist and former host of the popular Egyptian TV show, Al-Bernameg, held court with WBUR's Robin Young (Here and Now) last night at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts. Considered the "John Stewart of Egypt", while broadcasting in Egypt, he had 40 million viewers a week.

Beginning his career in Egypt as a cardiac surgeon, he soon became a renowned TV comic. (What's so funny about that?)  (He hinted that the surgeons practiced their humor while their patients were under anesthesia.)    "Broadcasting is about money, power, and politics," he said, and continued:  "Political satire and humor can breed peace. . .Here in the United States, none is silenced -- people can express their opinions openly; whether there will be change is a different matter. . . In the Arab world, we don't have this luxury."  Once he had to leave Egypt, he refused to do the same program from outside because it would not be satire then.  "Folks were hurt every time I spoke in public."  And when Robin Young asked about his future, he answered, "I hope to reinvent myself somehow.  I live in Dubai now as do my wife and daughter  (though presently I am a visiting scholar at Harvard University).   I'd like to do a Pan Arab show."  When asked about Isis, Youssef exclaimed, "Isis are stupid people -- crazy -- They're not everywhere. . ."  

When Robin Young asked him, "What in the United States is so funny?" Youssef answered, without hesitation, "Fox News and Donald Trump (the wig, of course)!  I actually respect him.  He's honest."

Youssef admitted to missing his country where it's warm and sunny -- "something you don't know about here in New England.  I miss my family.  Sometimes I wake up and I don't know what city I'm in.  I woke up one day and I was in Vegas. . ."

Robin Young asked Youssef whether he could translate any of his jokes from Arabic into English.  His answer:  Humor is a third language.  In Arabic, much of our humor comes from the use of profanity."  And on politics, he commented, "In Egypt, the military is more sacred than religion. . . Why would history make any exception for us?  In Egypt, we're in the 1960's. . . If you don't have money to buy a time machine, just go to Egypt!"

"In Egypt," Youssef continued,  "there are lots of divorces because of political issues.  (Do Democrats marry Republicans here in the U.S.?)  And many parents report their children to the authorities! . . . My personal life has been a mess My family is game for everybody, so my family is living in Dubai now. . . In Egypt, people are questioning everything now: religious authority, autocratic authority, the status quo."

WBUR's Robin Young (Here and Now) interviews Fatma Muge Cocek, Turkish scholar and professor of sociology and women’s studies at the University of Michigan.

Turkish Professor Concludes There Was An Armenian Genocide

Robin Young of WBUR's Here and Now yesterday interviewed Fatma Muge Cocek, Turkish scholar and professor of sociology and women’s studies at the University of Michigan.  To listen to the interview, click the white arrow that is in the blue square above.

" Contribute to WBUR today – your membership makes all the news and programming on WBUR possible."

Boston, Massachusetts:  WBUR Volunteers show off their WBUR winter sweaters for the camera during a break  from "manning" the phones during WBUR's Holiday Fundraiser. 

Volunteers celebrate while answering phones for the WBUR Fundraising Challenge.

N.B. WBUR is Boston's National Public Radio News Station.

Bill Littlefied's TAKE ME OUT

On Thursday evening at WBUR, (Marash Girl's favorite radio station), Bill Littlefield held court with his long-time friend Stephen Coren (the illustrator of Littlefield's latest book, TAKE ME OUT) before an audience of over 75 admirers.  TAKE ME OUT, a book of doggerel, not a children's book, not an adult book, but a book of rhymes for those who love sports and love fun, a book that Littlefield hopes (in jest or in earnest) will earn a place in the annals of literary history, a place between Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein . . .               Littlefield's joy was infectious as he talked about his writing of the rhymes and treated the audience to selective readings from his latest book, TAKE ME OUT.  

With Thanksgiving soon upon us, and for other reasons which may be obvious to some, Marash Girl has chosen to share with you, dear reader, this piece from Bill Littlefield's TAKE ME OUT, in memory of the Native Peoples of our land.

LACROSSE

The Indians and Braves play baseball. Some would say, "Their loss." 

Perhaps those some think Indians and Braves should play Lacrosse.

Lacrosse, I'm told, was played upon the plains across the land.

Before the Indians and braves were made to understand

They had to leave the land they loved for regions quite forsaken.

The barren lots reserved for them, when better land was taken.

Lacrosse is played in high schools now and private schools as well.

It's played at lots of colleges and I suppose that's swell.

Lacrosse requires running, passing, catching, shooting, too . . .

Though not the sort of shooting that the army like to do
When Indians and braves would try remaining on their land,
As if perhaps when told to move they didn't understand.

A lot of people like lacrosse, which I suppose is nice.
To me it seems like slower hockey played without the ice.
But who am I to say what game is worst and which is best?
We each decide which one we think is better than the rest,
And if lacrosse is what you choose, then I will understand,
And hope that in the days to come you never lose your land.

Bill Littlefield (left) andStephen Coren talk about Bill's latest publication, TAKE ME OUT,
at Boston's WBUR on Thursday evening. When asked by a member of the audience, "Do you think women should get into boxing?" Bill Littlefield answered, "I don't think women should, and I don't think guys should either!"
Although not in rhyme, he did make his point!

Bill Littlefield (left) and Stephen Coren signing copies of TAKE ME OUT.

Bill Littlefield inscribes and signs a brand new copy of TAKE ME OUT for an admirer.

On Tap: WBUR's Bob Oakes Interviews Matti Kovler

At a reception prior to his interview with Bob Oakes, Matti Kovler (far left) poses with Newton Corner admirers on WBUR's outdoor deck.

Musician, composer, performer and (surprise to us all) humorist Matti Kovler kept his audience and Bob Oakes of WBUR's Morning Edition entertained yesterday evening at WBUR's On Tap .

Funny, humble, and a world-renowned composer/musician, Matti Kovler, who also teaches music and composition, recently received his Doctorate from Boston's New England Conservatory of Music.  He was born in Moscow and moved to Israel when he was 10.  Still in the Israeli army reserves, Matti talked about his family,his life growing up, his life with music, his life as a world citizen, as a  teacher of music, a musician, a composer of music.  [WBUR's announcement described his music as blending "folk, jazz and classical traditions, with influences ranging from Jewish folklore to Antonin Artaud. Click here to listen to the music of Matti Kovler."]

The first song he performed, a traditional Jewish lyric, was a haunting melody which, Kovler related, once caused the Hassidic Jews in his audience to close their ears because the music was too sacred to be performed in public.  The song contained the repeated lyric, Vy, Vy, Vy, an expression which is most familiar to those of us who speak Armenian and/or Turkish!

Matti emphasized that Jewish music was far more than the music popularized by  "Fiddler on the Roof".

Bob Oakes (left) and Matti Kovler yesterday during an interview at WBUR's On Tap.  Photo by Marash Girl

WBUR ON TAP: Should marijuana be legalized?

Yesterday evening, WBUR's "On Tap" brought together a panel of "experts" to present their positions on the legalization of marijuana: Tom Doe, CEO and founder of Municipal Market Advisors.; Sharon Levy, MD: Dr. Levy, Medical Director for the Adolescent Substance Abuse Program (ASAP), the clinical arm of The Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, Assistant in Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital; Bill Downing, who served as president of MassCann/NORML from 1991-2004 and remains on the board of directors. The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MassCann), is the state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (MassCann/NORML or MC/N), a non-profit public education organization working for the moderation of marijuana laws.

Their arguments pro and con ranged from (Dr. Levy's) the fact that the strains of marijuana being grown today are more potent than the marijuana of yesteryear (Is that possible?) and that studies have shown that regular use of marijuana in school age folks lowers their iq (Marash Girl is assuming that the students being tested were not on marijuana when they took the iq tests);  (Tom Doe's) the argument that legalizing marijuana would allow taxation of sales and thus bring large revenues into the coffers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which could go for repairing roads, among other uses, (not addressing the increased moneys that would be spent on repairing the mental and physical health of citizens); and Bill Downing's argument that "We must be free to do whatever we want in our own homes, in our own lives. . .  I feel a lot safer knowing my kids are smoking marijuana in the woods than knowing that they are making out with their girlfriends or driving cars down the highway!"

Be that as it may, none of the presenters addressed the reality that Marash Girl experienced as a high school guidance counselor: young people came into her office high on marijuana, but never drunk on alcohol.  High on marijuana, they could not focus.  When school age kids are high on marijuana during the school day, they cannot become productive members of the society if they cannot participate in the learning that is required before that productivity can be achieved.  

WBUR offered last night's guests brownies, NOT (they promised) laced with marijuana! 
Photo by Marash Girl

ON TAP: Bob Oakes (WBUR's Morning Edition) interviews Dr. Rachel Volberg & Laurie Salame on Massachusetts Casinos

Bob Oakes of WBUR's Morning Edition, interviewing

Dr. Rachel Volberg & Laurie Salame, JD, at the WBUR studios

Dr. Rachel Volberg (right) who conducts epidemiological research on gambling throughout the world, and Laurie Salame, JD, (left) who has worked in the casino industry and now teaches courses on hospitality law and casino management.

At the end of the evening, Bob Oakes asked the audience:  "How many of you here today are in favor of casinos in Massachusetts?  How many opposed? How many neutral?"   The vote in one family of three was 1-1-1!

On Thursday evening, February 27, 2014, Bob Oakes of WBUR's Morning Edition, "held court" (live) before an audience of WBUR supporters in the studios of WBUR.  During an interview with  Dr. Rachel Volberg (who conducts epidemiological research on gambling throughout the world) and Laurie Salame, JD (who has worked in the casino industry and now teaches courses on hospitality law and casino management) on the pros and cons of casinos in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Oakes directed a lively, audience-interactive discussion where one member of the audience commented, "Casinos in Massachusetts?  Make way for the pawn shops!" 
Summing up the issue, a young woman challenged the presenters: "Do you know what it's like growing up in a  community blighted by a casino?"

See earlier posts by Marash Girl on the proposed casino in Springfield, Massachusetts:

http://marashgirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/mgm-offers-gambling-jobs-and.html; http://marashgirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/mgm-wins-vote-for-casino-in-springfield.html

WBUR ON TAP Opens with its First Event: Super Bowl Haiku

Bill Littlefield (left) and Charlie Pierce joshing yesterday evening at WBUR ON TAP.                       Photo by Marash Girl

A new free event series to be held monthly at Boston University's WBUR, WBUR On Tap invites the public to the studio to sip beer, nibble cheese and crackers, and meet and interact with the real people behind the radio voices. "Kicking" the series off  by  commemorating the 20th anniversary "Super Bowl Haiku,"  WBUR On Tap  opened with the "comedy team" of Bill Littlefield and Charlie Pierce who went at it yesterday evening, leaving the audience little time to breathe, they (the audience and Bill and Charlie) were laughing so hard. Opening with more haikus then you could shake a football at,  Bill and Charlie joshed about the Super Bowl both in Haiku and English prose! (They didn't have to call the Game the Superb Owl, they noted, as they weren't selling anything!)

12th Annual WBUR Winter Solstice Celebration for WBUR's Robin Young Interviews Here and Now's co-Host Jeremy Hobson at WBUR

Wednesday evening, December 18, 2013: at the 12th Annual WBUR Winter Solstice Celebration, a fundraiser for the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, Robin Young interviews her cohost on HERE AND NOW, Jeremy Hobson, who we all learned (among other non-tweetable fascinating facts about him), is 31 years old!

Admirer greets Jeremy Hobson in the hallowed hallway of WBUR.  Photo Credit: Peter Metz

A look back at the Boston Book Festival . . . And at RH, books readied to be burned

Copley Square & Trinity Church on the second day of the Boston Book Festival ( October 17-19, 2013).

\

 On the steps of the Boston Public Library:  Bob Oakes of WBUR, and a presenter at the Boston Book Festival,  greets Marash Girl

Bob Oakes of WBUR with his wife at the entrance to the Boston Public Library

Shahan Mufti autographs his first book, THE FAITHFUL SCRIBE, after his presentation at the Boston Book Festival.

Small publishers' stalls were arrayed around Copley Square, providing hope for the yet unpublished writer!

An old timer rests in front of one of the publisher's stalls.

AND ACROSS BOYLSTON STREET, AT RH,  the contemporary coffee table book?  Tear off the covers and the spine, leaving the title page showing, and tying them up with brown twine -- 

What's that?  Looks like kindling to me!  But on closer look . . . 
Books with covers and spines removed, rolled up
and readied for . . . 

What happened to these books?  Are they fodder for the fire?

Was this some kind of a joke?  What interior designer came up with the idea of using books for kindling?

Will Wikipedia have to add RH's contemporary decor to its list of book-burning incidents?

A BIG FAT CRISIS

At a recent WBUR fundraiser, volunteers were rewarded with free books and free food. Note the title of the book lounging between the cream cheese and the pastries!

"Free Food, Free Fat"                                                          Photo by Marash Girl

Should there be a law against tipping?

Sometime in the early 1980's, Andy Rooney wrote an essay entitled "Tipping".  What was his position on tipping? No subtlety there.  In his opening sentence he states, "I'd be just as happy if they passed a law tomorrow making tipping illegal."  Marash Girl had just finished reading the essay [Andrew Rooney, AND MORE BY ANDY ROONEY. New York, Atheneum, 1982] when she turned on WBUR's Here and Now . . . Robin Young and Jeremy Hobson were asking food writer Corby Kummer of The Atlantic and Boston Magazine the question, "Is The Restaurant Tipping Model Bad For Waitstaff?"  Their position was not very far from Rooney's position in the 1980's.

Is it possible that Robin Young. Jeremy Hobson or Corby Kummer had ever read Rooney's essay before they did the show? (Marash Girl thought that she could hear Andy Rooney, long time 60 Minutes commentator, right there cheering them on!)  

If you are inclined to pursue this question further, check out Robin Young and Jeremy Hobson interviewing  Corby Kummer on WBUR http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/09/04/restaurant-tipping-model and for sure, read those essays by Andy Rooney!

WBUR launches its Spring Fundraiser, 2013

Hardy volunteers man the phones at 6:30 AM as WBUR enthusiasts call in with their contributions to
WBUR's Spring Fundraiser.

Robin Young of WBUR's Here and Now greets all the volunteers (Marash Girl among them) who have risen well before 5 AM in order to be at WBUR by 6:30 AM to answer phones for WBUR's Spring  Fundraiser

"God recognizes you."

Yesterday, catching the tail end of a story presented on WBUR (never could find it to relisten), a heart-wrenching account of a Jewish man who, growing up, had to lie about his religious affiliation , as it were, pretending to be Christian in order to save his life . . . Today, struggling with his faith . . . he was told by a Rabbi, 

 "It doesn't matter that you don't recognize God; God recognizes you."


Marash Girl was reminded of that very sentiment in the Christian community, words she, herself, in fact, has used with those of her friends who are aetheists.

"Even if you don't believe in God, God still believes in you."