Sounds of Silence

• In college, I commuted from the Metromess to Denton daily.  Back in those days, I had a number of mix tapes, as well as a few full length LPs recorded to cassettes (Maxell UDXL-IIs, in case you were wondering). Among my favorites were Wings Over America, Willie and Family Live, and Simon & Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park (1981 - I was fortunate enough to subsequently see them, in the rain, August 18, 1983 at the Cotton Bowl).
• A few weeks back, I snagged the CD of the S&G concert at the thrift store, and have been listening to it at bedtime the last couple of nights. I happened to ask a co-worker, a former NYPD officer, where he was Sept 19, 1981. Turns out he was already in Texas by then, but he mentioned this cover of Sounds of Silence, by the band Disturbed. Noting that he had lost too many friends, I could tell from his description that it had had a profound effect on him, and when I looked it up, I understood.

Seems Like Old Times

• It's been a bit busy lately, but it was reported recently that the writer/playwright Neil Simon had passed away at the age of 91. Originally part of the writing staff for Sid Caesar, with other notables such as Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, he became one of Broadway's most prolific playwrights.
• Although Barefoot in the Park was his breakout production, I've never seen it.

A deaf cook and blind butler

 

•  In high school, I did sound effects for The Sunshine Boys. I loved the movies Murder By Death and Seems Like Old Times (Hawn/Chase) and still watch them from time to time. Between marriages, I had a leading role in a community theatre presentation of Fools, and later provided technical services for The Good Doctor.