Mailbag-Zabar's+

From: William Perkins
Subject: Re: No Saints, No Sinners

Thanks for the mention of my book "No Saints, No Saviors - My Years With The Allman Brothers Band" which has been in continuous print since 2006. It really was love of the boys and love of the music which compelled me to quit a secure but mundane commercial banking career to take a flyer with five virtually unknown white hippies and a black R&B drummer. And a mobbed up club owner in Buffalo, NY was murdered by my predecessor to create the job opening for me. Very few believed. Manager and record company head Phil Walden believed. Bill Graham believed. The band and crew believed. And guess what....we were right! I still don't know how we got along without cell phones and laptops, but we did that, too.

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Subject: Re: Ads Don't Work

NYU Professor Scott Galloway calls television advertising a tax on the poor and technologically illiterate. He's got a strong point.

Philip A. Wasserman

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From: Toby Mamis
Subject: Re: Eddie Murphy On Saturday Night Live

Eddie Murphy killed. Not just because he's such a pro. Not just because he's a legend. Not just because he's funny. It's because he's dangerous, you're just never sure what he's about to say or do. He has the edge that's missing from nearly all the others. Chappelle, of course, also has that quality. But Eddie's the master of it.

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From: Ben Erickson
Subject: Re: Mailbag-Billionaires and More!

Let's get Bernie on! I had a funny moment with him when he was speaking to the crowd before Grace Potter walked on stage at her annual Grand Point North fest in Burlington, VT. I'd already given him his wireless mic but it was 2 side by side stages sharing 1 FOH console and we hadn't switched the PA over to his stage. He thought I'd given him the go ahead but I was just checking w our FOH engineer to make sure he had signal. Bernie started walking on, I tried to stop him, and he turned and gave me a look that said "I'm Bernie fucking Sanders" and kept walking...there was no sound when he started talking but the crowd was going so crazy for 2-3 minutes that we had time to get him set. It was like Jagger had walked on stage. A true rock star.

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From: Mary Rand
Subject: Re: The Great Depresh

What is all this rampant neediness to be admired, (loved). I'll soon be 81 yrs. old. Never in all those years did it ever occur to me to court the favor of others. I did the usual things for my age group, marry, children, grandchildren, variety of jobs of my choice. Graduate work in my interest at the time, satisfying hobbies. After a divorce at 60 (a relief) I took some of the settlement to trade stocks online, so far quite successfully, and it keeps me interested in everything happening in the world. My boys are following their own interests that do not involve courting favor with others but developing as individuals. Brother and sister the same. Accolades came our way, much to our surprise, and friendships develop that are very meaningful but not with needy people. Cancer took over my body three times, but very much under control now. What, me worry, just expect it as I age. Feel pretty good, and as I sit here smoking, can't believe I'm this old. Why is my family so different from what I read and hear about others??

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From: Ken Kragen
Subject: Janis

Bob: I finished Holly George-Warren's marvelously researched and written biography, "JANIS" last weekend. Thanks to our dear friend Mary Bassel, Cathy and I have been friends with Holly for many years and I've read several of her other books.

This one's a must read for anyone, in or out of the music business. The insights are terrific. What a view of "Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll" and the brief burning flame that was Janis' career.

I particularly relate to Janis' quote "Onstage I make love to 25-thousand people and then I go home alone." Having managed the careers of many superstars and performing myself as a speaker to large, enthusiastic audiences I've seen and personally experienced that phenomena.

I've also seen many of the insecurities and drive that pushes talented artists to greatness and the price they pay for the fame and fortune. Lots to learn from this wonderful book.

Looking forward to listening to the Podcast this week. Ken

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From: Michael Leon
Subject: You'll like this

Just got a text from my son (22) who is here with his college roommate. Bono walks into the Polo Lounge looking very "rock star" and the roommate has no clue who he is.

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Subject: Re: We're The Stars Now

Hi Bob,

Re your "flattened landscape" comment, this is from "Non-Consensus Investing" by Rupal Bhansali.

"For investors, the puck has moved from the database to the search engine. A research edge is not secured from collecting information but connecting it. In a world where any public information can be Googled or Binged, looking for answers is a fool's errand because information (answers) that everyone has is not worth having. However, few have access to the right questions, which is why that effort has a better payoff."

Excerpt From: Rupal J. Bhansali. "Achieving Low Risks and High Returns." Columbia University Press, 2019-08-17. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Robert Bond

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From: tourswag
Subject: more cars

that was a GREAT discussion on the podcast w/ Kitman (!)

one of the crucial factors to SUV's taking the market huge in the late 90's/early 2000's

they are classed as "light trucks"

and do not have to conform to safety regs as "passenger cars"...that's why they used to flip over, or catch fire so easily- like when a frame member or part of the tow hitch went thru the gas tank or limited damages in a mph impact, or fling the kids out the windows

that allowed a large vehicle at a low sticker price and a perception of value.
which we all liked

once hooked, they upped the cost with leather packages etc

and

the large pick up in now aspirational for the tradesman who spends so much time in the truck and uses it as office- many will never afford a home, but they might swing payments on a $60,000 truck

my 2001 GMC P/U sticker $26k, cash in hand just over $17k
equivilent model 2019 is close to $45k sticker

the US auto makers have painted selves in hole with their focus on big stupid guzzlers - 70's gas crisis wounded, the next will kill them off

thanks, TS

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From: John Parikhal
Subject: Re: 737 Max

As usual, you speak the truth, provide the insight, ramp up the honesty.

Having said that, I've always had a rule about new planes (and I've flown over 5 million miles over 50 years).

I never fly a new model until it has crashed three times. Sounds crazy but it saved me from the DC10 among others.

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From: Ben Erickson
Subject: Re: No Saints, No Sinners

I had sold my soul to corporate America, sitting in my cubicle as an accountant, studying for my CPA exam after I graduated college, going to shows whenever I could. I flew to Austin for the 3rd ACL fest, back before it became what it is now. Tossed a 30 pack of beer in a soft cooler over the fence, retrieved it after I got thru security, ate a bunch of mushrooms and while watching the headliner had a "what the fuck am I doing paying to be where my soul feels full?" moment. I flew back to San Diego, walked into my bosses office Monday morning, before I could say it she said "you're gonna quit right now, I can see it."

Drove straight from San Diego to Austin determined to get into the music business.

Street teamed / volunteered for 2 years trying to get a shot, this was when people still handed out flyers outside shows.
The guy I was dealing with would only hire girls he wanted to hook up with so I went on the road with a college friends band for a month long tour in Colorado. The offer was "you can come sleep on the floor, drive the van, there'll be free beer"...and I did just that. Carried gear, sold merch, mainly hustled/watched..looked for holes that could be filled...after that month I helped another band fill a few dates on an upcoming Colorado tour. Their manager called me asking how I was able to get more $ then their agent and offered me the tour manager gig. I got in an RV 24 hours later and have been a tour manager ever since. That was 15 years ago. At one point before I worked for successful acts I calculated that I was working an average of 116 hours per week..at the time that was about $3 an hour. I get paid better now but the workload is still there....but I'm happy. I look forward to today, and tomorrow. I work outside most of the spring, summer and fall. I see the World, or at least the basement of the venue today here in Tokyo...and I don't sit in traffic all day with the masses going back and forth to a job that sucks the soul out of them. Your email reminded me of being on tour with the Allman Brothers as the TM for the opening act...I was in my bunk in the tour bus behind the stage while they played Midnight Rider and I remember the feeling of contentment as I laid there just happy to be alive.

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From: Jared Polin
Subject: Re: Quibi

I'm make YouTube videos for a living and honestly never heard of Quibi...or maybe I have but never paid any mind.

Do you know how many times i've been contacted by "YouTube" killers who want me to make content for them and make a higher CMP? Probably hundreds of times in the last few years. They all think it's about the ad revenue and higher cmps and it's not. The problem with every single one of them is PEOPLE! There's no one going to their sites to watch your content so even if they paid you a massive CPM, it wouldn't amount to anything.

If YouTube decided to keep all the ad money my channel makes, I would lose 1 12th of my rev. Sure it's a nice chunk of change but the real money is made because I have access to hundreds of millions of potential customers from around the world.

The majority of my revenue comes from selling digital products. From educational videos on how to get out of Auto with your DSLR to flash photography to shooting video as well as editing video. Now we offer presets for Adobe Lightroom which have sold very well. I've been selling merch since 10 days after I launched my YouTube channel back in June of 2010. Merch really serves as a branding tool for me vs being a money maker. There's brand deals and sponsorships as well as affiliate commissions.

The moral of the story, there's always someone who thinks they will crush YouTube or be the next YouTube. The reason we stay and create at YouTube is we have access to the world...oh yea, it's FREE to host our videos and costs us nothing for bandwidth.

Jared Polin aka the FRO from FroKnowsPhoto

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Subject: Re: Quibi

Bob —

It seems to me that you've hit right at the heart of the fundamental problem in business today. It's true throughout the world, but particularly accurate here in the States. We have trained a generation of leaders who are not prepared to deliver what matters to customers.

The genesis of disruption is dissatisfaction. Yet, we see supposedly smart people launching something like Quibi in an area where there isn't expansive discontent for the very reasons you stated: we have YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and more.

Just as you can become a doctor after years of study but never take a single course on bedside manner, MBAs have been trained for many years by our leading universities to understand EBITDA and how to read a P&L statement, but do not have a clue how to create or retain a customer.

Until we start developing business leaders who understand what successful musicians already know — create a highly engaged fan base and good things will follow — we will continue to see this story play repeatedly.

Scott McKain

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From: jon sinton
Subject: Re: Quibi

On Jan 9, 2020, at 1:50 PM, Bob Lefsetzwrote: ..."Apple is with the purchase of a new product."

I purchased nothing new except a laptop battery and got a free year.

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Subject: Re: Marcus King

Hi Bob,
Three months ago and out of the blue I have been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Currently I am having hormonal therapy and started with the chemo last Friday.

About the prostate cancer:
There are many healing therapies like: nano knife, local radiation, brachy therapy, Da Vincy robot etc. BUT NOT IF YOU ARE TOO LATE!
When you are too late there is only palliative care with hormonal, chemo and in some cases Lutetium 177 PSMA therapy.
And I can understand why most males hesitate to have their PSA checked.
But I can assure when you really have to make the choice between your sex/testeron and your life then that decision is damn easy!

In the Netherlands there's a STUPID discussion about whether or not to perform preventive PSA checks. I think this discussion is completely obsolete. Because of the fact that there are currently so many healing therapies in non-metastatic prostate cancer the advantage of early PSA checks is obvious...

With your writing skills and reach it's maybe a good idea to write a newsletter on this PSA topic.

So check your PSA mate!

Sorry for my English...

PS: if you want you are allowed to publish my mail!

Kind regards,
Nico Aarts
The Netherlands

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ZABAR'S:

Glad to see how many non Jews are into traditional Jewish deli.
We have come a long way since I worked as a messenger in New York for a very gentile Wall Street law firm. One of the partners told me that he was entertaining some Jewish clients and was going to serve them bagels and lox, but he didn't know what was the bagel and what was the lox. True story.

Owen Sloane

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My perfect deli moment was walking into Carnegie Deli. Standing by the entrance was Henny Youngman. Could have only been more perfect with violin in hand.

Al Staehely

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For me this is the ultimate Zabar's story back when vinyl and cassettes were the format of choice. One year for my birthday my wife convinced Zabar's to let me work there for a day since it was a life long dream to own Zabar's. I showed up for work at 8am and my first job was to make 50 pounds of lobster salad-my rubber glove fell into the machine and they said don't worry about it-they would fish it out later. My next job was to open giant cans of Rokeach gefilte fish and repackage them into Zabar's containers. The hardest job was properly slicing nova. Sam who put 3 kids thru medical school slicing nova was a master -I watched as one customer wanted it sliced so thin that she could see through it-he had to hold up each piece so she could see the light. I also worked the floor helping customers-one women wanted only 1 matzah ball-they were sold in a container of 3-no matter how hard I tried to convince her to buy all 3 she wouldn't hear of it. In order to satisfy her I walked her across the street to a coffee shop and had her order matzah ball soup to go. She was very happy with that solution. When I walked back into Zabar's with my Zabar's hat and apron on the manager gave me a hug and said that women came in everyday and wanted to buy just 1 matzah ball and usually left after an hour screaming that she would never come back only to return the next day. After escorting her to the coffee shop across the street that day and showing her how to order 1 matzah ball soup to go-she was never seen again in Zabar's. Ok ok so I wanted to own Zabar's - besides learning about the food what I was interested in was their cash system-alll the registers had those vacuum tubes that sucked the receipts and money up into the ceiling like they have at a bank drive in teller. I asked to see where all the money was going and how it was logged and what kind of system they used and was told a big fat NO! Before I ended my work day at Zabar's-the manager took me upstairs and teased me and showed my a steel door with a combination lock and said that behind that door was the brains of the operation. I was given a Zabars shirt- apron and hat and off I went to Sammy's Roumanian to celebrate my birthday. A rock'n'roll foodie dream come true-a day i will never forget-the ultimate gift from my wife Nancy! Lets eat!

Harvey Leeds

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Bob:
No doubt you've had more than enough feedback on your Zabar's piece.
Here's something I expected to read but didn't see: William H Greenberg and Sons Bakery in the upper West Side has the best hamentashen EVER. In the 1970s, my grandfather would bring them back to us in LA whenever he traveled to NYC.

My roommate in college was from The City (how all New Yorkers referred to NYC). He'd fly home on the People's Express shuttle from Boston to NYC on a Friday, and on Sunday he'd come back to our dorm room with a 33 gallon black trash bag full of bagels from H&H. Now THAT was a proper bagel.

My grandmother cooked everything to death, but one thing that worked for her was mandelbrot. They'd survive the snail mail from LA to Boston in the early 80s intact. Good with coffee, and served as excellent door stops.

Good for you for taking charge of your health. Many don't. It's ok to indulge every once in a while.....

Adam Keller

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Next time you're around Brooklyn, let me know and I'll take you to one of my favorite deli's…Jay and Loyds in Brooklyn on Ave. U. Two deli guys who started years ago (when we were all younger) and are STILL making my favorite pastrami.

While we're at it we can stop by for a slice of DiFaras Pizza. I used to go there in the late 70's when Dominic opened up and it was just a great neighborhood pizza place. Now there are lines just to place an order ! Among the best pizza I have eaten in NY…and Dominic is STILL making the pies ( along with his kids).

And of course ACME for lox. They're only open to the public on Friday afternoons, but when I was a kid I used to go there with my dad on Sunday mornings to get lox, whitefish, sable and more.

It's all still out there, but who knows if the next generation will have the same fondness for Pastrami and Nova that we all grew up with.

Don't get me started on chocolate babka, and rugelach !

Keep writing (and eating !)

eli tishberg

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I love this discussion.
The determinant of authenticity of the deli and predictor of the quality of the bagel is whether they
carry "tongue".

Ron Stone

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For the woke Jews who no longer consume products derived from torture and totally non kosher death-- yet still crave these classic foods-- there is an incredible vegan Jewish pop up operation based out of LA:
https://mortandbettys.com/

Personally I converted from the lox and cream cheese bagel to an Erewhon sourdough English muffin with Blode Kuh Herbie Vore cultured cashew cheese, organic avocado, toasted sesame seeds, and sauerkraut, and I find it every bit as delicious.

http://www.blodekuh.com/
(Every one of their creamy cheese flavors are divine and truly better than any cream cheese on the market. They sell out early at the farmers markets.)

And this place has a killer vegan Reuben:

The Grain Cafe
4222 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 931-4034
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hNZsxRwgBe8E2Awf7

Kate Ross

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Re Barney Greengrass, mentioned in one reply to you - failed inspection, had lotta bug problems, was closed briefly by Dept of Health

https://www.westsiderag.com/2019/10/17/barney-greengrass-reopens-after-deluge-of-bad-publicity-news-of-mice-traveled-to-kansas-city-and-back

Roger Maltby

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Bob-
Another recommendation for you - worth it - https://www.rosefoods.me/
Matt Nixon

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D.Z. Atkins
Dear Bob,
If you ever find yourself in San Diego you might try this San Diego restaurant. I'm not here to argue better or worse for chopped chicken liver, blintzes or rye bread. Just take I-8 east to 70th Street and follow your nose.
Sweet Joyce Ann
Born in New Jersey
Living in California

Blessed Beyond Measure,
Joyce Ann Martin

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Goldberg's in Southampton can hold its own with any of those mentioned.

FWHobbs

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What?
No mention of Plotkins in Milwaukee!

Peter Melvoin

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Tx Bob kinda a deli blast from the past!!

I used to drop Julius gold's daughter for college breaks from upstate ny and he'd always insist on a to go meal for the drive to Long Island. I never refused.

Fast forward to late 1980s, I'm living in LA and I'm workin on deals for lorimar telepictures staying at the ritz Carlton In Nyc on the park. I always turned heads and noses after coming back with a late night pastrami from the Carnegie deli.

Now when I come to nyc I specifically stay at the Ludlow hotel because it's across the street from Katz's.

Chris Adelman

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Indeed. I miss the Carnegie... I even had my picture up there which was always my claim to fame!

Andrew Zimmern

Big fingers, incomprehensibly small keys...Sent from my iPhone

Foodworks-IntuitiveContent-Passport Hospitality
Minneapolis, MN

"Luck is how someone describes how far you came when they aren't willing to sacrifice what you did to get there."
Matt Higgins

"Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it." ? Howard Zinn

"Don't worry about what I'm doing. Worry about why your worried about what I'm doing."
Sophia's Mom

"Anybody can play. The note is only 20%. The attitude of the motherf*cker who plays it is 80%." Miles Davis

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."
Mark Twain


"I don't play against you, I play against the thought of losing."

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