​If you had the RoadSpoke app you would hear this here:
EXIT 15E I-95n in Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal to Holland Tunnel to NYC


Of his presidency, George Washington himself said, “I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn in precedent.”

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. In 1789, on the steps of the Federal Hall on Wall Street in Manhattan, George Washington was inaugurated as the first nationally elected President of the United States. It marked the beginnings of the first modern democracy in the world.


The concept of democracy was utterly unique. It required wholly new and invented protocols.  A man of great civility and a student of The Liberal Enlightenment, Washington believed dignity, and admiration of the truth were tantamount to the character of a leader.


At the same time, he had always been ambitious — perhaps since he was not born into Virginia’s aristocracy, the so-called “Planter Elite”. So while not immodest,  he was not a naif.  In fact, on the day the Continental Congress was to choose the Supreme Leader of the Continental Army in open revolt against British Overlords, Washington was the only Delegate to show up in his old military Uniform from the French and Indian War.   Supposedly, no less than Ben Franklin and Tom Jefferson chuckled at that not-so-subtle suggestion.


Needless to say, he got the job!   ​

Fast forward 10 years to Federal Hall in Manhattan.  After swearing a solemn oath to uphold the US Constitution, the world’s first President  retired indoors to read Congress his inaugural address. With not a little trepidation, he spoke of “the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”


No one in the room was certain democracy would work. Many even hoped that Washington would take over as King.


But Washington did not seek to be a tyrant.  Years earlier in the throes of the Revolution, on a sub-zero day  in icebound Newburgh, New York, a coterie of his officers had even proposed that he seize power from Congress.  Their pay was late. Their rations thin. They had no winter uniforms. Some had no shoes. Even Washington had to sleep in the frozen elements.


But Washington was aghast. He angrily disavowed any desire to create another tyranny. That was precisely the purpose of the American English Revolution: to throw off the yoke of monarchy and give power to the people.


Washington threatened to arrest any officer who spoke further of such treason. ​

History would remember this incident as the Newburgh Conspiracy.


Still, at Federal Hall, Congress was certainly aware that Washington was close to ideal as the first president. Not only was he a man of law, but he had no children which meant no dynastic aspirations.  And then there was his huge personal bravery and honesty.  He would not destroy the Constitution for personal gain. ​

MILESTONE:
Today, we just crossed 246,000 page views for our SINGLE post about Jimi Hendrix and  Woodstock.


Will RoadSpoke pass a quarter million Views? Stay Tuned!


Question: What does Mark Zuckerberg and hip hop group Cypress Hill have in common?


You choose:


Answer #1:  Both came from Scarsdale, New York and were the children of dentists?
Answer #2: Both headlined at Woodstock 94 — the 25th Anniversary of Woodstock?
Answer #3: Both are advocates of the legalization of weed?
Answer #4: Both joined over space and time to reach nearly a quarter million viewers on RoadSpoke’ Facebook Page?


If you selected Answer 4, you would be correct. Mark Zuckerberg and Cypress Hill both provided generous service for RoadSpoke to reach so many thousands of people without RoadSpoke paying a nickel!  

While Zuckerberg provided the platform, Cypress Hill no doubt shared the RoadSpoke’s Post and as of today we have …
…reached 246,260 people!

WOW!

Thank you CYPRESS HILL!  Thanks Marky Mark!​

Hear this right… >Here!
EXIT of the Day
Exit 75 I-95s,in Richmond Virginia To: I-64

Arthur Ashe was born in segregated Richmond Virginia in 1943. When Arthur was seven his mom died. This left Arthur’s father to have to care for him and his sister. The future professional player was discovered and taught by a local tennis star named Ron Charity.  Ron was also black. ​

Ron encouraged Arthur to compete locally, despite not being allowed to even walk on the court in certain racially segregated tennis clubs.
​
Ron Charity then brought young Arthur to a fellow tennis coach named Doctor Robert Walter Johnson. ​

A Lynchburg, Virginia native, Dr Johnson, was already famous for coaching the first African American tennis great. That tennis great was a woman named Althea Gibson.
​
In the 1950’s Althea Gibson had won Wimbledon, the US Open and several other so-called Grand Slam events.  The five foot eleven New Jersey phenom was the first Black tennis player to shatter the color barrier. ​

​Yet she was not widely known beyond tennis. That distinction would be left for Arthur Ashe, Dr Johnson’s next big tennis ingenue.
​
Johnson helped tweak Ashe’s game making him better. In 1963, Ashe became the first African- American tennis player to be part of the United States’ Davis Cup Team. He accepted the trophy insisting his father stand beside him.They were a team — on and off the court.

Ashe then received a tennis scholarship to University of California Los Angeles. This was after Ashe was awarded many awards such as being featured in Sports Illustrated and winning the National Junior Indoor Tennis title. Again, he was the first African-American to win that title. ​

During his pro career, Arthur won multiple awards and received endless recognition for his game.  Arthur Ashe’s career consisted of multiple victories in the Grand Slams. His first win in a Grand Slam was in 1968 while still in the Army.  That victory happened at a little thing called the United States Open. Two years later he won again. This time in the Australian Open. ​

​After two defeats in following two years he was crowned champion again at the US Open. This was in 1975.

Ashe also had multiple other awards over his career. Many of the awards occurred while being the first African-American in the sport to accomplish them.  This gave him the stature to speak out about racial injustice. He became friends and advocated with many of the towering Civil Rights leaders of his day.

​By the end of his career, Ashe had an amazing  winning percentage of 75%.  Arthur was victor in 75% of all tennis meets which include winning innumerable elimination rounds to become the event champion.
​
In 1977,  Arthur married Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe.

Jeanne is a photographer and activist. She is best known for her work in magazines, newspapers, and several photography books.  She later became a leading AIDS advocate.
​
During retirement, Arthur was outspoken about racial inequality and became a well -respected journalist and editorial writer in his own right.  He also was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.  He and wife Jeanne adopted a daughter and in 1988, mourned the death of his father. ​

A few years later Arthur Ashe very publicly announced he had AIDS.  Ashe had contracted HIV years earlier in a tainted blood transfusion from a heart operation.

Arthur Ashe died in 1993 in New York Hospital from pneumonia and complications due to AIDS.  In an era where people concealed their HIV affliction, Arthur represented the wider heterosexual threat from the deadly scourge.

At his request, Arthur was buried in Richmond, Virginia. He is buried there beside his Mom, Eliza — a Mom who will share eternity with her son… but a Mom who missed in life seeing all her remarkable son would accomplish.  And all he would give. 
​
#ArthurAshe #AltheaGibson #JeanneMoutoussamyAshe #Tennis #WoodlandCemetery #Richmond #UCLA #USArmy #AIDS

All Right Road Crew,  now it is time for a deal and a very charitable deal at that. Do you love pasta?  I mean who does not love pasta?  Every kitchen cabinet is stocked with pasta and pasta sauce.   If you tap the Deal Radar button on your smart phone... ...and  say "Deal Radar get me the Deal," you can get 1 free pasta sauce from Newman's Own, with every 2 Newman's Own products purchased.  ​

 This socially conscious product line is in every supermarket. So stock up on "Newman's Own" because no other company gives its profits to kids in need. And that is what Newman's Own does.  ​

During World War Two back in the spring of 1945, shortly before the Battle of Okinawa, as an aerial gunner on a torpedo dive bomber, the young Paul Newman was ordered aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill. But his pilot was sick. The pilot's ear infection kept their two man plane grounded at base while the rest of their squadron continued onto the aircraft carrier. Days later a kamikaze blasted the ship. All their unit died.  No doubt Paul Newman's story would have died that day as well. 

​​In the 1950’s Paul became a major movie star co-starring opposite such greats as Jackie Gleason and Elizabeth Taylor.  

Another major milestone was that he met then married actress Joanne Woodward. As movie stars, their's was a union unique in its breadth and depth. They shared 3 daughters and 50 plus years together. Once when asked about the secret to his marriage’s success, Newman famously answered, “Why would I go out for hamburger when I have steak at home?” ​

In 1982, along with author AE Hotchner and wife actress Joanne Woodward, Paul founded Newman's Own, a food company from which Newman donates all post-tax profits and royalties to charity.  These donations totaled  about five hundred million dollars by 2016. ​

​​Paul was also a co-founder of Safe Water Network and the SeriousFun Children's Network.. Serious Fun is a global family of camps and programs for children with serious illness. The camps are seriously altruistic:  it has served over three hundred thousand kids. 

The Westport Country Playhouse is a world famous theater right here in Westport.  Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman's wife, was artistic director from 2000-2006.  Liza Minnelli, Eartha Kitt, Gene Wilder, James Earl Jones, Jane Curtin, Henry Fonda, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Olivia de Havilland, Eva Gabor, Jane Fonda, and of course both Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman are among the actors having performed there. ​

Back in 1915, when a majority of the workers peacefully walked out, Standard Oil called Bayonne's mayor who also happened to be on the company's payroll as a lawyer.  The mayor immediately employed the police to squash the walkout.  Strikers fought with hired thugs as well as police as they sought improved pay and working conditions. Primary of their demands was to reduce the 12 hour work day to 8 hours.


As tensions rose and strikers started fires,  strikebreakers opened up and fired bullets into a crowd. ​

Four striking workers were killed and many wounded.


After the strike was quelled, bad publicity plagued Standard Oil. The Rockefeller clan became a bad name.  John D Rockefeller Junior decided to instigate much trumpeted Labor Relation Improvements including even adopting a pension plan for its workers — one of the country’s first. This went a long way to rehabbing the Rockefeller's image. ​

​Work days were eventually reduced to the now standard 8 hour day.


Fast Fact: The Rockefeller family in about 1900 became the first billionaires anywhere in the world and today are leaders in forward thinking philanthropy and they still own significant chunks of the old standard oil plus they are large owners in JP Morgan Chase Bank -- which David Rockefeller led as CEO for many years.   But I digress...

The New Jersey city of Bayonne is connected to New York City’s fifth borough,  Staten Island, by the Bayonne Bridge. Separating Staten Island from the other four New York City boroughs of Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, Bayonne, New Jersey is actually closer to the Big Apple than Staten Island which makes it a quick commute.   

Hear this here:
I-95 Exit 25 in FL To: FL 84, Marina Mile Boulevard

Earth, wind, and fire. Since it was recently Earth Day, as we drive through the tropical breezes toward the Fort Lauderdale Airport, we will discuss another element that is equally important to the area’s thriving economy, namely the proximity of the ocean to a booming city.  And as for fire, well we are discussing some local stars -- stars that attract a lot of tourism to the beaches even at night. 


Sensitive creatures from the sea often collide with humans on Fort Lauderdale’s coastlines. So the tourist city tries hard to accommodate all visitors.   Increasingly, the interactions between rare sea turtles and people are not harmful -- thanks to enlightened policies of both beachgoers and the local government. ​

Volunteers can even participate in conservation efforts. Accredited groups organize watches and walks along the beaches here. So you can actually stay up late or get up early to monitor mother Turtles laying eggs and then mark off the sites so beach goers do not tread on the nesting site. ​

According to the City of Fort Lauderdale’s website and the Florida’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:


“The Florida coast is the second most popular nesting area in the world for Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Nesting season in Broward County and on Fort Lauderdale's beaches begins in early March with Leatherbacks, followed by Loggerheads in April, and Green Sea Turtles in May and June. Females come up from the water to make their nests and deposit over 100 eggs on average in the sand. Approximately six to eight weeks later, the hatchlings will make their way from those nests to the ocean using the reflection of the moon on the water as a guide. Therefore, a common threat to sea turtles is disorientation caused by other sources of light. The City of Fort Lauderdale has adopted laws in its Code of Ordinances to help protect  sea turtles that nest and hatch on the beach. This ordinance is designed to reduce the impact of artificial lighting on sea turtles by restricting it during both the nesting and hatching season (March 1 - October 31)." ​

“The City works diligently to map sea turtle nests, set up protective barriers where necessary, post lighting guidelines and to support night walks to watch over hatchlings as they make their way to the water. We also rake our beaches each day, capturing debris such as cigarette butts and plastic items which can be harmful to sea turtles and all marine wildlife. There is a lot that our neighbors can do to keep these lovely stars of our seas healthy and happy in our City.” ​

#BrowardCounty #Seaturtles #Earthday #FortLauderdale #Loggerheads #NatGeo #CityofFortLauderdale #Florida #Snorkel ​

EXIT of the DAY:
EXIT 52 ab I-95n To: NC 24, Fayetteville near Fort Bragg, NC



As you drive north past Fayetteville we kindly suggest that you should reconsider. Consider taking the upcoming Interstate 95 Business route back to Fayetteville and spend an hour or two checking out these 2 unique sites.  One is peaceful and the other is about peacemakers.
 


If you are into plants and horticulture, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden offers a peaceful interlude.  It conserves and displays plant species and the plant communities of the Cape Fear River basin. The 80 acre garden contains nature trails, a natural rock amphitheater, steep ravines with unusual plants, and a varied riparian terrain ranging from pine forest through hardwood hills to river banks. They have numerous  educational programs at the Gardens that will help you, well, grow. ​

They are the guys and gals who save ammo by killing you in one shot.  And as witnessed in movies like Black Hawk Down they tend to wipe out small armies even as they rarely take cover from hoards of shooters with remarkably poor aim. ​

Speaking of Black Hawk Down, in October 2013 the Ass Off My Gun Museum opened the "Task Force Ranger and the Battle of Mogadishu Exhibit." The exhibit features immersive dioramas and artifacts from the battle including the wreckage of Super 6-1, the first Black Hawk helicopter shot down during the battle. ​

The downing of the Blackhawk is widely considered to be a turning point in the Conflict and is chronicled in the book by Mark Bowden and movie “Black Hawk Down” produced by Ridley Scott. ​

Hear this Here!


EXIT OF THE DAY: I-287 Exit 4 To: Hartsdale, New York


"Okay Road Crew, since you are driving by Hartsdale New York, you are entitled to something sweet. See what I did there... I correlated Heart with being sweet... yes? No? Ok. Sorry. Moving on then. 

This Flash Deal is only good for next 2 Hours. Buy One get one free!   But First you must answer the Road Test. Yes. Nothing is that easy, right?

Now for the Fast Facts. So listen up.


Fast Fact One:  the next roadspoke was written and submitted to us by Jeanie and Stephen Cho.   Steve and Jeanie are newly weds who live and run a business in Hartsdale. So that is extra sweet. Thanks Mr and Mrs Cho.

Ok so speaking about hot and cold, mix a hot summer day, a broken down truck, and a load of melting ice cream and what do you get?  Answer: an empire!


In upcoming  Hartsdale New York, a  twenty-eight year old Greek immigrant's  truck broke down on Memorial Day Weekend in 1934. He pulled into the parking lot of a pottery store. He was in big trouble since his load was all ice cream and it was melting. So instead of freaking out, he threw open the back and  he started to sell.  In a few minutes he sold his entire load.


He knew he was on to something. Later that year, he developed a secret soft-serve recipe, and concocted the “buy one, get one” promotional tactic. Funny coincidence huh? 

​Two years later, the Greek immigrant incorporated his business and bought the Hartsdale pottery store, which became the first  location of his iconic Ice cream empire. His ice cream featured ice cream cakes and funny whales. And he himself became famous for his rough voice in radio and later in TV ads. He then anglicized his greek name. Who do you think that certain Athanassios Karvelas is better known as? Maybe you will recognize him better by the ice cream shop's name, Carvel!


Founder Tom Carvel was born in in Greece in 1906.

In the 1930's he invented a machine to dispense soft ice cream (which was also known as “frozen custard”). The machine would be the first of some 300 ice-cream related patents, trademarks, and copyrights held by Tom Carvel who incidentally, is also considered to be one of the founding fathers of the franchise system in America. He created characters and wedding cakes from ice cream. He even invented Fudgie the whale.

Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! Or rather turning a broken down truck into a sweet fortune!


Now for the Test.  If you get right to Exit at the Next Exit and bear right  to get you to the nearby Carvel ’s Ice cream and you buy one ice cream, what do you get free?


That’s right! So bear right now and in 2 minutes you will be enjoying a free carvel Ice cream. You will save money.  And guess what? Your valentine will like it too!  And also guess what?  Jeanie and Stephen Cho will like it to, because super guess what? They own the Franchise. and look forward to seeing you at the Carvels in Hartsdale!


Thanks Mr and Mrs Cho… Happy Heat wave and Flash Deal. Wishing you many more. Fl;ash deals that is... not heat waves. You see what i did there. Oh, ok. Sorry. Let's chat at the next exit. 
   
RoadSpoke out!"

#Carvel #TomCarvel #Hartsdale #Fudgie #StephenCho #JiniCho

And despite it being New York City, yes Alan from Newnan Georgia wore his signature ten gallon hat... which was no less weird than AeroSmith's Steven Tyler wearing spectacles! ​

​She supported the family as a flight attendant back in the days when the penniless Star struggled to break out. When asked about his evolution as a song writer, and whether he wrote poetry or short stories back in school Alan replied simply, “It must just be a gift from heaven. I don’t know where it came from. I never wrote a song in my life until I was in my early 20s.”


But no doubt the marriage and daughters with Denise is a recurring theme. And a country singer’s dream. It embodied the very themes of the singer’s own hits—a rags-to-riches story of high-school sweethearts who find superstardom without sacrificing true love.

In the days leading up to his induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame the keeper of 35 “Number #1” Country Hits is still sharing his stories — cowboy hat and all."  


We at RoadSpoke look forward to many more hits to come.    


#9/11 #AlanJackson #DeniseandAlanJackson #Countrywestern #NewnanGeorgia #RagstoRiches #SongwritersHallofFame #Billboard100 #BillboardMagazine​

Growing seafood, or aquaculture,  is booming business in New England. Aqua-cultured shellfish in Rhode Island include various oyster, mussel, and clam species. These bivalves are filter feeders. This means they rely on what’s called  “ambient primary production” rather than feeding on inputs of fish, or meal, or other feed. In other words, they filter water for tiny food like plankton and organic material. ​

As such, shellfish aquaculture is generally perceived as benign or even beneficial. On top of creating great seafood, this type of Aquaculture actually cleans the water. Pretty cool huh? ​

​Depending on the species and local conditions, bivalve molluscs are either grown on the beach, on longlines, or suspended from rafts and harvested by hand.  Here in Rhode Island most are grown in salt ponds where tides flush the estuaries twice a day.

If you have a time for a meal, why not get off I-95 at the next exit and drop by some of the local clam shacks on Route 4 and Scenic Route 1.  You will not find fresher or more delicious seafood anywhere in the world! 


#aquaculture #RhodeIslandAquaculture #oysters #Oysterfarms #Oysterfarming #Greenwich #EastGreenwichRhodeIsland #Bivalves #Seafood #JacquesCousteau ​

​EXIT of the DAY:
I-95n Exit 26 in FL To: I-595 , FL 736, Davie Blvd


Despite crusading against the Ivy League east coast elites, Ron DeSantis shares many characteristics of those so-called Washington Insiders. Perhaps some back story could help understand if he is any different and if he will take a different road as a politician.  

After graduating from Yale College and then Harvard Law School, the future Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis served as a Navy officer and attorney in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.  Yes, TV fans... Judge Advocate General stands for JAG, and JAG is the subject of the popular CBS TV series now in syndication.  But a JAG officer’s life  is not half as exciting as shown on TV.  While the original TV series was pitched in 1995 as “Top Gun” meets “A Few Good Men”  actual JAG work is legal work by attorneys — albeit lawyers in spotless Navy uniforms.

In his early 40’s, DeSantis is today the youngest governor of any state.  While being a vocal supporter of President Trump, he has supported locally enlightened policies. An apt snapshot for Ron DeSantis’ policies is his hosting a Python Super Bowl.  

Hunters were invited to the Everglades to hunt the invasive Burmese Python species which are wiping out local wildlife on an unprecedented level. In doing so, he appeals to conservative hunters as well as aligns himself with left leaning conservation groups.   The Governor posed for photographs in front of a huge snake. He hoisted a python skin football.  ​

​Following his inauguration, DeSantis increased bipartisanship with State Democrats. In stark contrast to Trump policy, he even started progressive reforms to environment and drug policies.  DeSantis allocated $2.5 billion for water resource projects including $360 million for the Everglades National Park. He also supported legislation to support marijuana legalization not to mention, appointed several Democrats to positions in his cabinet — moves that drew praise from liberal pundits.   DeSantis casually  told the Tampa Bay Times that he was "basically doing what I said I was going to do.”


Still DeSantis usually defers to President Trump’s base.  DeSantis attacked Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia’s support in the 2016 election. He urged Trump to shut down the investigation. This keeps him tops in the Trump sphere even while he creates a workable environment to do horse trading on a local level.

Never one to be easily pigeonholed, back in 2007, DeSantis was assigned to SEAL Team One and deployed to Iraq .


Did that mean he was a SEAL?… Well not Really but…


During the so-called Surge in Iraq, according to the Miami Herald,  DeSantis served as a senior legal advisor. The young lawyer was assigned to give legal advice to the SEAL Commander of Special Operations in Task Force-West in Fallujah. From his desk in an air conditioned office,  DeSantis helped ensure that the missions of both Navy SEALs as well as Army Special Forces were planned according to the rule of military law.  At the time, a lot of prisoners were picked up and transferred to Iraqi Authorities. Lawyer DeSantis was responsible for overseeing that this process was done legally.

​According to the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, there are more than 1.5 million veterans living in Florida.  Clerk or SEAL, every Veteran counts.   That said, we are not sure how many paralegals live in Florida.  Governor De Santis has not touted images of him working behind piles of books — even if it was his actual role in the military.

​Lawyer or soldier it may not matter much since hopefully, today he now wears a uniform with snake boots.


#RonDeSantis #GovernorRonDeSantis #FloridaGovernor #SEAL #JAG #SURGE #BurmesePythons #PythonSuperBowl

Hear this right… HERE!  Right at this Exit sign!


Exit 41 I-278 Brooklyn Queens Expressway, to Northern Boulevard (IND Queens Boulevard Line), Jackson Heights, Queens ​

​Can you imagine, spending $50 on a radio advertisement and generating a return of $150,000?  That's a return on investment of three thousand percent!  Wow.
 
​Well it happened right here in Jackson Heights, Queens.  That’s because from the printing press to Television to Facebook to Snap Chat, new media SERIOUSLY impacts the way people live.  Famed documentary film-maker Ric Burns explored the impact of radio when it first was introduced back in 1922.  Believe it or not,  back then radio excited the engagement of teenagers just as Tic Toc does today.   So here is a quick snapshot of media through the ages.

Before and ​after the American Revolution, newspapers were the primary way people got their news. They often would be distributed by the Town Crier who would walk around villages and loudly proclaim the latest news often augmenting this with the sale of pamphlets: “Hear ye, Hear ye… Queens Man put to death for killing his neighbor. Read all about it.”

​The tech of journalism was different too and it impacted how the papers were treated. Before 1900, newspapers were printed on  cotton which was sturdier than paper. Cotton lasted months.  Newspapers were expected to be handed around. So most folks got "second hand news.”  That is where the phrase derives from: second hand news is old news. As in old handed around news papers.  No surprise, newspapers made of cotton from this era are still in good shape.

By World War One, however, cotton was replaced by cheap paper — which meant the newspaper was less resilient and more disposable. News Papers after this period eroded in weeks.  So consumers bought their own editions and tossed them afterwards. 

Yet newspaper circulation became more targeted. In one household, Dad might read one Newspaper while Mom would read another.  Also, in an attempt to keep abreast of current news, papers came out in the morning and also in the evening.  In the morning a family would get the  New York Times and in the afternoon, another newspaper would arrive at doorsteps: The Evening Post.

The adaptation of media to modern lifestyles was essential for success.  It conformed with how people lived.  With the advent of subway commuting around 1900, publishers began to make more money with single sheet paper tabloids instead of fold out newspapers. Jam-packed strap-hangers preferred to peruse the thin copy, large images, and single leaf tabloids of say the Illustrated Daily News — today’s Daily News — over the unwieldy erudite New York Times.

Predictably these dailies targeted the masses with sordid stories about millionaires and immoral ladies -- preferably both. And more eyeballs meant more money from ads. These cheap paper tabloids quickly faded and grew jaundice -- but so-called Yellow Journalism boomed.


According to the Ric Burns and James Sanders companion book to Ken Burns' PBS Series, NEW YORK, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, the impact of the new media of radio was even more staggering.


While papers reached thousands, radio could reach millions.

Although first broadcast commercially in 1920, it was not for 2 more years that the first radio advertisement was transmitted.


On August 22, 1922 on NYC Radio Station WEAF ran a 10 minute advertisement for an apartment complex right here in Jackson Heights, Queens.  The response was overwhelming. The advertiser who had paid just $50 for the airtime quickly sold $150,000 worth of apartments.


Driven by the vast new scale of radio, not just media but also the advertising industry in New York exploded.

That’s because, for the first time a single product could be sold to the entire nation at once.  Already the nation’s leader in culture, fashion, and publishing, no surprise New York City excelled in the new art of heightening the power of advertising.


And so what "Wall Street" was to Finance, "Madison Avenue" became for media and advertising... and both were headquartered  in the Big Apple.


#RicBurns #NewYork #NEWYORKANILLUSTRATEDHISTORY #JamesSanders  #NewYorkTimes #DailyNews #Radio #newmedia #JamesSanders #PBS #PBSNEWYORK

If you had the RoadSpoke app… hear this here:


EXIT of the Day: EXIT 22 I-95s Delaware Expressway to I-676, SR 30 to Wayne PA, in Philadelphia PA


“The subject of this EXIT has an amazing resume. He was a troubled youth,  then an Army Ranger, a Decorated Combat Veteran, a Rhodes Scholar,  an investment banker, then the CEO of the Wall Street billionaires' favorite philanthropy, The Robin Hood Foundation -- which channels opportunity to urban neighborhoods. Today he is a Best Selling Author, and Best Friend Forever of none other than Miss Oprah Winfrey.  He also serves as the Governor of Maryland and a lot of smart money -- from both Democratic and Republican circles -- speak of him as a future Presidential Candidate.​

As for the EXIT of the Day, we chose an offramp that takes you to Wayne, Pennsylvania which is the home of Valley Forge Military School, a dormitory prep school which marked the bottom of our Wes Moore’s plunge and from which he rose to succeed in so many things. ​

You see, in Baltimore Maryland, as a 3 year old child,  little Wes witnessed his father's death from a rare virus.  Moore's mother then took him to live in The Bronx with his grandparents. His grandfather, Dr. James Thomas, was a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church. His grandmother was a retired school teacher from Trelawny Parish, Jamaica.


A smart kid, Wes got financial assistance to attend the elite Riverdale Country School.  When Moore's grades fell, he got into trouble with the law.  His mom yanked him and  enrolled him in Valley Forge Military Academy off the approaching EXIT.  It was here that he learned discipline and he began to rise.


It was here too that he first parachuted which gave him the desire later to lead combat troops with the 82nd Airborne. ​

Wes is married to Dawn Moore with two young daughters.  He lives in Maryland's Governor's mansion, many many Exits from the Other Wes Moore — who is still his friend.


So it only seems appropriate that we credit EXIT 22 with being the right road for Wes Moore.  Down this Exit, Wes Moore drove to the Valley Forge Military Academy that changed his direction in life.  So it is the correct choice for our EXIT of the DAY.”   


#WesMoore #TheOtherWesMoore #ValleyForgeMilitaryAcademy #RobinHoodFoundation #RiverdaleCountrySchool #82ndAirborne #Army #TrelawnyParish   #TedTalks #Oprah
​

Hear this here:
I-95 EXIT 11 To: Garden State Parkway to Woodbridge, New Jersey

 
Nearby is the colonial era Home of a  recent President's English ancestors.  This President's family came to America not long after the Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving. And no, it was not a Roosevelt, a Clinton, a Bush or a Trump.


President Barak Hussein Obama's American Roots run deep.  While his Dad was from Kenya, Obama's mom's side can trace roots directly to English immigrants arriving at the time of the Pilgrims. ​

​In fact, maybe his ancient American heritage might have something to do with his interest in law, morals as well as politics. His Ancestors were leaders in the Anglican Church in North America and -- not surprisingly -- colonial era politicians.


Jonathan Singletary Dunham (1640–1724), Obama’s first American born ancestor was born in Massachusetts. He moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey where by 1670 he started a grist mill. It was the first grist mill in New Jersey.  And like his presidential descendant, he was a politician elected as a Member of the New Jersey Provincial Congress. Dunham is President Barack Obama’s direct ancestor; he is the president's eighth great-grandfather.   


Nearly 400 years ago, John Dunham thrived and died in Woodbridge. The house the Dunhams built in 1671, the Jonathan Singletary Dunham House, still stands and currently serves as the Rectory of the Trinity Episcopal Church.  That's because Obama's 7th great grandfather, Benjamin Dunham, generously built the first of three church buildings at that location.

​​Members of the Dunham family then drifted out West.
Generations passed. Ultimately Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was born in Wichita, Kansas.


Here in Woodbury, the oldest portions of the building are still in use today as the rectory where the presiding minister lives.  She spoke to the webpage, mycentraljersey.com.  Said the Reverend Angela Cipolla, the head priest at Woodbridge's Trinity Episcopal Church. “The connection with the president is absolutely something that the parish is incredibly proud of,”

​Not surprising, the Rector extends a warm invitation to the President's family to come visit Woodbury.  In effect it's  an invitation for President Obama to come home.


#PresidentObama #ObamaAncestry #AngelaCipolla #WoodbridgeTrinityChurch #JohnathonSingletaryDunham #WoodbridgeNewJersey

​EXIT 4 I-95s in New Jersey, To Penn’s Landing, PA


Along the Interstate you see a lot of farms and fields.  If not for Roadspoke and the radio, sometimes you might even get bored looking at all the fields.  Back in the day when kids would get mean with one another, they might say something like, “You are dumb as dirt!” Well guess what Road Trippers, the dirt in many farmers’ fields is no longer dumb. You might even call it smart soil.


Nowadays, science is getting back to nature and that means getting away from using synthetic fertilizers. Turns out a lot of fertilizers create side effects that are very harmful to the rivers, streams and even the ground itself.  Too much fertilizer is poison and harms plants, animals and humans and the ability of the field to grow healthy crops. So what’s a farmer to do?


According to the Walton Family Foundation, the answer lies in “cover crops”.  The Walton Family Foundation, with money earned from Walmart, has found  such cover crops as winter wheat, cereal rye,  clover or other cold-hardy plants provide a number of ecosystem services.

According to an article about an Iowa farmer Mitchell Hora written by Amy Saltzman in November 2019’s Environment Magazine, cover soils do multiple good things. Writes Saltzman:


“Cover crops prevent soil erosion by keeping plant ‘roots in the ground’ in cool seasons when corn and soybeans aren’t growing, absorbing nutrients that might otherwise leach into rivers and streams. They also increase organic matter and reduce the need for fertilizer.
And they help hold water, making land less susceptible to flooding and drought.” ​

​Two: The maximum weight for a truck and full trailer is 80,000 pounds. To visualize that, it’s about 20 Indian Elephants. Ok that’s weird but it works for me.


Three: In 2016, according to Popular Mechanics Magazine, semitrucks drove 175 BILLION miles.


Four: Recent estimates suggest trucks deliver about 60,000 pounds of goods  per American — per year. That’s a lot of stuff, right? In fact it comes out to about 18.5 Indian Elephants.

So each truck is almost entirely dedicated to you. Think about that.


Five: Truck Drivers work hard but by law must take rest stops every 8 hours. So yes most trucks have sleeper space behind the cab. The amount of luxury varies.  But it is not uncomfortable back there. Even basic sleeper cabs incorporate tables, closets, refrigerators, flatscreen TV mounts, and, of course, beds.
​​

Now for the Road Test: you have 3 seconds to answer and you should get right to Exit to get your  free Large Pepsi at the upcoming 7/Eleven. Now for the quiz: How many elephants are accommodated in a sleeper cab?  Three. Two, and one. If you said none, you win!


Get right, exit now, and tell the merchant you’re there to claim your free Pepsi.


To get it, just tell ‘em RoadSpoke and the Elephants sent you.


#18wheelers  #PepsiProducts #JBHunt #Werner #Covenant #Semitrucks #PopularMechanics #IndianElephants #sleepercabs ​

​
​I-95 Fast Facts:
Interstate 95 is RoadSpoke's First Audio Tour.  Ultimately all Interstates will be narrated. In the words of one of our competitor's, Autio, which was formerly HearHere...  in history, every story has a place. Now with RoadSpoke, every place has a story. But unlike Autio, formerly known as HearHere, RoadSpoke will not just bore you with long winded slightly liberal and overly pedantic stories narrated by uninspired wanna be actors.  Through your choice of favorite Siri voices, RoadSpoke will provide short enticing bytes that also do one more thing that Autio does not do.  We don't just turn Interstates into talking tours. Offering discounts and deals on everything from fast food to Ferraris,  only RoadSpoke turns the open road into an endless shopping aisle!
        
We like to think of RoadSpoke as using the interstates to create a narrative spine for discovering America - and Americans.  Story, history, science, scandal, celebrities, sports, regular folks and corporate histories... and deals!  



​

​Then RoadSpoke will go social, and fans and bloggers will fill in all other roads around the country.... and around the world!  Laying personalized RoadSpokes, our users will be able to leave comments and observations that in theory, their great grandkids could follow in a hundred years.

Why start with I-95?

No road in America is as consistently busy from one end to the other as Interstate 95. A few stretches of other interstates carry more traffic than the busiest parts of I-95, but no highway in total carries more traffic.
   

I-95 crosses 15 states and runs from Canada south to Miami, covering 1,918 miles. According to the Federal Highway Administration, 1,040 of those miles are in urban areas. 60 percent of urban areas are classified as “under heavy congestion.”


In its northeast passage, I-95 travels through the most densely populated region of the country. More than 325,000 vehicles per day travel through the area encompassing the New York City/New Jersey/Connecticut area, making that stretch the seventh busiest in the country.

But wait! Traffic allegedly gets worse. According to the FHA, I-95 passes through the Washington, D.C., area, another traffic chokepoint on the way to its southern end just south of Miami, where I-95 there rates as the sixth most-traveled section of interstate in the U.S.


So why I-95?
1) We can't think of a highway that needs more entertainment options -- especially when you consider the delays from all the traffic!


2) I-95 is so embedded in Billboards and urbanity that it dulls the brain. Yet the concrete conceals some of the most fascinating Information about America. In fact, you cruise pass 89 Dino-digs,  114 Native American BattleFields, 219 Intersections with the life of George Washington, 1034 Civil Rights Sites,  and the birthplace of 128,236 famous people.  And that's just in New Jersey!


3) Finally, I-95 has tons of potential to create commercial partnerships with nearby merchants, destination marketing organizations, and other stakeholders who could use our patent pended DEAL RADAR to place timely ads on the Interstate. Think Virtual Billboards. Nearby Interstate Stakeholders can move their inventory on the most highly trafficked of all Interstates. They can drive all that traffic right to their off highway but still nearby storefronts.


4) FAST FACTS:
- "76% of all Travel is still done by car." - Waze


- "Convenience Store Sales are 55% larger than all online sales, including Amazon." - GasBuddy


- “Travel is better when we are rewarded, guided and informed.”  - Waze


- "Location is core to delivering  the right mobile experience.” - Gasbuddy


- "Proximity marketing boosts conversion by 240%.” - Venture Beat

At RoadSpoke, We may not be pretty, but we aren't stupid! 😁