RichC | May 8, 2020
My personal rule is usually only one blog post per day, but with so many wishing me a Happy Birthday yesterday it seems appropriate to say “thank you” over lunch today. The “like” button or “thumbs-up” is probably sufficient for social networks, a text exchange for friends who are phone contacts and of course the […]
RichC | April 30, 2020
Rather than close out the month of April 2020 with some depressing topic related to COVID19, I’ll post a photo for book lovers (right) and collectors along with a saved newspaper article clipped with a photo to highlight a future project (steps/ladder for the bookshelves) and the latest in the seemingly SLOW progress of putting […]
RichC | April 19, 2020
Although it has only been a couple months since Ellerie was born (8 weeks now), the Coronavirus stay-at-home orders has definitely made it challenging for grandparents … especially when they would really like to be with their grandchildren. Brenda and I only ‘now’ realize just how fortunate we were to have been able to travel several […]
RichC | April 18, 2020
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is one of the most celebrated Allied fighter planes of WW II. It continues to have wide-spread aviation enthusiasm to this day … and one look (and listen – volume up!) will have you understanding why it is so admired.
RichC | March 12, 2020
Question: How old do you have to be to identify this widely recognized sound from our automotive past? What is this sound? My first “real job” was as a Shell gas station attendant when I turned 16 years old (although cut lawns, did odd jobs and worked as “boy” labor for a commercial fishing […]
RichC | October 4, 2019
Last week, Amazon authorized my invitation and gave me a promo code for the Echo Auto Alexa device for the car (it was a long wait, but they did discount to $24.99 for invitation holders). For the passed several months I’ve been using an Echo Input (no speaker) in my BMW X5 35d in an […]
RichC | July 24, 2019
As a conservation minded “conservative” and as someone who has always balanced the cost vs benefits of decisions, I once thought “recycling” was as simple as “not littering” and cleaning up pollution highlighted by the 1971 ad campaign (Iron Eyes Cody photo above). From an early age we were bombarded by pointing out how careless […]
RichC | July 20, 2019
As has been highly celebrated and reported in every form of media this week (and mention in not just one, but two earlier blog posts), today is the 50th anniversary of the landing a man on the moon. It was the historic Apollo 11 eight-day mission to the moon and back with the goal of […]
RichC | June 15, 2019
Brenda and I watched the movie Interstellar (2014) once before, but we watched it again this past week, and as often happens, we picked up on a few more interesting facts that made our brains hurt … well at least mine: General relativity, The Science of Interstellar, Black Holes and Time Warps. Thankfully I could […]
RichC | May 6, 2019
Although I haven’t listed to NPR’s Morning Edition for a long time, I am sad to see their old theme give way to a new supposedly fresher version. You be the judge. New Theme: Here’s the old theme: Old NPR Morning Edition Theme (mp3) | recording from 2006
RichC | March 24, 2019
Maybe it is my age … or just the latest swing to the radical left by Democrats staging themselves for a presidential primary to challenge President Trump in 2020 … but this whole anti-free market socialist tilt has me concerned for the direction of our country. It is no longer the political quarrel over the […]
RichC | March 22, 2019
This is project for work as I wanted to demonstrate to a customer what I was referring to when I encouraged them to add a simple “read a script” podcast channel or simple YouTube video component to their marketing. It is a way to capture audiences who have moved away from reading articles and blogs […]
RichC | March 2, 2019
There are still exciting adventures ahead … but as someone who always has a plan, and dreams ambitiously, I’m detecting my life plans are changing … again. Dreams are good for the soul IMHO, so as long as ones asperations can be modified when life changes. A reality check needs to trigger flexibility in the […]
RichC | February 17, 2019
Like clockwork, it was time to either renew or cancel SiriusXM (again). I refuse to pay the month to month rate with them or the very few newspaper/magazine subscriptions I still use that does the same thing. Thankfully I marked my calendar with a notification as to the last day to cancel service … otherwise the […]
RichC | February 14, 2019
It may be a quirky Valentine’s Day gift, but Brenda tossed our alarm clock of 36+ years into the trash a couple months ago saying, “I don’t trust it anymore.” I was relatively happy to see it go since the “honk, honk, honk” of the alarm was the most annoying alarm ever. Besides, I’ve been […]
RichC | January 21, 2019
While contemplating both a Music Monday and a Martin Luther King Jr. reflective post for this U.S. National Federal Holiday, I thought about Dr. King’s 1963 I Have A Dream speech‘s reference to the African American spiritual “Free At Last” and wondered about the early recordings? Although I’ve heard several different relatively modern gospel recordings, […]
RichC | October 15, 2018
It’s an on the road Music Monday … and I realized my OLD iPod Shuffle is loaded with almost all Jack Johnson songs. No problem picking one out … how about track two from Johnson’s 2005 Curious George album called Broken … although can’t think of any music he has recorded that I dislike? While […]
RichC | September 10, 2018
Once I started listening to music and heard Jackson Browne in the 1970s … I was hooked and have not really stopped enjoying his songs and his long spanning music career. So, after a rainy weekend, here’s a little pick-me-up song for Music Monday from side A (cut 4 ) of Jackson Browne‘s 1972 first […]
RichC | September 3, 2018
Have a great Labor Day! Let’s kick back and celebrate the dedication of all the workers (hopefully some of us) who contribute to the social and economic strength of America by working hard all year long.Although I no longer work as hard as when I was younger, it is still nice to be enjoy the […]
RichC | August 19, 2018
In preparation for an upcoming work related project, I need to record a video for a client’s website and include both their voice and that of someone asking questions. I was hoping to keep it as professional as possible and will be using my Lumix GX8 DSLR.f I am using my external Rode shotgun microphone […]
RichC | August 8, 2018
With a niece a new dentist and both a late father-in-law and brother-in-law who were dentists, the #70 Mike Rowe "The Way I Heard It Podcast" was interesting – You Might Feel A Little Pinch. I’m thankful for modern dentistry … although may look at my dentist with a little more scrutiny. Check out mikeroweWorks […]
RichC | July 28, 2018
As a fan of Mike Rowe‘s The Way I Heard It podcasts, his praise for medical doctors highlights the debate of earning the "title" of doctor and being addressed as ‘Dr.’ based on "what you want to be called" or receiving honorary degrees. As Mike Rowe comments on Twitter, "according to my producer, this brand […]
RichC | May 19, 2018
Although the new auto company Elio Motors has struggled financially to move their production forward, Paul Elio still claims the Shreveport, Louisiana plant is 1-1/2 years from production. Those of use who have deposits and reservations and blog about it in are still hopeful, although low fuel prices, advancements in EVs and American’s love of […]
RichC | April 30, 2018
Brenda and I have a favorite TV series and are anxiously waiting for the next season, unfortunately Amazon seems to have delayed production — we waiting on season 3. So while we wait, we are re-watching both season one and season two … AGAIN; The Man in the High Castle is a terrific show and has […]
RichC | April 2, 2018
This Music Monday post has been in the "to be included folder" for a while now. This week since I’ve been pre-occupied with taxes, packing and some organization, I pulled it out to both listen to it again and post. Back when I was in college, my taste in music ranged from what was popular […]
RichC | April 1, 2018
Happy Easter brothers and sisters in Christ! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed. This past week I’ve been listening to Alistair Begg speak on Life After Death recorded from Parkside Church and shared on the Truth For Life podcast. Ever since Katelyn and Drew gave me the Amazon Echo Dot for Christmas I […]
RichC | March 31, 2018
I’ve been around long see banking change from daily dealing with a local banker that I knew by name … who also knew me (and my business) by name … to just a drive up teller window or ATM to the latest technology of snapping pics of checks and tapping on a smartphone. I sort […]
RichC | March 2, 2018
Our daughter and son-in-law gave us an Amazon Echo Dot for Christmas this past year. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with it and have connected it to enough lights, plugs, thermostats and kitchen television to make me want to add the full sized Echo. I’m not sure Brenda has even noticed that it grew? The […]
RichC | February 26, 2018
Sailing by Christopher Cross was an easy music pick for a dreary February 2018 for this Music Monday. I heard it as one of my Pandora music channel this past weekend and "takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be." I hope it does the same for others. Sailing | Christopher […]
RichC | February 9, 2018
As a Fox Business addicted viewer, I keep a live-feed running much of the day just as others do for music, talk radio or sports. One of the challenges is that it isn’t convenient or available, especially in a low bandwidth, "just" audio feed … unless I’m in the car and listening on SiriusXM Radio. […]
RichC | February 5, 2018
One of the longest running names in “R&B” and “doo wap” music is the Hall of Fame vocal group called The Drifters. They have been performing and recording music since the early 1950s (according to Wikipedia their “Years active are 1953 – present day!”) Obviously I did not know them from that early era, but […]
RichC | January 31, 2018
A Supermoon chat with John Rowe & Mike Hasking – 1/31/2018 Tonight is your last chance to witness a once in a lifetime lunar event. A super blue blood moon will be visible in the night’s sky for just over an hour, from 11.50 tonight. It’s the third in a trilogy of large, red […]
RichC | January 15, 2018
Today, January 15, 2018, our nation celebrates the life and accomplishments of one of our greatest Americans on his national holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This past Friday, President Trump signed a proclamation that honors Dr. King by designating his birthplace, church and tomb as a National Historic Park. Along with the president’s respectful […]
RichC | January 8, 2018
Our Amazon Echo Dot Christmas gift is the gift that keeps on giving now that I’m learning new “skills.” There isn’t anything earth-shattering it is currently doing, but the “easy” interface to Amazon’s cloud server for content and function may be limitless … at least looking into the future. It is an impressive device; perhaps […]
RichC | December 25, 2017
While reading about the Winter Solstice, songs we call “carols” were not originally what come to mind today. I Saw Three Ships (carol – written in 1410) The first songs/carols in Europe were not Christmas Carols, they were pagan songs sung while dancing around stone circles on the shortest day of the year – […]
RichC | December 18, 2017
Now that so many of us listen to music while connected to a smart device or computer, little bits of history can surprise us. Here’s a tidbit from one of my favorite artists that I didn’t know: On Jackson Browne‘s 1977 tribute to the roadies, his song called "The Load-Out," segued into "Stay" which […]
RichC | November 6, 2017
It is easy for me to fall back into my oldies groove (1970s) and include something I regularly listen to for Music Monday, but will purposely deviate just a little bit … but a very little bit. Jackson Browne spans the ages and is always on my list, so it is pretty easy to add […]
RichC | October 9, 2017
You’re getting old when you can say that you were listening to Jimmy Buffett music when only on vinyl, although it could have been on 8-track or cassette tape? Thankfully I was not listening to his song The Wino and I Know on 78s as the lyrics in the song goes (a vinyl record format […]
RichC | September 29, 2017
After slowly giving up on ever really making my “90% hearing loss” right ear useful again (due to Ménière’s disease – posts 1 or 2), I had a chance to try out my buddy Jeff’s After Shokz bluetooth headset a couple weeks ago. I’m not saying it was like I was binaural again, BUT the “bone conduction” […]
RichC | September 21, 2017
Tuned into Motley Fool’s Industry Focus podcast this week talking about how drugmakers get patents and drug trials through the FDA. The Q & A segment was helpful for those looking to understand the process and pitfalls before adding shares of these companies to their portfolios. Motley Fool Industry Focus Podcast (mp3) | 9/20/2017 […]
RichC | September 7, 2017
Obviously the "promises" made by the Obama administration, and the Democrats who passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), have failed us … and the current GOP controlled congress have failed to fix, repeal or replace (their promise if elected). Who in middle class America can afford health insurance at $1000/mo with a $12,900 deductible? As […]
RichC | September 4, 2017
A new music/musician discovery for me this past week thanks to social networking. I’m not exactly sure why I first listened to Lana White, but enjoyed the song and the sound … so checked out more. After a brief exchange on Twitter with her self-promoting and including a Spotify link to her albums, I ended […]
RichC | August 7, 2017
Musician Robert James Richie, better known as Kid Rock, is planning to make a run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan (kidrockforsenate.com) according to a tweet last month and news reports. His music speaks to many who love freedom and America the way many in middle of the country enjoy it. He might just be […]
RichC | July 24, 2017
Although I’m partial to Jimmy Buffett‘s recording of Bruce Cockburn’s 1996 song Pacing the Cage, it is time to give credit where credit is due … to the multi-decade career of Canadian folk songwriter, performer and activist. He wrote the song in 1996 and recorded it on his album The Charity of Night. Although like […]
RichC | July 10, 2017
But first — last night was Jimmy Buffett‘s 50th concert in 40 years (I Don’t Know Tour 2017) Cincinnati at Riverbend in front of 20,000 Queen City area Parrotheads … and although I wasn’t there, I enjoyed the live stream on Facebook. Over the decades, Jimmy Buffett has been my unconventional escape side of life as […]
RichC | July 4, 2017
If you listen and make it to the end of this 10 minute July 4, 2017 Independence Day podcast by Mike Rowe, you’ll get the point of this interesting story. Well worth the Blue Apron advertisement and introduction (definitely a worthwhile podcast to subscribe to or follow on Facebook). Render Unto Caesar (mp3) | Mike […]
RichC | June 26, 2017
As mentioned before, Jackson Browne hold a prominent spot on my Pandora channel list and is my “go-to” click just after the Thumbprint Radio feature. Not a month goes by without me wanting to listen to one of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band original musicians (1966). This week I’m in the mood for a couple […]
RichC | June 14, 2017
Flag Day 2017 — “Something To Stand For” by Mike Rowe of MikeRoweWORKS
RichC | June 12, 2017
Music memories only go back so far for me … and likely only two musicians exist as favorites from my pre-teenage days (probably because my mom listened to the radio). One of the two artists is Glen Campbell, the other Roger Miller. One of the songs I remember is “Witchita Lineman,” written by Jimmy Webb, […]
RichC | May 22, 2017
“Hey, Mr. Tambourine man, play a song for me …” was a Folk-Rock or Jangle-Rock song from the 1960s … and there isn’t any mistaking the “jingle jangle” sound. As many have noted over the years, the drug inspired lyrics are part and parcel of the LSD experimental culture in that era. The song Mr. Tambourine Man […]
RichC | May 15, 2017
My friend Jeff and I were reflecting on my bachelor party/camping trip to North and South Carolina in May of 1982 just as a photo appeared of Jimmy Buffett and friends hanging out on Folly Beach, SC. Jeff was sharing a couple of Buffett songs from the License to Chill album while we were reminiscing. […]
RichC | April 24, 2017
Here’s a MusicMonday tune from a studio recording by Jerry Jeff Walker in 2009 called "Down in Belize" 6th cut of his Moon Child album. He’s an artist from years ago when my listening taste was more country, folk and tropical rock … well perhaps I haven’t really changed? If you don’t recall the long […]
RichC | April 17, 2017
Likely Brown Eyed Girl is one of the all time favorite tunes for more than just my generation … no matter who’s version it is. The original 1967 version is hard to beat since it was written and record by Van Morrison … although I’m quite fond of Jimmy Buffett’s 1983 recording (YouTube) too. […]
RichC | April 10, 2017
While listening to background music this past weekend (working on taxes), it became an easy decision post something on music. Next … decide which group and song to include without repeating something mentioned before on My Desultory Blog? How about Three Dog Night??? The rock band was not necessarily in my record (or cassette tape) […]
RichC | April 3, 2017
Most recognize the late Hawaii musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole for his famous recording of "Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" medley, but while listening to a few of his "Live" appearances this past weekend, realized I enjoyed his traditional music and a recording of "I’ll Be There" almost as much. Kamakawiwo’ole’s career and story is […]
RichC | March 20, 2017
Interesting photo??? Well musicians can have an unusual beginning and career turns. Before a musical career, John Hall (photo right) was an academically gifted 3-time National Science Foundation summer scholar and University of Notre Dame and Loyola College physics student at the age of 16 and after music, he ran for political office and end […]
RichC | March 6, 2017
It seems like I’ve been stuck listening to music from the 1970s (and 60s) 90% of the time for quite a while. So in an attempt to move forward and out of my comfort zone a bit, here’s a mellow Indie song from the late 1980s — Yo La Tengo‘s New Wave Hot Dogs album […]
RichC | February 27, 2017
The Heinz Ketchup commercial from when I was a teen popped in to my head the other day … or at least the Carly Simon music part of it did. According the the Youtube clip (below), it aired in 1979 and I realized that not many born after that time would understand the “anticipation” of […]
RichC | February 20, 2017
There’s probably not a more iconic early 1970’s American song than Don McLean‘s American Pie … I’m shocked no to have posted about it before? If you were a kid growing up with music coming from a AM transistor radio when the popular song came on, you knew that the next 8 minutes would be […]
