Music Monday: “Midnight Special” recorded by CCR (1969)

Posted By on October 28, 2024

CCR 1968Classic Vinyl Midnight Special - CCR

I enjoyed a some Creedence Clearwater Revival last week on my headphones while walking. While having listened their version of “Midnight Special” many times before, it has never been included as a Music Monday selection.
 

  Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Midnight Special” | 1969

Shocking to me was just how many bands performed the 1905 Howard Odum song: 

The song has been recorded by Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Odetta, Les Paul, The Kingston Trio (who also recorded their song “The Tijuana Jail”, which retains the same music but with new lyrics),[16] Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, Burl Ives, Big Joe Turner, Bobby Darin, Cisco Houston, Jimmy Smith, Mungo Jerry, Van Morrison, Little Richard, Buckwheat Zydeco, Otis Rush, The Spencer Davis Group, Lonnie Donegan, Eric Clapton, The Louvin Brothers, Long John Baldry, The Kentucky Headhunters, Willie Watson, Mischief Brew, Hoyt Axton, Odetta, Billy Bragg, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, among others. Jody Miller arranged her own version and included it on her first album Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe in 1963.

LINK

How air traffic is controlled in U.S. airspace (ATC) #maps

Posted By on October 27, 2024

One of the X.com feeds and blogs that I enjoy following is BrilliantMaps. They are based out of the UK and are always post interesting maps. Last week, this one caught my eye likely because I flew small planes before Menieres … and still enjoy aviation as a hobby

Air Traffic Control US

What Are Air Traffic Control Zones?

Air Traffic Control Zones, often called Control Zones (CTRs), are designated airspaces around an airport where air traffic control (ATC) services are provided to ensure safe and efficient aircraft operations.

These zones are crucial for managing the takeoff, landing, and general movement of aircraft in and around airports.

Here are key features of Air Traffic Control Zones:

LINK

The iPhone16, US Mobile auto top-off and bigger photos and video

Posted By on October 26, 2024

Sailboat Delray Beach October 2024

One of the biggest changes and needs now that our family of iPhones takes larger photos and video … and are now 5G capable … is the need for more data. Auto Top-off USMobileI’m no longer satisfied with our “pooled” 6GB USMobile plan. I sort of knew this would be a problem, but for most of the time both my wife and I are on WiFi — meaning, wireless cellular data wasn’t being used. 

This changes while traveling and by us wanting  to do the same things on the road as we do at home or in an office; we are finding out on our recent trip. Normal data consumption aside, having 5G with our newer iPhones means we can consume more, faster. Also, the photos and video are much larger and therefore just backing up to iCloud means “more data” … and sending RCS photos and video uses “more data” too!  

What has been great is not having to change my USMobile plan just because we are away from WiFi. They offer an automatic “top-off” feature for an addition $2.00 for each added Gigabyte of data on top of our contracted 6GB per month. Yes it is more money (very fair), but so much better than running out of high speed data or losing our connection. Thanks US Mobile (also, they have just announced support of the cellular version of Apple Watch … so when it is time to replace my Fitbit Versa 2, I’ll be opting for an Apple Watch 9 or 10 or whatever!) 

So without further babbling on, above is a Goodyear Blimp video over Delray Beach capture with the 5x lens on the iPhone 16 Pro Max and below is a still video of a water spout. I’m noticing that with this new improve camera over my older iPhone that I can definitely do more with photography (although the Blimp photos last winter weren’t all that bad).

Waterspout

Asking AI about predicting recessions and investing in treasuries

Posted By on October 25, 2024

Nobody really knows when the next recession will come, but economists and those of us who monitor investments would really like to know before it arrives.

Recession Graphic Red Arrow

This week while moving a few more dollars to the sideline, at least until after the November 2024 election and until mid-January 2025 (parked in a 3-month CD) … I decided to see what Perplexity.AI has to say about predicting recessions and buying US Treasuries if the Fed’s soft landing doesn’t happen. 

Deciding when to buy Treasuries and identifying when a recession is near can be challenging, but there are several indicators and strategies to consider:

Identifying a Potential Recession

Economic Indicators

  • Watch the Leading Economic Index (LEI): A sustained drop below zero in the Conference Board’s US Leading Indicator Index is a strong signal of an impending recession.
  • Monitor yield curve inversions: An inverted yield curve has historically been one of the most reliable recession indicators.
  • Track GDP growth, unemployment rates, and consumer spending: Declines in these areas can signal economic weakness.

Market Behavior

  • Observe stock market trends: While not always accurate, significant market declines can sometimes precede recessions.
  • Monitor corporate earnings: Widespread earnings declines across sectors may indicate economic trouble.

Timing Treasury Purchases

Interest Rate Cycles

  • Interest rates tend to peak about three months before a recession starts.
  • Treasury performance typically bottoms around three months before a recession and peaks about five months into it.

Market Sentiment

  • Increased demand for “safe haven” assets often signals economic uncertainty.
  • When investors become risk-averse, they tend to flock to Treasuries, driving up prices and lowering yields.

Federal Reserve Policy

  • Pay attention to the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. Rate cuts often precede or coincide with recessions, making Treasuries more attractive.

Strategies for Treasury Investments

  • Dollar-Cost Averaging: Instead of trying to time the market perfectly, consider regularly investing in Treasuries over time5.
  • Laddering: Build a portfolio of Treasuries with staggered maturities to balance yield and flexibility.
  • Diversification: Use Treasuries as part of a broader, diversified portfolio strategy to manage risk.
  • Long-Term Perspective: Remember that Treasuries can play a valuable role in portfolio stability, regardless of short-term economic conditions.

It’s important to note that perfectly timing the market or a recession is extremely difficult, even for professional investors. A well-diversified portfolio that aligns with your long-term financial goals is often the best approach, regardless of economic conditions

A wide brake pedal triggered memories of learning to drive #TBT

Posted By on October 24, 2024

It has been a long time since I remembered when stopping quick required a second foot on the brake pedal, but this photo from a 1964 (Camaro I think) reminded me of that wider pedalWide brake pedal (think the 1973 Caddy had the two-foot pedal too?)

Back when yours truly was learning to drive, our family 4-door 1967 Ford Custom 500 came with manual drum brakes. There were times as a teenage “want to drive faster” new driver that I remember using heavy two-footed pressure to stop this boat-ish couple tons of steel with a stock 289 cu in Windsor V8 (the first engine I rebuilt). This was our second car (MomC’s daily driver) and the one I learned to drive using and the one I took my driving test in.

It was also my grandparents car before they passed away in 1969 and 1970 and the car we used to tow our Yellowstone camping trailer and Fiberpile sailboat. 

1967 Ford Custom 500 - image from Internet

Amazingly large fireball passes over Lake Erie seen by hundreds

Posted By on October 23, 2024

My daughter Katelyn forwarded me this impressive fireball image and earthsky.org article with a YouTube video captured by people from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and even Western NY (she hinted that it was “blogworthy” … so what is a dad to do? Share it, obviously). 🙂

The meteor (??) was clearly seen streaking over Lake Erie from West to East in the evening sky on October 21, 2024. Here’s a snippet from the article that adds a bit more information:

There’s a reason that fireballs are visible from such a large area. That is, they appear at a high altitude of 50 miles (80 km). The Taurid meteor shower is currently active and above the horizon at that time of night. But this fireball was moving in a direction opposite the Taurids. So this event was most likely a random meteor, not associated with any known meteor shower.

LINK

When the ocean gets churned up, what is this sea foam?

Posted By on October 22, 2024

Brenda and I have been working hard to walk the beach while on our annual October vacation to Florida. This year the ocean weather has been windy, a bit rainy … but warm. We’ve found the longer than usual walk challenging as the waves and tide has shrunk the beach and churned the water. We’ve seen sea-foam before, but never really gave it much thought. I sort of remembered that it was associated with pollution run-off that we humans create … but not entirely … some of it is natural.

Sea water is 96.5 percent water and 2.5 percent salt. That only adds up to 99 percent, so what’s the other 1 percent? A lot of things. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it’s “proteins, fats, dead algae, detergents, and other pollutants,” plus other bits of inorganic and organic material. When these particles get agitated by wind and waves, they froth. You can create the same effect by shaking ocean water vigorously in a bottle.

The sea foam bubbles happen because of molecules called surfactants, which Popular Science explains are “sticky molecules that cling to the surface between water and air.” This sea surface microlayer can come from natural sources, like algae and seaweed, or from human pollution, like fertilizers, detergents and sewage. Ew.

One end of the molecule is hydrophobic – it repels water. The other end is hydrophilic – it attracts water. The easiest shape for these molecules to form is a sphere, with the hydrophobic ends on the inside and the hydrophilic ends pointing outward. Spheres (even if they aren’t perfect) make bubbles. And a lot of bubbles make sea foam!

LINK

Music Monday: Simon and Garfunkel continued with “Cecilia”

Posted By on October 21, 2024

After late last month’s Music Monday song from Simon and Garfunkel, it was difficult not to include the Side-A song at some point … and better sooner than too much later.

Cecilia” was first recorded by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel for their 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. It reached #4 in the US charts as a single.
   

 “Cecilia” – Simon and Garfunkel

The “Cecilia” of the title is generally interpreted as being a capricious lover, causing both anguish and jubilation to the singer. However, another interpretation is that Cecilia might refer to St. Cecilia, patron saint of music in the Catholic tradition, and thus the song might refer to the frustration of fleeting inspiration in songwriting. St. Cecilia is mentioned in another Paul Simon song, “The Coast” (from his 1990 album The Rhythm of the Saints): “A family of musicians took shelter for the night in the little harbor church of St. Cecilia.”

Woodworking Snippets: Bandsaw template tracker and Doweling

Posted By on October 20, 2024

Notes App IconThere is probably a better way to archive tips and articles from online magazines these days (it was easier when I just cut it out of the monthly paper magazine), but until then, saving snippets and tidbits to my blog is what I’ll do, even though I have a few ideas saved in my MacBook Air‘s Notes app.

Bandsaw Template Tracker

From a recent woodworking magazine issue, here are a couple ideas I wanted to save and try the next time I’m duplicating parts or using dowels (although do have a dowel centering clam — never does seem perfect though?):

  1. A template tracking jig for rough cutting and duplicating parts
  2. How one long time woodworker uses his drill press and doweling centers with a chamfer to line up joints. 

Making. a Dowel Joint

The 2024 Presidential Election is around the corner

Posted By on October 19, 2024

It is difficult to escape the political ads, commentary and “web of lies” that continue to be spun by candidates and political action committees. I know that I’m not alone in wanting it to “just be over.”  I’ve told friends and family that they should just ignore everything that is posted on the Internet and said on TV … as the truth is impossible to decipher … and likely even more difficult when the races and issues are state and local.

I read a post by a head of an investment advisor group that I thought was worth sharing as it does sum up how I felt about this year’s presidential race. Thanks … and well said, David Bahnsen!

This entire election season has essentially been a challenge of two sides that act like they do not want to win. Obviously they would never say that, and of course I know it isn’t intentional. But my point is not about intentions. It is about the actuality.

For Republicans, a simple “do you have anyone who didn’t deny they lost the election in 2020, who understands issues and is competent and principled, that could run?” would have been a good place to start. Not one, and not two, and not three, but a minimum of four Republican Governors could have done that. DeSantis. Kemp. Abbott. Youngkin. Some more electable than others but all brutally proficient, principled, competent, Presidential. And anyone would be COASTING to victory right now. Coasting. The contemptible left wing media would, no doubt, be trying to demonize them, too, but at least it would be 100% untrue, instead of only 50% untrue. We’d be paying more attention to the WNBA than the Presidential race with a GOP Governor candidate who was basically a stand-in for some form of Reaganite classical conservatism. But no. We had to double down on a personality candidacy, one rooted in the deepest insecurities I have ever seen in public life, ever. One disconnected from ideology, principle, character, and sense. Sure, some good policies (a few bad ones, too). But in no sane world is Trump the man anyone feels would be the most qualified from this party to be President. Again, like they don’t want it.

So for Democracts, they can’t fumble this away, right? I mean, they beat a guy (barely) four years ago, and THEN he threw a hideous national temper tantrum that resulted in Jan 6, saw a disastrous midterms for Republicans, and has done all he can to alienate independent and moderate voters over and over again. What could they do to lose this one? I know. How about double down on men playing women in women’s sports. Refuse to walk away from the ABSOLUTE CULTURAL INSANITY of the last few years. Nominate someone who can barely get a sentence out without sending like a C-student who has never read a book. Nominate someone who has boldly, loudly, unequivocally advocated for the most radical positions in American public life for years (green new deal, Medicare for all, open borders, massive benefits to illegal immigrants, gender transition surgery for felons, etc.). All they had to do was be normal. All they had to do was not double down on crazy. They couldn’t do it.

Someone does have to win this in the end. It just isn’t going to be a party that acted like they wanted to. It’s going to be an accident – an accidental winner in a country that increasingly acts like it wants to lose, with both parties to blame.

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog