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.

Filler: If you are having a bad day, dream about a trip to Alaska

Posted By on October 18, 2024

VW Camper Van in Alaska
Photo is from the internet — not mine. ☹️

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We planted a couple trees 15 years ago. They have grown. #TBT

Posted By on October 17, 2024

Bald Cypress and Dawn Redwood Trees - 240926

It has been 15 years since we planted the Dawn Redwood tree in our backyard (tree to the right in above photo) and it is still growing strong. I’m starting to think we may have picked a spot a little to close to the pool, although it is still 40 feet away. A year later in 2010, we added a Bald Cypress which has been a beautiful tree … although both do shed some very fine conifer “lacy needles.”

So for this first Throwback Thursday #TBT of October 2024, check out the “when planted” (photo left below) vs a 2024 photo of the same Redwood tree (below right).

Dawn Redwood in September 2009 Dawn Redwood in September 2024

Also, the new photos were also an excuse to test the new iPhone 16 Pro Max camera … so click for larger photos.

Books: Planning to read “Accidental Super Power 10 Years On”

Posted By on October 16, 2024

Two years ago I read Peter Zeihan’s book,  “The End Of The World Is Just The Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization,” onAccidental Super Power 10 Years In my friend Jeff’s recommendation. We discussed a few thoughts over lunch (as usual) … but instead of a Kindle book for an upcoming trip, I opted to buy the used paperback book, “Accidental Super Power 10 Years On.” 

Amazon Purchase

He’s already read it since Peter Zeihan’s thinking parallels his views in seeing the US in decline … and frankly in moral decay. As much as I want to deny the negative mindset, I  can’t help but wonder if our country has lost its way?

I’m sad to be thinking that this once “shining city on the hill” isn’t shining as bright as it once did … or is on the verge of disappering as did other nations experimenting with democracy.
 

Andrew Higgins and the LCVP Higgins Boat of World War II

Posted By on October 15, 2024

Movie Poster for PT-109Ever since I was a kid in elementary school and heard about John F. Kennedy’s World War 2 story and then read Robert Donovan‘s book “PT-109: John F. Kennedy in WW II” and movie “PT-109,” I’ve admired what innovated boatbuilders PT-105 Boat 1942could do with plywood (besides utility trailer sides, I had a plywood dingy when I was a kid too). Anyway, in the early 1940s, these “mosquito boats” were an amazing small boats especially in South Pacific, both to interrupt Japanese shipping as a 80-foot Elco PT boats (patrol torpedo boat) … or to swiftly move even General MacArthur off the Philippines and to safety as he built up the U.S. military forces in order to defeat Tojo and the Japanese Empire.

LCVP Higgins Boat

The PT boats were not the only “plywood” boat used in World War II … and probably not the “most important” either. That monicker is held for the LCVPs designed Andrew Higginsby Andrew Higgins and used to land troops onto the beaches: think about the thousands of troops who landed on the beaches of Normandy.

General Dwight Eisenhower was quoted as saying, “Andrew Higgins … is the man who won the war for us. … If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different.” According to the enemy, Adolf Hitler dubbed the boatbuilder as the “New Noah.”

From plywood airplanes and gliders … to the Higgins Boat (LCVP) used to win World War II … plywood deserves far more credit than the disposable Thinking emoji4 x 8 sheets from big box stores that we purchase to board up windows these days. 

Landing crafts on Normandy Beaches
See CNN D-Day Gallery of photos

Music Monday: Willie Nelson singing “On The Road Again” (1979)

Posted By on October 14, 2024

Willie NelsonA quick song for Music Monday that is fitting for today. “On The Road Again” is from Willie Nelson in his prime … and one that everybody knows, probably by heart.

If you don’t know the song or the artist, you haven’t lived long enough. 😊  

Downloaded a free audiobook by Alistair Begg on “Lasting Love: How To Avoid Marital Failure”

Posted By on October 13, 2024

Lasting LoveThe Christian mentoring organization Truth For Life, centered around the teachings of Pastor Alistair Begg has a new audio book on marriage call “Lasting Love” that I’ve recently downloaded. I can’t comment on it yet since I’ve not listen to it, but if it is anything like his other books, it should be helping in building a relationship to last a lifetime … and as the title references, “how to avoid marital failure.” 

Devotional link

For those who have occasionally read a post or two before on TFL and Alistair Begg, you’l know that I’m a listener and reader of their publications and devotionals.

If you are interested, here’s the link to download Lasting Love

Woodworking: A couple tidbits worth saving for the workshop

Posted By on October 12, 2024

Snipping from my digital woodworking magazines definitely become a habit, although I’m not sure I’ll remember how to find them, even though they are archived on the blog (or keep myself from marking up the image with digital red marks)! 😊

Dust Control idea with sideboard

Nevertheless, the one above might be useful IF I make the edge guide a little taller when using my new-ish Table Saw Jointer Jig. It tends to be excessively dusty when I’m making long cuts on the Oostra Oak

The next two ideas I’d like to try. I have a couple MicroJig dovetail clamps and adding a small clip as a third-hand would be helpful. The other isn’t something I need at the moment, but using coffee grounds mixed with CA glue to fill knots is interesting.

Clamp Coffee Grounds and CA Glue

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