Monthly Archives: January 2019

Step One or: I Have to Get What Done?

31 Thursday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

Well, the first step of getting 3B on the track to compliance with his speeding ticket has been accomplished. That first step is getting him registered for the “Alive at 25” course at FTCC. But, getting that done took a lot more steps than is really needed.5c100913baa98.image_

Since he is only 16, we had to turn in a minor release form. Okay, I say, I’m his parent so I should just have to give permission. Nope. I had to have him fill out the release with his signature. I then had to sign it in front of a Notary Public to verify my signature. Okay, good enough, right? Wrong! I then had to go to his high school and have them sign off on this course. I was perturbed at that as I don’t feel it’s the school’s business what he is doing, as far as driving goes, away from school. If he had been arrested, yeah, okay, but he wasn’t. Whatevs. I got it done.

I have to say, really the hardest part was getting my signature notarized. I, myself, am a Notary Public and I’m used to witnessing a lot of things, but the only signature I can’t notarize is my own, so I had to find an NP.

3B and I met at Zesto Burgers & Ice Cream to have lunch and give him time to fill his out. On the hill across from Zesto is a BB&T. They’re good friends with Algenon from Zesto and he said they’d take care of me. I walked in and they were super nice, but I was told the policy is that they can only notarize things for BB&T customers. Well, that’s inconvenient, but I get it and all this needs to be a little inconvenient for everyone. Figuring I had to go to the bank that I am a client, I asked the BB&T manager about the closest Suntrust. He suggested the Ogburn Station branch. I haven’t been on that side of town in a while, so okay.

As I was headed for Suntrust, I got to thinking… hey. When you’re a Notary Public, you’re an appointed agent of the state in which you are a resident, not an agent for any institution. And, in that, as long as there is no legal warrants or precedence to dissuade you from witnessing a signature, you do it, regardless of who they may or may not do business with. As far as I know, me not being a client doesn’t constitute a disqualification from “witness.”

Oh well. The awesome lady at Suntrust agreed with me and she didn’t charge me for the service, which could have been “professional courtesy” since I, too, am a Notary Public. Or, she just may not charge for her services. I usually don’t. I mean, I can only charge a minimal nominal fee anyway.  More hassle than helpful at that point. Thanks to K Love regardless of the reason.

And, I got him signed up for the class which happens on Saturday. And it’s probably much earlier than he wants it to be for a Saturday. Here’s hoping the inconvenience is a good deterrent for future incidents he may have like this. Inconvenience on his part and on ours. It may not matter, but here’s hoping.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Car chases usually don’t involve major criminals – they’re usually guys afraid of getting another traffic ticket.” – Dennis Farina

Spinning Wednesday or: Bonus Spinning

30 Wednesday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

ellington_uptown

©Columbia

Yesterday, I cleaned up all the records that Ray Morgan had brought me. Because I only use my Vinyl Styl cleaner every once in a while, when I fill it and use it, I want to get all that I can out of it. It takes me about 20 minutes to wash 15 records and then about 30 minutes from the last of the 15 being put on the rack. Because Ray gave me so many, I had to make two wash cycles so, since the second one was only about 8 or 9, I pulled a few records from the old “bonus” stack from last year or before. I had gone through all the rock/pop stuff that I knew that I wanted and now it’s other stuff that I’ll just “get to” as I can. Here’s what I cleaned as part of yesterday’s cleansing fest.

So, that was the “bonus” stack that got put into the rotation yesterday. About 40 more to go in that stack. I’m happy with it. Next will be from Underdog Records, of course.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Sometimes the cabin’s gloomy and the table’s bare. But then he’ll kiss me and it’s Christmas everywhere. Trouble’s fly away and life is easy go. Does he love me good? That’s all I need to know. Seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe.”
 – “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” ( Arlen/Harburg)

Spinning Tuesday? or: Morgan Bonus!

29 Tuesday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

The good thing about people knowing that you’re into records, and collect them and play them and so on, is that people come to you first when they’re ready to part with their collections.

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©Wooden Nickel

Yesterday, when Ray Morgan came over to the Lab at Industry Hill, he had “candy” with him! And, by “candy,” I mean records! He had a shload of Styx albums in there and he was just ready to part with them. I guess he was mad at them or something. I’m kidding about that, but he did bring me a stack. So, to keep them separate from the usual Saturday haul, I’m going to tell you what I cleaned and what I’m keeping. I also had some from the “bonus stack” from last year (or was it the year before? I can never keep that straight) and I go through when I have time and clean a few of those. So, there are a few here, too. Here’s what we got:

  • Styx – The Serpent Is Rising — This is Styx’s third album. It is on Wooden Nickel Records and John Curulewski is still with the band at this time. “Winner Take All” was the only single released and did practically nothing. It does have Styx’s version of Handel’s Messiah. VG.
  • Styx – Man Of Miracles — The fourth album. The last on Wooden Nickel. “Best Thing” was the only single from this album, but their sound did start to diversify from what it started as. This was the German pressing. VG+.
  • Styx – Equinox — Their A&M Records debut, their fifth studio album and the last with Curulewski who left to spend more time with his family and control more of his own musical direction. “Lorelei” and “Light Up” were released as singles, but “Suite Madame Blue” got a good bit of play, too. VG+.
  • Styx – Crystal Ball — Their sixth album and the first with Tommy Shaw. “Mademoiselle,” the title track and “Jennifer” were released as singles. I have a copy of this but this is the 1984 reissue. It hasn’t been filed on/in the shelves yet, so I haven’t been able to compare to see if I’m going to keep one or the other or keep them both, according to what versions I have. VG+.
  • Styx – Best Of Styx — With the success of The Grand Illusion (Ray gave it to me, but I had it already), Styx’s seventh album, and mainly on the singles “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” and “Come Sail Away”, Wooden Nickel went back and released a greatest hits from when they were on their label. This is the German pressing of the album. VG+. Ray brought me Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone and Paradise Theatre but I already had those and my copies were either in better shape or the issue was better. Ray, however, took good care of his vinyl.
  • Styx – Kilroy Was Here — I already have this but, this was the British/European release so, I kept both of them. I am a collector, eh? Yeah, this album gets a lot of flack but, I still dig it. “Mr. Roboto” and “Don’t Let It End” were the big hits on this album. VG+.
  • Styx – Caught In The Act Live — 2xLP live album to support Kilroy. This tour had a mini-movie at the beginning to try and make sense of the concept album that Kilroy was supposed to be. Tommy Shaw left the band after this album was released. It was the last of the classic Styx lineup as John Panozzo was too sick to tour when they reunited and died in 1996. VG+. In addition to the Styx, Ray also brought me some Moody Blues.
  • The Moody Blues – A Question Of Balance — This was their sixth album and was an attempt to get away from their overly psychedelic roots and move into stuff they could reproduce better live. “Question” was the only single released. VG+.
  • The Moody Blues – Every Good Boy Deserves Favour — Their seventh studio album. The title is the mnemonic for the lines of the treble staff in music. I was taught it was “every good boy does fine” but this is a British band, after all. “The Story in Your Eyes” was the single. VG+.
  • The Moody Blues – Seventh Sojourn — I actually bought this a few weeks ago, but this was in much better shape. VG+.
  • The Moody Blues – Long Distance Voyager — Their 10th album and the first of the 80s. “Gemini Dream,” “The Voice” and “Talking Out of Turn” were the singles. This is the Canadian pressing. VG+.
  • Randy Crawford – Rich And Poor — I know nothing about this artist or album. Randy is a female, so I suppose it’s short for Miranda. The album is signed by Randy and is to Ray. VG+.
  • Foster And Lloyd – Foster And Lloyd — I know nothing of F&L. But, he said it’s a really good album, so, we’ll go with it! VG+.
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Webb On The Air — Ella was part of Chick Webb’s band and this is highlights of his and hers. VG+.
  • Frank Sinatra – Sinatra’s Swingin’ Session!!! — Nelson Riddle conducted and Frank sang. Much of this was previously released. VG+.
  • Herbie Hancock – Round Midnight – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack — Herbie, Bobby McFarren, Wayne Shorter and a long list of folk are featured on here. Ray was excited about it, so I am, too. VG+.
  • The Sugar Bears – Presenting The Sugar Bears — Yes. That Sugar Bear (and his many personas). Featuring songs written by Baker Knight and sung by Kim Carnes and Mike Settle. It was a real-life group that performed the songs under the persona of the cereal mascot. It’s as cheesy as you’d think it would be, but you know what? I dug it. VG+.

So, I decided that I would make two different posts about this “haul.” One for the ones that Ray gave me and another for the “bonus stack.” I didn’t get these from Underdog Records, but I certainly would have if they’d been there. Thank you, Ray! I enjoyed going through them and look forward to listening to my new Styx collection!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. Mata ahoo Hima de. Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. 
Himitsu wo Shiri tai.” – “Mr. Roboto” (DeYoung)

What Am I Becoming? or: Stop Right There!

28 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Rant

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Salutations™!!

As much as I love this city of mine, the grand ol’ WSNC, I worry that I’m starting to become a curmudgeon like my bestest buddy, Eugene. Why you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.

I understand that we’ve known the Business 40 shutdown has been coming for the last decade (or so it seems). And, frankly, I’m not complaining that that road is out of commission for the next 20 months or so. I’m okay with that. What I am not okay with is the Camel Citizens that have seemingly lost their collective driving minds since it happened.

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©WS Journal

It doesn’t help that the city has done little-to-nothing to help the traffic with the endless mess of construction, either on the streets or on things around streets that will close without warning to make the whole “plan your alternate routes now” we were spewed from City Planning/DOT. It doesn’t matter how we plan our route, we won’t know until we’re driving on them, which roads may be closed for any myriad of reasons.

I have tried and tried to take up for the City for all of this for years, but it’s getting harder and harder. Now, as annoyed as I am, I can still traverse the roads when something is askew. Most other drivers – not all, but most – have, again, lost their danged minds.

Then when they work on roads, they will leave gaping holes in the pavement for long periods of time. We know when the weather is wintery and crappy it does extra damage to the roads. But, yet, they’ll put in some plumbing or something to a business and then leave it with just the crusher run rock in the hole and that stuff isn’t meant to withstand long periods of exposure. It creates mini craters in the road.

Or, they will dig something up and patch the road where they were working with asphalt, but don’t fix a hole that has been in the road for a year or more when it’s less than 10 feet from the spot they were working on. I understand the politics and ways and means and cost and all that, but it wouldn’t take three shovels full of the black stuff to fill that hole, too.

The worst is when they will mill a street, repave the street where it is pristine and beautiful and then dig up the new asphalt to fix some mysterious problem under the road and then patch the hole with inferior blacktop and it sinks and the new pristine pavement is just as crappy as older in-need streets around town. I don’t understand why they couldn’t fix the problem before they paved the street. Surely, all new problems can’t arise only where there’s new pavement?

And, another thing, and this is something that I know Eugene has been complaining about as long as I’ve known him. The danged traffic lights. Not the outlying/suburban lights so much but the ones downtown.

I know with the technology available today, there must be a way to put the lights in this town on a better timer system that we are with now. During the day, I get having the lights last longer. But, after 6pm when everyone has “packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes, (like) contestants in a suicidal race” (thanks Sting) and gone home, why must we sit at a light for 2 minutes when there is absolutely nothing coming from the other direction? Or, be green until someone gets close to it? It’s like there is some sensor just waiting to stop you. I mean, it’s green. Green. Green. Green. Green. I get close. It turns red. So, I stop. And nothing is coming from the other direction. What the heck is that all about? Why did I have to stop? It makes no sense.

So, yeah, I guess I am becoming Eugene. But, really, the city is doing itself a disservice and it wouldn’t take much to fix the problem. Also, can we have a better warning system, be it online, social media or whatever to let you know what random street is going to be closed at any given time? I’m not talking about Waze or whatever, I am talking about someone to actually alert citizens to their screwups. Get it right, WSNC. Get it right.

Okay, soap box back under the bed.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Everybody likes driving through scenic, winding roads. It’s hard to find people who like sitting in traffic in cities.” – Karl Iagnemma

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/26/19

27 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday

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Salutations™!!

jfrontiers

©Columbia

Yesterday, The BCPF and I got off to an earlier-than-usual start and had breakfast and then ran by Underdog Records. We were there before they opened so we got first dibs on his wares, but not until he opened, of course, we don’t do that. The record-listening time was cut short because we judged a chili cook-off for the Ardmore Neighborhood late in the afternoon. But, the haul was great and I was excited about three things, in particular. Here’s the haul:

  • Roxy Music – Manifesto — This is one of the ones I’m excited about. I have really enjoyed listening to Roxy Music stuff, whether I have it on vinyl or not. In fact, I listen to it on streaming, too. I also like the Brian Eno solo stuff. He was gone from Roxy before this album came out. I was just making a point. “Dance Away” is one of my favorite Roxy tunes and it’s on this album. VG+.
  • Journey – Frontiers — Another that I was excited about. I can’t believe I didn’t already have this, but now, I can’t say that any longer. This has so many good songs from “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” to “Faithfully,” “After the Fall” to “Send Her My Love” which happens to be one of my favorite Journey songs. I know the album and the band (in this era) got a lot of flack and scoffs but I love them and I love this album. VG++.
  • Stan Getz – Eloquence — Stan Getz. ‘Nuff said. VG.
  • Canned Heat – The Canned Heat Cook Book (The Best Of Canned Heat) — All I know from Canned Heat is “Going Up the Country” and “On the Road Again.” Both of those are on here, so we got it. VG.
  • The Joseph Consortium, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice– Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — I saw this on a traveling tour. I liked it, but then again… Webber and Rice. VG+.
  • Richard Strauss – Rudolf Kempe, Dresden Staatskapelle– Also Sprach Zarathustra — This is a “tone poem” from Strauss that was inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s novel Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra). You and I, though? We know it as the theme to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. VG++.
  • Judas Priest – Hell Bent For Leather — The American version of Killing Machine from Priest. The album was renamed in the US because CBS/Columbia was wary of the implications following the Cleveland School Shooting in San Diego. Incidentally, that shooting led to Boomtown Rats’ song “I Don’t Like Mondays” because the shooter, 16-year old Brenda Spencer shot folks from her house across the street and when questioned about it, said “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.” She still sits in jail 40 years later. But, this album rocks, as does all Priest, I’m learning. It’s the last one with Les Binks behind the drums. VG.

Again, with the swing through, I didn’t get to notice a lot of equipment that Jonathan had but there were things there, including a few cassette decks, speakers and of course, turntables/record players. And, again, check out the Curated by Underdog feature that Jonathan does, now. Go in and ask him about it. Listen to The Less Desirables, new episodes out every Wednesday night, to hear the TLD/UR special of the week.

I used Discogs to track and catalog my collection.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Yesterday, when it seemed so cool, when I walked you home, kissed goodnight, I said, “It’s love”, you said, “Alright.” It’s funny how I could never cry until tonight when you pass by hand in hand with another guy. You’re dressed to kill and guess who’s dying. Dance away the heartache. Dance away the tears. Dance away the heartache. Dance away the fear. Dance away.” – “Dance Away” (Ferry)

Sounds Like Saturday or: 25 or 6 to 4

26 Saturday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 49th anniversary of the release of Chicago II and perhaps its best-known tune is the Robert Lamm penned/Peter Cetera sung “25 or 6 to 4.” I’ve said several times before that I am not a fan of the older Chicago stuff, but this song does rock. This cover is by a Russian/Ukrainian group of dudes. It’s a pretty good rendition, I think. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Waiting for the break of day. Searching for something to say. Dancing lights against the sky. Giving up I close my eyes. Sitting cross-legged on the floor. 25 or 6 to 4.” – “25 or 6 to 4” (Lamm)

We All Have That First or: 86 That!

25 Friday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

Do you remember your first speeding ticket? I remember mine. And, it wasn’t my first ticket. I had gotten a ticket for an illegal traffic move when I merged in front of another driver when I was almost 17. Then when I was 17, I was traveling to West Virginia to see a girlfriend when I was clocked for going 77 in a 55 zone, but they reduced it to 72 to keep me under the “15 MPH over” stuff.

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©Hagar/Geffen

Well, today, 3B got his first speeding ticket. He didn’t get so lucky. He was going 86 in a 65. 21 MPH over. When I asked him why he said he had to go to the bathroom. He probably doesn’t want me telling that part, but you know what, you do silly things, you get called out for it.

I asked why he didn’t just stop at a convenience store and he said he didn’t want to do that in a convenience store. So, instead of getting home, safely, to do that, he got into even more poo. Sorry for the pun. I don’t know, yet, what the repercussions will be. He says that there’s not a fine. I am quite sure there is a fine and I’m quite sure that fine will be minuscule compared to the court costs. They will be high.

But, all of that doesn’t compare to what it’s going to cost his mother. He’s on her insurance. She said that the cost doubled when she added him. I’m sure this will double that number. Especially since it was that much over.  He’ll probably lose his driving privileges for some period of time, too. We’ll see.

Oh, and turns out The BCPF has pink eye. Isn’t this a wonderful day?!?

Until tomorrow, stay safe and slow down…
Scorp out!

—
“Gonna write me up a 125. Post my face wanted dead or alive. Take my license, all that jive. I can’t drive 55! Oh No!.” – “I Can’t Drive 55” (Hagar)

A Rarity Now or: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

24 Thursday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

Last night I was trying to get everything done so I will admit that my post was a bit on the short side. But, I forgot to mention that the film I was watching was The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969). It stars Maggie Smith, her real-life husband Robert Stephens, Pamela Franklin and others. I would say that this movie would never get made today. It couldn’t and I’m surprised it was then.

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©Twentieth Century Fox

Maggie Smith is young in this. It was 50 years ago, right? That means she was around 35 or so. But, she sounds exactly the same as Professor McGonagall does now. She plays the titular character who is a headstrong young teacher in a private school in 1930s Edinburgh (that) ignores the curriculum and influences her impressionable 12-year-old charges with her over-romanticized world view. (per IMDb). She bypasses teaching the kids and instead instills in them her love of art, literature and it seems sexuality.

She’s in an affair with not only a married man, Teddy Lloyd (Stephens), but a choir teacher (Gordon Jackson) and it alludes that there are probably a few more that she’s “rolling in the hay” with. Her students are blinded by her romantic worldviews and some fall for it, including some that run off to fight in wars because she says they should, posing for the married man (who happens to be an artist) and others.

The part that really struck me was when Sandy (Franklin), a late teen and former student of Miss Brodie’s gets romantically involved with the married painter. That and the overt talk about “sexual intercourse.”

There’s a little more to it but there was some nudity (the film was rated M for Mature, but IMDb has it as PG). But it was just odd that the film was the way it was. I could be wrong as Lolita has been made and remade several times, but the whole teacher/student thing just usually doesn’t fly. I don’t have a problem with it, but I can see where it would definitely take some people to extreme nervousness.

Have you seen it? What did you think of it? I think overall it was a good movie, I just am surprised at it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“There’s no contradiction in being both ridiculous and magnificent.” – Teddy Lloyd

The Wednesday Piggyback or: Time Savers

23 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

I recorded two podcasts today. 20190123_203629

First, on Fan Interference, Hailey Brooke and TC talked about the NFL playoffs, the bad calls, the mayhem, the Super Bowl, NBA, sports, sports, sports. You can listen to us spouting off HERE.

Then on The Less Desirables, we had my buddy Josh Schuminsky and his biz partner, Dawn McGee (who happens to be the stepmother of Brittany McGee from Humblebee Shoppe) are in to talk about their new venture, Time Savers 4 U. Of course, we also talk about beer, music, and other pop culture stuff. You can listen to that HERE.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford

Make It Just to Fake It or: The Pop-Up Podcast

22 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

I told you last week that I was on a podcast that wasn’t mine called The Pop-Up Podcast. That show dropped early yesterday but Mondays are one of my busiest days and I had to work. But, today, I am dropping the ep right here.

Promise Mangum is the host and does a good job. We talk about Podcasting (duh!), WSNC, food, internet radio and more. I was able to get all the podcast names in and the entire roster of TLD sponsors. Woot!

Look for Promise to be on The Less Desirables on February 20. Here, Dear Reader, I present you with the “Pop-Up Podcast.”

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I make it just to fake it…” – Me