Author Archives: TGBII

The Solar Circumnavigational Thing or: Just Another Day?

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Salutations™!!

Yes. Today is my birthday and I don’t ever shy away from it. I love having a birthday. Yeah, I like attention, but so what? I give it as well as I get. I love being shown the love because whilst I know I have those who love me (and presumably those who don’t), it’s still good to be told as much. worf

I have friends who hate people knowing when their birthday is, hate a big deal being made. Not me. I love my birthday. Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved it. I look at it this way. We all share Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, and any other major holiday that we either get off work for or hang out with friends for. But, even with the fact that you share your birthday with about 6B other people in the world, this is your day. And, I’m happy and my life is good. I have a great wife, a great kid, great family, great friends. Every day since April 18, 2012, especially, I have loved every day, even when they weren’t. So much to appreciate in life and I try to every day.

I have about 7 or 8 friends on my Facebook friends list that I share this day with and probably more with the way you can not have that day known publicly. To each of the public ones, I will send my customary “happy solar circumnavigational anniversary day” message with a little extra. I usually get around 100-150 messages or posts on my wall and I try to respond to each individual one with a little more than “thanks.” People took the time to send me a message, I should be as kind and show that they were worth more than a “thanks.” If you’re sending me something today, thank you in advance. But you’ll get more.

So, I am going to enjoy my day. I have a podcast to record and luckily I get to record with awesome folks and The BCPF will be with me on The Less Desirables. I hope you guys enjoy your days, too.

Until tomorrow, happy happy to me!
Scorp out!

—
“Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.” – Satchel Paige

Boys of Summer or: Those Fond Memories

19 Tuesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Salutations™!!

Today is the 35th anniversary of Don Henley’s Building the Perfect Beast album. This song is one of two or three that make me think of my childhood and just a really good time in my life. I don’t have many bad times but this was me being 14 years old and life was simple. The music at that time was amazing. My friends were amazing. It was all so good. The funny thing, oddly enough, is that this song is about the exact opposite of holding on or longing for those days. It’s about the end of childhood, letting it go if you will. At least that’s what I get out of it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to go back. I love my life. I just loved that time and miss how I felt back then. This guy’s voice is really good. I enjoy this cover. I hope you do, too!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I never will forget those nights. I wonder if it was a dream. Remember how you made me crazy? Remember how I made you scream? Now I don’t understand what happened to our love. But, babe I’m gonna get you back. I’m going to show you what I’m made of.” – “Boys of Summer” (Campbell/Henley)

Mondaying In My Pants or: The Heck!?

18 Monday Nov 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Salutations™!!

First, we recorded and published two podcasts today. The Man Who Ate the Town and The Beer Dads were both published. I’d appreciate it if you’d check them out.

playstation-vue-shutting-down

Bye-bye PlayStation Vue/

Okay, so here’s my rant. About six/seven months ago, we “cut the cord” from DirecTV as their pricing was escalating out of hand and availability of NFL Network was non-existent. It was getting crazy. Initially, we went the DirecTVNow route, which became AT&T Now. They didn’t have NFL Sunday Ticket, even though DirecTV did. I couldn’t figure that out. Why?

Then, out of nowhere, AT&T Now dropped the NFL Network. Well, it was time to change. We went the Fubo route, then. They had NFL Network and at least did have NFL RedZone so we could watch that. But, I didn’t realize that they didn’t have any Disney-owned channels. Obviously, if I’m hunting down NFL Network and NFL RedZone, then I want to watch football. The end of every week in the NFL season is Monday Night Football. What channel is MNF on? ESPN. Who owns ESPN? Disney.

So, before the trial week was up, I switched PlayStation Vue. It had everything I wanted, except NFL Sunday Ticket which is, unfortunately, only available to DirecTV subscribers because of the exclusive contract with them. “NFL Sunday Ticket is available via DirecTVNow, they said, so I canceled it.” It wasn’t. It is only available outside of DirecTV if I can prove that I can’t get DirecTV. Well, I had it. I can’t very well prove that huh?

I digress.

So, as I was saying, PSVue had everything I wanted minus NFL ST and the DVR is a bit wacky at times. All is well. All is good. All is… well, crap. PlayStation Vue is ceasing operations on January 30, 2020, because it wants to concentrate on its gaming. I get that but don’t leave us all in the dark. This is totally throwing me off. I have been scrambling tonight looking for other services that can give me comparable service/channel selection.

There is none.

Some have a very select channel selection. Some have many channels but not the ones I want. Some have all I want but aren’t available now. None match the selection of PlayStation Vue. This is killing me. Do I go back to DirecTV with a much-reduced plan? Do I just do without the things that I want and do one of the ones that do without NFLX and just keep the CNN, USA, TNT, ESPN and networks? I can find the games and RedZone via the internet but I like to have my computer with me and I lose that when I do.

I don’t know. I have Disney+ which includes ESPN+, so maybe I go back to Fubo? I don’t know. I didn’t like that service and the DVR was also a maximum of 20hrs. I’m just at a loss, here. I’m about done. What do you do, Dear Reader?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Today we are announcing that we will shut down the PlayStation Vue service on January 30, 2020. Unfortunately, the highly competitive Pay TV industry, with expensive content and network deals, has been slower to change than we expected. Because of this, we have decided to remain focused on our core gaming business.” – PlayStation

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 11/16/19

17 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

Yesterday was a good day for The BCPF and me. We got up early, went to breakfast, went to Underdog Records, got to talk to Jonathan for a bit, then we came home and started working on reconstructing our house, the kitchen specifically. That means a good bit of record playing to combat the awful feeling of my fat arse getting on and up from the floor cleaning and clearing drawers and cabinets. We got about 75% of the way through from noon until 620p. We are happy with it, but we’re both feeling it today. Here’s this week’s haul:

_Crow

©Amaret

  • Andrew Bird – The Mysterious Production Of Eggs — Bird was the violinist and sang some for Squirrel Nut Zippers and Kevin O’Donnell’s Quality Six. He’s an indie-folk dude and we got to see him two years ago when he opened for Belle & Sebastian. Good stuff, but we haven’t heard this album yet. It was originally released in 2005 with the vinyl reissue in 2017. New.
  • Crow – Best Of Crow — I know absolutely nothing about Crow other than they were “a Minneapolis-based blues-rock band, that was first active from 1967 to 1972. They are best known for the song “Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games With Me),” which was later covered by Black Sabbath. It was there and looked like something I needed to hear to try and build my street cred. It won’t, of course, but I am trying. Didn’t get to it yesterday. EX/VG++.
  • Brownsville Station – Yeah! — The album with “Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room,” Robert Palmer’s “Barefootin’,” Jimmy Cliff’s “Let Your Yeahs Be Yeahs” and Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane.” EX/VG++.
  • Nat King Cole – A Blossom Fell — Yet another compilation of Cole songs from 1973. VG.
  • Ambrosia  – Life Beyond L.A. — The album that took Ambrosia from their proggier days to the softer rock/yacht rock sound we grew to know and love. This has “How Much I Feel.” VG+.

Jonathan has a lot of used equipment that is pretty banging stuff. He’s also gearing up for Record Store Day – Black Friday Edition that will happen, well, on Black Friday. Also, don’t forget to buy your gift certificates or tell your loved ones that a gift certificate from Underdog Records is your gift of choice! Listen to the latest episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. I use Discogs to track what I may or may not have when I’m in Underdog Records so I can avoid duplicates and do “random grabs” whilst listening at home.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning!
Scorp out!

—
“I don’t know how this whole business started, of you thinkin’ that I had been untrue. But if you think that we’d be better parted, it’s gonna hurt me but I’ll break away from you. Well, just give me the sign and I will be gone, yeah.” – “How Much I Feel” (Drummond/Pack)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Rick-Rolled

16 Saturday Nov 2019

Posted by in Sounds Like Saturday, Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Salutations™!!

Yeah, today is the 32nd anniversary of Rick Astley’s Whenever You Need Somebody album. It had his biggest hits on it: “Together Forever,” “It Would Take a Strong, Strong Man” and this one, the epitome of being “rick-rolled.” Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“We’re no strangers to love. You know the rules and so do I. A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of. You wouldn’t get this from any other guy. I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling. Gotta make you understand.” – “Never Gonna Give You Up” (Stock/Aitken/Waterman)

Emergency! or: The Fixer Upper

15 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by in Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Salutations™!!

So, I had a lot going on today, Friday, and I didn’t get to this post. But, hey, here I am now. Today is the 35th anniversary of Kool & The Gang’s Emergency! album. Which is my favorite because well, that’s when I really got to know them.  I didn’t know them in their early days, just the JT Taylor era. I wore this tape out (at least the first side). I wore the CD out (ditto) and luckily for me, I take better care of my vinyl records so I won’t wear this one out. This is the ringer for the album, of course, and this is a really cool cover with no actual vocals. I dig it. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The world is always changing, nothing stays the same. But, love will stand the test of time. The next life that we live in remains to be seen. Will you be by my side? I often pray before I lay down by your side. And if you receive your calling before I awake, could I make it through the night?” – “Cherish” (Bell/Taylor/Kool & the Gang)

Running Late or: I Want Ewe

14 Thursday Nov 2019

Posted by in KISS, Video

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Salutations™!!

Okay, being sheepish, I’m going to be honest and say that I’m writing this on Friday for Thursday and talking about Monday. Whatever, but Monday was KISS’ fifth studio album, Rock and Roll Over‘s 43rd anniversary. It’s one of my favorites and why not highlight it? I love this song, too. We did it often in Heavens Sake. This is from the tour that I saw which was my first ever rock concert (in Greensboro) in 1990. Eric Carr was still alive and they rocked. Paul still sounded really good, too. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“You can walk in a haze, you can travel ’til you die. You can live in a dream and your life will pass you by. Every day that you hesitate, you’re never changing the hands of fate. You can fight, but tonight there’s nothing you can do.” – “I Want You” (Stanley)

Holiday (JC)heer or: Take a Walk on the Yule Side

13 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Salutations™!!

This year, on December 7, to be exact,  the Winston-Salem Jaycees will be having their 29th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade. I’ve been in the parade, it was a good bit of fun. I rode in a convertible and nearly froze my tuchis off. That’s okay, though, the fun outweighed the chill. JayceeLOGO-fb

It goes throughout the main arteries in downtown WSNC and people flock to the streets! You can be part of the parade, too. The Jaycees are looking for entrants into the parade and want the city to know that it is rapidly approaching and the deadline for it is even closer, still. In fact, the deadline for entries is 1159p on Monday, November 18, 2019. This way they can start making the line-up and order for the parade.

Whether you’re walking, building a float, flying in your jetpack (okay, I made that part up), an important figure, a beauty queen, an animal group, or pretty much anything family-friendly, you can be in this parade. Go to wsparade.org/registration and do your registration thing. Yes, there is a cost but I’m telling you, there will be a shload of people there. It’s good exposure for you and it helps the Jaycees, who are a fantastic group of young folk.

And, hang around a little bit for the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, too!

Remember, December 7, 2019. It starts at 5p and will be superdynawhoppin’!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Twas time for the holiday parade, and all through the city, shiny new floats were ready, shimmering and pretty. The Winston-Salem Jaycees have planned the event with great care, in hopes that every one of you will choose to be there.” – WS Jaycees

Step On In or: Nothing New

12 Tuesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Video

≈ Leave a comment

Salutations™!!

Today is the 35th anniversary of Duran Duran’s live album Arena. I don’t usually do live albums because, well, I try to get live covers or versions to play on here, but it’s Duran Duran and I dig ’em. And, this is a great live version, if only for the studio crew. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Okay, my reasoning might be clouded by the sun but someone sees the departmental lie. You know this peacetime, jabbing fist in stabbing knife, only get one look before you die” – “New Religion” (LeBon/Rhodes/Taylor/Taylor/Taylor)

Honor or: De Oppresso Liber

11 Monday Nov 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

Today is Armistice Day and Veterans Day. They are basically the same thing, however, they started a little differently.

According to Wikipedia: Armistice Day is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France at 5:45 am,  for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning—the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918. The armistice initially expired after a period of 36 days and had to be extended several times. A formal peace agreement was only reached when the Treaty of Versailles was signed the following year.

I believe it was meant to honor the “war dead” from World War I.

National-Veterans-Day-Events-750x417

©militarybenefits.info

At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

Veterans Day is for honoring military veterans, that is, persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces (and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). To be clear, November 11, or more specifically Veterans Day, is not for remembering the dead, although we can certainly honor them, as well. But, Memorial Day is for the memory of fallen soldiers. Veterans Day is for honoring all soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines (and don’t forget those in the National Guard, Coast Guard and Reserves), as long as they weren’t dishonorably discharged).

I have never wanted to be in the military but I respect them for what they do to make sure that we can protest, speak out, make a living, own property, come and go as we please, listen to the music we want to, and vote for those that we choose to represent us among many other things. I appreciate being able to live as I wish. I appreciate all that you do. As should we all!

Happy Veterans Day!
Scorp out!

—
“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” – Alexander Hamilton