Happy Solar Circumnavigational Anniversary Day to my father! He’s a good man. He has taught me a lot about business, life and just about everything else important in my life. We don’t agree on a lot of things, but he and my mother always let me be me, no matter how much it pained them. Happy birthday, Pop!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Budington Kelland
Well, I got a new laptop today. It’s not exactly what I wanted but it will have to do me for now. My other one died and there was no fixing it. That’s sad because it was everything I ever wanted in a laptop. It was a two-in-one (laptop/tablet combo), made by HP, touchscreen, all the keys were where they needed to be, the 10-key numeric pad and all that jazz. This one is made by Lenovo (formerly IBM)15.6″ and has the touchscreen, 10-key pad. That’s good. I love the color of it, too. Kind of a brushed cobalt blue or something. But, the keys are weird and the screen seems a little confined.
I think my other one was 17″ because I didn’t have to pull my arms so close together to type and seemed wider. Nothing fits in this screen. There’s a lot of scrolling in all directions just to see anything. It’s kind of annoying. But, it was affordable and I spent more than I could probably afford at that, but I had to have something. I was getting nothing done and while I love the power and the big screens of my two studio computers, I don’t want to sit in those chairs and feel like I’m working 24 hours a day. I can put my feet up and watch tv whilst I work or doing puzzles or writing this blog. Now, granted, I am writing all this on Sunday and posting it for the Thursday just prior, meaning that I haven’t done a post since last Sunday, but I’m catching up.
One cool thing, while Lenovo’s global headquarters are in China, their operational headquarters are here in Morrisville, NC. So, I guess I’m buying “local.”
Anywhat! I’m glad to have something. I will say that the keyboard feels really good. I’ll let that shine above the things I don’t like.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “I have used Lenovo since I wrote my first novel. My old laptop broke, so I bought a new one, but still a Lenovo. It is one of my most essential devices. Okky Madasari Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=new+laptop
Today is the 45th anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive! which is #41 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Live Albums of All Time list. Per Wayne Campbell in Wayne’s World2 said, “Everybody in the world has Frampton Comes Alive. If you lived in the suburbs you were issued it. It came in the mail with samples of ‘Tide’.” I picked this version of this song because I like seeing the young kids embracing the rock and roll. I hear most of the kids today (well my son and his friends and such) listening to rap and hip-hop. And, while there is nothing wrong with that… I wish they’d know the joys of a good rock album and the songs that come with it. Enjoy!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “I wonder how you’re feeling. There’s ringing in my ears. And no one to relate to ‘cept the sea. Who can I believe in? I’m kneeling on the floor. There has to be a force, who do I phone. The stars are out and shining, but all I really wanna know… Oh, won’t you show me the way?” – “Show Me The Way” (Frampton)
Today is the 48th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Like The Doors from yesterday’s entry, I’ve never been a huge Springsteen fan, but I have grown an appreciation of the last 10 years or so. Five and a half years ago, I was part of the Vagabond Saints Society’s “Because the Night: A Night of Bruce Springsteen” (or something like that). I did four songs, “Because the Night,” “If I Should Fall Behind,” “I’m on Fire” and this one (second in the video). It was fun for me because it’s way out of my wheelhouse and I liked the challenge. I hope you enjoy!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Crazy Janey and her mission man were back in the alley tradin’ hands. ‘Long came Wild Billy with his friend G-man all duded up for Saturday night. Well Billy slammed on his coaster brakes and said anybody wanna go on up to Greasy Lake? It’s about a mile down on the dark side of route eighty-eight. I got a bottle of rose so let’s try it. We’ll pick up Hazy Davy and Killer Joe and I’ll take you all out to where the gypsy angels go. They’re built like light.” – “Spirit in the Night” (Springsteen)
Today is the 54th anniversary of The Doors’ debut album. I’ve never been a huge fan of The Doors but I’m not a hater, either. I liked the film with Val Kilmer and I like a lot of the songs. I’m just not a follower of all that stuff. Talented musicians, for sure. I like this laid back version and I hope you do, too. Enjoy!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “The time to hesitate is through. No time to wallow in the mire. Try now we can only lose. And our love become a funeral pyre.” – “Light My Fire” (Morrison/Krieger/Densmore/Manzarek)
We didn’t go to Underdog Records this week because Jonathan is taking well-deserved time off. But, I decided to show you what I’ve been loving. My friend Jim Young got me a bottle of Templeton Rye Whiskey for my birthday and my son got me Stormtrooper Ice Cube Molds for Christmas. You can’t really tell the Stormtrooper but trust me, it’s there. I love those things. And, man that rye is so smooth. Thanks to both of you. Enjoy your Sunday, everyone.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “GOOD WHISKEY GETS BETTER WITH AGE. That’s why, back in 2010, we set aside a few select barrels of The Good Stuff for extra aging. Six long years later, the wait is finally over. Our release of Templeton Rye 6 marks our first new product in over a decade. Aged six years in new American oak barrels, this limited release of Templeton Rye whiskey is 91.5 proof with an unforgettable flavor. Now there’s even more to love about The Good Stuff.” – Templeton Rye
Yesterday was the 37th anniversary of Los Lobos’ major label debut, How Will the Wolf Survive. It was ranked #455 on the RS list that matters and somehow survived the ridiculousness and actually moved up on the 2020 list to #431. Good for them. It’s a good album. Here’s the not-quite title track with David Hidalgo himself doing it acoustically and with some back story on the tune. It’s a great tune. Enjoy!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Through the chill of winter, running across a frozen lake, hunters are out on his trail. All odds are against him. With a family to provide for, the one thing he must keep alive. Will the wolf survive?” – “Will the Wolf Survive?” (Hidalgo/Perez)
December 31, 2019 held a lot of promise for the new year. 2020. Hindsight and perfect vision and all that. This past year robbed us all of so much. My son saw his senior year fizzle out. No senior prom, no proper graduation, culinary school, no graduation for that either. We lost a lot of people. Now people die everyday, I know this. But, there was so much senseless dying because of a pandemic that could have been handled better from its onset and it ran rampant, mostly unchecked. Well, it was checked but still ran rampant. 2020 sucked. Plain. Simple. Sucked badly. We’re now officially in 2021 and 2020 still sucks.
The BCPF and I watched movies and stopped in the middle to clink champagne glasses and go out to listen to what we thought was fireworks. It turns out there were gunshots all over the city. I guess people were ready to shoot the crap out of 2020. Luckily, no bullets came down near us and really, I’ve not heard of anyone getting hurt, so… okay. It didn’t feel festive, but we have each other and that’s a great thing.
So, to all of you, I hope your new year is better than the last. If last year was okay or good for you, I hope this one is even better. Cheers to you all and happy new year!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “If you asked me for my New Year Resolution, it would be to find out who I am.” – Cyril Cusack
Today is the 41st anniversary of Steve Winwood’s second solo album after leaving all the various supergroups he was part of. He’s considered a multi-instrumentalist, kind of the way Prince was and like the Purple One, Stevie Winwood played all the instruments on this album. That’s impressive. Here’s a finger-picking style guitarist covering the album’s biggest tune. Enjoy!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Don’t you know by now, no one gives you anything? And don’t you wonder how you keep on moving? One more day your way, oh your way. When there’s no one left to leave you, even you don’t quite believe you. That’s when nothing can deceive you.” – “While You See A Chance” (Winwood/Jennings)
So, there was this New Wave band in Canada called Rough Trade. I had never heard of them, that I know of, and since selections are kind of low right now, I looked into them. This is the 40th anniversary their third album for those who think young (the stylized way they put on the album) and this was their biggest “hit,” and I use that term loosely. Before I read anything on them past this album, I thought that the singer was a man and just really into androgyny. Nope, it’s a woman with a Robert Smith fascination, obviously. It’s not a bad song, but I couldn’t find a cover, so I’ll go with a live version. Enjoy!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “It hit me like, it hit me like, it hit me like a slap. All, all touch. All touch and all touch and no contact. Challenging eyes above the rim of a cocktail glass. Hoping I’d react. All touch and all touch and no contact.” – “All Touch” (Pope/Staples)