Category Archives: The Less Desirables Network

The Day After or: Blessed Beyond Deserving

21 Thursday Nov 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

Yesterday, I responded to what is not probably closer to 290 birthday wishes, be it by Facebook posts, Facebook Stories, Messenger, LinkedIn, texts and emails. I am blessed to have such great friends and family in my tribe and community. They care for me, they care about me. It’s a wonderful thing to be loved. 20191120_205349-01

Additional awesomeness from yesterday? They finished the renovations on our kitchen, laundry room and bathroom.

I got to spend about an hour and a half or two with my mother.

My friend, Algenon at Zesto Burgers & Ice Cream treated me to a fantastic birthday lunch.

My buddy David from Sunnyside Millworks, a “Lab Partner” (see what I did there?) gave me a gift certificate for Hoots Beer Co (a fave)!

Then we recorded The Less Desirables and The BCPF was our special guest. I had Danielle there, of course, and Tracy was our guest co-host and the best surprise, Bethany showed up! I had all my favorite work wives there with me.

I have closed in on the $300 fundraiser for Tourette Association of America

I love my life. I had a great start to my 49th year on the planet. Thank you to everyone involved.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

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 11/9/19

10 Sunday Nov 2019

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday, The Less Desirables Network

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

We did get to go to Underdog Records yesterday but we didn’t get to listen to any of the loot. We were shopping for fixtures for the upgrades to the house and going to a housewarming party for a friend. We had a great day but it involved little music. Here’s the haul:

Ytblacktiger

©A&M

First, there is Regatta de Blanc from the Police but no one has put this reissue on Discogs yet and I don’t want to be the one that does, so I’m holding out for that. Anyway, A&M or someone is reissuing the whole Police catalog, but only Regatta and the next entry were released this week. Regatta is #New.

  • The Police – Zenyattà Mondatta — 2019 rerelease of The Police’s third album. New.
  • Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman — #263 on the RS list. This album is an amazing piece of work. There is much more to the album than just “Fast Car.” Some have called it a bit political but I think she passes that off as being subjective. Great album, again. VG+.
  • Y & T – Black Tiger — This was featured in the Eugeology series from 2017. It was entry #21. You can read my then commentary here. I haven’t listened since but I like to have things that could be musically important. This is the Japanese release and is in immaculate condition. NM.
  • David Bowie – Never Let Me Down — Released in 1987, this was the last solo album from Bowie until 1993. In between, he formed Tin Machine and still toured although he retired his back catalog. I don’t know what he was thinking there, really. I think he just wanted to recharge and reinvent. I don’t really know much about this album, but it was there and I grabbed it. VG++.
  • John Lennon – Walls And Bridges — Original cover with die-cut flaps. This was Lennon’s fifth solo record and had the hits “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” and “#9 Dream.” VG++.
  • Jethro Tull – Stand Up — I’ve never been a big fan of Tull, outside of a few songs here and there. I don’t know how I feel about this album, either, but I do like “A New Day Yesterday,” which I performed with Vagabond Saints Society when they did a night of Jethro Tull. EX/VG++.
  • George Harrison – Extra Texture (Read All About It) — Harrison’s sixth solo album, it was his final album under his contract with Apple Records and EMI, and the last studio album issued by Apple. There were a lot of superstar guest musicians and the album didn’t do very well. But, it is what it is. EX/VG++.
  • Faces – A Nod Is As Good As A Wink…To A Blind Horse — Faces’ third album and probably their defining moment. They were riding a high from Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” solo hit and were ready to go. They shuffled up some of the lead vocal duties and that made some of the members frustrated, especially bassist Ronnie Lane.  Found this is the $1 bin and there are two more $1 albums that for whatever reason didn’t get into my Discogs collection. Well, one I know was because it wasn’t in Discogs and the other I must have just skipped. G+.

A good day and I hope to listen to these things soon. Jonathan was in a good mood and we had a few minutes to laugh and talk. I always love that. He has some new-to-the-store electronics for sale and he’s always adding new stock to the “freshly new” bins. Listen to the latest episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection and bring this “haul” to you.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Poets, priests, and politicians have words to thank for their positions. Words that scream for your submission. And no one’s jamming their transmission. Because when their eloquence escapes you, their logic ties you up and rapes you.” – “De Do Do Do De Da Da Da” (Sting)

Let The Madness Begin or: Piggybackin’ and Patchin’

04 Monday Nov 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!20190819_114143

Tomorrow, the renovation of my house after the Great Flood of 2019 will begin. The kitchen will get a few new walls and a new paint color. The laundry room will get new walls, new floors and a new color. The bathroom will get new walls, new floors, new paint color and if The BCPF and I have any say, a new vanity, basin and lighting. We will see how all that goes.

But, today, I also published two podcast episodes. One for The Man Who Ate the Town and one for The Beer Dads. Click on the links to hear the episodes.

Until tomorrow (with dust and stuff)…
Scorp out!

—
“I tell people marriage is a compromise, and so are renovations.” – Candice Olson

A Rebuttal or: The Piggyback

28 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by in Beer, Food, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Salutations™!!Food Freaks

Today we recorded The Man Who Ate the Town and published The Beer Dads. The Beer Dads podcast was about what happens when a surprise comes from your college-aged son (and no, not a preggers scare).  You can hear that HERE.

On TMWATT I had to do a rebuttal to an email/comment that someone left on the Burger list. I think I was nice about it. You can judge that HERE.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I found your burger review interesting but very biased.” – Robert

Spinning (albeit not much) Sunday or: The Grab

20 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in Records, Spinning Sunday, The Less Desirables Network

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I didn’t go to Underdog Records last week because Jonathan was on vacation. We didn’t go this week because I was at Pride from 8a until 7p yesterday. And, we haven’t really gotten to listen to many albums because we’ve been slammed both weekends and during the week.

TunnelOfLove1987

©Columbia

But, we got lucky when Chef Travis Myers brought me a boot box full of records. Many of them I already had so I looked to see which version I wanted to keep and put the discarded one in the boot box. The albums that we didn’t have I cleaned up and added to my Discogs (which we use to keep up with our collection). Thanks, Chef! All of these are to be considered VG+ unless otherwise noted. Here’s what we got:

  • Julio Iglesias – 1100 Bel Air Place — A collection of love songs from Julio and considered the breakthrough English-speaking album. It has “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” VG++.
  • Starship  – No Protection — considered the “second” album from Starship, this is the follow up to Knee Deep in the Hoopla which had one of the most horrible songs ever, “We Built This City.” This had “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from the film Mannequin. VG++.
  • The Platters – The Golden Sides of The Platters — 2xLP greatest hits album.
  • Barbra Streisand – Songbird — It has her solo version of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” that she had done as a duet with the song’s co-writer, Neil Diamond.
  • Traveling Wilburys – Volume One — George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty all on one album. That is a “supergroup.” VG++.
  • M1ke + The Mechan1c5 – Living Years — The second album by Mike Rutherford’s side hustle. I loved the first album. I like the title track of this one okay. VG++.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel Of Love — #467 on the RS list, this is actually a decent album, especially with “Brilliant Disguise,” the title track and “One Step Up.” I was happy to get this even if I’m not a huge Springsteen fan. VG++.
  • Neil Diamond – Heartlight — The title track made it all the way to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1982. It was Neil Diamond’s last top 10 pop hit and also his last #1 on the Easy Listening chart.
  • Melissa Manchester – Don’t Cry Out Loud — I don’t know much about this album, but I like a few of her tunes, so yeah.
  • Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler — I know absolutely nothing about Mr. Butler other than what’s on his Wikipedia page. He’s South African and he’s on Jive and it’s from 1987. That’s the label that Billy Ocean was on about the same time and the tune “Lies” from this album hit the Top 40 at #27. 2xLP VG++.
  • Barry Manilow – One Voice — I have no problem with Barry Manilow. This was his sixth studio album and came out in 1979. It only had one relevant tune, “Ships.”
  • Linda Ronstadt With Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra – Lush Life — I dig Linda Ronstadt and I dig Nelson Riddle. Standards with talent. I dig that, too!
  • Jane Olivor – Stay The Night — I’ve never heard of Jane Olivor before. Like Jonathan Butler, just what her Wikipedia page says. She had performance anxiety and dealt with her husband’s illness and passing. This album doesn’t have an entry on Wikipedia, either.
  • Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross – All Of You — 45RPM, 7″, Single, whatever you want to call it. It’s in its original sleeve and it’s in awesome condition.
  • Michael Bolton – (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay — Same as above.

Thanks, Chef, for the additions to my collection. Hopefully, now that Pride is over, I’ll have some listening time. Underdog Records is back up and being awesome again. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special is.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Woke up this morning my house was cold. Checked out the furnace she wasn’t burnin’. Went out and hopped in my old Ford. Hit the engine but she ain’t turnin’. We’ve given each other some hard lessons lately but we ain’t learnin’. We’re the same sad story that’s a fact. One step up and two steps back.” – “One Step Up” (Springsteen)

Leadercasting or: The Desirables

16 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by in Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Salutations™!!Leadercast-women-logo-final

Tonight on The Less Desirables, we talked with Ditra Miller, Brooke Eagle and Alyssa Wells about the Leadercast Women Lewisville-Clemmons event that is happening on Friday. It’s a great event that is empowering leaders and leadership qualities, especially in women. Hear more about that HERE.

Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Leadercast is dedicated to building leaders others will follow by providing solutions, events and resources for individuals, teams, organizations and corporations across all industries.” – Leadercast

The Piggyback Back or: Have Beer Will Travel

14 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by in Beer, Food, The Less Desirables Network, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!a0_asx8X

So far this week, meaning today, we published two podcasts on The Less Desirables Network. First, on The Man Who Ate the Town, Ray and I talked about some stuff going on at Carrabba’s, King’s Classic Bakery coming to Trade Street and Five Loaves Catering finally opening a retail store. Hear that HERE.

Then, on The Beer Dads, we talk about traveling and where we’d want to go, where we have been or where we actually haven’t been. You can hear that HERE.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Travel is a new experience that can transport you out of your everyday routine to create memories with the ones you love.” – Brian Chesky

What Does That Mean? or: Lapbanding

09 Wednesday Oct 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

My mother had bariatric bypass surgery today. I didn’t know what that was until this. Now, I knew about the surgery, I just didn’t know it was called bariatric surgery. “Weight Loss Surgery” is another name for it. Gastroesophageal_Reflux_Disease_Homeopathic_Treatment

I’m not going into all the reasons why she did it, but the main one was because of GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux disease). This should fix that. So, because of that, I was thrown behind a bit for The Less Desirables. That’s okay, this was more important. But, because I was at the hospital, Danielle was off prepping for Heap Festival and Bethany informed me that she will have to miss seven weeks because she’s part of the “launch challenge,” I canceled the guest we had scheduled. But, we will reschedule them. I did a short episode of TLD and went about my business. We also did The Man Who Ate the Town and The Beer Dads this week, too.

Listen to TLD here. TMWATT here and TBD here.

Thanks! And, my mom is okay.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach.” – WebMD

The Most Magical Place on Earth or: The List

01 Tuesday Oct 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

First, let me say the “list” is now published. I am talking about The Man Who Ate the Town’s Top 10 Burgers in WSNC (ish). I talked about it on the podcast yesterday but the actual list was published today. You can read all about that here. You can listen to the podcast episode here.

Magic-kingdom

Magic Kingdom, October 1, 1971. @not assumed

So, now, I want to talk about something else. Today is October 1st.

On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World opened. “The World” consisted of Magic Kingdom (no article “the”), The Polynesian Resort and Contemporary Resort. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground opened in November of that year. Shades of Green (formerly known as The Golf Resort), a golf course and resort that is exclusive to US military past and present opened in 1973 and is now owned by the Department of Defense. In 1974, Discovery Island opened and until 1999, it was open to guests as an attraction, where they could observe its many species of animals and birds. You can still see that if you’re on any boat in Bay Lake. In 1975, Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village opens. They changed the name to Walt Disney World Village in 1977, Disney Village Marketplace in 1989, and Downtown Disney in 1997. In 2015, it became Disney Springs. In 1976, Disney’s first water park (a freshwater park, which to me sounds totally gross), Disney’s River Country opened and closed in November 2001. That was “The World” until 1982.

Then, on October 1, 1982, my official “favorite place in “the world” (and “The World”), EPCOT Center, opened. EPCOT (an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) Center was a concept of Walt’s in the 1960s to be an urban city center, residential areas, and a series of mass transportation systems that would connect the community. Once Walt died in 1966, this concept was abandoned. Spanning 305 acres  and more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot (as it became known as in 1994) is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely technological innovation and international culture, and is often referred to as a “permanent world’s fair.”

There are two parts of Epcot: Future World and World Showcase.

Future World is highlighted by Spaceship Earth, a geodesic dome that houses a dark ride that goes through the span of time and showing globalization and communication. Future World also addresses space travel, innovation and conservation.

World Showcase opened with 9 countries represented: Mexico, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, United States, France, the UK and Canada in 1982. In 1984, Morocco opened and in 1988, Norway opened.

A lot of things have changed since the park opened on that day 37 years ago. New resorts, two more theme parks, new restaurants, and more.

On July 31, 2011, I asked The BCPF to marry me on the World Showcase Lagoon, on a boat, under the fireworks show, “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.” That fireworks show started on October 1, 1999. Last night, September 30, 2019, was that show’s last ever performance. Tonight at 9pm “Epcot Forever” started its tenure as the nightly firework show. I have fond memories of “Illuminations” and it will always have a place in both The BCPF’s and my hearts.

So, happy 48th birthday Magic Kingdom and happy 37th birthday Epcot. I love you both.

Until tomorrow, keep the magic going…
Scorp out!

—
“To all who come to this place of joy, hope and friendship, welcome.

Epcot is inspired by Walt Disney’s creative vision. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, wonders of enterprise and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all.

May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere.” — E. Cardon Walker