Tag Archives: The Less Desirables Network

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/18/20

19 Sunday Jan 2020

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I finally had a normal Saturday. We didn’t have to put anything together. We didn’t have to install anything. We didn’t have to go anywhere. We didn’t have to work on the house. We had breakfast. We went to Underdog Records. We came home and listened to records all day. I told The BCPF I want today to be as “mindless” as possible. It fit the bill perfectly. Here’s our haul:

Too_Fast

©Elektra/Leathür

  • Megadeth – Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? — As much as I love hard rock and metal, I don’t really have a lot of it on vinyl. I’ve been looking to add some Megadeth and this was there and ripe for the picking. It’s a 2017 reissue, but that’s good enough for me. Not necessarily my favorite from Dave and Co, but it’s a good start! New.
  • Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes — Amos’ debut solo album after breaking up Y Kant Tori Read. It was co-produced by Ian Stanley who used to be with Tears for Fears and was a big reason why Songs from the Big Chair was so popular. This was happening about the time I was rejecting anything that wasn’t hard or heavy and nothing that remotely sounded “alternative” was allowed. I realize how ridiculous that is, but at the time, my angst was against those with angst. This is good, although she does still kind of get on my nerves. Like a more talented Jewel. New.
  • Mötley Crüe – Too Fast For Love — I did this for the Eugeology list back in 2017. You can read my review here. I try to collect anything that I did on a “list” and again, hard rock in my collection. My review more than describes anything you need to know about it. New.
  • Ultravox – Rage In Eden — I have grown to dig what I hear from this band. They were new wave and most of what I know of them I hear on 1st Wave on SiriusXM. When I see or hear them, I immediately think of my pal Doug Davis (yes, that Doug Davis) and a conversation we had after a Vagabond Saints Society gig sitting at Finnigan’s Wake. I only have one other thing from Ultravox and that’s Vienna. This is good First Wave synthpop. I dug it. EX/VG++.
  • R.E.O. Speedwagon – R.E.O. Speedwagon — I have a confession to make. Well, a couple, actually. First, I’ve never really liked REO (or R.E.O.) Speedwagon. I loved Hi Infidelity and some of Wheels Are Turnin’ (that album is mostly crap) and a few other songs here and there. But, overall? Nah. The other thing is I never knew that Kevin Cronin didn’t found the band. I always thought that since he was the end-all-be-all in the band that it was his baby. Nope. This is the band’s debut and Terry Luttrell is the lead vox. I couldn’t pass up having it, but I don’t see me really enjoying it so much. VG+.
  • Cutumay Camones De El Salvador – Patria Chiquita Mía — Cutumay Camones was a band from El Salvador whose stated objective was to “recover Salvadorean cultural roots and to provide popular music for the national liberation movement.” I guess they accomplished that? I don’t know. The BCPF picked it up. VG+.
  • Frank Strozier – Fantastic Frank Strozier — So this was not from Underdog Records. This is from a “first.” One of our loyal listeners on the Apartment 5B podcast sent this to me. The album was in a jacket and had a post-it that reads, “For Producer Tim (that’s what I go by on that show)… Had to go really deep… my 5th Grade Social Studies Teacher.” I think from what Jeff Evans (the podcast’s host) said, the 5th-grade teacher really recommended that album to him. I looked this up because I don’t know anything about it. So, the rhythm section, that’s the bass, drums, and piano had all played on Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue earlier in 1959. It was also one of the few recordings to feature a brilliant, young trumpeter named Booker Little who died of uremia at the age of 23 in 1961. Strozier is a saxophonist and I really can’t wait to hear this. So, many, many thanks to you, “Loyal Listener Matt,” for sending this to me. I really, really appreciate it. NM.

So, a mid-sized haul and a lot of good stuff. Jonathan had a lot of new-to-the-store used vinyl and has restocked some of the new stuff so he is churning out some records! Good used equipment there, too. Speakers, receivers, good stuff. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special. I’m going to give you one for free right here. There are a lot of cool records in the clearance bin there at Underdog Records. Go in and tell Jonathan that you heard from The Less Desirables that you should get something from the clearance bin and you’ll get an additional discount on the things in that section. Don’t expect me to give away the beans every time, I still need you to listen to the podcast! I use Discogs to track my collection and the collections of my friends.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Excuse me, but can I be you for a while? My dog won’t bite if you sit real still. I got the Antichrist in the kitchen yelling at me again. Yeah, I can hear that. Been saved again by the garbage truck. I got something to say, you know but nothing comes. Yes, I know what you think of me, ‘you never shut up.’ Yeah, I can hear that.” – “Silent All These Years” (Amos)

Friend Friday or: King of the Wind

17 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Friend Friday, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.PWS

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This week, on The Less Desirables, we had Monique Ferrell Smith and Anthony Tang, the Executive Director and board of directors member, respectively, of the Piedmont Wind Symphony on as our guests.

The Piedmont Wind Symphony, now in its 30th season, is led by Musical Director and Conductor, Matthew Troy. Maestro Troy is not only a very talented conductor and musician but he’s just a great dude. His cast of musicians is based on wind instruments and other than a few outliers here and there, the Piedmont Wind Symphony has no stringed instruments.

PWS logoThe PWS started in 1990 when Rob Simon put together a group of musicians, that included educators and students, to perform compositions for wind instruments and ensembles. Simon was the man on the platform for many years. Matthew Troy came along in 2015, after a stint as the Associate Conductor with the Winston-Salem Symphony from 2009-2014.

As I said, this is their 30th season and already this season they have had two fantastic shows. The first was Along the Silk Road in September. It featured music from Pakistan, India, Korea and China as well as some Puccini and one of my favorite classical composers, Camille Saint-Saens. There was also a musical story that was recited, but I can’t remember the narrator’s name.

The next event was this past November when they presented Chaplin Meets Sousa featuring some bombastic selections from the march-master, himself, John Phillip Sousa and Maestro Troy and his cast also provided the music for two Charlie Chaplin shorts, The Immigrant and The Adventurer. 

I call Matthew Troy a friend and I have to say that just watching him conduct this ensemble is as much a spectacle as a rock concert can be. He is always energetic, fun, and brings majesty from those he conducts. They have fun with him and you can tell. As I told Monique, I had the whole seat but I only need the edge of it when watching him. I’ve never been a Sousa fan but the November show changed that. You can feel emotion and dynamics with your ears.

Next Friday, January 24, PWS will hold their annual fundraising gala with the theme of “It Happened One Night” and even though we’re heading into the “roaring 20s,” PWS is bringing the 30s (because of their 30th season, get it?) and the film It Happened One Night is from 1934. This means that 30s-inspired attire is expected as well as other theming. The gala will be held at the Millennium Center in downtown WSNC. Tickets are $125 per person and will include food, fun and frolic. And, there will be beer and wine, as well.

You can purchase your tix by visiting here.

Now, you know I feature my sponsors on here, a good bit. Well, this is different. In this instance, I am the sponsor. I am a media sponsor so it is my job to promote them, but this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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Are you familiar with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King & I? It’s a musical that is based on Margaret Landon’s book Anna and the King of Siam. It’s also the presentation from Piedmont Opera that is coming in March. PO logo

Piedmont Opera has been an advertising client of The Less Desirables for a few years, now. PO has a few years on Piedmont Wind Symphony. Where PWS started in 1990, PO started in the late 1970s by Norman Johnson. It’s in its 41st season now.

According to their website, “Piedmont Opera produces the highest quality opera productions possible by using international, national, regional and local professional singers and technicians.”

I remember the first time I went to the opera. I was a senior in high school and the chorus class went to see The Marriage of Figaro. I drove and took a friend of mine with me. It was one of the first times I ventured downtown, too. I really enjoyed seeing the production. They did it in Italian (I think) and then they did this “rewind” thing and then did it in English. After the show, my friend and I went to my car and because she didn’t know you had to lift the handle to lock the door, it wasn’t locked and someone was able to get into my truck and steal my stereo and cassettes. That sucked but the opera experience was great. The last one I saw, Tosca they actually had subtitles so you could understand what was going on.

PO KingThe Piedmont Opera has now done over 48 different productions to an audience of over 150,000 people. I hope to have someone from PO to talk about The King & I in early March.

If you are thinking that you have to “dress up” for either the PO or PWS, think again. Both are more concerned with your butts in the seats than how fancy you can dress. Not, that you’re discouraged from dressing up. By all means, knock yourself out. It’s just not necessary.

Both PO and PWS, along with about 40 other arts organizations in WSNC/Forsyth County are participating in the year-long event, “Beethoven Rocks Winston-Salem.” You know I’ll be talking more about that over the next year. This is a big deal because this year would have been (in my best Alex de Large voice), Ludwig Van’s 250th birthday. So, you’ll hear Piedmont Opera doing Beethoven’s Fidelio along with the Winston-Salem Symphony and Piedmont Wind Symphony will be doing “Extreme Beethoven” from Johan de Meij in their concert in March.

You can purchase tix to the Piedmont Opera’s The King & I here.

As I mentioned, Piedmont Opera is an advertiser and thus I may get compensation from them, however, this is, again, an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Our Vision is to be the finest opera company of our size in the nation and acknowledged as the best at what we do.” – Piedmont Opera

‘Numb’ers and Dates or: Growing That Biz

16 Thursday Jan 2020

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

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Salutations™!!

In the last two days, I have done some “grown-up” things with my business, Such-N-Such Limited, Inc. I’ve gotten a lot busier and honestly, my calendar is filling up and when clients call or email or text and want to get a time, I have to look at the Google Calendar I have and wonder, did I put everything in that I needed to?

Well, I will usually put them down for when we agree on and hope that no one calls or shows up at that time. It doesn’t happen a lot but it has happened in the past. I started looking at online appointment booking tools and realized that I had a brand new tool right under my nose. I am a Square customer for payments, online and in-person. They have a service/tool called Square Appointments and it allows me to put a button on the Such-N-Such Media (the production wing of my business) website and Facebook page as well as The Less Desirables Facebook page.

Square

©Square

Now, customers and clients can click on that button, they can click to find when I have availability and then schedule their appointment. It then syncs to my Google Calendars (and vice versa). I can still make my own appointments in-person and, again, it syncs up. Then I can bill the client or take payment from there. I dig it. I feel all “grown” now.  At least on the scheduling side.

Then, I’ve been using my cell phone number for all my business stuff. Which is fine, really. I try to direct folks to send me an email over a phone call. I don’t like talking on the phone, to be honest. So, I got a Google Voice number to apply to all my business needs. This number allows me to get texts and voice mails via my email and I can reply there.

As much as I hate talking on the phone, I hate typing on my phone just as much. I don’t mind using it for all kinds of “smartphone” things, but I really don’t like typing on it for IMs, texts or emails. I would much rather use a computer for that. This allows me to do that. I can still do it on my phone if I need to, but also able to do it on the computer. Also, I can download voicemails and keep them. That also means that if listeners of any of the podcasts call and leave a voicemail, then I can play it on that podcast. It’s another way for interaction with those listeners.

Or… if you’re reading this blog, I’m going to give out my number so readers can contact me. I may use it here (if I can figure out how as this is a little different than the other blogs I post) if you send me something. If nothing else, I can use the transcript, right? Right. So, I had a few to choose from and I picked the one I did because I could use a word to talk about it. You know how places say “call 1-800-PICK-ONE” or something like that? Yeah, I found one that kind of fits me. After all, I am “less desirable.” So, here’s the number: 336-422-6862. I call it 422-NUMB. I like it. I go with it. Send me a text or leave me a voicemail on that number, I would like that.

Don’t worry, I’m not afraid of people blowing up my phone, I can ignore you fairly easily. It’s my “business” number and I don’t mind giving that out. Well, that’s it, I grew up, I guess. Finally, says The BCPF.

Until tomorrow, keep the digits and schedule an appointment…
Scorp out!

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“A Voice number works on smartphones and the web so you can place and receive calls from anywhere.” – Google Voice

Friend Friday or: Beans and Beer

10 Friday Jan 2020

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

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.WashingtonPerk_logo_250px

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If you’re in the Downtown WSNC area and need to get your milk, sugar, peanut butter, beer, wine, soft drinks, napkins, paper towels, fresh fruit, potato chips, toilet paper, coffee, a latte, a good sandwich and many other “provisions,” then there’s really one place you need to know about. That place is Washington Perk and Provision Company.

Washington Perk and Provision Company started in the Washington Park area and expanded into the downtown area when an art gallery became available in the Chatham Building at the corner of Fourth and Cherry. They sold the original location and are focusing on the downtown location.

They buy fresh fruit several times a week. They have a wall of beer and wine, much of it locally brewed and fermented. Ashe County Cheese can be found in the coolers at the Perk. Mexican Coca-Cola is sold at the Perk and that’s made with real sugar, not that nasty high-fructose corn syrup that most of our Cokes have. Le Bleu water in various sizes. Milk, butter, cheese and probably other dairy items from Homeland Creamery.

All the toiletries that you may need are available at the Perk, too. Get toothpicks, napkins, hot sauces and canned goods right there.

They have a full coffee shop for your latte and Americano needs. This includes various teas and drips, too.

There are several varieties of potato chips, cheese puffs and other bagged goodies in the back of the store. They have dried fruits, bread and other various munchies.

One of the best parts is the deli counter in the back that can make you a fantastic sandwich and they’re really affordable. One of my faves is the “Italian Stallion” which is a few Italian-style deli types of meat on a hoagie roll with cheese and whatever fixings you want.

Lastly, but not least(ly?), there’s Wolfie’s Custard. They purchased the company a few years back and they have around 15-20 different flavors. Most of those you can get in cold weather as well as always in the warm weather.

Washington Perk and Provision Company is located at 401 W Fourth Street in Downtown WSNC.

Full disclosure, Washington Perk and Provision Company has the distinction of being the only dual sponsor of both The Less Desirables and The Man Who Ate the Town podcasts. So, I may get compensation from them, however, this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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Around the corner from the Perk, on Fifth Street, is Small Batch Beer Company.

Small Batch BeerSmall Batch started back in 2014 and before they opened, the (then) three partners Ryan, Tim and Cliff contacted The Less Desirables about coming on and talking about their beer and brewery. They were one of the pioneers of the downtown beer scene (after Foothills, of course) and took an old favorite location and turned into a modern place that brings liquid goodness to the masses.

They started a little smaller and have grown to 12 taps of both “favorites” and rotating varieties. They started serving food after a year or so of being open and then expanded to a whole new joint that focused on burgers and fancy milkshakes. They pulled back on that and now have a “ramen” place in the former burger space that is open a few days of the week. But, they still have some burgers on the food menu and you can order from them via Uber Eats, DoorDash and other delivery services.

Tim has bought out Cliff and Ryan and has kept the beer going strong. Their brews are solid and being in the location is pretty cool, too. It’s easily accessible from the Marriott, Embassy Suites, the Benton Convention Center, and everywhere downtown.

Small Batch Beer is located at 241 W Fifth Street and is waiting to serve you a great “cold one” as well as wine and a full ABC selection.

Small Batch was the first presenting sponsor of The Beer Dads podcast. I appreciate them and their support. They are no longer that sponsor so everything I say about them is an honest and unsolicited recommendation. Give them a shot!

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Small Batch Beer Co. is a brewery and handcrafted cocktail bar in downtown Winston-Salem, NC. We screen the beautiful game (soccer/futbol) on our projector every weekend.” – Small Batch Beer

Friend Saturday or: Hey(day), Let’s Get Graphic

04 Saturday Jan 2020

Posted by in Friend Friday, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Note I did this on Saturday this week so I could give a good write up…

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.20200104_123044-01

When I’m in my “The Man Who Ate the Town” persona (which really is all the time, but when I’m out in public with it), I like to wear one of my custom made t-shirts that bear that name and my likeness. Those shirts were made by Machine Gun Graphics. Well, at least the printing on them. Also, the extra-large wall decal that we take pictures in front of after every episode of The Less Desirables was printed by Machine Gun Graphics. I have a banner that bears the logos of TLD, TMWATT, Fan Interference, The Beer Dads, Apartment 5B and Beeswax Vinyl & More that I’ve never gotten to use (and that I need to upgrade) that is quite large and that, too, was made by Machine Gun Graphics.

Kyle and Nikki over at Machine Gun Graphics are awesome to work with. Their product care and quality are unmatched. The shirts that I had made and the ones that bear their name (MGG) are high-quality material, comfortable to wear and fit me great. Having to have 3XL sizes makes getting clothes that fit an ordeal at times, but their sourced shirts are great. They have taken several of my logos and made great things for me.

MGG_LOGO1Do you have a logo that you need to be printed on something? It would look great on shirts but it’s not exclusive to shirts. How about sweatpants? Hoodies? Banners, buttons, caps, koozies, and so on? They do that! How about embroidery? They do that! Get something directly embroidered or make an embroidered patch that you can put on yourself.

Let’s say, though, you don’t really know what you want but you just need some stuff printed up? Well, fantastic. They have a free design studio right on their website. You go on there and mock up some fun stuff and see how you like it. If that’s daunting to some (which I can see where it could be) then start working with it and let Nikki or Kyle help you do the finishing touches!

Machine Gun Graphics is eco-friendly and eco-minded. They try to keep the shop as eco-friendly as possible and use sustainable garments and materials any time they can. They do large-scale printing, discharge printing and basically, if it hits your brain, they can print it on something. Machine Gun Graphics is located at 610 Cotton Street.

And, to any TLD listener (or reader of this blog) if you have some printing that needs to be done, once you’ve made your kick-arsed design, when you checkout on their website use the discount code TLD15. That will get you 15% off your order (before taxes of course).

Full disclosure, Machine Gun Graphics is a sponsor of The Less Desirables so I may get compensation from them, however, this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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This brings me to my full-on “Unsolicited Recommendation.”Heyday Logo

Right up the street from Machine Gun Graphics is my pal, Michael Slawter. Michael owns Heyday Guitars, a neighborhood guitar shop that well, sells, guitars. But, it’s not like some guitar shops that just get new inventory or may have a trade-in or two. Nope, Michael specializes in both electric & acoustic guitars as well as tube amps, be they vintage, new or used. He really focuses on guitars and amps from the 50s through the 70s.

Michael also does guitar setup, specs, modifications and if something’s going wrong, he’ll do some repair/troubleshooting for you. He’s worked on a few of my basses in the past.

Heyday Guitars’ shop is quaint and in the warmer months, he’ll roll up the big garage door and let nature in while folks are strumming along, tinkering with a potential new toy. It’s not unusual to catch live music there, either. The BCPF and I got to check out one of her musical faves, David J from the band Bauhaus and Love and Rockets. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t a ton of room in there, so it will be packed, but that’s what we call in the biz, intimacy!

Michael is a musician and has put out some music in the past. I know he has a record at Underdog Records because I’ve seen it! This brings me to the point that he is a vinyl fan, as well and has a turntable in the shop that you can go by and listen to some tunes, talk music (or shop), strum some stringed goodness or just hang out. Michael is cool and will have a grand conversation with you. He has been on The Less Desirables a few times, as well as The Beer Dads. Heyday Guitars is a great shop and is located at 414 Brookstown Avenue. For more info visit their website or heck, even better, just go by there.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays Saturdays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Cool, old and weird is what we like!” – Heyday Guitars

An Old Favorite or: Bringing the Magic Back

02 Thursday Jan 2020

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

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Salutations™!!

I know I talked about this on Monday, but this is the official announcement.

One of the best things that we have ever done on The Less Desirables is a segment called As Ardmore Turns. What it was was a skit/sketch where we took Facebook’s Ardmore Neighborhood’s ramblings, arguments and so on and we just read them straight through. Then added some old-timey organ “soap opera” music, a few pop culture drops (like songs or movie clips or something) and made it into a thing.ardmoreturns

It took me a long time to do them, upwards of four hours, and it got tedious. Plus, the page settled down some and I was forcing content. I have talked before about how I hate that. So, I stopped doing them.

People have been asking about them for a while now, like the old episodes or even new ones. I did one this past week and it was a grueling, five-hour process. Not that I minded that, but the episode went on for almost 40 minutes, too. I don’t like doing that.

The Less Desirables is long enough now without adding another 10-40 minutes to it. So, I’ve decided that I am going to let AAT be a stand-alone beast and it is a beast. I have a lot of old episodes to post and I will do new ones when it is feasible. I even started a whole new website just for the skit. I haven’t decided whether it will or will not be on the TLD Network, as of yet.

There’s only one episode, so far and you can find that HERE.

I’ve submitted them to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and Google Play. They’re in review right now. But, here’s hoping that you all dig them. Let me know!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“…for our almost-true-to-life soap opera that practically writes itself… As Ardmore Turns.” – AAT Narrator

The Aftermath or: Perfect 2020

01 Wednesday Jan 2020

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Salutations™!!

20200101_000305-01

No caption needed

The BCPF and I hosted our first New Year’s Eve event at our house last night. It was just a small gathering. The BCPF made a French onion pot roast and brie and fig jam pastries and I made my “breakfast deviled eggs.” It was potluck from there, so Beer Dad Jon and his Pilot brought salad stuff and pie and wine. Beer Dad Paul and his Pilot brought wine, potatoes au gratin, and a corn & green bean casserole. Our Jim Young brought a “hot corn” dish made with jalapenos and spices. It had a kick but was delish. 3B and Nephew CRAJ hung out with us long enough to eat. I even put 3B to work in the kitchen for a few minutes.

I played DJ with an “all request line.” Each guest had their own time to make a request and I told them all, “if I don’t have it, I have something comparable.” The only thing I didn’t have was BD Paul’s initial request for Louis Prima. He was satisfied with a little Dean Martin, though. We talked about music, life, fun, beer, food, it was just good.

Then we pulled out the playing cards. We play a little game we call “shitboots.” Yeah, I don’t usually use curse words on this blog but this is the name of it, so there. It’s a game that my brother-in-law had a hand in making up in his college days. I won’t get into the game right now, but it is a load of fun and Celeste, BD Jon’s Pilot, won both games!

We had the ABC feed on the tele when the ball dropped. But, we all agreed, instead of listening to the trainwreck that is always an NYE program (I am looking at you CNN), we continued with music and the sound “off” on the TV. We had a bubbly that was recommended by our pal Frank at Publix and he was spot on. It wasn’t too sweet and it hit the spot. Good stuff.

Hugs, kisses, smiles, promises of a great year. It was a great way to start.

So, my wish to all my readers and all my listeners of the podcasts that I host/produce, the happiest of new years and let’s have a productive, safe and prosperous year in life, work and everything else. Also, in the words of Bill & Ted, “be excellent to each other!”

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.” – William Shakespeare

What Days Off? or: The Return

30 Monday Dec 2019

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

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Salutations™!!

So, I wasn’t supposed to go in until Thursday as I have a few things in the studio going on, such as a resumption of a client’s podcast and having a cleaning service come in for the first time. But, that changed on Saturday when I was looking through my Facebook feed and saw a post on the Ardmore Neighborhood page and there was something I could not pass up. ardmoreturns

I won’t go into the details here but it was petty as the stories always seem to be. So, even though I haven’t done an As Ardmore Turns since 2017, I felt I needed to do this one. I was in the middle of it and I remembered why I decided to stop doing them. It takes a long time to do those things. First, there was the near hour that it took me to capture the screenshots and put them into a readable format. Then, I get into the studio and it takes me nearly an hour to record this. After that, I have to edit it because, hey, even I don’t do a clean read-through every time. I have to do a lot of editing. In addition, as I am doing that, I am finding either audio bytes that I already had or having to find and capture new drops.

Sometimes finding what I’m looking for is very difficult. It was worse when I wasn’t a “premium” member of YouTube. I’d have to sit through an ad, just to find out that the video I was watching wasn’t what I needed to do my work. Back when I was doing it all the time, I had it down to around two and a half hours. But, I hadn’t done it in over 18 months, and this episode took me over five hours and it was almost 40 minutes long. That’s way too much on both ends.

I have to decide if I want to cut some down (which is needed) or break it up. Then I have to decide when I’m going to drop it, and where. I don’t know that I want to do it on The Less Desirables, but I don’t really know where else I’d do it. This week’s TLD is already in the can (The BCPF and Tracy and I recorded it last week) and waiting until next week may be too long. So, I’m kind of torn. I think I will try to edit it down some and decide in the next few days what to do with it.

It was tedious work and I can’t say whether I did or didn’t enjoy doing it. I think I am right down the middle on that. I’ll try to keep you informed on where it stands so you can listen if you desire.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“…our almost true-to-life soap opera that practically writes itself…” – As Ardmore Turns

Friend Friday or: Not What You Think It Is

27 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in Friend Friday, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.

This week, I’m going to step away from the sponsors for a second and talk about one of my favorite people’s biz. That’s my co-host on The Less Desirables, Bethany Miller’s Top Leaf Cigar Lounge. Top Leaf Cigar Lounge is located at 1411 W First Street which is right up the street from Quiet Pint and Cin Cin Burger Bar. _topleaf

There are a few “tobacco” stores in town. They have a lot of the Hav-a-Tampa, cigarello-type things and what have you. They also have some big-name cigars that some rep sold them and the employees at most of these places have no clue about the cigar. Plus, you buy it and you have to take it somewhere else to smoke it right? Yeah. I have never really been a fan of those kinds of places.

Bethany and her husband, J.D., are different. They are a cigar store. They carry big name brands, they carry some high-dollar banded cigars, they carry entry-level cigars, and so on. Just like those shopping center places, you’re thinking. Well, the difference is the Millers, especially Bethany, does extensive research on her wares. She can most likely tell you the owner of the company that made the cigars, sometimes even knowing the name of the person who rolled them. She makes trips to Central America to tour the factories and she even had her own branded cigar called the Strychnine (I hope I spelled that right).

So, not only is Bethany selling you high-quality cigars, she knows about the makeup: the filler tobacco, the binder tobacco, the wrapping tobacco. She knows flavor profiles, she knows ring gauge, she knows her cigars. But, wait, that’s not all.

Top Leaf Cigar Lounge is exactly that. A lounge. Remember earlier I said you buy your cigar and you have to go somewhere to smoke them. Well, Top Leaf gives you a space to smoke your recent purchase. Now, that isn’t free, if we’re being honest, but there is a monthly membership and a special daily membership if you just want to sit around and listen to and join in a cigar powwow with other avid cigar puffers and shoot the breeze about life, sports, and other cool things. Have a favorite beer or wine you like to have with your cigars? Well, bring it. They are licensed to have that. As of now, they aren’t able to accommodate liquor consumption because the state is ridiculous and live by antiquated laws, but that may soon be changing. While you’re there, ask Bethany about listening to some cool jazz on vinyl since she just purchased a turntable and some records from our pals over at Underdog Records just a few months back.

As I alluded to, there may be some changes coming in the future. As we talked about on The Less Desirables, Bethany was one of the finalists of the Small Business Center’s Launch Challenge at Forsyth Tech. She has plans to improve her biz whilst relocating to a bigger, more accessible spot. There will be a full bar and a place for low-key live music. A lot of great things coming. To find out more visit their Facebook page, their website and Instagram. And for a special treat, follow Bethany out on Instagram where she’s TobacovilleNista!

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Now, to go along with cigars, a big trend happening right now is CBD. Yeah, that’s marijuana. But, it’s not marijuana. Not exactly. The part of cannabis that gets you high and is the “outlaw” of the plant is the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). That’s what you’re tested for with drug tests. However, hemp and its uses are many and vast. There are hemp fiber, hemp seeds and their oils, hemp leaves (which you can eat) and more. The other cannabinoid produced is cannabidiol (CBD).

_salemorganicNow, I may be talking out my backside on all of that as I’m going to admit that I really know nothing about it. And, that’s okay. Do NOT take my words here as gospel. What you should do, however, is talk to some experts. And, I have just the experts for you!

My friend Chris Eastwood is the owner of Salem Organic Supply and he has been a guest on The Less Desirables. You can hear his very informative conversation about the benefits of and dispelling myths about CBD as well as hearing more about Salem Organic Supply by listening to that episode here.

My mother had bariatric bypass surgery this year and she’s had a knee replacement in the past. She’s suffered a lot from chronic (is that pun?) joint pain for many years and when she had the bariatric surgery she could no longer take Aleve which had been her saving grace for years. Her doctor suggested trying CBD and at first, she was apprehensive because well, it’s from the same plant as marijuana and that’s just not her bag, man.

My sister, who is a listener to TLD said I should talk to my mother about the CBD benefits after hearing the show with Chris. This past Saturday I took my mother to Salem Organic Supply as she was really hurting. My friend Tonia (whom I have known since she was like 19 or so) works there and she demonstrated the products to my mother, educating her on what everything is and how it works. She did a great job.

Ma Mère got a salve and a bottle of CBD oil, both made by Chris and his partners and by that evening she was in much better shape. The next day she was in (virtually) no pain at all. I hear a lot of people talking about CBD oil these days. Some say it did absolutely nothing for them and some say it changed their lives.

It may change your life and it may not. I know that Bethany and Danielle both swear by it. It worked for my mother. So, my advice would be to go to Salem Organic Supply and talk with Tonia and Chris. Let them lead you in the right direction. If it isn’t for you, they will tell you that and work with you in finding that direction. Their address is 545 Trade St. (but is located on 6th street in between Trade St. and Liberty St.), Suite 106. It’s where Burke Street Comics used to be. Or you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram or visit their website. 

If trying CBD is something your doctors or loved ones say may be beneficial to you, then I would definitely give Chris & company a try.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“A cigar is as good as memories that you have when you smoked it.” – Raul Julia

The Eve or: Shrimp and Ham and Stuff

24 Tuesday Dec 2019

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

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Salutations™!!

It’s Christmas Eve and this is when my family has beer-steamed shrimp (mmmmm) and ham and all kinds of treats and goodies. So, from The BCPF, 3B and myself, along with the entire TLD Network, we wish you all a happy whatever it is you celebrate!

TLDXmas2019

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!” – Charles Dickens