When I graduated from 8th grade, in 1957, my parents gave me an amazing 35mm Wirgin camera, 2 rolls of black and white Kodak film, I think they were 24 exposure rolls, a brown custom fitted leather camera case with a matching leather strap and a collapsible fan-shaped flash attachment with 6 flash bulbs. The … Continue reading
Lately, marijuana is in the headlines a lot. In 1964 our congress took a big step, and rightfully so, to legislate morality and get rid of discrimination with the Civil Rights Act. Fifty years later, I think some of our states are trying to legislate “happiness” by legalizing pot? Thank you very much, but I … Continue reading
If you didn’t go to high school in the 50’s or 60s, don’t bother watching this video or reading my “essay”. If you did go to high school in the 50’s or 60’s you might enjoy this 5 min. video and my essay. The video is straight from YouTube. A friend introduced me to it. … Continue reading
Have you ever played in a band? With all due respect, I’m not talking about your high school or grade school band. Have you ever played in a band for money? Do you know what it feels like to play a guitar, a sax, a piano, an acoustic or electric bass, the drums, or a … Continue reading
As time passes, I often remember you and me and all the fun we had when we were kids. I can’t prove it, but I think you were about two years old when I found you. I was a cocky eight-year-old then. From the way you acted and looked, I decided you had been a … Continue reading
A few days ago I read Daphne Prost’s very funny article COULD THE ZOMBIES ALL JUST DIE NOW? PLEASE? For your enlightenment, her website is http://daphnepropst.wordpress.com. As I read her article, I suddenly realized where Hollywood got the idea for a zombie. The idea grew from many years of Hollywood moguls observing our “leaders” in Washington … Continue reading
JAZZ. SWING. BIG BAND SWING. BENNY GOODMAN, GLENN MILLER, COUNT BASIE, DUKE ELLINGTON, LOUIS “SATCHMO” ARMSTRONG… THERE ISN’T ENOUGH ROOM TO LIST ALL THE GREATS OF JAZZ that make Jazz the enduring and feel good art form it is. From its deepest roots in the music of our slave culture, into the twenties, thirties and … Continue reading
I’m tired of people exhorting their armchair quarterback opinions about politics and the economy. I want to talk about something the politicians can’t screw up. Well, maybe I should say, they haven’t screwed it up YET… Do you know what Boogie-Woogie Music is? What about dancing to Swing Music from the thirties, forties and early … Continue reading
I Phones, I Pads, laptops, smart phones, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, hot zones, Facebook, Twitter, video games, data streaming, texting and video surveillance (hidden or otherwise) are making people obsessive-compulsive information gatherers, whether they really need the information or not. These devises have morphed into our security blankets. When was the last time you left home without … Continue reading
What is the ultimate video game? If you caught a glimpse of the pictures or the videos below and then guessed flying an F-18 for the United States Navy’s Blue Angels, you’re right. At least to me it’s the ultimate video game. What makes this the ultimate video game? The pilots cannot make a mistake, … Continue reading
Written around 1920 by Max Ehrmann, some are familiar with the poem Desiderata and some are not. Many times, and in several languages, the words of this poem have been recorded. When you hear this poem, you’ll know what inspired writing is all about. And not surprisingly, in 1971 it won a Grammy for Best … Continue reading
Even the peasants swing their pitchforks to a good beat… Today, no social commentary, no stories, no who shot John, just some great music. A good beat that will hopefully make you say what James Brown is famous for screaming, “I FEEL GOOD!” Turn up the volume to get the full blast value of this … Continue reading
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I visited our grand-kids and in Denver, Colorado, the mile high city. During a side trip into the mountains, we visited a child’s indoor interactive playground, in Beaver Creek, Co. (altitude approximately 8,500 feet). While I enjoyed watching the kids having a blast, I noticed on a … Continue reading
One of the most dreadful, frightful series of words in the American language, in any language, is “ASSEMBLY REQUIRED”. Several days ago my wife decided to replace the coffee table in our den. A few days later she called to tell me she finally found a coffee table she really liked. I said, Fine, but … Continue reading
I don’t know how you feel, but I’ve decided, the only thing in my life I have 100% control of is my integrity. When we were in high school, college, starting our first job, moving away from dad and mom into our first apartment or house, or getting married, why did some of us let … Continue reading
When I get an email and in the signature block I read: ‘Sent from my IPHONE’, or ‘Sent from my BLACKBERRY’ (or something similar) I want to gag. It’s as though the sender wants to impress me, that he/she has the latest “Magic Bullet” communication device, or their device has some inherent charm or revelation … Continue reading
****** * * * * * * * * * * I suggest in the interest of improving home and office safety, all throw rugs, regardless of size, color, thickness or shape, be outlawed! They’re cute, till someone trips over one. No, I didn’t … Continue reading
Dr. Patch Adams is right; everyone on this planet needs a life long dose of excessive happiness, and I mean everyone. * * * * * * * * * * * * * No later than the night before Christmas Eve, I will have a large sign in place on my roof, with neon … Continue reading
No Ulterior Motive 