Back Home Again

1980s Electronics

I was quite the audio buff back in the day.  It's not that I haven't kept up.  I can fumble my way through iTunes and I have an iPod and a huge collection of MP3s.  I also have CDs, 45s, LPs, cassette tapes, 8-track tapes, DVDs, VHS and Beta videotapes.  There was one mystery box sitting in my office for seven years.  I really wasn't sure what was in it.  When I opened it, I discovered it was my old Technics turntable and my Sanyo Beta VCR.  Man, were they heavy!  They don't make them like that anymore! 

In the back of my mind, I was remembering that both of these pieces of equipment had "issues" the last time I tried them.  I first plugged in the turntable.  I moved the arm and the light came on, but the platter didn't spin.  I looked under the platter and there was what looked like a rubber band.  It was the drive belt, totally dry-rotted.  There was also the fact that it wouldn't shut off by itself.  Onto the trash heap. 

Next was the Beta VCR.  I found some old Beta tapes and hooked it all up to the TV.  I played some Rolling Stones videos and it worked just fine and then it stopped.  I took out the tape and popped in another.  I had a picture for a split second and then I heard a crunching sound.  I hit the eject button.  It didn't budge.  I had to physically pry the tape out and along came a string of videotape.  Onto the trash heap with that too.  I also burned (struck a match to, for you youngsters) about 90 Beta tapes.  They went up in smoke real fast.

Then out in the garage I found my old 8-track recorder (not just a player).  If I remember right, it needed a small black rubber band and it would work again.  The last one dry-rotted.  I'll work on that later.  Notice the 8-track tape of the B-52s.  Yeah, I had it goin' on in the '80s.

Also, was my RCA Videodisc Player.  These were manufactured in Indiana during the 1980s.  Movies were pretty easy to come by then.  The movies were about the size of an LP and you slid them in the drawer and pulled out the sleeve.  You pulled up the lever and the movie would hit the needle and start to play.  Much like an LP, you could get a movie that "skipped".  Here I am displaying The Pink Panther movie.  I have plenty of other titles like On the Waterfront and The Big Chill.  I wonder if there is any market today for these machines.  They had such a short-lived popularity.

I also gave a 1986 SONY Discman to a neighbor who didn't have a CD player.  It all still worked but the original headphones.  I even had a carrying case and accessories.  I have a double cassette boom box out in my garage.  I'll listen to the radio if I'm out there working.  The cassette player eats tapes though.

I found a receipt for my original stereo from 1983.  I paid almost $500 for a turntable, speakers, amp, and maybe a cassette player.  I have most of the original boxes.  I wouldn't pay that kind of money today; no way.  And I had no business spending that kind of money back then.  I was a stupid young kid.

It's a bit like going through the Smithsonian here.   

Jukebox Loaded

I have completed my Digital Jukebox project.  I have loaded every single CD that I own onto it.  Plus a few other MP3s that I've purchased.

In total 23894 songs by 3580 different artists.  It only used up 93.81 GB, about 13% of the 1TB capacity.  It will take me 59.1 days to listen to all of this music.  The digital technology is simply amazing to me. 

Now, I just need to purchase another external hard drive, maybe smaller, to back this one up. 

Any requests?  Yes, I do have Free Bird.

Digital Jukebox

I had an external hard drive go bad on me.  It didn't crash.  It had what is called "the click of death" where it clicks several times before it would boot up.  I considered that my fair warning.  I was afraid I was going to lose all the digital music and photos that I had stored on there.  I went to Best Buy and bought a Seagate 1TB (terabyte) external hard drive for a little over $100.  I paid that much for a 80GB just three years ago and only used about a quarter of its capacity.  I brought it home and successfully got the old one to boot one more time.  I then moved all my files over to the new external drive.  I asked my computer repair guy if there's any fix to those old drives, and he said no.  So I chucked it.

I got to doing some calculating.  Could a 1TB drive hold my whole CD music collection?  I think it can.  So I started ripping my CDs onto a single external hard drive.  I have an extra laptop that will serve as the jukebox for this external hard drive.  I currently have 13,454 MP3 files on the external hard drive and it's about at 10% capacity.  I have around 1200 CDs total and I am about a third of the way through.

I quizzed several people about which platform to use, iTunes or Windows Media Player.  I finally went with iTunes and have had pretty good luck so far.  I don't like how it categorizes some things.  I've learned a lot in the process.  The nice thing about using iTunes is its ability to sync up easily to the iPod.  That's what it was designed to do.  It's hard to believe that 2 years ago, I virtually knew nothing about digital music.  I've come a long ways since then.  I now know the difference between ripping and burning a CD. 

When I finish, I should be able to put this player on shuffle and never hear the same song twice...for months. 

February 3, 1959

Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens were killed early in the morning on February 3, 1959, when their Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed in the snow about 8 miles northwest of Mason City airport.  The performers had just played in Clear Lake, Iowa and were in a hurry to get to Moorhead, Minnesota, scene of their next gig.  Holly wanted to get his suit cleaned, Valens wanted a haircut, and the Big Bopper wanted some "sleep."  J.P. Richardson, the Bopper, was particularly unlucky -- he had agreed to go on the plane at the last minute, taking the place of Holly's bass player, the future country star Waylon Jennings.  The backing musicians, who had traveled in a separate plane, decreed that the Moorhead show had to go on, and it did, later that day, with the rest of the Crickets plus Dion and the Belmonts. 

Holly's death has been seen by some as an early rock & roll nemesis; in his 1971 chart-topper American Pie, warbler Don McLean proclaimed it "the day the music died".  At the time some members fo the American press treated the demise of the Bopper and Valens as the bigger losss.  They were considered rising starrs, while Holly was dismissed as passé.

Twenty-one year after the fatal crash, the sheriff of Cerrro Gordo County found what turned out to be Holly's glasses while walking in a field.  A memorial marks the spot where the plane came to a halt after skidding 200 yards across a cornfield.  ---  Rock & Roll Traveler USA by Tim Perry & Ed Glinert. 

I had always been intrigued by the plane crash, and thought I'd like to visit the site if I was ever in the area.  In 2000, while I was on my quest to visit all 50 states before I turned 40, I had the opportunity (after visiting North Dakota).  I stayed in Clear Lake, IA and went out near the crash site.  I took a picture from the gravel road (as close as you can get by car).  There were farmers working the ground, and I wasn't about to go trespassing into their field (I know how farmers are).  Later, I stopped by the Surf Ballroom and visited the gift shop.  I bought a t-shirt and a poster announcing the Winter Dance Party 1959.  Then I noticed some Xerox'd maps near the cash register.  It gave directions on how to get out to the corn field where I just came from.  I inquired if the farmer minds visitors going to the crash site.  They assured me it was alright:  the guy who owns that land used to own the Surf Ballroom.  So back to the gravel road I went, and started out west along the fence.  I waved to the farmer as I walked along the fence row.  About a half mile down the fence row, there were 4 recently planted trees and the monument (for the 3 singers and the pilot).  There were several flowers, coins, matchbooks, etc. left at the monument.  I stayed just a few minutes, and then headed back to the road. 

It was an odd feeling being out there in the field.  On the one hand it felt pretty much like walking in the fields around home.  On the other hand, it felt like I was trespassing on hallowed ground.

That night, I attended a show at the Surf Ballroom.  They still have weekly concerts and the annual Winter Dance Party commemorating the now legendary concert back in 1959.  It still has wooden booths and looks much like it did in 1959.  It is like stepping back in time.  For anyone interested in the history of rock 'n roll music, it is a worthwhile trip.

For more information about the concert and the fateful crash, read The Day the Music Died by Larry Lehmer. 

More below in the extended entry:

Boogie Shoes

JihadGene had a great song for his It's Friday, Let's Dance series.  The song is Boogie Shoes from KC and the Sunshine Band.  It was originally the B-side of the hit (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty, two years before.  This song was featured on the wildly popular Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which was played ad nauseum during my senior year in high school.  Now it seems like a kitschy classic from the bad clothes era...the 70s.

My good friend, the Straight White Guy, had the chutzpah the diss JihadGene's selection.  Eric preferred the played-to-death I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide by ZZ Top.  And he ridiculed Wooly Bully before that.  Eric, Eric, Eric.  You can listen to Tom Waits.  You can play Tom Waits on the guitar.  But you can't dance to Tom Waits.

Here's a funny scene from Desperate Housewives which will show why Jihadgene was right....again.  Not that I've ever seen that show.

Until the Night - Billy Joel

Title: Until the Night

Artist: Billy Joel

Composers: Billy Joel

Label: Columbia 7242

Year Released: 1979

Highest Chart Position: 50 (UK)

For some time now, I've been considering buying an analog to digital converter kit, so that I can covert some of my music on vinyl to MP3.  I've talked to Hammer about it but hadn't done much research.  I was in Radio Shack looking for something entirely different when I spotted a box for Inport Deluxe from xitel with the following sales pitch: 

Record from your stereo to your computer!

Installs in seconds!

Powerful software included!

Removes pops and clicks!

Plus, it was on sale for $49.99 ($20 off).  I bought it. 

It includes software, a small box that converts from standard red/white RCA cables to a USB port.  There is also a 50-foot set of RCA cables.  This is very nice for those of us who don't have their turntable right next to their computer.  The software has three parts: 1) LP Recorder; 2) LP Ripper: and 3) Wave Corrector DeClick.  The LP Recorder is designed to record an entire LP (or side anyways).  It even has an auto level button...sweet.  LP Ripper splits it into individual tracks.  The Wave Corrector DeClick gets rid of the clicks.  It was all pretty easy.  The bad thing is that it saves using the .WAV format.  Even one 4 minute song is about 44mg.  I used Audacity (free download) to convert the .WAV file to a 4mg .MP3 file.  This product was very easy to use.  I would recommend it to anyone looking to convert their vinyl to digital.

I'm gonna have some fun now blowing the dust off of those old LPs and 45s.

On a side note, my turntable has had a loud hum and sound was only coming through the right speaker.  I've swapped cables, receivers, and finally bought a continuity tester.  Hammer suggested it might be a bad cartridge.  I unplugged the four little wires on the cartridge (remember those?), and when I reattached them, the hum was gone and I had stereo sound.  Weird.

One of my favorite Billy Joel songs appears on the album 52nd Street, before he married Christie Brinkley and became a caricature of himself.  Until the Night was only released as a single overseas.  I only have this song on vinyl, and I really didn't want to buy it all over again on CD.  It is available now as a 99 cent download on Amazon, but what fun would that be?  So here's my inaugural digital transfer from my vinyl album 52nd Street.  Enjoy!

Enjoy!

Play (6.0 MB)      

Upjohn Suite

Dad and I have returned from Michigan.  I'll post more about that later.  We stayed at the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo.  I had Google'd the hotel name when I was looking for directions to get there.  One of the first things that popped up was that 1960s singer Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers died in this hotel in 2003. 

Almost upon arrival to the reunion, I was busy.  We had to make a liquor run and restock the hospitality room, which was in the Upjohn Suite on the top floor, with a private card entry.  It was very swank, including a king size bed with a two step staircase up, and a jacuzzi tub. 

One night, Dad and I ate at one of the hotel restaurants.  On the way out we ran into the manager of the hotel who asked how our stay was.  As we were speaking to him, I got to thinking just how many rooms in the hotel would be fit for a celebrity to stay in. So I asked the manager where exactly Bobby Hatfield was found dead.  He told me of a room on the 9th floor, the Upjohn Suite.

So for the rest of the time we spent there, I would tell folks in the hospitality room:

You remember the Righteous Bros? Yeah.

The one with the high voice?. Yeah.

Well, he died somewhere in this room. Probably on that bed or in that bathroom.

Here's a video of Bobby singing his biggest hit Unchained Melody.  If there's a Rock and Roll Heaven, well you know they've got a hell of a band.  RIP, Bobby!

Texas Blogmeet 2008

This past weekend I traveled over from Houston to the Texas Hill Country for the third meeting of the Blowneyed Blodgers (I missed the first one).  I picked up That 1 Guy along the way and we arrived around 6pm.  The location was called Toad Hall, just outside of Hunt, TX.  It was a great setting with two houses.  They were joined by sidewalks, and both houses had extensive stairs down to a firepit down by the Guadalupe River.  The living accommodations were quite plush with thick bedding and towels.  I stayed in the Boys Room which had a bunk bed and another bed on the side.  Overflow housing was at the Japonica cabins about 4 miles down the road.  We all said our goodbyes there by the Guadalupe River. 

Here's the list of this year's participants:

• Shoe of SuperGurl:  Shoe is the hostess with the most-ess.  Shoe pulled off quite a coup getting this place.  She had booze and food for everyone.  Shoe spent the last night in the Boys Room sleeping in the bottom bunk below me.  Who knew?  I don't know how she does all this planning and makes it appear effortless.  Thank you, Shoe! 
• That 1 Guy of Drunken Wisdom:  I have known T1G the longest of any of these guys.  He's like a brother to me.  He flew in from California and I picked him up at the San Antonio airport.  We had a nice visit on the ride to the blogmeet.  We shared the Boys Room and his steady snoring rocked me right to sleep.    
• Erica of Erica's Blog:  Erica had quite the traveler's experience this year.  She was four hours late getting into San Antonio, and then was notified that her luggage had been lost.  I checked on the luggage when I picked up T1G, to no avail.  Erica called several times from the house.  She had to buy a new wardrobe at Walmart in Kerrville.  She loved Walmart.  Finally on Saturday night, Erica got the word that her luggage ended up in Switzerland!  She also had some troubles flying home, landing in New Jersey (a nice New York girl's worst nightmare).  I had so much fun hanging out with my little Joo-ish friend. 
• Denny of Grouchy Old Cripple:  Denny drove over from Georgia and was heading west after the meet.  He brought his guitar and treated us with many songs on Saturday.  Denny once again sang my favorite:  She Used To Be Pretty.  Friday night, Denny told me a joke down by the river.  I started laughing so hard, I got choked up and couldn't catch my breath until I got back in the air conditioning.  Damn, he's funny.  
• Leslie of Leslie's Omnibus:  Leslie is from Chicago.  She, Erica, and I made a Walmart trip on Saturday.  So glad she could make it again. 
• Hammer of When Your Only Tool Is a Hammer:  It was so great to see Hammer again.  He is a blogger extraordinaire.  He's the only blogger I know who makes his own videos.  Hammer spent a lot of the blogmeet playing bouncer and protecting the ladies from the wolves on the prowl.  He was supposed to be in the Boys Room, but he thought the bunk bed was going to collapse, so he slept in the breezeway.   
• Walrilla of Walrilla's Wonderings:  Walrilla now has his prosthetic leg and is getting around just great.  He and Robert made some very hot Texas chili and Vinegar Pie. 
• Robert of A Disregard for Timekeeping:  Walrilla's friend came down on his Harley in a sleeve-less shirt.  That looked painful.  I didn't get much of a chance to chat with him. 
• Nancy of Nancy's Garden Spot and Pup:  This nice couple provided us with plenty of vittles during our stay.  Nancy tells me she can identify some of the mystery plants around my house. 
• Becky of Tall Cool Drink of Water:  She showed up on Saturday and jumped right in the mix.  I always forget how dang tall she is.  She is a lot of fun. 
• Holder of Holder of Useless Knowledge:  She is a school teacher from Georgia.  Turns out we know a lot of the same peeps, but had never met.  She was such a sweetie.  I drove her and Erica to the San Antonio airport.  Great gal. 
• Last, but certainly not least is Fat Hairy Bastard.  This was his first blogmeet.  He brought his lovely British lass Denise.  Everyone really loved listening to her accent.  They brought their fishing gear and were the only ones to venture out into the canoe....and they didn't even get wet.  I have met Fat Hairy Bastard and Denise out for dinner a few times and plan to again sometime soon.  Always good to see them. 
• Kerrcarto (lurker) was there again this year.  He always is good to talk to.  He brought his wife on Saturday. 
• Charlie Delta (lurker) was a new face from San Diego.  He was a fun drunk and had a large time. 
• Paul (lurker) was another new face.  He's a Texas boy who has been living in Seattle the past few years.  He misses the mother-land and may be returning to Texas soon. 
• Robert II (friend of Paul's) was from New Braunfels and like me, was brave enough to wade in the stagnant waters of the Guadalupe River. 
• Robert III (friend of Kerrcarto's) was there the last night. 

I missed a lot of the late-night events as I was plumb tuckered out.  I slept great in the bunk bed, totally unaware of the drunkfest outside.  I think I'm getting old. 

Special thanks to all the folks that brought and prepared food.  It was delicious!! 

That's it folks.  It was a Texas-sized bash! 

Here's a video of Denny performing Rocky Raccoon:

Free Kittens

 I belong to a local internet forum called Lebanon Chatter.  It's usually covers such exciting topics such as When's the new donut shop going to open? or Anybody seen my dog?  A recent topic had someone looking to find a good home for some kittens.  I had been looking for some good mouse-ers.  So I posted a reply and contacted the lady.  Yesterday, my sister and I drove about 10 miles west and picked up these four kittens.  The mother was very skinny and was pushing them away.  I put them into a cardboard box and we drove the kittens back to the farm. 

I let the kittens spend the first night in my garage.  They chowed down on some kitten food and water.  There was just a little bit to clean up this morning.  I then moved food, water, and kittens to my barn (after I removed the boxes of D-Con).  They were busy exploring for hours and were soon all covered in cobwebs (better than a Swiffer!).  Every time I went out there, they were hiding under some boards.  I found a flat wooden box and put an old sheet and a shirt of mine in it, for bedding, and tucked it under these boards.  I'm not sure what the attraction to the enclosed space is.  I bought a gallon self-feeding water jug and a sturdy wide bowl for them to eat out of.  I have an old metal bread box on the wall of the barn where I can store the cat food.  Tonight I shut the barn door at dusk.  Lights out.  I think they'll like the neighborhood. 

It's probably been twenty years or so since there's been any cats around this place.  My aunt and uncle always had lots of cats and kittens.  My aunt always fed them right outside the garage door in an old used tuna can, which was always nasty and full of gnats. 

Now, these kittens just need to learn how to catch mice and kill them.  I don't care if they eat them or not.  Just kill the mice.  No lazy fat cat pooping in a litter box here.  I want working farm cats...outdoors.  I'm on my way to build the cat population to Cliff levels.  He has about thirty cats hanging around the farm.  Cliff's my idol.

Just some friendly little cats.  Reminds me of a dirty little ditty by the Asylum Street Spankers (from The Bob & Tom Show):

The Pussycat Song (Caution: Adult content!!! - 2.7MB)

Twilight Time

My sister has been playing the piano since she was six years old.  All of us kids took piano lessons.  She's the only one still playing today.  She has been playing the organ up at church since she was in the seventh grade in 1967.  Sometimes, she likes to give Mom and Dad a little concert.  I recorded about ten minutes worth, but this little snippet didn't have any major flaws.  I'm still learning this camera and my new tripod.

Mom was asleep in the chair, just out of view.

Listen for Dad's commentary at the end.  Enjoy Twilight Time!