Monday, March 18, 2024

We Need To Fix Lehigh Valley H.S. Marching Bands

I've noticed for years now the local high school bands are lucky if they have 25 members marching. No wonder... the music stinks. Either band directors don't know how or aren't interested in catching up with the times. It seems to me a lot more kids might want to join if all these bands didn't sound alike with the stale old stuff. I think it also bores people watching on the sidelines. Same ole' stuff for decades. Sousa once made a great big change and it took off. Why not someone step up and take these bands to the next level?

I do realize not all marching bands can sound and perform like those in the video below BUT these are also H.S. kids. You mean to tell me teenagers in this nation lack the talent of those in Japan! That would be a shame. If not why not the same level of talent?


Just for once I'd like to see one marching band in the Lehigh Valley step it up. I'm sure a lot more then just me would as well. Can you imagine how many more would turn out for a parade to see this level of entertainment.

LET'S GET ON IT!

Downside Of Music Concerts (Sales etc.)

Friday, March 15, 2024

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Repost

PADDY & MICK
Paddy and Mick get a pilot to fly them to Canada to hunt moose. They bag six. As Paddy and Mick start loading the plane for the return trip, the pilot says, "The plane can only take four of those." The two lads object strongly. "Last year we shot six and the pilot let us put them all on board; he had the same plane as yours."

Reluctantly, the pilot gives in and all six are loaded. However, even with full power the little plane can't handle the load and down it goes and crashes in the middle of nowhere. A few moments later, climbing out of the wreckage, Paddy asks Mick, "Any idea where we are?"

"I think we're pretty close to where we crashed last year," says Mick.
* * * * *


Paddy & Mick find three grenades, so they take them to a police station. Mick: "What if one explodes before we get there?" Paddy: "We'll lie and say we only found two"!
* * * * *


Paddy says to Mick, "Christmas is on a Friday this year" Mick says "Let's hope it's not the 13th."
* * * * *


Joe says to Paddy: "Close your curtains the next time you're having sex with your wife. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday. "Paddy says: "Well the joke's on them because I wasn't even at home yesterday"!
* * * * *


Paddy says to Mick - I'm ready for a holiday, only this year I'm going to do it a bit different.

3 years ago I went to Spain and Mary got pregnant. 2 years ago I went to Italy and Mary got pregnant. Last year I went to Majorca and Mary got pregnant.

Mick asks - So what are you going to do this year?
Paddy replies, - This time I'll take her with me
* * * * *




An Irish daughter had not been home for over 5 years. Upon her return, her Father cursed her heavily. 'Where have ye been all this time, child? Why did ye not write to us, not even a line? Why didn't ye call? Can ye not understand what ye put yer old Mother thru?'

The girl, crying, replied, 'Sniff, sniff... Dad... I became a prostitute.'

'Ye what!? Get out a here, ye shameless harlot! Sinner! You're a disgrace to this Catholic family.'

'OK, Dad.. As ye wish. I only came back to give mum this luxurious fur coat, title deed to a ten bedroom mansion, plus a $5 million savings certificate. For me little brother, this gold Rolex. And for ye Daddy, the sparkling new Mercedes limited edition convertible that's parked outside plus a membership to the country club ... (takes a breath) .... And an invitation for ye all to spend New Year's Eve on board my new yacht in the Riviera.'

'What was it ye said ye had become?' says Dad.

Girl, crying again, 'A prostitute, Daddy! Sniff, sniff.'

'Oh! My Goodness! Ye scared me half to death, girl! I thought ye said a Protestant! Come here and give yer old Dad a hug!






Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, 'Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!'

Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.

***

An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut . The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.

He says, 'Sir, have you been drinking?'

'Just water,' says the priest.

The trooper says, 'Then why do I smell wine?'

The priest looks at the bottle and says, 'Good Lord! He's done it again!'

***


The Dubliners & The Dublin Gospel Choir
Christ Church Cathedral 2022

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

News Used To Come Across The 'Wires' (Repost)

...literally
Components of the 'teletype' machine used to be manufactured right here in Lehigh Valley, Pa. by good old 'Western Electric' in partnership with "Western Union" with whom they once shared a close business relationship.

Not only did 'Western Electric' manufacture telephones and switching equipment for the Bell Telephone System, they also manufactured some of the audio equipment used in movies theaters in the 20's and 30's. The 'Rialto Theatre' in Allentown, Pa. used one of these 40 watt systems until the day the theatre was demolished.

Lesser known to listeners of radio and readers of newspapers is that up until the late 80's most of these media outlets received their news through the 'teletype' equipment 'Western Electric'/'Western Union' once manufactured... That is when we used to still actually make things here in this country.

The 'Teletype' used telephone landlines to send electronic signals to automated typewriters that news outlets throughout the United States relied on. These machines were either dialed up to the 'Associated Press' (AP) or 'United Press International' (UPI). Some linked to both of the news services. The machines typed around 60 WPM. Members would both feed stories to and receive stories from them. The costs involved were a permanent separate landline. The leasing of the equipment. The constant replacement costs for carbon ribbons. At least 40 lbs of paper a day and of course the cost(s) of membership to AP and/or UPI.

In 1984 the Bell System was divested. It was shortly thereafter both 'Western Electric' and 'Western Union' had a falling out. This resulted in the 'teletype' name and logo being replaced by the AT&T name and logo. Eventually the brand disappeared all together. Still there was once a day the teletype was the chief means of communication between all of the news media outlets.

The Model 28 KSR Teletype (TTY)

Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Real God We Worship

Repost

Let's not kid ourselves, the only real God we worship is the God of money. Governments don't exist without money. Churches can't exist without money. People spend their whole lives in pursuit of this imaginary God. Most of our lives and decisions all revolve around this false illusion that somehow, if we follow the pursuit of money we will succeed to a higher level of happiness in this life alongside the disciples of the this imaginary God. I have news for you. The club isn't accepting new members.

You want to know the truly odd thing about money?
It doesn't exist!

It's a game made up to measure one's worth against another person. Those who perpetrate this illusion laugh at the fools who think they can somehow beat the deceivers at their game. Ain't never going to happen!

Whenever something doesn't seem to make sense (politically or otherwise) I redirect my thoughts to follow the money trail. Take for example the phrase, "God loves the poor". Well if that's the case he sure has a funny way of showing it. Gee I wonder who came up with that one? Could it be the those who don't want any trouble from the smucks who aren't buying into their game? Of course it is!

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with someone becoming a billionaire if they think that will make them happy. I wouldn't know what to do with that kind money myself anyway. What I do have a problem with is when they screw over other people to get that way. To many of them it's no longer a game of not how much they can accumulate (which they could never spend in a lifetime), but rather taking every bit of the pie and leaving little for anyone else. Sometimes it's not how rich you are, but how poor you can make everyone else.

I Repeat.. "Money Doesn't Exist"