Long time columnist Bill White joins the ever growing list 'The Morning Call' has let go. Bill stated, "I accepted a voluntary buyout offer from our parent company this week that made Friday [11/30/2018] my last day here...
At this point the Morning Call Christmas party for all their employees and families would be lucky to fill a shipping container. Course a shipping container might be just the thing since they'll all probably be shipped out before long the way this is going.
A Blog About Anything & Everything.
Friday, November 30, 2018
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Brief Look Back At The Roxy Theater In Northampton
I wonder how many remember the famous acts that once appeared at The Roxy. The following is a partial listing of those who appeared with the sponsorship under the former owner of WSAN radio. These acts appeared after WSAN switched from Top 40 to a progressive format. Shortly thereafter Z95 simulated WSAN's new format. Since Z95 had a better FM signal quality listeners began to leave WSAN. But while it lasted WSAN was king of the hill spanning several years for those fans of the newer up and coming performers. There were three main jocks during this period. Bob Ross, Harvey Musselman (the owner's son) and one other whose name I can't remember.
I assumed these performers came here to try out their new material before they took it to the big expensive venues all across the country. Which means we got to hear them first at a fraction of the cost. As I recall less then $10. Here's a list of many of the performers.The dates and some of the setlists.
Something also worth mentioningMuhlenberg College use to do some of these too. I recall sitting down casually speaking with Steve Perry of Journey. I stopped him when he came from the back after talking with his sound guy. We spoke for three or four minutes. This was before anyone even recognized who he was previous to them hitting the big time.
Other artists included.... Counting Crows (10/14/2001), Los Lobos (10/12/1987), The Hooters (02/26/1986), The Stray Cats (01/27/1994), The Prentenders (02/04/1982), Harry Chapin (11/15/1980), The Kinks (02/26/1980), Al Stewart (11/06/1976), ELO, Ian Mathews and the Beach Boys (1966) to name some of them.
Indeed the Lehigh Valley was somewhat of a music Mecca before Musikfest or the PPL Center ever existed. In fact there were 100's of groups going back to 1958 who appeared at the Allentown Fairgrounds. One of my favorites was Jefferson Airplane. Grace Slick got crazy. Not only she invited those on the outside to come inside free but invited as many who could fit on stage as they performed.
One of the other memories was when concert promoters thought it was a good idea to pull in a farm wagon loaded with baskets of oranges to throw into the audience. For those handlers if ever planning to do it again I recommend wearing rain gear and equip yourselves with umbrellas. You'll need them both to repel all the INCOMING FRUIT MISSILES aimed at ya :-)
Ah the good times we old codgers had. Don't tell the kids. It'll spoil their image of us as well behaved citizens at their age in little old boring Lehigh Valley. Ssssh don't tell them about great grandpa's visits to the Saturday night burlesque shows at the Lyric either. Just tell them we all sat around the radio listening to Patti Page growing up.
I assumed these performers came here to try out their new material before they took it to the big expensive venues all across the country. Which means we got to hear them first at a fraction of the cost. As I recall less then $10. Here's a list of many of the performers.
Something also worth mentioningMuhlenberg College use to do some of these too. I recall sitting down casually speaking with Steve Perry of Journey. I stopped him when he came from the back after talking with his sound guy. We spoke for three or four minutes. This was before anyone even recognized who he was previous to them hitting the big time.
Other artists included.... Counting Crows (10/14/2001), Los Lobos (10/12/1987), The Hooters (02/26/1986), The Stray Cats (01/27/1994), The Prentenders (02/04/1982), Harry Chapin (11/15/1980), The Kinks (02/26/1980), Al Stewart (11/06/1976), ELO, Ian Mathews and the Beach Boys (1966) to name some of them.
Indeed the Lehigh Valley was somewhat of a music Mecca before Musikfest or the PPL Center ever existed. In fact there were 100's of groups going back to 1958 who appeared at the Allentown Fairgrounds. One of my favorites was Jefferson Airplane. Grace Slick got crazy. Not only she invited those on the outside to come inside free but invited as many who could fit on stage as they performed.
One of the other memories was when concert promoters thought it was a good idea to pull in a farm wagon loaded with baskets of oranges to throw into the audience. For those handlers if ever planning to do it again I recommend wearing rain gear and equip yourselves with umbrellas. You'll need them both to repel all the INCOMING FRUIT MISSILES aimed at ya :-)
Ah the good times we old codgers had. Don't tell the kids. It'll spoil their image of us as well behaved citizens at their age in little old boring Lehigh Valley. Ssssh don't tell them about great grandpa's visits to the Saturday night burlesque shows at the Lyric either. Just tell them we all sat around the radio listening to Patti Page growing up.
America Was Never White.
Came across this article on 'alternet'. It's a good read. Check it out.
America was never white, and it never will be.
By Joe Krulder, Ph.D., who teaches history at Butte College. "What the alt-right desires is an America where whites maintain some semblance of power over anyone of color if not outright ethnic cleansing. Their rhetoric of Heritage is pure myth, a fabrication of a false past, creating memory where none existed."
By Joe Krulder, Ph.D., who teaches history at Butte College.
A Different Kind Of "Dancing Queen" (Music Video)
They say, "There's more than one way to crack a nut". The same goes for different musical arrangements. A great composition is always a great composition no matter how it's rearranged if done right.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Gasoline How Does $7.06 A Gallon Sound?
No wonder protestors in France are going bonkers.
If there's one sure fire way to get people fired up it's when they are getting their pockets picked. Kind of works that way between countries as well. Something to think about when it comes to trade deals. More then one war got started this way.
ON ANOTHER SIMILAR SUBJECT Ever notice in countries where the economy collapses chaos ensues. Not long after refuges begin to flee in huge numbers. Seems to me the refugee problems can be attributable to the economic woes in their home countries from which they are attempting to flee. These refugee problems are a result of sanctions and unfair trade deals.
Here's a crazy idea. We should negotiate trade deals giving priority to needy countries over our current partners who are doing quite well. Those in poor countries whose labor would not only be more appreciative but work for far less money. Manufacture items and grow crops that would be tariff free with promises to import certain volumes. Both our economies and consumers would be better off for it.
This could be achieved through tax incentives for companies to build and buy in these underdeveloped countries for things that wouldn't greatly impact our own labor force. Some examples are agricultural products indigenous to these poorer countries. The tedious and time consuming task of assembling parts our engineers design and manufacture here could be done in theirs. Allow greater numbers of foreign workers exclusively from a select number of poor nations prone to refugees fleeing to work here for a few months doing the jobs most Americans don't want.
Doing anything towards this direction is better then the policies we have in place. I don't see how threatening desperate people at the point of a gun is going to make them any less desperate. Poverty ALWAYS leads to violence. Either we can choose a path towards helping to make these people economically sustainable or continue treating them as vermin. One speaks well of the United States. The other, a country who deserves no more respect then other nations who fallen before it.
If there's one sure fire way to get people fired up it's when they are getting their pockets picked. Kind of works that way between countries as well. Something to think about when it comes to trade deals. More then one war got started this way.
Here's a crazy idea. We should negotiate trade deals giving priority to needy countries over our current partners who are doing quite well. Those in poor countries whose labor would not only be more appreciative but work for far less money. Manufacture items and grow crops that would be tariff free with promises to import certain volumes. Both our economies and consumers would be better off for it.
This could be achieved through tax incentives for companies to build and buy in these underdeveloped countries for things that wouldn't greatly impact our own labor force. Some examples are agricultural products indigenous to these poorer countries. The tedious and time consuming task of assembling parts our engineers design and manufacture here could be done in theirs. Allow greater numbers of foreign workers exclusively from a select number of poor nations prone to refugees fleeing to work here for a few months doing the jobs most Americans don't want.
Doing anything towards this direction is better then the policies we have in place. I don't see how threatening desperate people at the point of a gun is going to make them any less desperate. Poverty ALWAYS leads to violence. Either we can choose a path towards helping to make these people economically sustainable or continue treating them as vermin. One speaks well of the United States. The other, a country who deserves no more respect then other nations who fallen before it.
One Damn Big Tree
Not every tree has a nickname, but 'The President' in California has earned it. This giant sequoia stands at 247 feet tall & is estimated to be over 3,200 years old. Imagine, this tree was already 700 years old during the height of ancient Greece's civilization and 1200 years old when Jesus lived and Rome was well into its rule of most of the western world and points beyond.
The trunk of The President measures at 27 feet across with 2 BILLION needles From base to top.
National Geographic photographers have worked along with scientists to try and create the first photo that shows the President in all its glory. They had to Climb the tree with pulleys and levers, and took thousands of photos. Of those, they selected 126 and stitched them together, to get this incredible portrait of the President. And here it is:
The trunk of The President measures at 27 feet across with 2 BILLION needles From base to top.
National Geographic photographers have worked along with scientists to try and create the first photo that shows the President in all its glory. They had to Climb the tree with pulleys and levers, and took thousands of photos. Of those, they selected 126 and stitched them together, to get this incredible portrait of the President. And here it is:
 |
The man standing near the trunk of the tree is a good indicator of the tree's size. |
Friday, November 23, 2018
LVCI Movie Recommendation "The Greatest Showman"
I'll admit I'm a little late to the party but this had to be one of the greatest musical films in 2017. The two most important elements was the music itself...
And the message the film contained-- we all deserve respect.
Rich, poor or those considered freakish.
Very uplifting for me especially in such times as these.
And the message the film contained-- we all deserve respect.
Rich, poor or those considered freakish.
Very uplifting for me especially in such times as these.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Democrats And Republicans Both Rig Elections
Goes to show not all us oldsters are onboard with either party's nonsense.
We should be neither a nation of Democrats nor Republicans. Rather a nation of one beyond either of these cults.
Sometimes us damned old
It sure would be nice if we had some new tunes to inspire the young uns like we had back in the day.
Gerrymandering Affect Election Outcomes
 |
| 2016 Midterm Election Outcomes |
Oft times those in control of congress would have us believe they speak for the majority of people. Statistics indicate otherwise.
History shows us the majority of people aren't always right, but neither should members of congress discount other views they are suppose to take into consideration. Failing to do so places our democracy at risk.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Here's A Video For Bored Brains
So what's going on?
Are we just some experimental software algorithm playing out?
Previously archived files on a server as testament to days gone past?
Perhaps three dimensional beings limited and unaware of other dimensional beings living beyond our own?
Does Yours?
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Civics Lessons No Longer Being Taught?
There can be no better example of failure by the American schools then that when comes to teaching civics classes. Apparently most of the people in United States (including it's politicians) have little clue how voting works. It seems nearly everyone believes in instant results This is especially true of our paranoid president who has the impression there is some sort of con going on if all the results are not made official with 24 hours.
Hopefully these two links will help educate some folks who never paid attention in Civics Class, never had one, missed a semester in high school or dropped out before 9th grade.
Why it takes so long to get election night results
Kicking civics out of class and taking it to the streets
IN SUMMARY
Vote tabulators from one end of this country to the other are not in on some giant scheme to defraud voters. Frankly it takes a sick mind to think all these people are reprehensible and untrustworthy as some of the candidates they're required to certify for office.
To my way of thinking there are two kinds of people bitching when it comes to this vote counting controversy. Those who are guilty themselves of what they claim others to be. The other too dumb to know any better.
Hopefully these two links will help educate some folks who never paid attention in Civics Class, never had one, missed a semester in high school or dropped out before 9th grade.
Kicking civics out of class and taking it to the streets
IN SUMMARY
Vote tabulators from one end of this country to the other are not in on some giant scheme to defraud voters. Frankly it takes a sick mind to think all these people are reprehensible and untrustworthy as some of the candidates they're required to certify for office.
To my way of thinking there are two kinds of people bitching when it comes to this vote counting controversy. Those who are guilty themselves of what they claim others to be. The other too dumb to know any better.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Drivers' Alert
 |
| Courtesy: Daily Mail.com |
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Quantum Computing Is Spooky Stuff (And More)
I have a few thoughts running through my mind after watching this video. First off is how close we are coming to know how this universe actually functions. Experiments have proven when it comes to the exact same quantum experiments any number of outcomes can result. There are no wrongs. It all depends on what outcome you're expecting. In other words all things can exist at the same moment. Thus time is an illusion that owes it's existence to whatever differences an observer expects an outcome to be. So in truth time has no basis. This is getting petty close to explaining what we misunderstand eternity to be when in fact there may only the here and now. It's only when we limit ourselves by expecting certain outcomes they appear as such.
This is why us mere mortals will never be capable of immersing ourselves into the greater whole. All our physical being (including our brain) relies on a series of events. Never will we be capable of assimilating simultaneously all events at once. For us we are doomed to be forever limited in our observations for that which we are only physically capable of. One could assume from this our so-called God whom we think exist separate from us isn't at all. Instead everyone of us and everything are only aspects of the same thing all occurring at once.
The video brought up another consideration. Could so-called artificial intelligence one day replace us either peacefully or by other means? I don't see how it wouldn't be possible. Whatever this quantum conundrum is would still remain as it always has. It's not dependant who it observes but rather the observers who prefer to continue observing. Whose to say machines have not already? Could us humans just be some archived recorded memories that once existed before intelligence evolved? Perhaps every war, every death and all that comes before or after may be nothing more then an outcome to some really vast experimental quantum equations being carried out far beyond our limited human comprehension.
One thing is for certain. Deep within us all buried deep inside there is knowledge in the beginning we all came from the same place as one. The core element that shall forever remain a timeless eternal part to all that exist. Retreat to the comfort in knowing these things. By doing so we will come to realize we're one of many expressions to whom we are a part of as one without end.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Voting Doesn't Need Be This Complicated
Imagine if you will what would happen if banks and retailers would conduct business the same way states do when it comes to voting. I mean, come on really how hard could it be to create a national database fed by each registration office who would issue these individual cards.
People would have 24 hours to either physically swipe their cards at a location or enter them online. Thus ending these insanely long lines, the need for so many poll volunteers or wait days, sometimes weeks for election results.
Security:
(1) It wouldn't be that hard to have triple verification. Each use of the card would go to three separate banks of servers administered by three separate entities. All which would have to match.
(2) Each person gets a separate transaction number which either they or the polling station prints out helping prevent duplicate voting. Everyone who wished could check online their transaction number to verify their votes were recorded correctly.
(3) Any stolen, missing cards or incorrect votes could be invalidated attributable to any particular card.
(4) If each county registration office had access to some sort of national database it would make it a lot easier for them to verify a person's citizenship status and whether they were registered in other states at the same time.
I honestly don't see why we make this so damned harder then things have to be. Maybe we just like bitching more then actually solving these kind of problems each and every election.
Pa. Weekly FLU Updates
Already as of November 3, 2018 there were 216 confirmed cases in Pennsylvania. 25 of them in Lehigh County.
Pennsylvania 2018/19 Influenza Season Data
If anyone still hasn't gotten their shot I recommend they do it soon as possible.
Nationally The CDC reports
1,538 tested positive as of 11/03/2018.
The 2018 flu vaccine will probably provide more protection than last year's.HERE'S WHY
If anyone still hasn't gotten their shot I recommend they do it soon as possible.
1,538 tested positive as of 11/03/2018.
The 2018 flu vaccine will probably provide more protection than last year's.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
2018 Midterm Voting Is Over
Official Computation starts at 9:00 AM November 9th, 2018
My general impressions are...
Neither party was given a mandate. Even though some house members were replaced by Democrats the vote spreads were only a couple percentage points apart. Hardly a mandate. I wasn't expecting a 'blue wave' however I would have thought the spreads would have been further apart.
Question remains will Trump tone down his divisive rhetoric or get worse once Democrats in the House start putting pressure on him?
Whether it be in the House or Senate neither party has enough votes to do any kind of meaningful legislation unless there is a bipartisan agreement put forth on the bill under consideration.
Generally speaking most conservative votes came from rural areas and those for liberals urban areas.
Things were less predictable because usually heavy turn outs mean incumbents are likely to lose seats. In this election there was nearly the same turn out supporting incumbents as there were those hoping to unseat them.
Those wishing things would settle down in Washington D.C. are going to be disappointed. Democrats no doubt will conduct a bunch of investigations into Trump. The purpose of which is to make him look as bad as possible if he should decide to run for a second term. Yes folks as soon as one silly season ends the next begins with this bunch. It's a never ending cycle with sometimes a bit of work getting done for the people who elected them.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
My Voting Day
Here's a voting tip. The wife and I deliberately went when the rain was at it heaviest around 9:30 am. This allowed for us to take only 18 minutes out of our day from the time we left the house till we returned after voting. Kinda figured most people would try avoiding a downpour :-)
Our polling place had around 145 who already cast their votes. About 20 more then some of the others I heard about.
Ed Rendell is making the rounds in Allentown. I saw some people taking selfies with him. Gee, I sure hope he doesn't skip voting.
LEHIGH COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS CAN BE FOUND HERE
Official Computation starts at 9:00 AM November 9th, 2018
Our polling place had around 145 who already cast their votes. About 20 more then some of the others I heard about.
Ed Rendell is making the rounds in Allentown. I saw some people taking selfies with him. Gee, I sure hope he doesn't skip voting.
Official Computation starts at 9:00 AM November 9th, 2018
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Allentown Taxes Going Up Next Year
City taxes are going up.
County Taxes are going up.
School taxes are going up.
When is this NIZ thingie going to
start helping taxpayers?
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Anyone Else Remember The MTA Song?
This tune came out in the era when the TV show "Hootenanny' was popular
The New Christy Minstrels (1963)
One of the most famous acts to come out of that era was 'The Smothers Brothers".
If you thought that was so not PC...
Watch Pat Paulson
My how times have changed haven't they!
Merv's show would have been cancelled on the spot
Friday, November 2, 2018
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)