Posts

Finding the needle in the haystack.

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Today was one of the few days of the week that I venture off the compound...today, by necessity.  I was trying to make an online purchase with my debit card.  I called the customer service line and they told me that my card was deactivated.  No notice, no reason, just deactivated. I went to the local branch and all of the ladies were sympathetic to my plight and helped me out.  It is a Portugese community and they have empathy for the elderly.  One of the girls remarked about the troubles with 2 point verification for somebody who doesn't have a cellphone such as myself.  There was the flicker of humanity in these ladies, drowning in the technologic marass.  I then went to the local Polish deli.  It is truly a throwback to the past.  The owner is behind the deli cases, slicing up ham and cheeses for the customers in the long line.  Despite the delay, there is incredibly good cheer.  The lady in front of me speaking fluent Polish, sm...

Was the Roman Republic Built on a Spreadsheet? The 122-Year Secret That DESTROYS the Roman Republic

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Here we go again...

What Makes This Song Great? "Bohemian Rhapsody" QUEEN (Feat. Brian May) Rick Beato

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I have been going through a lot of Rick Beato's interviews with songwriters and performers.  This one was especially of interest as a musician.  Rick reviews the complexities of the chords, harmonies, and recording of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.   I posit that there is no way that this is of human origin.  In the "song" itself, Mercury tells the tale of murder and "nothing really matters."  This is overlooked in the discussion with Brian May....I believe purposely.   These layered chords and harmonies are beyond even the most gifted jazz musicians.   

The Providence Verbena Setlist

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I totally forgot that they did a cover of My Funny Valentine which ended up one of my favorite Chet Baker tunes... How is that for beyond a synch?   Not to mention that another one of my faves, Elvis Costello covered the Chet Baker version.

This place knows no limit on the way it tortures me.

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 Aside from all of my physical ailments, this reality is a never ending series of tortures. In the midst of another 90 degree heat wave, the one room that I have air conditioned had water all over the floor, damaging artwork and the bamboo floor.  After 2 hours with a repairman tonight, the condenser is cracked and the unit needs to be replaced. I have amazon Prime, still, the earliest delivery is Wednesday...So I have to struggle through 2 more days of 90 plus degree temperatures with no A/C. Then I come home from the flea market and get my mail...my mailbox is filled with wasps who are desperately attacking my car. Just make it end.

The Billy Joel Interview Rick Beato

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Outstanding interview with Billy Joel focused on how he writes songs, the structure of some of his greatest hits, and the role of classical music in his life.  Extremely enjoyable. As someone who has played musical instruments since my teens, I find both Billy Joel and Paul Simon to be totally believable as to their song writing process.

My Debbie Harry experience and recalling the Pretenders backstage in 1981...Learning to Crawl.

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This post was inspired by a comment from Brian from Ohio asking about my personal experiences with celebrities.  I have previously shared a list of the celebrities that I have met.  https://dirtybennywrites.blogspot.com/2025/05/famous-people-that-i-have-met.html I saw Blondie at Avalon in Boston in the early 2000's.   As usual, I collected autographs so I came prepared with a Blondie LP to be signed.   After the show, there were about 30 people waiting by the tour bus for autographs.   Debbie came out the stage  door surrounded by bodyguards.  She walked directly up to me, took my album and went on the bus.  2 minutes later, a roadie brought out my album signed.  The people around me were dumbfounded at how lucky I was to be chosen.  Maybe there is more to it.  Did she read my energy?  Did she know that this one would eventually be able to see?  Who knows....it was unusual in all my years of autograph collec...

The war against manKIND WIFI and EMF

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  Shannon Rowan, the "WiFi" refugee & geopolitical author-researcher joins Dr. Lando to discuss her most recent book " The Red Shoes: Our Devil's Dance with Technology and How We Can Stop it,".

Your Smart Watch Feeds the Beast: Biometric AI Control & How Your Heart Rate Is Being Weaponized

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It is striking to me that so many embrace these technologies from corporations that have shown that they are out to harm the public.  

How Partridge Family Fooled 40 Million People

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One of my all time crushes was Susan Dey from the Partridge Family.  Please don't tell me she's a man...I don't want to know.  Let me live in my delusion.