Free Republic

I will firstly admit that I am the opposite of Tech Savvy. I resisted moving on from my WebTV gadget to my laptop computer for years. I only stopped, when customer service at Best Buy didn't even know what WebTV was and had to Tweet their managers or their Dads. That being said, I have noticed some difficulty getting FreeRepublic to show up on my cell phone (or Android). It first happened last Wednesday. I would press the button in my Favorites for FreeRep, but I would be lead to my last search page on Google, often about topics having...

I have been using plant fertilizer Eleanor's VF-11 for decades on plants, both indoors and outdoors. I like it because it is effective almost immediately and best of all, it does not burn the plants so easily, the way most fertilizers do. Since the Covid era began, this particular product has been near impossible to find in retail stores. I went to the website for Eleanor's VF-11 and ordered one gallon for about $25.00. My money was accepted on April 5th, 2022. I received a Receipt of that sale and told I would be contacted when it shipped. Since then,...

I throughly enjoy this violin sonata by Carl Philip Emanuel Bach, one of J.S. Bach sons. The Sonata begins with a flowing 3/4 movement on the keyboard soon joined by the violin in a lightly syncopated manner. I believe 'to syncopate' means to use a rhythm with displaced beats or accents so that the strong beats are weak and vice versa. I'm still learning how to listen to baroque music and break down what they are presenting. When I first heard this, it reminded me of another composition that was written about 100 years after this sonata. I thought of...

I am by no means a Sports Expert, but Colin has become a kind of celebrity apart from football. My advice to him would be to buy a weed whacker and give himself a haircut. You don't see a lot of thirtysomething men walking around with a vintage Michael Jackson type Afro.

A few days ago, it appeared that someone had hacked their way into a few Free Republic accounts, then commenced to post ridiculous, often obscene posts. As a matter of caution, I logged out for a few days. However, since I have returned to the fray, I see articles by headline as before, but nothing shows any text as it usually does. Now, I'm under the Nancy Pelosi rules of expectation in that: I have to open the post to see what's in it. I can deal with it. At least I can read what's "Hot" with other posts, or...

I enjoy many types of music at some point or another. I have a CD by Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans. I never tire of hearing Tumbleweed or 'Cool Clear Water'. I was looking for something similar but more recent. I took a chance on this CD collection by Charley Pride. The Essential Charley Pride. This is what I call a Back to Back playable album collection. Meaning, I enjoy listening to it from the first to the last of 20 songs. (Maybe just one track that I can do without). I came across a sweet little tune that pleasantly...

File this under; First World Problems...I enjoy many types of music. I'm still buying CDs to increase my collection. I have been trying to replace a certain recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. I had this one CD with no cover that I often listened to, but lost it during a move. I've been trying to replace that favored recording, but everything I've purchased since then has a very quick pace. I am in no 'hurry' to finish hearing the music. In fact, I'd prefer to prolong the experience. If I wanted to hear Brandenbrg #5 with all the harpsichord sounding...

I just found out that jazz pianist Chick Corea has died today from a rare form of cancer. I never knew all that much about him. I still don't. What I do recall was his album The Leprechaun from 1976. Pleasant listening. I had hoped to see him live someday. Not meant to be. I used to play that album on repeat for hours as I did my homework in College. Corea and the group Weather Report were among my favorites. Back in Columbus Ohio. I will leave it up to someone more deeply versed in jazz piano to describe...

"What are cufflinks? I'm not familiar with that phrase" asked my co-worker. I thought he might be joking. This co-worker is a 28 y/o guy studying to become a court stenographer. He is from a large German-American family in the Bay Area. We often have discussions about religion and society. Friendly discussions. He taught himself how to speak Japanese. "Your father probably knows", was my first reply. I have to remember, things such as jeweled tie clips and cufflinks are not very common any more. One of my sisters has an adult daughter named Sharon. Sharon just gave birth to...

For some reason, I awoke with this song on my mind today. Before my eyes parted, I was listening to the piano introduction. "She's A Rainbow" was recorded in 1967 and released on the Rolling Stones album, "Satanic Majesties Request". It took me a while (years, in fact) to move past that name, one with 'Satanic' in the title. Eventually, I saw it as just a marketing ploy to grab attention from the Beatles' Sargeant Pepper Album. The Beatles album was filled with light ditties and toe-tappers. The Stones wanted to exhibit the other side of that coin. Friendly competition...

Legendary comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke on Friday endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president and urged older voters to back the Vermont lawmaker. "Why wouldn't an older citizen vote for somebody with that kind of record and with that kind of experience and honesty and trust?" Van Dyke, 94, said in a video circulated by the Sanders campaign. "It just doesn't make sense that he's not getting my generation! And I want to urge my generation to get out and vote for him please." Sources include, The Hill, Vulture, The Wrap, Twitter

I am semi-retired. Meaning that I still work part time. I don't have to, but I do mainly to stay involved with other people's lives and as a healthy distraction. My job as a caregiver for disabled adults means I make them dinner, dispense medications, listen to concerns, etc. Yesterday, there was a surprise on the menu; Tri-Tip Steak. Of course I'd heard of it, but I had never eaten any. At about $13.00 a pound, my family would never have been buying it years ago, even when adjusted for inflation. Most of the staff know that I like to...

My part of the California Bay Area (San Rafael) just completed a 2.5 day involuntary blackout. The local utility is taking precautions to reduce their power in areas of ongoing fire, or windy weather. They have already declared bankruptcy due to past mistakes and misfortunes. There is nothing I can do about it, but to be ready, more ready the next time. I can be thankful it wasn't longer. Tonight is the first time we have had street lights and traffic lights for a while. I recall gazing from my back terrace at the nearest avenue. All was pitch black....

As the headline states, I'm looking to buy a very basic home stereo system with speakers, fm/am radio, and CD ability. I'm not tech savy, nor all that interested in delving into it, but I may not have a choice anymore. Most stereo systems sold today are intermeshed with Bluetooth. I have budgeted up to $250. for it, but hope I needn't go that high. The model I own right now is that way, but I am able to use the CD player and the radio without going through a lot of intricate hooking up. I only plan to change...

Have you noticed it too? In the last three or four weeks, I'm seeing more Free/Rep postings showing only the Headline, not much else. There are still a few, that include two or three sentences of text from the author, but not the majority as it was until now. The plus side is that you can squeeze maybe 35% more articles per page than before. The negative, is to paraphrase what Nancy Pelosi said, "You now have to Click it in order to find out what's really in it." In a textural sense, it almost looks like a different website...

As stated, I am seeking a simple white, flavorless pill that I can occasionally take instead of consuming more actual pain reliever medication. Why? So that I don't become too reliant on pills to get through the day. So that I don't continue building new thresholds of tolerance, requiring even more of that same med. Such pain relievers can be rough on the organs of the body. Other reasons: So that I remain more clear headed during the days, during the times I need to drive, during the times when I'm expected to engage in conversation with people. Causes of...

I have two parakeets; Sky Blue and Ice Cube. I have owned them for about two years. Last December, I finally got enough nerve to start letting them out of their cages for one to three hours, few times a week. One reason I began now, vs waiting for warmer Spring weather , is because Ice Cube has begun pacing in his cage. Back and forth on a perch. It makes me dizzy just to watch. I'm thinking he must be bored out of his mind or just want to spread his wings a little. They both like it. Neither...

Is the President done issuing pardons for this year? I had hoped he would help Paul Manafort out. There is a recent story of a Green Beret now charged with killing a suspected Afghan terrorist. Mathew Golsteyn is his name. He could use some help. Plus, Rod Blagojevich aka Blago is waiting for a little compassion too. I know the President has been extremely busy. I would expect such decisions,to pardon or commute a sentence, would have been considered months ago.

It's been quite a while since I've heard anything from or about Rudy Giuliani. I have been somewhat relieved, about not hearing him, if you want to know the truth. Rudy has a penchant for making outrageous statements during interviews. Many such statements that must be at least partially walked back a few days later. Still, the President has trust and confidence in Mr. Giuliani. We've all been so busy with the Battle 4 Brett, and domestic terrorists (-wannabes) after that, not many give a thought to America's Mayor. Have any of you here heard anything? What's Rudy been up...

I was raised as Catholic, and will always enjoy hearing the traditional songs usually sang in those parishes. However, I will now add on many songs from other Christian religions. I friend of mine was clearing his home of unused items, and asked if I would like to take an old cassette of his; "Jubiliation! Great Gospel Performances, Volume 2; More Black Gospel". 18 songs. I just so happen to have one of those ancient home system with CD and cassette players. I had nothing to lose, so I took it. Many of the first few songs were so amateurish,...