Author: DOuG pRATt

Special Post-Op Pre-Chemo Post

Awaiting whatever my medical fate will be, I really didn’t feel inclined to post anything. Until the debate. Biden was an elderly man showing the effect of Sundowning:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/sundowning/faq-20058511

The president can’t have a “bad night.” If he can be like this now, what about four years from now? I am appalled by all of the excuses being made by Biden’s team. They think this changes nothing, but it changes everything.

Allies must be concerned and enemies must be very pleased, by Biden’s obviously diminished condition. He is no longer fit to represent the United States on the world stage. Trump also worries allies and pleases enemies, but Biden no longer has the advantage.

I don’t know how anyone can be undecided at this point, let alone be a loyal Trump follower. But this much is clear. The undecided voters in the swing states will decide the election, and Biden has decided for them. He will lose in November.

Hold That Thought

The news isn’t terrible, but it isn’t good, either. Stage 1 cancer, a very rare type, but it’s curable. I’ve been told to expect radiation and chemotherapy, but to wait for the Mass General tumor review board’s recommendation. They meet on Thursday.

As I said before, I have no interest in chronicling my “cancer journey.” Therefore, I am putting this online journal on hold for the duration. A rough estimate is I’ll be quiet for at least 3-4 months. I hope to see you on the other side.

Livin’ the dream in radio! The $100/month basement rented room where I lived my first four years after college.

Not Fakin’ Mono

Mono vs. Stereo is an endlessly interesting aspect of Sixties Pop music.

The rise of FM radio in the late 60’s was, I would conjecture, a reason why “folded mono” became standard for singles after albums were produced in stereo exclusively.

Mono FM receivers collapse stereo broadcasts into mono. So, if that was what people were already hearing, why bother laboring over dedicated mono mixes for singles played on AM stations?

Barnes Newberry opened this week’s “My Back Pages” on WMVY with selections from Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends album.

“Fakin’ It” from Bookends is an all-time favorite of mine. There’s so much creativity in the production. I love the “Strawberry Fields Forever” fade-out. All it needs is “I buried Paul (Simon).”

The true mono mix for the 45 provides a striking contrast to the album’s stereo mix. Note the running time.