The ellipse I drew on this photo shows an approximate anticipated position for the portable “smart” projector, once the patio has been completed and is ready for use.
For a reliably strong Wi-Fi signal outside, I installed a Verizon FiOS Network Extender. Another benefit is much improved reception on the porch.
Using WPS, it set up in just a few minutes, and runs over the MoCA coaxial cable network back to the Quantum Gateway. Note: I expect only tastewar will understand what I just said! 😉
A very dear, old friend was playing the vibes when I met her in high school. She’s recently taken up the ukulele, and I suggested that she ask members of her two uke groups (yes, two) if they know the name Ian Whitcomb.
A 1966 Ford Country Squire was the station wagon.
The songs in the back of the station wagon came from extension speakers connected to a Lear 8-Track tape player.
Work on the patio is progressing. Removing the 50-year-old concrete next to the garage revealed the underground conduit holding the pairs of copper wire used for the Plain Old Telephone System, or POTS.
A long time ago, before Steve Jobs announced the iPhone, I explained the trouble I had with that old Telco wiring.
“With the old copper wires the telephone crackled when it rained, even after Verizon swapped wire pairs in the buried pipe, so we were glad to be rid of it.”
Tom Hanks’ commencement speech at Harvard last Thursday. Hey, he makes a reference to The Adventures of Superman, and goes on from there to list more comic book characters!
Hanks didn’t advise the grads to “follow your passion.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/opinion/stem-women-gender-disparity.html
A nice commentary on Hanks’ comments from the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/31/tom-hanks-commencement-harvard/
George Maharis has died at the very advanced age of 94. From the NYTimes, where that publicity photo came from, I learned that Maharis was gay. (Bring back white sidewall tires!)
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/arts/television/george-maharis-dead.html
Curiously, there’s no direct mention of his orientation in the Hollywood Reporter obituary, despite it having been relevant to his leaving the series.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/george-maharis-dead-route-66-star-1235502542/
Maharis’ character was obviously based upon Jack Kerouac, with co-star Martin Milner looking like Brian Wilson’s older brother who wasn’t in the Beach Boys. The pilot episode of Route 66 is excellent, with strong adult content. The memorable theme was by Nelson Riddle, who wrote the equally memorable theme to the Batman TV series.
CORRECTION: A certain gentleman going by the name of “Denro” says, “Riddle me this, Nelson. The Batman theme was written by Neal Hefti!” Here are some Batunes that Riddle did compose, borrowing liberally from Hefti’s ditty:
