Archive for the ‘Opinions and Observations’ Category

Perspective is Amazing

Posted: January 29, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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As I look back on the songs and projects I have been involved in I also want to share with you projects from the core of artists I grew up with that influenced me to do more and get better in my craft. I have a good number of writings to pick from.  Here is a set of lyrics from my older brother David.  I have mentioned him a few times already so I wanted to give you some examples of his writing.

This is a song called “Singing Wheels”.  It was written in February of 1977. We have a lot of themes about driving and being on the road.  We often contrast between city life and nature as we are drawn almost equally to both. The song has beautiful chords and the melody is haunting with a fluid motion that fits the lyrics quite well.  I will post the song in the future.  At this point, the boy is able to see the man he became!  Perspective is amazing from decades later.

“Singing Wheels”  © 1977 C David Kennedy

The lights of the city spread like stars below me

Traffic swirls around me as I leave.

And time moves slowly in a car that’s moving swift

I guess you call it relativity.

 

If the boy I was could see

The man that he became

He’d be pretty happy I suppose.

But the best things about him

Were just ballast for the flight

His hopes are dim and his dreams are tame.

 

And while Singing Wheels spin over whispered lullabies

My car eats the highway in the rain

Windshield wipers tell a tale rhythmic and serene

And thunder mourns the crying of the skies.

The Drones Are Coming!

Posted: January 27, 2016 in Opinions and Observations
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I have often been approached with questions about which product to buy and what is the best way to spend money.  I have been in sales for decades, so it is a natural connection.  I have a lot of experience in quickly consuming owners manuals and comparing products and pricing.  Almost any product; even if I have never heard of it.  So there are things to look into and I do a crash course on the subject and condense information and separate hype.  I want to share some product reviews with you.  Short – fun – and informative, but on stuff I actually own and use.  I am also open to requests or suggested topics.  We’ll see how and where it goes through the new year.

Recently, I received a cool gift for Christmas and it’s something I knew very little about.  In short, it is a mini quadcopter or tiny drone.  Specifically, the Hubsan H107D.   This thing is small and mighty.  Ready to go after charging and placing the battery in the quadcopter, I was flying it in no time.  As I have not had a remote control unit before I took it very slow and safe.  Indoors for the first few days and with the protective shield, I learned how to keep it fairly stable and maneuver from room to room without breaking anything.  It is fairly easy to ‘trim’ or stabilize for flight.  Once outside use the Expert Mode so you can fight the gusts of wind that can really grab this little guy.  The manual is not extremely detailed but you can find the info easily.

This thing is tiny as I mentioned but it also has a built in camera.  You get a real-time feed to the flight controller display.  If I ever get good at it, it is possible to literally fly the H107D by using the camera feed as a front pilot view (FPV).  An SD card enables you to record the flight.  Simple.  Easy.  I did have a difficult time playing back the card through my PC, but that might be another issue with Windows 10 as mentioned in an impromptu product review a while back!

The battery life is short and the charge time is king, so plan on buying additional batteries and a multi-charger is a good bet as well.  Once you start flying this thing and see how high it goes (and how fast), you will be doing a lot more flying.  Spare parts and other accessories are easy to find on-line and you can repair the unit yourself with the modular components.  Pretty slick and there is a fairly big following of people using and getting very intense with this machine.

Less than $200.00 with additional accessories I mentioned and you can have lots of fly time.  Take it easy but if you drop it or hit something hard you can replace almost anything easily with the exception of internal guts (main board, camera etc.)

See their site and this link for a quick flight video.  I may post some of mine soon!

http://www.hubsan.com/ShowVideo_72.html

“And The Stars Look Very Different Today” – Rest in Peace David Bowie

Posted: January 11, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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As I have a tendency to do, I was thinking about music over the weekend.  My thoughts drifted to how lucky I was to be born during a great musical period.  I have grown up and grown old with some amazing musical giants.  From The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, Pink Floyd, and so many others, I have listened and learned from these greats.  My life has been shaped by many of their lives and works.

This morning I was sad to learn that another musical genius has died.  David Bowie was a musical and cultural force for decades.  A person who not only risked life outside the box, but created safe environments for many who did not feel included in the culture and philosophy of the masses.

Whether you liked his music and collaborations with others or not, it is hard to overlook the impact he had; not only on the music scene, but also the lives of many listeners that were encouraged to be creative, passionate and true to who they are as a person.  He helped us all understand that the very difference that make us strong as individuals, actually contributes to creating a healthy nation.

Thank you David for all you have done.  I will never forget.

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Forward or Back? Happy 2016!

Posted: January 1, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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I have my own thoughts on the New Year’s holiday and the events surrounding it.  Before I go off on my tangent, let me first tell you that I think the whole thing is confusing and misleading.  So many people start off turned around because it does not make sense.

If you think of beginnings, fresh starts, separation of seasons, then we should start the New Year on the same day as the First Day of Spring.  One of those equinox thingys that will happen again in March.  http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html.  Winter: most things die or transform, only to jump back bigger and stronger every year.  To me this makes the way we look at nature, the seasons and the planet/sun relationships all make a bit more sense.   But here we are.  A New Year for many.

Is this a time of reflection on the year that was or are we better served looking forward to improving – growing – learning to do better in the coming year(s)?

I always try to learn from my mistakes and to change processes (or attitude, as needed!) to reflect successes.  Going over past injuries from ‘blind-spots” has limited positive potential for me.  I would rather look for the future blind-spots knowing that fixing the last year failure does not guarantee seeing the traps presented in the year to come, then prepare to take advantage of opportunities.

Do you reflect on the close of each year?  Make resolutions you should have already done? Guarantee to do better?  Or just have another day to party? LOL

Much success and happiness to all of you and your extended family and friends.  Be safe in the coming months and help make your community better for all.

What Have You Done For Them Lately?

Posted: November 20, 2015 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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I was recently speaking with some friends and the topics floated around like they normally do.   We finally spun into accomplishments and major things each of us have done.  As each of us look back on our lives there are things we have achieved and successes we are proud of.

I would like to tell you something I did that may have been the most important and long lasting of any.  My family and group of friends love to camp.  We go to parks and national forests, friends get-a-ways and even in our back yard. In fact one of the local county parks uses our camp sight as the background picture for their web site.  One night we had just finished cooking for everyone over a controlled fire and had a feast.  The sun was down and we built up the campfire so it was going pretty good.  Many of the campers were stuffed and sitting in deep chairs and settling down for good company and conversations.  I was standing with my back to the fire talking with someone and enjoying the evening.  I sometimes refer to having eyes in the back of my head or getting the ‘spider-sense tingling’ that something is wrong.  What in memory seems like the same time, I heard alarm and excitement from the group of people sitting close to the fire.  It quickly rose to a definite panic.  Not really knowing what the concern was, I turned around facing the camp fire.  I saw that my youngest granddaughter – very young at the time – had been standing near the fire facing someone in the chairs and did not realize she had backed up too far and had tripped backwards into the center of the fire pit.   People watching were unable to get out of their seats and you could see the panic in their eyes.  I turned quickly and reached down.  I grabbed her shirt in a bunch with one fist and pulled her as hard and as fast as I could.  I slammed her into my chest and gave her a great big hug before she even realized what had happened.

The group relief was ear shattering and was more alarming to her than me plucking her out of the pit.  I think back and consider escape from the amount of pain and suffering for a life time to come.  I thought for a while that this is why I was put on this planet – my work here is done.  Of course it is not and there will be many more stories to tell, but maybe none that made the world a better place like that one quick knee-jerk response.

I would like to hear your most remembered action that made a huge difference to someone else. Let’s celebrate and share those accomplishments in this post.

Windows 10 – My Frustrating Journey

Posted: November 2, 2015 in Opinions and Observations
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I have been a bit distracted lately.  I have a computer at home that I use to record music and to create the sounds I use with the MIDI controllers.  That is all I use it for.  I update the recording software and the plug-ins that I use, but other than that I have not done any updates since I got everything working reasonably well.   I subscribe to; don’t fix it if it ain’t broke……..

My office computer is another story.  I keep it up to date – within reason – and I try to get all the current drivers, etc.   I use it for everything you use a computer for including playing my audio mixes and working on videos.  So I recently upgraded to Windows 10.

Immediately I could not play audio files or video clips with attached audio.  Nothing changed on the sound card and it shows everything working properly.    Try to play an audio or video file though and the music player crashes.  I gave Windows some feedback. I am dead in the water.   Almost a month ago I got another update (I am checking daily if not more often for an update that will fix this bug) and it worked.  No problem playing audio or videos.

Two days later no audio again.  I sent more feedback and no helpful response in return.  Not unexpected.  I work for a company that uses software updates for our products and I understand how a few can be affected but almost everyone else does not have an issue or problem.  Things are very complex these days and even though devices and programs are GENERALLY easier to use, they are dependent on so many other factors and variables.  I go through the trouble to Reset Windows 10 and install all my programs again.  Still no audio.  A few days ago there is an update and I can again play audio.  Last weekend I was playing music all the time in celebration (yeah, I was in a kind of ‘cold turkey’ for you more senior readers….).

Today I log in and no audio again!   ARRRGHH!  I try to be patient but I think I am ready to trade my Windows 10 in for my old Windows 7!   Sometimes it’s all a numbers game.

Would You Sit Down and Talk to Me?

Posted: October 30, 2015 in Opinions and Observations
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In frequent conversations with my family we talk about articles and posts from fellow bloggers and how glad we are that we have met an amazing group of talented people. Many of us have challenges to deal with and we use creativity to describe and/or deal with those challenges.  You never fail to amaze and inspire me.  From articles that are so funny I can’t stop laughing to personal experiences that are so moving I try not to cry, I look forward to your blog posts and comments.  There are those in this community I will keep learning from.  The more we learn of each other, the more natural it would seem if we could actually meet.

That is when our conversation shifts to what would you do if you won the lottery or big inheritance (the latter is not possible for me – but still more likely than winning the lottery!!)?  We discussed that it would be really cool if we could arrange a common time and place on the globe where we could all meet.  Or travel the globe and meet you each one at a time.  It would be amazing for me to compare my internal images of fellow bloggers and compare them to actually meeting you.  I feel like I know many of you already and I do not think that I would be very surprised by the ‘person’ you are.  But I’ll bet in spite of my internal images, I would not recognize any of you if I met you on the street!  I would love to record and document the entire meeting.  Interview everyone, even have you sing on a few of my songs if you are up for it.  Create a community blog of the event.  Give promised hugs to a number of you.  To see the eyes behind the words.  To hear you laugh.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love the blog and the openness we can achieve by that same separation. I don’t want a bunch of you knocking on my door at all hours – though I might want to knock on yours!!

Gotta go now and buy my lottery ticket!

Forgetting Your Name

Posted: October 8, 2015 in Opinions and Observations
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I have pointed out on more than one occasion that I have a difficulty remembering names and dates.  This took its toll in my History grades for sure, but also had dramatic effects growing up and through adulthood.  For this I do not apologize other than try to work on ways to reduce that block.  I also acknowledge it and inform others that it is not intentional.  In two minutes I will forget your name.  It is nothing personal.  If I had a pen and paper I would write it down and if I can discretely enter in my cell phone I do.  If not, your name is gone.  I will remember your voice and the conversation.  I might be able to remember your face, but that is not guaranteed either.

Fellow bloggers’ names I will trigger more by the Picture/logo/Avatar and tag-line than the personal name.  From time to time I will post songs and lyrics from members of the center core I mentioned earlier.  I will feature other artists I have worked with as well. For many, I simply do not know the names of the many band members I have recorded or worked with.  I hope they will contact me so I can give them credit for all their works and talent.

To that point I do not overlook or diminish the writing partnerships I have had.  In the early years we did not think of copyrights or co-authorship.  We never discussed mechanical licensing or royalties.  Digital rights weren’t even a dream in the Product Development plans.  Pay-per-Click (PPC) wasn’t until years in the future.  Yet, here we are.

I feel I need to mention that my brother C David Kennedy has been referred to in a number of my posts while relaying the earlier years of poetry and song writing.  He is especially proud of his involvement in a few songs I have previously posted; “Red on Your Blue Suede Shoes”(c), “Quiet Nights”(c), “The Pleasure Tax”(c) and “Miracles in Your Hand”©.

Simple Minds and Double Standards

Posted: September 25, 2015 in Opinions and Observations
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In another time long ago, I made my living in injected molded plastics.  Long history but the memory I told a co-worker the other day was worth posting.  As you probably guess, I am not a conformist.  I have a hard time understanding why simple things are done wrong and I have a nasty habit of pointing it out sometimes.

As a supervisor of a night shift crew, we manufactured large panels of plastic for assembly in auto plants.  The machine operators were opening huge metal doors, pulling out heavy molded plastic panels and would trim excess plastic with blades and pack the parts in boxes, to be taken away by other busy bees.

When I started working there, I watched what they were doing for a long time.  I had time and motion training from the old days and I was really curious.  One night, I went to the machine operator with a tall stool.  I suggested he do a few changes in the layout and process and suggested he sit on the stool to be more comfortable.   He responded well to my suggestions but told me he could not sit down.  I stopped for a second and asked why.  He was told the could not sit down at his station.  When I asked the long of it – the owner/manager did not think you could work hard if you were sitting down.  I pondered this for a few days.

Then the following week on the evening shift I went into the offices and took out all the chairs and put them in the warehouse.  When asked about the incident I replied that I thought I was doing as instructed and making the company more efficient since I was informed that you cannot work hard sitting down.

In retrospect, I should have been fired and should have thought of that possibility,  I did not.  But the next day there were tall stools by each of the molding machines.

Only Left-Hand Turns!

Posted: September 14, 2015 in Opinions and Observations
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Most of us learn as we grow older.  We learn to read and write and all the social things we need to know in order to survive day to day life.  We also learn how to avoid doing really stupid things that might hurt others, embarrass us for the rest of our lives …. or possibly; get us killed.                                                                                      

In my past life I worked in the plastics injection molding business.  Probably because I had the musicians ability to stay up late, I was never really bothered by working late or evening shifts.  (prospective employers please note:  musicians get things done at night!  Hire the musician – another tip for the wise)  My mind refuses to turn off if there is something going on.  My apologies to my daughter Teneca, for she has inherited more than her share of odd traits or habits from me.  There is a long line of them in articles to come!  As can happen, you get off work at 8 AM and you are wide awake.  It is like your evening, getting out of work.  Sometimes it was a drive to a park or scenic area, and enjoy the sunrise and watching the world wake up slowly; at first.                                                                                                                

 One time co-workers wanted to get a drink at a local bar that opened early.  There are more than you might think.  Things are different now-a-days.  It’s not like they have a happy hour, but we go in and have a few drinks after work.  I work about 30 miles from home at this point.  The rest of the story I will make short:                                    

 I head home but I am in no condition to drive.  Being much younger I was not prepared.  I took a turn a little too wide.  It was out in the country and no traffic, but I went off the pavement a little and scraped the post of the guardrail.  Being stupid, I kept driving.  I quickly learned that I could not turn the steering wheel to the right because I had pushed in the corner of the bumper into the wheel well. In spite of that I some how managed – in my not thinking straight frame of mind – to get home making all left-hand turns!  I did get home and I did not cause any real damage but I also learned a number of important lessons that otherwise could have likely killed me or someone else.
Hopefully, this is one of those lessons you can learn from some one else’s experience and not have to do yourself to learn!    

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