Captain Kirk's Musings

Politically Correct? Sometimes, but read this little bit.

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:36:00 +0000

Gail and I were shopping in a mall yesterday. I stopped by the table where the Ontario County ARC were doing gift wrapping. I asked this very nice lady what "ARC" actually stood for, having often seen their busses. She replied something like, "Well, originally it was Association of Retarded Citizens but that is no longer politically correct, so it's simply ARC."

We enjoyed a little banter about political correctness and said "Merry Christmas" to one another, after all it's a free country. It made me think about all this and here are some of my thoughts.

I am a caucasian and when I see a negro I see differences.... but I also see that we share one God and have been created equal with unalienable rights.

I am able-bodied and when I see someone disabled I see differences... but I rejoice in their amazing adaptations, such as the blind man who walks with confidence using a stick or a guide dog. I am in awe of their special abilities.

I am a Christian and when I see a Jew I see differences... but I remember that we share the same God, the same roots, and I pray for them all knowing He will hear my prayer.

I am peace loving and when I see a terrorist I see differences... but I know in my heart that if they turn from their sin they, too, can have eternal life. If I can forgive them there is always the hope that they, too, will see the right path to eternal life.

I am a man and when I see a woman I see differences.... but I know that when a word such as "chairman" is used it is genderless, having worked under the chairmanship of many a fine woman.

I speak English and when I learn a little of a foreign language I hear differences.... but when I learn about the culture of another through their own language I find out things about them I would otherwise not know. There are words in other languages for which there is no English word. You try and translate the word "shalom." (See image above) Knowing these things enriches my life and allows me to seek that humility that is so hard to achieve.

In the end, taking offense at words used that are not nor never were intended to insult is just plain silly. To stop me from saying Merry Christmas in a country which espouses the principle of freedom of speech is so wrong that maybe it's time to fight this so-called liberal notion of remaining politically correct.

If you are insulted by my thoughts then forgive me. I do not intend to insult.

If fear of being called a racist prevents me from befriending a black man, an Arab, an occidental or anyone else who Christ commanded me to love, then that fear is itself a sin.

May your God protect you and keep you!

GoD and DoG by WJ Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Friends, I just posted this link to Facebook, and wanted to pop it on here too.

I heartily recommend this song.

Wendy Francisco

Cheers

Geneseo Air Show Video

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:36:00 +0000

Greetings,

I realize I had not uploaded any video of this year's Geneseo Airshow, so here it is....

http://files.me.com/misterspock/tm6pg3.mov

Speedboat!

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Currently listening to......

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:01:00 +0000

What'll I Do? by Linda Ronstadt & Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
The Story of Love by Brigitte Zarie

Brigitte can be found on iTunes.iTunes location for Brigitte's Album or her website.

Conesus Sunrise

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:19:00 +0000

I have to thank Taylor Hayward, whose royalty free music I found via a Google Search.

Enjoy the movie.

Shocking? Maybe, but if you text while driving.... WATCH THIS!

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:03:00 +0000

NY Philharmonica

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Fantasia on Greensleeves by Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic

Been a while

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Greetings, avid readers! It's been a while since I posted to the blog.

So what's new? Nothing much. We've suffered from one of the coldest Julys on record, second coldest since 1884. It's been damp, so much so that the varnish work on the speed boat has suffered. It's still not on the water. We're hoping today! Or maybe tomorrow at the latest. We'd like to buzz up to Vitale Park here on Conesus lake for the Sunday evening concert.

Here's the boat sitting rather forlorn and lonely in the car port. The varnish has ended up being a non-slip surface. Some of it turned to alligator skin due to the moisture. Oh well, this fall (autumn) we'll tackle it properly. A little history about the boat, it's a 1961 Cruisers Inc. It's been in Gail's family since new, and was restored by sister in law Jen and her husband Robert. 90 hp Mercury engine! Somewhat of a collector's item.

So I'll pop some photographs of the boat on the water this weekend.

Cheers

Just a thought on a way to support our troops.

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:28:00 +0000

When my nephew was serving overseas in Kuwait, we sent him a little parcel of things he probably couldn't find "over there." If I remember correctly it included the following:

Powdered drink flavours (like Cool Aid) so as to make chlorinated water more palatable.
Medicated foot powder.
Bath soap, unscented ... guys don't use perfume!
Photographs from home.
Wet wipes.
A pair of sunglasses - somewhat indestructible, not your cheap gas station variety.
Powdered pudding mixes, just add milk... butterscotch and chocolate were the most popular.
Letter writing pad. (airmail weight). I gather this was not used for writing letters! They used the armed forces aerograms for letters, if any!
A pair of wrist sweat bands.

If you can think of other suggestions leave a comment.

If you don't have a friend or relative overseas, I believe you can find how to forward such personal care parcels online. Here's two I've found.

For the United Kingdom...

SOS - Support Our Soldiers

For the United States...

AnySoldier.com

Please READ THE INSTRUCTIONS on these websites, otherwise you'll be making life difficult for the volunteers.

Totally Awesome Army Wife Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:50:00 +0000

I have to thank one of my best friends, Jim Waltz, for forwarding a typical "support our military" email. In it, I clicked on a link to the web site below. Tammy, an army wife, writes a great blog about being an army wife. She is involved in all sorts of projects in which you, too, can participate.

Check out her blog, you'll be reading heartwarming and yet frightening stories for hours!

Army Household6

Cheers.

Classic classical music.

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:29:00 +0000

I recently bought a classic classical album. Here's some of the tracks.

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis for Double String Orchestra by Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic

Romance. Andante from Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K.525 by Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic

Élégie from Serenade in C Major for String Orchestra, Op. 48 by Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic

Enjoy!

BTW. I grew up watching the New York Philharmonic on the television with Leonard Bernstein. It was a program designed for children. This was simply wonderful. I do remember him having a microphone on and he hummed during the music! Awful! LOL

From Leonard Bernstein -- Timeline

1958 January 18, began first series of annual televised New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts on CBS TV, beginning with What Does Music Mean? YPCs continued until 1972, with 53 different programs led by LB.

Coldest July on Record, Where's this global warming we've been promised?

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:58:00 +0000

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
342 PM EDT THU JUL 23 2009

Climate....

TEMPERATURES THROUGH JULY 22ND CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS THE COOLEST JULY IN HISTORY SO FAR AT ROCHESTER...BUT BUFFALO HAS DROPPED TO THIRD PLACE IN THE LONG TERM RECORD (TO 1871 INCLUDING DOWNTOWN DATA) BUT STILL EASILY THE COOLEST IN THE 67 YEAR AIRPORT RECORD. HERE ARE THE UPDATED STATS...

FOR ROCHESTER...AVERAGE JULY TEMP 70.7.
COOLEST JULYS (BACK TO 1871)...
2009... 64.3 (THRU 7/22)
1884... 65.4
1992... 66.6
1891... 67.1
2000... 67.1

FOR BUFFALO...AVERAGE JULY TEMP 70.8.
COOLEST JULYS (AIRPORT DATA BACK TO 1943)...
2009... 65.4 (THRU 7/22)
1992... 66.8
1956... 67.6
2000... 67.6
1976... 67.8

COOLEST JULYS (INCLUDING DOWNTOWN DATA BACK TO 1871)...
1884... 65.2
1891... 65.3
2009... 65.4 (THRU 7/22)
1920... 66.1
1883... 66.8
1992... 66.8

This is a totally great album. If you've never heard Duruflé's Requiem, you should!

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Durufle : Requiem - Messe (C*m Jubilo) - Plasson
Anne Sofie von Otter, Marie-Claire Alain, Michel Plasson, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse & Thomas Hampson

Release Date: Nov 28, 2005
Genre: Classical
℗ 1999 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd.

iTunes for Mac and Windows

First Kite flown this year.

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Here we are! First kite flight of the year while on the way to the new North Shore Grill here on Conesus Lake.

Check out their website, if you wish.

Current listening delights more smooth jazz

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:25:00 +0000

From his new album, Rock Steady, Richard's latest released album, Rock Steady, is up to his usual high standard.

Straight Up by Richard Elliot

Yaquala by Richard Elliot

And here's a British keyboardist, Oli Silk, who has been most influenced by Jeff Lorber

The Limit's the Sky by Oli Silk

Here's a track by the above mentioned Jeff

Come On Up by Jeff Lorber

Well, the deck's almost complete and what a difference it makes.

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:18:00 +0000

The contractors almost finished the deck, just stairs and railings to finish.

Makes the house look so different.

Room for table and chairs, deck is 14 feet deep by just over 24 feet wide.

Details, awaiting delivery of hardware such as eye bolts and turnbuckles for the wires.

Today's Playlist.

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:59:00 +0000

If You Went Away by Jane Monheit

This next one is probably the best interpretation of "Lullaby of the Leaves" I've ever heard...

Lullaby of the Leaves by The Jeff Hamilton Trio

Check out Yvonne's blog

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:50:00 +0000

Hi, all,

I recently got an email from a friend who pointed me to her blog.

It's quite fun and interesting.

Click Here

Who let the dog's out?

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:52:00 +0000

Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men

Today's playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Photograph courtesy of http://www.sonsofdamien.co.uk/spitfire%201.htm

Spitfire: Prelude by London Symphony Orchestra & Richard Kaufman Spitfire: Fugue by London Symphony Orchestra & Richard Kaufman

Smooth Jazz, anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:10:00 +0000

One of my facebook friends, Louis, runs smooth jazz radio station. Quite how he pays the bills I just don't know. He's on his sailboat, the Najee.

Read all about it at Smooth Jazz Beach Radio

Cheers.

Facebook, is it a good thing or not?

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:46:00 +0000

From a good friend on Facebook:
"M Gary Guiste This facebook thing is getting too big to handle...Most likely will go back to blogspot soon...doing like 80 deletes per day now...sorry all...will keep it online for awhile, but then....hasta..."

Is he right? Well I have to admit that the amount of so called notifications is high. However you can hide those who do too many of those quizzes etc. I wish I could simply set it to notify me of status changes only. People tend to post short one line status comments, and those, to me, are how I keep in touch.

I am beginning to dislike the applications greatly. I get pestered to go back and play games that I don't like. I then tell the system to ignore them. I get invites from friends wanting me to play, but never find them on the game! My email junk burden has increased. All these factors make me agree with Gary somewhat.

But, I find that because my family and extended friends live all over the world and I DO wish to keep in touch.

I guess I'll continue to adjust my settings to reflect my wish for two things - remembering my loved ones and a peaceful life.

"Make new friends,
But keep the old;
One is silver,
The other gold.

Cheers

Let me tell you about Keiko Matsui

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:05:00 +0000

Hi, I'm currently listening to the track below. I am constantly impressed by this lady's music. Grab a track!

Hope by Keiko Matsui

Here's a playlist for you. Enjoy!

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Kirk) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:02:00 +0000

Using blogo, I can now pop a link from my iTunes straight into the blog! So I'll flip through some of my recent purchases. Enjoy the music!

Father's Eyes by Amy Grant

God's Been Good to Me by Crystal Lewis

Autumn Nocturne by The Jeff Hamilton Trio

Still In Love by Najee

The Sum of All Parts by Dave Holland Sextet

The Wave (Live) by Bobby Lyle

Feeling Good by Michael Bublé
Notice the é in Michael's name.

When I Dream by Barbra Streisand

Last Night At Danceland by Joe Sample & Randy Crawford

The next two are from the movie, The Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spitfire: Prelude by London Symphony Orchestra & Richard Kaufman
Spitfire: Fugue by London Symphony Orchestra & Richard Kaufman

Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men

Interesting comparison between Richard Elliott's version of I'm Not in Love with the original.
I'm Not In Love by Richard Elliott
I'm Not In Love by 10cc

Family of Love by Take 6

Un-Break My Heart by Toni Braxton

And finally, something funny!
Always Look On the Bright Side of Life by Monty Python

Cheers.