Let the 'AUDIO-INSANITY' begin! 'Loydster's Ramblings'--- Episode ONE!

 

Just as promised / threatened a couple of posts back! The kick-off of an ALL-NEW feature, here on the 'ol blog-a-wog-a-rang-a-thang! This first installment--- the first of THREE, actually--- is a real 'hodge-podge' / 'scatter-shot' / 'sampler'! 

I utilized a number of old recordings, previously sent to my old buddy Jeff Arnold, (he and I have been sending 'audio-messages' back & forth to each other, for AGES!) editing around 8 or 9 separate recordings (my experience with digital editing software, like I learned to use WAY back in Broadcasting School, came in MIGHTY handy!) down to 3 'segments'--- or episodes. 

Chopping-out all the 'personal' material between he and I, I figured I STILL had a pretty good CHUNK of crunchy-goofy-geeky-goodness, that a 'general (but STILL kinda GEEKY!) listening public' just MIGHT be interested in listening to!

Hopefully, around March or so, (after the LAST 'scatter-shot' / 'sampler' episode's been posted!) things will be settled-down around here at 'Ferrell Central'! (Sh-yeah, RIIIIIGHT!) Then, I can start posting 'fresh' / 'new-content' episodes--- one EVERY month! That's the plan, anyway!----

 

As stated above, these little 'chunks of audio-insanity', are really kind of 'all over the place'! Here's what's on the menu this month!---

1.    Thoughts & comments about Factory / industrial accidents and mishaps, I'd either witnessed or heard about--- during my WAY-TOO-MANY years, as a 'manufacturing GRUNT'! (Don't worry. I don't blab about anything GRUESOME / graphic!)

2.     The ultimate fate of one of my early 'man-caves', at one of our previous abodes-- in Bristow-town! (kind of a BUMMER!)

3.     Thoughts / comments about the media and (a good number of!) the producers of Hollywood 'entertainment'! How 'agenda-driven' / Super-lefty-WHACK-O, a LOT of the stuff is out there! This is a WAY-chopped-down RANT, that was just a LONG-winded way, of me saying: 'I CHOOSE what I WANT to watch'! This was also before I'd really discovered the GEEKY-JOY, (SO much of  it's 'family-friendly', too!) that is YouTube! I watch even LESS 'regular TV' now!

4.      Thoughts on 'The Mandalorian'! (VERY COOL series!)

5.       Comments / thoughts about the Daniel Craig 'James Bond' flicks!

6.       Comments / thoughts about 'investing time' into TV shows and movie-franchises. (another RANT, edited WAY-down!)

7.       Thoughts and comments about the 1990 'Flash' TV series, and the current CW show. This particular recording, was done around 3 years ago--- when my wife and I were STILL following the CW show. 

Like a NUMBER of the other CW (superhero) shows---SADLY-- it too, (around the wind-down of it's 6th season) became WAY too 'agenda-driven'! We finally gave up ALL and ANY interest in it, after an episode that involved a couple of MALE super-villains---turning out to be a GAY COUPLE! No thank you, Holly-WEIRD!

8.     Thoughts and comments about the book, 'The Boy Who Loved Batman', by michael Uslan. (VERY good book!---Mike is a REAL down-to-earth, relatable 'uber-geek'!)

9. Brief thoughts / comments, about technology and cell phones!

Anyhoo-rooky-doo, that's what you can expect in this months installment! Enough rattling-on and LENGTHY-introduction! Just click on the link, under the 'vintage broadcast-mic-image', and you can either listen to the episode in a window right here, OR (you GLUTTON for PUNISHMENT!) you can download it!----

                                                                          The 1st 'Scatter-Shot Episode'!

See you ALL here, NEXT month gang!

Hoping for a GREAT Holiday season for us ALL!!!

 

Another year nearly past, and yet another Holiday season is already upon us! And-- what a BUMPY-ride, these past 12-months have been! Not ONLY for us here at 'Ferrell-Central', but I'm sure for a LOT of you as well!!! I sure hope everyone's had their seat-belts on tight, and their CRASH-HELMETS on snug!

Here's hoping, and MORE importantly--PRAYING-- that this NEXT chapter in ALL of our lives, will be at least a LITTLE less bumpy than the past (nearly) 52-weeks have been!

Meanwhile!--- here's some 'Caped Crusader'-related Seasonal FUN images-- to help us ring-in the big 'C-day' and the New Year,the RIGHT WAY! (And--of COURSE-- the 'Loydster way'!)---

 Here's to a HAPPY, SAFE, JOY-FILLED Holiday-season! Christmas-smiles-grins-and-giggles, for EVERYBODY!

Just when you thought it was SAFE!---- The RETURN of the Loydster!

 

Once again, after a nice CHUNK of time (this time a tad over 3 months!)!--- I'm back to putting up posts, FILLED to the brim--- with my at-least-a-couple-of-times-a-month brand of  CRUNCHY-GEEKY-GOOFY-GOODNESS!

Of course, even though I set aside that time to be all 'responsible, boring, and grown-up'..... life hasn't gotten any more simple, OR-- any LESS complicated! The world keeps turning, and life keeps throwing us 'curve-balls'! We either catch'em, dodge-em, or just get HIT by one every once in a while!

Don't worry.... as I was saying in the last posting--- I haven't been (nor has anybody in my little brood,thank the good Lord!) hit by any kind of major illness, tragedy, or other disasters-- these past 3 months! Just busy. You know, like I said.... with being all 'boring & grown-up'! Oh, there HAVE been some bumps in life's road, these past several weeks, that's for SURE! But... me and mine... we're pretty scrappy, and we're survivors! So we're gonna be just fine!

But---  in those months since my last post, there has INDEED been some 'blog-related' activity! As is ALWAYS the case with 'ol Loydster--- those 'creaky-squeeky-noisy' creative gears in the 'Ferrell-noggin' are always moving! A very-near-future post, which will hopefully be popping up here, near the end of this month--- will be ABSOLUTE proof of that!

Without giving too much away, I'm pretty excited about a NEW feature, that I'll be posting (again--hopefully!) EVERY month, here on my little teensy-weensy corner of the 'world-wide-web'! Let's just say--- it'll be AUDIBLE proof of my complete and utter---with NO SHAME WHAT-SO-EVER-- geek-a-zoid nature! As well as some 'Loydster-history' and completely RANDOM thoughts thrown in, FREE of charge!

And--- it just would NOT be the 'Loyd Stuff' blog, if  I didn't finish-up this 'return-to-blogging-post', with a couple of  CLASSIC-Batman-related 'video-goodies'! The first item, is something I should've posted AGES ago here! I didn't actually see this movie, 'til I was around 8 or 9 (EXACTLY the right age, AND-- when I was SERIOUSLY hooked into the series that it's based on!), on the Saturday afternoon 'Action Theater' program, on channel 30 out of Fresno California. Just watching the trailer.... I'm that 8 or 9-year-old 'little Loydster', ALL OVER AGAIN!----

'

To finish things up---Here's something that I had NO IDEA even existed! (Thanks AGAIN, YouTube!) The 'Caped Crusader', encouraging the kids of America to buy savings bonds! If I'd seen this, as a 9-year-old--- I would've been pestering my parents to take me to the bank, to load-up on bonds / stamps, RIGHT AWAY!---- 

Take care, and have a SAFE & BLESSED Holiday season everybody!

Another time to 'shut things down' for a while!

 

It's that time again, gang! Without going into too much detail (it's MOSTLY just boring, kinda dreary 'real-world' stuff anyway! And I try to keep clear from that kind of drudgery, here in my little TEENY-TINY corner of the web!)--- I've decided to shut things down here for a bit!

Also like last time, there's NOTHING bad going on with my health, no other kinds of personal or family-crisis-related stuff (outside of a few---again, pretty routine--- issues and situations that need to be dealt with!)! It's just better if I set aside this little goof-ball, geek-out-fest that is 'Loyd Stuff', and be all 'responsible-and-fully-involved-with-the-real-world'!  For a while anyway! 

Hopefully, I'll be back shortly--- with the USUAL crunchy-geeky-goodness! Meanwhile, stay safe, sane, and happy everybody!

Loyd's BONUS video-clip!!---# 41!!--- Another REALLY-NEAT-O 'Bat-item' gets restored!

The aircraft of a certain 'Caped Crusader'! Easily one of  'ol Loydster's all-time FAVORITE 'Bat-vehicles'! (AFTER the Batmobile, of course!)

 Once again, the 'video-TREASURE-TROVE of GEEK-tastic stuff',otherwise known to the general public as Youtube--- has yielded-up something WAY-MONDO-COOL! Something that just about made me jump up and do a little 'happy-dance' in my living room, as I watched it!

It also helps that, one of my FAVORITE  'Youtube personalities' happens to be the host / interviewer in this clip! Mr. Adam Savage! Truly a 'kindred-soul' / creative-type / 'UBER-geek', like a number of us out there!-- Though he's a LOT more smart / gifted with mechanics and electronics than I could ever DREAM of being! 

Anyway, more about Adam after the clip! If your'e a 'Bat-fanatic' (like, guess WHO?), and you REALLY dig on the '89 'Batman' movie (guess WHO--AGAIN?), this clip will make you do your own 'happy dance', TRUST ME!!!---

Truly a piece of  'movie memorabilia', that's received the loving restoration it deserved! Next time your'e surfing around Youtube, if you haven't checked out Adam Savage's channels---- jump in (either 'Adam Savage tested', or 'One day builds' are excellent!),and prepare to be entertained!

Nearly EVERY episode I've watched so far, has been a KING-SIZED-helping of GEEK-A-ZOID-crunchy-goodness! Especially FUN, is the series of videos where an actual TITANIUM suit of 'Iron Man' armor is built--- that's also BULLET and BOMB-proof! (Oh, and they also---Adam, and a team of other creative-and-WAY-smarter-than-me-types, that is--- figure out how to make it FLY!) He also has a 'question-and-answer' series of videos ('Ask Adam Savage', of course!), that are pretty fun to watch too!

MANY thanks, to not ONLY Mr. Savage for the video--- but also, the team of folks who did such an excellent job of restoring the Bat-Wing! We can only hope it ends up in a place where LIFE-LONG 'Bat-fans' like myself can see it in person, and admire it up close! I would definitely stand in a REALLY-LONG line to get the chance to do that!

VERY cool car mags, that are no longer around!

Once again recently, the 'ol Loydster has stumbled across something that made me feel like THIS guy!--

 

Nothing makes one feel more like some kind of PREHISTORIC beast, than finding out that a HUGE chunk of print magazines,some of which I had enjoyed for DECADES--have went away! AND-- it happened OVER A YEAR AGO!

But--- this blog being what it is--- a place where I like to keep the focus on all the stuff that keeps me GEEKED-OUT and happy! (and I sure hope that vibe floats out toward whoever comes by to check in with all 'the-couple-of-times-a-month' silliness I post up here!)--- I decided to make this here entry, about 'the dearly departed mags' (the ones I actually used to collect, anyway!), and what I enjoyed about them! (with maybe a little nit-picking about them along the way too!)---

Ah, good 'ol 'R&C'! Hands-down, what eventually replaced 'Hot Rod,' as my ALL-TIME favorite car mag! It actually disappeared off the magazine shelves before most all of the others on this list. (It was discontinued in 2014.) A low-down, dirty shame that this one had to go away!

The editorial team had it RIGHT, pretty much ALL of the time I collected this mag (off and on, for around 15-20 years or so!), with a nice mix of high-quality pics / articles, on a pretty wide-range of vehicles. The tech-related stuff (which, to be honest, has NEVER 'floated my boat' too much!) was always kept at a lower profile, with plenty of focus on the craftsmanship and the artistic skill it took to build the vehicles featured! One of the VERY BEST 'working-class-guy'-focused car mags, for MANY years!

Even when I let my subscription run-out the last time, (which was only a short time before it went away, sadly!) I still enjoyed scanning through the occasional issue at the local 'Wally-World'! I still miss it!

One of  the two 'Mustang-related' mags I actually had subscriptions to, over a good chunk of time! At first a little TOO obsessed with restored / pristine-collectors-item-type 'Stangs, it actually improved / evolved into a much more 'average-working-guy'-friendly mag over the years! A little TOO tech-article heavy at times (especially during it's 'restoring stuff to factory-original-ONLY'-phase!), it was still a fun read each month, when I was collecting it. Like most of the others on this list, it went away in early 2020. Another one I miss occasionally checking out!

 

'Corvette Fever', actually merged with the mag just below, about ten years or so ago! Fun in a lot of ways. Great photography. Interesting history-of-the-'Vette articles, sprinkled in from month-to-month. I let my subscription run out after a couple of years though, 'cause the focus seemed ever-increasingly--- to be more about the 'collectible-value' of the cars. That just gets tiresome to me! Especially if it's hammered-on in article-after-article, month-in-and-month out!

'Vette' was, like 'Mustang Monthly', another one that actually improved over time. There seemed to be a nice balance, between looking at the older 'collectible cars', and customized / hot-rodded models. (I'm guessing that was a nice by-product of the two magazines merging, in 2010) It disappeared off the shelves in 2019.

'Muscle Car Review,' isn't a really large part of my 'car-mag' collection. In fact, I think I actually browsed through more issues of it, at various 'Wally-Worlds' and grocery stores over the years, than I bought and took home to read! Another one that stayed a little TOO focused on the 'factory-original-only'-type of articles! Fun, but only up to a point. Also gone in early 2020.

'Mustang and Fords', was actually in some ways, a bit more fun to read each month--- than 'Mustang Monthly'. For a time, I subscribed to it alone, to get my monthly 'Stang-and-classic-Ford-fix'! That was part of the fun! There were classic 'T-Birds, Cougars, and even Falcons sprinkled into the mix every month! A little more 'working-glass-guy'--friendly too! Not afraid to show-off customized / hot-rodded vehicles either! I did some SERIOUS digging around, and could NOT find out for sure when this mag went away. But it's definitely been gone for a while.

I was REALLY surprised to hear about 'Car Craft' leaving the shelves! One of the OLDEST car mags around, even though it also had just a small presence in my collection. Nearly as much fun to check-out each month as 'Hot Rod'--- but I did more browsing / scanning through it at the store, than bringing issues home to keep! Still, kinda sad to see it go away! Another one gone in 2020!

Another shock, to hear about 'Street Rodder' disappearing! A little 'tech-heavy' at times-- it was STILL, for many years, one of the BEST 'bang-for-your-buck' car mags out there! One of the THICKEST too! Up 'til just a handful of years ago, an average issue would run DOUBLE the page count of any of the other car mags! Like 'Rod and Custom', the photography was top-notch, with plenty of focus on the art / craftsmanship that went into the featured vehicles. Another one I'll miss checking out--- even if I didn't BUY every issue!

I guess it doesn't take much of a genius, nor do you need to be any kind of 'whiz-kid', to figure out what made all of these REALLY COOL mags go away! A lack of readers! There's SO MUCH, right here on the 'ol 'virtual super-higway' to read now! Including archives of articles from a number of these very mags. Sadly, the paper magazine's become a sort of 'endangered species'! 'Hot Rod', is pretty much the ONLY cool car mag left standing!

While the thought of the magazines disappearing disappoints me, it also makes me glad that I've saved (old 'PACK-RAT' that I've ALWAYS been!) so many of the car mags that I have! Month-to-month issues may have left us.... but, as long as I'm still around and kicking, I can treasure the ones from the past that I've saved! And that, is something I BOTH--- breathe a sigh of relief about, and smile about too!