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My mom and I were watching television (2pm) and she wanted to go get something to drink from the kitchen. As she was putting the lounger back down from our couch (we have a reclining sofa), the couch started to slightly shake.
We both looked at each other and was like "earthquake? No. New couch breaking already? Hopefully not". We didn't think anything of it, even though there was nothing really moving around and really wasn't all too noticeable of a movement to begin with. Almost like baby shaking.. the kind of steady movement you quickly feel when a car passes by you on the road or construction in the neighborhood.
Totally not a shake that makes you wonder the seriousness of it.
About an hour later, our North Dakota snowbird neighbors texted us - "Are you guys okay? Did you feel the earthquake?" We looked at each other and was like "What?? For real?" so we both texted back that we didn't think it was true, but thought something had gone on. We thought it was the couch or traffic or something else. Completely unaware that it was a for real thing.
Come to find out, it was residuals from a 6.1 earthquake off the western coast of Cuba. The tremors were felt in various places in Florida, including cities in Lee County (me), Orlando and spots on the East Coast.
According to various sites, including the United States Geological Survey, the 6.1 magnitude quake hit 104 km WNW of Mantua, Cuba. Which is why parts of Florida received some of the effects.
Right now there are no signs of tsunamis - no warnings or anything, but a few high rises needed to be evacuated for safety reasons.
It's the weirdest thing because it's been over 90° every day this week and hit 101° today due to humidity. rain needs to come, but instead a little quake knocked on our door.
The news said there were some high rises downtown that evacuated for safety reasons until security figured out what was going on. Some viral reports on other sites were showing people in Hollywood, Florida and their home water cooler was shaking. That owner said "it was almost an hour" but I don't know; it seemed like two minutes for us. I think the Southwest corridor is closer to Mantua than Hollywood is. But it could also be the way things sprawled out, if Saint Petersburg also got a little aftershock; they're a little over 2 hours north of me.
I'm going to add some screen caps, and the links to the articles are listed below.
USA Today, 8 June 2026
WINK News, 8 June 2026
According to Wink's 3pm newscast, an earthquake hasn't been felt in Florida (or this area) since 2006.
Wink News 3pm news cast. Taken on my iPhone. 8 June 2026
We weren't even here for that. I don't even know what job I had in 2006 when it would have happened, but it would have been in Massachusetts.
I think the last earthquake I remember noticing, I was under 8 years old. It was mid day, maybe? Or early evening? I don't recall fully, but I was real little and at that time too, I was watching television in my parent's room because I wanted to see a specific show. The room shook some. Not enough to move anything, but enough my little pea brain didn't know what was going on. My mom said she didn't didn't notice it and my dad was at work. There wasn't any other quake in MA that we got for me to compare this to.
CiberCuba has an article stating "The National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS) of Cuba adjusted the magnitude to 6.2 Mw and located the epicenter 142 km northwest of Minas de Matahambre, in the province of Pinar del Río, at a depth of 20 km".
CiberCuba screen grab
The article went on to quote a local meteorologist, Matt Devitt. He had been working at Wink before the station reorganized, and he's one of the good guys that got everyone through a lot of bad juju down here. Devitt stated this was "the second largest earthquake ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico", which goes with what his former employer stated in the screen cap I took with my phone.
It feels like the Earth is upset with the sentient beings inhabiting the soil right now. Between flash flooding, random high heat in places that aren't usually so humid at this time of year, cold still happening in places it should be warming up, earthquakes in areas you're not expecting.. there are things going on we aren't in control of.
As my friend Cathy said, some "scary shit" is happened. Emi (in Orlando) said that a neighbor texted her asking if she and her boyfriend felt the apartment building shake, and both of them said no; they had no clue what the neighbor was talking about. I said that she probably figured it was normal amusement park stuff (they live central to the Mouse House and competition). She said, if anything, they would have thought it was construction stuff. Erica (in the Keys) didn't notice the movement either. She's usually spending her days at work, which is in and on the water. She wasn't working today, so she said she'll ask some cohorts later, as they're doing a DnD thing tonight.
It's so strange how news travels and what people know. My mom's local friends had no idea we had an earthquake, yet, a snowbird neighbor had to text us. We felt it but thought it was something different. Reports are saying similar things; the people felt a shake but didn't know what it was. They shrugged it off like it was a glitch in the matrix.
I don't even know how to explain any and every thing. I keep seeing news clips about crazy weather in random spots and the more unusual it is, the more I'm reminded of the science fiction movies in the early 2000s. The ones where we were being warned but laughed them off because it wouldn't happen in our lifetime. Even watching the documentary style television shows that show you life after we leave.. what would happen to the grounds we walk on.. so unbelievable in one respect but true in another.
Without raising a lot of questions or flags, I'm going to leave the tin foil hat just slightly bent and stop talking about things that could go sideways. I wanted to post about the earthquake Cuba had and was felt in Fort Myers and tell my friends that things are okay!
Until something else surprises us, go learn something new.
The final season of Good Omens dropped on Amazon Prime a couple weeks ago as a 90 minute movie. There are multiple reasons for having a single movie rather than a series and a particular reason with this series is due to some behind the scenes accusations with the writing staff. I don't want to get into that here, but I am sure some sleuths will be able to figure out the "whys".
~ No Spoilers ~
I was excited to get some sort of continuation with the show, so having a finale movie is okay by me. The staff that stayed on, seemed to wrap up some loose ends in such a way, that it really did make sense by the end of the film. There were some story lines that they were able to tie together from the second season and ultimately included a surprise allowance of some fan fiction shipping. The film took some liberties in the fan department but I think most people are pleasantly pleased by it. Truth be told, it was a classy ending and I honestly wouldn't have asked for a better tribute.
That doesn't mean they couldn't have done some better things in the bulk of the main hour, but with time restraints, it's understandable. I'm glad they did something with it (in a rushed way) instead of leaving fans hanging.
To the ones wondering what the show is about, it's based on a late 1980s book by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. The full title is "Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch—A Humorous Fantasy About Armageddon". It is now one of those novels that is on reprint on demand, thus making it hard to find an original copy. This is, considering, it's a British book that prompted a few conversations of audio form in the UK before landing in America. If you do happen to find a copy of the first printing, it's going to cost a lot more than what the generic Mass Market paperback is (we're talking a range of $30 to over $100 depending on what site you're using. Allegedly people are finding it for under $25 in thrift stores. Keep in mind, this is first pressing or first run, not reproduction). That being said, the reproduction, depending on type (hardcover, paperback, e-reader) is running between $7 and change (mass market) to over $20, because big box retailers need a mark up.
The book synopsis, on various bookstore websites:
According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.
So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.
And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .
The Amazon site review:
Pratchett (of Discworld fame) and Gaiman (of Sandman fame) may seem an unlikely combination, but the topic (Armageddon) of this fast-paced novel is old hat to both. Pratchett's wackiness collaborates with Gaiman's morbid humor; the result is a humanist delight to be savored and reread again and again. You see, there was a bit of a mixup when the Antichrist was born, due in part to the machinations of Crowley, who did not so much fall as saunter downwards, and in part to the mysterious ways as manifested in the form of a part-time rare book dealer, an angel named Aziraphale. Like top agents everywhere, they've long had more in common with each other than the sides they represent, or the conflict they are nominally engaged in. The only person who knows how it will all end is Agnes Nutter, a witch whose prophecies all come true, if one can only manage to decipher them. The minor characters along the way (Famine makes an appearance as diet crazes, no-calorie food and anorexia epidemics) are as much fun as the story as a whole, which adds up to one of those rare books which is enormous fun to read the first time, and the second time, and the third time...
It's being sold as a more comical version of The Omen due to the heaven and hell, angel and demon, antichrist, The End Is Nigh connections. I can kind of see that, but it's not as ominous as the 1976 Gregory Peck movie is.
I debated and debated about buying the book, and did do some leg work to see who had a "better deal" on the paperback. I didn't want a repeat of the Elton saga, so I chose to go to Amazon. They had the reprinted book, on paperback, for $10.43; where Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million have it for $18.99. The difference between the two latter stores is Books-A-Million has has a mass market version at $9.99 and B&N doesn't list a that as an option on their website. Conversely, Amazon lists the mass market for $7.19, which is what I used to buy the True Blood (Sookie Stackhouse) series for, back in the day. If you are a member of the retail stores' rewards programs (B&N, BAM), you get free shipping online, but you're paying gas to get to a physical location. It's coming out of your wallet either way. Same goes with Amazon, I know, I know. At least you can add other items to your cart that are not books and have everything shipped together.
The other thing with the physical stores, is they want you to pay $39.99 a year (B&N) or $25 a year (BAM) for discounts on select merchandise. In order to get the full realm of the annual cost, you need to spend 10x that amount in the 12 months because spending a low amount willy nilly once or twice in 52 weeks for just free shipping isn't worth it. That's just my opinion.
I realize Amazon yearly rate is much higher ($139/year), but you've got to realize what you receive with Prime:
Fast, free delivery
Unlimited streaming
Exclusive deals & savings
Groceries
Amazon Music with Prime
Amazon Photos (storage)
Amazon Prime Fuel Savings
Grubhub+
Rx savings
The bookstores don't seem to offer this type of an array, except "deals and savings" and "free delivery".
I think I've made back my Amazon money at this point, as I am the household account owner and bothmy mother and I stream movies (she has her own profile), I've purchased music through the site (vinyl and CD) so I can stream those MP3s when it's offered, my mother has an Echo Dot so she streams music and uses the timer function. We also make several purchases with Amazon and in Whole Foods (when we go to that area of town). I've also utilized the holiday deal sales. I could have used the RX savings with a previous job, but I didn't need any prescriptions at that time. Although, that's one thing I'm a bit leery on - giving Amazon your doctor's information as well as script information. So yeah, I feel like I've made my 139 back, and since Amazon doesn't sell things knowing they're discounted, there's no percentage to double everything up for.
On another note, regarding versions of the book, I did notice a third party vendor selling a hardcover copy on Amazon, and they were looking for $18.19 plus $3.99 shipping. Therefore, you have to watch what you're clicking.
Which brings me to the next challenge.
The websites are stating "covers may vary" because you don't get a choice in which edition you are purchasing online. It's a William Morris publishing company (merged with Harper Publishing), but there are two different covers: a black sketch of Crowley holding a wine glass filled with red wine (on a white cover) or a white sketch of Aziraphale reading a book (on a black cover).
image via Amazon
Amazon customer reviews are mixed because most people are buying the book to have the chance of both covers; while others are, like me, wanting to finally read the novel the show is based on. Totally fine; everyone has their reasons to do something. However, what you order and what you receive are two different things.
People are commenting that the white cover book (Crowley) is coming to them damaged.
How damaged? The picture of Crowley is completely missing. All you see is a small splash of the red wine. The same is to be said on the book spine as well. Other comments are staying the mass market book isn't bound great; the pages are easily coming out of the spine. Otherwise, it's an awesome story.
I decided to take my chances and order it anyway. I am having reading issues lately, so I didn't want to go with the smaller print mass market ($7.19 version). I purchased the regular paperback version instead ($10.43).
Can you guess what cover I received?
Yup, the missing Crowley cover.
The last page in the book also has printing information, which is a bit weird to me.
I feel like this proves that this version is a Print On Demand copy and was printed when I ordered it. Rather, it was printed and bound the day they shipped it from the Amazon Warehouse. Which may be why other people are saying they are having issues with the copy they received as well. The company isn't allowing things to set correctly.
Or whatever Amazon now does when you order random books.
This also means that the book was sent from an Orlando based publishing company, in order for me to get it the next day; it's local but not local enough to divulge that information.
Similarly, I noticed that when I asked my local library to request Rachael's book - they had found it on their vendor site and since her story is a Print On Demand version anyway, she too had some "Made in [country]" with city and date stamped in it.
Everything seems to be relative these days and literally "mass produced" to a point. There's some PDF file somewhere and someone is pressing "print". Another person takes that, cuts it, binds it and hands it off to someone else. I honestly don't know the process; I'm just spitting out random guesses at the moment, but it's just sad how you think you're ordering a print of something and there is no quality control over it. No one noticed the cover was off. The more this story gets printed, the less of a chance the book has better value to it because it was a misprint.
Usually when there is an error in a product, it's fair game for resellers because it's a rare item. However, in the printing world that is becoming more popular right now, "on demand" means "pay no attention; just send it". I think. I don't know; there's a lot to be said without running in circles. Just be mindful on what you're ordering and certainly read reviews because you never know.
I mean, this type of error could potentially make me go out to the big box stores and pick up the copy I want. Do I then want three copies? I don't know. Maybe, if that means it's also a conversation I can have with my friends. "Hey, look at this; look why brick and mortar stores are going out of business. I big online retailer has taken over and they aren't paying attention to what they're doing. So I went to the outer reaches of the universe to pick up a better copy... at a 10+ dollar price hike".
It's not a real conversation. I'm just making it up as I go along here. Free writing. But there could be something along the lines of why stores are shuttering and there are more delivery vans on the road these days. People aren't leaving their houses and adventuring out in the world.
-Shrugs-
With adventuring, I do need to go to another big box retailer this week. I bought something else on Amazon and ended up returning it today because it didn't work as expected.
When I had the iPhone 6 and 11, I had the lightning digital adapters to go with it.
I had a USB to Lightning dongle that allowed me to transfer files from my phone to my computer and vice versa while using a thumb drive. This came in so handy when I was doing event set up and clients needed to email me their presentation to put on the company laptop. I was able to get the file on my work phone, via email, download it to a thumb drive, then transfer it to the computer. We were off and running in a matter of minutes.
Of course, it was my adapter and I didn't get reimbursed for it, but it was only offered to those I trusted because a lot of people took advantage of my niceness and help (long story). I wasn't about to gift it to the company when I left, either. I bought this fair and square and they never knew about it. My own personal use for the adapter was when I had to transfer my own files from my phone to my laptop or quickly save a file from an email on a computer to then have it on my phone for whatever reason (text a friend "you're not going to believe THIS one! 👀").
I also had an HDMI to Lightning Dongle that allowed me to stream movies on bigger screens (before the video apps shut that shit down and wanted you to watch on your phone screen instead. Something about media rights.. and all I wanted to do was stream a TV series from my phone onto a TV in someone's bedroom). The adapter was amazing - all I had to do was connect the lightning end to my phone, plug in an HDMI in the other end of the adapter, and then the opposite end of the HDMI went to whatever screen I was using. Plenty of times I hooked it up at work and I was able to use a decent size projector screen as my way to "test out the audio system and sight lines in the room". It was a combination platter because there were people who were vocalizing about dead zones in the room - they either couldn't see the screen or hear the audio. If I could do some tinkering on my own time (on the clock), I'd watch a TV show and do some testing. I also used the adapter when traveling, so if I had a TV in the room I was staying in, I could hook my phone up and watching a movie before bed. It got to the point I was carrying a 3 foot cable with me (seems super long but it winds up small). It suited my needs for a long time.
However, both adapters went by the weigh side when I upgraded to the iPhone 17. Now the phone has a USB-C port instead of a lightning port so I'm stuck with a lot of chargers and a couple adapters that don't work on this new device.
Back in January, I purchased Apple's Lightning to USB-C adapter, tried it, but that didn't work for me. Somehow using an adapter on an adapter doesn't jive correctly. Even if they're both the same brand's product. I know other people have positive reviews of the product, but I tried on two different iPhone 17s and it didn't work. I must be doing something wrong, but I even tried it on my mother's phone and it didn't work.
Fast forward to this week when I needed to transfer something from my phone to my laptop. I wasn't connected to Wi-Fi on my computer, so I couldn't get on iCloud. I also didn't have a USB-C to USB-A cable with me, so I couldn't plug my phone into a USB port. I was stuck and couldn't do anything about the files someone needed.
Which led me to order an adapter.
The Anker USB C to USB Adapter came in the mail yesterday and I was excited to try it.
Number one, it's a top brand; it's reputable among a lot of technical people.
Number two, I've got the USB-C to USB charging cables all over my house right now and they work. I even use it in my laptop to transfer files off my phone. I've had no problem with the name.
Number three, having a two pack of the adapters allows me to keep one in my backpack and one in another bag. The price was worth it (on sale for $9.56 after tax).
I found out it wasn't so worth it.
With a case on my phone the adapter doesn't work.
As it is, my iPhone 17 is sausaged into the case; there's no getting that thing out unless I want to break the seal of the Zagg.
Just for giggles, I tried it in my mother's 17. She has a thinner case on hers.
No dice.
The adapter was so loose (on both phones), it wouldn't even make a connection anywhere or anyhow. It was like the thing was waiting to fall out if you looked at it the wrong way. One wrong question and it jumps overboard.
I don't have the words to describe this part so stick with me.
The USB-C part is shorter than the surrounding holder, and there's no inversion of the holder to make the USB-C part go past a certain point when you have a case on your phone. That's why it was so loose in the port area, because the USB part is shorter than it should be.
I can get the USB C part into my phone from the charging cable because the housing part is slanted in a way that allows the USB C to go through the case and in the port.
Also, when I tried plugging my thumb drive into the USB A side, it felt like there was something wrong with it. It was a tight fit so the thumb drive wouldn't fall out, but it also felt like the drive could break in the port as well. It almost felt like it was a tiny bit off from making a solid connection. I was afraid of something breaking internally - whether it was in the adapter or in my thumb drive.
It's so hard to describe this and I hope it's making sense.
I really wish it had worked because I had such faith in it.
Like I said, there's no way I wanted to take my phone out the the case. I don't want to, nor should I have to, in order to randomly use the adapter.
Yes, I'm reading it now online, that in order to use it on a phone, you need to take the phone out of the case, but I stupidly and stubbornly wanted to give it a try. All cases are different and you never know.
Now that I'm back to square one, I am thinking I need to go to a big box retailer and ask them if they have something like this and if I can try it out before purchasing, because I'd be returning it if it doesn't work.
I know the answer would be "no, you need to buy it first" but it saves everyone a big headache if I take it home and can't use it. There has to be a way to test it before it leaves the store. I'm certainly going to buy it if it works, but they're certainly calling it a loss if I have to return it (and I get stuck with a possible reshelf fee).
I've tried on over the ear headphones before, and there were no issues about it. I've also asked to look more closely at watch bands and other tech. It's a matter of being polite and asking nicely. If they won't let you, don't fight it. Most of the time, the people are okay with it. Most of the things I've asked to take out of the box, I've bought. A watch band I looked at, didn't fit on my watch and I was able to get it back in the box, in front of the worker, and he put it back on the shelf. It's all about transparency.
Mind you, I'm not trying to condone any type of shoplifting or raising their profit and loss ratio, but there's a very slim time when situations happen that they can make a decision as to whether or not it's acceptable. I've had those conversations where the employee has said "no" and I've had the ones who say "I don't care". It's really how you explain what's going on. Especially if you honestly do have every intention of purchasing it if it works. If it doesn't, they can tape it back up and put it on the shelf (if you open it carefully). I've seen this happen in other stores when employees are working with people.
Again, this is not a habit thing. It's not something I suggest everyone do to anger the stores. It's one of those "in a pinch" situations. It saves everyone if it could be done.
Overall, it feels like I really can't win right now with tech. I try, but some things aren't going my way lately. I'm hoping for the better though!
In the meantime, if I can find something that works, I'll make an update.
Until things get sorted... do your research and do some (light) reading.
·“We're on a road to nowhere / Come on inside”.
David Byrne / Tina Weymouth / Jerry Harrison / Chris Franz (Talking Heads).
1985. “Road To Nowhere”. “Little Creatures”. Sire Records
/ Wb Music Corp., Index Music Inc., Wc Music Corp., Index Music, Inc.
·“All roads lead to Rome”. An 1175 proverb
originally written by French theologian Alain de Lille. “Mille viae ducunt homines per saecula Romam”, or loosely
translated, “A thousand roads lead people through the centuries to Rome”. See
footnote for an article.
·“Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took
the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”. Frost,
Robert. 1915. “The Road Not Taken.”
·“Roads? Where we're going, we don't need
roads”. Zemekis, Robert. 1985. Back
To The Future. Universal Pictures.
What’s
my point? I’m leading up to it.
Keep
reading.
I
needed to take a road from my house to the theater, in order to get myself in a
seat and see a time traveling car go back to 1985 and then 1955. As it stands,
there were references dating February 19, 2026 (current date and location).
This non yellow brick road crazy was so I could see the Broadway production of
“Back To The Future: The Musical”.
Am I
making sense so far and are you with me?
Okay,
moving on, let’s see where this takes us.
As
mentioned, on February 19, 2026, I saw the Back
To The Future musical at the local performance hall. It’s Broadway Series
number three this year, for those keeping track. My mother and one of her
friends had joined me on this venture and we were able to get some pretty
decent seats, all the way in the back orchestra. I not only got to relive the
sights and sounds of my early years, but my mom and her friend got to laugh and
cry at what they remember from their early teen years.
The
production wasn’t completely a full adaptation of the Robert Zemekis directed
movie, but it was close enough. If I read some information correctly, Mr.
Zemekis, Bob Gale and Alan Silvestri were the forces from the original move and
they got together to create the musical.
The
difference between this musical and the last one I saw (“& Juliet”), was that “Back
To The Future” used slightly more dialogue between the characters, while
the music helped push the scenes through. “&
Juliet” relied heavily on conversational pop songs to help push the
dialogue through in each scene. Meaning, there was enough liberty taken from
the Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd movie, that the producers of the musical
needed some filler. They didn’t rip the movie apart scene by scene, but you got
the basic idea. They kept some pivotal points in the stage show, where they put
a lot of trust in moving parts and the behind the scenes tech wizardry (like
the ending - holy mother of all things AWESOME. #dead). However, the creative
licensing and liberty took hold with some of the more elaborate science fiction
(fictionalized) music numbers. There’s a scene where Doc is singing about being
super excited for the twenty first century and this is done using things that
shouldn’t have existed in any of the movie franchise timelines. I know there
are conspiracies and conversations about the premise of each movie and how they
linearly join together, but the musical doesn’t really adapt any of that. It’s
like the musical took a snake from the three headed hydra and married it with
one from Medusa’s head. There are too many story lines to follow, for sure, and
at least at one point in the show that had a throwaway line about a possible
fourth volume. This would align with the various theorems out there, for sure.
Okay,
back on track (Hehe – “Back on track”). There are a lot of things happening
here: technically, visually, and random. I think, forty years on, “we”
(societal / general “we”) know enough aboutthe movie that it relies a lot on what could happen in the future for
science and electronics, while whispering hints of things to come when being
trapped in the past. Innovations in 1955 that no one had come up with, while
things being too far out for what we’d think about in 1985. It’s The Jetsons in live forms under the
assumption we might be on to something. Again, going back to the various fan
fiction, there’s an entire spider’s web of brilliant minds working on
connecting everything together. This musical does not touch upon the second and
third movie, but again, somehow creates that in-world joke about a fourth event
happening. Not that it ever would, but at least the crazy kids are being seen.
Enough
with the spoilers; we must move on.
For
as much as I’ve just written, those who haven’t seen the Broadway show yet, I
want to make some advisement and let me be very clear: Due to the reliance of
heavy audio, video and lighting mechanisms, this is not for the faint of heart.
There are a lot of loud computer generated booming, video projection and strobe
lights. The people who may have neurological problems (epilepsy, for example)
may not benefit from seeing this show, as sorry as I am for saying that. It is
seriously heavy handed on the white flashing LED and strobe lights. There are
some flashing reds and blues utilized at different points in the show as well,
even though it’s not at the same time. There are as many single deep blue
flashes, as there are bright white and strobe flashes. If you’re familiar with
the television show / movies “Star Trek”
and “Star Wars”, you know that “deep
space” “hyper speed” that the ships do? What’s referred to as “warp speed
ahead”? This show also utilized that supersonic flying a couple times, to make
a point in some of the scenes revolving Doc Brown and some epitome he has –
this was during the twenty first century song excitement. Again, the show takes
some creative liberties, including an aforementioned reference to “Star Wars”.
I
don’t want to keep giving total spoilers, but I want to make it clear for
readers who want to see this show and have any sort of photosensitivity, you
may want to stay home for this one. Again, I’m sorry to tell you that, as I
wish it were different. This is truly one of those shows that have so much of a
sensory overload; it can be problematic for audience members who have specific
challenges and needs.
Personally,
I know I was having some issues in the beginning, as the show relies on the
“deep blue lights”. Since I’ve been dealing with new contact lenses, getting my
glasses fixed / adjusted as well as some other eyesight challenges, the blue
light is affecting me differently. I’m perfectly fine, to an extent, with the
white flash (not so much strobe) lights, but the blue is starting to do a
number on me. I realized that during this past Christmas season with all the
newer string lights. It’s not the best feeling, but it dissipates over time.
This is why I feel I need to say something, a warning if you insist, that
anyone who wants to see this show and has light problems, err on caution. Even
my mother’s friend stated that some of the white strobe lights bothered her,
and she usually has zero issues.
I’m
going to post some pictures and a video of what the lighting looked like, at
the beginning of the show and during intermission, since recording was strictly
prohibited. Security was actively walking around to make sure no one had any
type of device out during the entire 160 minutes.
Both
the pictures and video has a projected image of the “Back To The Future: The Musical” logo, which then randomly flickers
into computer glitching. The glitches then give an “error” code, listing how
photography of any kind during the show is prohibited, but you can certainly
take a photo of any image you currently see and tag the show before it starts.
Once the show begins, phones must be off. Due to the use of the blue background
on screen, plus the blue LEDs, it was hard to get my camera to focus on the “no
phones allowed during show’ message. Try as I might, I had to raise the
exposure really high in order to get a “clean” / “readable” photo.
From
what I could tell, at this point and going forward, the crew was using a
projector screen as their source of video manipulation, since I noticed an
overhead projector a few rows in front of me. I did see in the back right hand
corner, someone in a control booth. They had multiple screens up, and each
screen had a different static image to shoot out onto the stage.
Everything
is controlled by computers these days, no matter where you go and what you do,
apparently. However, this is the first time in a while that I think the
production company was using a fast fold screen for their visuals, rather than
use a jumbotron. This was actually one of those musicals that needed the entire
stage, so a television screen in the back would totally be in the way. It makes
more sense to have a thin screen and throw an image on to it from an overhead
projector.
I
wish I had seen them put all of this together, so I would know for sure, but
having been in the audio video field for a while and doing event setups, I’m
sure that’s what was going on.
The
video played, shows the glitching on the screen, which was more 1980s computer,
DOS meets Word Perfect type of technology, that then meets the Matrix franchise
bytes and bits downward spiral disjointedness. The beginning of the clip I took
is what you actually heard while waiting: computer beeps and blips, electronic
noises. The type of things old school techies associate with, while reminiscing
about “the days of yore”. I would have left that original sound on for the
duration of the video, but my mom and her friend were knee deep in conversation
as well as the people around me having their own private discussions. I didn’t
want to leave any of that in, considering it is tough enough to try to edit
(blur) out faces. I didn’t even want to try that since my computer is old and
I’m using an outdated version of Pinnacle. The software already has issues
saving movies. Proof is in the end with that circled arrow. Lately, the program
is having problems rendering the videos correctly so I’m stuck with that greyed
out circle thing. It’s horrible and ugly, I know, but I also know I need to
invest in better equipment. It’s no excuse, but eventually I’ll get an upgrade,
I just don’t know when. The
sound used for the rest of the video is the “Back To The Future Overture”.
Other than flashy
lights and reliance on really solid video projecting, the music was brand new
to the show, outside of the above instrumental“Back To The Future Overture” (I don’t know what else to call it
besides the title track overture), Huey Lewis and the News anthems “Back In Time” and “Power Of Love”, The Penguins’ “Earth
Angel (Will You Be Mine)” and Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”. Those, of course, had to jump from the celluloid
to the stage because they’re the songs we know and will know once we hear the
opening seconds.
To be
specific, “Power Of Love” was written
for the movie, much like Cat Stevens wrote “If
You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out” specifically for “Harold & Maude”. That movie uses all original songs from the
man who would become Yusuf, but he did make it a point to add his own stuff to
the film.
I do
have to say, in regard to “we know the “Back
To The Future Overture” like we know the “Imperial March” from “Empire
Strikes Back”. Play the first couple seconds and it becomes “I can name
that tune and its movie!”. We have gotten accustomed to the 1980s high energy
Huey Lewis songs, and because “Back In
Time” and “Power Of Love” were
such big hits for the group, they were all over the radio. The latter still is;
turn on any “classic rock” station and you’re bound to hear it. I think Chuck
Berry’s song is so obscurely overused, you might not hear it as frequently now
on the FM dial, so you’re better trying to listen for it on satellite stations.
Same might be said for the Penguins, but maybe closer to a few late night AM
stations, outside of specific theme “power hours” on the FM side, of course.
Quite
honestly, I can picture that song being on a specific foreign station that I
once picked up in my car and ended up listening to their nightly live stream
for a while (online, of course). It was so random, as it was a glitch in the AM
frequencies and it took me a full week to figure out it was a Canadian station.
Turns out I caught what radio people call “the skip” and it took me about 9
years to utilize that term I learned in my freshman year radio class at
college. See kids, pay attention to your learnings and you may end up surprising
yourself!
If you’re
still with me at this point and want to know more, like how the acting was,
well, it was good. I feel that the only issues I would have, would be the way
the writers turned Doc Brown into a slight weirdo. Not that he wasn’t a bit “off”
in the movie, but that was all for science; this new version was a mad dash mix
of science and sex. One of the first scenes / songs with Marty and Doc, there
was a conversation between the two because Doc had his own little harem that
came out to dance with him. It was questioned and he said he always seems to
have the girls dance with him lately / when he breaks out in song. As the show
moved on and taking more liberties, there was another point where the boys had
a conversation and Doc says something sexual, but wasn’t outwardly commenting
about it.
I’m
trying not to create spoilers, but I need to in these instances, to get the
point across. I’m sorry, but if you must know, you’ve got to be prepared. The innuendos
weren’t bad, but it was weird how the character was rewritten. I don’t remember
Christopher Lloyd taking it to the level of slight perv. Apologies again; this
is totally the wrong form of language I’m trying to use. I remember the movies
being more crazy scientist looking for alternative worlds, but I don’t remember
there being a full “guy talk with gestures” conversation about the McFly
parents needing to get together in order to keep Marty and his siblings from
disappearing. I know there was a small discussion in the movie, but the musical
elaborates more and does some gesturing. Doc Brown was explaining to Marty that
in order to keep the 1985 timeline happening in 1955, Marty needs to get his
parents to go on a date, get married and comingle. This was basic dialogue in
the first film. In the stage version, they beefed it up a bit. They also had
the actor over enunciate “gigawatts” so it became a grating version of the “1.21 gigawatts?!?!?!?!” scene.
Don’t
get me wrong – I’m not a prude or anything; I just thought it was odd how they
changed the character slightly. This also rang true to other instances like
Einstein the dog being missing and the Libyans not killing Doc in the parking
lot of the mall. He dies another way, which I’ll save to myself, as I’m giving
everything completely away.
However,
if I were to make a comparison, there were some big scenes from the movie that
could have been added to the stage version, like how they kept some of the big
musical numbers, but they seemingly didn’t elaborate on it in the dialogue (again,
not creating spoilers, but it was one of the big things in the movie for the
1955 timeline and when they brought it to the musical, they left out the suggestion
of that thing going global).
The
actors looked like their film counterparts, for sure, even down to the exact
clothing styles. With my poor eyesight, I still saw the white Nike sneakers
with red swoosh on Marty’s feet and the details on the backdrops were amazing
(albeit they were projected images, but still; they were crisp from the back of
the orchestra).
Would
I see this again? I think so, for a couple reasons:
One,
we walked out at “the end” when the cast came out to bow. We missed an encore
of sorts, which became the actual final number song. It was one of the songs
that transferred from the movie into the play.
Two, I
really enjoyed the technical stuff. The visuals were really amazing, both in
set design and computer design. I wish I could have seen the build, tear down
and the in-betweens because it was truly amazing. I didn’t like the blue light
flashes, but I enjoyed everything else.
Why
wouldn’t I see this again?
One: The
blue lights bothered me, plain and simple.
Two:
the weirdness of Doc in some scenes.
Three:
There were a slim handful of songs that felt like they didn’t belong in the
show, which led to a couple scenes that really felt out of place for the overall
time of the show. The scenes didn’t make sense, if only at that moment, for
that character. It was a big stretch in belief, and the timing could have been
used differently.
Overall,
it was a good day out and I’m happy I got to see the show. I would suggest seeing
it if you can, but still advise caution for those with sensory issues.
Until
the next post comes out, go out on some neon leg warmers over your tights and
leotard and jam out to some heavy music, dude.
Over the last few years, there have been conversations of banning specific
types of books. From “classic literature” (such as “1984” and “Fahrenheit 451”)
to certain historical novels (such as “Maus”, “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “I
Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”). Even political, religious and sexuality based
stories are on the list. Someone always has to find something inappropriate
about everything we do lately, as noticed in the recent Broadway musicals I’ve
attended.
Which brings me to the subject of other things disappearing: I ran into an
incident this week where I wanted to request a couple specific CDs, movies, and
audiobooks-on-CD from the library. The information the service desk gave me was
quite interesting.
A few months ago, I had gone in to the library to request standard DVDs of a
few recently released movies. As the Blu-Ray discs were “on order” and I don’t
have a Blu Ray player, requesting that format would be moot; I’ve no way to
play them. The librarian told me that if I ever see Blu-Ray and not standard,
it’s because the library can’t obtain a normal copy. Some movies are being
produced specifically for Blu-Ray and 4K streaming, and in no other format.
Standard discs are going by the wayside and it is hard to find them online or
in store.
All right, fine; I guess I either need to purchase a Blu-Ray player or wait
for the films to be on the streaming channels. Times, they are a-changing and
they aren’t fun, nor are they free.
Quite honestly, I’ve seen the items available online through “big box
retailers”, so I don’t know if the library wants to get away from physical media
all together, or they really are having a tough time ordering them on the
internet.
Moving on to this week, my list was short enough that I thought there would
not be any problems. The things I was looking for are already being produced in
their various forms. I was hoping the library could obtain a copy. Who knows;
there may be other patrons who would be interested in that item.
I inquired first about the music discs. The librarian told me, in no
uncertain terms, that they aren’t ordering many compact discs these days
because there hasn’t been a great need for them. People aren’t requesting music
so there’s no way or reason to order that type of audio disc.
Okay. I guess I understand. People have their phones or tablets and stream
all the sounds they want.
I then asked about the audiobook-on-CD items. The librarian gave me a
similar explanation, with the exception being there is only one publishing
house they can purchase from; and that may be hard because not everything may
be put on disc through this particular site. There’s a limit on what is widely
available due to other big names having the media rights to the recorded file.
Uh, okay, sure; “I think some of the audio books on the shelf may be from
the major companies?” I asked. The short answer was “yes but it really depends
on the book, the availability and if we can get it”. Thanks; I’ll keep that in
mind for future reference
When I asked about the movies, I was given the same answer as the months
prior: not everything is being put to DVD. There is a big chance of things not
coming out on regular disc and since Blu-Ray discs are more expensive, the
library is limiting what they purchase in order to have patrons request certain
shows and movies.
Overall, there is no guarantee with anything I asked for, simply because the
physical forms of media aren’t as readily available as they once were. People
are streaming more these days and unfortunately, are not going to their local
library.
I am sure there will be a day when even the new books aren’t published on
paper and won’t be on the library shelves. Look how box stores (and book
stores) aren’t keeping an array of hardcovers and paperbacks around. The
bookstores are having limited quantities of “new releases” and the markup is so
grand that they have to have you be a paying member for any type of saving. Within
the last decade, the more people are buying smart phones, the more those mobile
devices are tending to come with their own books app. It doesn’t matter if that’s
Apple Books, Google Books or something in between. Basic tablets come
pre-loaded with the Kindle app, unless you’re specifically buying a Kindle
e-reader. Barnes and Noble have their own e-reader, Nook, so that would be the
straight competitor to Kindle; however, it’s such a proprietary software thing,
that you can’t download Nook to any device except a computer. I mean, the last I
checked, you could install the Nook reading app to your Windows based computer,
but you couldn’t get it on your cell phone or tablet, unless you purchased the standalone
Nook reader. This is not to be confused with Amazon, who allows you to install
Kindle on any Android based tablet, along with any type of cell phone. It is regardless
of whether or not you purchase that e-reader. I could be wrong and am willing
to be proven wrong.
It’s a horrible feeling knowing that you want to support the arts and your
community and let everyone have the opportunity to have a library card so they
can read a book, watch a movie or listen to a compact disc. Knowing that these
materials you’re looking for won’t completely be around in a few years is sad.
It’s not like I’m asking for the world on a string. I am looking for a book on tape
CD so I can listen to it in my car or watch a 2 and a half hour film in the
comfort of my living room.
I did attempt to go online the other day and see if I can place a request
for the CDs. I received an email from the library stating “Thank you for submitting a library purchase request. The library is
unable to add this title to the collection, however, it is available on our
free streaming music service Hoopla” for one request and “Thank you for submitting a library purchase
request. This title is unavailable to purchase this music CD from our library
vendors” for the other. Guess that’s the final answer. It is too bad because
it would have been great to preview the discs, should I end up paying for them
myself on a streaming platform. I’m sure if I attempted to request some movies,
I’d get a similar response. I take that back; I actually did get a similar
response when I requested “Omni Loop”,
a Mary Louise Parker movie. I’ve yet to stream online, even though I’ve not
actively searched since requesting it.
I’ve talked to my friend Shawn about this and he too feels like society has
been busy gravitating away from all the stuff we grew up on. Renting movies
from places like Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and Showtime Video (this last one
was a one off when I was young; I don’t think this was a big chain in New
England at that time) is a thing of the past. Spending time after school at the
local library and immersing yourself in quiet time to work on the new fiction
novel is going to possibly fade out soon. He and I both agreed that there’s
nothing like holding someone’s written work in your hands and spending hours
reading chapter upon chapter.
It’s a big responsibility to keep track of that book and what you’ve read; I
remember having a list of titles I went through every summer and was so happy
to have completed the stack of them. Now I’m lucky if I can get through one a
month, let alone over a dozen in three. You learn so much by submerging
yourself in a good book; you can learn so much about yourself and life by
keeping yourself educated.
If libraries go away, what will happen to the easy access in furthering our
knowledge? When Borders and Waldenbooks went dark, Barnes and Noble capitalized
on being that sole in-store provider. Now they expect you to pay $25 a year for
a premium membership, only to get ten per cent off specific items. It is
usually something that they mark up every time a shipment comes in, so it’s not
even worth it (I paid over five dollars more for a “discounted” memoir in
store, than I could have purchased online on Amazon, with Prime free shipping).
This is partly why libraries should, and need to, still exist: they can
alleviate some of that cost because it allows people to have access in unlocking
their imagination. I know, I know, libraries still need to purchase the book
(or movie, or CD). However, “our” tax dollars go to keeping libraries open and
funded, so essentially, we are all paying for the shelves to be stocked with
things to read, watch and listen to. Should libraries close, what will be next?
If our only choice is to buy online, I’m sure we’ll be paying more for mailing
and subscription services, unless all you’ll be able to do, is stream. No more
holding something in your hand and turning a page. No more putting a disc into
a player and watching a movie on your TV. Headphones and music readers, be
damned, because you won’t be able to do that either.
I sound like “a boomer”, screaming at kids to “get off my lawn”. I’m not at
that point yet, I promise. I’m just reminiscing about my past and what is going
to become of my future, if we continue to let technology take over and lose the
things we used to enjoy. Please don’t let these things go away. Let’s keep
finding a way to keep the arts and media relevant so our future doesn’t look so
bleak.
Thanks for reading and listening to my gripe today.
Until it all gets sorted, go out and support your local library. Take out a
book and learn something new. Listen to some music and watch some old
television series on DVD. Let’s get a re-awakening of borrowing stuff!
I was thinking about something the other day: how the new cars have added features, like subscriptions to heated seats (if you're high class) or wireless device charging that is built into the center console (for everyone else). However, they're subtracting features such as tape and compact disc players (for people up there in age, like myself. I'm not 8-Track-In-The-Dash old; but if you know, you know).
What prompted this new train of technological crazy reasoning, was my looking into getting the Some Like It Hot Original Broadway Cast Recording on disc. If only to have a better audio understanding of the show I saw last week.
I have a CD player on my computer and my DVD player can play music. My question is, how do I listen to a disc in my car?
As I currently drive a 2025 vehicle (I think I posted about this. The 2013 Accent deaded. Whomp Whomp ☹) and this metal can on wheels has the ability to use Carplay, media from a thumb drive, and makes good use of the AM FM dial (mainly the FM stations since there's zero reception for AM and what I get in FM service, I tend to ignore most of the channels). I have officially lost the opportunity to put a binder of discs on my passenger seat and choose my soundtrack as I'm driving around the city.
Sure, I can sync podcasts from my phone via Bluetooth or Carplay. I've certainly done that for the past few months. It does take a toll on your cellular data, and since I share a plan with my mother, I want to watch how much I'm doing on my phone so we don't hit a limit due to my choice of earworms. Therefore, I'd like to get something else going as background sounds, instead of skipping around the radio dial every 3.5 to 4.5 minutes (commercials are longer than the songs being played. Blah).
Yes, I know I can rip a disc to iTunes or buy an MP3 album online. Once I have the digital file, I can then transfer those songs to my phone. The purchase option can become as expensive as my CD collection as I've got a lot of music ready to be played. Plus, now I've bought the album twice. The things I have are combinations of previously purchased albums mixed with stuff that people have given me (like having Todd's old stuff. Thank you Susan for continually thinking of me. It's an honor to play his records).
It's not so easy to decide what discs I want on my phone anyway, because I don't want to take up space. For the random times I'd be in my car, I think it's a wasted effort to have it in my pocket. When I'm in the gym for two hours, I'm listening to podcasts while staring at the TV. It's background information that I'm using to further my education. In the car, I'd rather have something I don't have to totally pay attention to, as my focus is the road in front of me.
Which totally contradicts the thing I'm about to say next.
I bet if you read George Carlin's "Last Words", you won't think of "memoir" the same. Trust me on that one; you won't be let down.
Ms. Peterson's audiobook was purchased and put on a Sandisk thumb drive. It's nearly 11 hours long, 20 odd chapters and I've had it playing in my car every day for the better part of two weeks. I'm not in my car long enough to get through more than 20 minutes at a time, so if my math is correct, it should equal out to 16 days of solid listening. That's also providing I don't make any phone calls or pause the track for some reason (like when it's too nice to have the windows closed - the 40° air felt nice a few times, truth be told!).
The sound system in my car is not the best, and it's actually one of the top complaints people have about this model. I can see (hear) why. That's neither here nor there, considering it's nice to be able to have anything to get me anywhere.
I feel I'm a good halfway through the book right now, so I can honestly say that it feels as if she's telling a lot more fluff than truth. Some of the stories / anecdotes seem so wildly out there, you really have to wonder if they're true. She seems like such a great woman - her personality is a little bubbly, but everyone knows Elvira and what she has done for Halloween. One long trick pony that has served her well. This character is a 40+ year investment and she keeps going at it, strong.
Buttt... let me get back to the concept at hand: it's a digital file on a digital device, in my car.
The pictures were taken on my iPhone 17, so they're a little sharper. I can see that without even doing any editing to them (outside of adding my name to them). Everything is more refind in the photographs, even to the point you can see what size that Altoids can is. Chickenman is still hanging out with me and no, I'm not using a USB-C to USB-C charging cable for my new phone. I purchased an Anker two pack of USB to USB-C cables because I needed one for my (2013) laptop. Why not throw the other in my car?
Since automobiles aren't being produced with cigarette push lighters anymore, I've got a USB adapter plugged in there for charging my phone. The young'ns don't know of those burning coils for their smokes ... kids these days have bricks that they vape out of and blow dragon smoke from their mouths. It's wild.
Anyway, the USB charger goes to my phone, which usually is plugged into the USB slot. With the thumb drive there, I moved one over. It's just as well because anyone with a USB wire can use that slot when needed.
The challenge is the fact this car doesn't have a wireless charging pad, so I'm not as privileged as some, to be able to lay my phone on the console and have it magically gain juice. Which is why I'm in need of a cord.
I didn't get all the bells and whistles with this used car... it's not the end of the world.
The smaller things in life could very well be a deal breaker, but I'm not going to do a lot of complaining. I lost a tape player in the Accent but gained the CD player and satellite radio for a few months. Lost the ability to stream once that trial went away, but I got to regain my youth by carrying some discs with me.
Now I've lost the chance to play the "Hits from the decades!" game while traveling, so I need to make up for that. Which is why I got the audiobook and transferred it to a thumb drive. At least then, I could bring it in another car if I wanted to, and leave it there for a while. It's portable enough that I can share it with a friend, although I probably won't. None of the people I know locally would be interested in listening to Cassandra Peterson's life. My mother has even made some comments when she's been in the car with me, that what we're hearing sounds fictional.
Kind of sounds like the beginning sequence in the 1998 "Velvet Goldmine" movie.
"Although what you are about to see is a work of fiction, it should nevertheless be played at maximum volume".
Totally different, I know.
If you're into the "Mistress of the Dark", it's worth a play if you want to know more about her life. If you have opportunity to read the book, have a crack at it. I just happened to stumble on the audio version. It also gave me a chance to try out something different in my car and make a long winded post about having to upgrade my technology while needing to upgrade my car. I miss my previous whips, but I'm told I must "get with the times" and "be in something reliable and safe". As this new ride has a backup camera and sensors telling me I need to stay in my lane (a habit I need to follow in my regular life), what's losing a disc to more freedom of downloads?
All else fails, if you still have an AUX port, buy a CD player and plug in that way? Start pretending like you're back in 1995 with your Discman and want everyone in the car to hear your groovy tunes?
I did promise the other day that I'd also upload photos taken with the phone. I am sure by now, everyone is familiar with the night shots of the playground in my community. I've gone ahead and taken some photos last night, as I was leaving the gym around 8:30.
Again, the photos are a little cleaner, little crisper. No editing done besides my name. It feels more "high def", or what we're used to now. I'm still not a fan of using my phone as a full on camera, but I can admit there's a difference in how the newest model handles night mode.
Even as I type this and look at the photos as thumbnails, they are vibrant. You can see every piece of colored plastic, as if it were the middle of the day. The sky is dark, obviously, but it doesn't feel like it should be after 8 at night.
It feels like I've taken a daylight photo and manipulated it heavily. I promise you I haven't. Seeing these make me want to seriously try my Canon out more. I know I need to make time to take my camera and go, much like I was doing in the early aughts. One day... one day.
Until that day comes, I've actually been working on this post for several hours. I've been squirreled on it and really need to stop circling around. I started it around 4:20 (hehe) and am finishing it at 11. It'll post as 4:27, so future me is telling past me "make it quick, damn it!" but I won't listen.
Therefore, I'm telling myself now, "wrap it up". If you're in any area having the big snow event this week/end, please be safe. Grab whatever you need to, to survive. Stay warm, stay fed. Stay out of that cold unless you have to be out. Keep yourself bundled and take care of your kids. Maybe this time next year I can say that in person to my friends up north... if we all survive the year.
Otherwise, do some light reading, listen to some light jazz and think about good things to come.
Cheers;
See also:
* Blog post title comes from Gary Numan's 1979 song, "Cars". The song is track 08 from the album "The Pleasure Principle".
* "Some Like It Hot (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" is available to download as an MP3 via Amazon.
* The thumb drive in the USB port of my car is an 8GB "Sandisk Cruzer Blade". Amazon currently has various sizes for sale by third party sellers.
* Chickenman still rolls with me. He's hard to see in the pictures. Amazon sells a similar single rubber chicken for $6.95 before taxes.
Note: "Chickenman" comes from the Indigo Girls song, "Chickenman". The song is track 09 from their 1997 album, "Rites of Passage".
* Yes, that's a baby Altoids tin. Amazon doesn't carry it anymore. I'm not sure who does, as that tin is ridiculously old.
* George Carlin took 14 years to write his autobiography, "Last Words" and was posthumously published shortly after his death. Tony Hendra had finished writing it, using sourced material.
