ATF: Together or Apart

This series will include as many of my all-time favorite (ATF) tunes as I can get my grubby little hands on (so to speak).  Now, each one included in each edition will have some connection with the other—albeit only as a figment of my imagination, but they will not be numbered.  For I just cannot bring myself to rate some higher than others.  So, this will not be a countdown, but if you are enjoying them as much as I do, it won’t matter.  Besides, with no countdown, this could go on forever and ever!  Oh, and despite the fact that there is absolutely no way your musical tastes could be as exquisite as mine, I welcome any suggestions you might dare to make.  For I am, after all, quite magnanimous by nature.

Link: [Pat Benatar]

We Belong

Pat Benatar

We belong

We belong to the light

Many times I’ve tried to tell you

Many times I’ve cried alone

Always I’m surprised how well you

Cut my feelings to the bone

Don’t wanna leave you really

I’ve invested too much time

To give you up that easy

To the doubts that complicate your mind

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We’ve both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong

We belong

We belong together

Maybe it’s a sign of weakness

When I don’t know what to say

Maybe I just wouldn’t know

What to do with my strength anyway

Have we become a habit

Do we distort the facts

Now there’s no looking forward

Now there’s no turning back

When you say

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We’ve both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong

We belong

We belong together

Close your eyes and try to sleep now

Close your eyes and try to dream

Clear your mind and do your best

To try and wash the palette clean

We can’t begin to know it

How much we really care

I hear your voice inside me

I see your face everywhere

Still you say

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We’ve both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong

We belong

We belong together

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We’ve both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong

We belong

We belong together

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

Link: [Head East]

Since You’ve Been Gone

Head East

I get the same old dream

Same time every night

Fall to the ground

And I wake up

So I get out of bed

Put on my shoes

And in my head

Thoughts fly back to the breakup

And these four walls are closin’ in

Look at the fix you put me in

Since you’ve been gone

Since you’ve been gone

I'm outta my head

Can't take it

Could I be wrong

But since you’ve been gone

You cast the spell

So break it

Do it do do

Do it do do

Do it do do

Can't take it

And in the night I stand

Beneath the backstreet lights

I read the words

That you sent to me

I can take the afternoon

But night time

Comes around too soon

You can't know

What you mean to me

Your poison letter

Your telegram

They go to show

You don’t give a damn

Since you’ve been gone

Since you’ve been gone

I'm outta my head

Can't take it

Could I be wrong

But since you’ve been gone

You cast the spell

So break it

Do it do do

Do it do do

Do it do do

Can't take it

Ah ah

Ah ah

Ah ah

Ah ah

Ah ah…

If you will come back

Baby I'm here

Whenever you want

Do it

Since you’ve been gone

Since you’ve been gone

I'm outta my head

Can't take it

Could I be wrong

But since you’ve been gone

You cast the spell

So break it

Do it do do

Do it do do

Do it do do

Do it do do

Ever since

You’ve been gone

Since you’ve been gone

Since you’ve been gone

Do it do do

Do it do do

Ever since

You’ve been gone

Lyrics From: [eLyrics.net]

Please Also Visit:

[Arlynda Lea]

[FishHawk Droppings]

[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

Cable Television Ad-whacking

In the Come Monday edition [Digital to Analog], I talked about converting videos digitally-recorded off of the internet to an analog format so that they could be recorded on VHS tapes for my mother-in-law.  Well, I also set up the computer we have hooked up to our television to digitally-record shows we have on VHS tapes.  This was accomplished through the [Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3] converter.

I also re-recorded onto the computer some of the shows we were keeping on our DVR to watch later (and watch over and over again, in Arlynda’s case).  For the Roxio converter can record anything playing on the television it is hooked up to.

Well, it was while editing (cutting out the commercial advertisements) some of those shows that I noticed something that struck me as being rather odd.  For at the beginning or end of one complete commercial would sometimes be a snippet from another completely different commercial.

Oh yeah, that had my curiosity piqued.  So, I started trying to pay close attention to what was going on during ad-breaks while watching current programming, and I found that what I am calling “ad-whacking” happens a lot.  The following video should give you an idea of what I am talking about.

Did you catch the ad-whacked World Wildlife Fund commercial between the Mattax-Neu-Prater and CNN ads?  It was very quick.  So, I made the following video with the speed slowed way down after showing the sequence again at regular speed.

I wound-up recording 271 ad-whacks in anticipation of this becoming a big deal.  The following ad-whack of a Gerber Life Insurance commercial is a more typical example than the WWF one.

Alas, all of the hours I spent recording and editing ad-whacks appear to be for naught.  For I have yet to receive a single response back from the advertisers I attempted to contact.  Oh, and the ad-whack examples I had for them were all documented by showing on the screen the time, date and what show it occurred.  The advertisers I attempted to contact were Gerber Life, Rosetta Stone, Stamps.com, Southern New Hampshire University, The Art Institutes, TrueCar.com, uSell.com, World Wildlife Fund and Zulily.com, and there are many more I did not try to contact after getting the hint.

So, is it that those businesses just do not care about their commercials being ad-whacked because of having so much money to spend upon advertising or is it just part of placing ads on television?  After all, time must be made for local advertisements, and ad-whacks usually happen before or after a local commercial is inserted into the national mix.

I do not know.  For all of my questions concerning what is going on have been left unanswered by those who just might know, and I have grown tired of pursuing the matter.

I stopped recording ad-whacks last summer and returned to zipping through commercial breaks as usual.  I still notice an ad-whack here or there every once in a while, and I have been seeing it happen more frequently on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC lately.  Whereas, I rarely caught an ad-whack on the main network channels back when I was trying to pay close attention.

What came as quite a shock to me is that ad-whacks appeared to happen the most frequently on CNBC.  For I would think that a business channel would be tightly focused upon their own good business practices.

In all fairness, it may not be CNBC’s fault.  For it may very well be more in the hands of the individual cable companies and local television stations to produce advertising blocks.

Back when I was still trying to be serious about pursuing this, I asked my sister-in-law (with DirecTV) to record a six-hour segment of Animal Planet, which is a channel we also have access to through Mediacom Cable.  I also recorded the same six-hour segment and then compared the advertising blocks.  What I found was that when the advertising blocks occurred was set by the network while the content varied between what was broadcast on DirecTV and Mediacom.  Most of the blocks had the same commercials at the same time, but different ones were whacked at the different times, with the biggest difference being virtually no local advertising on DirecTV.  Their ad-whacking involved inserting commercials for other programs on DirecTV while Mediacom had a lot of advertisements for local businesses.

Whether or not ad-whacking and some other things are simply a matter of sloppiness or something sinister is set for next week.  I can imagine you being hardly able to wait—right? 

Please Also Visit:

[Arlynda Lea]

[FishHawk Droppings]
[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

Sites To See #435

The SOLE purpose of this series is to help call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another.  Just to be clear, inclusion in this series is not necessarily meant as an endorsement, and I have included sites that I found rather disturbing.  The link below each image is to the site itself, and each image is linked to the particular post from which it was taken when applicable.  Please, go see for yourself.  Oh, and as of August 10, 2012, I will be no longer including sites that have auto-play and word verification engaged.

 Link: [Sometimes Always Never]

 Link: [Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe]

 Link: [Summer Violets]

 Link: [The 7MSN Ranch]

 Link: [The Adventures of Old Alice]

 Link: [The Betty Way of Things]

 Link: [The Cavender Diary]

 Link: [The Cloth Shed]

 Link: [The Cranberry Chronicle Continues]

Link: [The Enchantress]

Please Also Visit:

[Arlynda Lea]

[FishHawk Droppings]

[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

ATF: For Better or Worse

This series will include as many of my all-time favorite (ATF) tunes as I can get my grubby little hands on (so to speak).  Now, each one included in each edition will have some connection with the other—albeit only as a figment of my imagination, but they will not be numbered.  For I just cannot bring myself to rate some higher than others.  So, this will not be a countdown, but if you are enjoying them as much as I do, it won’t matter.  Besides, with no countdown, this could go on forever and ever!  Oh, and despite the fact that there is absolutely no way your musical tastes could be as exquisite as mine, I welcome any suggestions you might dare to make.  For I am, after all, quite magnanimous by nature.

Link: [Mary MacGregor]

The Wedding Song

Mary MacGregor

He is now to be among you

At the calling of your hearts

Rest assured this troubadour

Is acting on His part

The union of your spirits here

Has caused Him to remain

For whenever two or more of you

Are gathered in His name

There is Love

There is Love

Well a man shall leave his mother

And a woman leave her home

And they shall travel on to where

The two shall be as one

As it was in the beginning

Is now and 'til the end

Woman draws her life from man

And gives it back again

And there is Love

There is Love

Well then what's to be the reason

For becoming man and wife

Is it Love that brings you here

Or Love that brings you life

And if loving is the answer

Then who's the giving for

Do you believe in something

That you've never seen before

Oh there is Love

There is Love

Link: [Greg Kihn]

The Breakup Song

Greg Kihn

We had broken up for good

Just an hour before

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

And now I'm starin’ at the bodies

As they're dancin’ across the floor

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

And then the band slowed the tempo

And the music took me down

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

It was the same old song

With a melancholy sound

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

They don't write 'em like that anymore

They just don't write 'em like that anymore

We'd been living together

For a million years

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

But now it feels so strange

Out in the atmospheres

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

And then the jukebox plays a song

I used to know

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

And now I'm starin’ at the bodies

As they're dancin’ so slow

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

They don't write 'em like that anymore

They don't write 'em like that anymore

Now I'm windin’ up

Starin’ at an empty glass

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

Cause it's so easy to say

That you'll forget your past

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

They don't write 'em like that anymore

No

They just don't write 'em like that anymore

Oh they don't write 'em like that anymore

They just don't write 'em like that anymore

They just don't

No they don't

No no

Uh-uh,

They just don't write 'em like that anymore

They just don't...

Lyrics From: [eLyrics.net]

Please Also Visit:

[Arlynda Lea]

[FishHawk Droppings]

[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

A Sunday Drive

Back during our childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and me after Sunday morning church services for a leisurely drive around where we lived.  Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them again, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.  The link below the image is to the site itself, and the image is linked to the post it was first included in here.

 Link: [2 Bags Full]

 Link: [20 North Ora]

 Link: [42N Observations]

 Link: [A Cottage Muse]

 Link: [A Different Perspective]

 Link: [A Gypsy Angel]

 Link: [A Magical Whimsy]

 Link: [A Place for Everything...]

 Link: [aVintage Green]

Link: [About New York]

Please Also Visit:

[Arlynda Lea]

[FishHawk Droppings]

[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

Sites To See #434

The SOLE purpose of this series is to help call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another.  Just to be clear, inclusion in this series is not necessarily meant as an endorsement, and I have included sites that I found rather disturbing.  The link below each image is to the site itself, and each image is linked to the particular post from which it was taken when applicable.  Please, go see for yourself.  Oh, and as of August 10, 2012, I will be no longer including sites that have auto-play and word verification engaged.

 Link: [Pictures/Thoughts]

 Link: [Picturit]

 Link: [Port Elizabeth Daily Photo]

 Link: [Prairie Girl]

 Link: [P.T. Dilloway's Blog]

 Link: [Queens of the Wild Frontier]

 Link: [Red Handed]

 Link: [Ruled by Paws]

Link: [Small Stream Reflections]

Please Also Visit:

[Arlynda Lea]

[FishHawk Droppings]

[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

ATF: Magical Mysteries

This series will include as many of my all-time favorite (ATF) tunes as I can get my grubby little hands on (so to speak).  Now, each one included in each edition will have some connection with the other—albeit only as a figment of my imagination, but they will not be numbered.  For I just cannot bring myself to rate some higher than others.  So, this will not be a countdown, but if you are enjoying them as much as I do, it won’t matter.  Besides, with no countdown, this could go on forever and ever!  Oh, and despite the fact that there is absolutely no way your musical tastes could be as exquisite as mine, I welcome any suggestions you might dare to make.  For I am, after all, quite magnanimous by nature.

Link: [Triumph]

Magic Power

Triumph

Something's at the edge of your mind

You don't know what it is

Something you were hopin' to find

But you’re not sure what it is

Then you hear the music

And it all comes crystal clear

The music does the talkin'

Says the things you want to hear

I'm young

I'm wild

And I'm free

I’ve got the magic power

Of the music in me

I'm young

I'm wild

And I'm free

I’ve got the magic power

Of the music

In me

She climbs into bed

She pulls the covers overhead

And she turns her little radio on

Had a rotten day

So she hopes the DJ's gonna play

Her favorite song

It makes her feel much better

Brings her closer to her dreams

A little magic power

Makes it better than it seems

She's young now

She's wild now

She wants to be free

She gets the magic power

Of the music in me

She's young now

She's wild now

She wants to be free

She gets the magic power

Of the music

From me

If you're thinkin' it over

But you just can't sort it out

Do you want someone to tell you

What they think it's all about

Are you the one and only

Who's sad and lonely

You’re reachin' for the top

Well the music keeps you goin'

And it's never gonna stop

It’s never gonna stop

It’s never gonna

Never gonna

Never gonna

Never gonna stop

The world is full of compromise

The infinite red tape

But the music's got the magic

It's your one chance for escape

So turn me on

Turn me up

It's your turn to dream

A little magic power makes it

Better than it seems

I'm young now

I'm wild now

I want to be free

I’ve got the magic power

Of the music in me

I'm young now

I'm wild

And I'm free

I’ve got the magic power

Of the music

I’ve got the music

For me

I’ve got the power

I’ve got the power

She’s got the power

She’s got the power

You’ve got the power

You’ve got the power

You’ve got the power

You’ve got the power

Link: [Heart]

Magic Man

Heart

Cold late night so long ago

When I was not so strong you know

A pretty man came to me

I never seen eyes so blue

You know I could not run away it seemed

We'd seen each other in a dream

Seemed like he knew me

He looked right through me

Yeah

Come on home girl

He said with a smile

You don't have to love me yet

Let's get high awhile

But try to understand

Try to understand

Try try try

To understand

I'm a magic man

Winter nights we sang in tune

Played inside the months of moon

Never think of never

Let this spell last forever

Well summer lovin’ passed to fall

Tried to realize it all

Mama says she's worried

Growing up in a hurry

Yeah

Come on home girl

Mama cried on the phone

Too soon to lose my baby yet

My girl should be at home

But try to understand

Try to understand

Try try try

To understand

He's a magic man Mama

Ah

He's a magic man

Come on home girl

He said with a smile

I’ve cast my spell of love on you

A woman from a child

But try to understand

Try to understand

Oh

Oh

Try

Try to understand

Try try try

To understand

He's a magic man

Oh

Yeah

He's got the magic hands

Come on home girl

He said with a smile

You don't have to love me yet

Let's get high awhile

But try to understand

Try to understand

Try try try

To understand

He's a magic man

Yeah

Oh oh

Lyrics From: [eLyrics.net]

Please Also Visit:

[Arlynda Lea]

[FishHawk Droppings]

[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]