IncrediPod

I love books, music and film. Recent technology enhancements have allowed me to have these joys close by pretty much all the time. Now don't get me wrong I do not have my iPod attached to my hip 24/7, but I do have a fair amount of books, music and film stored on the apparatus.

I recently sent out an email to all my co-workers announcing my interest in purchasing a used iPod from anyone interested in selling. I figured why give my hard-earned cash to a department store when I could rather put it into someone pocket to either purchase an upgrade to their iPod or buy groceries or other family needs. We'll it all worked out, I bought an 80 gig iPod for $80 and in-turn the seller downgraded his iPod to an 8 gig iPod Nano.

Hence the birth of the "IncrediPod!" --->

An 80 gigbyte harddrive can hold a lot of books, music and video. The IncrediPod is up to 73.6GB's. I took my entire collection of "aquired"music, movies and e-books and loaded them up. Being anal-retentive you can be assured that it's all neatly organized.

You know it's pretty awesome having my IncrediPod handy during those waits in long lines, or walks home. Heck now I have a choice while at the gym, do I want music today? If so what genre? How bout a movie or e-book?

Do you like having an MP3 player (iPod, Zune, etc...)? If so share your passion.

Its not bulky like a CD player (although I have a couple of those too) and I have all my entertainment at my disposal. I swear, the iPod was invented for people like me--those who let music color every part of their day.

"Thanks for reading, thanks for visiting."

Discovering Twitter

Now I am no expert on the Social Media revolution taking place and sweeping the cyber real estate of the Internet. I am a man of profound commonsense and would like to share my two views on what not to do on social media websites:

One issue I noted immediately on Twitter is people asking for more followers. I don’t think anyone has malicious intents, but it doesn’t make any sense to me. You get more followers because you provide great content, are entertaining or someone is a friend. Right?

What's with all the linking of the same information (redundant!)... You will seriously start to confuse your network…or worse, annoy them. If you’re like me, my networks are separate.I don't expect that I will have followers on Facebook that are identical to Twitter. If my prose on this blog was the same as my Twitter Lingo it would certainly be confusing.

"Thanks for reading, thanks for visiting."

TAPS

My council of Knight's of Columbus #9332 recently posted the below informative piece in their electronic newsletter. Thought I'd share it on my Blog...

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps were played; this brings out a new meaning of it.

Taps was composed in July 1862 at Harrison's Landing in Virginia. If anyone can be said to have composed 'Taps,' it was Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, during the American Civil War.

Dissatisfied with the customary firing of three rifle volleys at the conclusion of burials during battle and also needing a method of ceremonially imparting meaning to the end of a soldier's day, he likely altered an older piece known as "Tattoo," a French bugle call used to signal "lights out," into the call we now know as 'Taps.' (Alternatively, he wrote the whole thing from scratch, a possibility not at all supported by his lack of musical background and ability.)

Whether he wrote it straight from the cuff or improvised something new by rearranging an older work, Butterfield brought 'Taps' into being. With the help of his bugler, Oliver W. Norton of Chicago, the concept was transformed into its present form. "Taps" was quickly taken up by both sides of the conflict, and within months was being sounded by buglers in both Union and Confederate forces.

Then as now, 'Taps' serves as a vital component in ceremonies honoring military dead. It is also understood by American servicemen as an end-of-day 'lights out' signal.

When "Taps" is played at a military funeral, it is customary to salute if in uniform or a veteran, or place your hand over your heart if not.

The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' used at military funerals was born.

The words are:
Day is done.
Gone the sun.
>From the lakes
>From the hills.
>From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.
Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright.
>From afar.
Drawing nigh.
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise.
For our days.
Neath the sun
Neath the stars.
Neath the sky.
As we go.
This we know.
God is nigh

I too have felt the chills while listening to 'Taps' but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along.

I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before. Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.

"Thanks for reading, thanks for visiting."