The Crazy Cactus

Today we realized that Katie and Todd left the crazy cactus xmas present at our house on the refrigerator where we had put it to keep in our of the hands of the kids. This toy was particularly obnoxious and a real pain. Sean and Ashely gave it to Violet but Clara was really into it. The cactus played music... loud but the real issue was that it also recorded voices and played them back. It wiggled too.

We also had a good laugh about the cactus listening to us too. We contacted Katie about sending the cactus to her because we thought it was spying on us and she replied that it was probably for Chinese intelligence services which was exactly what Becky and I were joking about. LOL

RIP Jim

I was sorry to see a FB posting about the sudden death of Jim Gerland. I had just been texting with him on FB recently about some of the Buffalo Free-Net and Library flyers I had been posting. Jim was one of the original founders of the Buffalo Free-Net along with Neil Yerkey who was a faculty member at the library school at UB.I knew both of these guys very well and worked with both of them extensively.

Neil Yerkey had passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 85. Jim was just a couple of months older than me.

I worked with Jim on a lot of issues with the Free-Net and served on several committees. Jim was always great to work with.

His memorial wake was yesterday and I was sorry not to be able to go there and pay my respects to his family. I did know his son Jay also but we had a five grandchildren with us all day and into the evening and there was just no way I could get away even for a couple of hours.

The picture of Jim here is from the early 90's when I was working with him.

19th Century Electric Vehicles - IFLA

An interesting perspective from our friend in Australia about electric vehicles that were in use in the 19th Century.

"Alright, I’m gonna say this slowly for the mouth-breathers in the back screaming “EVs will never work” like it’s some kind of personality. Electric vehicles are older than petrol cars. That’s not a vibe. That’s history. Learn it.

Electric cars existed in the 1800s. Nineteenth. Fucking. Century. Before petrol cars were reliable. Before mass car ownership. Before most of your arguments were even theoretically possible. The key breakthrough was the rechargeable lead-acid battery in the mid-1800s. Once people could store electricity, they immediately started sticking motors on wheels. By the late 1890s, electric cars were not rare, not experimental, not a woke fantasy. They were normal, especially in cities.

Around 1900, the global car market was split between steam, electric, and petrol. Petrol was not dominant. Electric cars made up a significant share, particularly for urban driving. That alone should shut up half the comment section, but here we are.
And yes, the photos everyone freaks out about are real. New York had electric taxis starting in the 1890s. Fleets of them. Warehouses full of electric cabs. Centralised charging. Even early battery swapping. This isn’t speculation, it’s documented history. There are literal photos of electric taxis lined up and plugged in while half of Facebook still thinks charging was invented by Tesla.

Meanwhile, petrol cars back then were absolute pieces of shit. Loud. Filthy. Unreliable. And to start them, you had to hand-crank the engine, which routinely broke arms and occasionally killed people. That was the “tough guy” technology. Getting hospitalised by your own car before you’d finished breakfast. Electric cars didn’t do that. They were quiet, smooth, clean at point of use, and easy to operate. That’s why doctors used them. That’s why city drivers used them. That’s why women used them. And yes, there are documented images of women in Victorian clothing charging electric cars in garages. This wasn’t weird. It was normal.

So why didn’t EVs take over the 20th century? Here’s where the fossil fuel fairy tale collapses like a cheap camp chair. Electric cars didn’t lose because they “don’t work”. They lost because of timing, economics, and infrastructure, not physics.

First, mass production. Petrol cars got dirt cheap when assembly lines kicked in. Electric cars were still built more like appliances. Price matters. People buy what they can afford. End of story.

Second, petrol cars only became tolerable because of electricity. Early petrol vehicles were dangerous to start. Then the electric starter motor arrived in the early 1910s and suddenly petrol cars stopped injuring their owners. Internal combustion literally owes its popularity to electric tech. That irony apparently flies straight over some very shiny heads.

Third, and this is the big one the Facebook geniuses always fuck up:
electricity itself was not widespread yet.

In the early 1900s, cities had electricity. Rural areas mostly didn’t. In the US, the majority of farms had no electricity well into the 1930s. You cannot run a nationwide EV system without a nationwide grid. Liquid fuel had a logistics advantage at the time because you could move it anywhere with barrels and pumps. That wasn’t because petrol was superior. It was because the grid wasn’t finished.

That’s it. That’s the real reason. EVs didn’t fail. The world wasn’t ready yet. Now fast-forward to today and watch the stupidity really kick in. We now live in a fully electrified society. Electricity everywhere. Homes. Cities. Factories. Farms. Solar on rooftops. Batteries in garages. Fast chargers. Smart grids. Backup grids. EVs are no longer early. They are right on fucking schedule. So when someone says “EVs will never work”, what they’re actually saying is: “I think the infrastructure of 1910 is permanent and I’ve emotionally attached my masculinity to petrol.”

That’s not common sense. That’s historical ignorance mixed with confidence. Then come the cope arguments. “You need mining for batteries.” No shit, Einstein. You need mining, drilling, refining, shipping, and constant extraction for oil. The difference is oil gets burned once and disappears forever. Batteries work for years. This is not the gotcha you think it is. “EVs are unproven.” They were in regular use before petrol cars dominated. They’re older than most of the idiots arguing against them. “The grid can’t handle it.”

The grid already handles air conditioners, data centres, industry, and everything else modern life depends on, and it keeps expanding. Petrol only looks easy because society spent over a century building infrastructure, subsidies, pipelines, refineries, tankers, and wars to make it feel normal.

And here’s the peak hypocrisy. The same bloke screaming about EVs is standing at a servo, paying through the nose to burn imported fuel, then blaming someone else for the price while defending the system fucking him sideways. That’s not freedom.
That’s addiction with branding. Electric vehicles aren’t a fad. They’re a return.
They lost the 20th century because electricity hadn’t finished building itself yet.
They’re gaining ground in the 21st because now it has. And the loudest critics aren’t defending reality. They’re defending nostalgia, ignorance, and a fuel system that needed a century of infrastructure and subsidies just to feel “normal”. This isn’t a failed experiment. It’s history repeating itself, except this time the grid is ready.

Facebook "Independent" fact checkers keep flagging my post for inaccurate info so I've provided my citations below. Hopefully they read it this time."

US Department of Energy, history of electric vehicles
https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_history.html
Encyclopaedia Britannica, electric automobile history
https://www.britannica.com/technology/electric-automobile
Early electric taxis in New York City, Electrobat history
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/.../electric-cars-are.../
Vehicle market split around 1900 (steam, electric, petrol)
https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-electric-car
Hand-cranking dangers and electric starter motor history
https://www.carsguide.com.au/.../electric-starters...
Rural electrification timelines
https://www.archives.gov/milest.../rural-electrification-act

Bills vs Eagles Party w/ kids

We had all five of our grandchildren at our house because of a Bills vs Eagles game in town. Sean and Ashley were at the game and so was Todd and his father. We had ourselves and Katie with the kids. Then Valerie came by which was also a big help as she brought some toys with her.

The kids were good and were kept very busy with all the toys and some shows on the TV too.

It was a crazy game with the Eagles squeaking by the Bills 13-12. Bummer for those at the game. Bad weather too.

Sean and Ashely came home from the game after the 3rd quarter. It was a 4:30 game so it was later in the evening when they got back to the house. Then they picked up the kids and headed out. We said our goodbyes because they were leaving for home early the next morning from Mel's house as they wanted to beat the storm that was heading our way. 

Katie and Todd waited out the storm on Monday and then headed back to Philly on Tuesday. We needed some time for

some rest and recuperation. 

Mood Machine - The Rise of Spotify

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly, 2025.

This was one of the last books I read in 2025 and finished yesterday. I read it in a little over a week.

I really struggled with this book as I have over the years with the very concept of Spotify. It really was some essential reading and the author, a music journalist, writes a fascinating analysis of the inner workings of this popular streaming service. She has many interviews with former Spotify employees, musicians and listeners. She goes into great detail describing the motivation of the company and their justification for the so-called playlist. Also the way the company treats musicians and their creation of their data gathering algorithmic mood inducing "ghost artist" which are actually fake bands.

I really felt like immediately dropping my Spotify account. I first started using Spotify in 2017 after I retired and was no longer acquiring lots of new music. I used it as a way of keeping up with current music that I was interested in by going online to my usual music sites like AllMusic and Pitchfork and looking at their new release section. Then I would put those albums in my Spotify album library to check out later.  

I also found a third party software that took all of my playlist on iTunes and transferred them directly to Spotify. So I was using Spotify to get access to my personally created playlists and I was not using their playlist. I did try a few of their system created playlists that were based on my Spotify listening but it was mostly a rehash of my own playlists with a few of the new songs from those albums I had added to my library. I was not listening to any of their background mood music playlist at all. 

Another Spotify playlist that I started listening to a few years ago was their weekly collection of classical music new releases which I have continued to enjoy.

But now I'm considering what to do about Spotify after reading this book. I am really now looking for an alternative to both Spotify and iTunes. Apple has given up supporting iTunes and in my opinion has actually made it so bad in an effort to drive users to their Apple Music and their other Apple iPhone related products which I am avoiding like a plague but that's another story.

RIP Bob

I was broken hearted to see a post on Facebook yesterday that Bob Szymanski passed away the day after Christmas. I saw a post from Linda, his ex-wife, and a friend on FB. Apparently Bob had been very ill for several years that I didn't know about. I feel bad that I didn't keep in better touch with him. I wish he had come back to Buffalo after he retired. I guess he's been living in Pittsburgh for the last 35 or more years. He was 73 years old.

We had some great times together when I was working for him spinning records at the Pastime Lounge that his parents owned and ran when I first started working there in 1982. I stayed there until late 1986. I wish I had some photos of that bar and me in the sound booth doing my thing. We just didn't carry cameras around with us all the time like we do now with our phones.

Bob had an interesting regular job as an inspector for OSHA. 

I had been thinking a lot about Bob recently when I found all those Pastime Lounge flyers and posters in that box of "stuff" up on the 3rd floor. I felt like contacting him and I should have although he was probably very ill.

I spent a lot of time with Bob. There were so many hours at the Pastime Lounge. I worked from 10 pm to 4 am but I often stopped around 2 am. Bob played the records on Friday nights because there was a crowd there that night that could be trouble and he wanted to be there. They also had a very popular fish fry on Fridays that Bob's mom cooked for the patrons.

Saturday night was a little slower at least when I started but I built up a following and got the art crowd to go there after art openings. Then we started having some live music. I also worked some other nights spinning records like an oldies night on Thursdays. I really did enjoy putting that music together and when I stopped working in the sound booth I shifted my music energies to making mixes which I've continued to do to this very day.

I used to go out with Bob for a couple of drinks after working when we closed early or shut down the sound system. We would often go down to Coles where he was friends with the owner. Sometimes we would go down Grant Street and stop at a few bars where he knew the owners. Places like the Cavern Tavern where there were a lot of folks in there that were banned from the Pastime. Sometimes if I got out early from the Pastime I would head down to the Pink Flamingo for a last call.

Another thing Bob would do was get a bus and sell tickets to a Bills game on a Sunday. Then they would all come back to the Pastime for a dinner his mom cooked up... usually a fish fry. I went to the game for free as a employee benefit. Sometimes Bob would take me an occasional Monday night game. 

Then his parents passed away withing a few years of each other and Bob got transferred to the Pittsburg office of OSHA. Then he sold the business which then closed a few years later. It's been empty for decades now.

Update 1/4/26

There is a memorial service for Bob on Friday February 6th 4 to 7pm at Kolano Funeral Home at Grant and Amherst streets. I plan to attend.

Glass of Beer - Shiner Bock

While out grocery shopping with Becky I picked up a six pack of Shiner Bock from Spoetz Brewery in Texas. It's a nice dark amber lager that I've always enjoyed but hadn't had any for awhile. Probably five or six years since I had some. So I've been enjoying the six pack over the past week or so. Todd had one and liked it a lot.

And then there is the tuna and the sardines. Sean gave me these cans of fish as a gift for Christmas and I'm looking forward to digging into them.

Christmas Day 2025

We had a great time hosting our Christmas Eve dinner and then it was a day to relax and enjoy the kids opening their presents. They had so much fun... and we did too. I got a couple of nice books to read and we received a gift certificate for JT's restaurant. And then there were those cans of sardines and tuna. Looking forward to that treat.

Meanwhile the kids played with their new toys.

Later in the day Katie, Todd and the kids left for a Christmas Dinner at Todd's uncle's house. The kids were going to have more fun with their California cousins who would be leaving the next day to fly to Boston to see Rachel's family.

Then Becky and I had some time to relax.

Christmas Eve Dinner 2025

Our Christmas Eve dinner was wonderful again. Becky made some fabulous braciole as usual. Things were a little different this year because Dave and Donna went to NYC for Christmas with Jim and Cassie and were not here. Mary did come and we had Val for dinner too. 

Of course Katie, Todd and the kids were here and so were Dick and Iris. Katie and the kids had been in town for several days but were staying downtown at the hotel because Todd's brother and his family were also in Buffalo for the holiday and would be for a couple more days before flying to Boston to spend time with Rachel's family. So we also invited them to dinner. That made ten people at the main table and five at the kid's table. The kids really liked hanging out with their cousins from California.

The dinner was delicious and everyone enjoyed the braciole and pasta. And also of course the wonderful cookies Becky and Katie made.

Earlier this week we had a Hanukkah dinner at the Schifeling's with Jeremy and Rachel and their two kids Ruby and Hannah. So it was nice to spend more time with them and have them over at our house. They really wanted to try the braciole too. 

Making Braciole 2025

Today Becky got an early start on her annual Christmas Eve dinner braciole. Usually she does most of the work preparing the braciole on the morning of the dinner but not this year. This time she worked on them this evening and they are all put together, rolled and in the fridge to be cooked tomorrow.

Downtown Hanukkah Dinner Party

This evening Becky and I went downtown to Dick and Iris' apartment for a last day of Hanukkah dinner. It was also our first chance to see Katie, Todd and the kids since they arrived in town Saturday evening at the downtown hotel. This was a special gathering of Todd's family as his brother and his family also came into town late Saturday night from California to spend some time with his parents. So yesterday our grandkids got to play with their cousins all day at the hotel where they were all staying. It was all very special for Todd's family.

So tonight we got to hang out with the their family and enjoy a wonder dinner. It was also fun to hang out with all the kids including Ruby and Hannah who love spending time with Henry, Clara and Violet. I had a nice time talking with Jeremy and Rachel along with our usual good time with Dick and Iris. The weather held up too with none of the snow that had been predicted earlier for this night.

Heartbreak Highway - Songs 1986 FV

Keeping it going with another mix of songs from albums in my collection released in 1986. A little all over the place with lots of deep cuts.

Rubber Rodeo in the pic.

Heartbreak Highway - Songs 1986 FV

1. Heartbreak Hotel – Rubber Rodeo
2. The High Road – The Feelies
3. Wide Open Road – The Triffids
4. The Big Heat – Stan Ridgway
5. Graceland – Paul Simon
6. Real Wild Child – Iggy Pop
7. Another Step (Closer To You) – Kim Wilde
8. Kundalini Express – Love and Rockets
9. We Saw Jerry’s Daughter – Camper Van Beethoven
10. She Brakes For Rainbows – The B-52’s
11. No Secrets – Missing Persons
12. Like Flames – Berlin
13. Gather Up Your Wings and Fly – Felt
14. Baby Ran – 54-40
15. You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love – Chris Isaak
16. Goodbye’s All We Got Left – Steve Earle
17. Blue Chevrolet – The Beat Farmers
18. Falling Away – True West
19. Can’t Go Back – Soul Asylum
20. Just Like Before – The Flaming Lips
21. The Forest Green – Yo La Tengo
22. Still Dark Out – Let’s Active

Buttermilk Falls 1976

Here is another photo from that old box of "stuff" on the third floor that I've been going through recently. Me standing at Buttermilk Falls in August 1976. This was my first time in the Adirondacks. There was a group of us who spent a week there that year including me and Becky, Karen and Ed and Dave. We stayed at what was left of the old Sagamore site in one of the cabins. 

The Sagamore Hotel burned down in the early 1960's and the remains were still there. It was kind of a creepy site. Becky's family had stayed there several times when she was growing up. 

That week in August was very chilly. Later when Becky and I would vacation in Long Lake we would always book a week in July. The weather was much better.

Cookie Time 2025

Becky has been making her annual Christmas cookies over the past couple of days. Not quite as many as other years but still a lot and they are delicious. I helped with the cookie decorating. The cookies will be very popular with our house full of kids in the coming days.

Christmas Tree 2025

We went out and got our Christmas tree a little earlier this year than usual and got it at our usual place Northtown Garden Center on Sheridan Dr. We brought it home last week. It was also the most expensive tree we've ever had. $100. Something was really off this year with the cost of trees and I'm sure it must have something to do with the orange turd's tariffs. Most of the trees around here are brought in from Canadian tree farms. The most we ever previously paid for a Christmas tree was about $60. 

But anyway it was a very beautiful tree especially when we had it all decorated and that was done a week before Christmas this year.

It was fun decorating the tree as usual. Becky put up the lights and then we both did the ornaments.

All In My Mind - Songs 1986 FV

The second mix in my Songs 1986 Final Version series of songs from albums in my collection released in 1986. An hour and a half as usual and this one is mostly some deep cuts from those albums. It does make for a fine listen from back in the day.

Love and Rockets in the pic.

All In My Mind - Songs 1986 FV

1. All In My Mind - Love and Rockets
2. Living In Another World - Talk Talk
3. This Is My Day - Julian Lennon
4. Bid Day - XTC
5. I Hope You're Happy Now - Elvis Costello
6. Baby, It Can't Fall - Iggy Pop
7. Walk Into Mirrors - Dumptruck
8. Living Too Late - The Fall
9. The Dairy - The Legendary Pink Dots
10. Warriors Of The Wasteland - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
11. Bonzo Goes To Bitburg - The Ramones
12. (Something Else Is) Working Harder - The Golden Palominos
13. A Question Of Lust - Depeche Mode
14. Think For A Minute - The Housemartins
15. September Lady - Felt
16. Color In Your Life - Missing Persons
17. Love Is All That Matters - The Human League
18. Love Comes Quickly - Pet Shop Boys
19. Walking Down Your Street - The Bangles
20. Last Chance Town - Let's Active
21. Downstream - The Rainmakers
22. The Finer Things - Steve Winwood

Xmas Shopping on Elmwood

Every year we try to do a little bit of Christmas shopping locally on Elmwood Avenue. We went down there today to get some gifts at Penzy's. It was a cold windy day and not very pleasant walking along the avenue. We parked on Lafayette and walked around the corner and down the street. We didn't do our usual browsing shopping at the many gift shops on the avenue. We did our Penzy shopping and headed back to the car. We got some nice spices for Sean and Katie.

Then we went to Clayton's on Hertel to buy some toys for the kids. It's always fun to shop Clayton's.