Tag Archives: Of Interest

For the Musician

Positive Grid Spark Amplifier

Traditional gig amplifiers are large, heavy and donʻt sound that good at low volume. Over the years I have spent a lot of time and a lot of money looking for a good practice amp that can produce great sound at low volume. Voila!

The Positive Grid Spark amp fits the bill perfectly. It is small but powerful and sounds great at any volume. It has a basket full of amp models and effects and can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker. Everything can be controlled from the free app. And at 40w it can be used for jamming and some small gigs.

Check out this Guitar Player Review

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Top Control Panel
AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS

FREQUENCY RANGE
20-20,000 Hz

STEREO/MONO
Stereo

MAXIMUM SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL
116 dB SPL @1m

CABINET PRINCIPLE
Bass-reflex

POWER AMPLIFIERS
40 Watt Class D Amplifier

SPEAKERS
Two – 4″ Custom Designed Speakers

TOTAL IMPEDANCE
4 ohms

CONTROLS AND CONNECTIVITY

TOP PANEL CONTROLS
Amp Type
Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Master, Mod, Delay, Reverb
Output Volume
Music Volume
Four Programmable Preset Buttons
Tap/Tuner Button

REAR PANEL
USB Port
AUX in
DC in

ONBOARD EFFECTS
33 Amp Models
43 Effects
(Noise Gate, Compressor, Distortion, Modulation/EQ, Delay, Reverb)

WIRED CONNECTIVITY
1/4″ Guitar Input
1/8″ Aux Input
1/8″ Headphone

WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth Audio

USB AUDIO
USB Interface for Recording
1 In x 2 Out

PHYSICAL UNIT

DIMENSIONS
350 x 180 x 190 mm
(13.78 x 7.08 x 7.48 in)

WEIGHT
5.2 kg
11.46 lb

COVERING
Black Textured Vinyl
Pearl Textured Vinyl

GRILLE CLOTH
Custom Black/Brown

HANDLE
Removable Faux Leather Handle

This amp makes a great addition to your musical tool box.

JP

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Down The Road

The Next Adventure? Maybe

 

2022 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS

Ever thought about living on the road? For me, some of the best years were those spent travelling the country in a 1969 VW Bug, a truck, and, the biggest adventure of all, on my Harley.

The events of the last few years have amplified the meaning of time and how precious it is. Every day wasted can never be recovered. So, if you have a dream and it’s strong enough, there is no better time than the present to start planning and working toward its implementation.

Living full time on the road is a pretty big decision which will require many important discussions between my wife Kathy and myself. But if we decide to move forward on this it will be sometime in early 2025.

I have been doing a great deal of research regarding equipment, logistics, and the many details, big and small, that need to be ironed out. This is all part of the fun and mystery.

After extensive research I have decided that a Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS fifth wheel is the best choice since it offers all the comforts of home in a well thought out package. This, coupled to a Ram 3500 Heavy Duty truck will provide the ideal combination for this very big adventure.

Pinnacle Interior
Pinnacle Floor Plan

 

Ram 3500 Heavy Duty

I would like to set a goal of touring 49 states in 48 months. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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‘Tis The Season 2021

From The Editor

Aloha!

As 2021 comes to a close, now would be a good time to reflect on all that has happened in the last year. From an attempted coup to a resurgence of Covid. As we always do, we hung together and weathered the storm

Here in Hawaii it looked like we dodged a bullet. But alas the Delta variant knocked us for a loop and sent our economy into another tailspin.

This time of year is when we should pause, be thankful for what we have, and celebrate with our family and friends, in person if possible.

So my friends, be safe and be well. Health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year.

Click to play Auld Lang Syne

 

In This Issue:                                                                                             

–Down The Road     

-It’s Not Over ‘Till It’s Over                                                            

–I Never Knew I Needed This

-Free Stuff

 

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I Never Knew I Needed This

DeWalt 20v Inflator

Did you ever go out to your vehicle only to find that a tire was low on air and you’re miles from the nearest service station? Or ever want to use your bicycle only to find the tire deflated from lack of use?

There are dozens of portable compressors out there but I found this one to be particularly powerful and effective.  I don’t have to drag out my big compressor everytime I want to top off the tires on my vehicles or bicycles.

DeWalt 20v Tire Inflator

I thought the package was a little expensive but after using this tool for a few months I wonder how I got along without it.

JP

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Holiday 2020

A Note From The Editor

Aloha!

The election is over so, let’s kiss and makeup, ’cause the year ahead is sure to be challenging and it’s gonna take all of us to pull together and weather the storm. Good riddance to 2020!

Hawaii has suffered more than most. We have been great in protecting ourselves from “The Virus” but in the process our economy has been ravaged and I am sure many other areas that rely heavily on tourism have also experienced a big setback.

This time of year is when we should pause , be thankful for what we have and celebrate with our family and friends, even if that means doing so from a distance.

So my friends, be safe and be well. Health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

↑Click To Play

In This Issue:                                                                                             

–A Tale Of Two Drones                                                                       

–On Being Mindful

-Traveling To Hawaii

 

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Traveling To Hawaii

Aloha

If you are planning to travel to Hawaii in the near future, Please be aware of the following requirements:

  1. You must receive a negative Covid test from a  trusted partner 72 hours prior to arrival.  If not, you  may be forced into a strictly enforced quarantine until you do.
  2. Masks and social distancing are required when out in public. This requirement will be enforced.
  3. Everything is in flux. Check before you book your hotel and flight.
  4. So far, thanks to our rules, we have for the most part dodged this bullet. That can easily change if our rules are not followed. We do not have the medical infrastructure that exists on the mainland. A serious surge in cases could easily send us back into lockdown, devastating an already ravaged economy.

We welcome you with aloha and hope that you can respect our culture and rules with your own aloha. I am attaching a link with up to date information on travel rules.

Travel Rules & Restrictions

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Twelve Christmas Classics

Our musical Christmas card to you, our readers. May your days be merry and bright, your nights filled with stars and wonder and the New Year one of prosperity and dreams come true.

26888405 - close up image of fireplace and wood burning
The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole
santa3
Traditions of Christmas-Mannheim Steamroller
16676842 - nativity scene
The Little Drummer Boy-The Original Harry Simeone Chorale
Christmas Tree
O Tannenbaum-The Mantovani Orchestra
candy-cane
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Kenny G
46377173 - christmas gift box. isolated on white background
Silver Bells-Elvis Presley
three-wise-men
The First Noel-The Mantovani Orchestra
23669974 - christmas snowflake ornament on a white background
Adeste Fideles-Nat King Cole
21884632 - dreaming angel
Mary Did You Know-Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd
47802121 - poinsettia flower christmas wreath isolated on white background.
Hark The Herald Angels Sing-Mannheim Steamroller
38254082 - christmas stocking with presents isolated on white background.
Silent Night-Elvis Presley
16484535 - red christmas ball with ribbon
Auld Langsyne-Jim Bajor

Peace

 

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Moscow Mule

I’ve been working at Maui Brewing Company in Kihei now for almost a year. If you’ve checked it out online, or if you’ve ever been to the brewery, you know that there is also a wonderful restaurant at the site. Not only do I get to work with some amazing brewery employees, I also rub shoulders with the tireless restaurant folks on a daily basis.

One day one of the restaurant employees walked by our desks carrying a huge box filled with beautiful copper mugs. “Anyone want a copper mug?” I guess these were extras, or no longer used. Needless to say, looking at all the shiny copper, I piped up “Sure – over here!!!”

Which got me thinking about the cocktails I’ve had in the past in similar copper mugs – Moscow Mules.

Moscow mule is a cocktail made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice garnished with a slice or wedge of lime and mint leaves.

Maui Brewing Company 4-pack of Ginger Beer
Maui Brewing Company Ginger Beer

Moscow mules are typically served in copper mugs. Copper is an excellent conductor, meaning that cold or heat spreads rapidly through the material. While the copper material of your mug doesn’t actually make the drink colder, it makes it seem colder than it would if you were drinking it out of a regular glass or mug.

If you’re shopping for copper mugs, be sure to buy food-safe mugs that are not copper on the inside. Copper leaches into acidic foods and poses health risks, yikes!

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Vodka
  • 4-6 ounces Maui Brewing Ginger Beer
  • 2-3 mint sprigs, plus more for garnish
  • 1 lime for juice, plus more for garnish

Directions

  1. Muddle mint sprigs in the bottom of your copper mug
  2. Add the juice of 1 lime.
  3. Fill mug with ice.
  4. Pour in vodka and ginger beer.
  5. Add garnishes.
  6. Stir and enjoy!

Why are Moscow Mules typically served in copper mugs?

According to Michael Cervin, in an August 2007 article on the Copper Development Association Inc. website:

“Most cocktails require specific glassware for their drinks—the highball and the martini glass, for example—however, the copper mug for the Moscow Mule is a must. If the old stories about the genesis of the drink are correct (they are mostly unanimous with a few variations) then it goes like this. In the early 1940s, John Martin was the president of G.F. Heublein & Brothers, an East Coast food and spirits importer best known for introducing A-1 Steak Sauce to America. Sometime in the 1930s, Martin, in an effort to market the next cocktail craze, purchased a small vodka distillery called Smirnoff for $14,000.

Yes, that Smirnoff. Back then, very few people drank vodka because most had never heard of it, let alone tasted it.

One day, while Martin was visiting his friend Jack Morgan who owned the Cock ‘n Bull pub on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, he bemoaned the fact that he couldn’t sell his vodka. Morgan complained he couldn’t sell his ginger beer, a side passion of his that saw cases of it sitting in his restaurant’s basement. And a third person (never identified in any of the stories) lamented that she had copper mugs that she either didn’t want or need. Enter the brainstorm. Could all three benefit from combining their losses? The vodka and ginger beer were mixed with a dash of lime juice and served in copper mugs, imprinted with a kicking mule.”

Who knew?

You really need to try it. It’s delicious.

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Going Home

Aloha

It has been quite a while since I posted to this blog. It was no accident. We have been waiting for this special day so that we could share it with our readers.

I usually include other topics, recipes, reviews and such in our blog magazine.  But this post is about saying goodbye to the mainland and setting off to pursue our new life in our old home of Hawaii, specifically Maui.

Since moving to the mainland from Oahu, we have gone back and forth to Hawaii for both business and to visit so many times that I’ve lost count. But this morning is different from all others. Our plane tickets are one way, many of our possessions have been sold or given away and there is no turning back. If ever there was an act of faith, this is it.

It is the morning of June 27th. We chose this time of year because it was this month 30 years ago that we met in Hana and 23 years since we were married in that same place.

Wedding Day
July 9, 1994-Hana, Hawaii

The time is 7:30AM in Los Angeles. Our cars are in the loading lot at Matson Navigation. Our dog Teddi is in the holding area of Hawaiian Airlines and we are at gate 57 in Terminal 5 of LAX. The adrenaline is high and our hearts are racing. In a little while Hawaiian Flight #33 will be coming to take us home.  At 11:30AM HST it will be wheels down at Kahului Airport and the end of a long journey that was set in motion 3yrs, 3 months and 17 days ago. After our dog Teddi clears quarantine at Kahului Airport and is released to us we will go and get our rental truck and head off to our new home to pick up our lives where we left off so many years ago.

Wailuku
Maui, HI
134 Ho'owaiwai Loop
Our hale
134 Lanai
The view from our lanai
134 Front
Our neighborhood

An important lesson has been learned, at least for us. What we have come to realize is that it is so much easier to leave Hawaii than it is to find your way back. Has the mainland been good to us? From a material standpoint life on the mainland has been kind. We accomplished everything we set out to accomplish and more. Was it worth it? Speaking only for myself I would have to say no. Moving to the mainland from Hawaii was an adventure and a great  ride, but we won’t be coming back.

If you ever lived in Hawaii for a very long time and had to leave for whatever reason and after many years returned home, then you know what we are feeling on this exciting day. I can’t really explain it.  All I can say is aloha to what was and aloha to what is yet to be.

JP

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Hawaii License Plate