Skip to main content

Three Outstanding Birds

Podcast - Three Outstanding Birds . . .

“I made the show!”

“What show?”

The Acoustic Tuesday Show on YouTube.

“What’s that?” Let me explain.

This crazy idea started to culminate in late January of this year (2020). I signed up for a one-week blues guitar challenge on Facebook hosted by Tony Polecastro of the Acoustic Tuesday Show from Bozeman, MT.

About a year and a half ago, I discovered that every Tuesday morning, Tony Polecastro brings you his list of acoustic guitar gear finds, music discoveries, and inspiration to keep you on the right path to maximum fun on your acoustic guitar journey.

Since every episode is posted on YouTube, you can watch it on demand. And I watched each episode every Wednesday morning, before work, while practicing guitar.

As a regular viewer of the program, I noticed Tony repeatedly promoting the idea of, “Show us your Guitarsenal.”

Purchase any Acoustic Tuesday merchandise, take a photo of you wearing said merchandise with your guitar collection (your guitarsenal), tell us your story, and post it to the Acoustic Life TV website. We will feature you on the show.

So I did . . . with a little twist.

My guitarsenal featured a real arsenal.  A McDonnell Douglas Skyhawk A-4MII.

In hindsight, my photo couldn’t have appeared on a more appropriate episode: How the Gibson Hummingbird Changed the World Acoustic Tuesday #134. Tony featured three very outstanding birds. The Gibson Hummingbird, the Bluebird Cafe, and the McDonnell Douglas Skyhawk A-4.

You’ve gotta check it out. Go to my blog, search for PBall001 and click this link to view the episode and Tony’s reaction; it’s priceless.

My comment to him was, “I’m humbled that you posted the photo of my "tiny" guitar collection (for now). Yes, I'm dreaming big - looking to add a Martin to my collection, or should it be the Gibson Hummingbird. So many beautiful possibilities.”

“Maybe both, yea, right (don't tell my wife). Thanks again.”

As James Allen wrote, "Dream lofty dreams, and so shall you become.”

Guitar Geeks Unite!

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

The Who Was - Series

In this episode, the Who Was? - Series . . . With over 250 titles, Penguin Random House Books Who Was?  - Series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators. Are you a bibliophile, an individual who loves and frequently reads books (a bookworm)? What is it that compels you to pick up a book? Is it the cover, is it the title, how about an interest in a specialized subject, or just - perhaps it's a whim? One of my ultimate goals with these podcasts is to reach a young audience. I've found that reading children's books is a gratifying and educational experience. Yes, even grown-ups can understand difficult concepts. To my surprise, both children and adults seem to appreciate the experience. With education such a hot topic in the news right now, we need to be reminded that whether it's going to school, visiting a museum, or online learning, the goal of education (both young and old) is to nurture an interest in learning. William Butler Ye

Big Apple, Big Charge

In this episode –  Big Apple, Big Charge  . . . Welcome back to On the Fly, your weekly dose of quirky observations and unexpected trends. Today, we're fresh off a trip to the Scaffolding/Plywood jungle, where we witnessed a phenomenon that will make you rethink your relationship with the humble wall socket. That's right, we're talking about New York City, and it's . . . wait for ­­it — Free, ubiquitous electric outlets! New York constantly buzzes with traffic, jackhammers, honking horns, and helicopters. But what struck me most was the sheer volume of people glued to their devices while commuting and navigating the streets with hundreds of construction obstacles. It's like everyone's “plugged into” some invisible grid—phones, tablets, watches, headphones, earbuds, e-bikes—you name it. And that's where things get interesting. But, unlike our quiet suburban life, free outlets in NYC aren't exactly abundant. So, how do these New Yorkers keep their gadgets

What Time Is It

In this episode – What Time Is It . . . In the era before smartphones, let’s say we’re on a telephone call, and you ask me, “What time is it?” As a five-year-old, my reply is, "The big hand is on the two (2) and the little hand on the eight (8).” You would then say, "Alright, it's ten minutes after eight o’clock or eight-ten, right?" This is how we learned to tell time as children–remember? Well, what happened . . . During dinner last week in Westfield, NJ, a retired high school teacher told our group, “Did you know that children today cannot read the time on a traditional watch with an analog face?” “Why not?” we asked. “Because of smartphones and the proliferation of digital clocks.” “Wow! That’s hard to believe.” Welcome to this week's episode of "On the Fly." Today, we'll compare classic mechanical watches to modern quartz watches and explore an unexpected social shift. To begin with, let me take you back a few days. I’m a traditionalist and pre

It Runs on Steam

In this episode – It Runs on Steam . . . If you’ve seen Back to The Future III, you may remember Doc Brown's line, “It Runs on Steam !” Recently, I visited my good friend Billy in Westfield, New Jersey. Among his many other hobbies, Billy is a steam engine enthusiast. He proudly fired up his miniature steam engine and confidently explained its workings, which got me thinking . . . (Sound effect of Billy's steam engine whistle) Have you ever considered how environmentally friendly a steam engine powered by renewable energy could be? There would be no need for gasoline, batteries, diesel fuel, or Uranium-234. Imagine an engine powered by water—yes, water. I can hear the naysayers: "But . . .” Welcome back to On the Fly, where we dive into one of history's most fascinating inventions. Today, we're firing up a revolution – the Industrial Revolution, that is – with the mighty steam engine! For centuries, people relied on muscle, wind, and waterpower to get things do