On The Fly

In this episode – Sundays with Glenn | Ep. 1. . . Have you ever had a wise friend that you wish you could spend more time with? But life's daily responsibilities just seem to get in the way. You may know such a person, a kind, gentle soul that you could just sit relaxed on your porch on a crisp autumn afternoon, passing the time engaged in conversation? With years of experience, this individual has that uncanny ability to synthesize life lessons into rare practical ideas that build communities. We all have. Or should I say we all wish we had? Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Glenn Ferguson, who turns 100 years of age on October 29, 2021 - today. I've been privileged to know Glenn over the past ten years. Admittedly, life has a funny way of introducing you to people (at just the right time) that affects your values for the better. That is, provided you recognize the opportunity and are willing to listen. Sadly, I'm afraid not many folks are eager to listen. It was ear...

In this episode – I’ll Prove It . . .   Music and singing, “In the year 2141-  The air it can’t be seen The smog is rather clean, we can breathe” . . .  Audio – Narration of Chapter 2 pgs. 21 - 23. You've just heard an excerpt (part IV) from the novel A New World of Hope by Don Hanley. We received another question from one of our listeners. Let’s give Professor Haloran a call on our communicator to see if we can chat. Question; “I believe you were a bit shocked by what you saw in the U.S. when you arrived in the year 2018, what shocked you the most?” Mark's response . . .  "Thank you, Mark, for joining us today; we hope to have you on another episode down the road.” If you haven't heard, this podcast is now available on Amazon Music! Just say, "Alexa play - On the Fly podcast by Patrick Ball. Also, if you have a question for Professor Haloran or would like to be a guest on this podcast, visit our blog - On The Fly , and email pball@sbcglobal.net. Or  click the ...

In this episode – Autumn Color . . . I'm sure you've noticed the leaves on the trees are changing. This science update from howstuffworks.com by Jennifer Horton gives us some insight as to why - join me. For most of the year, leaves are a tree's workhorses, constantly converting carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into energy in a process called photosynthesis. The special ingredient for this process, the pigment chlorophyll, gives leaves their bright, green color. But while chlorophyll is the star of the show, it has some help in the pigment's carotene and xanthophyll. Xantho is Greek for "yellow," and carotene gives carrots and egg yolks their orangish color. These two pigments are always present in leaves and help absorb sunlight, which they transfer to chlorophyll for photosynthesis. As the days get shorter, the increased amount of darkness stimulates trees to prepare for hibernation. Leaves won't continue photosynthesizing during winter due to the dry...

In this episode – RCA Studio B, Nashville . . . You've never been to Nashville; what sights would you want to see? Is it the "Broadway Honkytonk Scene" where live bands "blast" their music non-stop from 9:30 am until 3:00 am every day! Maybe it's The Grand Ole' Opry? Or how about the Earnest Tubb Record Shop serving downtown Nashville since 1947 - hosting The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree, the second longest-running radio show in history. Broadcast on WSM 650 with a live audience every Saturday at 10:00 pm. For me, it was Historic RCA Studio B. Constructed in 1957, RCA Studio B became known as the birthplace of the "Nashville Sound." A melodic style characterized by background vocals and strings helped establish Nashville as an international recording center from 1957 – 1977 – Music City USA. On December 3rd, 1957, country singer Don Gibson stood before a microphone in a newly built Nashville studio at 17th Ave. South and Hawkins St, leased to ...

 In this episode – Tommy at The Ryman . . . "Shit happens! This is real life; just give me a minute to retune this guitar." Tommy Emmanuel pounds the driving cord to his live performance during a pulse-pounding rendering of "Fuel" from his album Tommy Songs. Red strobe lights flash, a loud pop, darkness, then silence reverberated throughout the auditorium, and a little laughter from the stage - one of his guitar pickup amplifiers has blown completely out. It was Saturday-evening, September 25 th, 2021, seated in the balcony 4 th , row center stage left, in the Pews at Nashville's most famous concert venue, the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. You may know it as the original Grand Ole' Opry. There was no doubt; this is what we came to experience! It was clear that Tommy Emmanuel was keyed-up for tonight's show. Was it the historic venue, the fact that live stage performances had not been played since the start of this COVID pandemic, or was it the pu...