On The Fly

In this episode - What Can You Teach Me . . . Have you ever noticed that some people are more skilled at connecting with others and convincing them of their ideas than most? The secret to their success lies in mastering fundamental skills like empathy, communication, and leadership. By revisiting Dale Carnegie's timeless guide, "How to Win Friends and Influence People," we are reminded of the essential techniques to win over even the toughest audiences. Developing these skills will open up opportunities and help you succeed in all areas of your life. For example, recently, while participating in a Zoom sales call with a client regarding the upcoming possibility of Community Solar in California, let’s call him Joe. Joe - was willing to share the video of himself - seated at his office desk with a non-committal frown on his face waiting for the sales pitch. So, instead of pulling up the PowerPoint slide deck with company and program details, we asked him directly, “How do y...

In this episode - Active Noise-Canceling . . . During a recent flight, with a baby wailing, I realized I had forgotten my noise-canceling headphones and wondered how they work. Have you noticed the constant background roar of jet engines during a flight? Probably not if someone was trying to comfort a squalling baby in front or behind you. Anyway, noise reduction headphones, also known as Active Noise-Canceling (ANC) headphones, use advanced technology to reduce or eliminate unwanted ambient sounds. Using hardware and software components to counteract external noise and provide a more immersive listening experience and a quiet environment. Here's a simplified overview of how noise-reduction headphones work: Microphones: ANC headphones are equipped with one or more built-in microphones. These microphones capture the surrounding sounds and convert them into electrical signals. Noise analysis: The electrical signals from the microphones are analyzed by the headphone's internal cir...

In this episode - Curiosity . . . Do your friends consider you to be a curious person? If that's the case, what questions do you generally ask? Are they always practical? Could you explain why? Recently, while reading Walter Isaacson's book on the life of Leonardo Da Vinci, who was undoubtedly one of the most inquisitive minds in history. Leonardo wrote down questions in his notebooks that appeared impossible to answer during his era. One question that caught my attention was: "Describe the tongue of a woodpecker?" So, I asked ChatGPT. Certainly! The tongue of a woodpecker is a fascinating adaptation that enables these birds to capture their prey and navigate their unique feeding habits effectively. The tongue's exact structure and length may vary among woodpecker species, but some general characteristics are common to most woodpecker tongues. Woodpecker tongues are typically long, extending far beyond the length of their beaks. They are thin and possess a special...

In this episode - Fingerstyle Guitar . . . In a previous podcast, we shared our experience at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, where we attended a concert by the accomplished fingerstyle guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. Suppose you've never seen Tommy in concert. I promise - you will never look at a guitar the same way again! And believe what you are seeing and hearing is possible. Every inch of his guitar gets plucked or pounded to propel the beat, scratched to imitate symbols, driven with a rhythmic thump, thump, thump to lead with the bass, and magic fingers that tickle the strings to drive pure harmonic tones. So, please don't pass it up when you can see him live. During a local performance by Tommy Emmanuel at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA, on December 14, 2022, we were introduced to Mike Dawes, an exceptionally talented and creative guitarist renowned for his impressive fingerstyle technique. It was a delightful surprise! Born in England on November 20...