On The Fly

In this episode - The Car Radio . . . It's possible that your next new car won't have the option to switch between AM and FM radio. Many automakers are now choosing to exclude AM radio from their latest models. Among them, BMW, Mazda, Volvo, Volkswagen, and Tesla have either already removed or plan to remove AM radio from at least some electric models. Ford is going even further, reports the Detroit Free Press, and ditching AM in all new cars – gas or electric. Auto manufacturers typically cite electromagnetic interference as the reason for removing the radios from E.V.s. Electric motors can interfere with AM radio frequencies, making it sound staticky over the airwaves. Is that a valid excuse? Let's look at the historical development of the car radio. In 1929, William Lear and Elmer Wavering drove their girlfriends to a scenic spot overlooking the Mississippi River in Quincy, Illinois, to admire the sunset. The story has it one of the women suggested that music would make ...

In this episode - HollywoodLand . . . If you've had the pleasure of visiting Los Angeles (L.A.), you surely wouldn't have missed the Hollywood sign - it has been a testament to the film industry for almost a century. It stands tall on Mount Lee, in Griffith Park  (50-foot-tall letters),   and is considered the iconic location for a photo-op in the City of Angels. The Hollywood sign represents fame, fortune, and glamour people aspire to achieve in the entertainment industry. However, some lesser-known facts about this famous landmark might surprise you. It's worth noting that the Hollywood Sign was originally created as a marketing tactic for a real estate project. In 1923, Harry Chandler, an investor in the Hollywoodland housing development, shelled out $21,000 to erect a billboard on Mount Lee. The sign was unique because it was illuminated at night by 4,000 20-watt light bulbs, making it a true marvel of electric advertising. The lights were timed so that the words ...

In this episode - In Solar Time . . . We are thrilled to present a unique surprise for this week's podcast. We have composed a special tribute to Cenergy's V-Team in the form of original lyrics to the iconic Beatles song "When I'm 64".   One of Cenergy’s engineering team members is Vietnam’s Doan Vo (Dr. Vo). Dr. Vo - as we call him - is the team lead for Cenergy’s Electrical Engineering Operations. We want to thank the V-Team for their unwavering commitment and assistance to the US team. Your diligent efforts are truly appreciated. In Solar Time When I get older, losing my mind many years from now. Will you still be estimating power lines? Calculating modules in Solar time. If I'd been shocked at quarter to four would you close the door (circuit)?   Will you still teach me? Will you still reach me? When I'm eighty-four. You'll be older too. And if you say the word I could just phone you. I could be handy, changing the fuse. When your power’s gone. Cal...

In this episode - Electronic Waste . . . Last week we examined the resurgence of the LP record. What prompted that episode was visiting our local record shop to see about replacing a turntable cartridge. Well, after a bit of experimentation, I discovered it wasn't my turntable at fault. The problem was with my Harman/Kardon integrated stereo amplifier. While playing records, one channel cut out, switching to mono; both channels played. My first thought was, "I'd had this amplifier for over 40 years; maybe it's time to replace it" - until I started looking at the price of a new comparable amplifier. I suppose there's a market on eBay where you can pick up something similar, but why get a used replacement that may develop other unknown issues? Also, buying a new unit meant the old one would end up on a massive pile of electronic waste that seems to multiply exponentially in today's throw-away culture. The integrated stereo amplifier remains popular for audi...

In this episode - Return to Vinyl . . . Can you name the tune from the introduction? Stick with me, and we will reveal it at the end of this podcast. You may have missed it - Saturday, April 22, 2023, was Record Store Day. It was news to me. By chance, to get a new cartridge for my turntable, I made a trip to our local store (Standards) in Vista, CA. The store was crawling with customers. What's going on? So I had to look it up. Record Store Day started on April 19, 2008, and was founded by Chris Brown, a record store employee in Baltimore, Maryland, and Eric Levin, the owner of Criminal Records in Atlanta, Georgia. The purpose of Record Store Day is to celebrate and promote independent record stores and the unique culture they foster. It has since grown into an international event, with hundreds of record stores participating worldwide. In 2022, 41 million vinyl units were sold compared to 33 million CDs, highlighting a "remarkable resurgence" of the physical music form...

In this episode, Third Years A Charm . . . Welcome to  Episode 207  of  On the Fly.  You may not believe this, but we went live on the Anchor platform ( Spotify for Podcasters ) three years ago today! Lately, people ask, "So, how many listeners do you have?" "Honestly, I'm not sure; I don't pay attention to the numbers." "Why not?" Well,  On the Fly  is a creative adventure. I'm committed to developing my artistic ability, imaginative writing, music education, and digital editing skills. When this all started, I challenged myself; I said,  "Self, what do you think? Can you merge the skills you've developed and deliver an entertaining weekly program? And offer educational content for an audience?" You see, creativity is about developing a habit of taking what seems - at the time - to be a wild idea and experimenting with ways to deliver a story through the medium of on-demand audio. We've dabbled with video, but as you may reca...

In this episode, My First Piano . . . In the introduction, you heard my first piano lesson playing the melody Ode to Joy by Beethoven. Now, I'll admit I love challenging myself and learning new things. In January of this year (2023), I approached Lori and said, "This may sound a little crazy, but I want to learn to play the piano; what do you think?" A little skeptical, her first comment was, "Where would we put a piano in our house?" "I'm thinking of a digital keyboard." "Well, you're not gonna move mine into your studio; if you're going   to learn to play the piano, we need to get you one for your office that will hook up to your recording equipment." What a sensible, loving, and supportive wife. So after a bit of research, going to a piano store, and trying out different pianos, I decided on a Casio CDP-S360, an electric keyboard. Why this one, you ask? Well, one of the things I discovered is it's better to learn on a fu...

In this episode, I Just Want Coffee . . . Do you have a favorite author? Let me introduce you to one of mine; you may know him from the book  A Walk in the Woods , which was made into a movie in 2015 with Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, and Emma Thompson – his name is Bill Bryson. Bryson is an American-born author, journalist, and travel writer known for his humorous and engaging prose style. He has written many best-selling books on various topics, including travel, science, language, and history. Bill Bryson was born in 1951 and grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Drake University in Des Moines but dropped out before graduating. After a stint in the U.S. Army, he moved to England in 1973, where he met his wife and began his writing career. Now, when I need a hearty laugh, I listen to Bill Bryson narrate his books via audiobooks by audible. It's a great way to start your day smiling while working around the house, cleaning the garage, or bicycling. While poking around for somethi...