Smart Phone

I'm trying to learn how my SmartPhone works. Melva and I use the AT&T GoPhone service. A while back they forced us to convert to their 4LG network, whatever that is.

As part of the transition we had to select new phones. There weren't any flip phones available by the time we arrived at the store. We decided to chose the ZTE Maven SmartPhone. This is a big change. The new devices aren't just phones. They are also computers that can be connected to the Internet, free of charge, if you have a WiFi connection.

They are also Android devices. Android is a Google operating system. Therefore, if you use Google applications such as: Chrome, Gmail, Music Play, etc. on you computer the phone adds another level of complexity to the technology learning curve.

Part of the fun is getting used to the fact that there is no mouse and that there is no keyboard. You type on the image of what serves as a keyboard with big fat fingers on little tiny letters.

I'm interested in using the device to listen to music. There is a Bluegrass station, WAMU, located in Washington, DC. The signal isn't strong enough to be picked up by any of the radios in our house. They stream live on the Internet as BluegrassCountry.org. You can listen to the music on the computer while you do something else. This has never worked very well for me.

Last night I downloaded the BluegrassCountry app to my phone. Within less than five minutes the installation was complete and I was listening to Bluegrass music on the phone.

Today I'm testing to see if I can listen to the live stream on the phone while I have the phone plugged in for charging. I'm pleased to report that it works. One of the first songs I heard was, Poison Love, from the latest Alison Krauss country album, Windy City.

Dick Henthorn
30 Mar 2017

3rd Annual DC Bluegrass Union Festival

Decisions made in a moment can affect a lifetime. (A Gentle Spirit, 19 February)

******

Today's posting on Mr. Dickie's Blog pays tribute to: 

• Bluegrass music
• Groups that promote the music
• Bands that performed on 25 February 2012 at the 3rd Annual DC Bluegrass Union Festival.

Yesterday I attended the 3rd Annual DC Bluegrass Union Festival held at the College Park, Maryland - Holiday Inn from noon until 11:30 p.m. That was eleven and a half hours of Bluegrass with breaks of only about ten minutes between sets.  Eight bands performed with two bands playing two sets.  The festival was a great success with a full house for the evening performances.  During the program they announced that plans are already underway to hold the festival at the same location in February 2013.

The winner of the Friday night band contest was a Washington, DC band - By and By.  They opened the show on Saturday.

The 2012 Washington Monument Award was presented to co-winners: Tom Gray and Eddie Adcock.

The president of the DCBU, Randy Barrett and Dede Wyland performed in the band Mama Tried.  Eddie and Martha Adcock performed with Tom Gray.  I couldn't find good webpages to use here.

The Bluegrass Promoters

DC Bluegrass Union

3rd Annual DC Bluegrass Union Festival

WAMU Bluegrass Country

International Bluegrass Music Museum

International Bluegrass Music Association

The Bluegrass Bands

By and By

• On Facebook

Dede Wyland and Randy Barrett - Mama Tried

• YouTube Video - Dede Wyland with Tony Trischka and Skyline

Big Chimney

Mitch Harrell and The Virginians

• Bill Harrell - father of Mitch

Eddie and Martha Adcock with Tom Gray

• YouTube Video

U.S. Navy Band Country Current

• Wayne Taylor - guest artist

Sierra Hull and Highway 111

The Boxcars

The Honorees

Eddie Adcock - Wikipedia

• Eddie Adcock

Tom Gray

Mr. Dickie
26 February 2012

Truth

Photo by Mr. Dickie - Emmittsburg, MD

Truth is truth and that's all there is to it.  Anything we can add to it doesn't make it better.  (Steve Case, Everything Counts, 3 December)

It is a truth of life that in many ways it is easier to stand adversity than to stand prosperity.  Ease has ruined far more men than trouble ever did.  (William Barclay, The Letter To The Hebrews, p. 126)

"Truth is always strong no matter how weak it looks, and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks."  (Phillips Brooks in Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe, p. 841)

Fight for what's right.  Fight for others.  (Steve Case, Everything Counts, 16 December)

******

This morning I'm listening to the The Wronglers with Jimmy Dale Gilmore - Heirloom Music.  I received this CD as a premium for supporting the PBS Internet radio station of WAMU - BluegrassCountry.org.  For a while I thought the CD wasn't going to arrive.

Yesterday, Jim Mc. called to let us know he arrived safely in Gulfport, MS.  We hope he has a wonderful time visiting with family and friends.  In the evening I called Tom W. in Wichita, KS.  Tom and I went to the same high school but didn't meet until the second year of college when he came to Pittsburg, KS.

Mr. Dickie

19 December 2011