Farewell My Friend Wherever You May Be

After 67 years, most arguably the best sports broadcaster in history has hung it up.  It was so extremely emotional, especially for those of us who have listened to this sport poet.

Like many young kids growing up in the 60s and 70s, we all had our own am transistor radios, and from the months of April through September, listening to Dodgers games broadcast by Vin Scully.  “Good afternoon to you, wherever you may be” … one of the most friendly and soothing greeting anyone could ever give me.  He always greeted everyone as “friends” … How could I not be a Dodgers fan, listening to this treasure.

It was interesting to know, that he became a fan, when listening to the Yankees beat up so badly on the Giants, that he felt sorry for the Giants, and then became a fan.  How ironic that he began his career broadcasting for the enemy, the Dodgers, for the next 67 years.

Occasionally, I would turn to the Angels baseball broadcast, and it just wasn’t the same.  Although I was listening to another hall of fame broadcaster (Dick Enberg, “Oh my!”), I just didn’t have the same melodic, poetic picture painted, as I was listening.  Later, when Dick Enberg moved on, the ones following were horrible.  This made me cherish what we have listening to the Dodgers broadcast.

Now try to picture someone else broadcasting this very same play.  It just wouldn’t be the same.  It was so appropriate, that the last broadcast at Dodger’s Stadium, is the clincher for the National West pennant, and on a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th inning, from a utility infielder.

It was also fitting that Vin Scully’s last game, would be broadcasting the Dodgers vs. Giants, in the Giant’s ballpark.

I was shocked, and emotional when the Giants fans gave Vin a standing ovation, and even more shocked when in the 7th inning stretch, for “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, they sung “root root for the DODGERS”. And this was in AT&T park … that was so special.

So my friend, thank you, for introducing me to baseball, all the stories, insight, and painting such a work of art in description of every baseball game you called.  You made me a baseball fan, and more importantly, a Dodgers fan.  Thank you, Vin!

Mysterious Problems with Nexus

I’ve been a customer with Nexus phone for almost 3 years now.  For the most part, I’ve been happy with the fact that I can get the most up to date security fixes on Android. 

There have been some issues with (some my fault, others possibly due to OS and hardware incompatibility).

First, and most stupid … I used my phone to track rides on my bike (including when it rains).  Well I wasn’t thinking that rain could cause damage to my phone.  It shorted out my USB port … The phone still worked, but I just had problems charging it.  I worked around this by getting wireless charger, but eventually, the magnet wore off, and I ended up placing a weight on top of my phone, just so my phone magnet would connect up with the magnet on my wireless charger. 

Then there was the camera issue.  Every now and then, the phone wouldn’t be able to open the camera, forcing a phone reboot.  Based on a combination of these two problems, I ended up upgrading to a Nexus 6.

After upgrading hardware, I never ran into the camera problem.  Fast charging is great.  Security updates arrive on schedule, so it’s nice knowing I am secure.  However, a new problem arose … Every now and then, I would see a message “no sim card found”.  Damn!!!!  Uh, I kind of need this … This is a phone!  SIM card gives you a cell signal!

So after several reboots, it is able to finally detect it.  The is thing is this would happen after being charged overnight, sitting on my desk table.  I would see the problem re-occur, and every time, it requires a reboot, or two, or three, or ten.

Reading the Google forums, it seems others have observed this occurred after upgrading to Marshmallow.  Well, downgrading is not an option … I am not about to downgrade to a security vulnerable OS.  I’ll just have to see how long this Nexus 6 will last.  I know everyone wants iPhone 7 or Samsung Galaxy 7 … But I am holding out.  If I do end up needing to buy a new one, Samsung Galaxy 7 may be the next way to go … I’ve heard that Samsung is getting fairly timely OS uodates … But I’ll hang on to my Nexus 6 as long as I can.  Camera is still pretty nice, battery life is still good.  I guess it’s all a matter if perspective, isn’t it?