Category Archives: Occasional Commentary

This is a place to practice my writing skills. The comments will be current and on diverse subjects that will hopefully stimulate a friendly dialogue with readers.

Small Objects

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

I have always had a fascination for small objects. They never had to be flashy or very valuable; they just had to be interesting and possibly unique. I remember a military cap, the kind with a stiff bill out front, … Continue reading →

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Tagged 1939, accessory, antiques, collectibles, desk, fair, Lufkin, minerallac, mustarole, statiscope, world's | 5 Comments

How to Read Digital Library Books on Your iPad

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

I read electronic books on my Kindle. The easy way to get them is to download from the Internet various free items (public domain) or purchase them directly from Amazon. The difficult way is to download them from my online … Continue reading →

Posted in Books...all kinds, Modern Technology, Occasional Commentary | Tagged epub pdf apple, iPad Library books reading downloading Bluefire app | Leave a comment

Attack of the Killer Drones

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

What makes you queasy or freaked out? For some people it can be as little as a dirty diaper in need of changing. For others it is the sight of blood or the smell of vomit. The situation that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature: Plants and Animals, Backyard, Woods, and River, Occasional Commentary | Tagged carpenter ants arthropod winged pests shed Stephen King queasy pests | Leave a comment

It was a quiet week in Hope Valley

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

Saturday, 04:23 pm. My neighbor out back is home. I can tell by the surging roar of his power washer. It must be at least 100,000 psi. I expect to see one of his wall studs to come flying overhead … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature: Plants and Animals, Backyard, Woods, and River, Occasional Commentary | Tagged cat, fisher, hope, hopkinton, nature, neighborhood, neighbors, quiet, rabies, raccoon, valley | 2 Comments

What do you Read?

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

Just how does a person share a book these days? It used to be that you put your name on the inside of the cover and then lent the book to a close friend with the adomonition to “Please get … Continue reading →

Posted in Books...all kinds, Modern Technology, Occasional Commentary | Tagged books, China, e-reader, fiction, history, Kindle, library, nonfiction, Nook, reading, reviews, Sony | 7 Comments

When all else fails, make it yourself!

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

What have you been eating lately? I’ll bet that most of your meals were supplied by any one of numerous commercial establishments situated in your neighborhood. I am talking about fully prepared meals … the kind you get at Subway, … Continue reading →

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Tagged Boucher's Wood River Inn, dining, eating, food, Hopkinton RI, restaurants, Rhode Island | 2 Comments

From Frank’s to Louie’s .. It’s a barber shop, not a salon

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

I don’t remember my first haircut but I know where it took place. It was at Frank’s Barber Shop on Pocasset Avenue in the Silver Lake section of Providence. We lived on the second floor of a tall three-floor … Continue reading →

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Tagged 1929, barber pole, barber shop, Conimicut, crew cut, crewcut, Gus's, haircut, Louie's, Paul's, RI, Warwick | 7 Comments

TI to iPad … a short history of computers

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

My first memory of a computer must date back to the late 1950’s. Each year, around April or so, the nightly news on TV (black & white, no remote, 19″ screen) would feature the most recent national science fair … Continue reading →

Posted in Modern Technology, Occasional Commentary | Tagged Amiga, Amstrad, Apple, Atari, computer, IBM, IIc, IIe, Macintosh, TI-99/4a | Leave a comment

Karen Drive, disappearing soon

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

Karen Drive, disappearing soon, originally uploaded by Ken, KB1AWV. The current snow situation in Hope Valley, RI is desperate. I no longer allow my wife to go out walking alone due to the chance of avalanche. Please note the height … Continue reading →

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Leave a comment

Apps…a whole new world in 3 years

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Kenneth Carr

My first exposure to computers goes back to 1970 or so. A computer at that time was something housed in a glass room deep in the basement of a hall at Providence College. The only communication a mere student had … Continue reading →