Enjoy!
:o)
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Saturday, January 20, 2018
At the Hop!
Fabian!!!
FABIAN - The Original American Idol
Fabian - An overnight singing sensation, film star with over 30 films to his credit, and producer of his own concert series, Fabian continues to expand his ever growing career. Receiving one of show business' highest accolades, this pop music and film star was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 8, 2002. He was recognized for over 40 years of live performance with the famed boulevard's 2188th star. Following his successful film career, Fabian has performed at packed concerts, stadiums and casinos from coast to coast and internationally in festivals and theatrical productions. He honored his fans by dedicating his star to them on that memorable day.
His loyal fans are never disappointed. His performance exudes the raw energy that made him one of music's first rock stars.
Fabian hosted and headlined in the hit show, "The Original Stars of Bandstand" at the Dick Clark Theater in Branson, Missouri. Fabian's first appearance on American Bandstand was June 19, 1958 and he appeared on the show over 20 times. He filled in for Dick Clark as host on dozens of "Caravan of Stars" Tours. "The Original Stars of Bandstand" re-created those days and drew record audiences. "It was like a reunion when I got to get re-aquainted with all of my friends again," said Fabian. The show also stared Bobby Vee and featured The Chiffons, Brian Hyland, Chris Montez and rare footage of the performers and Dick Clark.
Fabian continues to perform with two of his Philadelphia buddies, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell as "The Golden Boys" in one of the longest running shows of its genre today. In their 20th year together, they have appeared in every major city in the United States and around the world. They have played to packed venues in Atlantic City and Las Vegas and have starred in"The American Music Awards", "Miss Teenage America", and Command Performance: An All Star Salute To The President" television specials. The Philadelphia Music Alliance honored Fabian in 2000, with a star on their Walk of Fame and Fabian visits that city any chance he gets to enjoy the best cheesesteaks anywhere!
Fabian's early films rocketed him to stardom. He made his screen debut in 1959 in "Hound Dog Man", directed by Don Segal. He traveled iout of the country to make "Five Weeks In A Balloon" and "The Longest Day". He worked with two of our great screen giants in "North To Alaska" with John Wayne and "High Time" with Bing Crosby. Fabian was fortunate to have worked with the incomparable and gracious James Stewart in two films in his career, "Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation" and "Dear Brigette." He learned to surf with Tab Hunter in "Ride The Wild Surf" which has become a cult classic. More recent work includes being interviewed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1996, Jon Avnet directed film, "Up Close & Personal".
Fabian's role as a homicidal maniac in the TV production titled "A Lion Walks Among Us" directed by Robert Altman solidly established him as a versatile and powerful actor. This history making production was the first television show to run an hour without commercials.
As an actor, Fabian makes frequent television and feature film appearances. Some of his most memorable television roles have been his guest appearances on Laverne & Shirley, Facts of Life, Blossom and Murphy Brown. Fabian recently hosted his second PBS Special, "At The Drive-In." "Fabian's GoodTime Rock 'n Roll Show", broadcast live in front of 85,000 fans in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, featured the great rock acts from the 50's & 60's, was the first concert produced for pay-per-view-television and PBS. Fabian was the Host, performer and producer of this concert special. Fabian is also an Emmy-nominated producer for his work on the highly acclaimed documentary series "The Wild West".
Fabian has enjoyed a successful commercial career representing products such as Pepsi, Denny's & Nutri System to name just a few and lends his distinctive voice to radio and voiceovers for commercials and television projects.
Fabian is one of the first pop rock artists ever to be known by just one name. Answering the most often asked question, Fabian is his real birth name having been named after his paternal grandfather, Fabiano Forte. Today children of his fans, a type font, and a hurricane have been named after him, which really caused quite a stir. His full name is Fabian Anthony Forte....better known now as www.fabianforte.net
Born on February 6, 1943 to Josephine and Domenic Forte, Fabian Forte was discovered at the age of 14 sitting on his front steps in Philadelphia. Fabian had just watched his father being taken away in an ambulance when he was approached him about becoming a singer. His father couldn't work any longer as the oldest of three brothers, Fabian took a chance at "making some money" to help his family out and never thought of it as a career. Soon thousands were to throng to his concerts and the rest is a music business success story. At 15, Fabian won the Silver Award as "The Promising Male Vocalist of 1958". By the time he was 18, he had recorded dozens of hit singles, eight albums and earned gold records for "Turn Me Loose" and "Tiger" and a gold album for "The Fabulous Fabian".
In 1998, Fabian married model Andrea Patrick, a former Miss Pennsylvania-USA and Miss West Virginia who is the Owner/CEO of Patrick Talent Agency and Editor-in-Chief/Publisher for US Fashion magazine, GLADYS Magazine.
He is also a proud father of a son Christian and his wife, Mercedes and their daughter, Fabian's grandaughter, Ava Josephine, and grandson Anthony and a daughter, Julie Forte. Fabian and Andrea are actively involved in the American Diabetes Association, The American Heart Assocation. Fabian has helped raise money for veterans with his Celebrity Golf Tournament in North Carolina. Andrea and Fabian live on 20 acres in Southwestern Pennsylvania in a home that Andrea designed.
Singer, performer, actor, producer, father, husband and friend.....Fabian is a man who has had longevity in his career because of his perseverance, his loyalty, his professionalism, his wonderful, kind heart and his tenacity. Fabian has traveled the show business ladder and survived, his sense of humor and integrity intact. And for that. he truly is the FABULOUS FABIAN.
Source: http://www.fabianforte.net/biography.html
FABIAN - The Original American Idol
Fabian - An overnight singing sensation, film star with over 30 films to his credit, and producer of his own concert series, Fabian continues to expand his ever growing career. Receiving one of show business' highest accolades, this pop music and film star was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 8, 2002. He was recognized for over 40 years of live performance with the famed boulevard's 2188th star. Following his successful film career, Fabian has performed at packed concerts, stadiums and casinos from coast to coast and internationally in festivals and theatrical productions. He honored his fans by dedicating his star to them on that memorable day.
His loyal fans are never disappointed. His performance exudes the raw energy that made him one of music's first rock stars.
Fabian hosted and headlined in the hit show, "The Original Stars of Bandstand" at the Dick Clark Theater in Branson, Missouri. Fabian's first appearance on American Bandstand was June 19, 1958 and he appeared on the show over 20 times. He filled in for Dick Clark as host on dozens of "Caravan of Stars" Tours. "The Original Stars of Bandstand" re-created those days and drew record audiences. "It was like a reunion when I got to get re-aquainted with all of my friends again," said Fabian. The show also stared Bobby Vee and featured The Chiffons, Brian Hyland, Chris Montez and rare footage of the performers and Dick Clark.
Fabian continues to perform with two of his Philadelphia buddies, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell as "The Golden Boys" in one of the longest running shows of its genre today. In their 20th year together, they have appeared in every major city in the United States and around the world. They have played to packed venues in Atlantic City and Las Vegas and have starred in"The American Music Awards", "Miss Teenage America", and Command Performance: An All Star Salute To The President" television specials. The Philadelphia Music Alliance honored Fabian in 2000, with a star on their Walk of Fame and Fabian visits that city any chance he gets to enjoy the best cheesesteaks anywhere!
Fabian's early films rocketed him to stardom. He made his screen debut in 1959 in "Hound Dog Man", directed by Don Segal. He traveled iout of the country to make "Five Weeks In A Balloon" and "The Longest Day". He worked with two of our great screen giants in "North To Alaska" with John Wayne and "High Time" with Bing Crosby. Fabian was fortunate to have worked with the incomparable and gracious James Stewart in two films in his career, "Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation" and "Dear Brigette." He learned to surf with Tab Hunter in "Ride The Wild Surf" which has become a cult classic. More recent work includes being interviewed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1996, Jon Avnet directed film, "Up Close & Personal".
Fabian's role as a homicidal maniac in the TV production titled "A Lion Walks Among Us" directed by Robert Altman solidly established him as a versatile and powerful actor. This history making production was the first television show to run an hour without commercials.
As an actor, Fabian makes frequent television and feature film appearances. Some of his most memorable television roles have been his guest appearances on Laverne & Shirley, Facts of Life, Blossom and Murphy Brown. Fabian recently hosted his second PBS Special, "At The Drive-In." "Fabian's GoodTime Rock 'n Roll Show", broadcast live in front of 85,000 fans in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, featured the great rock acts from the 50's & 60's, was the first concert produced for pay-per-view-television and PBS. Fabian was the Host, performer and producer of this concert special. Fabian is also an Emmy-nominated producer for his work on the highly acclaimed documentary series "The Wild West".
Fabian has enjoyed a successful commercial career representing products such as Pepsi, Denny's & Nutri System to name just a few and lends his distinctive voice to radio and voiceovers for commercials and television projects.
Fabian is one of the first pop rock artists ever to be known by just one name. Answering the most often asked question, Fabian is his real birth name having been named after his paternal grandfather, Fabiano Forte. Today children of his fans, a type font, and a hurricane have been named after him, which really caused quite a stir. His full name is Fabian Anthony Forte....better known now as www.fabianforte.net
Born on February 6, 1943 to Josephine and Domenic Forte, Fabian Forte was discovered at the age of 14 sitting on his front steps in Philadelphia. Fabian had just watched his father being taken away in an ambulance when he was approached him about becoming a singer. His father couldn't work any longer as the oldest of three brothers, Fabian took a chance at "making some money" to help his family out and never thought of it as a career. Soon thousands were to throng to his concerts and the rest is a music business success story. At 15, Fabian won the Silver Award as "The Promising Male Vocalist of 1958". By the time he was 18, he had recorded dozens of hit singles, eight albums and earned gold records for "Turn Me Loose" and "Tiger" and a gold album for "The Fabulous Fabian".
In 1998, Fabian married model Andrea Patrick, a former Miss Pennsylvania-USA and Miss West Virginia who is the Owner/CEO of Patrick Talent Agency and Editor-in-Chief/Publisher for US Fashion magazine, GLADYS Magazine.
He is also a proud father of a son Christian and his wife, Mercedes and their daughter, Fabian's grandaughter, Ava Josephine, and grandson Anthony and a daughter, Julie Forte. Fabian and Andrea are actively involved in the American Diabetes Association, The American Heart Assocation. Fabian has helped raise money for veterans with his Celebrity Golf Tournament in North Carolina. Andrea and Fabian live on 20 acres in Southwestern Pennsylvania in a home that Andrea designed.
Singer, performer, actor, producer, father, husband and friend.....Fabian is a man who has had longevity in his career because of his perseverance, his loyalty, his professionalism, his wonderful, kind heart and his tenacity. Fabian has traveled the show business ladder and survived, his sense of humor and integrity intact. And for that. he truly is the FABULOUS FABIAN.
Source: http://www.fabianforte.net/biography.html
:o)
Friday, January 19, 2018
Friday Night Steam
Look where an engine from Rogers Locomotive Works in New Jersey wound up!
The NZR K class of 1877 was the first example of American-built locomotives to be used on New Zealand's railways. Their success coloured locomotive development in New Zealand until the end of steam.
In 1877, the new Chief Mechanical Engineer of the NZR, Allison D.
Smith required some new motive power for the fledgling Government
system. It had been intended to order more J Class
locomotives which were of an English design. However, Mr Smith was
adamant American locomotives would be much more suitable for New
Zealand's conditions. His argument won, and an order was placed with the
Rogers Locomotive Works of New Jersey, for two tender locomotives with a wheel arrangement of 2-4-2.
Upon their arrival to New Zealand, the locomotives created quite a stir
with their bar frames, 'Gothic' style wooden cabs, locomotive bell,
ornate embellishments and, rakish appearances which were at odds with
the traditional English locomotive appearance in New Zealand at the time
and were described by one commentator as "a watch with all its works
outside".
In addition this first pair, K 87 "Lincoln" and K 88 "Washington",
reputedly wore a 'kaleidoscope' of colours - green, blue, yellow, red,
purple, and gold in addition to their Russian Iron
boiler jackets. The Baldwin and Rogers locomotives reflected the
styling adopted in the 1870s by American builders with elements from the
Renaissance Revival and Neo Baroque architectural styles, and with
Islamic e.g. Moorish (from Alhambra) influences. Bold colours and
painted decorations were used.
As more powerful locomotives arrived on the railway system, increasingly of American origin, the K class became relegated from the top expresses and cascaded down to express trains on secondary lines. Two of the K's, K 93 and K 96, were transferred to the North Island during this time. Beginning just after 1900 the class started receiving new NZR-built boilers to replace their Rogers-built wagon-top boiler. The South Island locomotives gained boilers of a Belpaire design, while the North Island pair received round-top boilers. All the new boilers were pressed to 160psi, an increase over the original boiler's 130psi. By this time all the locomotives had received Westinghouse brake equipment also. It was during this time that some of the K class, having been relegated to the Kingston-Gore branch, began earning a reputation for the Kingston-Invercargill express train which earned the name "Kingston Flyer".
The other two locomotives exhumed so far are K 94, exhumed by a private owner and moved to The Plains Railway on 21 April 1986. It is in storage in an un-restored state with no active plans for restoration. And K 92, recovered in 1985 by the Fiordland Vintage Machinery Club for their Museum's railway venture on the shores of Lake Te Anau. Partially restored in Te Anau the venture fell through before the locomotive had been fully completed and subsequently the locomotive was put up for sale, with the restoration being completed in Dunedin. Purchased by Colin Smith in 1998, the locomotive's restoration was completed and it is intended to recreate the old "Kingston Flyer" trains of the early 1900s at the Waimea Plains Railway. While waiting for the railway to be completed, K 92 has visited a number of railways in the South Island, with some of the more notable visits being those to the Kingston Flyer, an old haunt for K 92 where it triple headed with the two AB class locomotives resident there, and also a visit to the Plains, home of K 88, where both locomotives were used together extensively.
The NZR K class of 1877 was the first example of American-built locomotives to be used on New Zealand's railways. Their success coloured locomotive development in New Zealand until the end of steam.
History
Builders photo of K 88 without tender.
The K class in service
After arrival in the South Island at Lyttelton, the locomotives were quickly put into service. K 87 "Lincoln" quickly distinguished itself by hauling the first bogie-carriage passenger train, and both the locomotives soon earned a reputation as fast and free runners, with mild coal consumption. K 88 "Washington" hauled the first train between Christchurch and Dunedin on the just-completed Main South Line, assisted by the Double Fairlie "Josephine" south of Oamaru until "Josephine" had to be taken off the train due to mechanical issues - caused by how K 88 was being driven by its driver. Six more of the class was ordered from the Rogers Locomotive Works, numbered from 92 through 97 before K's 87 and 88 had entered service - the former being ordered in January 1878 while the latter entered service in March 1878, such was Allison Smiths faith in the type of engine he had ordered. Allison Smiths faith was well placed with railway authorities regarding the first two K's as "infinitely superior to the English locomotives" in operation during the same period. The second batch of locomotives entered service in the South Island and contained almost no differences to the first two, albeit they weren't given names and there is no record of them wearing the "kaleidoscope" livery (it is likely K 87 and K 88 had been repainted by this time also). In 1883, due to its design characteristics, the K class was the only class of engine officially permitted to run at 35 miles per hour in ordinary service.As more powerful locomotives arrived on the railway system, increasingly of American origin, the K class became relegated from the top expresses and cascaded down to express trains on secondary lines. Two of the K's, K 93 and K 96, were transferred to the North Island during this time. Beginning just after 1900 the class started receiving new NZR-built boilers to replace their Rogers-built wagon-top boiler. The South Island locomotives gained boilers of a Belpaire design, while the North Island pair received round-top boilers. All the new boilers were pressed to 160psi, an increase over the original boiler's 130psi. By this time all the locomotives had received Westinghouse brake equipment also. It was during this time that some of the K class, having been relegated to the Kingston-Gore branch, began earning a reputation for the Kingston-Invercargill express train which earned the name "Kingston Flyer".
Withdrawal and disposal
The days of the K class in service were over during the 1920s. Both the North Island examples, plus K 87 "Lincoln" had been withdrawn as early as 1922. The others managed to linger on for a few more years yet, with the last two, K 92 and K 95, not withdrawn until 1927. As was customary at the time, the locomotives were set aside pending disposal, whatever form that may have taken. All remaining South Island class members lasted long enough to be dumped as embankment protection, something which began in 1926.Preservation
Three of the Rogers K class have so far been exhumed and entered into preservation. The first and most notable of these locomotives is K 88 Washington, which was exhumed from its river grave by the Southland Vintage Car Club on 19 and 20 January 1974. There were a number of loose plans regarding the locomotive's future but these came to nothing. The locomotive wreck was threatened with being pushed back into the river until The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum came up with ambitious plans to restore it back to working order. Beginning in July 1974, they achieved this goal in on the 7 November 1981 proving that the restoration of exhumed locomotives was possible. It was recommissioned on the 25 November the following year. However, on 24 September 1987 the boiler of K 88 (which was the boiler that it had been recovered from the Oreti River with) was condemned, and it was not until 30 March 2002 that K 88 was once again in working order, this time with a new Belpaire-style all-welded boiler and wearing an interpretation of the 'kaleidoscope' colours.The other two locomotives exhumed so far are K 94, exhumed by a private owner and moved to The Plains Railway on 21 April 1986. It is in storage in an un-restored state with no active plans for restoration. And K 92, recovered in 1985 by the Fiordland Vintage Machinery Club for their Museum's railway venture on the shores of Lake Te Anau. Partially restored in Te Anau the venture fell through before the locomotive had been fully completed and subsequently the locomotive was put up for sale, with the restoration being completed in Dunedin. Purchased by Colin Smith in 1998, the locomotive's restoration was completed and it is intended to recreate the old "Kingston Flyer" trains of the early 1900s at the Waimea Plains Railway. While waiting for the railway to be completed, K 92 has visited a number of railways in the South Island, with some of the more notable visits being those to the Kingston Flyer, an old haunt for K 92 where it triple headed with the two AB class locomotives resident there, and also a visit to the Plains, home of K 88, where both locomotives were used together extensively.
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K 88 at The Plains Railway
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More of that dang white stuff.....
Not a good time to be under the weather - the gang still needs to be taken care of and they depend on me to keep them safe, warm and healthy!
Tuesday it started snowing lightly:
Weatherman said only one or two inches - that's ok!
Surprise!!!! Turned out to be 7 inches!!!
I was a bad Chickenmom - I stayed inside until Charlie and the girls started
bellyaching for me to let them out!
Soooo cold!
They got an extra helping of warm oatmeal:
Icicles:
We are ten degrees colder than what the weather reports say it is! Brrrrrrr!
But it IS pretty!
It may warm up a bit by the end of the week... I sure do hope so!
Thank you for all your "Get Well" wishes! Each and every one
brightened my day and were greatly appreciated!
:o)
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Monday, January 15, 2018
A screaming Potoo
Yup! You read that right!!
Source: https://www.britannica.com/animal/potoo
caprimulgiforms are surrounded by an aura of mystery richly
The potoos’ complex patterns of gray, black, and brown plumage resemble tree bark. During the day, the birds sleep, vertically perched and virtually indistinguishable from the dead branches they roost on. They awaken at dusk, revealing huge eyes capable of spotting moths and other flying insects in the dark. Potoos also have wide and gaping mouths for catching prey during their quick, short, and silent flights.
Although pairs of potoos may forage within a few dozen metres of one another, they are essentially solitary creatures. They are also highly restricted nesters. Instead of building a nest, they find a branch or stub with a suitable depression or crevice of just the right size to accommodate the single egg they lay. The egg is chalky white, marked with brown and gray, and is incubated by both parents for 30–35 days.
Little is known about the natural history of most species because they are so difficult to observe. One researcher noted a young common potoo (N. griseus, sometimes N. jamaicensis) wandering over the boughs of the nest tree at about four weeks of age. The same nestling made its first trial flights at 47 days and finally left the nest when 50 days old. Other reports indicate the nestling period to be 40–45 days. The young are sheltered by the parents only during the first half of this period, by which time the young potoos have attained the juvenile plumage (white mottled with brown) and are already accomplished in assuming the “broken branch” posture of adults.
Potoos’ calls are characteristic sounds of the tropical forest at night. One species, the common potoo, also called the “poor-me-one,” sings a plaintive descending whistle that has been phoneticized as “poor, me, all, alone.” Another species, the great potoo (N. grandis), belts out a distinct bawl that can disturb people unaccustomed to the nocturnal life of the tropical forest.
There are seven species of Nyctibius, and they constitute an independent family, Nyctibiidae. Potoos are related to the familiar whippoorwill of North America. All belong to the order Caprimulgiformes, a group of birds primarily active at dawn and dusk.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/animal/potoo
caprimulgiforms are surrounded by an aura of mystery richly
The potoos’ complex patterns of gray, black, and brown plumage resemble tree bark. During the day, the birds sleep, vertically perched and virtually indistinguishable from the dead branches they roost on. They awaken at dusk, revealing huge eyes capable of spotting moths and other flying insects in the dark. Potoos also have wide and gaping mouths for catching prey during their quick, short, and silent flights.
Although pairs of potoos may forage within a few dozen metres of one another, they are essentially solitary creatures. They are also highly restricted nesters. Instead of building a nest, they find a branch or stub with a suitable depression or crevice of just the right size to accommodate the single egg they lay. The egg is chalky white, marked with brown and gray, and is incubated by both parents for 30–35 days.
Little is known about the natural history of most species because they are so difficult to observe. One researcher noted a young common potoo (N. griseus, sometimes N. jamaicensis) wandering over the boughs of the nest tree at about four weeks of age. The same nestling made its first trial flights at 47 days and finally left the nest when 50 days old. Other reports indicate the nestling period to be 40–45 days. The young are sheltered by the parents only during the first half of this period, by which time the young potoos have attained the juvenile plumage (white mottled with brown) and are already accomplished in assuming the “broken branch” posture of adults.
Potoos’ calls are characteristic sounds of the tropical forest at night. One species, the common potoo, also called the “poor-me-one,” sings a plaintive descending whistle that has been phoneticized as “poor, me, all, alone.” Another species, the great potoo (N. grandis), belts out a distinct bawl that can disturb people unaccustomed to the nocturnal life of the tropical forest.
There are seven species of Nyctibius, and they constitute an independent family, Nyctibiidae. Potoos are related to the familiar whippoorwill of North America. All belong to the order Caprimulgiformes, a group of birds primarily active at dawn and dusk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
:o)
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