Probably the best new keyboard right now in 2023, Yamaha MX49
Were I buying a new synthesizer right now, it would be this one.
I remember back in the '90s when I really wanted an Ensoniq TS-10. True, the TS-12 also existed, but the TS-10 to me was King Synth because it's exactly the type of synth I like. 61 semi-weighted keys, the all-black "professional" look, and a user-friendly layout (unlike a Roland Fantom which has always been complicated).
Did I ever own a TS-10? No. Way too expensive when it was new. And even in used form today they're still too expensive.
Then there's the Yamaha MX49 and Yamaha MX61. As you may have guessed, the MX49 has 49 keys and the MX61 has 61 keys.
I actually prefer the MX49 because it's a better form factor for home use, although it could totally work for stage use as well, and because the price is oh-so nice for what it has.
What does it have? The semi-weighted keys to my fingers feel so much better than the full-weighted stuff. But on top of that it has features I'd actually use. Namely, a sequencer, patterns, arpeggios and a ton of very high quality sounds. This is stuff that makes putting a music idea together easy and quick. I also like the simple display in the middle and minimal complement of buttons.
Where the layout is concerned, I like that the MX49 has pitch and mod wheels to the lower left, just like the old Ensoniq synths. Another thing I like is that the master volume control is its own separate knob all the way on the upper left. The fact it's a knob and extremely easy to locate is just nice. Some other synths for whatever reason make it difficult to find the volume control. Not on the MX49. Very easy. I like easy.
Good for the beginner? Somewhat, because this is technically a workstation synth. You won't find any built-in speakers with this one - but that's the way I like it. It's better to call this an entry level workstation, which for most people (including myself) is all that anybody ever needs.
An example of a piano arranger with the built-in speakers is the Korg EK-50 (a 61-key). A nice keyboard, but I'm really liking the Yamaha MX49 more. It's compact but with full sized keys, and I just prefer the separated pitch/mod wheels instead of the Korg joystick and also prefer the Yamaha control layout. And yes, there are distinct differences between an arrangers and workstations. I've always preferred the workstation style synth.
It's just really nice to see an offering from Yamaha that packs in some really nice features without breaking the bank.
I finally watched Labyrinth. It's weird.
Check this one off as "probably will never watch again".
Labyrinth, a movie from 1986, is one of those flicks that I'm surprised my parents didn't take me to see at the time it was released. They totally would have because I was right in the age group this movie was made for at the time.
I'm thinking mom and dad didn't take me to see the movie because they usually only would do that for movies I'd ask to watch. I know I didn't ask to see this one. Why? The television ads and the trailer.
Nothing in the TV ads nor the trailer from '86 promoting the movie had anything my child self would care about. They show some girl running around, no space adventure, no laser beams, no comedy. Upon seeing that, my kid brain would have immediately said "nope". When the nope happens, I never ask to see the movie, and that is why I didn't see this movie at the time it was released.
Why did I watch this now? Mainly because there are many who say this is one of the best fantasy movies of the 1980s, if not the best fantasy movie ever made. Spoiler alert: It's not. Labyrinth is nowhere near as good as The Princess Bride. Not even close.
The best thing I can say about Labyrinth is that it is, surprisingly, not terrible. I was sure it was going to be, but I was able to watch the whole thing.
I'll get the negative stuff out of the way first.
The biggest problem Labyrinth has is the exact same problem The Dark Crystal has (a movie I truly love) in that the more fantastic the environment, the more the story suffers. Oh yes, you get a visual feast where the creatures, sets, lighting, voices, environments and so on are all amazing, but the story is kinda garbage.
This flick starts with a giant plot hole. If Sarah, the definition of Rich Pretty Girl With Problems, says certain magic words, the goblins come and take her little brother away. Why? That's never answered.
It gets even worse, because you're thinking, "Oh, okay.. the whole movie is supposed to be a dream sequence thing, she'll wake up at the end, and that will explain everything, right?" WRONG. Not only does the film leave a giant plot hole in the beginning but doubles down on that about 3/4 of the way through the movie by more or less outright saying no, it's not a dream sequence (specifically in the "junk" scene). In this movie, Rich Pretty Girl With Problems can make goblins/monsters appear with just words, and she can transport to some other dimension because magic. Also, she or the goblins/monsters can exist in the real world or the other dimension because magic magic magic, magic magic. That's the explanation.
Some may argue it's the owl that causes the magic to happen. Nope. The goblins are shown before the owl even gets to the house. Again, no explanation given for the goblins just appearing. They just do. And that is just one of several plot holes.
In other words, you have to suspend your disbelief a lot right from the get-go.
Now the good stuff:
David Bowie as Jareth is the reason to watch this movie. I was pleasantly surprised with Bowie's acting in that it was decent. I could tell he actually cared about his role, really gave it his all and was having fun doing it. Before watching this movie, I was certain he'd be a terrible actor. Instead, he was very competent and the Jareth character went through a range of emotions, sort of like a "villain with a heart". It worked well enough. I say "enough" because the garbage story made the villain's motives hazy as best.
The best fantasy character is Sir Didymus, no question. Wonderfully voiced, performed in a very Muppet-style way and genuinely entertaining to watch.
Costume and creature design were, of course, great.
I like the fact some of the sets used in the movie were large; this gave a good sense of depth to the fantasy world.
I finally watched it. It's done.
Labyrinth is one of those movies I've been avoiding for a long time because I sincerely believed I'd hate it.
I didn't hate it.
But I didn't like it either.
Again, the best thing I can say about the movie is that it's not terrible.
That Black Strat
I ordered another Strat.
Why?
For some reason I've always had an attraction to plain black Strats. Specifically, black body Strat with white guard and maple fingerboard on the neck.
However, it has to be the right black Strat.
I have owned a black Strat of this type before in the form of a Squier Classic Vibe '50s.
Good guitar? Yes. Great guitar, in fact. But the neck didn't agree with my fret hand, so it had to go...
...but that didn't take away me desire for That Black Strat.
Later on I acquired a Squier Affinity Stratocaster in Olympic White. I still have it, still love it. I also came to realize I really, really like the '70s era big headstock. Seeing that huge curved "STRATOCASTER" logo is just cool when done right. And the Squier does it right.
Now, of course, the be-all/end-all of big headstock black Strats in this style - aside from the originals of the late '60s and early '70s - is the Fender Custom Shop 1969 Stratocaster, which is absolutely not cheap at all. When you want the ultimate for a '69, that's as good as it gets. I consider it better than the originals because there's no way I'd want to deal with original tuners and electronics from the late '60s. As I write this in 2023, that literally means dealing with 54-year-old hardware. No thanks. Given the choice, I'd take the repro.
But why bother with that when there's the Squier Affinity Stratocaster in black.
Yes, I bought one. It's backordered everywhere, so I have to wait for it.
Before getting more into that, I have seen That Black Strat more than a few times over the years.
In The Blues Brothers, you can see That Black Strat prominently displayed at Ray's Music Exchange. It's not '69-correct as it is a '79 model with two string trees, but most of the look is there.
Ritchie Blackmore was known to play That Black Strat (either a '69 or '70) from time to time.
Hendrix also played That Black Strat (again, either a '69 or a '70).
There are two supremely cool looks for the big Fender headstock with large logo treatment. The first is when that neck is attached to an Olympic White body, and the second when attached to a black body.
I already have the white version and decided now was the time to get the black.
Right now, the only way to get a truly affordable '69 Strat look is with the Squier Affinity Stratocaster in Olympic White or Black.
Does Fender have a regular production run guitar that commands this same look? There's only one, the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster - but only in white because that's the only color offered. No black. And yes, JV means it's made in Japan, which is not a bad thing.
And no, the Fender American Vintage II '73 Strat doesn't count. On that one are two string trees, a 3-bolt plate holding the neck instead of 4, and no white or black color offerings - although I will admit the Lake Placid Blue does look great on that model. Still, that's based off a '73 and not a '69.
Also, no, the American Performer Strat doesn't cut it either because it has two string trees and no black on the SSS version.
The Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster doesn't get it right either, even though it's a great guitar on its own. There is a black SSS model, but it doesn't have the squared-off tuner buttons, pearloid (which I don't prefer) instead of white guard, and no maple fingerboard.
As for Fender Artist Series models, yes there are a few with the big headstock, but they either don't offer black or are configured in a way I don't like. There are four. The Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster (no black), Jim Root Stratocaster (black, but humbuckers only), Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster (no black), and Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster (no middle pickup by design!)
The FCS '69 and Squier Affinity are the only two that fit the bill.
I am happy Squier offers an Affinity Stratocaster in black. It's the inexpensive way to get the '69 look in the two colors that look best with the big headstock.
As mentioned above, Fender does have the JV in Olympic White that totally captures what a '69 is supposed to look like. I did in fact try that guitar out and yeah, it's nice...
...but it would be nicer if Fender had a Player Series Strat in black with the big headstock and single string tree, even if it were in FSR (Fender Special Run) form.
Until that happens - if it ever happens - I'll be happy with my Squier. Hopefully it will be a good one.
Things I've learned by being forced to upgrade my phone
It's a shame what's happening to phones these days.
The first thing you want to know is why I'm being forced to upgrade my phone. It's my Android version.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S7, and it's great. However, it only supports up to Android 8. There's a specific app I use, and the company that makes it recently made an announcement to the effect of, "Hey, we know you, like, really need this app, but we decided to make Android 9 the minimum requirement to run our stuff because we're lazy, so... yeah, upgrade your phone or screw you. Have a nice day!"
Gee, thanks.
I said to myself okay, time to get a new phone, so I started shopping around. I quickly discovered two huge truths:
It is very difficult to find a normal sized phone
I have a complaint that is echoed by many across all age groups (meaning this is absolute not limited to middle aged guys like me), and that complaint is most phones are too frickin' big. Not only are they legitimately painful to hold in the hand for texting or talking, but they don't fit properly in most jean or coat pockets either.
To add insult to injury, when you do find a phone that is a correct size for, you know, a human, it's a massive downgrade compared to the plank-sized phone of the same generation.
Most newer phones are downgrades compared to older ones
It used to be that you could get a really nice new phone for under $200. Again, new. That's not the case anymore compared to what we had before...
...which is why I just ordered a used Samsung Galaxy S10e with condition listed as "open box" (one level below "mint").
The price I paid was a little over $160. You're probably thinking it was stupid to pay that much for a 2019 phone in 2023.
Not really.
What I get with the S10e is a) a normal sized phone, b) the ability to move my 256GB microSD card out of my old S7 and into the S10e with no problem at all, c) a real headphone jack, d) stereo speakers, and e) the ability to record 4K 60fps video.
To put this in perspective, my old S7 can record 1080p 60fps video, which is still considered a "premium" feature today!
Yes, the camera is a big deal for me. I wanted something that at least matched what the S7 can do in the same form factor. Turns out the S10e was the only one that could really cut the mustard at a price that didn't break the bank.
You might now be thinking, "But older Apple iPhone smaller models can do 4K 60fps video..." True, but with the Apple iPhone 11 Pro (the closest equivalent) you're absolutely not getting one for the price of a Galaxy S10e. I'm not kidding.
I have no idea if my S10e will work properly since it is used, but it's one of the few phones out there with a newer Android version that will allow me to run that stupid app I need while at the same time giving me excellent photo/video quality.
Fingers crossed.
2023 manual transmission cars that run on regular gas
There are more of these out there than you think.
Two questions answered up front first:
Why would anybody want a car with a manual transmission?
A few very good reasons.
- It's unintentionally one of the best anti-theft "features" there is.
- It's less in price compared to the same car with an automatic transmission.
- You get more power out the car because you can wind out the gears longer.
- There is never an extended wait for the car's computer to "think" what gear to be in. You're already in the gear you want, so when you hit the gas, you start moving with almost no wait time.
- For those that hypermile to save gas, a manual is the best thing to have because you can coast.
- Chances are most people you know presently have no idea how to drive a car with a manual transmission, so they'll never ask to borrow your car.
Note that I said presently, which leads to question #2:
Is the manual transmission making a comeback?
Yes and no. I'll start with no first.
Where EVs are concerned, no. EVs don't use manual transmissions and never will. I'm certain that some automakers will release EV cars with a pseudo-manual transmission. You'll see the 3 pedals and stick, but it will all be fake and computer controlled since there won't be any real mechanical manual transmission in the car.
Where gas and diesel cars are concerned, yes, the manual transmission is making a comeback, albeit slowly.
The reason for the mechanical manual transmission comeback isn't for car enthusiast reasons, but rather because it's more cost effective for the automakers. America is one of the few places in the world where automatics are driven more than manuals. For just about anywhere else on the planet where cars are sold, people drive manuals.
Automakers are slowly coming to realize that where a world market is concerned, it's cheaper to sell the manual transmission gas and diesel cars everywhere including the United States. That whole "America only gets the automatics" method of car distribution is falling by the wayside. Again, slowly.
Believe me, if Ford released a mechanical manual transmission version of the Maverick mated to the 2.0L EcoBoost engine with NO turbo (so it runs better on regular gas) and cruise control, they'd sell a ton of them. And I'm not talking about some special edition enthusiast model. Just a plain slightly-better-than-base model with steel wheels. They could build it easily and people would be clamoring to buy it.
But since we don't have that, here's what we have for manuals that run on regular gas for 2023.
This list is based on fuel economy from best to worst.
2023 cars available with manual transmission option, regular gas only, non-hybrid models
- 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage - 33 city MPG, 41 highway MPG, 36 MPG combined
- 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 - 33 city MPG, 41 highway MPG, 35 MPG combined
- 2023 Volkswagen Jetta - 29 city MPG, 42 highway MPG, 34 MPG combined
- 2023 Honda Civic 5-Door w/1.5L engine - 28 city MPG, 37 highway MPG, 31 MPG combined
- 2023 Nissan Versa - 27 city MPG, 35 highway MPG, 30 MPG combined
- 2023 Volkswagen GLI - 26 city MPG, 37 highway MPG, 30 MPG combined
- 2023 Mazda 3 5-Door - 26 city MPG, 36 highway MPG, 30 MPG combined
- 2023 Honda Civic 5-Door w/2.0L engine - 26 city MPG, 36 highway MPG, 29 MPG combined
- 2023 Volkswagen GTI - 23 city MPG, 32 highway MPG, 27 MPG combined
- 2023 Subaru Impreza 5-Door - 24 city MPG, 31 highway MPG, 26 MPG combined
- 2023 Subaru Impreza 4-Door - 23 city MPG, 31 highway MPG, 26 MPG combined
- 2023 Kia Forte - 22 city MPG, 31 highway MPG, 26 MPG combined
- 2023 Subaru Impreza Sport 5-Door - 22 city MPG, 30 highway MPG, 25 MPG combined
- 2023 Subaru Crosstrek AWD - 22 city MPG, 29 highway MPG, 25 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Mustang (2.3L 4cyl) - 21 city MPG, 29 highway MPG, 24 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Mustang Convertible (2.3L 4cyl) - 20 city MPG, 27 highway MPG, 23 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Mustang HO Coupe (2.3L 4cyl) - 20 city MPG, 27 highway MPG, 22 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Mustang HO Convertible (2.3L 4cyl) - 19 city MPG, 25 highway MPG, 21 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Bronco 4WD (2.3L 4cyl) - 20 city MPG, 21 highway MPG, 20 MPG combined
- 2023 Jeep Wrangler 2-Door 4WD - 17 city MPG, 25 highway MPG, 20 MPG combined
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro (3.6L 6cyl) - 16 city MPG, 26 highway MPG, 20 MPG combined
- 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4-Door 4WD - 17 city MPG, 23 highway MPG, 19 MPG combined
- 2023 Jeep Gladiator 4WD (3.6L 6-cyl) - 16 city MPG, 23 highway MPG, 19 MPG combined
- 2023 Toyota Tacoma 4WD (3.5L 6-cyl) - 17 city MPG, 21 highway MPG, 18 MPG combined
- 2023 Toyota Tacoma 4WD D-CAB MT TRD-ORP/PRO - 17 city MPG, 20 highway MPG, 18 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Mustang (5.0 V8) - 15 city MPG, 24 highway MPG, 18 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Bronco Black Diamond 4WD (2.3L 4cyl) - 16 city MPG, 18 highway MPG, 17 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Bronco Sasquatch 4WD (2.3L 4cyl) - 16 city MPG, 18 highway MPG, 17 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Bronco Badlands 4WD (2.3L 4cyl) - 16 city MPG, 17 highway MPG, 17 MPG combined
- 2023 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (5.0 V8) - 14 city MPG, 22 highway MPG, 17 MPG combined
Best cars for specific categories based on the list above
City car: Nissan Versa. You've heard the horror stories about Nissan transmissions. That only applies to the automatics. The manual version is great. Quick, zippy, small-but-not-too-small, easy to drive and low in price. This matters, because in the city, a car will get dinged and beat up. Better to have that happen to a Versa instead of a Civic or other higher priced car.
Highway cruiser: Subaru Impreza. This is for people with long commutes or just have long highway drives in general. Comfort is a high priority for a highway cruiser. Any of the Impreza models can eat up highway miles easily and do so with better comfort compared to smaller cars. The interior space is very nicely designed and is a nice place to be.
Truck: Ford Bronco. The Bronco has the largest amount of secured storage from the list above. Pickup beds are only good for those that actually use them. If you want a 4x4 with the most day-to-day usability and utility on or off-road, the Bronco is it.
Sports car: Ford Mustang Mach 1. For a sports car, this is as good as it gets for a true American V8 with a real manual transmission that runs on regular gas.
(Side note: Yes there is a new Mustang coming in '24 and I don't know if the Mach 1 model will continue using the same V8 that can run on regular gas. It would be nice if it did.)
"Hey, you didn't mention [insert this make/model here] and it offers a manual!"
There are several cars not mentioned and it's for one reason - they don't run on regular gas.
An example of this is the '23 Chevrolet Camaro with 4-cylinder engine that is offered with a manual. That engine requires premium fuel. Why? It's most likely because it's turbocharged and runs hotter, so it needs the premium fuel to prevent engine knocking. However, the 6-cylinder version - which is noted above - runs on regular gas just fine.
Remember that since none of the above models are hybrids, you don't have to worry about the hybrid system battery going dead in 10 years.
Also remember that generally speaking, if you're the type that likes to customize (such as using a custom shift knob), go with the cheaper Asian cars or a Jeep. For the Jeeps in particular, you can pretty much mod everything.