Deep Cleaning Vinyl Records with Wood Glue

Deep Cleaning Vinyl Records with Wood Glue

How it Works, the PROs and CONs to this approach

I enjoy listening to vinyl records; music I enjoy most on vinyl records are American Songbook type music. I am a proud owner of multiple Vinyl Records; Records from as early as the 1920s! With time, dirt, dust, and oils can accumulate on older records. I would know because the majority of the records I own are older than I am. 

When I first purchased my Vinyl Records from the local MTA Thrift Store at the Heart of the San Fernando Valley; I took note how much tender loving care the records needed. I found that wood glue, when applied in generous amounts can remove imperfections on Vinyl Records. Of course, there are Vinyl Record Cleaning Solutions that can be found online or in Record re-sellers. I found a variety of cleaning approaches effective. I chose to make this youtube video because the Wood Glue cleaning approach (done originally by a male on youtube videos) was the most creative. 

I looked into the matter more further and found that Wood Glue has a bit of Vinyl. When the glue is applied to the Vinyl Record, dried over night, and removed, I found that imperfections, whether oils, dust, and stuff alike adhere to the Wood Glue. I would recommend this cleaning approach for the Vinyl Records found in places like Goodwill, MTA, and local Thrift Shops. Remember, this approach requires patience.

This week I found a "Wood Glue Disaster Story" youtube video. This blog is my response to what hell can occur. From the Link, I found a good pointer: when applying Wood Glue to your Vinyl Record, apply a generous and thick amount.

If a thin layer of Wood Glue is applied, the removal of the Glue will be more challenging.

Whether vinyl record owners choose to clean with liquid solutions, wood glue, or vinyl record cleaning machine; I encourage, have a good time at caring for these treasures.

Vinyl Records in my opinion are much more valuable. Technology today has a ten year tops shelf life. Vinyl Records (analog audio) can easily exceed today's standards. In addition, analog audio has a fuller sound. Something about listening to music from these older records, moves my soul and I hope it moves your soul too. 

Music Boxes of Extra Ordinarily Simple Things

I enjoy observing the excitement that either an adult or a child experiences when they get a simple toy. Last week I spent time going Thrift Store to Thrift Store searching for a music box or something that contained a music box to present to my son, who is nine years old this year. I found a music box from a ceramic teddy bear's wooden bottom-base. Of course, the music box had it's flaws; for example, its gears were so dried out it played very very slowly its melody. With a little grease and DW-40, I had made the music box run more optimal.

Has anyone marveled about how a music box operates? I have. When I was younger, I would open and close my mother's jewelry box and turn it upside own and use screw drivers to take it apartment. Two weeks before this week, I noticed my son appreciating music coming from the snow globes at Target Store. When my son stop for a few minutes to listen to music box snow globes, it reminded me of playing one when for him when he was a young as a newborn. The Song it played was the Unchained Melody tune. Unchained Melody would quiet him from his colic in exhausting morning hours before the sun arrived in the horizon. I think he still has that music box at my folk's place.

This week, I smashed the ceramic teddy bear into pieces; I didn't care for the ceramic bear (rest in pieces) I just thought to myself 'what a wonderful gift this would make for my son!" In fact it did. During a van ride to the Simi Valley area, I've never heard my son as quiet as he was that Saturday afternoon. The music box had brought a little bit of magic into that vehicle for the afternoon. He marveled at its gears, listened to the music it played, and for a moment or two he sang with its melody, the song "White Christmas"

If my head were a balloon it would've already popped by now. As I entered my parent's van, I presented the music box on a wooden circular platter / base, it looked really plain Jane and ordinary. I recommended to him that he keep it in a glass or something equivalent so that the music would amplify much better and contain its moving parts.

When I finally gave him the piece, I was so excited. I had broke a ceramic music box to get to its guts! Some ceramic teddy bear is broken to smithereens! *smiles*

Like a hunter bringing back his hunt to his family, I gave the ceramic bear's guts to my son who marveled at it. He hadn't imagine the insides of a music box contain to looks as it did in his hands. I warned him "there's a little spinner there, moving parts, and be careful not to get the grease on your fingers'.

Wasn't until Saturday afternoon, he found it and he was able to spy its gears turning, as he touched its greased gears and tiny parts, and watched it's cylinder of melody notes roll and its keyboard play the White Christmas song and felt the bit of air coming from it's spinning blades.

I thought he just liked the music like I simply do. Of course so! What hadn't occurred to me that his tiny self was asking 'how does it work?'

He tells me, while in the van, that this mechanical music box was like a miniature computer. He wonders on and imagines if one make one as stronger music box, maybe it would efficiently be able to cool a computer... and I guess it happen: when my axons, synapses, and entire brain were overloaded. *smiles*

I thought it's possible. whoa. Imagine a crank-up computer that operates by kinetic energy such as a wounded up spring. If this mechanical music device were to be a computer; the cylinder would be its hard drive... the music keynotes and gears word be the processor of sorts, its spring, its power supply, and the its wooden base it's amplifier. I noticed that the wood make the music volume stronger.

would its spinning blades be strong enough to cool a computer? Andrew-Noel asked. *pop* i think another one of my braincells just busted at the thought. I think so I answered.

I described the contraption a kinetic mechanical device of sorts that allows music to be played on a wooden amplifier.

my dad considers it mechanical; considered it analog. either way it is a contraption that is a raw workings of a computer, a music box is a simple & basic machine.

my son thought that the cylinder of notes was binary on and off switches. and i'm like *kaablewey* the entire drive over to my Simi Valley was a blast. I've never heard him so quietly focused as he marveled about the little thing. The times he spoke was to sing with the music and to ask many many questions.

He had imagined what the insides his music box (Unchained Melody) at home contained, however he did mention that he imagined something different. i'm like whoa. honestly, i don't know what he imagined; but wow.

here's a 'hand-cranked' the same music box song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE-pTWB0qrw

a spring-powered music box is much different. In contrast to the 'hand-cranked' music box, it has more parts to it. I'll leave that to be googled by the reader. 'hand-cranked' and 'wind-up' music boxes appearance are different. for sure.

Anyhow, Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays 2013.

My Purple Aura

earlier this evening, I went on this link: (re-sharing a friend's share)
http://www.quotev.com/quiz/1366538/What-is-Your-True-Color-Aura/
I found that based on these questions, My Aura is Purple. This is what result I gathered from the quiz of sorts. I wanted to share because it hits home...

taken from: a quiz online... here were the results!

Personality: PURPLE
Purples hold themselves to sky high standards, and are always very graceful. Purple is envied, idolized, and copied without even realizing it. They are an icon for those who know you. While it is hard to be a perfectionist, rest assured it’s paying off! Purple is the most down to earth aura, they are the typical guy or gal next door. Purples may think they are better than others but deep inside they know they are not. Purple is very practical. Other auras take a liking into purple. Idealistic and thoughtful, they have the mind and ideas to change the world. Purple has the charisma of a great leader. Purple always seems to know what to say or do in every situation they are confronted with. They exercise good judgment daily. They don’t agonize too much about their decisions, the right answer just seems to come to them. Purples have one of the most active imaginations, but tend to be more focused on what could be potentially possible than dreaming about the impossible. Purples live a well balanced life and prefer to stay as calm as possible.Having a personality color purple or violet as your favourite color means you are sensitive and compassionate, understanding and supportive, thinking of others before yourself. You are a gentle and free spirit. Purples feelings run deep and you can be quite sensitive to hurtful comments from others, although you would never show it. People are drawn to your charismatic and alluring energy. You are usually introverted rather than extroverted and may give the impression of being shy although this is not the case. You are creative and like to be individual in most of your endeavours, including your dress and home decoration - you love the unconventional. You are idealistic, and often impractical, with a great imagination, Purples tend to look at life through rose-colored glasses. People who don't understand you sometimes think you are eccentric because you spend so much time in your fantasy world. You inspire others with your creative thinking and your ability to deal positively with adversity. Purples are very intuitive and quite psychic. You are a generous giver, asking for little in return except friendship. You can be secretive, with even your closest friends not really knowing you well. You dislike responsibility and have difficulty dealing with real day-to-day problems. You dislike being part of the crowd. You don't like to copy others and you don't like them to copy you. You are a visionary, with high ambitions, dreams and desires, and a compulsion to help humanity and to improve the planet earth. You often hold positions of power because you are visionary, but you delegate to others all the minor details that you aren't interested in. You like to have the best of everything, so you aim high. Being the free spirit you are, you love to travel to experience different cultures and meet new people. You are a good judge of character and sum others up quite quickly and accurately, although you usually see the best in everybody. Time means little to you and you are often late for everything. You trust the flow of the Universe to take care of everything. You can sometimes appear arrogant and conceited if operating from a negative perspective. You can be selfish and self-indulgent as you don't like being imposed upon by others beliefs and regulations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love Life: 

You're very passionate but often too busy for love. 

You need a partner who sees your vision and adopts it as their own

Yellow: Way to immature to meet our standards!

Pink: If outgoingness is on our “Have to have list” pinks are also one of the top choices for Purples

Green: Greens are way too shy and may be overlooked

Blue: Blue is one of the others that may meet our standards. They are deep and Sincere and is an awesome mate!

Orange: Can be just a little bit more mature than Yellow, but nawh I think we’ll pass

White: Way deep inside purples may have this strange feeling for whites

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Perfect Color Love Match: 

Red is the perfect mate for a purple they meet every standard of ours.

Friendship Color: 

Blue is the perfect friend for a purple due to there introvert attitude

Color Opposite: 

Your color wheel opposite is Yellow. While yellow people may be wise, they lack the manners and class needed to impress you

Words that Describe Purple: 

Intuitive, Seeking, Creative, Kind, Self-Sacrificing. Growth Oriented, Strong, Very Wise, and Rare

Purpose of Life: 

Saying Truths That Other People Dare Not Say

Goodbye for now; Monarch Stadium: closes public access

from 5-star rating to 1-star rating (since the LAVC has closed public access to its Monarch Stadium) I hope it doesn't stay permanent since the Stadium was built on Taxpayer funds...

POSTED earlier this week on yelp:
Today, got word of failed audits (past news, most likely public record) and cuts to the Athletic Department at LAVC (Cross Country & Community Track hours affected; Football team/coaches maybe affected as well)

upsetting because there are many buildings being built within this community colleges; without students or faculty to occupy the buildings. Plain economics makes it so that admin is willing to allocate funds to building new buildings and lay-off the more important & caring faculty such as a few coaches in the athletics department.

dark days at LAVC. They are taking Community Action Committee CollegeRecommendation #8 into effect... http://www.lavc.edu/accr…

In addition, more information on accreditation can be found here: http://www.lavc.edu/Accr…

Should have saw this coming.. for example, LAVC were know for their abundant trees and home of many different species of trees. When the building were built many trees were lost. Where are the fat squirrels? :( I hope they are somewhere safe on campus.

Budget Meetings are announced via newspaper and ???
question: does anyone subscribe to the local newspaper? anyhow, enough said.

update: 11/9/13
Today I was at LAVC's Monarch Stadium. This Saturday LAVC will be closing its Olympic sized track & field.
My jaw dropped. when I found that among the new buildings being built. a climbing wall will be in one of them. (honest, there's 'concept' photo in front of one building in construction. *rolling my eyes* who is going to pay the liability and trainers for the climbing wall? my reaction: you kidding?
anyhow, I still haven't heard word of whether LAVC has planned to fix the upside down air conditioner that drips Freon onto the Nursing Building...
I got a call from the Vice President of LAVC doing his 'best' explaining that LAVC needs to pass their accreditation & they are cutting back on staff and community access to balance budget and pass accreditation. Cross Country & Track/Field courses have been cut as well as tutors.

note: LAVC has not balanced a budget for nearly 7 yrs.

it only costs 10k to have a person option to open Monarch Stadium for 3hrs/6days a week. yup, it's that bad.

POSTED on yelp earlier this year:LAVC is the home of Monarch Stadium with an Olympic Athletics track (10 lanes total - where 9 lanes are used and 1 left vacant ) There are only two locations where you can find a similar track as this one. One located in the East Coast, the other one here: at Valley Glen, CA. I love the fact that its open to the community for six days in the week. When I visit my local community college, I use the campus' track and field; stairs and football field included -my morning is dependent on my exercise goals.

What you can find here are regular, joggers, walkers, race walkers, and sprinters. I am confident about the Stadium's safety, I feel safe and comfortable there during very early hours (6am or even earlier than that, i appear.). I am rating this community treasure 5-stars.

I believe there are few who know about how the this community college accommodates to its local community. Free admission at Monarch Stadium during community hours; however, I am mindful about how I use its facility; I leave my area neatly with consideration for the next users.

Its close distance to Metro's Orangeline; because of this, it gives opportunities for surrounding communities to attend this college.

I love watching the sun rise from Monarch Stadium. Its quiet during my mornings and a superb place to just release.

Squirrels are ... well feed. I've never seen such healthier looking ones! (thanks to students and staff) Squirrel residents may be the most happiest in the Valley

Whether your goals are to transfer, study, discover, or exercise. This place is wonderful.

Looking at Academics, I chose this community college. I took a couple college courses/classes at LAVC during my High School years and later, after I graduated with my High School Diploma, I continued my education here. I am happy that I have. (note: my background - I graduated among the top 15% of my class, I choose this college. I did consider many other options. Los Angeles Valley College has been the best choice for me.)

Kudos.

readers are welcomed to also view my YELP profile page

Tie a Yellow Ribbon - Christmas Tree 2013

This Yultide 2013, I've decided to decorate my Christmas tree with Yellow Ribbon Bows. My Christmas tree was complete before Halloween even arrived. *sigh* I'm looking forward to the Holiday season, spending time with Family and Friends who now have the time this season.

Yellow Ribbon Bows are for Support of America Veterans who risk their life to fight for our Constitution.

Total amount of time spent to decorate the tree: 6hrs. 3hrs to make the yellow ribbon bows and 3hrs to unpack the tree and embellish it with decorations.

I have handcrafted the yellow ribbon bow and decorated the tree with 64 total yellow ribbon bows; In addition, to accent the bows; I've added: white synthetic baby's breath, white ribbons, and lastly white holiday lights.

A large multi-looped white bow can be found at the topmost part of the tree.

I think it looks absolutely breath taking. Who knew that this artificial Christmas tree stands at 4ft tall and purchased at my local MTA thrift store two years ago. Ribbons and material were purchased at my local 99cent only store.

I'm sure that the amount spent totals close to $10. With budget in mind, I think I have done well.
This Christmas tree maybe the most impressive that I have done yet.

In the past, I have decorated the tree with Origami Cranes, and other ornaments. I look forward to visitors this year. I hope they enjoy the sight of my decor. It was handmade with tender loving care.

Apartment "pre-inspection" and Management conduct

Today I had an apartment management 'per-inspection' for HUD inspection dated for Dec 21st 2013..There were a gang of 5 people in my apartment. The apartment manager did not courteously introduce each person by name, they just raided my house in the name of HUD 'pre-inspection'.

party in question: Two females, Three males, 1 of 3 males were the on-site manager.
The video was the condition before the inspection took place.

According to the party in question: Reasonable accommodation request is needed to have my closet doors as I please., and m iny current configuration However, when I asked them why? and please state the HUD code violation in question, so that I can accommodate the HUD code. Like Roaches, they scattered. Only on female was left to answer my question. She did so with a wink and a smile.

Management Conclusions of the HUD Pre-Inspection:

• Management requests that I put in a maintenance request to change my A/C filter
• Some blonde lady, asks me that I reinstall the closet doors for the Dec 21st HUD inspection. In addition, submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request for the closet doors.
• Of course, grease spots. In my opinion, they don't consider "reasonable wear & tear

background: last Reasonable Accommodation for Disability Request for my bunny (service animal) they DENIED me the request via formality letter.

my thoughts: if they can't state specifically site the code violation for the RAD request, their request is invalid.

How I feel: I feel that Gestapo was over this afternoon. Knit picking on irrelevant concerns.

I do not support the funding of businesses who infringe on basic inalienable rights. Obviously, the main focus of this program is not independence and self-sufficiency and if funding is the main & only concern of this subsidized housing building; I suggest that they step down from management & find other 'types' of people to use a prey, and capitalize on that.

off topic they will lease to people with criminal background. I have not heard of a VET with disabled status informed about this program. Very odd. my personal source: I have been in the company of a few VETerans the past couple weeks.

Fair Housing Act states my rights as a tenant. This Subsidized Apartment is poorly managed and many many red flags have come up during the past 4 yrs as tenant.

this is the polar opposite of Anne Sippi Clinic as mentioned in an earlier blog: http://gigglefight.blogspot.com/2012/07/anne-sippi-clinic-in-east-los-angeles-ca.html

addendum: HUD (federal) and LAHD (state) is taxpayer cha-ching. Just Food For Thought

Metro Nightmare

These events occurred last year; maybe around yuletide 2012. It was a hectic week and I felt very overwhelmed and thought that a night out at the movies would ease my mind from whatever was bugging the entire week. I went to see an evening show of Cloud Atlas at the Woodland Hills, CA Promenade Mall. Honestly, I didn't want to deal with anyone, I didn't invite anyone. In my mind, alone time would do wonders for me. I'd exercise a little independence or spontaneity. The way I looked at it, I was desperately in need of me time.

It wasn't until after Cloud Atlas movie, I realized how poorly I planned my night, I didn't foresee how awfully late in the evening the show let out.

It was almost midnight. I know the 150 bus headed Eastward to the other side of the Valley my route would have me taking Ventura Blvd onto Van Nuys where I would catch the 233 or whatever bus that ran toward the Heart Of The Valley. Its a simple wait. What I didn't know the bus just departed and it ran in hourly cycles. I think it was cold or something. No matter what I think the jacket and the cigarettes had kept me warm for the first 30 minutes. I noticed that the Orangeline was still running. I assumed, they were still taking passengers to a Easternly direction towards the North Hollywood Station. I saw two of them pass before I thought: "hey, why not take the Orangeline instead" The distance between where my stop and the pick-up point for the other bus was about half a block. I started walking toward the Orangeline Bus, waited 30 minutes more. and saw that the 150 finally arrived at the other terminal. wow. *sigh* Although I had a jacket and pants, my problem that evening I was wearing wedge shoes and my feet were starting to ache bad. real bad. okay. what seemed to be another 30 minutes later, the Orangeline bus arrives, I get one. Relief, right? wrong. I had to ask questions. What puzzled me was that this bus sign broadcasted that the its Endpoint: "Chatsworth Station". omg. Metro Bus Drive informed me that there would be no more Orangeline buses toward North Hollywood station. I was in shock. or maybe in shock from the colder temperatures. i dunno. I got off at the next terminal and started for the closest 150 stop which was about a block away, on Victory and Canoga. As I walked away from that bus, I saw another 150 approaching. Dude, it was hopeless. The Metro Driver did stay stopped as long as possible because I think he saw me. It's so unfortunate that I was wearing my wedges. My feet were aching. *frowny face* yup. i missed that bus too...

When looking back at the "BusStopWait Tag-Game" I can laugh a bit. But that night. I cried.. for an hour until the next bus showed up. I was so miserable.

I force snickers at the thought now.

An emotional wreck after the movie: Cloud Atlas, my feet hurt, I was cold, most of the shops were closed, i was stranded. How i wished for any convenience store or restaurant to be open nearby, or companionship of other Metro riders around to talk to.

I think I felt defeated. Helpless. and so darn hormonal. A few cars would slow down; I'd cry some more. I'd console myself "don't cry, another one will be on its way"... yup.. it didn't help i cried a little more. (tears wear rolling that night; I'm a quiet-sober-crier not to be confused with the psychotic-wailer-crier).

If I had to describe how I felt that night I would describe: the cat trapped the cargo crate for three weeks on a ship bound for the Americas; without food, light, help, na-da. yeah. that bad.

Two hours for a trip back to the other side of the San Fernando Valley, and finding myself stuck around the same area at a bus stop, feet in pain. not good. You see a bus, then it leaves. It seemed like the Metro Buses were teasing me all that evening.

In addition, spoiler: the Cloud Atlas movie had made me more sensitive and emotional.

So here I am, with the movie freshly stuck in my mind, without a bus, in the cold, in wedge heals, playing a mean game of Metro Bus tag. A few cars slow down. Dude, no way in a right person's mind would I take any rides from strangers esp. that late time. OMG! I was scared! ((frowns))

note to self: don't second guess at bus stops, wait patiently. One hour max. IF a bus doesn't arrive after then, most likely, you're shit outta luck. Look for another route after a time period of over an hour. Using the Google/maps 'bus route' direction planner is a great tool, alternative routes, route duration, and alternate times are listed. don't wear wedges ever again. yup. You guessed it. all my heals over 1 1/2 inches have gone to the donation center. psyanara wedgies. 24-hr shops, restaurants, stores also eases the wait.

no worries. i survived. :S