Georgia (my version)
I recorded this back in November 2023—just messing around with singing while playing piano. Turns out, it’s a tougher skill than I imagined! Tried the Ray Charles (sunglasses) look, but let’s be real—nobody but him had that legendary charm and style.
Up and Down Politics…..and Trump
Politics is no longer a battle between left and right. It’s about Up and Down. It’s about the elites—quietly and covertly in control—and the everyday people who live their lives with trust, hard work, and good intentions, raising families and contributing positively to the world in fair exchange. I used to be caught up in…
Illegal Migrants – an Ethical Approach
Ethical Approach to Addressing Illegal Migrants I am MAGA—through and through. There is a deep and growing demand for justice, and an urgent desire to make things right—quickly. However, I take a slightly different view on immigration compared to the black-and-white solutions that dominate today’s discourse. The illegal migrant crisis is one of the most…
A Personal Website. And “old-fashioned” mark in the World.
Facebook, X, Telegram, Truth, Youtube and the list goes on. I lurk on many and participate in a few. Facebook bothers me, I will be honest. The digital world has grown beyond what ANYONE can grasp. And the hands that can manipulate it, and do manipulate it, are unknown but suspected. I like Facebook in…
A Song for Ely’s 16th Birthday
A Grandfather’s (Papa’s) Reflection: When they’re young, we are the center of their world. It’s an addictive kind of love—whether you’re a parent or a grandparent. But as they grow, their universe expands, and our slice of it becomes smaller. It’s not about our importance, but rather the space we occupy in their ever-widening lives….
The “Terrible” and “Wonderful” Two’s
The following was published on October, 29, 2013, and somehow got corrupted on this site. So I have republished it. As some who follow my wife, Kim, on Facebook may know, we are now new parents of a young puppy. This little gal is now about 10 weeks old. She is getting better every day…
Rhapsody in Blue
In late 1975 I visited Lori, my fiancee, at her parents’ home we called the “Tree House”. It was a beautiful modern home that they had purchased from my dad a few years prior. Lori’s dad, Joe, had a beautiful Baldwin full sized grand, perfectly in tune, sitting in a place of importance, just under…
Family Cruise July 2023
On Sunday the 16th of July, we returned from a week’s cruising with the family. That afternoon, while unpacking, I took a moment to jot down this poem to help wrap up, at least to me, some of the complex and conflicting feelings which can come returning from such an experience. Memories from the Decks No…
Ham Radio – my story.
Ham Radio is an interest that is seen from two viewpoints. First is: To each is own. I just can’t quite get the passion these guys feel about talking on the radio to someone else. I mean, when you have Skype, and Email, and Twitter, and Facebook and Youtube and……and…. and, how can you find…
A major report released; why do we hear nothing?
About 6 years ago I was confronted by a reader of my blogs wondering if I, as a registered Structural Engineer, had ever heard of “Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth”. I told him that I had, as a side, but had never delved into anything they had said. He, basically, called me a “coward”. This…
Pilots – the Canaries of Freedom
In past days coal miners placed canaries in mines to protect them against the ravages of poisonous gases which could quietly snuff out their lives. The canaries were placed to react and, yes, to die creating a warning for the miners before their own awareness of the looming dangers. We rely upon early warning systems…
Carol and Leif
Something about this picture struck me deep. It elicited a heartfelt love and appreciate for a very special person in my life. Looking at this image, I see, in my mind, an earlier image – the first time I met Carol. I was looking through a window of an outer door that was at the…
Google. Kind of Scary.
Google has terrifying power. We’ve given it to them as we have accepted their enticing gifts and conveniences. They have become de facto gatekeepers of knowledge. To date, they have exercised this immense and growing power with relative care and benevolence. But it has become an influence upon each of us as its reach now…
Reevaluation of this blog
With Facebook, and our push for instant gratification, seems that more and more of us do our musings for our FB friends. We get our likes, and occasional comments, but since FB is now a part of so many’s lives, as readers we tend to scan over stuff. A well-written article is missed because folks…
After the Election 2016
Every time I look at this political phenomenon I think of the movie “Wizard of Oz”. Several Quotes: “We’re not in Kansas anymore” – YEP “Dorothy, you killed her……long live Dorothy” – YEP. Initial look almost senses some relief among those that have been defending her. What hold she most have had. “Don’t pay attention…
Testing the Gear 360
When I was deciding on the 360 camera to purchased one of my biggest questions was how did a 360 video look in raw form as taken by the Gear 360. The examples I could find were through Youtube and that is not a good test. Youtube degrades the video to make it publishable and…
Lee Ranch – a generation later.
I recently found my way onto the Lee Ranch to shoot some scenes from our old stomping grounds. Definitely brought back the memories.
Quick Trip to Gatlinburg – Landing Sequence (IFR transition)
Didn’t know Kim had videoed this. We went to Gatlinburg over July 4th – no reservations, no nothing. Actually found a car, a cabin and a great time.
Why Ham Radio?
Some folks ask why would anyone have an interest in Amateur Radio. Our world is so different today with Facebook, Twitter, Email, Websites, Skype, etc., etc.,etc. The world grows smaller each day as we download our Itunes, text message our friends on the Iphone and carry the internet, essentially, in our pockets. In the early…
Family Visit at Mike and Deb’s. Videos from a UAV.
It’s just the size and price of our toys – right? Great day – Look forward to the next time…….
Christmas Toys for all good Girls, Boys and Papas
Neat new Toy. Checking it out for Nathan……
Sam – July 1985 – 22 June 2014
Today I lost my good friend Sam. He was my pet for nearly 30 years. His memory is spun among so many memories, nearly half a life for me. My youngest son, Bryan, was 3 when Sam came into our lives. Sam followed me from my A-frame, my 2nd home in Lutz and my abodes through many…
David and Ken – August 1988 – Hike to Table Rock
I just began a transfer of all my old VHS and DV tapes (including super-8 film movies) into digital format. Came across this one. It is long but I could scarcely cut a second. I find myself captivated by this brief capsule of time – 26 years ago as I write this. For any who…
Her Soul is Her Own
Recently, I was flying my airplane on a business trip. It was one of those smooth wonderful days when you put it on autopilot and just sit and behold a world that one never entirely gets used to. I sat looking at my airplane – and fell in love again. I’ve owned her for nearly 16…
Aunt Joy
This week we lost our beloved Aunt Joy. She was my father’s sister. I wrote this on Aunt Joy’s obituary: None can be truly summarized by the single word or idea. Beings have nearly infinite and unending qualities. But the single word that occurs to me, a word that describes this wonderful person, my Aunt…
Our Problems in a Nutshell
My Musings on a Saturday Morning 1. Corporate Influence on Wealth & Ethics 2. Government’s Role in Wealth & Power 3. The Cycle of Political Control 4. The Resulting Stagnation The Core Issues & Their Solutions 1. Monetary Reform 2. Economic Incentives & Taxation 3. Education Reform Conclusion Fixing monetary policy, economic incentives, and education…
A Self Reminder
On Saturday Kim and I had a fantastic day. We decided to take full advantage of a beautiful day, our airplane, our foldable bikes and a great setting called Cedar Key of the West Coast off Florida. Over the past few years we have been so busy and focused on certain major goals, that we…
Been Gone a While – but where?
This website is important to me yet I have not really shown that to be true in the last several months. Wanted to write a quick article about my activities since late last year. I have literally been out of town (and out of the country as well) for over 3 months since last September….
Can’t Run a Whorehouse
Many people may recall the Mustang Ranch brothel out in Nevada. It was $100 million per year success. So successful, in fact, the government decided it had to do something about it. As you may recall the owner of that legal business got into trouble with the IRS and it ended up shutting down his…
Confusion, Knowledge and the Search for Relative Truth
Confusion comes about by a condition of having all particles in motion. To visualize this, if you were in motion and were in a room where all others were also in motion, and there was no frame of reference you would experience confusion. Not until you can identify one item that is still can you…
USE OF CESIUM CHLORIDE TO CURE MALIGNANCIES (and article by Dr. Howenstine, MD)
USE OF CESIUM CHLORIDE TO CURE MALIGNANCIES By Dr. James Howenstine, MD. June 29, 2004 NewsWithViews.com Nobel Prize Laureate, Dr. Otto Warburg, discovered that when he lowered the oxygen levels of tissues by 35 % for 48 hours normal cells were converted into irreversible cancer cells. Cancer patients have low levels of oxygen in their…
We Must Know and Insist Upon Our Bill of Rights – or They’ll Vanish!
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free…it expects what never was and never will be. Thomas Jefferson Glittery objects, game shows, professional sports, Woke Education, fast-paced surface entertainment, and the endless noise of a plugged-in world—these are the sedatives of modern life. They dull our senses, keeping us occupied but not enlightened. When…
Four Types (perhaps 5)
I don’t like over simplified classifications – most fail to span their subjects. However simplicity has a power of its own and usually contains, if well developed, more truth than the other massive and complicated tomes. I don’t claim to develop any perfect simplicities, but, as do many, I try: Our world is in the…
Audit of the Federal Reserve Reveals $16 Trillion in Secret Bailouts
This is an article, not written by me, that I think is worth reprinting. (Please see my note at the end in italics) The first ever GAO(Government Accountability Office) audit of the Federal Reserve was carried out in the past few months due to the Ron Paul, Alan Grayson Amendment to the Dodd-Frank bill, which…
Thoughts on the Humanities and Liberalism
I want to express another thought which underlies much of my political and philosophical views. The decline of our many elements of our nation (an to some extent the world) are directly related to the growth of the religious cult of psychology and attitude of liberalism. Psychology, a religion, is condoned and supported by government…
Our Tax System explained in Beer
I thought I would post this little piece that I came across. It was not written by me but I find it quite interesting. I doubt, sincerely, that my liberal friends will even see the point: Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If…
Rewarding Down-Statistics
There is a simple datum that I have grown to believe and have observed: “You reward a down-statistic – and you get a down-statistic”. This is so basic that nearly all humans alive have a basic understanding of this rule. We don’t reward a dog for messing up the floor – we don’t praise junior…
Creation and Art
Most of us are artists. I believe it is an innate part of being human. What gets us out of bed in the morning is a passion to create anything that communicates; which adds a bit of beauty, grace and elegance to Life. We express ourselves in countless ways. For me its writing music and songs,…
Group Insanity and Being Oneself
I watched with embarrassment as Carrot Top made fun of Dick Cheney’s heart condition as Mr. Cheney looked on – not 10 feet away at a recent Jay Leno show. Mr. Cheney had courteously agreed to stay and watch the skit and the first 5 jokes were about his own life-threatening cardiac problems. What was…
Happy Birthday to Kim
It is a precious circumstance that I share my life with a superlative being. I did not know or suspect that such a beautiful, marvelous, extraordinary, phenomenal, and remarkable person might exist. She is my best friend, my boundless confidant, my supporter, my lover – the person with whom I share nearly every waking hour…
Past Disappears with Time
I was looking through Google Earth and found my old neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio. I lived there from my 5th grade till 12th – the last year being in a home a few miles away but in the same neighborhood. The two schools I attended were Jefferson Elementary (5th – 8th) and Colonel White (9th…
Federal Governmental Control Over our Lives
As Lazarus Long (a 2000 year old man) said: Political tags–such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and. so forth–are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the…
Hey – We ALL make mistakes
It is interesting, however, that certain people get passes. Other political figures (who shall go nameless but are not in the favor of Hollywood or much of the news) are ostracized and labeled stupid when they make such a statement.This man, however, seems to get a pass and is always considered “intelligent”. It is only the hyprocracy that I…
Government considering renting out properties that they have foreclosed.
This question was posed today: News came out yesterday that the Obama Administration is considering turning gov’t-owned foreclosures into rental properties. Definitely a touchy subject among some. What do you think about the idea? My opinion and response: A horrible idea. Will add to the housing crisis and further aberrate the housing industry by putting…
Federal Budget 101
This was sent to me by a friend – a good point: The U.S. Congress sets a federal budget every year in the trillions of dollars. Few people know how much money that is so we created a breakdown of federal spending in simple terms. Let’s put the 2011 federal budget into perspective: Here is…
DO WE SEE BEAUTY?
THE SITUATION In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged…
My Ring
Jewelry has never been something that I value much. I skipped the bracelets and the necklaces for the most part – other than to perhaps buy something for a significant other. I do like watches but recently purchased a Timex to replace my broken Citizen’s watch (paid $35 for it) and have liked that watch…
Ely’s April 2011 Visit
Living up here at Love’s Landing places us a bit far from the kids and their kids. We really value the opportunities to get with any of them. This weekend Kim went down to get Ely and brought her up for a couple of evenings. We basically proofed up the house and set into the…
Perhaps All of us Have Some Prejudice
If you look at what prejudice is, it is simple. It is prejudging. Unfortunately the majority of those walking this planet are prejudiced. This word is usually associated with racial issues but that is only a small part of it. The real problem, a problem of sanity really, is that folks do not observe well….
The Day the Democrats Took Over
The day the Democrats took over control of Congress was not January 22nd 2009, but two years earlier on January 3rd 2007. They took over the House of Representatives and the Senate, at the start of the 110th Congress. The Democratic Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end…
A First – I’m pretty sure
Today, a unique picture was taken. We did it in the spur of the moment – my daughter-in-law, Malika, snapped it. I believe this is the first picture ever taken, along our own Risley lineage, of 4 generations of Risley males, all with the name Risley, in a single pose. Here stands great granddad (Uncle…
How Did Jefferson Know?
John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: “This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever together at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” Here…
Spinning the clock
What spins your clock? For me, there are activities so absorbing that I realize, a bit stunned, that the hours have slipped by without my awareness. It’s as I might imagine a time machine to which one enters and becomes so engrossed that the clock begins to spin in a blur. I’ve come to believe…
Avatar – the movie. A few thoughts.
We saw Avatar twice – both in 3-D. It is a visually stunning work of art. It is a creative triumph for James Cameron and his team of amazing craftsmen. Our second time was at an IMAX 3-D in Orlando – even more stunning. I recommend this movie to anyone. The setting is a forested…
POCKETS
As a fellow of a few years I have watched styles come and go. My short hair of the early 70’s was spurned by most every one of my peers most of whom sported the long, even shoulder-length hair. Yet look around today. Young folks have their hair cropped to nothing. The longer haired folks…
An Old Dog – New Lessons.
Learning is a lifetime experience. Being humble or being able to be humbled is skill that I think some of us lose – to our own detriment. I’ve been a pilot, as of this writing, for over 37 years. I’ve lost friends to the sport but have many, many more who are alive and well…
Paul Harvey was a National Treasure
In 1964, the late radio commentator Paul Harvey broadcast the following commentary. It bears repeating today. America has become a cannibal society, devouring its best. The competent, numerically outnumbered by the incompetents, are being corralled, restrained, confined and milked like barnyard cattle. The giants who created our skyscraper civilization are now ordered to obey Lilliputian…
Greensleeves
Have always found this to be a simple but beautiful melody from days gone by. Like many of us I first heard it as “What Child is This” during Christmas season. I’ve got two cameras running and am recording this with an MAudio Board, and a Sonar 7 setup. All is put together in Media…
Night and Day by Cole Porter
I wrote a piece about my mother (posted on KenRisley.com). There I spoke of a dream (nightmare actually) I had as a young boy as I drifted off to sleep to my mother’s playing of this song on the piano. For years I did not like the melody not realizing the association. In my mid…
Thomas Jefferson (a quote)
“Our legislators are not sufficiently apprised of the rightful limits of their powers; that their true office is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties, and to take none of them from us. No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another; and this is all…
Several Key Points in the current Health Bill (as of July 2009)
While the Health Care System really needs reform, the current bill is not the right thing to do — it is an expensive catastrophe in the making. Please take the time to look at a few of the cited points below. This is Brave, New World stuff — and not good for your health, your…
Healthcare Reform – Yes; This monstrosity – No!
We hear folks tearing down the current system as well as the proposed government system. Tearing down proposals does not solve the problem. Allowing free markets to work is the best way. The word “free” means just that. What we have today, though not government in genesis, is still highly dominated by rules that favor…
The Burning Question – “Was I heard?”
We are, or have been, burdened by countless communications that were never acknowledged. These communications hang there, like little armed bombs; owning us and dictating so many of our actions; in wait for that simple and certain acknowledgment. Each unacknowledged communication takes a piece of us and freezes it in a moment of waiting. Stilled,…
Ridge Soaring in Utah
Kim and I had the opportunity to participate in some ridge soaring in Utah. Following is a video of our experience.
Families – and Our Abilities to See Them
Have you ever noticed how family are the ones that love you most but often know you least? I’ve heard it said that one is rarely a profit among his own. I believe that is because of high familiarity. This is rather rampant in families – though I think it is only an apparency. This,…
The Underlying Economic Problem and What You Can Do.
This is not pretty – but it is a succinct statement of negative factors to our economic situation. In 1913 we allowed money changing elites to take over the money of this nation. All money created is created out of thin air and then is charged as debt subject to interest payments paid to those…
OSHKOSH Pilgrimage 2001
Kim and I launched in our little airplane from Florida to Oshkosh. We had our airplane loaded to the gill. Was a great trip. Hope you enjoy my little 23 minute video. Pilgrimage to Oshkosh – Camping by our Airplane from Ken Risley on Vimeo.
The Slippery Slope
According to the IRS’s own data, the bottom 50% of wage earners in this country pay %2.99 of all taxes. The remaining is paid by the top 50%. Even with this, Obama is planning to pay out cash to folks who pay little or no taxes (this is called the “refundable tax credit”). The result…
Homeward Bound in my SteamPowered Aeroplane
Was on a business trip. I always carry a video for business documentations. While coming home from North Florida I decided to shoot the sequence of my returning to my Airport Home. This is set to Steam Powered Aeroplane by John Hartford. John was one of my favorite musicians. There will never be another like…
Life and other Matters
Whether Thomas Aquinas (c. 1224-1274) debated over how many angels could dance on the head of a pin, or not, isn’t important in itself. It is interesting, however, to consider the type of arguments which can ensue. Our interest in such discourse is not so much the merits of the specific arguments but in the…
A pilot protests Customs “check”
This article is a reprint from Av-Web. It is the transcription from a podcast. Please see the link below for the podcast information. Baja Bush Pilots, a group representing pilots who frequently fly to Mexico, is polling members to see if any have had an encounter with Customs and Border Protection agents similar to the…
Bric-a-brac
If I am doing my job right, this should the only post that will be under the category “Bric-a-brac”. What the heck does that mean? From the Random House College Dictionary (my favorite) the definition is, “Miscellaneous small articles of antiquarian, decorative, or other interest.” Well alrighty then. This page has done a great thing….
Auditing the Federal Reserve
There is a move a foot to Audit the Federal Reserve. Though many in the senate are getting behind this bill there are also many who take the elitist position to keep the Fed operation behind closed doors. At heart is a the transparency of the Federal Reserve and its operations. This institution, created in…
The “Cyber Bullying” Act – How Freedoms are Stolen
What you are about to read demonstrates the way the our freedoms are stolen. For most of us it is difficult to fathom that there are people who would act to destroy the founding principles of our precious nation. But there are. Their mission is to control by whatever means they can muster. A general…
Flying and Diving Trip to Key West
My sons and I took a weekend to fly down to Key West for some diving. We left Tampa in my airplane and arrived in Key West a couple hours later. We found a place to stay (no pre-planning here), made our dive trip arrangements and basically had a great time. There is nothing like…
Sailing Trip from Tampa to Key West
A few years ago my dad wanted to use that sailboat that had been sitting behind his home. So the plan was hatched to take her out and down to Key West. I quickly offered for Kim and I to help crew the boat. I asked my son, David and Bryan, if the would like…
Oshkosh – a pilgrimage
Kim and I flew to Oshkosh. Our airplane was loaded to the gill with the rear seat mostly hidden by camping and other baggage which we likely could have gotten along without nicely. What do they say? “Take half the luggage and take twice the money”. Ha – I found a listing of our expenses:Was…
The Effects of the new Energy Bill
I am reprinting this article below, by Matt Badiali. The Government Is About to Pull $3,000 Out of Your Pocket By Matt Badiali On Friday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, by a vote of 33 to 25. According to the bill’s sponsors, it is…
Cat
I am NOT a cat person. But I could be accurately called an “animal” person. Cats have, to me, always been a bit mysterious; a bit too independent for my blood. It seemed that they really could care less about whether we are around or not. Well this cat, the one that, basically, owns us;…
Mom
Early memories are difficult to sort, at times. The fleeting pictures with differing indices of backgrounds. “Was that there – or maybe there?” or “Had I lost my first tooth yet?” My memories of Mom seem to start with a hand. How interesting. It was a hand pulling a sled. I recall laying in that…
The Full Circle of Twitter
I enjoy Twitter quite a bunch. It works if one participates. Here is one guy’s experience: He sits in his room – no one to talk to. Quiet . Alone with his thoughts. He discovers Twitter. He looks at it, but puts it off. Later he looks again, and, for the heck of it, joins…
Energy Tax
I will fully admit that I have equivocated on this issue over the years. As a fiscal conservative I am generally against new taxes. Then of recent I began rethinking and considering that maybe an Energy Tax would be a wise measure. That thought was couched in the argument that taxes levied upon fuel would…
Does History Repeat Itself?
Most young folks (and other older ones too) believe that what happens at any given present time is a first. And that is a good thing in many ways. It can make for a “blazing the trail” attitude which adds excitement to our individual lives. Getting your license to drive, going to the prom, getting…
Post-Election 2008
The election is over – Obama won. It is inevitable after any election that part of the population is elated and other parts not so happy. Of course, I fell into the “not so happy” realm. But it only lasted a short while. The larger picture is that this country has survived much. Mr Obama…
The Election 2008
I wrote this Friday evening before the election – mostly to my family but also for others. This is intended with no animosity but only a plea to understand. And hopefully some insight into what makes guys like me tick. Any may share it with their friends. To: Any who intend to vote for Obama…
Let’s keep some things in perspective.
People tend to believe that what is happening now is the worst ever. Global warming is unprecedented – and we have caused it. There is a financial meltdown that will result in a complete demise of our economy and a plunge us into a depression the likes of which we have not known. We hear…
Leo’s Good
Hey guys. Here’s another nutty animation from my “warped” mind. Enjoy! I was goofing around on this. A bit odd, but good enough not to delete.
A Risley Claim to “Cute”
This little gal can’t talk yet – but if she could I think I know what she would say. February 2025 update: With AI today, this would have been a blast to do. But I will leave it based on the technology we had in 2008
the Olympics
Like many in our country I watched part of the Olympics beamed in from Beijing. We Tivo’d lots of it and skipped through to the interesting parts. Tough to take so much time to watch all that was shown just to keep up with other peoples’ games. Got enough of my own. But was very…
A Poem to Son
In 1986 I was in my office after having just spent a few moments with my two sons, David and Bryan, then about 8 and 4. They had come into my office to find out what I was doing. They were excited about an upcoming camping trip in our motor home. It was one of…
Happy Birthday, Dad
How can any of us begin to show the proper appreciation for our parents. I absolutely know that not everyone is as lucky as I’ve been; blessed with two of the most wonderful parents a person could have. One has passed – and I plan a tender tribute to her in the pages of this…
Another Generation
As members of the human race, each of us should be forgiven for that occasional romp into the world of baby pictures. There is no more universally shunned venture than to be coerced into the viewing of these common images. Well…..except for one’s own baby. Come on, that one is really special; can’t we all…
Airport Community Living
In 2004 my wife, Kim, and I decided to live the ultimate dream of most pilots: move into an aviation community. We designed and built our new home, managing the construction from a 25′ camper trailer on our property. What is an aviation community? It is one of the real symbols of freedom to any…
HAPPY 50th to my Sister Carol
June 12th, 1958, my little sister came into this world and has been messing with my life ever since. But in a good way. She is the youngest of the Risley Clan (the one in which I grew up) and my mother always told us that she tended to sit around in her play pin…