Ringo Starr, musician: I never play music alone

A story on the BBC web site this morning feaures a podcast about Ringo Starr with the following teaser"

“If you play piano, bass guitar, saxophone, I don’t care - I'll play with you all night. That's how I did it. And I tell all my grandkids - get an event, get a few of your schoolmates together. They're practising and playing by themselves. Get with people!”

Regan Morris speaks to musician Ringo Starr about his career.

Born in Liverpool, England, during the Second World War in 1940, Ringo, real-name Richard Starkey, found fame as the drummer of the legendary British band The Beatles - widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in music history.

After joining John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison in 1962, the four-piece became a global pop music sensation through hits such as ‘She Loves You’, ‘Yesterday’, ‘Penny Lane’, and ‘Hey Jude’. They also released multiple studio albums and starred in five major motion pictures.

Although the band split up in 1970, their legacy continues to live on. They remain one of the best-selling musical acts of all time over half a century later. And such was his and the band’s cultural impact, that Ringo, one of two surviving members of The Beatles, received a knighthood at Buckingham Palace for his services to music in 2018.

But despite achieving seemingly all that can be achieved in a music career, the 85-year-old seems to be showing no interest in retirement — he’s just released his third country album, which is his 22nd album as a solo artist.

Discussion Questions:

1. How did/have the Beatles impacted your music life?

2. Do you remember their U.S. breakthrough on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964?

3. Favorite song or album?

4. Do you play old Beatle songs today?

 Tonight’s discussion topic is Starlink — the low-Earth-orbit satellite internet system that has become increasingly common with hams, emergency comms groups, RV travelers, and remote stations.

We’re not here to review a product; we’re here to talk about how this technology affects us as radio operators.

What Starlink Means for Emergency Communications

Starlink has changed expectations for portable or disaster-zone internet access.
Some groups are now combining:

• HF or VHF/UHF for tactical comms

• Starlink for high-bandwidth needs like email, mapping, or video

Mobile and Vacation Use

RV operators and campers have begun mixing Starlink with:

• POTA/SOTA trips

• Portable HF

• Temporary VHF/UHF stations

Net Discussion Questions:

Do you think widespread satellite internet strengthens the role of amateur radio in emergencies, or does it risk making hams “less essential”?

If you had Starlink in the truck or RV, how would you use it to enhance a portable activation or road trip?

How do you see Starlink influencing amateur radio — technically, operationally, or culturally — in the next few years?

 Each year on April 8th, National Zoo Lovers Day encourages us to explore our local zoos. Each year millions of people visit zoos and learn about the many animals that live there. Also known as zoological parks, many of them serve as breeding centers. These facilities are relied upon when species are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered. They also provide education to the public about a broad variety of animals and their habitats. 

A few zoo facts:

• The Vienna Zoo is the oldest existing zoo and was opened to the public in 1765.

• The United State's first zoo open to the public, Central Park Zoo, opened in 1864 in New York.

• Philadelphia Zoo holds the oldest zoo charter, formed in 1859. It officially opened to the public in 1874.

• There are 350 zoos in the United States

• Approximately 175 million people visit a zoo each year.

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had more than 9.8 million annual visitors.

• More than 3.2 million people visit the San Diego Zoo each year.

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Massachusetts

• Franklin Park Zoo – Large AZA-accredited zoo in Boston with diverse global wildlife.

• Stone Zoo – Zoo New England’s other AZA-accredited location with varied exhibits.

• Southwick’s Zoo – One of New England’s largest privately owned zoological parks with hundreds of animals.

• Buttonwood Park Zoo – Historic zoo with diverse species and conservation efforts.

• Capron Park Zoo (Attleboro, MA) — Small zoo with family-friendly exhibits.

• Lupa Zoo (Ludlow, MA) — Wildlife facility focused on education and conservation.

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New Hampshire

• Charmingfare Farm (Candia, NH) — Includes a petting zoo with farm and some exotic animals.

• Squam Lake Natural Science Center (Holderness, NH) — Wildlife education center with local animals.

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Maine

• York's Wild Kingdom – A combined zoo and amusement park with exotic animals and family rides.

• Maine Wildlife Park (Gray, ME) – A state wildlife park featuring native Maine species (not a traditional zoo but wildlife exhibits often included in region zoo lists).

Have you visited a zoo lately?