Five Stars from Doc Kazoo

         

BLAIR TECHNOLOGY GROUP 
Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher 
A+ BBB Rating!

My BTG Computers!!

Several years ago I purchased my first computer for the Kazoo Factory at Blair Technology Group.  This is an old "workhorse" Dell D610 with Windows XP operating system.  For a long time this old Dell Laptop handled 100% of everything all by itself.  Some task it was forced to do really tested it's capabilities!  Especially when it came to video editing/production.  Which I do a lot of with the Kazoo Update Videos.  A 7-8 minute video could take a couple hours to render once the editing was complete and an hour or more to upload to my YouTube Channel.

Last year I added a Dell D430 with Windows 7 primarily for video editing/production.  Which has reduced the time for getting a video edited/produced and posted on YouTube cut dramatically, 50-75% faster!  Today I finished getting a new BTG Dell E6400 with Windows 7 all setup and online that's primarily for all the administrative stuff.  Such as website maintenance, order processing, shipping, emails, etc.  Ms. Kazoo also has two BTG Desk Top Computers she uses with the Flute Files Music Shop writing arrangements and as midi interface with her keyboard..So I have around five years or so experience with Blair Technology Group and with five computers now.  Three Laptops and two Desktops!  I am very happy to say we both have been 100% Satisfied with their computers and after the sale customer service!  I don't think that I could have found any better source for our computers.

In terms of the quality of their computers  I have only had two problems over the years.   First was with a power supply for the D610.  I emailed them and received a new one in just a few days.  The other was with my recent purchase, the D6400.  Had trouble with it locking up for no apparent reason.  Emailed BTG they sent me a FedEx Shipping label.  I shipped the computer and they received it on Tuesday.  I received a replacement on Friday, the same week!!!  Which works perfectly.  No crisis, no questions just GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE on both occasions!

Being an old retired sailor living on my pension I have to watch my pennies. When it comes to spending several hundred or a thousand dollars on a new computer that's kinda out of the question.  I did a lot of window shopping before I purchased a refurbished computer.  There's lots of them out there and Ebay is full of "great deals" :-) on used computers but what grabbed my attention about BTG is they are one of the very few Microsoft Authorized Refurbishers in the United States!   That says a lot since there are only about 20 of them!

If you are looking to add a computer to your home network or even replace your only computer that crashed or is just too slow for the newer software.  I highly recommend that you take a look at Blair Technology, either at there Website Store or their Ebay Store.

A big thanks to all the folks at BTG for a great product at a fantastic price and top knotch Customer Service!

Doc Kazoo

I was Doc Kazoos' FatBoy man

A Day of Memories - Memorial Day 2014

 

Memorial Day is a very personal day for this old sailor.  Each year my mind goes back in time as I remember shipmates with whom I sailed, but never returned to homeport with the ship and crew.  A few I knew, a few I didn't.. A few that I knew long ago, but time and age have erased the memory of their names and their faces.

   One I do remember in name and face.  I was a young sailor attached to an Attack Squadron in the Tonkin Gulf.  He was one of our pilots I had come to know as my division officer.  He was shot down over Hanoi and never returned to the ship and as far as I know, never returned to the United States and remains where he died.  During the height of the Cold War Three others I knew when attached to an antisubmarine warfare squadron .  Pilot, co-pilot and senso tech rest in their aircraft at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, and so many I didn't know.  Those shipmates blown off a flight deck during night flight ops in the North Atlantic.  The shipmate on a fast frigate also washed overboard while on midwatch in a stormy North Atlantic.   Each one of these men made the ultimate sacrifice.  No individual died more gallant than the other.  They all died the same, in the service of our nation.  Each one had family, had life plans and career goals.  Each one died bravely and still remain at sea with no gravestone or flowers.  Each one with honor and dignity in our service.  Today I think of each of you.

  May God bless everyone and your Memorial Day weekend be filled with joy and laughter.  My shipmates would want it that way!

Fair Winds and Following Seas,
Doc
The Old Sailor

Tropical Hours At The Kazoo Factory

HOT AND HUMID IN THE WORKSHOP

This picture was taken at 2:00 pm today, 100F and over 90% humidity.  These readings normally don't start until late May/early July.  The weather forecast for next week is even more hot.  Each year when it starts getting really hot in the workshop I move into what I call Tropical Hours.  Which means that around 2:00 pm I knock off work and take an afternoon siesta in the air conditioning at the house! :-)  It just gets too hot in the workshop.   Around 5:00 pm I will head back to the workshop and  work an hour or two as necessary.

This may be just temporary until this heat wave arrives and departs.  If temperatures return to normal I will return to normal workshop hours.

Tropical Hours has no effect on order shipping time of 7-10 days specified in my ArtFire Studio.  Tropical Hours is one reason that I specify 7-10 days handling time for shipping.  

Happy Kazooing To All!

Doc

Performer FatBoy Day Two for Matt in Milwaukee, WI

The New Student Folk Kazoo

A big old Doc Kazoo Thank You to all the new Doc Kazoo Student Kazoo owners!  The welcome you have given the Student Folk Kazoo the past few weeks is greatly appreciated.  A month or so ago I introduced this very special new kazoo design.  At least it's real special to me.  I wanted to have a performer quality wooden folk kazoo available at the lowest possible price.  Thinking back to when I was a kid of Saturday visit to the Dime Store with my 50 cents weekly allowance and the treasure I would take home from the toy department that would drive my mom crazy!! LOL A beautiful red metal kazoo.  Well you sure won't get much of a kazoo for 50 cents these days and I think I probably got a little change for my 50 cent piece that day.

The response to the Student Folk Kazoo identified a wee problem with time management.  Plain and simple when coupled with other Special Order Custom Kazoos I am making there is just not time to provide the update videos for the Student Folk Kazoos.  It takes quite a bit of time to make the update videos.  So I have removed the Student Folk Kazoo as a Special Order Kazoo from my ArtFire Shop and replaced it with a listing for Ready Made Student Folk Kazoos.  As of this posting there are five available and I will will be keeping some in the shop ready for immediate shipping.

You can find the Student Folk Kazoo listing in my ArtFire Shop at:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=8640634

I regret having to do away with the Student Folk Kazoo update videos.  So hade produced a video that covers everything normally seen in the Special Order Kazoo Update 3 Video Series.  It's just in a more condensed form.   Here is a link for the new Student Folk Kazoo Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RE-1EORJro&list=UUmLrSKjoa_02HW_gTZK5cLQ

The Aswego Wooden Student Folk Kazoo is a great instrument to introduce students of all ages to the warmth and tone of  the wooden folk kazoo.  For many it may be the only wooden kazoo they will ever want or need.  At 4" long it can easily fit in your pocket or purse.  If you need hands free kazoo playing it will also fit the Hohner Harmonica Neck Holder (HH01) and any other brand of a similar design.  Like all of my kazoo designs, the Student Folk Kazoo has a beautiful dynamic range, lots of power and great control through the dynamic range at all power levels.  Powered with my handmade resonator membranes I don't think you will find a better sounding, more responsive or beautiful wooden folk kazoo at such a great price.

Thanks again and Happy Kazooing to All!
Doc Kazoo

Manitoba Hal On Tour!

Here's one fantastic entertainer! If you get near a show be sure and check him out!  One heck of a ukulele player!



Manitoba Hal - www.manitobahal.com: Grassy Knoll and other roadside attractions: The tour has rolled on through Dallas and I've had a great time. I gave two workshops. One advanced improvisation workshop and a beginn...