David Yonke and Writeminded.media

Welcome to my little waystation in the cyber universe. I am a veteran journalist who enjoys sharing thoughts on a variety of topics. I welcome your comments and observations.

[davidyonke]

Ohio families scramble for solutions amid rising costs, especially for basics

Many economic experts say the impacts of rising costs are hitting low- to moderate-income households more severely than others.

My latest story for Crain's Cleveland Business magazine focuses on the impact of inflation and funding cuts on the most vulnerable Ohioans.

[davidyonke]

Say hello to my new German friend

Well, I finally reached a point where I needed a new car. I looked for two years, thinking I'd buy a small SUV like a Honda CRV, a Nissan Rogue or a Subaru. Ha! I ended up with a BMW 320i

It's a 2015 model so it's ten years old but it looks to be in perfect shape, with low miles and no flaws. I tell you, it is a joy to drive! It is smooth, strong, and fun on the road. The 2000cc engine has twin turbo-chargers and zooms from a standing start or when passing on the major highways

One week after the purchase we drove it to Virginia Beach, about 600 miles each way. I love this car! It is everything I could want in a car. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission but you can put in shift mode like it's a stick shift. It has a sunroof, fog lights, and lots of incredible options such as being able to store 40,000 songs. The side-view mirrors fold in when parking. There's so much to love about this car!

I named it Billie-Millie-Willie (for BMW) and we are having a wonderful relationhip.

The check engine light went on recently so I plugged in my OBD (on board data) and it said the gas-air mixture was lean. I called a local European auto repair shop and they can't look at it for more than a month, but the guy said the car will "compensate" for it. Well, after a few days the light went out and it has stayed off ever since. How's that for compensating? I'm thinking maybe it was the gasoline I bought when i filled up in Rockford, Ill. Maybe. At any rate, it never faltered or hiccupped at any time. I'm wondering whether I should keep the car-repair appointment. I'm driving it to Cincinnati tomorrow so that will be a good road test.

I would recommend shopping at PricePro if you need a car. Ask for Sage and tell him I referred you!

[davidyonke]

Check out my interview on WTOL TV's blog

[davidyonke]

Leo Kottke, a snow globe guitarist

Leo Kottke reminds me of a snow globe. On the outside, cool and self-contained. Inside, there's a wondrous swirl of energy and activity.

I went with some friends to the Ark in Ann Arbor last night to see Kottke in concert and it was a rare pleasure to see a person whose mind, heart, soul, and body are perfectly in sync with a musical instrument.

Kottke, now 79, is low-key in the way he talks and sings and moves about. But when he starts playing guitar, it's a delightful whirlwind of notes and rhythm.

Wearing a black shirt, black pants, and New Balance sneakers, Leo walked onto the stage of the the intimate Ark venue carrying two acoustic guitars -- a six-string and a twelve-string.

He took a seat center stage in front of a microphone, laid the twelve-string guitar on its side, said a few words, then proceeded to weave musical magic for 90 minutes with his amazingly agile, melodic finger-picking style.

Kottke's music crosses over multiple genres, blending folk and blues and jazz and country. His 60-plus-years of playing guitar have given him a mastery of technique, reaching the rare air of a musician whose thoughts translate seamlessly into actions without any delay or interference.

He is not really a singer, but essentially talks his way through the songs as he plucks and strums a combination of chords and riffs with a shifting mix of rhythms and tempos.

Kottke is a bit quirky with his humorous between-song banter, such as when he started to tell a story and then stopped, saying "You don't want to hear that -- and I really don't want to hear it either. "

He said he wrote a great song with Rickie Lee Jones and would like to play it, but he can't remember it.

He said he once had frostbite so bad the doctors were planning to amputate both feet. The temperature had been minus-25 and the windchill was 80 below. He said he was more concerned about his hands and fingers than his feet. But one doctor said minutes before the surgery that he wanted to try something, and apparently was able to save his frozen feet.

Kottke seemed to be enjoying the concert and the appreciative crowd, although he said he felt like people were staring at him.

The audience certainly enjoyed seeing this guitar legend "up close and personal" at the Ark. I know I did.

P.S. The Ark is my favorite concert venue on earth. It seats about 400 people, is acoustically perfect, and features a wide variety of excellent music. You should go if you can. Even if you never heard of the featured artist, you can be sure they are terrific. The Ark only books the best.

P.P.S. We were told not to take any photos or record any music but I couldn't resist snapping a few pics, as you can see. I confess I felt twinges of guilt when I tried to snap pics surreptitiously.

[davidyonke]

Bob Dylan stays cloaked in mystery, and that's cool with me

The Mystery Man rolled into Toledo April 17 and mesmerized a sold-out crowd with an hour-and-50-minutes of iconic musical concoctions.

Yes, Bob Dylan was in town once again and he was as mysterious, mystical and marvelous as ever. The 83-year-old icon’s voice was clear and strong as he sang from behind a baby grand piano the whole night. He didn’t say a word to the audience in the Stranahan Theater except to introduce his four band members.

Dylan’s voice was strong and clear as he sang-talked his way through 17 songs, eight of them from his recent album Rough and Rowdy Ways. The master maestro also performed some of his crowd-pleasing classics, including the first two opening tunes, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight and It Ain’t Me Babe.

Other iconic favorites performed Thursday night included When I Paint My Masterpiece, Desolation Row, Watching the River Flow, and It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue. But of course, they were not parroted versions of the recordings we all love.

Dylan never plays the same song the same way twice. He is always churning and turning things around to make it interesting for himself, his band, and his fans.

Wearing an open-collared print shirt and a dark jacket, Dylan played electric guitar early in the show, sitting on the piano bench with his back to the crowd for a few songs. He also played harmonica, with expressive mastery, at various times throughout the concert.

As he has done on recent tours, there were no cameras and screens for closeups, and the stage lighting was dim.

Not too many artists could get away with such a disregard for showmanship, but this is Bob Dylan. He doesn’t need much more than a mic and an instrument. He could play in total darkness and it would still be magical.

The four musicians surrounded him and leaned in toward their leader, adding just the right touch of supporting sounds, following the master wherever the music took them.

When Dylan pumped things up, the band was right there with him. When he toned it down, the band backed off into the background. The musicians were in perfect sync with their legendary leader.

He closed the concert with Every Grain of Sand, from his Christian-rock album Shot of Love. When the song ended, Dylan stood up at the back of the stage with his band, bowed, and walked off . The lights came on quickly, signaling "time to go home, everyone."

There was no encore, and that was fine. Toledo got to see the master in person once again, a memory to be cherished.

One interesting side note, everyone had to put their phones in a locked bag provided by a company called Yondr. The bag prevented anyone from using their phones for photos, videos, audio, whatever. So, the only photo I can post here was of a TV screen announcing the concert in the venue's lobby.

Yondr employees were everywhere before and after the show and it was a quick and easy process to have the bags locked and unlocked. But it was an unusual and extreme step to protect an artist's privacy and to protect his music and image.

I hope other bands don't follow Dylan's no-phone concert rule. However, it only made the Mystery Man even that more mysterious.

#bobdylan #roughandrowdyways #dylantour2025

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[davidyonke]

My acting career

Samara Weaving, star of "Eenie Meanie."

UPDATE: The movie was released Aug. 22 , 2025, on Hulu with a new name: "Eeenie Meanie." I skimmed through it -- it doesn't look like a very good flick. I watched the scenes where the stolen Hellcat drives through Hollywood Casino and didn't see myself in the background anywhere. I might rewatch it in slo-mo but since I couldn't see myself at regular speed I would say I didn't make the cut.

* * *

Last June I got a call from someone who had dialed a wrong number. It was Lillian Pyles, casting director for a movie that was being filmed in Ohio. When I told her she had reached a wrong number, she said they were still looking for background actors that night and asked if I was available.

The movie's working title was "Stick Shift" but now it's called "Eenie Meanie" It's about a woman who was trying to leave her criminal life behind but gets lured into one more caper.

It was an interesting and fun experience being an extra on a fairly big production. I got to see a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff as I "acted" by sitting at a slot machine most of the night while a modified Dodge Hellcat drove down the aisle past me numerous times as they reshot the scenes. The hot car was going slow and so quiet, using an electric motor built into the trunk, but I'm sure it will look like it's speeding wildly through the casino and sound super-loud in the movie.

I was on the "set" at Toledo's Hollywood Casino from 9 pm to 6 am and my role was so minor that I don't know if it's going to make the cut. There was one scene where a stunt man was shoved out of the way of the car and he landed right next to me, so I'm thinking that part might make it to the screen (for a few seconds) and turn me into a star.

The real stars are Samara Weaving, Andy Garcia, Marshawn Lynch, and Steve Zahn. I never did see any of them, just their stand-ins.

But I did get a nice rigatoni dinner at 3 a.m.

And ... I got paid! I'm now officially a professional actor.

I expect more Hollywood producers and casting directors will be calling me once the movie is released on April 18 (I'm guessing it will be streaming on Disney/Hulu, probably not going to be in theaters).

Move over Brad Pitt and George Clooney, there's a new "kid" in town.

[davidyonke]

Words of Wisdom

[davidyonke]

Looking back at my 2024

Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes How do you measure, measure a year?

Those lyrics are from Jonathan Larson's emotionally powerful song "Seasons of Love," from "Rent," and they always hit me when I look back on a year gone by.

Every newspaper, news channel, entertainment network and the like offer detailed summaries of notable events and moments. I enjoy reading or watching those episodes and reflecting on world happenings in general for 2024.

But in my little corner of the internet, I'll take a few minutes to ponder the events and the people and the places that impacted my year.

Today marks one year since my official retirement from daily journalism after approximately 47 years on the job.

I started right after graduating from Duke University in 1976, working at the Tampa Tribune for five years. Then we moved to Toledo where I worked at The Blade for 31 years. After that I ran the local religion-news website ToledoFAVS.com, for a little over two years. After being unemployed for a short while I joined Gannett/USA Today-Ohio in 2015 as an editor, running four newspapers and news sites before hanging up my hat on Dec. 31, 2023.

So what's it like being retired? I am still processing it, believe it or not. It's such a drastic change, going from 150 mph to 30 mph, I had a hard time adjusting at first. But I haven't been sitting on the couch watching TV and eating bon-bons.

U2 at the Sphere, Feb. 2, 2024.

My family honored me with an amazing retirement gift: A trip to Las Vegas to see U2 at The Sphere. I had gone to the opening show in September but I was so ready to see them again. This time instead of sitting in a mezzanine seat we got general admission tickets, and Janet and I stood right next to the stage. It was a totally different experience seeing them so close. We stayed at the Paris and had just a fantastic four days in Vegas.

Another highlight of 2024 for me was our trip to Asheville, N.C., in early May to meet up with some of my closest college friends, the Dook Wild Bunch as we are known, and spouses. We had a great reunion that included a trip to the Biltmore but the best part was just hanging out and talking and laughing. Little did we know or expect the tragic fate that would hit Asheville when Hurricane Helene struck the area in September. We all enjoyed a huge exhibit of Chihuly glass masterpieces that was on display in a building on the Biltmore grounds.

Wild Bunch reunion, on a day trip to Black Mountain NC.

Chihuly exhibit at the Biltmore

I got to attend opening day for the Mud Hens, since I did not have to work that day for the first time in many years, and enjoyed going with my fellow Blade escapee/retiree Jon Chavez.

On St. Paddy's Day, Janet and I went to see John Mellencamp at the Stranahan Theatre, and unfortunately got to witness him throw a tantrum and storm off the stage because a drunk fool yelled at him to request a song. C'mon John, you're a veteran and a professional and should be able to handle rude audiences by now.

There were two fantastic exhibits at the Toledo Museum of Art in March -- paintings by the 17th century master Caravaggio and sculptures and other art by 20th century visionary Marisol.

Caravaggio

A Marisol sculpture/statue.

Regarding our trip to Asheville, I rented a Tesla for the experience. What an incredible vehicle. It rides like a starship, super fast and smooth. But stopping for a charge every couple hundred miles isn't such a much, as my mom would say.

Charging up the Tesla.

However, I did have fun stopping to charge up at Buc-ee's, including a posed pic with the b big beaver himself.

Me and Buc-ee.

Gee I'm getting pretty wordy here... maybe I need a good editor ;-)

In June, I got a call from an unknown number and let it go to voicemail. It turned out to be the casting director of a movie being filmed in the Toledo area, asking someone else to show up that night to be a background actor at the Hollywood Casino. I called her back to let her know she had the wrong number and she said they need more people and invited me, so of course I took her up on the offer.

I was there from 9 pm to 4 in the morning, and my big role was sitting at a slot machine as a stolen Dodge Hellcat sped down the aisle. The movie is called Stick Shift and should be out on Disney or Hulu in the fall of 2025. I have no idea if I'll make it to the big screen but it was a very fun and enlightening experience.

On June 18, I lost my beloved dog Annie, a powderpuff Chinese Crested who had been my BFF for 15 1/2 years. She was the best dog ever, with the greatest temperament, so full of love, never barking, never biting, just happy to be part of the Yonke family.

My dear friend Annie who left us on June 18 at age 15 1/2.

Letting her go to "cross over the rainbow bridge" was one of the saddest moments of my life but she was ready. I held her in my arms and she was so at peace when the veterinarian injected the lethal dose. She was pure love and I miss her every day.

Jumping around a bit chronologically, the total eclipse of the sun on April 8, 2024, was something I'll never forget. It was almost beyond belief how dark and cold and windy it got in the middle of the afternoon. I got to experience with a lot of my family members, including grandkids. It was magical. I'm only sorry I didn't prepare ahead of time to get photos of the celestial event itself.

I also had the rare pleasure of witnessing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, in May while visiting my daughter Lisa and family in Rockford, Illinois. I had always wanted to see them but didn't expect to get the chance, yet it fell into my lap. It was another amazing display in the sky.

Watching the sun take a mid-afternoon siesta.

Another highlight of 2024 was a trip in late May to Anna Maria Island, one of our favorite vacation spots in the world, where the sunsets are fantastical almost every night. I even got to see the elusive "green flash" before the sun slipped beyond the horizon, something I've looked for but never saw until this year. Again, little did we know that the quaint Florida island would be hammered by two hurricanes in a row in September.

A Typical sunset on Anna Maria Island, Florida.

For my big landmark birthday in August, my entire family -- fifteen of us -- went to Chicago caught a Cubs game, and they put my name on the big screen.

One more notable vacation -- we went on a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas with Janet's siblings and their spouses in October. We sailed out of New Orleans and spent a few days touring the city before setting sail.

Rick and Bonnie, Janet and me, and Laurie and Ed

Our cruise excursions included a day at a beach house in Cozumel, a bus tour of Grand Cayman Island (including a stop in the town of Hell), and a visit to Xcambo Mayan ruins in Yucatan.

Well it was a wonderful year in many ways but this recap is turning into an epic, so I'll wrap it up with a few highlights in bullet points:

Camping with the "grands" for four days at Pokagon State Park in July.

Writing music stories for the newly revived Toledo Free Press.

Going to a Michigan football game against Fresno State.

Going to an Ohio State football game against Western Michigan.

Enjoying a season pass to Cedar Point.

Catching the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert for about the 12th time.

Adding 66 albums to my vinyl collection.

Participating in the intense trivia competition with the "We're with Jon (Chavez)" team at Stubborn Brother.

Getting back into golf, playing in the Calvary Church league with Chip Towns.

Working on a book project with John Rockwood to capture some of his experiences as a concert photographer, until the book got shelved so to speak when the editor got fired.

Thanks for reading along, hope you had a wonderful 2024 too and here's to even more good memories to come in 2025.

I have to add a sad note that my sister-in-law Joan Yonke passed away yesterday, Dec. 30, at age 72. Please pray for my brother Paul for God's strength and peace in this difficult time.

[davidyonke]

Weather gone wild

For decades, Janet and I and our family have been vacationing in Anna Maria Island. My dear departed brother Rick, who lived in Tampa, discovered it in the '70s and after heeding his advice and giving it a try, we were hooked. We came back many times.

AMI is a respite from the usual tourist mecca. No chain restaurants, no high-rise buildings, it is like the "old" Florida.

Well, it WAS.

Just two weeks ago, AMI was pummeled by Hurricane Helene, the worst storm to hit the island in many decades. It reshaped the beach, piled sand three feet high along the coastal highway, flooded homes, knocked down walls, filled pools with sand, destroyed the beloved Rod & Reel pier, and caused incredible havoc.

The damage was done throughout the region, including Bradenton Beach, Sarasota and Cortez.

And shockingly, Helene continued north and was even more damaging to Western North Carolina with floods and mudslides that wiped out roads and towns.

Janet and I have been to Asheville and the Pisgah National Forest a number of times, and as recently as May 2024 stayed in downtown Asheville for an unofficial reunion with a group of my Duke U friends.

The destruction of that area is heartbreaking.

And now, Anna Maria Island and Florida's West Coast are directly in the crosshairs of Hurricane Milton, one of the fiercest and most dangerous hurricanes on record.

I think this is a clear indication that climate change is real, but let's not get into that now.

My heart aches for ALL of the people who live in the Tampa area and along the Gulf Coast, from Naples to Cedar Key. One major hurricane is more than enough; it's almost unbelievable that a second one is about to hit.

I lived in Tampa for 11 years before moving to Toledo (we went the opposite direction of most folks). We have many relatives and friends living in what is now a hurricane watch zone as Milton approaches. In addition, many friends from Ohio have retired and moved to the area seeking sunshine and fun-filled days.

I can only hope and pray that my friends and family stay safe and their homes are protected. And that goes for everyone in Milton's path -- although there is little doubt there will be deaths and destruction "somewhere" in the region.

We have been keeping in touch with family. Many have evacuated and headed north, but there are a good number who are staying in their boarded-up and sandbagged homes with stockpiles of supplies.

As the old saying goes, we need to pray for the best but prepare for the worst.

[davidyonke]

Hey music fans, one of the greatest musicians ever to come out of Toledo will be performing Sunday night at Howard's Club H in Bowling Green.

Jeff Kollman, whose guitar talents are legendary, will be leading his trio with Kevin Chown on bass and Dave Potvin on drums! Opening for Jeff will be another Toledo musical genius, Mark Mikel, with his band the Dive-Bombing Space Pigeons. Doors open at 6 and show starts at 7; cover charge is only $15.

Jeff's solo career has been going strong and he just released a double-vinyl album of all-instrumental tunes, "2024 A.D." (available at JeffKollman.com)

Kollman is in high demand for his guitar prowess by many of the top rock, jazz and pop artists. He's been touring and recording since 2017 with Alan Parsons and recently performed five shows with Lou Gramm of Foreigner fame. Jeff has played guitar with a diverse array of stars in his career including Lyle Lovett, Michael Schenker and UFO, Miranda Lambert, Joe Satriani, and Patti Labelle.

Jeff has a side band with Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers called Bombastic Meatbats. Smith played drums on a song for Jeff's new "2023 A.D." album.

I interviewed Jeff this week for an article that will be published soon on ToledoFreePress.com, a highly regarded local news site that is getting back in business after a 9-year hiatus. The site's soft launch is happening any day now.

Every time I see Jeff Kollman in concert I am totally amazed at his guitar virtuosity and overall musical talent.

[davidyonke]

Eulogy for a furry 13-pound bundle of love

Yesterday, we lost our beloved four-legged family member, Annie. At age 15 ½, her little body was just worn out. She had become disoriented, had trouble walking, and was essentially blind and deaf.

It was indescribably sad to let her go, but it was a peaceful process. I held Annie in my arms and Janet was sitting right next to us while the veterinarian injected the solution through a catheter in Annie’s leg.

She was calm and resting quietly in my arms even before the medications were injected. I think somehow she knew what was going to happen and was at peace with it.

I loved that Powderpuff Chinese Crested more than anything. My heart is so heavy today, but I have no regrets. The time had come when it just had to be done.

Annie lived a good life, was spoiled as heck, and brought so much love and joy into our lives. Anyone who met Annie fell in love with her.

She always sought to please us, even when she was just a pup. I’d open the door for her to go into the backyard and she would stop and look up at me, and not until I nodded would she cross the threshold.

She loved to tear up paper and would walk over to the wastebasket in my office to see if there was anything there she could shred. She would look at me to see if it was OK to proceed. If I said "no," she would walk away. But if I nodded my head yes, she would grab some paper and start tearing it up.

When she was a puppy, she used to pick up the baby Jesus figure from our Nativity scene with her mouth and then lie down in a corner with Jesus between her paws. She never took any of the other little statues, just the Jesus figure. Obviously she was a Christian dog.

Annie only barked a handful of times in her life, and never bit or nipped anyone despite being roughhoused by toddlers countless times. When we went on walks, she ignored the smaller dogs but would growl at the big ones, as if this 13-pound pup was trying to protect us.

She loved her doggie treats and also loved the scraps of people food I’d sneak her way -- despite Janet’s scolding me not to do so (for Annie’s own good). My grandkids always tattled to Janet when they caught me: “GiGi, Papa’s feeding Annie!”

She spent most of the day by my feet, underneath my desk, resting on a fluffy Michigan blanket I put there just for her. She’d lie on the couch by my side when we watched TV. At night she would climb into bed with us for a short visit and then jump down and go to her favorite spot -- a pile of clothes in the closet that were left there just for her.

Annie was a good traveler, going with us to Rockford, Illinois, many times to visit our daughter Lisa and family. She also made a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, to see my sister Elaine and her family.

When she was younger, we used to take her camping with us. One time at Pokagon State Park we were walking on a boardwalk when she looked down into the water and suddenly jumped in – and was covered with a thick coating of black swamp sludge. Wow, did that smell bad! We wrapped her in a sheet, drove to our campsite, and hosed her down. I'll always wonder what made her jump into that black swampy water.

Annie had a heart murmur and was on medication, three pills twice a day since 2021. She survived being attacked by a neighborhood dog in 2020 who pounced on her while we were on a walk. I chased the big dog away and took Annie to the vet who shaved a swatch of hair off her back and gave her several stitches and a tetanus shot. She never cried or barked during the whole incident

As many of you know from social media posts, Annie wandered away from our house late at night on May 19. She never did that before but she must have been very disoriented. Janet and I searched all night for her with no luck.

Since Annie could not see or hear much, if anything, by then, it was a scary night. Janet and I split up and took flashlights to search for her. I walked over 20,000 steps that night and also drove through the area hoping to find her – alive. The Perrysburg police even helped, bless ‘em, driving slowly through the area with spotlights shining on each side of their SUV.

At one point my flashlight shined on a raccoon that looked bigger and meaner than any I had ever seen. I shivered thinking what would happen if that raccoon attacked little Annie.

Thank God, with your help through prayers and social media posts, a local construction worker found Annie around 8 am the next day and I got a FB message from his boss, Aaron Schoen: “I have your dog!” What a relief! Annie was found just a few blocks away in a construction site, covered with burrs, feet caked with dirt and mud, but all right.

As it turns out, Annie ended up living just one month longer, but finding her alive after that long dark night allowed us to have a peaceful parting and a sense of closure.

Our house feels so empty today. It’s amazing how big of a presence that little dog had. I know the grief will go on for a while but I am smiling through tears today thinking about the many happy times and pleasant memories, and how she’d reach up to lick my cheek in love.

That's what Annie was all about -- love. Pure love. That love lives on my heart. I am so thankful for how much love, peace, joy and happiness Annie brought into my life. I hope we'll meet up again someday in heaven above.

[davidyonke]

I rented a Tesla 3 for my trip last week to Asheville, N.C., and it was a wonderful experience. I drove 1,200 miles and yes, it required stopping to "fill up" the charge every 150-200 miles (max range was 256 miles on this vehicle). But I never had any "range anxiety" as the Tesla Supercharger network was readily available and the car's navigation system mapped out my trip and all the places to stop.

And the car was a joy to drive. So smooth and so fast! I've always been a pseudo race-car driver (I drove a NASCAR once in the Richard Petty Driving School) and this car has so much power ... whether starting from 0 or accelerating to pass a vehicle on the highway, it was like Sonic. Zoom, I'm doing 95 before I know it. Whoops. Ease back down. But the pleasure of having that much pep instantly available was a wonderful feeling, especially going through the Great Smoky Mountains.

I enjoyed all the little Tesla extras, like the huge screen on the dashboard, the trunk and frunk, the credit card-like key, the "light show" feature and the "Emissions Testing" which is actually a fart mode. OK, it's nothing new to veteran Tesla drivers but it was a novelty to me. Oh Elon, you're such a gas!

I did not use the auto-pilot mode, although when using cruise control the car slowed down when another car or truck was in front of me. And the huge screen showed all the surrounding traffic and construction cones in moving 3D renderings.

The most basic Tesla model, the 3 is kind of small. We had to use the back seat to fit some of our junk, but it was only me and Janet in the car so there was plenty of room. It would be tough to go on a trip with more than two people. But most people use their Teslas for short trips around town, for which it is perfect.

My one concern was that Musk fired everyone in the Tesla Supercharger department while I was in North Carolina. Would the Superchargers be working for my trip home? They were, so it was nothing to worry about -- once I got on the road and used one.

One surprise was stopping at Buc-ees in N.C. That road oasis had about 200 gas pumps and a dozen Tesla charging stations. And once inside the building, it was a road trippers's mecca. I've seen it referred to as a "Disney World" of road stops. So many food options, clean and spacious building, clean and spacious restrooms, and lots of little novelties and souvenirs to purchase. No wonder people rave about Buc-ees. I even got my photo taken with Buc-ee, the corporate mascot.

I might be in the market for a Tesla...someday. Janet didn't really like the car -- too low, a bit of road noise, and too high-tech for her tastes. Plus she didn't like having to stop so many times. But some of the stops only took 15 minutes for a full charge.

I did sign up for Mr. Beast's 26th birthday giveaway -- he's giving away 26 Teslas, including one Cybertruck. The drawing is this Friday. We'll see if Mr. Beast likes me ;-)

[davidyonke]

Updated profile on Amazon Author page

David Yonke: books, biography, latest update

Follow David Yonke and explore their bibliography from Amazon.com's David Yonke Author Page.

[davidyonke]

It's been a few days, so maybe this is old news, but people are still talking about the St. Paddy's Day meltdown by John Mellencamp in Toledo, so here are a few of my observations:

First off, I am a fan of John Mellencamp, otherwise I would not have bought two tickets at $120 apiece.

A lot of people have defended him for walking off the stage mid-concert after being "heckled." I don't think someone shouting "Authority Song" or yelling "Play some music" qualifies as heckling. Rude, definitely, but they weren't insulting him like hecklers do (e.g., "You suck," or "You're all washed up!"). They were Mellencamp fans who wanted to hear his music. I am NOT defending their rude interruptions, shouting while he was trying to tell a story about his 99-year-old grandmother pointing an arthritic finger at him and praying for him.

Any time a rock band quiets things down for an acoustic song, someone in the audience will yell something. It is inevitable. I've seen and heard it hundreds of times. Mr. Mellencamp is 72 and has been performing in public for at least 50 years and should not have been surprised.

Mr. Mellencamp was way out of line to call the fan a (expletive deleted - you can hear it yourself with the link below). There were a few kids in the crowd (although it was mostly gray haired fans like me).

Mr. Mellencamp was very wrong to stomp off the stage because two or three fans rudely yelled something. There were about 2,400 other people who were respectful and who paid good money to see him in concert. There are countless other better ways he could have responded to the interruptions.

I know John Mellencamp has done many great things to help people over the years. I was there at the Homeless Awareness Project's Tent City, held on a day that Mr. Mellencamp was giving a concert in Toledo. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer stopped in, gave a short talk on the podium, was presented with a key to the city, then met one-on-one behind closed doors with a number of unhoused people. He then told his staff to give free tickets to any of the homeless people who wanted to come to his show that night. They gave out 60 to 70 tickets. Mr. Mellencamp is truly a man with a big heart.

I also was privileged to attend a taping by Mr. Mellencamp of a public-service announcement to help homeless veterans. He genuinely cares about people and is generous with his time and money.

He was a co-founder of Farm Aid to help farmers and I'm sure Mr. Mellencamp has done myriad other good deeds that don't get mentioned in the media.

We all have bad days. I don't know what is going on in Mr. Mellencamp's head. Maybe he had some personal crises to deal with and the rude fans were the tipping point that led to his tirade. But in my opinion, all of those things don't excuse his cursing out a fan and storming off the stage in mid-concert.

I give him credit for coming back after about 5 minutes of chaos and consternation among the crowd, and finishing his concert. I don't know if he just calmed down and, after reflecting on the situation, decided on his own to come back, or if friends, bandmembers, managers, lawyers or someone else backstage persuaded him to get back in the spotlight, but I'm glad he did. He returned to sing 7 more songs, closing with "Hurts So Good." There was no encore.

I am not sure about this but I believe Mr. Mellencamp could have ended the show without having to give refunds because he had already performed for about 45 minutes, which would have fulfilled his legal obligation. I'd have to look at the contract or talk to the promoter to be sure.

I was extremely disappointed by John Mellencamp's behavior but I still am a fan of his music and admire all the good things he has done.

Despite the "meltdown," it was a pretty good show. The Mellencamp band was superb. However, I probably won't pay to go to another of his concerts. And I doubt he will return to Toledo anyway.

Mr. Mellencamp is a fine artist. His artwork was featured in several museum exhibits including the Mansfield Art Center in 2022, and a small number of giclee prints of his paintings were on sale in the Stranahan Theater lobby ($1,500 apiece, a fair price IMO).

Here's a live video with audio of his tirade. See and hear it for yourself:

Photos by David Yonke

[davidyonke]

U2@Sphere (reprise)

I just received the greatest Christmas-slash-retirement gift I could ever have dreamed of. My family pitched in for a trip to Las Vegas to see U2 at Sphere!

I saw them on opening night in that amazing venue and was contemplating another trip to see them, but I couldn't justify it... especially since I am officially retiring at the end of 2023.

U2 is my favorite band that is still active (Beatles are my all-time #1) and Sphere is an amazing technological wonder.

We had seats in the second balcony for Sept 29, opening night, which was absolutely fantastic. But it was almost too much to process.

Now three months later, I'm ready for another go. And this time we have floor tickets, so we'll be closer to the band.

I can't thank everybody enough for such a thoughtful and expensive gift!

If you have been thinking about going to a U2@Sphere show, I say go for it! It's a life highlight for me and many others.

[davidyonke]

Interview with Olivia

I had the pleasure of interviewing Olivia Newton-John in November 2003 to preview her concert at Toledo’s Stranahan Theater. She was so gracious and fun to interview. It hurt to hear of her passing yesterday at age 73. She was a true icon in the entertainment world, and used her fame to help others through her cancer charity and in many other ways. Here is a copy of the article I wrote:

Newton-John is a survivor

BY DAVID YONKE BLADE STAFF WRITER

It took a while before Olivia Newton-John’s parents were convinced that their daughter had made the right career choice.

The Australian singer’s father was a headmaster at Ormond College in Melbourne and her grandfather, Max Born, was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and close friend of Albert Einstein.

But at 16, Newton-John dropped out of high school to pursue an entertainment career.

“I think, initially, my parents were disappointed because I come from such an academic background,” Newton-John said in an interview last week from a tour stop in Charlotte, N.C. “Both of them wanted me to finish college, and when I didn’t, there was a little worry about that - in the beginning. My mother was always encouraging, but when I began making my own way, they stopped worrying.”

Newton-John has made her way quite well indeed.

The 55-year-old singer, actress, and songwriter has had five No. 1 hits; starred in Grease, the most successful movie musical of all time; earned four Grammy Awards, released 28 albums, was voted into the Australian Music Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and received an O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth.

Newton-John also has worked to raise funds and awareness for a number of charities, including a benefit concert Sunday night in Toledo to benefit the local Breast Cancer Foundation.

“A lot of the shows that I have been doing have been fund-raisers and it s been quite amazing because I am so associated with helping to fight breast cancer,” she said.

It s especially rewarding, Newton-John said, because she overcame a personal battle with breast cancer in the early 1990s.

“In the very beginning, it was hard to talk about, but now I feel very comfortable with it,” Newton-John said.

She is getting ready to release the “LivKit,” a home self-examination kit to promote early detection of breast cancer, and she has raised enough money to make the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre a reality in her hometown of Melbourne.

The Toledo concert is a rare opportunity for Newton-John’s fans, since it is her first extensive U.S. tour in 17 years.

After the tour ends, she plans on taking time off and helping her 17-year-old daughter, Chloe, develop her own singing career.

As for selecting the songs for her current tour, Newton-John said she’ll be singing the hits from throughout her 30 years in the business. It’s not easy whittling down the selections to a workable number of songs, she said.

“I try to pick the songs that people want to hear but actually, it’s difficult to fit them all in,” Newton-John said. “I don’t want to sound egotistical. I feel very blessed.”

While she said she expected Grease, in which she co-starred with John Travolta, to be popular, she had no inkling that it would become the most successful movie musical ever made.

“No one would have guessed how amazingly popular it would be,” Newton-John said. “In my audiences today, the Grease fans range from little kids to grandparents.”

Olivia Newton-John will be featured in the Breast Cancer Foundation s 10th Anniversary Pink Ribbon Gala, 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. A reception in the Great Hall will follow the concert with food and beverages from area restaurants. Tickets for the Pink Ribbon Gala are $125 with gold circle seating, and tickets for the concert alone are $39, $45, and $70 from the box office, 419-381-8851, and Ticketmaster, 419-474-1333.

[davidyonke]

A notable book

I am reading this book -- not that I haven’t read enough about pandemics -- and it is a remarkable story. Barry explains the backdrop of the 1918 flu pandemic that killed an estimated 50 million people, and probably many more than that. He traces the history of medicine and the revolutionary changes that took place following the Civil War. He also explains in great detail how a virus spreads and the physiology of its attack on the human immune system. I’m about halfway done and feel like I’ve been to “virus school”. I’m grateful for Barry’s thorough, even exhaustive, research and his ability to put complex chemistry and biology into layman’s terms. And of course, it is all a bit of a scary wakeup call in view of the current, ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.