Times Rippley

The Value of a Magnet Is More Than Its Attraction.

A magnet was something special to me when I was a child. I was amazed by how it could attract certain objects. I didn't think about its price or what it was worth in the marketplace. I was interested in what it could do.

Today, magnets have become important to some of the world's most advanced technologies. But I still believe there is another kind of value in magnets. We can already turn them into beautiful collectibles. I picture them with engraved silver or gold - colored faces & magnetic backs as awards or souvenirs. Not just refrigerator magnets.

But that brings me to another thought: What if magnets could become a new kind of money? What if a beautifully designed magnetic medallion could have collectible value beyond its ordinary use? Could precious metals, artistic designs, and the attraction of magnets come together in an entirely different concept of value?

Sometimes an ordinary object can inspire an extraordinary idea.

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening to Time Rippley.

Past & Present News & Events

Story by: Gail Nobles
Cover Art: Gail Nobles

In a fascinating biblical story, we learn that the first harp was created by a man named Jubal, who is a descendant of Cain. Jubal is famously referred to as the "father of all who play the harp and organ," according to the book of Genesis. This suggests that he is seen as the very first musician in history.

It's important to note that when we see the word "organ" in this context, it doesn’t refer to the large pipe organs we think of today. Instead, it likely means a simple instrument, such as a mouth organ or a type of Pan flute.

Jubal’s contributions marked a significant moment in human history, as this invention symbolizes the beginning of music and the arts. Alongside Jubal, we also have his brothers who contributed different skills to society. His brother Jabal is recognized as the ancestor of those who raise livestock, while their half-brother Tubal-Cain is known for his expertise in working with metals.

Together, these figures illustrate the early development of music and agriculture, showing how different talents emerged as civilization progressed.

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you very much for listening.

Past & Present News & Events

Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain
Story By: Gail Nobles

But, after football, Bubba started feeling the effects of all those hits he took while playing. He had pain and headaches.

So, Bubba and other former players sued the NFL. They said the NFL didn't tell them enough about the dangers of head injuries.

Then, something surprising happened: Howard Cosell, a famous sportscaster who often criticized the NFL, supported Bubba and the other players.

Cosell wasn't a lawyer, but he was a big voice and helped get the word out about the lawsuit.

Even though Bubba died before the lawsuit was finished, it be came a big case with thousands of players. The NFL ended up paying billions of dollars to help the players with their medical problems and research.

Bubba Smith's story shows the price athletes pay for playing sports, and how companies like the NFL should protect their players. Even someone famous like Bubba could challenge a powerful organization and make a difference, with the help of someone like Howard Cosell.  This story is still important today as we think about keeping athletes safe in all sports.


Past & Present News & Events

Intro music by: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Wikimedia Public Domain

Let me tell you, that PBS soul celebration from the 60s and 70s was absolutely electric! You know how we love to groove and move to those timeless rhythms, and when Yvonne Elliman stepped out there on that stage and belted out "If I Can't Have You"? Whoa, what a moment!

Hello! I’m Gail Nobles and you’re listening to Times Rippley. I’m talking to you today about Yvonne Elliman and her smashing hit. If I Can’t Have You.

Now, talking about the Bee Gees, those brothers knew how to write a hit, and this one really captured the spirit of the 70s. Just imagine the disco lights, the vibrant colors—Saturday Night Fever was setting the scene, and Yvonne’s voice soared right through it all, reaching that number one spot on the US charts in '77!

What I love is that soul music has that power to connect folks, to get them up on their feet dancing. Yvonne’s take on that song was just soulful and full of passion, bringing the house down, and reminding us of those unforgettable years when music was all about heart, love, and unity.

So, if you missed that celebration, oh man, you better make sure to catch the reruns! It’s history, it’s rhythm, it’s soul, and it’s just waiting to sweep you off your feet! Keep that spirit alive, and let that music play!

Past & Present News & Events

Story by: Gail Nobles
Muchael Jordan photo: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Julius Ervung photo: Wikipedia CC BY 3.0

Hello! I'm Gail Nobles!  Welcome to Times Ripley. Today I want to talk about Michael Jordan versus Julius Irving. They played against each other. They faced each other a total of eight times in NBA games. Julius Irving has a 6 to 2 winning record over Michael Jordan. They never met in the playoffs.

 Michael and Julius on a Hardwood battlefield where the legends take flight, each in their prime yet from seemingly different epochs.  On one side we have Michael Jordan an electrifying comet, a force of nature soaring to heights previously unseen in the world of basketball! The man is pure dynamite and sneakers with his tongue out and his will to win unyielding already setting the NBA ablaze with his acrobatics and artistry.

 And there gliding into the picture is the one and only Julius Dr. J. Irving- the epitome of style and  grace, a man who redefined the very essence of what it means to soar! The doctor arrives.

 The game commences! with a raucous charge!  Michael Jordan takes the ball!The crowd gasps as he glides  by the good doctor with unparalleled speed and embodying the spirit of youth- a whirling dervish! But wait! The doctor with his sublime agility, pivots, and out of nowhere produces a block that leaves eyes wide!

 A back-and-forth of brilliance ensues in a vertible chess match played with keen intensity and flair. Jordan responds showcasing not just his physical prowess but a basketball IQ that seems to defy his years. A feathery jumper here and acrobatic layup there. Truly remarkable! Truly remarkable!

 But let us not overlook the presence of the esteem Dr. J! With silky smoothness, he dances and walks through the air unleashing an arsenal of moves that only he can perform. His signature dump that defies gravity sending waves of electricity through the building, draining the very oxygen from the atmosphere! He is like the wind, the air we breathe- there is poetry in his motion.

 As the clock winds down the tension escalates. Each point is hard fought, each basket a declaration of athletic supremacy, and yet a bookkeeping of history’s  pages.
 Folks, whether it is Michael with his youthful audacity or Dr. J with his legendary grace, we are the fortunate witnesses of a basketball renaissance! History has been made. Stories are  told.

 From the timeline to icons from two different time zones captured in a moment where basketball transcends mere sport. It’s a spectacle of epic proportions - a game that could never truly happen, yet in our minds, the echoes of their greatness respond on the hardwood! And as they say in the grand Arena of life it's not just about the wins and losses, but the legacy left behind. What a world we live in.


Past & Present News & Events

Story by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain

Yoel Romerois a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA. Romero formerly competed in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and was a challenger for the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Romero mixed martial arts record shows 15 wins and 7 losses. Romero is scheduled to face Thiago Santos on February 24, 2024 at PFL versus Bellator.

Yoel Romero is called a true MMA legend and the soldier of God. He competes at the highest level against the very best fighters to this day. Even though Yoel Romero is one of the best fighters to never hold a UFC title, you can help but notice him because he is one of the best fighters. It’s hard not to look his way. It's hard not to recognize him. He’s got fans that call him the champ. They say he's a true warrior and a great freestyle wrestler.

Remero was the '99 World Champion (five-time medalist at the World Championships), the '00 Olympic Silver medalist, a three-time World Cup winner (six-time medalist). . I could go on and on. As of Feb 7, 2023, he is #3 in the bellator Light Heavyweight Rankings. Romero is incredible and has not retired. He’s still working as a warrior in the MMA.

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening to Times Rippley.


Past & Present News & Events

Story by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain

Hi! I am Gail Nobles, and you’re listening to Times Ripley. PBS is the best in documentaries. PBS is a free-to-air television network and is different than CBS, ABC, and NBC. I've always called it the learning broadcast television station. It’s the station where we watched Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street as children.

As an adult, I began to watch PBS documentaries. I learned about the newspaper LA times and how it started. The name of that documentary is Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times. The city’s most powerful family.

Another great PBS documentary that I like is Eyes On The Prize. It tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Wizard Behind The Curtain is a wonderful documentary about the fascinating life of L Frank Baum, the author of the Wizard of Oz.

And there is the Walt Disney documentary. It’s about his complex life and enduring legacy from his early days creating Mickey Mouse.

And there's more documentaries from PBS. Just look for the TV show “American Experience”. Just go to pbs.org or YouTube to follow and subscribe to the show.


Past & Present News & Events

Music by: Gail Nobles ©️ 2023
Music: Echoes of Romeo
Story by: Gail Nobles
Vocals by: Gail Nobles
Art by: Gail Nobles

Hi! I'm Gail Nobles, & you’re listening to Times Rippley.

I'm thinking of Aaliyah and Jet Li today. When they made the movie “Romeo Must Die” together, it was considered Li’s American film breakthrough and Aaliyah’s acting breakthrough.

I was looking for more, but Aaliyah left us in 2001. However, the memory of the movie and music video, “Try Again” that they did to together still lingers on in my mind. Musically, I can only imagine them together if Aaliyah had lived to do more movies with Jet Li.

(Music) Voice 1: Drop Kick! Choir: Drop That Base...

The music you've just heard is called “Echoes of Romeo” by Gail Nobles ©️ 2023. Inspired by the movie Romeo Must Die and soundtrack.

When I think about Aaliyah, it makes me wish I could have worked with her during the time she was working with Jet Li and working on her music.

There are many of us that have plans & dreams & people we didn't get to meet. If we don't get to do things in the present; if we don't get to see eachother, maybe in God’s plan & kingdom in the future. Until next time, goodbye friends. Thank you for listening.

Past & Present News & Events

Intro Song written by: Gail Nobles
Intro song: We Can Always Come To The Savior
Vocals by: Gail Nobles
Art by: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles
Story: Donna Summer and Me

Music: Soul Keys Letting Go - Samplefocus.com
https://samplefocus.com/samples/soul-keys-letting-go-b
Usage: Standard License

I don't know what it is about Donna Summer and me.
Singing: We can always come to the Savior

Donna Summer was someone I tried to find & get in touch with weeks before she died on social media. I had no idea that she had cancer or if she had a social media account online. She was just on my mind. The next thing I knew, it was pronounced that Donna Summer had passed away.

The queen of disco. I remember hearing her a lot on the radio when I was a little girl. My favorite song by Summer is Heaven Knows. She passed away May of 2012 at age 63.

Years after Donna Summer passed away, I had a dream about her that she was getting prepared to sing in the heavenly choir. She was with a lot of people. They had on robes, and they looked as if they were stepping up standing in line.

Sometime this year, I had a vision of Donna Summer. She was sitting in church. She had on a navy blue dress with a white collar. Summer had on glasses and she appeared to be unbowing her head as if she had been praying.

It is said that she had sung in the choir. She was raised on gospel music. I don’t know why I had the dream & vision of Donna Summer. I see as if she knows something about me. I have never met Donna Summer. It’s a spiritual thing. Maybe I was close to her in my heart more than I realized, and maybe she became a part of me.

I can’t forget Donna Summer. I won’t forget her & the dream & vision. I’m Gail Nobles. You’re listening to Times Rippley.




Past & Present News & Events

Song: Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)
Song by: Harry Belafonte
Digital art by: Gail Nobles
Voices by: Gail Nobles
Vocals by: Gail Nobles
General Port Ambience: https://quicksounds.com/library/sounds/dock

“Day - I (The Banana Boat Song) is a traditional Jamaican folk song. It is a call and response work song, from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships. The lyrics describe how daylight has come, their shift is over, and they want their work to be counted up so that they can go home.

The best-known version was released by Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte in 1956 and later became one of his signature songs.

"The Banana Boat Song" likely originated around the beginning of the 20th century when the banana trade in Jamaica was growing. It was sung by Jamaican dockworkers, who typically worked at night to avoid the heat of the daytime sun. When daylight arrived, they knew that their boss would arrive to tally the bananas so they could go home.

Belafonte described "Day-O" as "a song about struggle, about black people in a colonized life doing the most grueling work," in a 2011 interview with Gwen Ifill on PBS NewsHour. Belafonte said that he took that song and honed it into an anthem that the world would love.

Harry Belafonte left us on April 25, 2023. He went to a new home. He is now resting in peace. He lived to get to a good old age. Belafonte lived to get 96. He has now retired. His work is done.

I'm Gail Nobles and you're listening to Times Rippley. .....



Past & Present News & Events