Getting Started With Your New Ukulele

Get started playing ukulele today!

Get started playing your new ukulele today by learning a few basic techniques. It is easy to get started playing simple songs, even if you have no musical experience.

Getting Started With Your New Ukulele

So you’ve just purchased a new ukulele and you don’t know where to begin. Perhaps this is your first string instrument, or maybe you’ve been playing guitar for years before deciding to try out its smaller cousin. Either way, there are several things you need to know about ukuleles before you can begin learning to play your favorite songs.

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Understanding the Differences Between the Four Ukulele Sizes: Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone

Understanding the difference between different ukulele sizes

I recently started learning ukulele, so of course I’m going to write about the instrument. Here is my first ukulele article!

With so many different option, it may be difficult to choose the best ukulele for your musical needs. The first thing you need to decide is what size ukulele you would like to play. This guide will help you to choose.

Understanding the Differences Between the Four Ukulele Sizes: Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone

If you are considering purchasing your first ukulele, you may feel overwhelmed by the different options available. The first thing you need to do when deciding on your new instrument is to figure out which size ukulele best meets your musical needs. Ukuleles come in four different sizes, from the standard tiny tinkly-toned soprano up to the larger full-toned baritone.

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The Ghostly History of Franklin Castle: Hauntings of Cleveland, Ohio

Is Franklin Castle in Cleveland Ohio Haunted?

Franklin Castle in Cleveland Ohio is considered the “most haunted house in Ohio.” Are the rumors of hauntings legitimate? Could the ghosts of the original owner’s family still be haunting the halls of the famous Victorian mansion?

The Ghostly History of Franklin Castle: Hauntings of Cleveland, Ohio

Franklin Castle, located at 4308 Franklin Boulevard in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, is often referred to as “the most haunted house in Ohio,” and for good reason. This Victorian house, which was built in the late 1800s, purportedly has a colorful and violent history, beginning with its original owner, Hannes Tiedemann. According to local legend and supposed eyewitness accounts, Franklin Castle is inhabited by a number of ghostly spirits, including several members of the Tiedemann household and several other specters of potential historical significance.

Visitors and former residents of the house have reported hearing the ghostly sounds of babies crying throughout the night, footsteps, and screams echoing throughout the home’s hallways. Ghostly figures have been seen traveling throughout the house, and witnesses from outside have reported seeing a woman wearing black staring out through the front tower window. Could there be any truth to these alleged hauntings?

While I am a Cleveland-area native, I have not had the privilege of being able to actually tour the inside of the house, as the current owners are not welcoming to visitors. Though Franklin Castle is currently not accessible to the public, local visitors can still see the house from the street and sidewalk. Perhaps if you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of one of the ghosts that allegedly haunt the halls of the home through the tower window.

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The 12 O’Clock Knock

a front door

This is a rewrite of a story I wrote for Halloween a few years ago. It starts out seeming like something scary might happen, but it turns out that the lonely elderly lady’s fears were unfounded, and the situation isn’t nearly as frightening as she had initially feared. This is a simple slice of life story with an unexpected and sweet plot twist.

The 12 O’Clock Knock

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

I was just resting my eyes. I really didn’t intend to sleep for as long as I did.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

The sound of the clock’s ring echoed against the wood-paneled walls. Twelve times it banged. I jolted awake, still sitting upright in the old recliner in my living room, as the clock on the wall struck twelve.

I looked around my living room, half awake, half still in a dreamy haze, watching shadows dance across the old, dark, wood-paneled walls. A sudden creaking sound from somewhere in the vicinity of my front porch startled me.

Creak.

Creak.

Creak.

Then silence. Perhaps it was just my imagination.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

The sudden violent sound of someone – or something – knocking at my front door propelled me into a state of complete wakefulness. There was no imagining that.

My legs aren’t as strong as they used to be, and I struggled to get my tired old body up out of the old ragged chair. Once I managed to hobble my way, slowly, slowly, slowly, to the front window. But no one was there. Perhaps it was just my feeble old imagination playing tricks on me after all. My mind isn’t as sharp as it used to be. Or perhaps it was nothing more than the wind playing tricks on my old mind.

I slowly returned to my chair and sat down once more. Suddenly, another sound came echoing from the front door.

Hehehehe.

Hehehehe.

Hehehehe.

The unmistakable sound of a child laughing crept through my living room, the light sound filling my home with its joyous melody… but I did not feel joyful. Not at all. My children have long since grown and moved on from my home, and my grandchildren and great grandchildren haven’t visited in years. It is the same story for my neighbors. This neighborhood has aged. There haven’t been any children in this neighborhood for years.

Hehehehe.

Hehehehe.

Hehehehe.

There is was again. A chill ran up my spine as I struggled to sit up in the chair. I couldn’t be imagining that sound, could I?

“Hello,” I yelled out, my voice raspy from age and years of minimal use. “Is there someone there?” There was no response from the door. The faint sound of the childlike laughter quieted, then stopped altogether. Perhaps it was only my imagination playing tricks on me again. I had to remind myself, once more, that I’m not as young as I once was. I reminded myself that there haven’t been children anywhere near my home in years. I can’t remember the last time this aging neighborhood was filled with innocent laughter. It must have been years. Decades, even.

I settled back down into my worn-out old chair. Suddenly, another knock echoed from the front door.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

“Is there somebody out there?” I yelled out again. This time I didn’t bother rising from the chair. My knees are weak, and I knew now that senility must be catching up with me. The knocking ceased, and still, there was still no response. The sinister shadows from the gnarled trees in the yard just outside my window danced across the hardwood floor of my living room as I watched the space in front of my door, anticipating something, though I didn’t know what. I told myself that it must have only been the wind again. What else could it have been?

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

I looked around my lonely living room. The wall clock’s ticking seemed even louder than before, and my head felt like it was spinning. Around and around and around.

Creak.

Creak.

Creak.

The sound of ever-so-light footsteps crept outside my window, once more. It sounded as though someone was walking around on my front porch. Someone had to be out there. But it didn’t make sense. Who would be there? What did they want. I hadn’t had a visitor in so long. So long.

Several minutes passed. It kept quiet. Perhaps if whoever, or whatever, was out there would leave if they didn’t know I was here.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. This time the sound of the knock was much louder than before. I gathered up all of the courage I could muster and resolved to investigate the sound again. If someone – or something – meant me harm, well, I’ve had a good run. I knew I was old and far past my prime. Perhaps it was time to finally meet my maker.

“I know someone is out there,” I said as I stood up again. Every bone in my body creaked. Creaked. Creaked. I slowly hobbled to my foyer, slowly, slowly, slowly creeping my way through the shadows that overtook my living room and entrance way. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes tightly as I opened the front door.

Two small girls stood in my doorway, smiling up at me. They both wore uniforms of bright green skirts and matching bright green vests. Their vests were covered in sewn-on patches, all of different patterns and designs. Each girl held three boxes of cookies in their hands. On the sidewalk behind them stood a wagon filled with even more colorful boxes of cookies in different flavors and varieties.

“Could we possibly interest you in some cookies?” One of the small girls asked cheerfully as a gentle breeze softly ruffled her long blonde curls. The other little girl stood patiently next to her partner, proudly displaying her three boxes of cookies in different varieties, her shoulder-length brown hair fastened in pigtails on either side of her cherubic face.

“Sure, I suppose I’ll take a box of Thin Mints,” I replied as I reached into my housecoat’s pocket to retrieve my pocketbook. With my other hand I shielded my eyes from the midday sun. “And one box of the shortbread,” I added and dug out a few crisp bills from my pocketbook. I thanked the two young Girl Scouts before bidding them goodbye. They hopped off my front porch as I slowly turned back toward my dark living room and closed the door behind.

The Top 5 Must-Have Nintendo Switch Accessories

Nintendo Switch Accessories

These five Nintendo Switch accessories are must-haves for every Nintendo gamer’s collection. Get the most from your new Switch with these five accessories.

The Top 5 Must-Have Nintendo Switch Accessories

The Nintendo Switch is currently the most popular home console video game system on the market. Some of the current most popular games for the Switch include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, Arms, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Not only does the Switch work as a home console, replacing the Nintendo Wii U, it can also be played on the go as a handheld game system, similar to the Nintendo 3DS. Whether you prefer to play your Switch at home on the big screen from the comfort of your couch, or on the go in handheld mode while traveling, there are several accessories that all Switch owners should have to get the most out of the system.

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Celebrate Bi Visibility Day on September 23rd

Bi Visibility Day is September 23rd

I don’t talk about sexuality much on this blog, but I feel like Bi Visibility Day is important in helping to overcome the stigma faced by bisexual people even as the LGBT+ community becomes more accepted in society overall. Bi Visibility Day is observed every September all over the world and is an important day to bring awareness to the unique challenges that bisexual people face. We can overcome the stigma that bi people face by using this day to increase visibility for the bi community.

Celebrate Bi Visibility Day on September 23rd

Bi Visibility Day, also known as International Celebrate Bisexuality Day, is a holiday meant to increase awareness of the unique struggles that, we, as bi individuals, face within the LGBT+ community. This holiday was designed to help bi people around the world fight the feelings of social isolation we often face in a world that expects us to be either straight or gay. Bi Visibility Day was first introduced in 1999 and is celebrated every year on September 23rd all around the world. It is a day to speak out against biphobia and to help bisexual people to find our place within the global bi community.

Bi Visibility Day provides a platform to the bi community to bring global attention to the social, economic, and cultural prejudices and challenges often faced by bisexual men and women.

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Is Baldwin-Wallace University Haunted?

Baldwin Wallace University is Haunted

Baldwin-Wallace is rumored to be haunted. Most of these hauntings have been reported in Lang Hall and Kohler Hall—both dormitories. Apparitions have also been seen outside Bonds Hall. Is there any truth to these reported paranormal happenings?

Is Baldwin-Wallace University Haunted?

Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio has a reputation for being home to several restless spirits who are rumored to inhabit two of the campus dorms and other locations on campus. Sightings of ghosts have been reported in the two dormitory buildings, Kohler Hall and Lang Hall. Paranormal entities have also been sighted in other areas of campus by students and local residents, including outside Bonds Hall.

I live in Berea, just a few minutes away from Baldwin-Wallace. Though I haven’t had any first-hand encounters with ghosts here (yet), there are enough rumors of ghost sightings and paranormal activity that I’m in no hurry to visit the campus alone, especially at night. Berea is an old town with a rich history and numerous buildings that are over a century old. It is not surprising that there are so many rumors of hauntings in this town.

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Encounters With Grassman: The Eastern Bigfoot of Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Encounters with the Ohio Grassman

Could Cuyahoga Valley National Park be home to a Bigfoot-like creature known as Grassman? Reports by local residents point to yes!

Encounters With Grassman: The Eastern Bigfoot of Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Grassman is a cryptid similar to Bigfoot that is reported to inhabit the grasslands of Ohio. It is also known as the Ohio Grassman and the Eastern Bigfoot. Grassman supposedly gets its name from the small, hut-like nests it builds from tall grasses. Grassmen are reported to stand about 7-9 feet tall and weigh around 300 pounds. According to witnesses and cryptozoologists, this cryptid is similar in appearance to Bigfoot, but shorter and slightly more human-like. Sightings of this creature have been reported in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and surrounding areas. As an Ohio native, I have visited this park numerous times. Though I have never personally encountered the Ohio Grassman during my visits to the park, many other Ohioans claim they have. Based on the eye-witness accounts, I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to hike through the park at night. Are you?

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The Legend of the Hooker Brothers: A Local Legend of New London, Ohio

The Legend of the Hooker Brothers: A Local Legend of New London, Ohio

Joseph and Edward Hooker were tragically murdered in their home in the small town of New London, Ohio in 1974. They have become a local legend as rumors of hidden cash and hauntings still circulate decades after their deaths.

The Legend of the Hooker Brothers: A Local Legend of New London, Ohio

What would you think if, right in your own hometown, someone who never hurt anyone was brutally murdered for their money? Back in 1974, that happened not too far from the quiet village of New London, Ohio. Joseph and Edward Hooker, two wealthy brothers who lived just outside of town, were murdered in their home. Of course, legends surrounding the brothers and their murder were bound to surface within thirty years of the incident. Some people believe that the spirits of the brothers still guard their land and the remainder of their money, if any exists, while others are still too shocked that such a thing could have happened in their little town to even consider such legends. This was the worst murder ever to occur in the little village of New London so naturally the story became a local legend of sorts, but do the rumors of hauntings and hidden treasure hold any merit?

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Do Aliens Exist, or Are We Alone in the Universe?

Do aliens exist?

Could extraterrestrial life exist somewhere in the universe, or is Earth unique in its ability to support life. Are we really alone?

Do Aliens Exist, or Are We Alone in the Universe?

Are we alone? Mankind has asked this question since we first looked up into the night sky, gazing out across the endless sea of stars above. We have always wondered if there is anyone else out there, somewhere amongst the billions of stars, or if we are all alone in this vast universe. Some philosophers throughout history believed that Earth in unique, the one special planet at the center of the universe, with human beings the apex of creation. Others, however, realized that there really isn’t anything special about our planet, or our solar system, so similar life likely could have evolved elsewhere in the cosmos.

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