Folk Image Site Restored and Integrated into t1700.net

The entire vintage Folk Image website (1997-2004) has been restored and integrated into t1700.net. Around one and a half years ago, I decided to let the folkimage.com domain name expire to save an annual expense for a website that had not been active in well over a decade. But a little more than a week ago, I became enamored with the idea of restoring the whole thing and integrating it into the t1700.net domain.

The work took three days. The longest, most tedious part was changing perhaps more than a thousand links from folkimage.com to t1700.net/folkimage.com. I also updated to a currently functioning search engine and removed links to software that was no longer relevant.

You can now find a link to Folk Image on every page of t1700.net. All available two hour shows, specials, live events, and artist interviews are there for your enjoyment.     

Workarounds discovered: Liberty & Justice 1640 should return to its regular program schedule Tues. night 9/6

I thought of a workaround and after considering it for a couple days, I have decided to go with it. My personal desktop computer uses the same motherboard model that the Liberty & Justice automation computer uses. I can install it in the Liberty & Justice computer along with all the other hardware that was originally there. With that there should be no issues with activation or having to re-register the automation software.

This will cause some inconvenience as I will need to temporarily reshuffle the functions I normally do on my personal computer to other devices. But I'll live with it for a few weeks.

Expect the internet stream, normal audio processing, and regularly scheduled programming to return by 6 AM Eastern on September 7th.  

Worst possible timing: Motherboard of the Liberty & Justice computer suffers a BIOS update mishap. Regular programming suspended, possibly for weeks

The past three weeks have not been kind to Minimum Wage Media's PC work horses. First, a dish cloth got caught in the CPU pins of the motherboard in my personal desktop computer, ruining it probably for good. Then, as if all the fall out from that was not enough of an expense and inconvenience, the motherboard of the main Liberty & Justice computer underwent a USB-based flashed BIOS update while I forgot to remove a networking device that was still connected to the USB bus. The update took forever with mostly a blank screen. It finally proceeded normally. But after completion, the computer went dead instead of attempting a re-boot. It has not been able to power up since.

The motherboard is still under warranty, so the cheapest solution was to send it back to the manufacturer to have them re-set the BIOS. However, the complete process may take four weeks or more.

The timing could not have been worse. The Massachusetts Primary is on 9/6 with the general election in November. Without that computer, and the years of programming and maintenance that went into it, I was forced to suspend regular programming indefinitely. There will be no internet stream, no local input to the programing, and no audio processing. Only the terrestrial AM signal within 3 miles of Acme Park will remain. We will carry various networks - Infowars, GCN, Real America's Voice, RSBN, and Frank Speech - switching among them with no set schedule as I am able to do so. I am planning to carry President Trump's Wilkes-Barre rally live on Saturday and the Tele-rally on Labor Day evening (7 PM) featuring President Trump, Geoff Deihl, and Leah Allen. But mostly it will be all networks all the time by necessity.

Computers are finely tuned, unforgiving devices. If you would like to assist with a donation to help during this frustrating period, you can do so on our advertising page. I appreciate your support.       

Both FM signals (mini translators) have been shut down permanently

I have decided to permanently shut down our FM mini-translator signals at 87.9 and 97.9. Due to our New England winters, I cannot get an FM transmitter to last more than two years. Without proper antenna de-icing, multiple components fail and it is not an easy fix without a schematic. Buying new transmitters - yet again - and erecting antennas inside the only RF transparent building I own (a wooden shed) would not be worth the time or expense during this period of my life. All this and one additional factor weighed in my decision.

Of course, you can still hear the stations on their main AM frequencies of 1640 and 1710. A modification I made in their tuning systems last year has resulted in the best range ever for these two signals. They also broadcast in stereo using the Motorola C-Quam system on receivers from the late 1980's and early 1990's capable of decoding such analog-based multiplexing.

If you are more than 2.5 or 3 miles from the transmitters, your sole option remains the audio streams.   

Troubadour 1710 format change coming in 2022

Through the course of 2022, as time permits, I will be shifting the format of Troubadour 1710 in a more "baby-boomer oriented" classic country and Americana direction. A large quantity of country hit singles, album tracks, independent releases, and local artists from the 1960's to 1990's will be added, while music and artists who are not appropriate for this direction will be gradually dropped.

At this time in history, I feel it is important that both Minimum Wage Media radio stations reflect the same traditional American values, lifestyle, culture, love of freedom, and spiritual orientation. I am increasingly uncomfortable with the direction the non-country-crossover folk world has taken in recent years and the attitudes it promotes. Since non-country folk people tend to believe everything the mainstream media tells them concerning Covid and its "variants," live performances are still scarce and admission is usually subject to severe restrictions. The number of new releases is way down and the product is quite mediocre. But then again, what you believe definitely affects the quality of your work.

Truly "evergreen" non-country-crossover folk product that is universal and timeless in its appeal will remain but be confined to the evening hours (7-11 PM) when the emphasis will be more acoustic. Relaxing "new age" will remain overnights to aid in your rest.

My time for such a huge alteration is limited, thus the gradual shift over a year's time instead of a sudden format change. But once established, I believe sensible listeners will be pleasantly surprised and quite pleased. Stay with us and support us financially if you can.               

Minimum Wage Media policy concerning events and venues requiring shots or recent test

 audio message

"Boomer Country Memories" debuts Sunday evenings on Troubadour 1710

For years I put off the idea of developing such a show. I knew the tremendous amount of time it would take to research and archive the musical content needed to make it sustainable - time that I simply did not have. But everything DOES have its time and finds its time. A couple weeks ago, I couldn't put it off any longer.

In the early stages of downloading and filling in metadata, I found myself quite moved by these old songs, many of them almost forgotten. In the following days, building the library for the show almost became an obsession. 

Being reunited with many long lost musical gems was certainly a major aspect in my reaction. I spent the better part of 13 years as an on-air personality and music programmer in country radio. But underlying all that was something deeper. It was mourning for the loss of a time when we were more social, innocent, trusting, and free. It was the loss of the cohesive culture and values that traditionally were aligned with country music.

What most of us Boomers grew up assuming was common sense we now have to waste time and effort defending. The people and culture that produced all this compelling music is, in my view, being attacked on all fronts. But that's just my reaction.

Tune in Sunday evenings from approximately 7 (or whenever the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast ends) until 9 to see what state of mind 2 hours of country music from the golden era puts you in.

Boomer Country Memories - Sunday evenings on Troubadour 1710. ( ...in AM Stereo, just like back in the day.)