The Apple (Pay) of My Eye

The following grocery stores in my neck of the woods offer NFC Apple Pay which I have used. There is only one store really understands and makes NFC mobile payment works. That is Sprouts. The others on the list are just so-so when it comes to setting up NFC terminals for Apple Pay.

In all of these stores, I like using the Apple Watch instead of the iPhone 6s. The former is much more convenient and requires no iPhone nor its Touch ID to initiate a payment.


Best of all of the Apple Pay NFC stores in town:

- Sprouts

Sprouts has the best Apple Pay setup. Once the clerk starts scanning the items, the Apple Pay NFC is ready to accept payment. I just place my Apple Watch over the NFC, and its done reading it. All I have to do is wait for the clerk to finish scanning and bagging the purchased items. Very nice.


First Place:

- Best Buy

Forget MCX. Best Buy has decided it's best all around to accept Apple Pay. No need to press "Yes" on the NFC unit to authorize credit card payment


Second Place:

- Whole Food

Once the cashier starts to scan the purchase item, Apple Pay is ready at the NFC unit. But the NFC still requires
the pressing of the "Yes" button on the screen to complete the transaction


Third Place:

- Trader Joe's

The clerk needs to finish scanning all of the purchase items, then he has to press a key on the register to authorize Apple Pay. After placing my Apple Watch over the NFC, I must tap the terminal for "Yes" to approve the purchase.


Tied for 4th Place:


These two merchants have very awkward Apple Pay NFC systems.

- Save Mart

- Walgreens


Promises Promises:

- Home Depot

It never got its act together or it reneged on providing Apple Pay.


Unknown:

- Lowe's

Nada. No Apple Pay. It decided to stick with PayPal.


Note: Other service providers in town (e.g. Apple Store, health care providers)are known to have Apple Pay which I have used. Their particulars are not included in this post.

Alexander Scriabin's Birthday

Tab 1 Feature:

6 January 2016

Alexander Scriabin's Birthday
Russian composer and pianist
(6 January 1872 - 27 April 1915)

Evgeny Kissin, piano
2005

- 5 Preludes, Op. 15, No. 2 - Vivo   0'51"
(A. Scriabin)

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

6 January 2016

Alexander Scriabin's Birthday
Russian composer and pianist
(6 January 1872 - 27 April 1915)

Evgeny Kissin, piano
2005

- 5 Preludes, Op. 15, No. 3 - Allegro assai   0'58"
(A. Scriabin)


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Nathan Milstein's Birthday Anniversary

Nathan Milstein
Russian-American violin virtuoso
(13 January 1903 - 21 December 1992)

Nathan Milstein, violin
- Violin Sonata in G Minor - I. Larghetto
(Tartini; arr. Kreisler)

Click or tap here to view this L'Envoi YouTube.

Christmas Eve 2015

24 December  2015

Christmas Eve
North America


Colorado Symphony and Choir
2005

- Too Hot to Handel - Sinfonia 3'34"
(after G.F. Handel "The Messiah")

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

24 December 2015

Christmas Eve
North America


Toronto Symphony and Choir
Florence Quivar, messo-soprano
Kathleen Battle, soprano
1987

- The Messiah Oratorio- He Shall Feed His Flock  5'19"
(G.F. Handel)

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Christmas in the Wing

22 December  2015

Winter Solstice
The first day of winter
Three days till Christmas

The Jim Cullum Jazz Band
1984

- We Wish You a Merry Christmas 2'33"
(Traditional)

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

22 December 2015

Winter Solstice
The first day of winter
Three days till Christmas

Van Cliburn, piano
1961

- Etude in A Minor, Op. 25, No. 11, "Winter-wind" 3'38"
(F. Chopin)


This MP3 post expired on 12-24-2015.
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The Beginning of Winter

The Beginning of Winter
W.  M.   MacKeracher (1909)

Now are the trees all ruefully bereft
Of their brave liveries of green and gold,
No shred of all their pleasant raiment left
To shield them from the wind and nipping cold.
Now is the grass all withered up and dead,
And shrouded in its cerement of the snow;
Now the enfeebled Sun goes soon to bed,
And rises late and carries his head low.
Now is the night magnificent to view
When the Queen Moon appears with cloudless brow;
Now are our spirits cleans'd and born anew
In the clear, quickening atmosphere; and now
We re-make home, and find our hearts' desire
In common talk before the cheerful fire.

Winter Solstice, 2015

1822 Hours
Mostly Cloudy
56.7°F /13.7°C


December  22, 2015       Rise:        Set:
Actual Time            7:15 AM PST  4:49 PM PST
Civil Twilight         6:46 AM PST  5:18 PM PST
Nautical Twilight      6:13 AM PST  5:51 PM PST
Astronomical Twilight  5:41 AM PST  6:23 PM PST
Moon                   2:57 PM PST  4:05 AM PST

Length of Visible Light 10h 32m
Length of Day 9h 33m
              Tomorrow will be 0m 4s longer

Beethoven's Birthday Anniversary 2015

Tab 1 Feature:

17 December  2015

Ludwig van Beethoven's Birthday
a Classical music immortal
(17 December 1770 - 26 March 1827) 

Walter Murphy and his orchestra 
1977


- A Fifth of Beethoven 3'03"
(after Beethoven)

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

Ludwig van Beethoven's Birthday

(17 December 1770 - 26 March 1827) 

Ralph Font and his orchestra
1959

- Minuet in G Cha Cha 2'11" 
(after Beethoven)


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A Tribute to Sinatra on His Centennial Birthday

Tab 1 Feature:

12 December  2015

Frank Sinatra's Birthday
"Chairman of the Board"
(12 December 1915 - 14 May 1998) 

Beegie Adair, jazz piano trio 
2010

- Fly Me to the Moon 3'35"
(B. Howard)

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

Frank Sinatra's Birthday
"Ol' Blue Eyes"
(12 December 1915 - 14 May 1998)

Beegie Adair, jazz piano trio
2010

- Come Rain or Come Shine 4'50" 
(H. Arlen)


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Your Voice Moves My Heart So

Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix

Tab 1 Feature:

7 December 2015

Bent Fabric's Birthday
Danish pianist and composer
(Born: 7 December 1924 ) 

Bent Fabric, piano 
1962

- Delilah 2'15"
(after Saint-Saen, 'Samson and Deliah'

~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

7 December 2015

Charles Magnante's Birthday
American accordionist
(7 December 1905 - 30 December 1985)

Charles Magnante, accordion
and his orchestra
1964

- Carmen Opera Medley 3'44" 
(after Bizet, 'Carmen')


This MP3 post expired on 12-15-2015.
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