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July Indulgence Calendar and an Update on the Knights of Columbus Monthly Chosen nights

Posted: July 1, 2026 by datechguy in catholic, special events, entertainment, catholic devotions
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Before I put up this months’ indulgence Calendar I’d like to post an update concerning my Knight of Columbus Council 15962 Monthly Chosen nights held the 2nd Wednesday of each month where we

  1. Provide Pizza & drinks
  2. Show an episode of the Chosen (this month Season 3 Episode 7)
  3. Have a discussion about the episode (What’s biblical, what’s not what’s Catholic what’s not etc) led by our pastor

While during training this week I’m on the day shift I was on before starting next week I’ll be doing a night shift & will be unable to run the event. While someone will be handling July there is no Knight who can do so on a regular basis.

So beginning in August our chosen nights will become Chosen Mornings. They will still be the 2nd Wednesday of each month but will begin after the 8 am daily mass at St. Bernard’s Parish at St. Camillus Church on Mechanic Street in Fitchburg MA. When the mass is over people will be welcome to come downstairs for

  1. Coffee, Tea and donuts
  2. An Episode of the Chosen (Aug Season 3 Episode 8)
  3. Then a discussion of the episode led by Father

(Note there my be a slight delay depending if I pick up the donuts before mass or have to do it after mass)

As always the event is free and open to the public.

And now the monthly indulgence Calendar for July 2026

indulgence calendar July 2026Download

Pintastic NE 2026 Videos of the Day The Last Day and Gabe

Posted: April 30, 2026 by datechguy in fun, pinball, special events
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Well as the old saying goes all good things must come to an end and thus my run of Pintastic NE 2026 videos end on the final day of April with a pair of videos from Sunday morning.

In the old days of Pintastic I would generally stay till the very last pinball game was packed up and wrapped up and the main hall would usually be open till about twelve with a few paid people coming in to play some games on the cheep.

Not so much these days:

Of course in those days the machines from the extra ball lounge would be moved into the main room for the final day. Now they remain where they are and people go there to play while the woman’s tournament continues on.

But if there is one constant it’s that my interviews close with Gabe D’Annunzio the founder of the Pintastic feast.

This festival is the reason why there are now so many pinball options in the area that it’s no longer necessary to stay till the final game is packed up. A lot of people in New England have a lot of fun together because of this man and I hope folks remember this. I hope folks say a prayer or two for him in gratitude for all the joy he has brought so many.

And that concludes our Pintastic NE 2026 coverage. God willing and new job willing I’ll be back for Pintastic 2027.

The Pintastic NE 2026 Video roundup

Pintastic NE 2026 Videos of the Day: My Interview with Pinball Game Designer Steve Ritchie

Posted: April 29, 2026 by datechguy in business, entertainment, fun, pinball, special events
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I was very fortunate that the great Steve Ritchie one of the greatest design minds in Pinball & Games and one of the most beloved members of the Pinball community was kind enough to give me time for a sit down interview on Saturday at Pintastic NE 2026.

Part 1

part 2

Some of you might be wondering why I break these into two parts. The primary reason is that my old Cannon Camera doesn’t record beyond 19 minutes at a time.

The logical question is why I don’t get a new one it’s because I like the thing and have been using it for over a decade and produces excellent video.

The 2nd logical question is why don’t I just edit the video into one, part of it is when I had the reputation as being “The hardest working man in the blogosphere” I would shoot so much video & attempt to get it up fast editing would take too much time but the other part is more basic. Back when I was reporting for money I made it a rule not to edit videos so that people who watched my material knew it was a true representation of what was said.

Given the choice of an edited interview or no interview the latter.is my choice. Given the choice of an edited video or no video give me no video.

Only broke the rule once for a catholic religious lady who let something slip for 2 seconds.

Bottom line, what you see is what was said.

Previously:

Pintastic NE 2026 Videos of the Day: Tuckey, Tuckey and more Todd Tuckey

Posted: April 27, 2026 by datechguy in business, fun, pinball, special events
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If you have to point a finger at who is responsible for the rise in popularity of Pinball in the 21st century in general and over the last decade in particular you won’t go too wrong wagging a finger at Todd Tuckey of TNT amusements whose video promotions of his business and unique style predates youtube.

I’ve interviewed him several times over the last decade but at this year’s pintastic I did something different and interviewed him with a couple of his many fans.

I had intended only the one interview but he recorded a special video for their children about the pinball machine they were buying and my coverage of it turned into a 2nd interview and a shameless plug for myself:

Their kids will be watching that video long after we are dead and gone and say: “My parents knew Todd Tuckey!”

I also shot some of his seminar, because of limited battery and limited space on my camera I only managed part of it but on his own TNT Amusements site they have the full thing:

Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2

For those unaware these seminars run on Friday and Saturday and include all kinds of interesting pinball stuff.

His youtube channel is here.

His site is here.

And since we had a shameless plug on the video let me add one more. I’m currently 13 subscribers away from being able to monetize youtube. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal but I lose my job in ten days. If you want to help soften the blow please consider subscribing to my youtube channel.

Of course if you choose to hit DaTipJar I won’t complain either.

Previously:

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