New Years Resolutions
I don't do a lot of New Years Resolutions. I tend to do anything major and important such as the usual self-improvement lose weight, exercise more, etc., based more on my birthday than on the calendar year.
I do, however, sometimes make some resolutions that are more fun to keep. That way, if I don't do them, I'm not stuck with the crushing guilt of being a failure as a human begin when I don't accomplish them. I'm just not as entertained.
So here's what I plan to accomplish in 2006:
1. Learn at least four more chords on the guitar and use them in songs.
2. Finish the outline for my novel and write at least one chapter.
3. Purchase and learn to use Logic or, more likely, Logic Express.
4. Decide what 12 songs I plan to put on my debut CD, which I am planning on releasing on or before April 8, 2007, and begin recording them.
5. To not go more than a month without putting something on my blog.
6. Write and record at least one new song per month.
7. Go see more movies.
8. Read at least one book that isn't science fiction or about politics or journalism.
9. Go to a concert.
10. Come up with a cohesive Grand Unification Theory, invent a cold fusion power generating device, develope a faster-than-light means of propulsion or a safe means of human teleportation.
11. Check back at the end of 2006 to see if I've actually done any of these things.
More From the Greedy Bastards File
The bad news just keeps getting worse for the music industry as the New York Attorney General's office is now looking into whether music companies are engaging in price fixing when it comes to digital downloads.
I'd like to think this was spurred, at least in part, by Steve Jobs' comments earlier this year criticizing the indistry for wanting to raise prices for downloads. This has been a bad year for the big music industry players, sales continue to slide, payola investigations, the Sony spyware fiasco, continued bad press over illegal downloading. I can only hope that the industry will look at all that's going on and decide it's time to change their ways, but if they don't, I'll just keep listening to my independent music.
Just for the record, I've now bought more CDs by independent, self-produced artists this year than main stream record label artists.
Are We Not....Children?
New Wave pioneers Devo have gotten together again for a new album featuring their classic tunes sung by children. It's not exactly the kind of reunion and new material I'd hoped for, but it's a start. And it does sound kind of interesting.
Choose Your Battles Wisely
An article I stumbled across today has a couple of important lessons.
1. If you're going to stand on a pedistal and preach, you'd better be sure to practice what your preaching, because someone's going to surly call you on it when you don't.
2. Asy the old saying goes: Don't pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel and paper by the ton.
You Say You Want Some Evolution...
In the continually evolving argument about whether science classes will teach science or religion, a judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that "Intelligent Design" can not be offered in public school biology classes as an alternative to evolution. I'm sure this is going to cause a firestorm among those who are increasingly insistant on imposing their religious beliefs on everyone else int he county. But, in this particular case, the public has already spoken by voting out the eight members of the school board who had approved the evolution disclaimer in the first place.
While I don't want to wade too deep into the arguments of science versus religion, church and state, culture versus religion, etc., I do want to say this, the constant assaults by those with extreme views, ideas, beliefs, etc., on the views, ideas, beliefs, etc. of others don't do anyone any good. Whether it's the religious extremeist who wants their views on morality and religion to be imposed on others, ot whether is anti-religious extremeists who basically want to punish those who believe, it's as destructive to our society as strapping on explosives and walking into a crowded building.
We are supposed to be a nation of tolerance, open to a vast marketplace of ideas. And while some might view this ruling as a restriction of these free-wheeling ideas, it's not, really. Dress it up as they may, "Intelligent Design" is nothing more than creationism. It should be taught in biology class about as much as it should be taught in Building Trades or PE.
WHAT! I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
Surprise, surprise. Apparently, listening to loud music on your iPod and using your earbuds can cause hearing problems.
Duh!
It's not a new problem, even though the design of the earbuds does seem to make it a little worse.
My problem with the earbuds, however, is more that they are uncomfortable. They don't fit well and begin to irratate my ears after a while. It's a physical thing, not a sound thing.
I started using studio headphones for my iPod long ago. I figured if I have an expensive pair of earphones designed for quality sound and comfort, why not use them. It's not like I listen to my iPod anywhere where a pair of large, black earphones would look out of place. Mostly, however, I use the iPod in my vehicle using either an iTrip or a cassette adapter.
Back to the origonal concern about damaging hearing, anytime you listen to loud music, or loud anything for that matter, it can and will damage your hearing. I know I already have some hearing loss from my years of standing in front of a stack of guitar amps and PA speakers as well as attending very, very, loud concerts. But, compared to the volume and the amount of time younger people today are listening to loud music, especially in the most destructive frequencies, my experiences were nothing.
Let me just put it this way: I plan on investing money in the stock of companies that make hearing aids. In 10 years or so, it'll make me a lot of money.
Latest Video Game Obsession
I like video games. Mostly, I'm pretty old school when it comes to video games. My favorites usually involve a small electonic blob at the bottom of the screen moving back and forth shooting at small electronic blobs at the top of the screen, or some variation of this. Of course, moving around a maze or other landscape while being chased by ghosts or pookas is a lot of fun too.
But that's not to say I haven't enjoyed other types of game and that I haven't moved up in the world. Fifteen years ago, Rebecca and I got a Super Nintendo for a wedding present and had lots of fun with Super Mario Brothers, Sim City, Zelda, and lots of other adventure-style quest games. And since I've played Dungeons and Dragons for 25 or so years, once I got a computer, I naturally began playing the increasingly complex D&D based games and other similar games.
One genre I haven't really warmed to is the first-person shooter. Just never have been a big fan of Doom or similar games. But recently, we were given an extended loan of a GameCube and Rebecca started getting the Resident Evil games. They were a little more than just simple first person shooters that I've played in the past, but, still, they didn't really float my boat.
Then we got Resident Evil 4.
Not planning on playing it, I watched my wife play for a couple of weeks. The graphics were amazing. The environment was expansive. And it was more than just walking around shooting zombies. So I started a game. And it's been fun.
It's got a complex story, in line with the Resident Evil universe. You've got a lot of different options for weapons and even have a weapons dealer that pops up from time to time. Plus, you take everything with you instead of having to run from storage box to storage box.
Rebecca finished the game first. I finished the game last weekend and started a second round (with all the weapons and supplies left over from the previous game). I finished the second round last night and started a third round, this time with an Infinite Rocket Launcher, a prize you can purchase after defeating the game, but it's expensive.
Now, it's just total carnage, which has really been a lot of fun. I'm sure the carnage will lose its allure in a few days, and then I'll go back to my partially completed D&D game.
More MacJams Favorites
Here are a couple of more favorite artists from my MacJams list:
If you want to jam, then there isn't anyone better than JOAN. JOAN, as a collective of individuals, has been jamming together for 15 years, and have recently been posting those jams at MJ. They go from rocking to ethereal to all points in between. To get a sampling of JOAN, check out Angels Stopped Flying and Popcorn Chemical Suit.
jiguma, aka Neill Porter, comes from the Land Down Under, at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere - or Australia if you prefer. Neil has a very distinctive sound and writes some really great stuff, ranging from politics to the joy of a visit from his daughter. His latest is People Beyond Blue but my favorite is Sydney Weekend.
One from the 'Much Ado About Nothing' category...
I won't be wishing anyone a "Merry Christmas" this year. You'll just have to settle for a "Happy Holidays."
This is not because, as "The War Against Christmas" author Michelle Malkin, Fox News, Bill O'Reilly or others who fear a "vast left-wing conspiracy" would have you believe, I want to somehow belittle "Christmas" for anyone or try and suck out holiday cheer like some type of Yuletide vampire. It's simply that, for me, "Happy Holidays" is nice and generic and I don't have to remember to tailor my superfluous greeting to the individual.
As those who know me know, there's not a religious bone in my body. But, as long as you don't try to push your beliefs on me, I don't care what you celebrate. If you want to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, have at it. But don't try to push that on me, and that includes religious-themed displays, celebrations, etc. in an inappropriate place, manner or time. On the flipside, I don't care if a city, county, state or nation's capital has a "Christmas" tree or a "Holiday" tree. Call it what you want, however, I'll probably have something to say if you call it the "Baby Jesus, Lord and Savior" tree.
And, I also don't care if you wish me a "Merry Christmas," Happy Holidays,' or whatever. Say what you want, or say nothing. It's all the same to me.
But, for me "Happy Holidays" is a convenience and my attempt to at least try and be accommodating to those with different beliefs. In a given week, I might be around people who celebrate any number of the holidays this time of year: Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Yule, Solstice. You name it, I probably know someone celebrating it. And I can't always remember who celebrates what. Most of the time, if you wish someone "Merry Christmas" as they are headed home to light the latest candle on their Menorah, they're pretty cool about it (though, maybe not if you reversed that). But "Happy Holidays" is safe. Or at least it should be.
But this year, there's a very handily orchestrated campaign to make "Happy Holidays" a big issue. They would have you believe that my wishing you a "Happy Holidays" is tantamount to telling you to "go fuck yourselves and your beliefs." It's "Happy Holidays" that's discriminatory against the poor, oppressed 80 percent of the country who at least claim they are Christian - including most every elected official and law maker in the country - they would have you believe. It's taking the meaning out of Christmas.
Of course, if you want to get technical about it, Christmas historically was a pagan holiday, as are most of the rest of the major religious-themed holidays which were co-opted by the church in an effort to destroy the pagan religions. But, I'll be nice and not point that out.
It's a very clever campaign on behalf of those who really believe there's a war on Christmas, Christianity, morality, Mom, apple pie and baseball. (Or it's a very clever campaign by those who at least have no qualms against using those who truly believe those things as political pawns.) It's an emotional, yet meaningless, topic that unites one rather homogeneous segment of the political spectrum, but has the potential to divide other segments. And like so many of the "cultural wars" issues, it's designed more for politics than for beliefs. Like gay marriage or flag burning, it's a non-issue. But it gets people more steamed up and motivated more than, say, the growing budget deficit, providing healthcare for vulnerable populations, making sure the environment is clean, etc.
I've seen the same level of nastiness from people "discussing' this "issue" as from those "discussing" the war in Iraq. You'd think Osama bin Laden was behind the move to wish people "Happy Holidays." (Or was that Sadam Hussein? I always get those two confused.)
My, doesn't this just stir up the holiday and/or Christmas spirit.
So, I'll wish everyone out there "Happy Holidays," no matter what holiday you celebrate. And just think about this: Aren't you glad you live in a land where you can celebrate whichever holiday you wish, or none at all, if you prefer?
New music Tuesday
My latest tune os up today on MacJams. A throwback to 80s new wave Destination:Everywhere was inspired by my re-watching of Carl Sagan's classic "Cosmos." Lots of rich synths, allusions to exploring the universe, this one was a lot of fun to make.
The second song, Yule, is kind of on the other end of the spectrum. It's more or less a song for the season. It's a choral work produced by my singing the same parts over and over and over.... It's actually a remake of a song I did about a year ago. It's kind of differnt from the stuff I usually do, but it's fun (at least I think so.)
Now on DVD!
Finally, one of the greatest really horrible Star Wars-spawned science fiction movies of all times has come to DVD.
I was looking through one of the many DVD catalogs I get at the liberry and saw the movie title "Female Space Invaders," and who was on the DVD cover but the great Caroline Monroe. Though the name had changed, I knew this had to be the DVD I've been waiting for for so long - "Starcrash: The Adventures of Stella Star."
This is an Italian film from 1979 and is your basic good guy versus evil empire kind of story. Besides Monroe, I think what helps make this movie so delightfully bad (aside from the script), is the fact that Christopher Plummer plays the evil emperor and David Hasselhoff as Stella's sidekick.
If, like me, you love the best of really bad science fiction, it's well worth the $8 it sells for on Amazon.
