the idiot box?

As you know I don’t watch much TV. I watch it when I eat something. I used to watch it more of course, but I found myself getting tired of the same ’schtick’ replayed ad nauseam from one show to the next. It seems Movieland is not so big after all as well, and when one actor (or group of actors) has any modicum of success, they’re milked over the next few years for everything they have …which, strangely enough, wasn’t all that much in the first place. Anyway…

I happened to turn my TV on the other night at the same time as the premier of the Rosie Live! show. I didn’t know what to think really. Part of me couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and another part of me wondered how shallow the ‘celebrity pot’ has become that Rosie would be given a new show. Didn’t she have one, or two already? As I watched, I found myself strangely drawn to it. It was like an accident scene, and I couldn’t really look away -lol. Seeing Liza M. dancing made my stomach upset, and hearing Rosie sing along with her didn’t really help matters. When one of the Baldwins came on (who cares which one, really), he wore a one-button sport coat that made it look like his fly was open. The ‘mystery door’ appeared (via the weakest of all segues) and poor Conan had to add insult to injury by taking a pie to the face. He’ll recover I’m sure. Clay A. came on to bolster the Gay agenda (I didn’t know he was gay but the routine made that point obvious) and that nice girl from the old Ally McBeal show did a little song and dance as the show gave away gifts …and after all it gave away, I guess it still needed more. She was alright though, that girl. The dancing guys …I don’t know? The singer …I hit the mute button to play some guitar for a while. What I did like was that there was something different coming along every 5 seconds …but I suppose that doesn’t really help matters when everything thing that comes along is either fairly uninspiring or obviously over-the-top. Maybe back in the 40’s when Ed did his thing might this show have had a little more success. Not now though. And seeing Rosie in that much make-up made me afraid. Very, very afraid.

And so it was with refreshing relief that I stumbled upon the Bonnie Hunt show the other day. She’s cool, and I watched (and even laughed) her complete opening. I turned her off after a commercial break …but not because I didn’t like her, it’s just that my interest wanes quite easily. I remember liking her when I first saw her on the Letterman show many years ago. I thought she was quick, witty and had a great personality. So yeah, hopefully her daytime show with NBC will eventually grow …possibly recoup the losses from the Rosie fiasco.

That’s my TV comment kids. It don’t happen all that often.  I blame this post on my cable provider (Shaw) for messing with my channels lately …losing all my presets that had me hoping between CTV News, CBC News, PBS, Bravo and that #37 station next to it that has some cool old movies on every once in a while. But I’m not completely in the dark. I already found one of my shows (the other is still having issues) and once things return to normal, you’ll never have to hear me spew about such matters again.

After all, you’ve got the TV to help you with that …you don’t need me.

Rob Thompson – ‘You And I’

I saw Mr. Rob Thompson play the other night.

Rob is one of those piano playing guys, and I’ve had the pleasure to play with him on and off since we first met back in the early 90’s at GMCC. He was good then …and of course better now. He released his first CD ‘officially’ last night, although he did give me a copy almost half a year ago or so. But I suppose Rob likes to work at a leisurely pace compared to most musicians putting out a new recording …and that’s not so bad. ‘Slow and steady wins the race’ as far as I’m concerned.

And the quality definitely shows ….both technically and more importantly, compositionally. It’s not overly dedicated to one style, which is what I find happens to many CD’s, and nor is it a carbon copy of styles/players, which is a trap for many releasing their first disc …attempting to imitate the sounds that influence them the most. Instead, it’s kinda like Rob has sorta simmered for a while, and like a good bottle of wine (so they tell me) he’s given himself time to grow into his own. That’s def. not a bad thing …especially here in Edmonton where individuality is often crushed by the need to compete with influences from anywhere that isn’t Edmonton.

I know personally that Rob has dabbled in a little of everything along his musical path. Some would argue that that might be a bad thing; spreading your abilities too thin and then showing up without any real substance. From a songwriter’s perspective however, nothing can be further from the truth. He’s taken his time, and rather than stepping forward with an offering to the ‘coaster hall of shame’, I think he instead brought something great to the local scene.

Thanks Rob

Images from Rob's CD Release: Rob Thompson - Piano, Joel Gray - Flugel, Mo Lefever - Guitar, Jeff Johnson - Bass, Kent Sangster - Tenor Sax, Sandro Dominelli - Drums

Markbass CMD 102P

Did I ever mention I bought myself a new bass amp not so long ago? *blog check, blog check* Nope, it appears I did not.

Anyway, I did. It’s the Markbass CMD 102P (which is a kickback 2 X10 combo) …and you know what – I think I like it! You’d probably ask “I hope you would like it, otherwise why’d you buy it?” ….and I did enjoy it at the store. But screwing around with something in a showroom is different from using it with what you do – so there is always the chance of it not being the ‘best’ thing. At first I used it mainly for bigger gigs (meaning loud) and paired it with my other 15″ cab, but now that I’ve had the chance to use it in some smaller groups and rehearsals, I’ve gotten to appreciate it. It works for everything so far. I’ve even started using it at home to run/learn tunes with. I’d never do that before. It’s got more than enough jam on its own for smaller things, and it’s pretty simple to dial in a tone you’d like. It’s also super light too …that’s never a bad thing.

So yeah, that’s my new toy. I don’t normally buy myself too many toys – my main bass is an 80’s Ibanez that I picked up in a pawnshop more than a dozen years ago – then there’s the acoustic Washburn that I used to use a while back, now it’s just collecting dust. My last amp was bought ’sound unseen’ through my work …which I kinda got used to but at the same time kinda got tired with. Previous to that was an old Traynor that lasted (and is still partially in use) for almost 10 years then some other little things were just passing flavors. I’m not a gear head. I don’t like to fiddle with things …instead I just like to play and have them work.

And the Markbass does just that

The Markbass CMD 102P

factoids

Musical factoid #58:
Learning songs that you already know is easier than learning ones that you don’t.

Musical factoid #72:
Sporadic re-learning of the same material does very little for creativity.

Philosophical factoid #28:
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Addendum to Philosophical factoid #28:
If I don’t know it’s broke, don’t tell me.

Subconscious factoid #35:
Kill me please …I beg of you.

Life of Pi

Finished reading the Life of Pi by Yann Martel today.

It was interesting. I liked it a lot at times, and at other moments I was somewhat lukewarm to it. I won’t get into the story (and it’s a great story!), but instead I’ll give you some of the passages that caught my attention.

——————–

“For fear, real fear, such as shakes you to your foundation, such as you feel when you are brought face to face with your mortal end, nestles in your memory like a gangrene: it seeks to rot everything, even the words with which to speak of it.” pg 170

“And that wasn’t the end of it. There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence, were something weak and helpless. These people walk by a window deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise, walk by children dressed in rags living in the street, and they think, “Business as usual.” But if they perceive a slight against God, it is a different story. Their faces go red, their chests heave mightily, they sputter angry words. The degree of their indignation is astonishing. Their resolve is frightening.” pg 78

“Only death consistently excites your emotions, whether contemplating it when life is safe and stale, or fleeing it when life is threatened and precious.” pg. 241

“First wonder goes deepest; wonder after that fits in the impression made by the first.” pg 55

“The obsession with putting ourselves at the centre of everything is the bane not only of theologians but also of zoologists.” pg 34

“You may be astonished that in such a short period of time I could go from weeping over the muffled killing of a flying fish to gleefully bludgeoning to death a dorado. I could explain it by arguing that profiting from a pitiful flying fish’s navigational mistake made me shy and sorrowful, while the excitement of actively capturing a great dorado make me sanguinary and self-assured. But in point of fact the explanation lies elsewhere. It is simple and brutal: a person can get used to anything, even to killing.” pg 205

“We fight and fight and fight. We fight no matter the cost of battle, the losses we take, the improbability of success. We fight to the very end. It’s not a question of courage. It’s something constitutional, an inability to let go. It may be nothing more than life-hungry stupidity.” pg 164

“I saw my suffering for what it was, finite and insignificant, and I was still. My suffering did not fit anywhere, I realized. And I could accept this.” pg 196

“All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.” pg 45

“From the (ship) all I had seen were dolphins. I had assumed that the Pacific, but for passing schools of fish, was a sparsely inhabited waste of water. I have learned since that cargo ships travel too quickly for fish. You are as likely to see sea life from a ship as you are to see wildlife in the forest from a car on a highway. Dolphins, very fast swimmers, play about boats and ships much like dogs chase cars: they race along until they can no longer keep up. If you want to see wildlife, it is on foot, and quietly, that you must explore a forest. It is the same with the sea. You must stroll though the Pacific at a walking pace, so to speak, to see the wealth and abundance that it holds.” pg 195

“In a zoo, we do for animals what we have done for ourselves with houses: we bring together in a small space what in the wild is spread out.” pg 19

“The moon distresses you by silently reminding you of your solitude; you open your eyes wide to escape your loneliness. When you look up, you sometimes wonder if at the centre of a solar storm, if in the middle of the Sea of Tranquility, there isn’t another one like you also looking up, also trapped by geometry, also struggling with rear, rage, madness, hopelessness, apathy.” pg 239

“To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.” pg 31

“…what is the purpose of reason? (…) Is it no more than to shine at practicalities – the getting of food, clothing and shelter? Why can’t reason give greater answers? Why can we throw a question further than we can pull in an answer? Why such a vast net if there’s so little fish to catch?” pg 108

——————–

What I liked about the book? The insights into animal behaviors, ideas on survival/resourcefulness, the correlation of various religions, the ’story within the story’, the keen observations into human nature and the bonds between both man and animal and man and nature. Stuff I didn’t like? At times the religious statements seemed forced and out of place, including the entire ‘meerkat/pond/island’ sequence …which was then left rather abruptly. The ending was great! The writer’s story (italicized in the book) had me rereading/searching for all the early mentions of Richard Parker. I did enjoy the book, although I didn’t come away with any great revelations – for as Martel mentioned in an earlier quote: ‘the first wonder goes deepest…’ It does challenge you to think though, which is always a good thing.

Towards the end of the story, Pi (Martel’s main character) makes the statement …“Isn’t telling about something (…) using words (…) already something of an invention? (…) The world isn’t just the way it is. It is how we understand it. (…) Doesn’t that make life a story?” pg 335. I have to agree that how we understand life is in itself the story. We write the book with our words, and our words become our world to us. However, there must be a foundation underlying this that provides us with the common basis to even understand each other at all. Our stories …our words, are simply embellishments on a larger and greater unfolding story, and this, to me, is the world around us. Our grounding. A world that is just the way it is.

All this said of course, with words.

we own not of…

we own not of
a blade of grass,
a fallen leaf
or day surpassed,
yet there between
the first and last
we look for victory.

we look to grasp
that measured light,
a colored sky,
an endless flight,
and with a grip
that’s all too tight
we claim our victory.

we steer our fate
in green and gold,
through magic scribes
our stories told,
and when they fade,
remake them bold -
prolonging victory.

such is the case
with man’s refrain;
a lifetime search
for truth.  inane?
and hope? …a race
among the vain
for immortality.

new tune…

Hey all.

So, I figured I’d take a pass on the recording procedures this time around, and give you a new song with the simple ‘me and guitar video’ thing. It’s kinda nerve rattling in a way cause there’s only been maybe a dozen people with whom I’ve had the courage to perform in front of. Yes, I perform all the time in bands and what-not, but I’m not singing my own songs …and I never play the guitar. Thinking back, it was only Natalie who got me up for a rendition of ‘Stay With Me’ many years ago in front of a meager 4 or 5 patrons at some little club. And back in the early 90’s Cara and Ang had me do a thing for some Christmas concert ….but that’s been about it. That’s why I play the bass or horns, so you don’t have to be out in front. You can hide a little.

But it’s done. I did it in one take too, so you can see (hear) what I have to work with when I try to record. When I record vocal tracks, I usually put down a few and then ‘cut and paste’ to get a half-decent one. Usually, but not always. I’m not a singer …I’ll just say that. I’ve put the lyrics below so you can follow along, and as always, the details about the song itself over in the ‘Music (New)’ section of this site.

And please excuse the lame iMovie editing …I never use the program.

done

I’d be your man
I’d be your one night stand
I’d be your rock
and I’d be your space
I’d be them all
I’d be your wonderwall
I’d be your place to fall
If you would be mine

I’d be your saving grace
I’d be the one to take your place
you know it’s true
this I would do

I’d take you back
I’d give you all your slack
I’d be your favorite snack
If you would be mine

(solo)

I’d be your saving grace
I’d be the one to take your place
you know it’s true
this I would do

I’d be them all
I’d be your wonderwall
I’d be there when you call
If you would be mine X 3

Heart,

Heart,
Sorry for screwing things up.

Sincerely,
Mind.

ps – polyester sheets are
not only quite comfortable,
but far superior when it
comes to heat retention.

Dog of Man

Here’s a new offering from David Firth, the creator of Salad Fingers.

lingo

Welcome to history making kids ….two fitness posts in a row. Woot!

I hate that word btw, ‘woot’. I hate ‘btw’ too. Now that I think about it, there’s a lot of that crap that I don’t buy into …mostly cause everyone else does. But that’s me – mr. opposite for the sake of being opposite. What’s the word for that again?

So yeah, fitness. Today was Pec’s and Bi’s (aka; the pectoral and biceps muscle groups). Three different exercises for each group, 4- 5 sets for each exercise and 4 to 12 reps per set. Does that make sense? Maybe I should just devote some time to this for a bit.

An exercise is a movement of sorts. Take a bench press for example, that is an exercise. If you were to lay down on the bench, grab the bar and make one repetition (one ‘press’ that is) you would have done one exercise, one set, and one rep. If you were to do 5 presses instead of one, then you would have completed one exercise, one set, and 5 reps. See where this is going. Now, here’s a tricky part. If you were to lay down on the bench, do 4 consecutive reps, then take a break and go back and do 7 more consecutive reps, you now would have done one exercise, two sets, and 4 and 7 reps respectively. Makes sense?

For my first exercise tonight (which was the flat bench) I put on enough weights that allowed me to complete about 13 repetitions before I got too tired. I took a 30-90 second break and then added more weights and did another 12 reps. After another roughly equal break, I added more weights and squeaked out about 8 reps. After another break, I added a bit more weight and pushed hard to get only 5 reps. Finally, I took off a bit of weight and did another 7 or 8 reps. When all is said and done I did only one exercise, with 5 sets, and my reps varied between 13 and 5.

I hope that spells things out a little better …so next time when you hear someone say they did “four sets of 12″, you’ll know they are only talking about one exercise (movement), doing the action 12 times before resting, and then repeating the same thing 3 more times …to arrive at 4 sets. Simple.

Aside from the flat bench, I also did some close grip machine presses and some flat flies. 3 exercises in total (for chest) with 5 sets for the first, and 4 sets for the second and third exercises. All my reps were somewhere between 12-13 and as low as 4-5 …I don’t recall them specifically because they kinda varied with the weight I used and with the amount of energy I had tonight …which kinda sucked. But I still got out and did it …and so can you!

I can be so inspiring at times can’t I?!?!? Maybe not, lol. The important thing though, is that you do something. Slow and steady wins the race in my books. And if I can help to clear up some weightlifting lingo for ya, then my job is done …much like this post

Image from 'Weight-Lifting-Workout-Routines'