Freak of Nature

So there's this little animal that lives in my front yard. She has 2 tails. And though I don't remember dumping any radioactive waste on that part of the lawn, something could have fallen from space. I mean, the cats have been acting weird lately.

But, more than likely, this little female brown anole just had an injury to her tail. And though her tail was broken, it didn't completely fall off. But, another one grew out while the original one healed. Or else she's a demon spawn sent from hell to take over the earth. Fortunately, she didn't bite me.


M

Noise vs. Music

So I got this comment on one of my YouTube videos "Laptop Reaktor Glitch" saying that I should have spent my time actually learning an instrument rather than messing with noise.

But, I did start with an instrument. Guitar. Back in 1983, I got a guitar and started learning to play the instrument. Then bass, and synthesizer followed. I was manic with the guitar, obsessively playing whenever I could. I even got pretty decent on the thing.

As I was going on, I noticed that I also liked to mess with sound. I did that mostly on a Roland SH-101 that I wish I still had. I spent hours on end tweaking knobs and coming up with whatever that synth would spit out. Noise? Probably.

Fast forward over 20 years to today. I look at what I'm doing as just another expression of music. Not to discount any genre that I like or dislike. It doesn't matter. I still have a great time messing with sound. I've even made a business of it. It can't be all that bad.

So, I encourage all you out there to experiment and have fun. It doesn't matter if you get "hate mail" or "love mail" or more than likely, both. As far as the comment poster goes, I figured that he/she was actually complimenting me in some fashion. So, thanks, dude!

M

F7 Goes Hi-Def!

And it's about time. OK, I'd been working with high resolution audio (that is audio above the level of CD-Quality) since 1998. So, why not, 10 years later, start shooting hi-def video (not that I've been in a rush or anything)?

I've been shooting video with the Canon HV20 camcorder for a couple of weeks now. The video quality is amazing! And it kills my previous favorite camcorder the Canon Elura100 MiniDV. No contest! The picture is a shrunken version of a video still from the HV20.

Editing HD is a chore on my 2.5 year old Powerbook G4 (a great laptop), but well underpowered for today's HD. I've crashed iMovie I don't know how many times - and more to come since a new computer is not in my immediate future. Though when it does come, it will be an Apple, of course!

So, the majority of my upcoming online short films will be originally shot on HD - and may be released that way on line too. I've got to run to the post office. Talk with you again soon!


M

Mike's Home Movies

You thought I was asleep. Not the case. I've been going through tape after tape of video that I've shot over the past 6 years. Not only did I go through it, I made some edits too. OK, lots of edits.


So, these video clips are under the name "Mike's Home Movies". Have a look:

Mike's Home Movie #1

Mike's Home Movie #2

Mike's Home Movie #3

And more to come....

Enjoy your turkey!


M

Not-So Fresh Feeling

(Did I use this title before?)

It could be like the "druthers" or kind of a sloth-like emotion. But when I think about it, maybe it's that we've had several cloudy and windy days. That, and my lizard can't get much "outdoor" time since the temps are around 80 with clouds (she's the desert type that likes it "Africa" hot).

I did think of a kind of funny thing, though. How about replacing the word "computer" with the word "vagina"? It sounds stupid at first, but lets think about it....

"I'll have to check my vagina to see if I'm available that afternoon."

"My vagina's running a little hot. Is it supposed to be this hot?"

"Damn, my vagina's got that virus that's going around."

"For Christmas, I'd like a new vagina."

"The whole problem started with a vagina error."


OK, now it's no longer funny to me, either. But, for a few seconds there, I thought it was great. And just so the ladies out there don't get too pissed at me, I actually used "penis" as the replacement word (equal opportunity and all). "Penis" wasn't funny at all. Which proves, once again, that "vagina" is more funny.

I'm looking forward to October being OVER!



M

Get My CDs FAST!

After plenty of hard work creating quality mp3 versions of my CDs and finding a decent place to sell them online....

You can now purchase downloadable versions of several of my CD titles from my LuLu.com storefront.

This is the way to go - downloadable music, of course, but I haven't really been too happy with the sound quality of most mp3s. And since they're being paid for, they should at least sound good, right? Well, mine do. I went right to the master audio file (the same file that I burned the master CDs from) and converted that directly to a high-quality mp3. Oh, and they cost less than the CD version, since there's no physical product and no shipping.


M

U S of KKK?

Apparently, as of last year, we were still living in an era where a black student has to ask permission from a principal to sit under a shade tree with white students. Damn that tree! Oh, the tree's been cut down, so that we don't have to worry about nooses and fights and all that ever again. What's wrong with my first sentence? Read it again... "Apparently, as of last year, we were still living in an era where a black student has to ask permission from a principal to sit under a shade tree with white students." We as "The Greatest Nation in the World" need to do something to correct this.

OK, and in another twist of fate, the Hillsborough County Commission voted not to fund cable public access. Has the world ended? Not at all. You want free speech? You got it. All those program producers, no matter what your message, need to go from local cable to the wonderful internet. Maybe some have already. But, if they were effectively making use of the internet, I think they'd be ditching their public access slots and not be concerned about funding. Cable is so... 20th Century... where on local public access, you might have 12 viewers (if you're lucky). Your show airs at its scheduled time and then, hopefully is replayed some time later - whenever or whatever.

21st Century public access is the internet. Those same producers could have thousands (or more) viewers - on demand - just about anywhere! Imagine reaching a world wide audience at a cost of just about nothing? Local public access can't even come close.

The only advantage that public access has is the tangible equipment and studio that are offered to producers. But, today, that only goes so far. Those local show producers who'll be losing public access should easily be able to scrape up a cheap web cam and hook up with a computer (even if it means borrowing some time on someone elses). But, I imagine that most producers will be able to get ahold of better gear. And, with outlets like Google Video and YouTube (and literally hundreds more), getting "airtime" is a piece of cake.

I'm all for a withdrawal of funds to public access. Our tax money can be better spent elsewhere. Meantime, I've got work to do on my own "channels".



M