Chad's spot for various thoughts, musings, poetry, ideas and whatnot

Thursday, February 12, 2004

Notes from the Field

Grammys

Well, were I to be realistic and well-balanced I would take this opportunity to point out that the FCC's threat of financial violence seems to have averted a continuation of the silliness that have marred the last couple of celebrity shin-digs. However, I am neither realistic or well balanced (except when going faster than 15 mph on my road bike) so I am trumpeting the overwhelming success of my "Boycott the Grammys" campaign. Out of fear of further reprisals from this writer, the Hollywood music industry but the brakes on all outrageous, publicity seeking behavior by its artist lackeys. Viewer numbers were still low for the show and Timberlake even grovelled a bit. All and all, a successful campaign. Rumors have it that I may receive a phone call from Howard "Yyeeaarrrggghhh!" Dean on how to revitalize his Presidential campaign. If you have any tidbits of advice I should offer him, comment below.

Spinblade

My new Cervelo P3 is now in my hands. From the initial tests I think that it is safe to say that it will be a bad year to be my competitor in a time trial. I was fast before. I'm at least 5-7% faster now. The downside is that I can't use the bike for recovery rides. I did that two days ago and the bike goaded me to ride faster. It begged me to fly. With a bike this beautiful, how could I say no? So much for under 70% riding. Ten days from now I'll race it in the 2nd Annual Boneshakers Tundra TIme Trial.

Garage Band

Wow, what a piece of software. This is the iPod of making music. Apple got it right again. I can't play anything more complicated than a stereo and I'm having a blast with this program just making little ditties out of loops. I already want more. More loops, more time, a USB keyboard, a faster, more powerful Mac (my iBook is a little long in the tooth), the works. If the iTunes music store is like crack, this program is musical crank. It's all totally inspiring. If you're a musician, you have to have this software. If you're a musician without a Mac you need to get a Mac and this software. Don't be bashful with the spendage either, you will really want to splurge. Definitely max out the processing power and the memory. Get yourself a USB or Midi keyboard and make lots and lots of really good music. Who needs expensive recording studios and all the rest? Get this stuff, polish your chops, get a web site and show off your skills. This may be the best thing to ever happen to music...at least until Apple thinks up some other unbelievably cool app. This is even cooler than iMovie/Final Cut Express for digitial movie making.

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