I am not a local musician

I am just "A" musician.

I was just thinking that I get tired of listening to musicians complain about the "local scene" and blame everyone but themselves for their issues with this entity they call "local scene". I say this because for - well...for years I was one of those musicians. I probably was one of the main complainers for quite a bit. I blamed bands that in my opinion didn't put enough work into the entirety of their performance for the lack of support the cities musicians in general experienced. The more I think about it, I was completely wrong. The problem isn't the "local scene", it's the whole idea that there even exists such a collection of people.

There only exists 2 entities in this subject that matter: musicians, and those who listen to music. People who crave entertainment are going to go pay for what they like. You could generalize and say that one particular city likes one particular type of music, but most likely you would be horribly incorrect. People IN GENERAL like all types of music, all types of bands, in all types of formats. Some like rock, country, rap, reggae, electronica, drum and bass, trance, techno, etc. etc. etc. And some like MANY of these genres. Some like to hear originals - some like to hear covers of other peoples originals. Some people just like to drink while something above 100 decibels is blaring in the background. You can't generalize "what people like". Some people like every kind of music, and some only like 1. Generally societies don't segregate based on musical preference.

And so there inlays my point for the day - It's really quite simple: If you create music, and you place it in front of people who are entertained by it - they will pay you for it.

I hope any musician reading this can find some inspiration and some hope from my simple epiphany. You can make music people want to listen to. The important thing to remember, is it's not their fault if they don't like it.

I LOVE Apple products, but the iPad is a piece of crap...

...if Apple doesn't wake up and make it compatible with all the media content on the web - particularly Adobe Flash. Ever watch movies online? Listen to music? See a cool animation? Most likely that was flash. And if you have an iPhone, you know you can't see ANY of it. It CAN'T be that hard to make a phone use Flash, and I KNOW it can't be that hard to make a nearly full sized tablet utilize it. They're probably trying to figure out a way to charge you for it.

And the advertisements for the new iPad: seriously, do they think that telling people it's a "revolutionary product" will take away from the fact that all they did was make an iPod with a 10" screen? I mean, the fancy GUI that they say is so much better than iPhone is nothing more than a few tricks added to what the iPhone would if it had a bigger screen.

So if you want a "tablet" computer, go with Windows. I think Jobs has let us all down on this one.

[steps off soap box]

Freaking AMAZING! Remake of Prodigy tune. I had no idea...

Prodigy is probably one of my all time favorite electronic groups/artists EVER. I had no idea that pretty much the entire recording was made from samples of other recordings. That's probably because I'm half retarded when it comes to electronic music, mostly due to my rock background. I've dabbled in electronic music from time to time - mostly with Ableton Live. I always got discouraged because I didn't want to use other peoples music to create my own - I used to feel it was a lack of creativity. But then I watch something like this, and become completely re-inspired. I mean, to strum a chord on a guitar is to do something that has been done trillions of times since the guitar was invented.

To write your own song is to simply rearrange the notes people have been making for years and call them your own. DJing, and electronic music is the same way - except you're using whole songs as your notes. You chop, dice, effect, mold, mix, and reform your notes (or samples to be politically correct) into new notes that really haven't ever been heard before. To see it in this way is truly amazing.

I'm looking into getting some decks and a mixer these days - learning the "original" way to sample - and then incorporating that into what knowledge I've gained of audio production in Ableton Live, and hopefully acquiring Serato Scratch Live to ease the process of obtaining music on vinyl. Just thinking of the possibility of discovering a new sound, a new talent, a new way to create - makes me excited to the core. Anyways - check out the video and shoot a few comments!

Your job is your job

Why is it that so many people seem to have an innate sense of others weaknesses? My family hired someone to take care of my Grandmother, for quite a good amount of money. And out of nowhere we find out she's been neglecting to bathe my Grandmother. When called out on it, she quits. I mean, her only job was to feed, bathe, and make sure Grandmother got all her medicines on time. Not that hard. Not near the responsibilities a CNA would have working in the hospital - and for just as much or more pay. Plus, unlike when working in the hospital - when the job is done - she just had to sit around and keep Grandmother company.

This is what's wrong with our entire economy these days. So many people do not engage in any work ethic. This is touchy especially when we're talking about the day to day care of a person who can't do these things for herself. Good job there miss CNA - I hope you have to go 3 weeks without a bath when you lose yourself.

It's not what your church can do for you...or is it?

This subject is a touchy subject for many people. I hope to simply present an argument that I'm dealing with in my life right now. Let me warn you: It has to do with religion. So, no hate messages please. LoL.

I've been attending church my entire life. I have always considered myself a Methodist, although that self characterization comes mainly from the fact that I've always attended Fultondale United Methodist Church. It's what I would consider a small family church, with great loving Christian people who generally do the best they know how to do for God and for the community in which they serve. I have no negative criticisms of this group of awesome people. I hope if you're looking for a small family church you'll check us out. FUMC has a LOT to offer for the community.

However, many small churches with smaller numbers of people sometimes have trouble reaching every type of person. It's not a question of "would" or "should", but more a question resources and/or politics. I'll define resources as variables driven by money: this includes staff to run programs, and money to fund activities. Politics is defined as usual: Not everyone wants to go in the same direction. With limited resources one has to choose option A or B; They cannot simply buy the entire alphabet.

So the argument from the title of the post arrives. "It's not what your church can do for you...or is it?" There are many reasons one might mention for going to church. The two main things I can think of that stand out most in my mind are "giving" and "receiving". What?

Ok, let me explain. The pastor gives the congregation a message. They receive it. Then they go out into the community to give the message to others who may not know God. Others receive the message - and you can now see the cycle. The problem with this simple equation is that it isn't that simple. For Christians to "grow" in Christ it takes more than just sitting through a 45 minute message once per week. This is why Sunday school, Bible studies, mens groups, womens groups, youth groups, etc. exist.

So I fall into the "young adult" group. I'm recently married, recently inducted into the full time work force, and doing my best to raise a six year old along with my wife. There aren't very many people in my "group" in attendance at my church. There inlays my dilemma. I believe myself to be a Christian who not only needs to receive spiritual nourishment, but give it too. In the past I've been a part of groups that did both. But the problem is that these projects seem to fall apart in the midst of their growth. This is not only unfortunate, but discouraging.

I see larger churches with booming programs for newly weds, and young adult - that have many others in my same walk of life in attendance. That automatically appeals to me because those people have so much in common with me and my wife. I feel that I have a responsibility to God and my family to concrete some of the belief systems I've sort of "evaluated" throughout my younger years. I don't feel I should be on my death bed before I decide to get everything straight.

I also feel like just leaving the church I've been a member of my entire life is like ditching a responsibility. So the question comes again, "It's not what your church can do for you...or is it?"

The truth is that the question is paradoxical in that the true answer is, "BOTH". Giving and receiving both have to exist for the church to grow. So do I continue to be discouraged and give for a chance to receive? Or do I go somewhere else to receive for a chance to give?

I'll be praying.

It makes me sick

...to think of the selfishness of some people. I can't take away the fact that my own imperfections are a likely cause for a large part of my own misfortunes in life - but I can't help but marvel at the audacity that others will stoop to for their own benefit.

My entire life I have dealt with a sort of social anxiety. Why? I don't know. But I have dealt with something. I always want to feel accepted by others. I'm always longing to "be there" for someone so that in my times of need someone might "be there" for me. But for some reason or another, I never can seem to nail the whole "best friend" thing down. I have those that I would have considered my best friend, but when you have to try so hard to just keep in touch that always fades. It amazing how much one person can take control of one's life, and literally play with it like a cheap piece of putty - molding it and fitting it every which way until it hardens and crumbles to pieces on the floor.

Isolation.

I isolate myself in situations where I feel threatened or uncomfortable. This is so at that time of vulnerability, people can't judge me. Problem is, they do anyways. And they'll judge you too. Of course you won't care - but you might one day. One day, you just might.

Newness

Newness is a wonderful feeling. I love that feeling when something new comes into my life. It's like a new route to an unknown destination has just been uncovered. This new thing and all it's new possibilities for adventures I might never have taken without it makes for an addictive sort of euphoria. Like all euphoria, it can be addicting. But I like it. Don't you? Some may call it materialism. But that's only what they call it from the outside. From the inside they don't call it anything. I call it newness. Or even better, W-2-ness. Oh yeah.