It came to my attention, while listening to the radio the other night, that the great David Suzuki has recently addressed issues surrounding the dangers of THC in relation to mental health on his award winning program, "The Nature of Things". I used to love sitting down with my folks in the evening - I'd insist on watching, and becoming frightened/enraged by listening to Dr. Suzuki's dire warnings to clean up our act or else!
Then, last night, one of the local radio station's personalities, Leslie Primo, was nattering on about the connection between schizophrenia and pot use with, I think, a "mental health specialist", i.e. designer drug pusher? There was a young man attesting to the improvement in his life since giving up the herb, but interestingly, also said that it was soon after abandoning his alleged three joint per day habit, wherein his life began taking a turn for the worse.
One might assume this would be considered a normal result, the seeming imbalance of everything when you are suddenly faced with the pain of having to contend with the physical and mental pangs of withdrawal from a substance that has entrenched its way as yet another routine behavior in your day to day affairs.
But is it really, truly, necessarily, or beyond a shadow of a doubt, better that this lad, once a "chronic" pot head, is now on dependent upon some experimental cocktail medley of powerful synthetic pill-form "medicine" with relatively little known of it's long term potential side effects, in order to deal with the tribulations of life? I don't know. I'm not an expert, but I do intimately understand the perils of addiction... I don't want to admit how much money I spend on coffee and the occasional cigar / cigarette.
And David Suzuki? Since I was a mere "crayon", I've always found David to be engaging, brilliant, and rational if not too sensational, but I imagine he would probably be disgusted with the level of air-born impurities or pathogenic atomic whatever in my little man-cave of an apartment - the stale smoke, the incense, the seal meat pie baking in the oven...
Anyway, I started out not really intending to write about Suzuki, Primo, or pot-heads, but more so to discuss my participation in Boy Scouts, the significance of numbers, and what some "mental health expert" might label, a hallucination - which would be my assessment of what I "heard" blowing in the wind, while camping with some of my fellow subjects in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta on summer in the mid to late 90's.
My adVENTURES in the wilderness are not what I wanted to really discuss here either. As for hallucinations, think of an (example I heard from a researcher interviewed by George Noory on Coast to Coast AM the other night) interior decorator who makes a living by essentially hallucinating about how a room will look after his imagined layout is conjured into the real physical space. I immediately thought of a songwriter who sings and / or plays musical instruments and how a tune-smith will "hear" a song in their mind before performing, recording it, writing it down.
Music and dance/movement, are ethereal concepts. A painting in progress is ethereal. Needless to say more at this time, on that!
Time for a video. I've know this song for a long time now, and was inspired after hearing Ronnie Spector's voice on her version of the song, to make an attempt to sing it myself, and dedicate it to the one and only fleeting marvel that is Brian Wilson:
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
First Beta Release of, "Pet Project"
Well that didn't take long! Now you can try it out... just need to alter a few settings, and we can see where this goes...
This is my idea of conceptual advertising...
... a template if you will. I don't really know what to say about the image to the left, my new collage, except that like most of my stuff, it lacks coherency and was thrown together on a whim. It's supposed to direct you to, "My ever more resentful neighbour" blog. I wrote some poetry there earlier this afternoon. Can't stop thinking about the situation in Haiti. Very unsettling for me though I sit here so far away from it all. I imagine the shouting and the barking and the venomous snakes and strange voodoo magic.
Spent some "time" over Haiti using the Google Earth's Flight Sim feature. Made an almost reasonably half decent landing on Port au Prince's roller coaster runway. I found the simulator to be quite nimble, and of course the graphics are superb in full screen mode with Direct X (which from now on I'll simply refer to as "Dirext"... or maybe that could be a super 3-D text mega sharp display mode...) running on my super-duper computer. (Not really, just a relatively high performance box from off the shelf of the computer stuff store.)
I was thinking perhaps I could go to Haiti and drive some Gravel Trucks around, but I doubt I'd have the stomach for seeing so many dead, carted off like so much as if they were never animated souls. So I hear. Also, the heat would be almost unbearable for an Arctic Boy like me.This is why I so very much appreciate the invaluable service that our men and women provide who take up the call of the armed forces of our Great Nation. They courageously go to often hostile places mostly no one else but the bravest of Doctors and Nurses and I'm sure very many good fearless volunteers and missionaries dare tread, to help people they've never met before, and hopefully, God willing, will exchange pleasantries instead of bullets - sadly, the latter is too often the outcome of putting men with rifles into strange places.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Those Crazy Canadian Liberals
The year is 2019 and the Liberal Party of Canada has become all but entirely irrelevant to the leaders of the "New World Order" - little more than a standing joke to Canada's now, rigidly overwhelming Conservative minded populace.
Five unlikely companions who just so happen to share an obsession with the life and times of Andy Warhol, reluctantly band together on a journey that is sure to be rife with perilous dangers and unprecedented glory... the quest for the "Lost Lemon".
If they succeed in this last ditch effort to restore the righteous coffers of Canada's (un)original political camp by discovering the whereabouts of the fabled "Lost Lemon", an alleged gold deposit of mythic proportions rumored to be somewhere in the Crow's Nest Pass region of Alberta's majestic Rocky Mountains, they just might have a shot at saving Canada from the wretched tyranny of the Conservatives!
--- *** --- *** _________*** --- *** ---
Father Ignatieff: Finding this so called "Lost Lemon" will be less likely than inadvertently unearthing the day-old excrement of the noble Puffin by way of tripping over oneself, but we need to keep pressing on! Just look for something in the cliffs as shiny as this new Oyster Perpetual Day-Date watch I happen to be wearing right now.
Dr. Morgentaler: Speaking of obsessions with puffins, Father, just please do us a favour and make sure you actually wash your hands before preparing dinner for our little camp tonight... I can hardly believe you really are the best cook amongst the lot of us! No offence, Ben, your boiled and salted green beans with Guinness stewed veal was almost divine, but Father Michael's... what were they again, now, stewed "Prarie Oysters" served upon wild rice patties, were indeed something to write home about, wouldn't you say? I'd take the Prairie Oysters over Fois Gras any day! Comfort food!
Mulroney: Right back at ya there... you should try my Swiss Char casserole.
Father Ignatieff: Your appreciation makes my effort worthwhile. Wash my hands doctor? But why are you now reminding me of this societal given... and whatsoever does it have to do with me trying to tap into my inner Puffin?
All but Michael: (laughter)
Dr. Morgentaller: Oh Father! Haven't you had your H1N1 shot yet? (laughs) I was only considering the chances of EColi transmission to the rest of our party if you continue to so closely imitate the Puffin's propensity to hide it's processed pellet post poop.
Justin: Yeah. That's tellin' him, Doc. Besides, haven't we already quietly reached a consensus that we all would prefer you'd just outright stuff that Puffin stuff altogether? It's effin' queer, Mikey! I mean, come on now...bird watching?
Father: That's *Father* Mikey to you, Lottobot... my son.
All: (Laughter)
________----____________----____________
With their Co-op Mountain Equipment TM supplies packed tightly in haunch of the ol' Volkswagon Microbus (converted of course to run on something other than fossil fuels), our cadre of righteous gold seekers, armed with so many hints from the locals, are well poised to actually find this legendary Lost Lemon; rumored to exist in days of yore, and still yet to be claimed- which represents for them, the end of dirty politicking, and the beginning of their version of a socialistic utopia that, whether they realize it or not, any rational minded citizens of Canada should be fast to nurture and embrace.
Unbeknown to our stalwart heroes, however, is that a renegade team of not-so-well wishers from Camp CON, ruthless corporate kowtowing mercenaries made up by Marc Carney, David Rutherford, Steven Harper, and Wayne Gretzky, aren't so keen on seeing these Liberal hucksters gain a leg up so easily as setting up a gold mine.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A prayer for Haiti
If you'd have asked myself fifteen years or so ago if I thought that I might grow into the type of person who would become obsessed with public opinion and tune in to a guy named David Rutherford, I would have probably given you a long quizzical gaze and asked you if you would like a turkey sandwich. Today, Dave Rutherford reminds me of George Noory, host of "Coast to Coast AM" most nights of the week; he addresses an ever growing audience and is truly a very well respected man with a somewhat mystifying profile?
Dave Rutherford has always run his radio program within the limits of good taste as my memory serves, and I've definitely grown to appreciate his rigid arguments on "hot topic issues", primarily focused on Alberta and her affairs, unless there is literal earth shaking news as there was this morning.
I will pray for the people of Haiti, especially for the many Canadians down there.
I've never written a prayer before, but I have prayed to God throughout my life. Though I can only imagine what it would be like facing a crisis of proportions like the one in Haiti on this day, the continuing saga of Man v. Nature will always remind us of the crushing power of nature and her innocent cruelty.
Dave Rutherford has always run his radio program within the limits of good taste as my memory serves, and I've definitely grown to appreciate his rigid arguments on "hot topic issues", primarily focused on Alberta and her affairs, unless there is literal earth shaking news as there was this morning.
I will pray for the people of Haiti, especially for the many Canadians down there.
Let us all pray to God: God Help Us all to cope as only your help can, and through Your divine guidance, may our lives prevail beyond this dark and life shattering day. May we live in peace with one another - brother; and may God let us live to learn of his unknowable ways and glorious works in this eternal life. Amen.
I've never written a prayer before, but I have prayed to God throughout my life. Though I can only imagine what it would be like facing a crisis of proportions like the one in Haiti on this day, the continuing saga of Man v. Nature will always remind us of the crushing power of nature and her innocent cruelty.
Monday, January 11, 2010
My Learning Curve is Longer than Most People's
Just so you know, folks, I've taken to doing some writing under a different banner. The blog-site is called, "My Ever More Resentful Neighbour", and my intent is to have it reflect and extrapolate upon any thoughts that might be ping-ponging around in my stupid head upon crawling out of bed. This site, moremoreenough I would like to reserve for discussions involving the evolution of my video making endeavors and my progressive You Tube progress.
So, without further adieu, I would like to introduce, "iHINDUISM".
I don't really know how to begin to describe the impetus for this little 'piece'. Like much of my 'work', it's simply some doctored-up video, or a grouping of piecemeal video clips then set to absurdly engineered 'music'. Not sure if my portrayal of a retarded person is at all convincing, but I hope you get something out of it!
One thing I know, is that I get a kick out of making this stuff. It would be nice to get more feedback or at least some kind of acknowledgment for what I'm doing, but I suppose that fame and recognition will only come when I actually produce something worthwhile. Still, I encounter some videos that make mine look like slick Hollywood productions by contrast, and they somehow manage to get multiple thousands of views. Oh well. I suppose that art really is in the eye of the beholder.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Vulgar Nastiness
I've recently set my blog to grown-up status so that I can feel at ease when peppering my paragraphs with vulgar nastiness.
Been working tirelessly on videos and what not, and must say that I welcome the challenge of doing it all. From concept to publication, Web 2.0 makes it so easy. Setting up the camera, playing some guitar, transferring the video, designing banners and mashing it all together in the virtual editing suite. Titles and paragraphs.
I must admit though, that I wouldn't consider myself especially business savvy which is why I find great value in the idea of aligning myself with partners of expertise greater than my own in the world of commerce.
I bring this up because I think it remotely possible that I may one day find myself at the helm of a busy production company or something equally as stressful. Since I dabble in all the various elements that go into making video shorts and the somewhat sophisticated work involved in developing a web log network to promote my shit, it will I hope lead me to eventually be in a position to introduce myself as the leading executive authority over company affairs...
So now I'm playing catch up with this online record of my progress through the webwork strands of electrical impulses and peoples' lives! I decided to give my You Tube home page a slicker design, and thinned out my playlist. I imagine that some of my experimental music works might only appeal to other musician types or pot heads? Anyway, I see this whole thing as the ultimate exercise in maintaining an online presence and leaving a portfolio of sorts in your midst. Everything may as well be written in stone, I say...here's some of that experimental music of mine with a cool video accompanying the harsh and cutting guitar music:
Thanks for watching. I've got hours upon hours of footage to work with, and I'm always pushing boundaries and innovating new ways of working with media manipulation software. I'm from the old school of 8mm video tape and dual deck editing machines, but haven't had much exposure time to film. ;) I must say, that working with digital video does make for quicker transfer time... you can chop your media up and recombine it with relative ease. Looped sequences are a breeze. It's like all those would-be writers out there that hardly wrote a word until the advent of the word processor.
I would like to eventually have some more serious hardware interfaces, like a high speed USB transfer device to do the best job possible of rendering analogue sound sources as digital waveforms. I borrowed on from my good friend Mr. Esquire, and was quite impressed by it's performance. I believe I mentioned it in a previous entry somewhere - anyway, it's Roland model UA-101, or the EDIROL High Speed Audio USB transfer device, I think.
Of course I'd like to have some nice traditional analogue recording equipment some day, but for now, I still feel I've only scraped the surface of what can be achieved with some very decent software tools, like Corel Photo Paint 9, Windows Movie Maker, and Audacity. Okay, enough. It just became apparent to me why my blog seems to have a limited appeal... boring!
Okay then. I hope to bring you some exciting news next time. Maybe some neat pictures. Here's one I'll leave you with:
Been working tirelessly on videos and what not, and must say that I welcome the challenge of doing it all. From concept to publication, Web 2.0 makes it so easy. Setting up the camera, playing some guitar, transferring the video, designing banners and mashing it all together in the virtual editing suite. Titles and paragraphs.
I must admit though, that I wouldn't consider myself especially business savvy which is why I find great value in the idea of aligning myself with partners of expertise greater than my own in the world of commerce.
I bring this up because I think it remotely possible that I may one day find myself at the helm of a busy production company or something equally as stressful. Since I dabble in all the various elements that go into making video shorts and the somewhat sophisticated work involved in developing a web log network to promote my shit, it will I hope lead me to eventually be in a position to introduce myself as the leading executive authority over company affairs...
So now I'm playing catch up with this online record of my progress through the webwork strands of electrical impulses and peoples' lives! I decided to give my You Tube home page a slicker design, and thinned out my playlist. I imagine that some of my experimental music works might only appeal to other musician types or pot heads? Anyway, I see this whole thing as the ultimate exercise in maintaining an online presence and leaving a portfolio of sorts in your midst. Everything may as well be written in stone, I say...here's some of that experimental music of mine with a cool video accompanying the harsh and cutting guitar music:
Thanks for watching. I've got hours upon hours of footage to work with, and I'm always pushing boundaries and innovating new ways of working with media manipulation software. I'm from the old school of 8mm video tape and dual deck editing machines, but haven't had much exposure time to film. ;) I must say, that working with digital video does make for quicker transfer time... you can chop your media up and recombine it with relative ease. Looped sequences are a breeze. It's like all those would-be writers out there that hardly wrote a word until the advent of the word processor.
I would like to eventually have some more serious hardware interfaces, like a high speed USB transfer device to do the best job possible of rendering analogue sound sources as digital waveforms. I borrowed on from my good friend Mr. Esquire, and was quite impressed by it's performance. I believe I mentioned it in a previous entry somewhere - anyway, it's Roland model UA-101, or the EDIROL High Speed Audio USB transfer device, I think.
Of course I'd like to have some nice traditional analogue recording equipment some day, but for now, I still feel I've only scraped the surface of what can be achieved with some very decent software tools, like Corel Photo Paint 9, Windows Movie Maker, and Audacity. Okay, enough. It just became apparent to me why my blog seems to have a limited appeal... boring!
Okay then. I hope to bring you some exciting news next time. Maybe some neat pictures. Here's one I'll leave you with:
Friday, January 8, 2010
"Solette" your new guide to the internet!
I apologize for having not written here in quite some time. I've been having some issues with self-confidence lately, and being unemployed and broke can be extremely difficult. Somehow, I have managed to accomplish a bit of video making projectiles, and would like to shure to you, present, introduce, "Solette"; your new guide to the internet.
It was a concept that just occurred to me at some point, and so a few ovals and circles later, I had a series of digital "paintings", ready to be imported to Windows Movie Maker.
I swear that some of you are wondering where I find the time for such things, and all I can tell you is that I'm very fast and adept with my computer. I can type rapid fire, perhaps eighty words per minute or more. I'm also pretty swift at using keyboard shortcuts to jump between programs, and I have a few shortcuts of my own in the practice of graphic artistry.
The computerized voice you hear was generated using the "Text to Speech" program on my computah machine and then introduced to the "Audacity" software - I believe it is either shareware, or freeware. It's an incredibly well designed program, and I would highly recommend it to any amateur or professional out there.
Yup. Then I brought it all together using Movie Maker, to which I also introduced some Casio keyboard generated music originally recorded on cassette.
And there you have it, "Solette" - your new guide to the internet.
It was a concept that just occurred to me at some point, and so a few ovals and circles later, I had a series of digital "paintings", ready to be imported to Windows Movie Maker.
I swear that some of you are wondering where I find the time for such things, and all I can tell you is that I'm very fast and adept with my computer. I can type rapid fire, perhaps eighty words per minute or more. I'm also pretty swift at using keyboard shortcuts to jump between programs, and I have a few shortcuts of my own in the practice of graphic artistry.
The computerized voice you hear was generated using the "Text to Speech" program on my computah machine and then introduced to the "Audacity" software - I believe it is either shareware, or freeware. It's an incredibly well designed program, and I would highly recommend it to any amateur or professional out there.
Yup. Then I brought it all together using Movie Maker, to which I also introduced some Casio keyboard generated music originally recorded on cassette.
And there you have it, "Solette" - your new guide to the internet.
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