Archive for November, 2005

I wish I had actually voted today. I’ve made it my business to do so every time I could since I was legally allowed. With my citizenship in NC sort of up in the air–which reminds me to call the board of elections–I didnt bother killing myself to get to the polls yesterday. But we managed to score some pretty good victories. Now if only this momentum can be kept up until it’s time to go DNC for president. And all of you republicans out there bellyaching about putting gas in your SUV, or not being able to get a flu shot–you had two chances to say no to that f&*%er.

Deliciously hip portraits of Hello Kitty as storm trooper and more. (Via Boing Boing)

As evidenced by the previous entry, I’m descending into the madness that is analog home recording. I think most kids record their own radio shows ; I always did anyway. It was a neat way to pass the time. I used to write my own ad jingles and everything. It came in handy later. When I learned to play guitar I quickly became fascinated with recording through my boombox; I’d play one track to tape, then play along with it into another tape, over and over again, ad infinitum. It was like a really time consuming four track. After I moved away I experimented with several Mac-based recording systems (even some really good ones), but was never really happy with the results. While it’s interesting that Apple has seen fit to make home recording a top priority with the creation of GarageBand there’s still something so sterile about it. There’s just something so nice about the hiss of tape and the hum of AC ductwork in the background of your recordings.
So now that my brother has a four track we’ve been experimenting with various methods for turning out decent recordings. I’ve found some decent tutorials, and I’m raiding equipment lists trying to get a handle on everything.
Honestly, I feel as though this will lead to a rediscovery of what I really love in life. Don’t worry HTML and Photoshop: I still heart you.

I spent the weekend working on some music with my brother. We’re trying to get 12 songs finished before the end of November. My trip to Chicago might put a dent in the plan, but I’ll have the acoustic with me.
We were getting ready to put bass on one of the shorter untitled numbers when I took this pic.

I have an ex who had a bumper sticker that said, “if you’re not outraged you’re not paying attention.” Well, I see a lot of people around who aren’t outraged with the current scandals and dirty dealings of the Bush administration. For those folks I offer this article in Der Spiegel; a complete blow by blow of the whole Plamegate mess from day one.
And yes, I do think it’s sad that I have to turn to Germany or the UK to get any good news or analysis about my own country’s politics. But when the right wing owns the media it’s bound to have a chilling effect on the truth.