The Internets Are Good For Something

Even if I can't get over selling people mp3s, the internets are pretty cool for discovering music. On one of my frequented fora, someone posted about the bass sound on this:



It's totally got that earthquake kick drum, too. I do dig the blended/biamped glitchy fuzz tone bass. I wish that I could pull off sounding like that, but usually my fuzz sound sounds nothing but cheesy. I need to work on it, I think. I'm getting closer, though. I remember hearing playback on one particular recording, and being amazed at exactly how overdriven my sound is at times. Greg and I have sculpted some very nice bass sounds for the eminent BLC record. The funny thing is, it's mostly just a good passive DI, with the electric grandmother mic'ed about ten feet out. He used the 1176 to even out some of my excitement, much like McDonald did. (BTW--I've heard some of that guy's new stuff, and it's going to slay listeners when they hear it)

The moral of this long-winded post is that I'm checking out more of Oxbow's catalog.

This is Crap.

This blog might be going away if I can't figure out the migration situation. I'd like to be able to continue using this platform since I've gotten pretty used to it (since 2002). I might use this as an opportunity to switch to a more robust platform (if anyone knows of a cool one, feel free to comment). This is the bullshit that I got yesterday:

Dear FTP user:

You are receiving this e-mail because one or more of your blogs at Blogger.com are set up to publish via FTP. We recently announced a planned shut-down of FTP support on Blogger Buzz (the official Blogger blog), and wanted to make sure you saw the announcement. We will be following up with more information via e-mail in the weeks ahead, and regularly updating a blog dedicated to this service shut-down here: http://blogger-ftp.blogspot.com/.

The full text of the announcement at Blogger Buzz follows.

Last May, we discussed a number of challenges facing[1] Blogger users who relied on FTP to publish their blogs. FTP remains a significant drain on our ability to improve Blogger: only .5% of active blogs are published via FTP — yet the percentage of our engineering resources devoted to supporting FTP vastly exceeds that. On top of this, critical infrastructure that our FTP support relies on at Google will soon become unavailable, which would require that we completely rewrite the code that handles our FTP processing.

Three years ago we launched Custom Domains[2] to give users the simplicity of Blogger, the scalability of Google hosting, and the flexibility of hosting your blog at your own URL. Last year's post discussed the advantages of custom domains over FTP[3] and addressed a number of reasons users have continued to use FTP publishing. (If you're interested in reading more about Custom Domains, our Help Center has a good overview[4] of how to use them on your blog.) In evaluating the investment needed to continue supporting FTP, we have decided that we could not justify diverting further engineering resources away from building new features for all users.

For that reason, we are announcing today that we will no longer support FTP publishing in Blogger after March 26, 2010. We realize that this will not necessarily be welcome news for some users, and we are committed to making the transition as seamless as possible. To that end:

• We are building a migration tool that will walk users through a migration from their current URL to a Blogger-managed URL (either a Custom Domain or a Blogspot URL) that will be available to all users the week of February 22. This tool will handle redirecting traffic from the old URL to the new URL, and will handle the vast majority of situations.
• We will be providing a dedicated blog[5] and help documentation
• Blogger team members will also be available to answer questions on the forum, comments on the blog, and in a few scheduled conference calls once the tool is released.

We have a number of big releases planned in 2010. While we recognize that this decision will frustrate some users, we look forward to showing you the many great things on the way. Thanks for using Blogger.

Regards,

Rick Klau

Blogger Product Manager

Google

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

[1] http://buzz.blogger.com/2009/05/ftp-vs-custom-domains.html

[2] http://buzz.blogger.com/2007/01/blogger-custom-domains.html

[3] http://buzz.blogger.com/2009/05/ftp-vs-custom-domains.html

[4] http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=55373

[5] http://blogger-ftp.blogspot.com/

The Profile Photo Says It Best.

I took that one a few years ago while I was workin' on the railroad. If I recall correctly, that one was taken in Kansas, and a local warned me that we 'shouldn't go down there.' Being the mighty RR consultants that we were, we totally did. Indeed, the road sucked, but not like that Wyoming stuff (there were sketchy hobo camps and people with guns and stuff, though).

Anyhow, I'm signing off for a while. I just don't feel like updating stuff for the summer, really. If there's something monumental, it'll go here, but I have zero expectations, as should you, my readin' people.

Busy Weekend.

I guess I'm supposed to be "tweeting" stuff like this. LRC says that I'm supposed to use that for "I'm taking a dump" type posts. I can do that here--why would I want to subscribe to something else for people who aren't savvy enough to use feeds and aggregators and whatnot? Oprah is doing it, so perhaps I will. Maybe someday.

Friday night was my amazing tacos and vodka. I've actually been a light-weight since my ancient Chinese secret. It's a lot cheaper to catch a buzz since my Lenten booze fast.

Saturday, I awoke to no snow aqui (where was the 4 feet, dude). I cruised down to LRC's pad--it was 'nother story there--big car-sized snow boulders in the road and shit. Lame.

I wanted to see a movie to get out of the rain. We missed Fast and Furious, and I actually wanted to see He's Just Not That Into You, because Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore are in it (hot chicks to me).

During the movie, I got a call back from dude who's bass I was interested in. I arranged to meet him later, after the kids were in bed.

We picked up the minivan of doom. The dumb asses broke a bolt off in the timing cover and replaced it for twice the price. I bit my tongue, because my Mexicans would've done it cheaper (free+parts) but it probably would've involved Bondo, a sledgehammer, JB Weld, or a die grinder (likely all four). The coolant that I smelled a couple of weeks ago was indeed a fucked up water pump--I called it but didn't press the issue at the time. Whoot to me for my nose diagnostic (when driving trucks, you have to use all your senses).

<bass nonsense>

I went to Aurora to investigate the bass. Indeed it was clean, with the modifications that are required to make a 1951 design usable with modern strings and amplifiers. I'm still lukewarm about the schoolbus bass (the color needs to grow on me still):



Dig that goofy strap con los conchos, hombres. That'll go away. It only requires Grover strap locks, and some of those white felt washers (I have a bunch of 'em 'round here somewhere). It has a modern bridge, a fret job, a decent case (with keys, of all things), a setup for heavy-gauge roundwounds (I'll have to fix that), an extra set of new strings, the original bridge (in the case), a Lindy Fralin ham-backer (I'm a believer in the Lindy's hand-wound creations)--the original single-coil pickup is also in the case. I was looking for a twangier toned bass, and this one delivers--I haven't fingered it out enough to use it for BLC yet, but it's tempting. We're doing just fine with the ultra-dark JZ tone on the orange one (with over-wound Lindys).

It was cool to get an instrument that I've had on my list, and meet another local player. None of my friends actually know much about bass guitars (everyone I know plays guitar, it seems). Certainly, my pals appreciate good bass tone, but how to obtain it is sort of mysterious to them. Along those lines, I love the title of this post, even if I think that it's lame to not do your own electronics.

</bass nonsense>

After picking up the bass, I went to Tito's show. I saw Spoke Shaver (Josh Cool's new band, not what I expected, but I need to tap his luthier skills for this damn Rick) as well as Lonesome Tommy and His Lovely Lushes (looking forward to a full-band at the Meadowlark). LRC got zapped by an energy vampire and wasn't coherent enough for any more, which was a bummer because the harmonium rock afterwards looked very very very interesting to me.

Today, I cleaned house and took it easy. Then, I went to rehearsal. We ran through the set for Saturday, and basically rocked. We haven't played together as a band in a non-writing or recording session in several months, and there was only one significant stumble (which we played through--Greg was distracting me--I fucked up a chorus on one of the "hits"). It's nice to be playing with a solid group that doesn't really get cobwebs. I think that the key is that we're focusing evenly on new material as well as old material for the show. The new, old, new, old format is great for the set. I'm so excited to play a 'real' show since our last three were "events." Indeed, this one is an event, too, it appears, but it's at our "home" venue. It's going to be fun.

<recording angst>

Apparently, my Hammond parts from Friday are going to be kept, even though I 'bout had a nervous breakdown recording 'em ('how the fuck am I going to get there from here'--it was totally slow-motion playing). It almost sounds like I had lessons, so that paid off for mom (truly a funny story), but it's so damn legato and liturgical that it's not exciting by any means. I'm holding down eight finger chords and paralyzed with terror while I await the next measure--it wasn't relaxed at all. I don't even know the names of the chords--minor sevenths with suspended fourths or something--I nailed the last chord, which is what matters for the song (is he going to beat her?). Tension and release and then, maximum tension (Gm + Gmaj, interpolated and arpreggiated, and lots of tremolo/vibrato on both).

</recording angst>

I Think That My Site Feeds Are Broken.

Damn it. This is something that irritates me with other sites. It looks like it's on their end, and not mine. A relief.

Funny.

Somehow, this search page sends one to this page. I probably have a most wanted poster in Saudi Arabia.

I think that it's quite funny.

Another Write-Up.

I really don't like that photo at all. That one that Claypool did at Cocaine Blues really is great, even if it probably won't publish well. Anyhow, here is the new write-up, in Syntax.

Something That Drives Me Up The Wall

h The overhead PA in the mighty King Soopers had classical music, and, although it's very very familar, with the piano going tink, tink tink, I have no idea what it is. I must've over-written that sector of the hard drive or something [it probably was over-written with something really awesome like Cryptic Slaughter (this is a song that's just too damn fast--you gotta love that crossover snare-core) man, I loved stuff like this, mostly because it's too fast for parents to discern lyrics]. It's quite interesting to me that Rob Nicholson went on to become Blasko, and play with a lot of bands. When I first heard 'State Control' on a hardcore mix-tape, it was the bass playing that blew my mind.

It's not really that fast to play if you do it up finger-style. I couldn't even keep up with a plectrum (completely alien). I like to pretend to myself that 'real' bassists use their fingers. That's not true, and everyone knows it. It comes down to whether you're actually a guitarist that can't cut it or not (that'll get me some page hits and comments). Hee hee.

Back to the original problem....

I probably know it from a Looney Tunes cartoon (I'm quite certain that's it). I suppose that I require that DVD boxed set to figure it out.

It's Working!

Finally got this crap functional. I also managed to move all of my old posts (going back to April 2002).

Sweet.

Why I Despise FM

And MTV, for that matter.

The impetus for this was this video:



I get really annoyed by pitch and tempo-shifted songs. I realize that they're doing it to fit the commercials in, but I'd really rather listen to music at the appropriate speed.

Anyhow, I was trying to a friend that it totally changes everything about the feel of the music, and she wasn't quite on the same page with me. Maybe I'm totally neurotic, and 5% isn't a big difference, but it drives me up the wall. I built several mp3s in an attempt to illustrate time-stretch and pitch-shift. You see, the original song runs 00:05:34, and that video version runs 00:03:45; this freaks me out.

Here is the original version(ripped from lp), 00:05:34;
Here is the pitch-shifted version, 00:05:34 (5% higher pitch);
Here is the time-stretched version, 00:05:17 (5% faster tempo);
Here is the re-sampled version, 00:05:18 (5% faster tempo, 5% higher pitch--this is how the radio does it)

Hell, I still had to cut out a minute and a half to get to the length of the video. They'd cut out half of the intro, and, as it turns out, the second verse. The intro edit was easy easy, but chopping that obscene verse out proved to be more difficult (it's probably easier to do the edits before speeding it up). I got down to three and three-quarters by "cheating" and going another 2% faster. I think that it sounds really forced, but I'm totally pleased with the clean edits. Whatever, I was just playing:


Jeremy's Radio Edit

No 'mo music

I'm not posting anymore rehearsal-angst or bass-related or gear acquisition-related stuff here. That's like second life or something. Pretend that I'm just Jeremy.

You Know, Earth Is A Pretty Groovy Place To Live

Even with all of the crap that I got to deal with today (some sort of engine melt-down, etc.), this really is a pretty little planet that we have here. My stuff is way better than those gold records (WTF?!?) on V-ger. Indeed, I have lots and lots of photos of stuff that caught my eye. Here are a few from the last couple of days:

My new and improved lifestyle.

Hee hee hibiscus.



Pink Hanging Basket.



Shifting Shafts of Shining.

Fuck You, Arapahoe Community College (aka The Man)

Apparently, when one attempts to access this very web site from the computer lab of Arapahoe Community College, one receives the following message:

Access To This URL Has Been Blocked
Access to this URL is blocked from the CCCS network in accordance with the system's Computer Use Policy, SP 3-125c due to the rating of its content. Request for accessing this URL(s) may be granted only by your college president. Your request for access must include your computer IP address(s), computer name(s), reason why you need access to this URL(s), and the dates when such access should start and end. Please include your name, position title, email address and phone number. It may take up to 2 business days to grant the requested access after your president has approved your request.

Amazing.

Network Solutions Sucks

Those cocksuckers have apparently discovered my cell number. I get at least two marketing calls per day. I have a year before this domain registration expires. I'll fire those assholes, I swear. I'm unimpressed by calls from Bangladesh while I'm trying to have a real tele-talk with my girl.

Fuckers. I hate them.

Locked and Loaded

On the eve of our debutante ball, things are going quite well. It appears that at least some people are as excited as we are to do this thing:

1401 Zuni, denber, 9-1-07, 21:00 sharp

I found a nice little write-up for the show over here (worth clicking). I know fucking nothing of the alleged myspace nonsense:

Father Guido suggests you go to the Tar-shack Saturday night for Overcasters, Mothership, and Pee Pee. This super group has been practicing and rehearsing and probably learning karate and making evil robots and unlocking the key to enlightenment, I don't fucking know, but they've been behind closed doors for what feels like forever.

They've been making hilarious claims on myspace, posting bulletins that say "Knife-throwing exhibition" and "THE CALL OF CTHULHU." Good God! It sounds exciting.

Tyler Jacobson is DJing! Artwork by Monofog's Doug Spencer! Gah!

The tension is killing me! What will you sound like, Overcasters?!

Another one:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: TYLER JACOBSON DJs THE OVERCASTERS, MOTHERSHIP & PEE PEE SHOW

Tyler DJs Overcasters, Mothership & Pee Pee show

The night that the Overcasters are unleashed on the world, Tyler will be providing the soundtrack to the in between times. 3 bands, 1 DJ and 1 art show. Be there to say you were there.

The build-up is getting to me a bit.
----------------
Now playing: The Cure - Secrets

Shitting Bricks?

On the contrary, K, Bad Ass Steve is visiting tonight.

I'm mostly nervous because this is a sort of high-profile show. If I can get through the first song, everything should be cool for my 'comeback' show. At least I have some good friends that have attempted to cool me out:

Ross claims that "you can't embarrass Bad Luck City."

Kurt says that I know enough about music theory to get through it. (gasp)

Erin is jealous that Bad Luck City rehearses sporadically.

LRC has been really sweet to me since I started freaking out last week. She's usually sweet, though. Chick requires some flowers soon.

I'm glad that it isn't math rock. I've decided to go with the smaller, less audible compact cab. Part of my reasoning is to curb my menacing elephant timbre; part is to conserve space with many bands playing the venue. As long as it doesn't fuck me (which the SWR has), it should be alright. The new cab simply isn't done yet.

i Dig this now playing shit. I need to fix the template.
----------------
Now playing: Swans - You're Not Real, Girl

klaatu verata nikto (too many possible topics)

the Internets have been absentee for some time at el granero de Jeremy. some shit has gone down:

1. I banished that (rather lame) Mohawk;
2. a cat is sick;
3. experienced grind house with LindaRuth (a real shocker to me that she'd sit through it) title music here (it's totally the stripper beat, or, even better, the sleaze-beat--thank goodness Terrible Tidwell knows what I'm talkin' 'bout);
4. purchased 50 feet of rope;
5. motorcycling (all that i require is one ride, and I've got new carburetors on the brain);
6. a horrifying visit to Walmart;
7. a horrifying visit to the BMW dealership;
8. more hilarity ensues while going to dinner in Morrison with LindaRuth;
9. a new bit for the comedy routine;
10. rain-o-rama;
11. Se han localizado las bragas;
12. a cat avalanche;
13. semi-digested dog shit and putrid organic ice cream (see photo);
14. the weed hound;
15. relationship angst;
16. "killer" monkey puss gets stung, just like i told her;
17. my aching body;
18. eight track donation to some kids;
    
19. mother's day;
20. go juice (forgotten at the tarshak);
21. the tarshak sitch;
22. other self-revelations to the girl;
23. it will make you even more of a cat-ninja;
    
24. bad ass Steve;
    
25. the most retarded bass player ever;
    
26. more health issues;
27. bitch slamming that fast and furious mitsu into reverse; and
    
28. other bad drivers.
    

perhaps this will wind up as an outline for the next few weeks? that's not likely...some of those subjects are best left in the draft mode, seriously.

Maggots Are Back!

My twelve-hour day today can only mean one thing: summer is right around the corner!

Good:

1. School's out, so the Starbucks on university hill is easy to drive into;
2. Rockshows;
3. The summer haircut;
4. Motorbikes!
   

Bad:

1. Wondervu is beautiful this time of year, although the recent precipitation means that the "roads" are soft enough to gobble up trucks;
2. Tomorrow, I'm laying tile all day in a steel building--Sweatyman rides again;

Ugly:

The three yards of rotting meat that I had to deal with at four o'clock.

No News Is Good News

I have a new hole in my hand from work yesterday. Damn stigmata...

if this shit goes berserk

it's totally google's fault. i'm trying something new to get the new features. i'll be back in a terminator sort of way (to save you from the t-1000--that was a horrible date movie).