June 2006 Archives

As most of you know, I have lived in the computer world for most of my adult life. Almost from the day I started using computers, I've been connected to some form of network. When I first started using computers in 1986, it was bulletin board services (BBS). In 1990 when I started at CSULB, I got my first exposure to the Internet. That was pre-World Wide Web days. My friend Todd was the first person on the Web. I was number 127. So, at this point in my life the Internet and the Web are integral components of my life. Not a day - or maybe even an hour - goes by that I'm not using the Internet in some form.

Now, I realize that not everyone in America is like me. However, some times people's expectations of the Internet really catch me off guard. For example this quote (full article):

Hollis, 38, a criminal attorney for 12 years, also said the site does not have safeguards in place to ensure the truthfulness of items posted on it.

We might argue that Mr. Hollis is using this opportunity to bring such safeguards to the Internet by making it possible to sue anyone who posts something untrue about anyone. However, I think it more likely that someone posted something nasty about Mr. Hollis and he is seeking to squelch it and maybe punish those who posted it as well.

Aloha

Technorati Tags: humor, life, sociology

So, I think this is interesting. The current administration is one of the first to call North Korea on its creative methods of procuring monetary aid. In the past, at least as far back as Reagan, North Korea would rattle its saber, making noises of hostile action. They would insist on direct negotiations with the United States. Uncle Sam would come running checkbook in hand. Sam writes the check and North Korea promises to stop whatever it was doing to get Uncle Sam to the table.

The last time we played this game with North Korea, President Bush told them to work with Japan, South Korea and China. All three of those countries are fairly tired of North Korea's crap. So now, in order to make sure they get Uncle Sam - and his checkbook - to the bargaining... er... negotiation table, they're threatening to light off an ICBM that "could reach parts of the United States."

If North Korea were to fire ICBMs on Pearl Harbor, do you suppose the American public would find the moxie to support an appropriate response?

Aloha

[posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: commentary, military, politics

At one point in my teenage years I wanted to become a sound engineer. I liked sitting behind the mixer, blending the sounds the individual microphones picked up into the whole piece that the audience heard. In one of those interesting twists that compose a life, I had the opportunity to learn, at least for a short while, from one of the masters of the craft.

He went to the same church I did. I really don't know but I suppose he was in his mid-twenties when I started nipping at his heals, begging him to let me hang around him. I was sixteen or seventeen at the time. My interest in sound was more about being cool than any understanding of the art. I had a very basic understanding of electricity, nowhere near enough to understand the complexities of the equipment I wanted to work with. I had even less of an understanding of the physical properties of sound. What I knew was standing behind that huge control panel with more buttons, knobs, and meters than anything I had ever seen was the coolest thing I had ever seen. And I wanted to be that cool guy.

I bugged this poor guy insistently. He was always patient and friendly but a little distant. I kept asking. As opportunities came up I got to run sound for various groups at the church. Every chance I got I would ask my 'friend' (at this point he probably didn't think of me as a friend) about how to do it better. Several times he asked me to come and help him set up. Maybe he didn't ask. Maybe I just showed up. At any rate, he never threw me out, never yelled at me for doing it wrong. He'd show me how to do it right and let me do it over. I remember helping him set up one time, I was suppose to tape down the cables. I ran the tape across the cables about every five feet. He said, "yeah, that's good but that's not how we do it." He showed me how to do it and then left me to do it over again. On the occasions when he came to shows where I was doing the sound, he always told me I was doing good. I probably sucked.

I don't remember exactly how it happened but finally, one day, this friend of mine,Jack Joseph Puig invited me to come sit in on one of his sessions. Holy cow, I thought I had really made it. We met at church and rode to the studio in his Porsche, a restored 'bathtub' model. That day was a learning experience from start to finish. He was telling me about cars stereos, speakers, and music in the car on the way there. He didn't seem to mind talking shop with some kid. It was cool.

I had no idea what Jack was working on. He just invited me to come to the studio one day. So, imagine my surprise when I walk into the studio and find Sweet Comfort band sitting there. Actually, we got there way ahead of the band members to make sure the studio was ready. So, the surprise was in watching them walk in. Best I can remember and figure out, Sweet Comfort band was working on their Breakin' the Ice album. I don't remember much about the music that day. I remember a lot of the discussions with Jack. I remember the control room of the studio like it was yesterday.

The mixer was the biggest I'd ever seen. I remember thinking, "crap, I'll never be able to remember what mike is on which channel." Puig went through all of the equipment, explained every piece. Answered questions. And then he went to work. Obviously, I couldn't do any of the mix but it was awesome to watch and hear the sound come together. This was back in the days of analog when everything was recorded to tape. Jack showed me how to cut tape on a machine designed for the purpose. It had a splicing block right on it.

I'm not sure what happened after that. Jack got busy or maybe I didn't progress enough. I looked into a couple of sound engineering schools but they cost a lot of money that I didn't have and really didn't know how to get at that time in my life. Much of what Jack taught me is still with me. I still use the skills that I learned way back then. Whenever happened, Jack was one of the good guys.

Jack Joseph Puig is very successful today. Several of the articles I read called him one of LA's first call sound engineer/producer. Good, I'm glad. I was an annoying, little kid. Jack Joseph Puig could have told me as much and sent me on my way. He didn't. I suspect that he doesn't even remember me. That's fine. I'm sure a lot of wanna-be's have crossed his path. I think it is terribly cool to be able to say that I knew Jack, that he invited me to sit in on some of his work. Jack Joseph Puig probably does not remember me but I think of him every time I touch a microphone.

Thank you, Jack. Thanks for the memory.

Aloha

[posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: humor, life, music

Congress is debating the Iraq War again. The article points out that Democrats appear to be divided into three 'camps'; leave Iraq this year, object to setting any kind of timetable, begin redeploying forces (that means bring them home) by year's end but don't set a date when all troops should be out.

Setting a date by which all Coalition military will be out if Iraq is to set the timetable under which al Qaeda, insurgents and Islamic extremists can begin their efforts in earnest. It is the sure way to gain short term peace. Why fight a vastly more powerful enemy when you know that they will be leaving in any case. Better to stand down your forces until the vastly more powerful force has left the area and your forces can engage on a more advantageous environment.

To begin redeployment of our own troops without setting an end date is to ensure a more dangerous environment for our own forces and further endanger the new government in Iraq. It would make political expediency rather than tactical and strategic demand the deciding factor in troop mobilization.

Setting no timetable is the position of the administration and Republicans. I think they should word that differently. I believe there is a timetable of sorts. When the Iraqi government is prepared to stand before the United Nations and commit to responsibility for its own defence, internal and external, it will be time for Coalition force to leave in the most expeditious fashion possible. Put another way, the timetable for the withdrawal of Coalition forces in Iraq should be event driven, not time or calendar driven.

Alas, this debate is not about Iraq. It is not about U.S. military personnel. This debate is about an upcoming election. Polls tell us that the Iraq war is unpopular. Some/many politicians want to define themselves through their position on the war. The message they are delivering in Congress is intended for the American voting public.

Our enemies believe that America is fat, lazy and complacent. Our enemy believes that America does not have the political will to finish what we have started. It would be very interesting to see what would happen in Iraq if our political leaders were to stand together and tell the world, we are united in our resolve to provide the nation of Iraq with the security they need to establish a new government founded on the principles of democracy and liberty. It is a pity that we will never find out.

Aloha

[posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: iraq, military, political

We had an earthquake this morning. It wasn't Loma Prieta but it rattled the windows and got the adrenaline pumping. Happened about 05:30.

See what it takes for me to blog these days. That kinda sucks.

aloha

PS. Check out the Sacred Digital podcast over on iTunes Music Store. Tako isn't dead yet.

I remember now why I don't like life as a corporate slave. It sucks your life away. You spend your time working on that which is only of marginal importance and have little time for the things in life that are truly important.

Aloha

[posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: commentary, life, philosophy, psychology , sociology