Gourd, it's been a BIZ-EE week... 10 & 12 hour days, loaded 4 brand-NEW computers (WIN2k, WIN XP OFC, peer-to-peer sharing & desktops/profiles for 4 users, 12 separate shares) & improvements to my database. I'm NOT complaining, I'd much rather be 'busy" than "bored", but I'm gettin' TIRED. No rest for th' wicked, though, it's off to war (again) this weekend. Thought I was gettin' one o' those "retirement" jobs... guess th' joke is on ME!
Been reading a LOT this last couple of weeks, checkin' out one of my favorite authors, MACK REYNOLDS (or did I tell you about that already?), an "old school" science fiction writer. Cool writer.
Lil' bit of music goin' on, though th' respite from writing reviews (over the last month or so) has been nice!
Wich Hillary would get in th' race... while Kerry seems a "nice enough guy", he (just) impresses me as "too Washington". Hope folks' judgements about "electability" are on th' money, 'coz th' MAIN DRILL is to get "Klumpen-stuffer" OUTTA' THERE!
Got a NICE lil' piece of "ripper" software HERE! I used WINAMP before, but couldn't find a free version anywhere...
If ANYONE out there knows of a "non-membership" .MP3 site where bands can upload songs without a charge, please E-MAIL me (right AWAY... it would be GREATLY appreciated.
Well, gotta' mosey on along now & get a little rest! C' yawl.
Well, I completed ALL my indexing for the Zzaj catalog.. that doesnt mean it's "all over", because there were several CD inserts that were missing... but, ALL master and backup copies are now in place, & the DB is much better organized than it was before.
An "offshoot" of that was that I was (finally) able to get the new CD with Eric up with samples... go over HERE to check them out (all vocals by me, with some FANTASTIC improvisations by Mr. Wallack!
Spent the "other half" of my weekend juicing up my ACCESS application... it's pretty slick now. We'll be "playing games" with it over the next couple of weeks, to see if we can "break" it, or improve it (even more).
Y'all feedback to me now, & let me know what you think of those vocals, y'hear?
We spent a (very) pleasant weekend... house-hunting with my wife, perusing the (local) used paperback store, & (re)cataloging the (by now) massive Zzaj Productions database. Actually STILL re-working the DB, but over 50% of it got done this weekend. NOTHING will make you realize how much you've done (or haven't) than painstakingly going through entries in the tables to ensure that cover art, all tracks & catalog numbers are in order.
Picked up a whole HOST of books by one of my favorite SF authors, Mack Reynolds. I'll be looking for more by writers like Cliff Simak, Phillip Wylie & John C. Campbell during my next visit to the store.
Actually spent quite a bit of time READING... that's one of the most pleasureable activities these days... admittedly, you have to have the "bug" for it... in my estimation, folks'd be a LOT BETTER OFF if they turned that dam TV orf & kicked back with a coupla' great BOOKS!
I've been continuing my work on a lil' ACCESS database (networked, of course), & made enuff progress that the Colonel we work for is set to ADOPT IT for ALL the Stryker Brigades. Pretty pleased about that!
I'd best run on along for now... mo' as it happenz!
I've had (more than) a couple of commentaries regarding my post about the judge who "dressed down" that "shoe bomber". A couple indicated that they thought I was being "pro-war"... nothing could be further from the truth!
Similar to raising children, the use of threats should be sparing (though I must admit that I did a LOUSY job of that in my early parenting years - it takes time for us to learn the errors of our ways) & well thought out. A threat should NEVER be issued unless there is a valid REASON for it, & a VERY specific plan on how to implement (not only) the punishment and the rehabilitation.
In the case of the war in Iraq, it's been like a SPOILED CHILD trying to administer the threat.... throw tons of (other people's) money at the problem, & hope it goes well. It has not & WILL not "go well"... we need to move our arses OUT of that country & institute a regime change HERE at HOME!
Now, this is coming from someone who has learned (a little bit) about parenting over the span of many, many years - and who is quite closely associated with the current effort. The idea that we should be WELL PREPARED for any potential conflict, AND that we should SHOOT DOWN anyone who attempts to join terrorist organizations is not "pro war"... it is "pro country". & I'm (just) old-fashioned enough to believe that we NEED to have pride (in ourselves), or allow ourselves to slide in to permanent despondency. NOT from the standpoint of (meaningless) flag-waving, or staged rallies in support of whomever the current political "fair-haired" boy is... but, from the standpoint of seeking out the RIGHT way to treat other people & their (different) cultures/traditions & learning (what we can) from them. It is THEN that the politicians will have little control over "the masses"... because citizens who are THINKING and AWARE of what is going on around them will BE full of pride and in competition to THROW OUT those who would rob them of their heritage & riches.
Failure to stake out a moral path and STICK TO YER' GUNS will result in the cruelest of defeats... this country has (over the past 40 years or so) been led to believe that it's a BAD thing to believe in something and FORM AN OPINION. Let me influence you the OTHER WAY... it is a bad thing to NOT form your own opinions and ACT on them!
Your thoughts?
For those who've been wonderin' where'n'l Zzaj has been... the COMPUTER DIED! Had to reformat the drive & lost (just about) everything. Most of the backup CD's I made worked, but one or two were toast, so quite a few of the graphics for CD covers & such were lost... I was able to pull (back) down all the web pages/images & republish all that stuff, but (to say the least), losing the HD is NO FUN!
I want to announce the release of a BRAND NEW project with Eric Wallack! It's called "ZEE ZZAJ ZINGER" (featuring, o' course, a full shot of Al Jolson, in reverse/whiteface image)... this is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I culled nearly all the vocal tracks I've ever done & sent a CD of those off to Eric... he went over with some FANTASTIC guitar (electric & acoustic), as well as Chapman Stick. This is one of THE BEST albums ever to come out of our studios. Samples aren't up yet, but will be before too long.
Most of the other news you've heard about already... my dad passing on, the heavy, HEAVY snowstorm up here & my preparations for deployment (somewhere).
Even though Improvijazzation Nation is in a sort of "hiatus" status right now, I'm reviewing a few albums from various & sundry folks & dropping them in issue # 65 - so keep CHECKING THIS page for the latest reviews. They'll be added to the TOP of the page, making it a lil' easier to find.
Got to run on along... ciao fer' now!
No-one in today's world (in their right mind) could harbor doubt(s) that politicians are the slimiest (and slipperiest) barstards on the face of the planet... but Shrubbie has stooped to new lows in his bid to grab Hispanic votes!
We've spent the last 3 days closeted (warmly & comfortably, I might add) in the house, due to the most severe storm since the '96 ice-storm. Some other residents were cooped up, too; here's what they did to pass the time.
I couldn't find a link to the following article anywhere, so I'm including it in full text. Though I don't support the POLITICAL reasons for being in Iraq, I do certainly support the spirit behind this judge's statements to the "shoe bomber::
QUOTE:
"Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it? Did you know his trial is over? Did you know he was sentenced? Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV/Radio? Nope, didn't think so. Liberal media at work again. Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young U.S. District Court Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.
His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I ought not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below, a stinging condemnation of Reid in particular and terrorists in general. January 30, 2003 United States v Reid.
Judge Young:
"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other.
That's 80 years.
On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here. And I say that to everyone with the utmost respect.
Here in this court, here we deal with individuals as individuals, and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist.
To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court.
You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were, and he said you're no big deal. You're no big deal.
What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing. And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose.
Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely.
It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges. We are about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden, pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be forgotten. But this, however, will long endure.
Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact
being done.
The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged, and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. You know it always will. Custody, Mr. Officer. Stand him down."
So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject.
Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say.
I'd never checked the law out on this before, but THIS appears to be one way to BEAT (some of) those annoying phone calls!
If you think th' driving conditions are rough where YOU're at, check out THIS area!
Spent yesterday re-couping several more CD's from the tape archives. Notable this time was (I think), 'DUOSAUR", with Harlan Mark Vale. It's got some GREAT improvs on it. Be wrappin' up th' covers today.
Got to run on along... shovel some snow, maybe? We got (over) 3 inches (which is KILLER turf out here, where no-one knows how to drive on snow).
I'm STILL recuperating from th' dancin' on New Year's. Lil' blooz/phunk band playin' stuff in th' Oyster House... went out with Kim & a couple of her ladyfriends, & danced (at least) 10 times. Prob'ly good exercise for my legs, but they H-U-R-T the next day.
I've spent the weekend "reviving" a couple of CD's with John M. Bennett, & one with Jake Berry... a couple of those are HERE now, & I'll get the others up later.
Spoke with Jack Wright a little bit via e-mail... sez' he'll be out here in Seattle sometime this year... hope we get to see him!
I've been layin' around like a BUM for th' last couple of days... nappin' in th' afternoon, goin' to bed at 10:00 & gettin' up L-A-T-E (6:00am)... feels NICE to be "lazy" for a time... back to th' grind next week, tho'!