chuck kottke

I suppose with all the pressures of hosting the Today show, and being expected to remember oodles of names, I can see how it happens.. Still, it's funny :laugh3: Next time, name tags..

Yes!! Boston and Journey - they were the greatest bands back then! I'm still missing my old tape of Gerry Rafferty.. And YES was big then too - but they go back to the 60's as well! REO Speedwagon had some of their greatest hits back in those days as well..

Yea!! You've achieved a milemarker!:P (And 2004 of course contain 42!)Anagram@

I was just thinking - is there any way to record with the microphone on, and then record again, subtracting the noise of the microphone at a given frequency from the recording? Might not work if the sound frequency is too mid-range, though.. Just a thought!

Yes, that's the Libertarian approach - which could be seen through the eye piece, assuming that any agency created to regulate ultimately succumbs to the powerful interests it should be regulating, and then becomes a tool to prevent oversight/competition, etc., as well as an added cost. At the present, that may be the case! However, I see things differently. A minor revolution in ethical reform with government, via the grass-roots support of reform efforts and their candidates will put the proper teeth back in the agencies, and beginng to correct much of the unfair practices of the past. That, and local government, with the support of the local citizens, have been successful in stopping the worst practices of WalMart, (the siting of stores just to monopolize the market.) And yes, I agree - there are some very good, well-run and honest businesses, such as Target, Cosco, etc. - they deserve a fair Government that corrects unfair business practices, and thusly promotes these good actors in that business sector. And that is equally true - Government should make it cheaper and easier for new competitors to start operations. But when certain large corporations are allowed to buy their Senators, it's payoffs/bribes to create legislation & prevent competition. So, I think it still boils down to public awareness, and to clean campaigns that are more responsive to the public as a whole. I'm a Free-Market believer as well, that's for sure! But equally well, I believe that any game must have Fair Rules, and an honest, strong referee that works on the behalf of all of the participants. And a safety net, so if anyone falls from the trapeze, they can climb back up and try again, the next time with more knowledge and better timing.

I believe in Dog, because whatever Dog does is good!:P (and right now Dog is happily sleeping by my feet.) Religion is the opiate of the masses... it's a nice fantasy, but we've got the smarts to do better. Well, we all like the simple things in life, and keeping others happy returns that happiness to us, but to put the blinders on oneself - yikes! Looking at it Biblically, Adam and Eve's fall from God's good grace could be loosely interpreted as humankind's realization about the natural world as it truly is.. (I think the weather turned cold and blustery, they started to shiver, and that's why clothing got invented!):P The shame part was all a big guilt trip to control members of the tribe - we're not born sinners, we're simply born, and born self-interested. We just had to learn to share to gain greater happiness and survival as social creatures; to share in the happiness and community of others at times, and understand what fairness means.. Our collective efforts keep civilization going! Remember The Wizard of Oz? It's all about rational thinking and reality, for remaining afraid keeps us boxed into a fantasy world, and enslaves to the manipulations of others.. But to be freed of our insecurities releases us from the limited mindset to a more enlightened one.:sunny:

Our best estimates put Jesus at 155 lbs; maybe 160 tops. Combined, Coldplay outweighs Jesus by at least a factor of 4!:rolleyes::laugh3: How big are they? Well, stacked end-for-end like cardboard cartons, I would estimate their total volume to be comparable to a juvenile white rhino, sans the horn.. and length: maybe 24 feet, give or take a foot or two.:P

Marred Wall Wal*Mart get's the heart of the matter, in my mind as well. It's what happens when the referee is blindfolded and tied to a chair, with cotton stuffed in his or her ears. Basically, the Wallmarts of the world have provided jobs, but at the expense of better paying small business opportunities & jobs in those shops, and most downtowns. The referee is our Government, and because of corruption and political kickbacks, the agencies responsible for oversight have been bound and gagged, and their heads replaced with corporate lackies. Even manufacturers get burned by WallMart - they're forced to produce goods for Wallmart at prices they can't survive at, or pay living wages to their employees. But the wallmart employees are trained to by courteous and helpful, which is a good thing. These same employees are then underpaid and Wallmart trains them to go to the Government to get assistance, further lowering Wallmart's costs in a most unfair way. Now competition is a good thing, but the rules have to be fair, and there has to be an effective referee to ensure fair play is the motivator, not unfair and unjust business practices! Cosco seems to be better to their employees, as well as smaller mom-and-pop stores. Which gets us back to the need for a fair government, with checks and balances, and especially in the financing of political races. We will never weed out all the corruption, but could stem as much as we can wrangle out the hands of these corporate crooks, leaving the playing field level for the more honest businesses to thrive in. By the same token, our trade policies should contain checks against unfair business practices - Europe & the US should set the standard for fair trade, allowing for controls that relate to international labor standards, wage standards, worker safety standards, environmental standards, etc. Yea, the crime rates rise with Wallmart around! From the documentaries I've seen, Wallmart had been using surveillance cameras in their parking lots to check for shoplifters, but had been ignoring all the serious crimes going on in the lot! Talk about hypocrisy! And when you underpay people who are then desperately poor, well, a few of them turn to crime for other means to support themselves - that's not right either - they should be fighting for better wages and conditions, but not all see it that way, and then more crimes are committed. I've seen break-ins where the only thing stolen was pocket change, and there's a lot of poverty in this area...

Well, to me it's pretty much what Socrates had to say - simply "honor truth". Truth is not always simple, but we can usually pick apart the mechanisms, and discover how it works logically. As far as hypocrites, well, we all like to do things that are self-interested, and the elders in any social setting (dogs, cats, other primates, humans..) generally teach the rules of selflessness for the betterment of the group to the younger group members, and try to convey the framework that has created success in the past (am I getting too analytical here? Please let me know!). But it's often too tight of an unnatural strait jacket, and so the "letting loose" business goes to the extreme with them.:laugh3: (and some abuse their positions just to have power over others - control freaks they're called). Too much based on guilt - I agree! Instead of the fear of not living up to someone's expectations, it's better to see it in terms of outcomes and how someone's action affects the lives of others; experience being the best teacher. Just remember the Golden Rule! And there needs to be latitude for individual moments, lest we all become stuck in the one state of mind. God? Well, before humanity became enamored of the concept of a single deity, there were concepts of idealized, deified humans as Gods (Zeus, Athena, Achilles, etc.); Gods representing the spirits of other animals; Gods of inanimate objects (stones, mountains, volcanoes).. I lean in favor of God being the interconnectedness of all things in the Universe, and our role in that seems to be discovering as much as we can about that Universe; uncovering new truths. It takes a lot of cooperation, rational thinking, places for sensible debates where we test ideas and hypothesis, and dissemination of the discoveries. Most of all, it takes healthy individuals and a stable setting to promote real progress. Yea, the story of Eden - it's really such a sweet & simple story - partly we like simplifications to tie things together neatly, and it does do that much! (Just be careful when some babe offers you a tasty apple that you know you're not supposed to have!:laugh3:) It's a good story about why you need to be careful when a salesman is offering advice..:P

I have this sudden vision of Africans wearing the suits and dresses available in the 1950's, listening to Chuck Berry's tunes in diners, and shopping for powder blue cars with chrome & fins..:laugh3: This assumes all goes well - which it might! So, formica counter-tops, fuzzy dice, and squarish sun glasses for all? Would there be drive-ins with malteds? Hmm.. I'm moving there - I miss a lot of that stuff!:)

Yes, there was something recently on TV showing how farmers in India(?) were buying these pumps made locally from recycled bicycle parts! Quite ingenious, although inventions should free people up from menial tasks whenever possible, to allow them to work on more meaningful work. Maybe windmills to pump water could be fashioned from the bicycle parts, with some type of simple tanks to store water.. But motivation is a key, and empowerment works wonders, whether it's here or there - we're all pretty much the same anyhow;). I just think having a basic safety net reduces the stress levels, and reduces the pressure to have huge families (ie - too many mouths to feed in some places) by guaranteeing safer retirements to those living in the poorer regions of the globe. - basic adequate food, health, water, sanitation, & rights seem to be a prerequisite; then the incentive system has a stable platform from which to operate on, and prosperity can be achieved. I have no doubt those citizens living in Bangladesh, for instance, can prosper, as long as they start with the knowledge that there will be some stability to their lives. Which brings up another challenge - what to do when your world is flooding from storms and rising sea levels??:\

I like the microcredit programs too! But is this really the answer, or a part that helps a segment of the pop.? There's pride in what each business owner is doing, and they need some market protections to keep going strong and growing, but to make more sophisticated things takes capital investments, and as was the case here, government has a role to play in priming the pump, and getting the ball rolling. More work on pressing for reform everywhere? Perhaps we need to lead by example on that as well - hard to tell another nation that they should be reforming their government, when ours has been made dysfunctional by corrupt officials.:thinking: (this may all change come November?!) Markets are just fine to me, as long as there's an honest referee, so government reforms go hand-in-hand with that. Safety-nets are essential as well from what I've seen of documentaries covering Africa and parts of Asia. AIDS, Malaria, Yellow Fever, etc. - these are so disabling to families and communities, that for citizens there to lift themselves out of poverty, they really do need help first. But the balance of trade issues, debt issues, and our approach to resources needs some serious overhauling from my perspective. When copper comes from the Congo and elsewhere, and the nations are so far in debt that much of their profits services their debts, it's hard to climb out of that. Microfinance works well for business that can use local resources to provide a service or good within their personal capacity, but industry is one of the principal economic backbones and global employers. So I wonder about our role - by supporting stability (ie - military juntas, etc) at the cost of demands by the people for change in some of these nations, we may be hindering their progress, and perhaps then a change in how we see foreign policy may open up the opportunity for people to reform their nations? Hand in hand in all this are issues we often forget are very important for economic improvement - women's rights can have a significant impact on progress and improvement in places where women's rights & related issues are being neglected. The essential need for stabilizing factors to free people enough so they can prosper - significantly reducing diseases, consistent and reliable supplies of nutritious food, adequate clean water, transportation, access to education , and a fair shake globally for their goods and services seems to all go hand in hand.. Capital prospers where there is a stable infrastructure, and public works are often best handled by a government with adequate oversight - Briggins has a strong point - there's a balance to be struck there from what I've seen. Jay, I understand what you're saying about the goods small business can provide - so the aid has to be done with their consideration in mind, so local farmers are not hurt economically, as well as clothing makers, etc. (besides, local foods taste better, and are more nutritious!:)) And I just like the idea of people having the freedom to go out and make it on their own as well - it's a bit of the pioneering spirit that's still stirred within us all..

1,2,3,4 Hmm.. so you are going the KT Tunstall route?! Well, she does it, so hey, why not?! Anyhow, if you can get a hold of some electronica, and create the accompaniments ahead of time, and keep with them as you sing/jangle/drum etc., that might help. As far as song structure, I gave a good listen to U2's With or Without You, and listened to the structure, when different components and instruments are added, how they mix things - and the changes as the song progresses.. think of it as telling a tale, and building to a crescendo, then adding a twist near the end, maybe ending where you start. And of course, relax and get in the Zen Creative mode of thinking/feeling (which you seem pretty good at already!) - just practice, and play with it like you're doing. Maya, you've got the stuff it takes - all that's needed is the extra polish, and you'll be set. One thing I know with myself - if I practice and build confidence, it all comes naturally. Rest well the night before, and you'll shine!

From the hermit's perspective, all I know is based on looking at the stats for this site at Quantcast and BigBoards. A Very strong following, but this is a country of 300 some odd million or so. What's the pop. in the UK? They're on the TV shows all the time, so I would have to say pretty strong.;)

I'm curious here what everyone's viewpoints are on going to a Green Economy, with Fair Trade for all? How best to get there; what's first on your list; what are the up-sides and down-sides; how to reach those who can be reached, and to build a coherent consensus for change.. How to undo the mistakes of the past, and make a better path in the future..

Yes, I've been a fan of Paul McCartney's since 1968! Hey, everyone loves the Beatles! And Wings too.. I really enjoyed the cartoons done of them way back when.. Yellow Submarine and all. Sill have that old lunchbox with them on it somewhere..

rolling 7's.. Thanks for offering your name, Jay! (I was getting to feel a bit odd just calling you Saffire)! Well, get as political as you like - I mean, we need to discuss these things - other wise, it's everyone lost in their own perspective, and that's a big part of the trouble we're having. Yes, basically the war was to secure the global supply of oil, and to allow the old companies back in that had control over it years back.. I am quite frankly disgusted by the whole thing; we have the know-how to eliminate 90% of our demand just with current technology and smarter planning, without any sacrifice in comforts. And the rest can be made from biological matter/ ecologically sound energy sources.. All so much grief and hostility whipped up - in my mind, we can only lead by setting a good example, and offering help when the people of the region request it of us after waging their own efforts for change, and by equalizing the global inequities. Yea, isn't it true - we could have ended our dependence on Middle-Eastern oil with solar installations - it's a mad, mad world at times.. And the Middle east could be ramping up to become the center for solar electric production for that region - excellent place for it. But that all makes too much sense! We're dealing with the same forces we have had to deal with in the past - the coal and railroad barons of the 20th century were supplanted with the oil and corporate barons of the 21st century; their like gum in the machinery of government, slowing real progress, and heading us into these geopolitical wars for their resource monopolies - it's really all pretty sick. You know, I have been so focused on the automotive and building sectors, that I hadn't considered things like processor efficiency and LED's vs. back-lighting of displays - thanks for cuing me in on those areas!! But the biggest gobblers are transportation, building envelopes (considered for electricity as well, due to cooling and heating equipment loads), and industry. Street lighting must by a Duesey as well - just seeing the "dark side" of Earth from space really says it all.. China, from what I'm hearing, is building solar cell plants to ramp up production of solar electric, aiming for 1 gigawatt solar. Yes, geothermal does make incredible sense as well - ideal for the western parts of North and South America, Iceland, parts of China, and most of the island nations. True, wind farms could change weather patterns; but it would take a pretty hefty amount of wind farms to do that, I would imagine(?).. Really, the big elephant in the room is simply efficiency and better layouts; I use around 200 KW-hours per month of electricity, and I have all the lighting I want, plus a workshop! (the national average is something like 4X this amount). Yes, I like your idea of a solar-cell covered moon as well;). Great ideas often repeat themselves - there were plans years back to send up solar satellites, and send the energy back to earth as a narrow microwave beam, maybe using a mazer. But, the question arose about cost, practicality, and what if the beam began to wander off target..:laugh3: "Poof" there goes Florida! I really think the solar rooftop idea was a good one - still is. If every building had them, and they were sited correctly, that would cut down the need for added energy to all but three months out of the year. Maybe President Obama will move us in that direction, given a motivated Congress, and the economic demand (which seems to already be there.)? Anyhow, nuff' of my gobbling. Hopefully, if God does play dice with the Universe, we can gamble to stack the odds in our favor as well.:) Hedging our bets helps as well - I like your approach to diversified sources!

Hello Violet_Hill! Glad you could join our troupe of global merrymakers!:) Coldplay offers quite a variety, so there's always something new to delve into, and I do agree with Funky-Bubble-Brains that the more you listen, the more beauty unfolds in each song, as the subtle nuances and hidden meanings become more apparent.. Glad you're going to a concert! Whereabouts in the US?

How it came to be? I suppose attention deficit disorder makes certain siblings do things (whatever works) just to get attention - and not always the best things, either! Still, I have to say that in retrospect, it is kinda funny!:laugh3: As Mark Twain famously wisted, "The rumors about my death are wildly exaggerated!" Maybe pay him some attention when he does good things - he might actually do that instead for attention(?);) (or, he will at least wonder if you're messing with him... either way, it generally works).

Track ...aw gosh, this is brilliant. thanks for all the comments/suggestions - I'm taking them to heart. I completely I agree there should be more of a build. Its what I wanted in the first place, I'm just having trouble accomplishing it on my own. I'll hopefully have an actual video by this evening, but the set-up thus far is: I've recorded the first piano bit and will play it as a backing track, while I play guitar/sing. I've found that if I wear the right shoes, my tambourine fits right around my foot, so that I can play it and still have my hands free for guitar/piano :P At the end, I'll switch from playing my guitar, to playing the piano parts. I can have some guitar as a backing track I guess.. as for creating more of a build, what do you think? maybe a little distortion? I wanted to keep it as organic as possible. I mean, in my head I hear it as a full song, but I think it would be silly to try and play it that way just on my own. I think I could pull it off better with more of a stripped down feel. Your Green Tambourine?;) Sounds like a KT Tunstall one-woman-band thing!:P Distortion is ..hmm.. well, when it fits in a song it works well; where to put something like that though - that truly is a million dollar question! I like your idea of switching to piano at the end - that will add a surprise! Thinking about starting simple, with distortion.. I recall an old ELO song that started out with the old-style telephone distortion, and as the song progressed, it got clearer, smoother, and louder just a bit.. From the basic melody, to adding a stronger, more confident sound, to adding accompaniments - would you have access to an orchestra?:) Violins add some magic. Midi? I've listened to Elton John's Yellow Brick Road recently, and I recall hearing just him and his piano part separately - it does help to have the added parts; otherwise, it's like a toucan without the jungle - still good, but could be better.;) Sounds like you're going the Tunstall route; maybe look at how she does it? I'm just guessing - it's not my business. But if you listen close enough to Clocks, you'll see the subtle changes, and the variations that keep it lively, as well as the entry points for accompaniments, albeit much synth. stuff. Keep it real, and good luck to you!!;) gah, that was quite a bit of rambling. but I really appreciate all the help, its really exciting! :nice: thanks! M.

From Eno to cheese??:rolleyes::laugh3: Edam maybe..:P Uno, Eno, Meinie, Minney, Moe. Catch an Eno by the toe. If he hollers, let him go. Enie, menie, Eno, Moe.

:laugh3:Yes, they do seem to be play-acting at times! The Beatles did this as well early on, so it's nothing new actually.. Should I ghost-write them some more music?:P

Yes I agree Rick.. - Eric does seem a bit confused.. or confusing? I can't quite decipher his posts either!

You're too young, and need permission and a trolley car pass to hop on here, Emma!:P

If you read Marx, his theories aren't all that bad; just mis-applied.:P (I prefer Groucho; and Harpo's harp playing is pretty cool). I'm betting that Obama will be as brilliant as Bush is dull, so there's a good chance we will see massive improvement if we get a new batch in congress as well. But what a relief! Gone will be mad king George and his reign of errors! No more barking at us! No more pathetic attempts at selling messages that aren't true! No more preemptive/preventive/lie-through-the-teeth wars crafted & sold on the false belief that it will be a cake walk! No more suppressing research on climate change!! And the torture memorandum will be made history and buried for good (hopefully). Well, maybe we could make one exception.:sneaky: What a mess to fix though.. 8 years of living hell, brought to us by "The Crazies" - this will be a monumental task to restore our broken nation.. Laughter could have come other ways - less deadly and hurtful ways.. Ever see someone go squirrelly from a flashback via trauma in war?? Not too neat, and they're the lucky ones to have made it back alive and in one piece. Lots of vets, and lots of suffering, in the US, and in Iraq and Afghanistan. Diplomacy should always be our first line of defense. Those who make war seldom have seen up close what war really is. Well, anyhow, yes!! It Will Be A Day of Much Rejoicing!! Relief!! And recovery.