Paul Ille [dot] com

I have to admit I feel good about this post because it’s been a LONG time since I posted anything at all about music. An indication is a folder on my external hard drive called ‘My Music’. Until today’s new folder entry called ‘06-07-2009′, the last time I added anything there was in 2006. Yikes!!! Can that be possible???

Anyhow, over the past couple years I bought a new drum machine (Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-670) and a Gibson Les Paul. I also just recently bought a Blue Snowball USB Microphone which is impressive for the price and is great for quickly recording various inspirations that pop up (I recommend it). While the snowball fills a simple need, the rest of it has kinda sat by for lack of time and also the ability to tie them into something I can record with.

So I finally bit the bullet and bought an Alexis MultiMix8 USB 2.0 mixer. It will hopefully allow me to turn out some music by giving me the ability to easily link up all my equipment to my computer. This way I can use Adobe Audition (so far my favorite) to record and mix and such.

I’ll need a few more things as I go forward such as more microphones, a couple of effects pedals and a bass, but that will come in time (hey Santa! ). Anyways, I’ve only had time to do a ‘proof of concept’ equipment-learning type thang as I’m still learning how to use the mixer and drum machine, but I’m happy with the quality so far.

Here’s some pictures of my temp setup:

So here’s what I recorded in the wee hours this morning. “Be This Chance” is something I’ve been kicking around here and there for a while now. All I really have is a chorus though which is the main melody in this recording snippet. I just tossed a few solos around it off the top of my head to have content. I think I may develop this as as instrumental since I just can’t sing as high as the vocal would need to be.

“Be This Chance (proof of concept)”

We’re black and white classic
Old as time and evolving new
A lasting collision set on course
Something is always happening

Souls entwined with silver lining
Bent to sculpt and always binding
Wrestle braids so tight inside me
Never let me rest without you

Play the part the world has written
Bobbing in this endless ocean
Drifting towards a coast, then sea
Find comfort in this lasting bond

Test my hand and find it storing
A strength, a power given honest
To round my life in cherished moments
I am me yours, you are you mine

I came across a quote from John Adams and wanted to share it because I think it’s brilliant in so many ways. On the face it’s very simple, but I think the obvious nature of it shouldn’t dilute what shows through behind.

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.
– John Adams

In this quote it’s not only easy to see a wise understanding of the progression of a new country and it’s society from being at war for independance to building a nation of laws to being able to enjoy freedom, prosperity and peace, but it also shows a forward thinking logic about the success of a family and a country’s people without any expectation of skipping steps or instantaneous results.

This quote embodies the idea that sometimes without fighting and sacrifice, there can be no peace or true advancement, that it doesn’t always come easy or quickly. It speaks volumes to anyone who expects to roll the dice, land on the ‘Resort and Spa’ property, buy it at a cost lower than Virginia Avenue and charge a rent higher than Boardwalk.

With any hope, the basic idea of this quote can be easily applied to the many smaller trials we face in our everyday lives. Despite the ever increasing popular expectation of achieving greatness without bumps or bruises or the quick fix mentality that seems to have become the adopted strategy for so many people, it’s temporary nature will not be something future generations can sink their teeth into. The shortcuts everyone seems to be so fond of nowadays rarely carry an individual for any period of time let alone the weight of us all.

In short, let’s not look for the quick fix in our lives, but long-lasting foundational changes that can sustain ourselves, our families and maybe even someone we’ve never met. That’s the way to achieve greatness on all levels.

EDIT: A friend made a point that I hadn’t added. “The quote embodies the correct idea. However, children that were given a chance to learn poetry and such should not forget about war and politics entirely.” This of course is a lesson to appreciate and never forget the core values, traditions and ideas that brought you ‘here’ whether they were a direct result of your Grandfather or John Adams.

I caught two short films on YouTube that while they aren’t extremely uplifting, the authors are really talented. Give them a look-see.

Reach
Sebastian’s Wood

Repeating it comes with age I suppose and while I know it’s such a tired old cliche, I can’t help repeating it. At least I’m trying to keep my resolution to make posts on this site regularly, but then that sometimes even requires a bit of prodding from friends.

Anyways, today I tried to take some time for myself and look over this site. I’ve neglected it for a long time and even after the time I spent I still can’t fix all the issues. I hope you can’t find them At least the gallery works now and I’ve reformatted a bit of the page layouts. The sidebars are a bit more functional and I’ve upgraded to the latest version of Wordpress which is a nice improvement.

I wonder if I can get to my other sites after I sort out the issues with this one. TRAM Design for instance needs a complete overhaul, but…since I haven’t done any game design, despite my good friend Trevor’s attempts to suck me back in, I’m not sure I should bother with it.

We’ll see what time brings. Meanwhile, it’s off to do some yard work

Not sure how I got a collection of weird stories relating to office chairs, but it happened.

Boy Killed Anally When Office Chair Explodes
Now you know what story to tell your kids when they won’t stop playing with that lever that lowers the chair quickly lol

Twitter Account Used to Broadcast Fart Details
Genius, smelly and an all time low for humanity. Lucky we’ve found good uses for technology lol

Men Wheel Dead Pal In Office Chair To Cash Cheque In NY
He was dead for 24 days? haha I would have loved to see the acting when those two guys pretended to be surprised about him being dead? lol

“Give me some insight into your words
Break in ‘break it down’ being absolutely literal
Provide me my imagination and spirit
And train wreck my chance, my journey”

Designed to create a twinkle in your eye
My gift to give you is its meaning
Explanation is death and finality
My meaning steals yours and yours another

A lack of understanding is not an end
Thought bubbles may be expected
Cocked heads eventually even out
Search for your own answer and find more

So wrestle if you have to, but don’t give up
A meaning far greater in worth than mine awaits
Because for all it’s worth, each single word
The best poetry never really needs explaining

Everyone thinks they’re a good judge of character. We take note of the things we find most important and we decide who someone is the first moment we meet them. A person’s clothes, friends, political opinions, occupation, demeanor and even the car they drive play part.

Most of us don’t believe in mind readers yet believe we know what others are thinking at any given moment. The interpreting of intentions is probably one of the biggest crimes we commit against other people, but its second nature.

We all have friends and family we seem to know so well yet sometimes we question whether anyone truly knows US. Why do we assign different levels of complexity to each other? Aren’t we all moved for the same reasons?

It’s easy to wonder if the criteria we use to judge others is just as much an indication of who WE are. Colored cloth doesn’t gauge a person’s gravity, although I must admit a car can determine their speed. Then again, we might factor in compensation.

To know someone, I believe a good judge IS required, but the method in which someone judges makes all the difference. It’s the baseline we use to measure others which counts and that baseline must be in all situations, ourselves.

Being that as it may, it’s probably best to always keep in mind that the vast majority of us don’t know ourselves completely. We think we do, but it’s hard to expect we all spend the proper amount of time reflecting accurately and objectively about our thoughts and actions.

If what I’m saying is true, and you’ll have to judge for yourselves, let’s all set a solid foundation and try to see each other for what we really are. Let the non-essential bullshit fall away to reveal the underbelly, be awed by simple beauties and nurture what’s left over.

That’s how to know someone.

Switch off adult and make a face
Run down the hall for a mattress jump race
Forget my age and forget my name
I’m something different today

Music isn’t just background noise
‘Lean on me’ isn’t just about boys
I’ve somehow taken different form
I’m something different today

I’ve a Joke in hand and a trick behind
An immature smile and an immature mind
Say what you will, I’m having fun
I’m something different today

I’ve got nothing to buy and nothing to sell
I’m harmless, I’m free and I mean you well
Take me as I am and don’t ask cause
I’m something different today

A heart string is like a phone’s ring
Even purring in my pocket it doesn’t listen
Turn it off, but is ex-communication life?
Being off the emotional grid seem dark and cold
Or an open field oak in a thick forest of city walls
I demand myself progression
I demand myself newness
I demand myself to break at my own expense
But to command its purr, its disarming ring tone, would be false and unnatural
I cannot, nor would I, toy with its selection