The Fred Astorga Experience

Urban Decay

2018-03-24T03:06:00.002-07:00

I recently watched Michael Moore's "Roger & Me" which chronicled Moore's many humorous attempts at gaining an interview with then General Motors CEO Roger Smith. The documentary depicts Smith's total incompetence and irrational mindset in managing the fast-declining auto giant. Along the way we get to see the various laid-off employees being evicted from their homes. Even back then in 1989 it was clearly obvious that Flint, Michigan and Detroit, by extension was in a state of decline. Trash-filled streets, boarded-up homes and businesses-it was all there for the world to see. Was it always like that? What factors contributed to these cities-Detroit and Flint-becoming ghettos? The most obvious factors responsible for the creation of ghettos are: Rent control, welfare, zoning laws, non-diversified economies, and questionable programs such as the Community Reinvestment Act.

I associate the word "ghetto" with cities like Philadelphia, Newark, Baltimore, Detroit and Cleveland. Clearly these places have seen better days. White flight was usually the reason given for these cities' falling into disrepair. It was theorized that white folk fled to the suburbs to escape the soaring crime rate, the noisy neighbors and the lack of a suitable golf course. When the pattern is reversed gentrification occurs-white folk swoop in to the slums and buy up all the properties for pennies on the dollar and in the process force out all the poorer tenants who cannot afford the higher rents. In this respect rent controls serve to limit reinvestment and improvement upon residential properties. A landlord would be foolish to spend sizable funds maintaining and upgrading property knowing that he could not recoup his investment as a result of rent controls. Where rent controls are in place properties usually fall into disrepair.

Public welfare, if misused, can cripple the individual's desire to attain a better education and a higher station in life. In Great Britain, for example, whole families for several generations subsist entirely on government subsidies. Apparently there is no stigma attached to being unemployed and shiftless. Several years ago I took a trip with a friend to New Orleans (before Katrina)a few days before MardiGras. We drove around and saw all the touristy destinations-the mausoleums, the French Quarter, the bars and restaurants... My friend then casually informed me that practically everyone in Louisiana was on welfare, corrupt, and constantly scheming for a way to cheat the government, if not his fellow citizens. I was astonished by his comments but unfortunately they were corroborated by other long-time residents who I knew casually. The universal advice, however, was to never, under any circumstances, trust the Louisiana Police.

The reason that is usually offered for Detroit's descent into poverty is its over-reliance on the auto industry for economic stability. The fault lies at the feet of the urban planners and politicians. Any high-school graduate is smart enough to know not to place all of his eggs in one basket. The obvious answer here is diversity in the commercial sectors-it is all very clear in hindsight. The city leaders in Detroit should have offered tax breaks to other promising industries, similar to the way being offered to hybrid automobiles and solar panel manufacturers. The economic incentives must be designed to function like an economic magnet that draws in new industries. In this manner a city can create a brain pool and it can develop a multitude of areas where it demonstrates expertise and excellence. We saw this when all the PC makers and various dot com startups flocked to San Francisco-all of a sudden it was the place to be if one endeavored to raise capital and exploit the power of the internet. The local economy flourished, tax revenues increased and everyone was basically happy (well, at least until the dot com meltdown).

Life Goes On

2015-06-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

Well, the semester's over-thank God! A much-deserved break is in order; catch up on my sleep, drink more coffee, return some phone calls. A return to laid-back productivity will be the theme. Cooking skills will be upgraded, of course. The Bachelor's life is all about avoiding ramen noodles for as long as possible. But we all have them in our pantry-our backup plan.

Guitar-playing will receive more attention as will the occasional painting. I'll have to be careful with the singing, however. I believe my singing might've driven one of my neighbors to move-that and a large dog that growled at everyone. You can't blame me for singing Neil Diamond songs at one in the morning. Life is funny like that.

Don't smooth out the edges.

Photo Time Again

2014-12-25T01:19:00.002-08:00

Playing music in the park with my pals-does it get any better?

I've been too lazy to upload an "actual" post. Everyone loves fotos(preferred spelling) don't they? What are you waiting for? Let's take a quick trip...Merry Christmas, by the way.

Essential Tools for Starting and Maintaining a Small Business

2014-12-14T00:37:00.000-08:00

We believe that there are three factors that drive the success of small businesses.

1) Acquiring start-up capital
2) Finding customers
3) Accounting for, budgeting and controlling sales and expenses

The following resources will help your small business achieve these success factors.

Acquiring Start-Up Capital

An adequate supply of capital is essential as many profitable businesses fail because they don’t have enough cash to pay their employees and suppliers. But what is an adequate supply of capital? The only way to tell is by doing a significant amount of research on your potential market and formally documenting this in a business plan. I’m sure you know that a business plan is a very important document that is crucial to convincing your banker to lend you money.

There are two ways to obtain a business plan.

1) Do it yourself by amending a business plan template, or
2) Hire a professional to do it for you.

Obviously obtain 1) will be a great deal cheaper.

Our research led to a website that has over 60 high quality and free business plan templates. We also found a directory that you can use to easily find a business plan writer in your city – where ever you live in the world.

Finding Customers

Finding customers is a difficult and expensive task for service business owners such as accountants, lawyers and plumbers. We believe that a cost effective marketing strategy for service business owners is to simply give all their personal contacts a few business cards.

Our research led to a few websites that have pre-designed business card templates. We felt that the diversity and quality of these designs was outstanding. In addition, we found that you can obtain a significant saving by finding a printing service on the Internet. We found that you could get 2,000 full color business cards for as little as US $150.

Accounting For, Budgeting and Controlling Revenue and Expenses

Accurate accounting is very important for small business owners. It’s essential that you have timely access to information that could make or break your business. If stocks are running low – you need to know about it. If a large proportion of your debtors haven’t paid – you need to know about it. If you do not react to these situations quickly you may have a situation where you don’t have enough money to pay your employees – or worse still someone is stealing cash out the till.

Our research led to a website that compares and reviews top accounting software for small businesses. The cheapest software cost US $89.99 and the most expensive software cost US $1,499. It was interesting to note that the top 3 ranked websites were not the most expensive and cost between US $250 - US $300.

Hopefully you now have an idea of some of the tools that you can use to grow and maintain your small business.

The Importance of a Positive Attitude

2014-09-05T08:02:00.001-07:00

High unemployment. The Recession. Inflation and flat wages. Police brutality. Mass media lies and deception.The country's surely gone to the dogs. Maximilian Robespierre would surely be pleased.

Where does the answer lie? The leaders, from the smallest to the greatest, are self-serving tyrants with a never-ending thirst for bribes and ill-gotten funds. Criminals with tacky suits that would murder if only they could elude discovery. Or the Kennedys. Government officials live like royalty while the rest of the nation suffers. The author has no faith in the godless,corrupt leaders who are no better than used car salesmen. These evil men are accursed-the type of individuals that one crosses the street to avoid. During the French revolution well over a thousand government officials were hung, beheaded or otherwise executed. Start with the Fed, the bankers, Wall Street, the entire George W. Bush administration.

Meanwhile, the major cities are overrun by large gangs of unemployed street-urchin rabble: young men(mostly black) that are forever frozen out of government assistance or jobs due to a criminal record. What will be done with these millions? Will they be forever idled and left to their own devices or to a life of crime while living in the shadows? The government takes no interest in the potential of these youth, it sees no value or otherwise redeeming attributes. A second tier of citizenship is hereby proposed whereby these gentlemen can regain their good standing in order to contribute to society once again. A program similar to a boot camp would retrain and instill discipline to the wayward youth. The weight of the government is too heavy for the people.

Electronics Overkill

2014-09-04T04:49:00.004-07:00

Nowadays the media continually hypes the latest electronic gadgets 24-7. The focus is primarily on computers and phones-the fastest, shiniest, smoothest devices. Everything else takes a back seat. But of course obsolescence is always lurking around the corner-this author still maintains a closet full of obsolete computers, cameras, laptops, routers etc.,.

It's too bad most people are forced to set aside their once-favored phones and cameras merely because they switched/upgraded their devices. What if there was a way to upgrade these devices? I was gently surprised by this excellent idea from our friends at Amazon. They just launched a program where folks can trade-in their cameras, smartphones etc.,. I'll revisit this topic very shortly. Go check them out.

This means gearheads everywhere can always sleep safe in the knowledge that their gear is up to date. Perhaps the author can ship a box overstuffed with old cameras and computers. A bill would arrive shortly, no doubt.

GOOGLE FAIL

2014-09-01T00:05:00.002-07:00

Google Analytics. Adsense. Both are owned by Google and yet the installation of their software into the Blogger platform is an exercise in futility. Google deserves yet another big thumbs down for their inefficiencies. The author previously awarded it the ignoble prize for its ill-conceived Maps. The installation of key components of software should comprise a more symmetrical experience. Take a twenty point deduction Google.

Unfortunately, as a postscript, the installation of the software components proved to be a fiasco. A humble writer, yes. But unfortunately a software engineer, no. Is the griping justified, then? Unfortunately, only rarely is the author forced to confront ever-present computer limitations. Perhaps skipping those boring computer science classes in order to shoot hoops was not such a good idea, eh? Personal responsibility vs. the Google colossus.

Google gets a rap on the knuckles for the incongruity among its products. The consumer should only need to click on a handful of variables and presto-installation is complete. GOOGLE FAIL.

(Knee) Defender

2014-08-29T07:18:00.001-07:00

We live in difficult times. Mass poverty has produced a nation of perpetual grumps who will fly off the handle in a matter of seconds. And now a hare-brained inventor is going to compound the misery for everyone else. His invention prevents the offending seat from fully reclining. Fantastic! Conversely, the airlines should install wrestling mats and let the quarreling parties go at it in no-holds-barred matches. In-flight entertainment deluxo!

What's happened to the world? Has it become a planet full of Grumps? Where is the tolerance and the live-and-let live attitude? The Grumps should relax by scavenging their vintage/pawn shops for classic video games like Midway's Defender. Warm memories will bubble to the surface. Classic. Any disagreement will be easily resolved with such a game. Bragging rights will be an added bonus.

Stop this pettiness and get on with helping our fellow man. Tough times require Good People to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. No one has time for small arguments and childish disagreements. Knee Defender....(sigh). Truthfully, those airline seats should never recline as far as they do. The author has been subject to inconsiderate passengers as well(and at a height of 6'2, no less). A tolerant nature and a thick skin ensured flights without incidents.

Passengers have long become accustomed to being packed like sardines into a shabby aluminum can. It's hard to believe that flying used to a pleasurable experience that was reserved for the affluent and well-to-do. There were no TSA agents fondling children or the elderly back then.

Instead of Knee Defender...Midway Defender. Resolve disagreements through spirited challenges in Centipes, Ms. Pacman, Asteroids, etc.,. Good-natured competition is the antidote for petty disagreements.

Make sure to explore the rest of the blog for a further discussion on health, fitness, diabetes prevention, the Grumpiness Index, and the status of Fine Arts, the decline of the Empire. New material is being posted every day as inspiration strikes. Occasionally widgets and banners will appear and disappear, text will appear out of place. A work in progress is in effect and a refined product will result shortly. All readers are invited to read, comment and offer suggestions. Defender. Defend her.

How to Record Your Band

2014-08-27T15:07:00.001-07:00

With some careful planning you too can record your rock band. You can become the Rockstar that you've always wanted to be.

There are few things more rewarding or more stressful than seeing your music gradually come together in the studio. It's the greatest feeling in the world being able to hand anyone a cd while imploring them to "check out my band." The sense of accomplishment is very powerful. Recording is a key area where a rock band can really hone its chops and demonstrate its songs to best advantage.

But before the band can walk the red carpet and parade its platinum records, it must spend a good while in the studio.

It should be noted here that a studio can be any place that the band feels best captures its vibe-it doesn't have to be The Record Plant or Sugarhill Studios. With all the advances being made in recording software, soundcards and peripheral devices, it becomes completely possible to realize professional results within the confines of the group’s living room.

Where do we begin? Before we begin, one person in the band will typically become the designated recording engineer/producer. This person will usually be the most knowledgeable about recording, comparatively speaking, that is. This role defaults to the keyboardist 99.9% of the time. Why? Keyboardists have become used to reading endless manuals on midi, keyboards, modular synths, recording software and the list goes on. These gentlemen are most often the most musically accomplished chaps in the band. Naturally they wind up doing all the grimy recording, mastering, tweaking etc.,. Nevertheless, before we even begin to think about recording we must do the following:

Instruct the drummer to replace all the drum heads, to tune them and to sufficiently lubricate all the moving parts of the kick drum pedal and the hi-hat. There's nothing more annoying than having a perfectly good drum take being ruined by a squeaky kick drum pedal.
Instruct the bassist and the guitarist(s) to restring their instruments and to sufficiently break them in so that they stay in tune during the recording sessions. Also, have the guitarists replace the batteries on their pedals, and the tubes on their amps where necessary.
Instruct the keyboardist/programmer to finalize his midi patches/sequences and ask how many tracks he will require for his associated gear-keyboards, samplers, drum machines.
Discuss the choice of microphones with the vocalist, if possible. This is where experimentation is critical. The vocalist may use a Shure sm58 by habit but he might be surprised by the results of singing through an Oktava, for example. It's important to note here that most recording hobbyists will not have access to a Neumann U87 or other high-end professional tube mics; they'll typically employ Shure sm58s and 57s, Oktava, Audio Technica, and AKG microphones.
Finally and most importantly, in our new capacity as recording engineers we instruct the band to methodically rehearse the songs that it intends to record. The band can be proactive here-it can record all its rehearsal sessions and discuss what needs more work after collectively listening to the performances.

After all these steps are followed the band will be ready to step into the studio and record its soon-to-be chart-topping songs(hopefully). We proceed to have the drummer set up his kit in a sound-proof room (relatively speaking). We place foam and/or plush carpeting on all the walls so as to prevent sound waves from reflecting and bouncing all over the place-we want to avoid phase cancellation.

Next we place an appropriate kick drum mic( AKG D112 or Rode NT1, NT2 etc.) inside the kick drum along with an oversized pillow. We then proceed to place two overhead mics (Left and Right) and we angle them downward so that they can capture the sound of the toms. The choice of overheads is as endless as the stars in the sky but you really can't go wrong using a pair of Rode NT1s or NT2s. They're that good. For the snare we can use our workhorse Shure sm57. With this setup the drumkit is pretty much covered although I'm sure the purists will always clamor for more mics.

Next we move on to record the bass guitar-a relatively straightforward affair, comparatively speaking. Most bass amps, thankfully, offer a plethora of options when it comes to recording the bass signal. Usually we'll have a direct out, a cabinet simulator and a pre and post eq output. This is all pretty cool because as recording engineers we always want options. The standard procedure for a lot of producers is to route the direct out from the bass amp into high end preamps such as an Avalon, Universal Audio and Focusrite. We will place a full-range mic (Electro Voice RE 20) directly in front of the speaker cone, off-axis and about 2-3 inches back from the speaker.

We will position 3 microphones on the speaker. Why? We achieve the ideal eq curve from the mics and not from the mixer or the various plug-ins. In this manner if we require a sharper attack we raise the gain on the mic directly in front of the speaker and if we require more bass we attenuate this same mic and increase the gain on the off-axis mic.

We set up to record the guitars in a similar fashion as we recorded the bass. This means that we look for pre-amp outputs and cabinet simulators on the back of the guitar amps. Ideally we record the direct outs AND the signals from the microphones.

In the past this was not always possible because after a while you started running out of tracks but nowadays this is no longer a consideration, thankfully. One of the key things in recording amps is having another bandmate as a second engineer to move the mics around in order to achieve the "right" sound.

Recording keyboards is a pretty simple affair-keyboardists always insist on a surplus of inputs. As long as inputs are available for them (along with a click-track or SMPTE timecode) then they're pretty happy.

We now focus on the vocals. This is where patience is the name of the game. This is where we experiment with all the mics and preamps at our disposal unless the vocalist has a stated preference. We'll usually instruct the singer to stand and sing upwards into the mic-the mic being placed 3-4 inches above the vocalist's head. This position allows the mic to capture the maximum power and projection of the voice-this is the ideal position.

Standard procedure dictates that condenser microphones will be used. Condenser mics are ideal here-they pick up all the nuances of the vocalist's voice. Dynamic mics, by contrast are designed to be solid, tough and roadworthy performers. Suitable microphones are: Electro Voice RE20( a dynamc mic), AKG 414, AKGC3000, Rode NT1, NT2 and even our old pal, the Shure Beta sm58. Another important aspect of recording vocals is utilizing a decent mic preamp. Some solid performers here would be ART, Presonous and M-Audio. You don't have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a decent mic preamp-you can achieve professional results with the aforementioned brands.

After we finish recording our tracks we then turn them over to a mixdown engineer-a new set of ears, hopefully. If the same people will be involved in the mixdown process it is ideal to take a few days off-a necessary breather. The ideal circumstance here is for someone with fresh ears to listen to the mix and make corrections wherever anomalies are present. This person, a producer typically, will instruct the engineer on the choice of compressors, time-domain effects(reverbs, delays), Autotune, plug-ins etc.,.

This situation is typical with a signed band. In most small recording studios the engineer will finalize the recording project and the results will usually be good enough to help a record label decide whether or not it wants to invest in the band. This topic will be discussed in more detail in another installment.

Home Training vs. Joining a Gym

2014-08-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

The allure of modern gyms can be hard to resist, no? What are the pros and cons? Let us examine the obvious disadvantages of gym membership. One of the biggest drawbacks of training at a commercial gym is the time required to drive to the gym. Sometimes one spends more time driving to the gym than actually working out. Next on the list is the money spent on gas. And let's not discuss the sizable down payments that some gyms require, not to mention the monthly dues... It quickly becomes obvious that it is totally possible to spend close to $1,000 a year or more on the associated gym fees and the fuel expense. For many the sum is exorbitant, especially in the recessionary environment. What to do then?

The obvious answer is to build a home gym. A small amount of research and price comparison will be necessary, to be sure. Often the devoted trainee will cobble together a gym, gradually adding equipment as his knowledge and development increase. A sensible approach. Consequently, it becomes unnecessary to run out and purchase an expensive new-fangled home gym behemoth. Better to be content with incremental improvement.

The trainee in time will realize gradual but definite improvement in his/her fitness goals. At this juncture new equipment will most likely re-enter the picture. The object of desire will consist of a dumbell rack with weights ranging from ten pounds all the way up to the big hundreds. The plot thickens. Not surprisingly, most home gyms reside in the basement or the garage, or the mancave.

What is the significnce? Is it sheer lunacy spending several hundreds of dollars on assorted gym implements? It's a hell of a way to impress your pals at the Lodge, that's for sure. The purchase of new equipment can often(not always, though) lead to more consistent usage and a higher level of fitness as a result. Bragging rights will be an added bonus.

The biggest disadvantage of owning a home gym is the necessity of periodically moving the equipment if the lifter is an apartment dweller. This is a non-issue for home owners (lucky bastards!). It's no fun climbing a flight of stairs with a 130 lb. barbell on your shoulders...several times. Thankfully, it isn't too difficult to trick friends and family into helping with most moves. Usually.

Another big disadvantage of training alone in one's home gym is the lack of a spotter. This is probably why serious weightlifters always join a gym. A training partner who's really pumped up about lifting will usually bring out the best in the fitness enthusiast. If your partner is benching 3 plates and you're only able to press 2, there's a pretty good chance that you'll close the gap shortly. Also, you can pick up alot of advanced training methods at a commercial gym and increase your progress as a result.

The home trainee will have to be informed, disciplined and highly motivated if he desires to extract maximum utility from his equipment. Otherwise the equipment will become a not-so-gentle reminder of a bad investment. Many devotees have thoughtlessly purchased ab rollers, medicine balls, soloflexes etc., with the intention of acquiring that six-pack just in time for summer. The devices eventually end up collecting dust in the closet or in the garage. All can be avoided with a little bit of follow-through and discipline.

Money spent on a home gym is a great investment. A trip to the local gym will add variety to be sure. Unfortunately commercial gyms are packed like sardines from 5-10 pm. Upper body anything will be out of the question. It seems hopeless. Unless training lower body, that is. Very few people are inclined to perform any lower body exercises. They'll learn.

Join a gym or train at home? Train at home, hands down. The great thing about it is that one could build the gym gradually. Dumbells were procured ranging from 20 lbs. to 60 lbs. More equipment can be added, as space allows. Training at one's own gym is the most logical choice.

Marketing and Women: Critical Factors

2014-08-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

Who are the world’s most powerful consumers? Are they the millionaires? The CEOs of the Blue Chip companies? Rap stars? They are none of the above. Women are the world’s most powerful consumers. They make up just over fifty percent of the population and more important, they control well over half of the spending. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. They’re responsible for most purchases: Household spending, corporate purchasing, and small businesses expenditures.

Let us again examine a woman’s purchasing power: she shops for herself, for her husband and for her kids. A woman is the gatekeeper to the domestic checkbook.
Consider how men and women differ in their shopping habits: typically, when a man goes shopping he knows exactly what he wants, heck, he practically runs to the aisle! He pays for the purchase and he’s out of there as quickly as possible. For a man, going shopping is similar to going to the doctor-something to be avoided at all costs. The only time that a man deliberates is when he’s checking out the circular saws at the local hardware store, but otherwise, habit dictates that he abscond as quickly as possible.

Now let us examine a woman’s approach to shopping. When a woman is doing her shopping she compares several items carefully, slowly going up and down an aisle several times if necessary. She’ll not hesitate to ask the salespeople questions (something a man would never do) as she considers her choices. A woman will spend hours pushing a shopping cart around and comparing seemingly unrelated items. It’s easy to see that women are far and away the more educated of the two genders.
Nevertheless, most large companies persist in focusing their marketing efforts toward men.

Why, you ask? Perhaps these same companies still believe that the man works and the woman stays home and raises the children. This premise would be true if it were the 1920s but unfortunately it’s almost a century past the Jazz Age. New times require new approaches to selling products to women.
The key to creating marketing programs that will ensure women’s continued loyalty is to understand what women value.

Often, what they value is different from what men value. The things that men find interesting or important just don’t seem to elicit the same reaction from women. With men you have to paint with broad paint strokes-reduce something to its bare essence. The simpler the better. Women, on the other hand, want details, and plenty of them. You have to appeal to all the senses as much as possible, as if you can touch it, taste it, hear it, see it, or smell it. For women it’s all about the details.

Women often purchase items based on criteria that, for men, would be totally irrelevant. Let us consider cell phones for example. A man will base his purchasing decision on whether a given cell phone has GPS capability, whether it has sufficient memory for a sizable mp3 library and whether it’s easy to use with games. These criteria can be important to women but equally important will be the color of the phone, its size and texture. Does the phone look too bulky in their front pocket? What about roaming charges? It becomes clear that women have much longer lists of requirements that need to be met before a purchase is made.

In conclusion, to appeal to women it becomes critically important to:

· include as much background as possible-details! Sum everything up with a powerful conclusion

· Focus on people as beneficiaries of a product

· Focus on creating a sense of closeness and belonging

· Embrace the older demographic

· Show some emotion

· Describe the warranties and support hotlines in detail

Verdict: The New Google Maps Suck

2014-08-25T03:43:00.002-07:00

The new Google Maps suck. Why can't Google just leave things as they are: if the software works fine then leave it alone!!!!! How hard is that to comprehend. But I'm sure all the nerds just feel compelled to go in and modify, adjust, upgrade etc.,. This is what's wrong with the world -we don't know how to leave things alone when they're working fine.

OK, so here's how you revert to the "old" Google Maps: Go to Google Maps. Look at the bottom right of the page where you'll notice the zoom widget. At the far left you'll notice a bubble with a question mark. Click on that. Then click on "Return to Classic Google Maps." There you go. Thank God for small victories.

Kick Diabetes Right in the Rear

2014-08-23T09:22:00.003-07:00

Pretty nice view, eh? Yeah it must be nice. The sister and her husband went on a nice cruise and he snapped some really fantastic photos along the way. The photo strongly resembles a Bob Ross painting.

In the last blog the topic of Diabetes was briefly introduced. The author is becoming alarmed at the growing number of Americans that are falling prey to this avoidable malady. Much-needed research was fueled by prodigious amounts of tea(no sugar, thank you). The articles mention the danger of sugar, junk food, bad carbs and the sedentary lifestyles that include the seated posture for extended periods of time(duh!).

The next culprit was diet, of course. The author's diet was re-examined and found to be severely deficient: breads, pies, pizzas, cookies, churros ...Diabetes would surely strike if no corrective actions were taken. Thankfully, the ship changed course dramatically and smooth sailing resulted. Unfortunately, junk food carbs are fattening, they raise blood sugar levels and they affect hormonal levels. Rats! Check out this new book-the material could literally save your life. It's only natural that all the things we love come back to bite us in the rear.

Keeping that in mind, many of the recommendations offered in the research have proven highly beneficial. For example, apple cider vinegar and its odoriferous glory now augments the diet... The bitter drink reduces inflammation, blood pressure, improves sleep etc.,. The product smells awful and the taste is not much better. A slow start is in order here.

Another product that is being consumed is rye bread. Very odd: a bonafide bread! Something to do about phytoestrogens and all that and an increase in Testosterone levels. Very interesting.. In no time at all a pair of 20-inch arms will be displayed to the amazement and horror the apartment dwellers. Belief and disbelief.

Another of the ideas presented was the recommendation that fruits and vegetables should become a large component of a diet. Tomatoes, avocados, sweet potatoes, broccoli. Plant-based products are to receive a larger emphasis now. Make waves.

The last variation is the elimination of refined sugar from the diet. A good many folks encounter failure and setback at this critical juncture. Dietary boot camp becomes the order of the day. Hand-to-hand combat is necessary to defeat Diabetes and all its associated problems. Tea and coffee are presently taken without sugar, thank you. The author is currently engaged in a competition of sorts, termed Diabetes Challenge 2014, with his brother. The gentle reader is encouraged to participate if for no other reason than vanity.Victory is assured-updates will follow. Stay cranky.

Cookie Monster

2014-08-20T23:53:00.001-07:00

Allright, so I finally did it-I made that Oatmeal Raisin cookie that I've been meaning to get around to. I must say that my baking skills are coming together rather nicely. Anyways, the recipe came out pretty good if I say so myself. I stumbled onto the recipe at: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/oatmeal-raisin-cookies-i/. Go check them out.

I usually prefer a light desert after and this, I think, fits the bill quite nicely. While cooking may not be perceived as a real macho activity like hunting or bass fishing, it takes a great deal of work to create pizzas, breads,and cookies etc., from scratch. It's not as cool as climbing Mt Everest but I can only do what I do.

I hope the folks at allrecipes are cool with me reprinting their excellent recipe.

Ingredients
Original recipe makes 4 dozen Change Servings

    3/4 cup butter, softened
    3/4 cup white sugar
    3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
    2 eggs
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    2 3/4 cups rolled oats
    1 cup raisins

Directions

   1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

   2.In large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar
     until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Stir together
     flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually beat into butter mixture.
     Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

   3.Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
     Cool slightly, remove from sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Allright, there you have it-do a little bit of cooking and make yourself useful. Just be careful or you may find that a gym membership has become an important necessity. And take special care if you contend with diabetes. In the meantime go check this out: Erase Diabetes Stay cranky.

Crankshaft

2014-08-17T01:27:00.000-07:00

There sure is a lot to be cranky about. Times are tough all over: the Recession, unemployment, inflation, they cancelled your favorite cable show. Yeah it sucks. There's plenty to be cranky about, we might as well make the best of it.

For some reason photos always lift my spirits.The photo to the left depicts a slightly overcast sky over the apartments. The access gate makes the run-down apartments look like a prison, which they are. The shabby place bears a strong resemblance to a Siberian labor camp. Papa Stalin would approve. The site is often mistaken for a municipal correctional facility. A lot of grumpy people call themselves residents. Can anyone blame them?

One of the best antidotes for the grumps is cooking skills. One of the downfalls of bachelorhood is the aspect of cooking, or lack thereof. Two extremes exist: the thin man and the epicurean. Eventually one is compelled to buckle down and cook properly. Ramen noodles are done away with permanently and respectable dishes are introduced. But gradually respectable cooking is becoming the order of the day(pizzas, mostly) so that I may enjoy some variety in my meals.

                                                    Stay Cranky.

The Moon and Stars

2011-11-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

Balance and Symmetry. Finding either in the Fall is like chasing and catching the Northern Lights-it cannot be done. The weather gets colder, the Sun takes a much-needed vacation, the Moon hangs high up in the air. Probably what affects me the most is the Light Deprivation-it's almost like walking around in a semi-haze; a fog that never quite dissipates. And Depression and Anxiety are always a threat during the winter months. I suspect that the rays from the Sun are essential for Spiritual Maintenance but I cannot base it on anything other than anecdotal evidence-pure conjecture for the time being.

I don't know how they deal with it up in Sweden and Norway-but I am intrigued since I've always been partial to colder climates. Being from Chicago will do that to you. Light Deprivation is referenced continually in many reality shows. One of the topics that I found most disturbing and tragic was the high incidence of teen suicides in the Eskimo populations-the show attributes them to the lack of youth employment opportunities, alcoholism and Light Deprivation. Isolation and extremely cold climates: A deadly combination?

"Miss You" from the Rolling Stones-a happy little jem that was hiding out in one of my many play lists. The song reminds me why we all used to worship the Stones-the vibe, the catchy hooks, lyrics and swagger. Sure it came from the Disco Era, but, like, who cares? The breakdown in the middle where Jagger, supported by a fat bass line is half singing, half talking is a stroke of genius. "Welcome to the Machine" by Pink Floyd. I'm sure I've already mentioned this song as occupying a permanent place in my playlist. Big Brother, Minor Keys, Analog Synths and probably some illicit substances thrown in for good measure-these ingredients, and more are to be found in abundance in "Welcome to the Machine." A picture from the past into the future.

One last song is the Wild Card but an explanation is in order here-I will in all probability catch a lot of flak. At the gymnasium where I train the staff began playing this one annoying song like six times an hour. They did this for about a month straight-I wonder who's idea that was? It's a strange sensation executing bench presses while being extremely angry-I guess that's how it is in Prison. Eventually the song wore me down with its cheesy lyrics and equally cheesy little beat. So now I apparently like Teeny-bopper music-Sad. Blame the Gym.The song: See No More-Joe Jonas. Music and a lot of Reading are the antidotes for the Wintertime Blues. Also don't forget the Beatles "And I Love Her."

Somewhere in Time

2011-11-09T02:12:00.000-08:00

Revisiting the Past. Reinventing the Future. These themes are the bread and butter that Hollywood lives on, Universal themes, if you will. The idea of going back in time to correct mishaps and to revisit and recapture old glories is an alluring one that reverberates perpetually. Who wouldn't want to go back in time to sow their wild oats while making a few minor correction along the way? This very theme is revisited in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris."

I should note here that I avoid at all costs anything and everything involving the Wilson brothers but I was compelled by Allen's latest handiwork. Anyways, the film features Wilson as a novelist, accompanied by his uptight fiance(Rachel McAdams), who is magically transported to Paris in the 1920s. He hangs out and parties with Cole Porter, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dali, Luis Bunel, Pablo Picasso, and Gertrude Stein. Obviously, this is a dream come true for Wilson, the opportunity of a lifetime.

Social Dissonance is an underlying theme for the film-Wilson obviously feels ill at ease in his own time and no doubt feels that a simpler, happier time would alleviate many of his problems. The Golden Age. I must admit that I too have pondered this idea at great length. If I were to be drawn back in time I would favor being transported somewhere within the Victorian Age. Musically, Romanticism was all the rage, anything Baroque deemed quaint and out of fashion. This was Francisco Tarrega's world. This era was the calm before the storm-who knew that World War I was right around the corner?

On the topic of revisiting old paths, I decided to go back and listen to "Loveless" from My Bloody Valentine. I wish that I could say that I read about them in Pitchfork or in Rolling Stone but the truth is that a long while back, when I still read guitar magazines, I read a mostly unflattering review of the band and its work. That did it-I was hooked. When I first listened to My Bloody Valentine I felt like I was in a very long, reverby tunnel where everything is constantly in motion, in a state of Vibrato. I initially found the music repugnant and yet I somehow was drawn to it-its fuzzy, punk, and out-of-tune vibe stuck out like a sore thumb. My old Audio Engineering teacher, Ray Dillard, gave me the greatest piece of advice ever: If at first you don't like a piece of music, listen to it another ten times. I have carried his words of wisdom with me ever since.

So there you have it: Midnight in Paris and "Loveless" from My Bloody Valentine. Go check them out and maybe that gray little cloud hanging above your life will slowly dissipate.

Brighton Park

2011-11-04T01:01:00.000-07:00

You gotta hand it to the fine folks at the Golden Arches-they sure know their Marketing. They orchestrate all manner of excitement over a slab of pork ribs nestled comfortably between two hot dog buns and Voila! hordes of people find themselves mindlessly running to their local restaurants in order to be the first to re-experience the return of the McRib. Has the American Public become too gullible, too simplistic and child-like? I hope not.

I must admit I was a bit of a naysayer about this McRib sandwhich too. That is until my pal and I took a trip and picked up some quick eats at the Golden Arches. Protocol dictates that you gotta have some bona fide junk food before a football game-in our case we got to watch the mighty Texans crush their long-time rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Anyways I was watching the game and eating the McRib as well as the piping-hot fries when my friend informed me that the proper way to do it(like they do in Philly) is to insert a big handful of fries into your sandwich. Fair Enough. I must say, it was a devil of a good idea. The sauce on that McRib is what makes the sandwich in my opinion. Go out and try one for yourself-give the Diet a rest for a day or so...and definitely check this out:Reverse Diabetes We can certainly enjoy our snacks while avoiding diabetes.

As I was enjoying the sandwich a strange thought popped into my head: Why don't the fine chefs at McDonald's try a similar sandwich only with Tuna instead? Sure it would probably be gross...initially. But with enough tweaking and reworking and stealthily inserting some beef and pork, the sandwich could possibly even become edible? Nah, it would never work. It's just that Tuna seems to be a healthier meat; unfortunately all anyone ever does is slather mayonnaise all over it as a condiment. Tuna has never really ever been a cool meat-it just doesn't elicit the same type of excitement as cooking up a batch of Jerk Wings for your boozy pals. It is the Ned Flanders of the Meat Family. Tuna definitely needs Salvation-that's for sure.

Winter Dreams

2011-10-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

Well, Winter has FINALLY arrived and it could not have occurred soon enough. There’s something very disconcerting about having to utilize an Air-Conditioning unit in October -the beginning of Winter. That’s what happens when you’ve faced down a Summer filled with weeks and weeks of relentless 120 degree weather. Life in Hell. Grumpiness is the result of excessive heat-the heat will be the main contributor to street fights and jousts. Iceland never experiences such warm climates. And the people seem so relaxed and even-tempered. It must be nice to be energy-independent. Lucky bastards. An observation is in order here: Extreme temperatures elicit extreme behaviors. Except in Iceland.

The Church: Priest=Aura. A great album by a great band-worthy of repeated listenings. A few years ago many were convinced that this was the Perfect Album of all time and listened to it endlessly. Then they moved to Ireland and were never heard from again. Life is peculiar like that.

Many years ago before she became the media heavyweight that she is now and the proprietor of the Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington published an extremely insightful biography on Pablo Picasso. The book emphasized the tempestuous relationships that Pablo maintained with his many wives and mistresses. The revelation was at times sickening. In this regard a female author has many obvious advantages in powers of deduction, knowledge of complex relationships and most important of all, empathy. An excerpt from biography.com on our favorite Artist:

Picasso's paintings and drawings of the late teens often seem unexpectedly naturalistic in contrast to the Cubist works that preceded or sometimes coincided with them (Passeig de Colom, 1917). After his travels to Italy and a return to Barcelona in 1917 (Parade was performed there in November), a new spirit of Mediterraneanism made itself felt in his work, especially in the use of classical forms and drawing techniques.

This was reinforced by a conscious looking back to Ingres (for example, in Picasso's portrait drawings of Jacob and Vollard, 1915) and to late Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Even the direction of Picasso's Cubist work was affected. By clarifying planes, forms, and colour, the artist imparted to his Cubist paintings a classical expression (Saint-Raphal still lifes, 1919; two versions of the Three Musicians, 1921).

Picasso's only legitimate child, Paulo, was born in 1921. As part of his new status as darling of the socialites (encouraged particularly by his wife and Jean Cocteau) Picasso continued his collaborations with the Ballets Russes and produced designs for Manuel de Falla's Three-Cornered Hat (1919); Igor Stravinsky's Pulcinella (1920); De Falla's Cuadro Flamenco (1921); and Satie's ballet Mercure (1924). André Breton called Picasso's designs for this ballet “tragic toys for adults” created in the spirit of Surrealism.

That excerpt should be sufficient to encourage further exploration into all things Artistic.

Libyan Rebels Still Working Full-Time At Other Jobs

2011-10-25T22:00:00.000-07:00

TRIPOLI—Rebel forces hoping to oust Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi confirmed Tuesday that they were having difficulties coordinating their rebellion while still working a full 40-hour week at their other jobs. "Obviously I'd love to combat Qaddafi's army and win our nation's freedom all day, but the reality is I've got to make a living here and my boss is pretty stingy about time off," said Libyan resistance fighter and day-shift cab driver Husni Deghayes, adding that while he occasionally lobs a few grenades at government forces on his lunch break, he rarely has time to do so before he has to rush back and clock in again.

"Plus, I'm a father. So really I have three full-time jobs." Deghayes went on to tell reporters that the situation is unlikely to get any easier, as he has to cover a number of upcoming shifts for his coworker who got killed in a skirmish outside Benghazi last night.

Pumping Irony

2011-10-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger. For a demi-god he sure has been keeping a low profile lately. There was a time(the '80s and '90s) when Papa Arnold,as I call him, was on a perpetual marketing blitz. The guy was everywhere all at once-he was inescapable. Whatever he touched turned to gold: A beefed-up, slightly less successful version of Tom Hanks, if you will. The kid that Joe Weider brought over from some backwoods little town in Austria became.....the Governor of California?! Who would've thunk it?

Of course, Arnold being Arnold couldn't help himself and he flew too close to the sun and came crashing back down to earth with the rest of us. Yes he had an affair with the maid which resulted in a child and the demise of his marriage. I must admit that I had mixed feelings when the likeness of the maid was flashed around the globe millions of times. You picture your heroes jet-setting around the globe with four models on each arm, kinda like Mick Jagger used to do before he settled down, only to be confronted with a homely woman who performs domestic chores?! Pumping Irony indeed. That was a hard pill to swallow.

I propose that this setback that befell Papa Arnold will only serve to make him more human, more approachable and relatable. People generally mistrust individuals who appear too perfect . It was Ben Franklin, after all who said never to trust a man without vice. Prudent advice. Let us consider Marlon Brando-in his time he garnered a lion's share of bad press and engaged in otherwise career-ending behavior. Only now, with the passage of time does he seem like a passionate tragic hero not unlike the Greek prototypes. I predict that Arnold's career and popularity will affect a similar trajectory.

What other actor has a museum, among other things, dedicated to him in Austria? Arnold made it cool to take pride in being Germanic long before Dirk Nowitzki came home to Germany to a hero's welcome. So what has Arnold been up to? Let us take a short trip to the Arnold fansite, The Arnold Fans. I always go on there to see what sort of trouble Papa Arnold's getting himself into. Apparently his reintroduction into cinema will be The Last Stand. According to the Lionsgate press release:

Schwarzenegger stars as Sheriff Owens, a man who has resigned himself to a life of fighting what little crime takes place in sleepy border town Sommerton Junction after leaving his LAPD post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with failure and defeat after his partner was crippled. After a spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy, the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the hemisphere is hurtling toward the border at 200 mph in a specially outfitted car with a hostage and a fierce army of gang members.

He is headed, it turns out, straight for Summerton Junction, where the whole of the U.S. law enforcement will have their last opportunity to make a stand and intercept him before he slips across the border forever. At first reluctant to become involved, and then counted out because of the perceived ineptitude of his small town force, Owens ultimately accepts responsibility for one of the most daring face offs in cinema history.

Paradise Lost

2011-10-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Bad News are all around us-nonstop. Every tv channel one turns to, every website we surf, we are immediately confronted by the bad news of the day. The news organizations lick their lips as they ponder which batch of bad news to inflict on the public and the people, meanwhile, are silently terrorized in the process. A sad turn of events, really. Of course we the people only have ourselves to blame. The simplest thing to do is to change the channel or ,even better, turn off the tv.

Things aren't really as bad as the media would have us believe. Certainly there is more than enough poverty to go around, that much is indisputable. Never-ending hardship and people, through no fault of their own, have suffered economic difficulties. Yes, we've been here before. This is nothing new to a country that survived(barely) the Great Depression. The choice then is to move forward-a better day awaits around the corner. Is it really that unthinkable to scale back from a richer lifestyle?

The way to maintain composure in the Great Depression version 2.0 is to develop an antidote to counteract the poisons from the propaganda news channels. Some Ideas: Marathon watching sessions of programs containing positive , upbeat messages. A good example is the now-gone Psych. A feel-good buddy comedy is just what the doctor ordered for the dark clouds that hang over our national consciousness. The mastery of a musical instrument is also highly advised. Life skills are quickly acquired in the course of learning the fundamentals of any instrument. Discipline, persistence, humility. These qualities will ensure success for the forward-looking optimist.

Cortez the Killer

2011-10-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

Neil Young. Hmmmm. I must confess that I have a habit of affecting a bad imitation of his vocals in an attempt to make fun of him. Pretty sad, really. Neil’s musical genius however, is beyond reproach-he’s crafted more than a handful of songs that are absolutely bulletproof-these songs will still be floating around long after we’re all mere afterthoughts. I find that I have to be in a certain state of mind or predicament to really appreciate Neil’s music and the one song that I can ALWAYS get into and which I always turn up the stereo to is “Cortez the Killer.”

The Church’s cover of “Cortez the Killer” is far and away my favorite cover by far. Their version is trippy, moody, and ethereal. It helps that they use fat analog synths and they establish a jammy atmosphere early on which complements the musical interplay. I actually stumbled onto this song while I was poking around for a FLAC version of Starfish, a tremendous improvement. The song reminds me of the moods captured by Pink Floyd’s songs-the minor key excursions and instrumental outros. David Gilmour would approve, I think.

Apparently the song was banned in Spain for quite a while, which I guess is quite understandable. Hernan Cortez is a demi-god in those parts and any perceived slight to his stature was bound to ruffle some feathers. We have the music and that's really all that matters in these trying and otherwise difficult times.

Lost in America

2011-10-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

It seems that all anyone ever talks about now are the protests. And the media's having a field day-they love this kind of stuff-the reporters get to drive all over the country on the company's dime, drinking cheap booze while staying at one star roach motels. I don't know about you but I call that a vacation!

These protests remind me an awful lot of what they had kicking around this country in the late '60s and early '70s-the Vietnam years(cue in Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower). There must be a cycle to these things: An extended period of prosperity followed by a brief interlude of restlessness and then capped off by the inevitable chaos-the protests!

I read an article a while back-a retrospective on a handful of New York artists-and the interviewer asked the artist his thoughts on city life. His answer was a revelation; he said he felt "Lost in America." The constant hustle and bustle, the endless police sirens-the noise was a bit overbearing.

I can relate to that sentiment-it's easy to get lost in the crowd, especially if you live in a Megalopolis such as New York. Moving to the big city especially if you've lived in a small town all of your life can be a Culture Shock of sorts.

The Beat Generation poets had the right idea-Alan Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs. These guys looked both inward and outward-they revelled in their artistic abilities and they had no qualms about ruffling a few feathers along the way. And they travelled extensively-they must've seen the whole country at least half a dozen times.

Road trips have always been cool. In times of chaos and confusion it's always a good idea to take an extended road trip just to see what's out there, if nothing else. After the Beat Generation this country was almost ready for Vietnam.

How does this all tie into music? The perpetual misery and rancor that hangs over this country like a dark cloud can be channeled into our music and thus infuse it with a certain timeless quality. Unfortunately, nothing creates great music like oppression and abject poverty. That's why we all love blues music-it has that magic ingredient that puts a little sting into those E7 chords. It's just like that.

Success is the kiss of death for musical inspiration-just look at what happened to Jimmy Page, for example. He attained demi-god status and then he created ...The Firm? Really? Why would you inflict that on the public? That's why it's good to have occasional failures-excessive hubris is never a good thing. That's why Willie Nelson's still going strong.

In other news, the frenzied pace continues and I am currently working my way through CCR's Proud Mary and The Church's Under the Milky Way. I'll never forget my introduction to The Church-my old pal brought over their just-released classic Starfish and I, quite frankly, didn't know what to make of it. At the time I was enjoying the typical dirthead metal bands like everyone else and I didn't know what to make of this band where the singer seemed to whisper and/or mumble the vocals. After repeated listenings I gradually came to appreciate the sheer brilliance and uniqueness of The Church. They remain one of my all-time favorite bands.

P.S.: I guess things have continued to get worse in 2014. Yay!!!

From Here to Eternity

2011-10-17T23:05:00.000-07:00

A birthday recently forced itself into my existence like an unwelcome guest. At these intervals I'm compelled to reduce my life to little more than a game of Darts: Some Hits many Misses.One of the few Hits to rise from the shambles is my rediscovery of the guitar.

I had completely abandoned all guitar-related activities when I ran off to pursue my degree-probably one the stupidest things that I've ever done. Guitar had been a constant in my Life since...forever and I gave it up on a whim with little afterthought. Lesson learned. Life is funny sometimes.

To brighten up our day I'm passing along memorable quotes from Office Space(IMDB.com) :

Nina: Now Milton, don't be greedy, let's pass it along and make sure everyone

gets a piece.

Milton Waddams: Yeah, but last time I didn't receive a piece. And I was told...

Nina: Just pass.

[while the cake passes Milton mutters - eventually everybody but Milton gets a piece]

Milton Waddams: [muttering] I could set the building on fire.

Bill Lumbergh: Milt, we're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. We have some new people coming in, and we need all the space we can get. So if you could just go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, OK?
Milton Waddams: Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler...

Milton was probably my favorite character from Office Space-those glasses-Priceless! Any day now they'll make a sequel and then everyone will be happy and all will be well in the world.This country sure could use a laugh right now.

Also I'm collaborating on a musical project with some good friends of mine. The songs so far are: Pancho and Lefty, All My Rowdy Friends, Margaritaville and Looking For Love.The songs lean heavily towards the Country and Western genre admittedly, but we're aiming to play upbeat tunes for regular Joes who are tired of the Recession.

That's Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt on the right. On a more personal note-I stumbled onto California Dreaming from the Mammas and the Pappas and have been having fun with it. The song normally requires a capo at the 4th position but my stubborn pride compels me to otherwise use barre chords throughout. I recommend this song to guitarists everywhere-definitely not a cowboy chord song.