Good Car Advice

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Who needs pitch correction?

Well, most “artists” do these days.  It’s actually part of the signature vocal sound for young pop and rock acts.  Before you think I am being like Dr. Righteous from Mr. Roboto, I’ll be the first to admit any vocal tracks I record need them. 

Why bring it up?  I was sharing my love for well crafted songs sung by tenors with Mr. Boghos via email youtube links today and I ended up here:  10CC’s The Things We Do for Love.  Pitch correction did not exist in 1977 but listening to all these parts, you’d think it did.  The vocals are spot on and a joy to listen to.  I hope you like it as much as I do.  Unfortunately, I can’t embed it due to copyright concerns.

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Solo Flight – Day 3

The continuing the saga of a dad and 4 kids while his wife is on a mission trip…

We survived Monday fairly well. After lunch, I created a movie theater in the basement with some old equipment I have (the projector’s native resolution is 640 x 480). Did I mention it has been so hot that the basement is the only place in the house that is tolerable during the day? The kids loved the concept and we watched “The Never Ending Story” and “Everyone’s Hero”. I had never seen TNES before and someone at church had let us borrow it. I could write a whole blog on that movie alone.

After a lovely dinner of home prepared Fish’n'Chips and salad, we went swimming for awhile. We had the neighborhood pool to ourselves for the majority of the time. My kids are all like I was at their age, loving the water and wanting to swim 24/7. They definitely have been sleeping well as a result.

We hit the pool again this morning with my dad and my niece in tow. Another good time was had by all. The youngest took to jumping into the pool from the side with a lot of help from her Opa.  Opa always brings a snack for the kids which provides a nice break for the adults.

I read all of Psalm 119 this morning.  My Bible time has been lacking lately so I thought I’d dig into the Psalm from our memory verse at church. As I read, I saw I do not measure up to the writer and his love for God’s precepts. But as I was convicted in reading the whole Psalm, I found hope at the end…

Psalm 119:169-178

t Taw

May my cry come before you, O LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.

May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.

May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.

May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.

May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.

I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.

Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.

I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.

Stocking Stuffers

Hey out there!  It’s time for my monthly post. 

If one was to stuff my stocking with something other than coal, I’d enjoy finding some of these things….

CDs – Anything by Nickel Creek, The Glory Revealed Project, Derek Webb’s Ringing Bell, Steve Fee’s Burn for You (also sold as Fee: We Shine, he got signed on INO, Derek and CC’s label), Jars of Clay’s Good Monsters, and 7:22’s Freedom release.

Gear – headstock stand, guitar tech tool, and if you are froggy, a pedalboard cable kit.  Also, a Swiss Army ESV Bible would be great too, since I can’t keep my paperback Bibles from dismantling in my backpack.

Of course, I ultimately need none of these things.  What I need I already have.  May my heart be struck with holy fear if I think I need more than what God has blessed me with in Christ.

Maybe this is my mid-life crisis

Kickin’ it old school.  Check it out…

grab bag

I should have one topic for everybody today.  Lot’s of things cooking in my noggin.  Enjoy.

Of all the “scripture hijacking” in the NT, how come Jesus seems to be the worst offender?  Check out Micah 7:6 vs. Matthew 10:35-36.  At least I don’t get it…

If someone says, “I can’t believe anyone would send their kids to public school”, is it personal condemnation to the ones that do or could it simply be a conclusion made without all facts (aren’t all our decisions that way)?  Or maybe it’s hyperbole?  But then again it could be a reaction to those that would say, “Why would you want to homeschool, you should send your kids to school with the professionals”.  Either way, can’t we all get along here?

Is there a political opposite to a “liberal hawk”?

Is my preoccupation with Keith Urban’s music unhealthy?  I haven’t wanted to buy my favorite guitarists guitar since 1991…

Why do I raise my voice to my children when they have done something wrong but not to my spouse?  After all, she should know better…

Despite the evidence to the contrary in the Bible, why do I think God wants to and should rub me out for my weakness in following Him?  I think I am too German for my own good…

Christmas List

Here’s my list online this year.

Crutchfeld’s iPod adapter for a 1997 Nissan Quest – the base model

Martin mandolin strings – 11s

Korg TM-40 Digital Tuner Metronome

Albums:

Keith Urban – Love, Pain, and the whole crazy thing

Rich Mullins – A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band

Sanctus Real - The Face of Love

U2 – How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Not on my list

Clothes of any kind.

More updates to come… check comments

Changes in Key of PC Minor

Finally my Norton subscription expired.  Getting them to remove the auto-renewal in their records was difficult to say the least, but I made it through their maze with only one slammed fist on the computer desk.

At Jeffrey’s suggestion I downloaded and installed the free version of Zone Alarm.  It is a learn as you go firewall.  It prompts you to deny or allow every bit of communication out or into your PC.  You don’t really know what is happening on your PC until you have an app like that installed.  I also downloaded and installed a free anti-virus software called Avast.  The combination of these running has given my computer new life, like it was a kid again.  Norton was a resource hog and overkill for my needs.

The Cowboy Hat and Truck are Next

I bought a mandolin last night from Musicians Friend for $50.  I know it will be a $50 instrument.  But according to the reviews on the site, it’s not that bad.  I have some tricks up my sleeve to increase the playability.

I hope to learn mandolin so I can play at church on “unplugged” days instead of playing the acoustic, which still hurts my arm.  The diversity of tones will be nice too.

For those that are interested, here’s the link to the mandolin at Musician’s Friend.  To make my blog more interactive, what color do you think I ordered?

KEV

Audio Update

I did some production work with Ryan Stephens a couple of weekends ago.  He is a college student with some growing musical talent I have had the blessing to mentor the last few years. 

In less than 6 hours and a Moe’s burrito, we arranged, rewrote, and tracked two acoustics, a bass, and his vocal.  My props to Ryan for sticking out the long vocal session, as I was not easy on him and chose not to use pitch correction on his voice. You’ll see why later…