Earth-like? 10, 9, 8…
April 26, 2007 | Filed Under Architecture, Futurist, Church | 3 Comments
Maybe you’ve heard: scientists have discovered some interesting details about a planet 20 light years away, and of course the buzz is that it may be habitable, as it is believed to have similar tempertures to our earth and that it may have liquid water too. Oh, and does anyone else get the urge to play some Jamiroquai after hearing about all this space stuff? 
CNN didn’t think much of the discovery (but who really is hanging on every word they write anyway?) In any case, I like reading about this stuff.
But that’s just because I’m a bit of a futurist at heart and the whole idea of people blasting off into outer space to visit other worlds (growing up with Star Wars and Back to the Future will do that to you) is just plain cool.
As it happens, my focus at school is very much aligned with this type of idealism–clean cities, advanced building technology, architecture that integrates renewables, etc. There are a lot of modernists out there, but that crowd is a mixed bag, and I don’t know if I fall into that category. My undergrad in city planning cured me of the Le Corbusier-like architectural perspective and for that I’m grateful, but you have to appreciate the overall concept. Flying cars and all that. So I’m on board with people like Richard Branson, and others, who want to push the envelope.
Of course, when stories like these come around, the planet discoveries anyway, I tend to think about the these verses in Moses 1:
30 And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying: Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?
31 And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.
32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.
33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.
34 And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many.
35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.
36 And it came to pass that Moses spake unto the Lord, saying: Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content.
37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.
38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.
39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Having the added perspective that comes from the restored gospel makes all of these things much more interesting to contemplate, don’t you think?
Brighton’s Glasses
April 23, 2007 | Filed Under Brighton, Family | 3 Comments
Like many a superhero, ours has chosen to don some new glasses to mask his true identity. So those of you out there thinking otherwise…just know he’s really just playing undercover. No vision problems whatsoever.
Okay…maybe he’s having to wear some glasses because it really will help him see that blackboard at school that much better. Looks pretty studious, right? Brighton seems to like them so far and we think he looks pretty handsome. Here are some more pictures.
I love the ‘Get a Mac’ campaign
April 19, 2007 | Filed Under Mac | 1 Comment
Yes! Apple has added a few more ‘Get a Mac’ commercials to what is probably the longest, most popular, marketing effort that I can remember. I especially like the Flashback ad. And the Computer Cart one is classic, with that “he’s a gonner,” line. Cracks me up. In the whole lineup, the Sabotage one is hilarious, as well as the Counselor and iLife ones. There are dozens of these commercials, but I don’t tire of them. Probably because for every commercial, I can recall a similar experience or conversation with someone that embodies the typical “PC guy”..and it just makes me laugh out loud every single time. Good for the heart it is. They are spot on too. I don’t care what some say about them. Keep them coming, Apple!
On Trance/House Music
April 17, 2007 | Filed Under Music, Website | 2 Comments
Most people know I like a good electronica mix (and that I mix my own music too). I don’t like much of the weak techno that came out the 80s, or the regurgitated stuff you hear on some pop FM station on the weekend (which is what most people think of when they hear about electronica). We’re talking real trance music and house music that LA and NYC are known for…stuff Europe packs clubs with. Usually the mixdown is cut to vinyl. Turntables and all that. I think that Eric Jordan is a true traditionalist and I have many of his sets from Neverrain. Great stuff.
But I really like a lot of melodic sets too. Case in point: Kyau & Albert. In fact, some of the visitors to this website will no doubt come simply because it is one of the names of one of K&A’s very first hit mixes. Some further details FYI:
This website name was not inspired by Kyau and Albert’s Made of Sun mix. But I do think the song is amazing and is always on heavy rotation on every playlist in my iPod. But alas, the site name primarily comes from other sources.
In any case, I like some of the remixes out there of Made of Sun by K&A, and I’ve included a clip you can hear right here, if you’d like: ENJOY. It is definately a favorite.
Back to the music. I don’t like every one of K&A mixes though, as some of them lean WAY too much into the “pop” sound and those I don’t like at all…(Whenever any electronica mix has mundane beats and the lyrics are boring or the artist is only going for a hook in the song it is bad news…it reminds me of something like Eiffel 65…blech). But I do like when K&A cuts stuff like Outside, Velvet Morning, etc. There’s a fine line though. Usually those sounds are full of industrial/robotic filters and the futurist/melodic style is probably the best type of house music I like. Stuff like Delerium’s After All mix (feat. Jael), Aven’s Making Me Fall, etc. are good examples of how to walk that line.
Incidentally, in three days, K&A is scheduled to perform live in Taipei. That would be cool (minus the bar scene, of course…I don’t do the club thing anymore, unless it’s outside and junkie free) seeing how the only electronica I had the opportunity of hearing while in Taiwan was when we were in Jingme, at a shop in a night market. I even asked the shop owner what mix it was, and he burned me a copy of the CD he was playing over his system. It was really funny stuff, but I liked how copycat it was with 80s techno. That’s my only experience with the Taipei electronica scene. Asia has a ways to go before the music is uniquely their own in that department. Japan is propably the leader there, but some of the stuff I heard in Taiwan wasn’t bad.
In case you’re wondering, I learned and used Pro Tools for a while at school, but have since fallen for Apple’s (no surprise there)Logic. Even Garageband is a good conceptual tool I use to lay something down but Logic Express/Logic Pro is definately the way to go.
Keane @ 1 month
April 13, 2007 | Filed Under Keane, Family | 2 Comments
Our little baby is a month old. How cool is that? Kuei took some photos. A month in and our little family is doing pretty good. I held him today and just looked at him a bit, wondering about how he will grow and change. For a long time we’ve been a family of three, and now that we have little Keane, it feels pretty neat. I look at him and wonder what kind of personality he will have. Already, we’ve noticed some unique things. Brighton cried pretty softly. Keane on the other hand, roars when he’s wanting something. But he’s got a special spirit about him and smiles pretty often, usually after he’s fed. Brighton started grinning much later. Every day is a new perspective and, as you can imagine, everything is new and weird and great and scary again. But we’re happy he’s here. Our boys make us proud.
