Friday, May 8, 2009

I am...

Working on a new post... Bear (bare?) with me.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Auto-tune

"Auto-Tune is a proprietary audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies that uses a phase vocoder to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances." --Wikipedia

I have recently been introduced to a tool called Auto-tune. Now, that does not mean that I am using it; just that it is used.

I have never heard of the program/tool; however, I have heard the effects of it in pop and R&B music. Several popular artists use this tool in their music, and it is kind of cool how it works. Cher has used it in her song "Believe" on the 1998 album of the same name. R&B artist T-Pain also uses it and is credited with "revitalizing the technique in contemporary popular music by making active use of it in his songs"

On a recent edition of The Playhouse, Jammin 107.5's morning show, they showcased a video that was created using Auto-tune. In this particular video, the creator took several recent news clips, and used the program to make music out of them.



After watching this comical video, I looked at a few others. I found the first news clip video. I didn't think it was as good as the one I posted. The second video that I found was incredible. He took Martin Luther King Jr's famous "I Have A Dream" speech, and put it through the same process.



Now, some people may say that it is offensive to take such an inspirational event and exploit it. I happen to disagree. I think it turned out excellent.

EDIT: I have looked a little more into the creator of these videos. Visit The Gregory Brothers OR Andrew Gregory for more information. The second website, Andrew Gregory, has a large selection of music that he has done. Check it out!

Feel free to leave your comments below.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Dreams

"Dreams are a series of images, sounds and feelings occurring in the mind during sleep, accompanied with rapid eye movement. Dreams typically last in the range of 5 to 45 minutes. The contents and biological purposes of dreams are not fully understood, though they have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout recorded history." --Wikipedia.org

Dreams are a wonderful thing, yet they can be very disturbing. People often dream of being chased, falling, flying, and being naked in public.

The most recent dream that I can recall (this may be a little graphic for some people) is one in which something made me mad and I balled my fists and slammed them on the table several times. I was in Japan and my girlfriend, Amanda, was on her way to meet me there when this happened.

I ended up banging my fists so hard that I ripped my hand open and broke my pinky knuckle. The piece of bone that broke came out of my hand and I was able to put it back in place and close up the cut. So, I called Amanda and left a message for her to pick up some super glue. I figured since the bone was in place, I could just glue the cut shut and avoid the hospital.

While I was waiting for Amanda to land, I went to the airport from the hotel. I took one of those super fast trains, and I ran around the busy airport to try and find some glue, but couldn't find any anywhere. The whole time the cut kept opening and the bone kept falling out; I was unsuccessful at keeping it in while I searched for super glue

When I woke up, I had to check my hand even though I knew it was just a dream..

I shared this dream with Amanda. She has recently taken up a hobby (for lack of a better term) where she helps peoples interpret their dreams online. She has the ability to analyze the dream and single out certain characteristics withing the dream. Once she does that, she takes these symbols and is able to determine their meanings.

After she gives her interpretations, it is the job of the dreamer to go through the meanings of each of the symbols and try to figure out what significance, if any, they have.

Her response:

"The anger felt in your dream could mean a couple of things; it can be anger carried over from your waking life – something may have upset you recently. It could also be that you are frustrated or disappointed in yourself for something you feel you didn’t handle right or have not yet achieved."


Now, I don't know that the anger (the cause of me slamming my fists on the table) played a big part in this dream...

"Dreaming about hands represents your relationship to those around you and how you connect with the world. Hands serve as a form of communication. It could mean that maybe you need to lend a helping hand to someone. If you dream that your hand is detached or disembodied, it could indicate feeling that you are not getting your point of view across or that others don’t understand you. If you dream about blood on your hands, it may represent feeling of guilt."


The portion that I have highlighted above is what I had experienced in my dream. Is there something in my life that I feel like people misunderstand? Is there an unknown guilt of something that I am carrying around?

I suppose the guilt that is represented could be caused by my job. I have a need for a better paying job, however I feel that I have made a promise to the client; that I would stay with this building as long as my company kept me here. If I were to leave to find another job that pays more, maybe I would feel guilty about breaking my promise?

"Bones suggest the discovery of personal, family, or culture secrets. It is also symbolic of your underlying strengths that you have not yet recognized. Consider the symbolism of getting to the “bare bones” or the significance of “having a bone to pick with someone.” Dreaming of broken bones indicates that you have discovered or realized that there are flaws in our plans or thinking. Your dream may call for immediate attention to a particular situation or relationship."


My pinky knuckle was broken. The only thing that I can think of that would cause me to realize a flaw in my "plan" is a conversation that Amanda and I had the other night.

She was asking me about what my future goals were, what I aspired to do. My response: I don't know. I really don't know what I want to do in the future.

This all comes back around to my current job. Am I staying here, stuck, because I have gotten comfortable with the idea of having a permanent, full time job? Am I afraid to think that there is more that I can do?

There is also the aspect of money. I would love to teach in an elementary school; third grade would be ideal. However, I have already put so much time and money into acquiring my Bachelor degree, majoring in Criminal Justice. The student loans for that are so big that I fear I won't have the ability to take the steps required to pursue the teaching degree.

"Glue represents feeling trapped – such as being in a sticky situation. However, to dream that you are gluing something back together suggests that you are piecing together aspects of yourself and acknowledging those previously rejected parts."


Trapped? In my job? Highly possible.

In this dream, I never got to the point where I was able to glue my wound. Therefore, according to this interpretation, I have not yet begun the process of repairing whatever it was that was broken.

"To see a busy airport in your dream signifies the desire for freedom, high ideals, ambition and hopes. It is an indication that you are approaching a new departure in your life. Some new idea is taking off or ready to take off. You may be experiencing a new relationship, new career path or adventure."


In retrospect, the busy airport was not that big a part of my dream. However, this particular response made the most sense. I want to be free from several things right now; I would like a new job, one that allows me to use my skills and abilities that I have learned through life. I would like to be free of my debt. I love the idea of being able to travel endlessly.

I am also in a new relationship. Amanda and I have been together now for about 5 months, and I couldn't be happier with her. The relationship is not as demanding as my previous relationships, and that is what I have been asking for for so long.

That's what I have so far. Thanks for reading. You may leave your comments below.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Well, what do you know?

I guess this means that I need learn some HTML codes...

I'm sort of new to this whole blogging thing, so stick with me; we'll see how it goes.