Dean Kamen: Segways Etc.

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, has now invented a new prosthetic arm that ways just as much as a real arm, and essentially functions exactly like a real arm. Here is a short video obtained from Yahoo.



There are some things I think are funny about this video. For one, the interviewer uses the phrase, "Modern-Day Willy Wonka". Dumb. The Segway is probably the most glorified useless invention ever. It rolls, like other things you can ride with wheels, except eliminates any effort whatsoever on your part. You lean in your preferred direction, and go there. In other news, chronic obesity in the United States is still a mysterious epidemic. When will we solve that problem?

I also like that the "government" knocked on his door and said, "Hey, were are losing a lot people's arms and if you could fix that, that'd be grrreaaaat." They do not want to stop what they are doing to lose those arms, so it has be fixed this way. Its kind of like saying, "I like swimming in the pool but I don't like getting wet, so if you could just invent something to keep me from getting so wet and I can keep swimming in the pool... thanks. I am not about to stop swimming to not get wet..."

It is good to see Kamen redeem himself by creating something purposefully functional. Arms are good. How well could you play guitar with one of those things. Someday our only virtuosos will be cyborgs.

Guilty Free Pleasure

I am just going to come out say that for some reason, I like Scarlett Johansson's music. I watched some videos of her performing with her group. I do not know if its her cuteness or the imperfect quality of her voice that I find so appealing, but I think I like it. I should probably listen to more of her stuff.

Her music has a very folky influence for a celebrity singer such as herself. So maybe, more than anything, it is refreshing to see an actress turned musician making something different. Her voice just does not sound right to me, but at the same time, I really like that it does not. So, give S.J. a chance. You might like it, and you may or may not feel guilty about it.

Dave Brubeck Quartet

The Dave Brubeck Quartet is one of my favorite jazz groups of all time. Dave and company were so far ahead of their time with their unconventional time signatures and kick ass everything. Take Five is probably one of my all time favorite songs. Dave Brubeck is the name most widely associated with it, but few people know that it was actually Paul Desmond, his sax player, who composed the piece. I think what really made The Dave Brubeck Quartet perfect was the drummer, Joe Morello. Check out his solo in this flashback gem.

Kaki King - LoveStoned (Justin Timberlake cover)

Wow. Kaki King performing Justin Timberlake's LoveStoned. If you are unfamiliar with the original, check it out. This is an amazing cover.

Kaki King

I am outstandingly embarrassed to announce that I am for the first time experiencing Kaki King. Of course, we all have our first times for everything. I think I am more upset by any of my friends that have known about her and not forced me to listen to her yet...

The album I am currently listening to is titled, "Legs To Make Us Longer". It is absolutely majestic in virtuosity and makes me want more than ever to become a better guitarist. She has what I like to refer to as "it". "It" consists of the following: everything and nothing in particular.
She has a solid style and is an amazing player. Her style is very percussive and reflects classical and jazz influence. But the beautifully dark and addictive melodies she incorporates make her music extremely accessible I think. On rare but extremely pleasant occasion, she will grace you with her silky smooth voice (which I find to be the epitome of heart-melters). I do not have the words, nor the credibility, to elaborate further on this artist. She is an absolutely astounding white female version of wes montgomery playing a much bluesier, country-esque style.

Alright, I think I am getting carried away with this now. Just know, she is fantastic and everyone should listen. Particularly fans of post-rock, classical guitar, jazz guitar, and just damn good guitar playing. I will possess her entire catalog in the near future.

Headhunters

My goodness, I love the album Headhunters by Herbie Hancock. It is a classic and I do not know that I will ever be tired of it. Every few months it finds its way into the CD player of my car and does not come out for at least a few days to a week.

If I ever had to say any type of music was cool to show-off with an absurdly loud stereo, it would be this album. If you happen to listen to this album (which I obviously recommend), I would also recommend another Herbie album, Thrust. It is basically a continuation of Headhunters, and it is all genius.

Summer Resolution

This summer is going to be great. For the first time I taking a break from "real" school and really concentrating on my personal interests. Here are my plans:

I will be taking recording techniques and pro tools techniques at Long Beach City College. This is awesome since it is a nice program at only $20 per unit. My two classes will only cost $80! On top of that, I will have access to the studio at LBCC all summer. Who needs Musicians Institute when there is LBCC? I expect to learn a lot and get a lot of recording done.

I have been working on a lot of new concepts as far as music theory and jazz studies goes. I hope to greatly expand my jazz repertoire as well as my understanding of harmony.

I love reading yet never seem to have time when I am most motivated to read (and write for that matter). I would like to set myself to a strict reading schedule so that I can actually finish the handful of books I am halfway through...

Music is really the top priority this summer. Writing and learning is on top of my agenda. Next semester I have a good schedule lined up as well. I am just feeling very refreshed about the near future right now.

LiSunday

Sunday is a good day for listening to music. I hate it at the same time though because I am usually supposed to be doing school work on Sunday's as well.

I usually spend a solid couple of hours listening to music in the morning, and then I will have it playing in the background for the rest of the day, which makes for a good distraction from everything else I should be doing. Music has become so enjoyable for me over the last few months, which has really been transformation for me.

Last year I hardly listened to music outside of being in my car. I chose not to listen to music while studying/doing homework because of what poor attention I have when it is playing, and I studied all of the time. Even when I was not studying, I was still not really listening to music though.

I feel like listening more has taught me a lot, although I am still not exactly pumping out much more music than before. I wish I could do that sometimes: just be able to compose and finish songs or pieces with no problem. I am not that prodigy though. Everything I finish takes so long, and usually then I am not completely satisfied. I have the feeling that this will be changing for me soon though. I am just going to keep listening to music until that happens.

Much Too Much

I have such an absurd amount of music now that it would take me over 166 days to listen to all of it in one sitting. I have completely abandoned Pandora for the time being because I am finding all sorts of new music in my own collection still. I will probably never listen to all of it. I have listened to a lot of it though. There is so much music that I still want right now too! Do I have a problem? Perhaps. My goal is to listen to every song in my collection. Realistically, that will take a minimum of five years... without listening to anything twice. How many lifetimes of music do you think exist in the world? Yikes.