Hotel Mark

Footiam tagged me for a New Year Meme, so below is my contribution.

First the rule: Remove 1 question from below, and add in your personal question. Make it a total of 20 questions, then tag 8 people in your list, list them out at the end of this post. Notify them in their chat box that he/she has been tagged. Whoever does the tag is supposed to have blessings from all, sounds so much like a chain letter.

So here goes….

What color do you like most? Black

What in life do you fear the most? Reincarnation..In the next life I might come back as a City supporter!

Where is the place that you want to go the most? Mexico

Which part of you that you hate the most? None, I am glad to have all parts in Reasonable working order!

When you encounter a sad moment, what would you do? Reflect.

What are you afraid to lose the most? Peace of mind.

If you win $1 million, what would you do? Fix what’s wrong with my house, then buy another!

If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to him/her? Or would you keep it to yourself and observe from afar? Up till now I’ve kept most things to myself, so I would probably give it some time.

List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you. Footiam..Seems a person who I think can be a loyal friend, likes to travel and good company.

What are the requirements that you wish from your other half? Understanding, compassion, and to cook Pizza without Cheese.

Till now, what is the moment that you regret the most? No room in my life for regrets. I think to regret is also to regress.

Which type of person do you hate the most? Users.

What is your ambition? To make other peoples lives better for my own contribution.

What is the thing that will make you think he/she is bad? Cruelty.

If you had one wish what would you wish for? Peace to the world.

How would you celebrate new year? No special celebration. Always rueful reflection for unrealised dreams, interspersed with optimism for the future.

Name one of your body part your hubby or boyfriend tells you he adores. In this respect I must be hard of hearing!

It would be 2008 in a few days, do you have a new year’s resolution? No resolutions, I don’t make promises I might not keep!

If your better half is cheating on you, will you forgive him or her? To forgive is not to forget. Time moves on, as do people.

What keeps you awake at night? Sinus trouble at present!

Tony Lewis Kathleen Maher Dr. Nerdy Emma Alvarez Jade Merkal LaJanssen HarleyBlues

It’s that time of the year again, when New Year party going is mixed with nostalga. Myself, I’ve always taken an introspective view of the New Year, perhaps in keeping with my nature. ABBA’s song “Happy New Year” I think is perfect for the occassion, a reflective look back at what we leave behind, regrets over unfulfilled dreams, interspersed with optimism for the future.

Whatever our circumstances, we have to believe the coming year will be a good one, that our lives will improve. If we don’t start with optimism, what else is there left for us..

On a personal note, I’m working on some recordings, first time in a while. Wherever you are reading this from, I wish you all a very Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year

Tags: Happy New Year, ABBA

For those who use GMail, for Heavens sake read this post I am linking to here.

Popular web designer David Airey, who’s excellent blog I often visit, has been hijacked, stolen away from him, and he is now being subject to blackmail. Just click on the name to get the full sad story. If anyone can help please let me know. Thank you.

David, my very best wishes to you in resolving this issue.

If it seems strange to review a film more than 40 years old, this is the recently relleased special edition DVD. This was arguably the finest British war film ever made, or any war film come to that. The story of the defence of mission station Rorke’s Drift in Natal, South Africa, during the Angl Zulu war in 1879.

The film made no attempt to tell the full story of the war, and how British forces invaded Zululand, stripping the country of it’s independence, depriving the King of his throne, then dividing the country into fragments, and leaving it to civil war and later Apartheid. Some people misinterpreted the film as being about Imperialist images, the thin red line holding back the Zulu savage. In reality, the film conveyed very well that, far from heroism, the British soldiers were fighting for their lives because they were put in this postion, and had no other choice.

Drakensburg mountain range, location of filming Zulu.

Like the best war films, Zulu was an anti war film. It was often said the best recruitment officer at that time was Jack Frost and unemployment. The Rorkes Drift battle was in fact of no real strategic importance to the war, and was used as propaganda by the British to partially cover up for the disasterous defeat the same day at Ishandlwana. Why else would 11 VC’s have been awarded, more than any other single engagement.

War memorium, in the shadow of Ishandlwana.

The culture of the Zulu nation was focused on in the film, not as just savage warriors, though the ferocity of the warriors did indeed come accross. At the end, emotions expressed were that of tragic waste. But the reality for the Zulu nation was to be far worse.

The special features disc features the Zulu music track, and how composer John Barry was inspired by the Zulu chants and songs for write the main theme. There follows a making of documentary, which highlights some interesting facts, some little known;

• Cetawayo was played by chief Buthelezi.
• Buthelezi’s wife was Great Granddaughter of Cetawayo
• Private Henry Hook was in fact a model soldier.
• James Booth, who played Hook, never travelled to Natal. His part was filmed in Twickenham studios.
• The Zulu extras had never seen films prior to this. They were sent Laurel and Hardy to get the idea!
• Zulu extras numbered no more than a few hundred.
• To create the feeling of overwhelming numbers director Cy Enfield used shields on the ground with plumes on top to look like warriors.

The DVD is in widescreen format, aspect ratio 2.35:1, with Dolby Digital surround sound. This emphasises what for me was a major plus for this film, the chanting of the warriors against the Welsh vocals among the soldiers, most of whom were portraying the South Wales Borders.

Finally, here is a performance of Albeniz “Asturias”, or Leyenda, within the spirit of the original concept.

This piece has been, for me, totally ruined by guitarists. A major problem is, due to the endearing nature of the piece, many amateur guitarists tackle the piece too early in their studies. They see the piece as a technical masterpiece, and “if only” they can master this one, not only will their friends be in awe, but their technique will be elevated to the Heavens. The result more often than not, is a hacked, butchered rendition of the piece, never mind the quality, feel the width. Yes, I myself fell into this category. After all, it takes one to know one….

Not only amateur guitarists are to blame. Even many guitar greats treat this piece as a virtuoso workout, giving little or no credence to the music or Albeniz intentions. So many forget the piece is a DANCE. Here is Wulfin Lieske playing the piece, accompanied by a Flamenco dancer. Finally for me, the enigma of Asturias Leyenda is solved, I can see the piece, albeit only the first part, in it’s true colours…

It’s been a talking point in blogging communities recently about Googles page Rank demotions of sites who actively use pay per posts. Most opportunities on Pay Per Post, or the better paying ones, call for a page rank, as well as other factors like Technorati, Alexa Rankings ect. But after the savage Google cuts, many now have PR of 1 or less, so find themselves frozen out of ppp.

It’s a concern of course, for ppp, more than bloggers, because it means less advertising posts available. There are on going talks with advertisers, hoping to limit the usage of Pr in posting elildgibility. Now there is RR (Real Rank) a system devised by ppp as a way of ranking blogs who use their service.

It’s obvious that Google consider ppp a rival to their own Adsense. Is it a co-incidence that, after ppp’s rise to prominence, many people are expressing doubts about Adsense, when all we seemed to hear for months and months was how people make small fortunes with Adsense? In this respect, might not it be an own goal Google are scoring by the page rank demotions, added to their arbitory dealings with Adsense, deleting a number of accounts for minor infringements?

Both ppp and Adsense can devalue websites. There has to be limits on both methods if a blogger is to have credibility with readership. If one makes post after post nothing but commercials, the motives of the blogger will be all to transparant. It is the equivelent on commercial TV putting on nothing but adverts. Same token, Adsense splattered all across the screen is an irritant to many readers. Whatever the choice of the poster, a balance has to be considered.

The point is, will the PR limiting by Google lead to a decrease in ppp activities, or will posters and advertisers find a way around it, go on thriving? If the latter,   Google may well find that it’s Adsense which comes out the loser.

Recent news suggests more UK petrol price protests are on the way this weekend, Saturday 15 December, with more action in the New Year.

Transaction 2007 group claims to have support from Road Haulage Association members,Haulage Contractors, Motorists and Farmers and action has been brought forward to enable motorists to better prepare.

UK has seen protests in the past aimed at getting the goverment to do something to reduce excessive tax on fuel. Last time major protests led to road blockades, picketing, and tax freeze concessions from the goverment. Then, however, prices were around 80p per litre, now following oil price surge to a crippling £1.05 per litre. Pressure will mount on the goverment this time to cut fuel tax to be more in line with Europe.

Further information; Fuel Crisis Blog

 Talented guitarist from Holland, Devapath was influenced early on by flamenco guitarist Vicente Armijo, and later travelled to India, meeting  flute player Milind Date. These influences combined to form the East, West fusion of rhythms and styles, forming a unique style and sound, the Abysis Projects sound. This is perhaps best displayed in the great track Granada Bombay I am offering this track here, because I believe it to be commercialy unavailable.

At times, Abysis Projects music floats across the seas to the middle East, with tracks like “Little Burma Buddha” from the album Travels in Sound and Science, which oozes mystical atmosphere, with the Pipes taking up an anguished melody, vying with guitar for melody and counterpoint. From the same album, “Ignivomo” is a classic Abysis work, featuring guitar melody and accompanying Violin, later the Flute, developing into a more rhythmic middle section, only for the plaintive melody to return. “Para Montse” is a plaintive guitar duet.

The Album The Universe Will Never End features mostly soft, dreamy, landscape settings, the opening track “Air Minor, By Way Of Passion”, 10 minutes of repeated arpeggio accompanyment on guitar, with melody taken by guitar, many embellishments like trills and flamenco like ornaments. Later, Horns join in with the melody making a lush sounding track which sets the album scene.

Other albums currently available are Sufi Sound, and the very evocative Monte El Viento, both those albums having tracks that evoke exotic places like Cassablanca, Cataluna, and the Orient.

Classical guitar solos by Barrios, Piazzola, and Baden Powell have also been interpreted by Devapath, hopefully soon these recordings will also be available. If you enjoy world music with exotic rhythms and influences, not to mention haunting guitar melodies, lavish Flute and Pipes, then Abysis Projects is something you will cherish.

Abysis Projects music is available at Legal Sounds

I’ve always been interested in how creative works are written, either stories, books, films, or songs. The inspirations behind them, trying to picture what’s inside the mind of the artist has often been a fascination for me. Here is a story behind one of the most haunting love songs ever written, “Without You”, made famous by Harry Nilsson, for which we go back to 1971….

“Without You” was written by Peter Ham and Tom Evans, who were with the band Badfinger at the time. This group had connections with The Beatles, Paul McArtney wrote one of thier hits “Come and Get It” while George Harrison produced their album “Straight Up” in 1971.

“Without You” was originaly two songs. Evans had a song, “I can’t Live, if livin’ is without you…” a harrowing plea to a departing lover, but nothing else so far. The group wanted to complete their album with this last song, and had planned to have a recording session this one night. Pete Ham had promised though to take his girlfriend out for a meal, and whilst in the car, the lady, seeing his preoccupied face, told him she did not mind if he did after all go to recording instead. Ham replied to the effect that, though her words implied no hurt on her part at missing the evening with him, her eyes conveyed something else. Then, in a flash, the song came to him..”You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows..”

Later, Ham’s verse was added to the outer sections of Evans existing song, and “Without You” was born, to complete the album. Excert from original version. The group thought no more of it, until Harry Nilsson asked to record it. Nilssons producer said of Nilsson at the time “it was like pulling teeth” to try to get Harry to record, but one night, high as a kite on a hallucinating drug (it was 1971!) Nilsson began his harrowing interpretation, and straight away, agian in the words of the producer “it was goosebumps time”, as Nilsson’s towering vocal performence earned him an award for best vocal that year. Nilsson on recording.

The song stayed at no. 1 in the chart for five weeks in Feb. 1972. But there was to be no happy ending for those involved. After a period of fruitless haggling over record royalties, one of the songwriters commited suicide, followed a short while by the other. In 1994, Mariah Carey recorded the song, and on the day it was released, recovering alcoholic Harry Nilsson died of a heart attack.

It’s ironic how a work can bring many people pleasure, but often not those who created it. Many times, great writers and composers are tortured souls. After all, if always happy, exactly where is the desire going to come from, to spend many hours, weeks, attempting to get out what is haunting the mind…

I aim to do a series on “making of” compositions, so look for posts on that.

Here is a great software which you can use for video editing, audio dubbing, even recording your computer screen. Although the above picture is version 5, which costs just under $300, version 3 is free. First off, download the software from here. Then go to this address, fill the registration details, and you will be e-mailed a registration key to unlock the software.

The software uses a timeline for adding clips to, so as to edit them for a movie. Also, you can capture your computer screen for recording, so if you want to offer your readers tutorials you can easily do it with this software, the quality is excellent. Adding audio to the video is easy, and you can also include interactive things like quizes to your movie, a feature which readers will surely appreciate. Enjoy.