Alright, I admit, when my brother and wife introduced me to Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew I went in with a little pessimism. I must say, I think I'm pretty hooked. My brother told me to keep an eye out for a group called the JabbaWockeeZ. Sure enough, I'm backing these guys to the bank. Not only can these guys dance but they dance well as a unit. The philosophy behind this masked dance crew is uncanny when you think about it. Individually, each person is a great dancer, but with the anonymity that the masks bring, it creates this adhesion that makes the group reach new heights. No individual is more important than the sum of all the parts. In addition, they are extremely creative when tasks are presented to them and it seems they have a lot of fun when they perform. On top of all that, they're freakin' awesome.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=M9L7exvltPg&feature=PlayList&p=19A8B0219816359B&index=6
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Quote of the Week
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- EB White
I get up every morning thinking about pancakes.
-BassBassDude
Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.
- Albert Schweitzer
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can't be done.
- Henry Ford
- EB White
I get up every morning thinking about pancakes.
-BassBassDude
Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.
- Albert Schweitzer
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can't be done.
- Henry Ford
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Quote of the Week
We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.
- Frank Tibolt
Get off the couch
- BassBassDude
- Frank Tibolt
Get off the couch
- BassBassDude
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
New Home Announcement
Well,
It's done (pending inspection). I am now a full-fledged home-owner. As exciting as this is right now, this is just the beginning to being in debt for a very long time. Anyway, here's hoping things continue to go well. Here's hoping I keep my mistakes to a minimum when dealing with all things with my new home. Here's to trying to pay off my mortgage.
Cheers.
It's done (pending inspection). I am now a full-fledged home-owner. As exciting as this is right now, this is just the beginning to being in debt for a very long time. Anyway, here's hoping things continue to go well. Here's hoping I keep my mistakes to a minimum when dealing with all things with my new home. Here's to trying to pay off my mortgage.
Cheers.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Quotes of the Week
I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.
- Michael Crichton
No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.
- Jascha Heifetz
Criticism is prejudice made plausible.
- HL Mencken
No Comment
- BassBassDude
- Michael Crichton
No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.
- Jascha Heifetz
Criticism is prejudice made plausible.
- HL Mencken
No Comment
- BassBassDude
Monday, February 11, 2008
VGL lookback
My brother and I headed out to Video Games Live hosted by Tommy Tallarico of Video Game fame last Saturday night so here's a little insight into my experience.
Clearly, this was an event that understands its audience and delivered in a way in which the experienced video gamer would greatly enjoy. This was a great chance for old gamers like myself to take a trip down video game memory lane and reminisce a time when quarters were the only known currency; two dimes and a nickel would never cut it back then and a working change machine that took your wrinkled dollar bills was a god-send.
Video Games Live (VGL) is a video game production that takes a highly skilled orchestra and pits them into playing a vast number of memorable video game musical compositions while having it synced perfectly to a huge multi-media screen display of video games. Live orchestra playing to video games... live (hence the title). Classic title games that pioneered video gaming (such as Pong and Donkey Kong)to games of the near-future (Starcraft II and Metal Gear Solid 4) plus established franchises of the present (Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Final Fantasy) all had its moments to bask in the sun and celebrate the creativity and efforts of all the people that had worked on these games. I'm not one to write a full play-by-play of the performance because I'm sure that there are a lot of videos of these concerts that can be found on youtube. Trust me when I state this, trying to watch any of these videos will give no justice to what a live show can bring. That is to say, the amount of tension, energy and release from live events that keeps an audience on the edge of their seats cannot be contained on a tiny recording device. Although, I have to admit, watching these videos does help reminisce what one was feeling at that time and it also adds a different perspective to where someone else was sitting.
As for those who are video game fringe fans or fell in the category of parent/girlfriend/boyfriend that were dragged out, probably had a relatively pleasant time. Objectively, this was a show that seemed to have had packed in a lot of bells and whistles including a lot of lighting effects and stage "gimmicks" that seemed to be thrown in to try to make the show more appealing. From this perspective, there was no connection to what was being presented and that is why I can see why the enjoyment level was paper-thin. It's hard for any non-gamer to connect to any of this because there is no emotional attachment to a good number of these games. A true gamer that has invested a lot of time and energy into playing these games and discovering these stories and creating emotional attachments to these characters and the universe that they reside, can make that connection and understand what VGL is trying to portray.
As an experienced gamer that was on hiatus for quite some time now, I found VGL to being something that helped me take a bit of time to reflect on my childhood and remember a time where my two biggest worries were where my next save point was or if I would find just one more 1up. But more importantly, it made me remember times with my family and hanging out with them; just being a kid and having fun.
It's funny how music can help make such strong emotional connections even if the music of the time was produced on an 8-bit console. My greatest disappointment of the evening was that I was not able to be one of the double bass players. I had payed close attention to this section as well as to the conductor, Jack Wall. I guess that can be a goal for something down the road. As for my highlight, Martin Leung is a 20-year old pianist that put together medley arrangements for Super Mario Bros, Final Fantasy and a game that I wish I had the pleasure of playing based on the music, Chrono Cross.
Enjoy.
Martin Leung: Chrono Cross
youtube.com/watch?v=hQ4fUhot1bI
Final Fantasy Theme by Martin Leung (Toronto 2008)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKKjQn5hSiA&feature=user
Clearly, this was an event that understands its audience and delivered in a way in which the experienced video gamer would greatly enjoy. This was a great chance for old gamers like myself to take a trip down video game memory lane and reminisce a time when quarters were the only known currency; two dimes and a nickel would never cut it back then and a working change machine that took your wrinkled dollar bills was a god-send.
Video Games Live (VGL) is a video game production that takes a highly skilled orchestra and pits them into playing a vast number of memorable video game musical compositions while having it synced perfectly to a huge multi-media screen display of video games. Live orchestra playing to video games... live (hence the title). Classic title games that pioneered video gaming (such as Pong and Donkey Kong)to games of the near-future (Starcraft II and Metal Gear Solid 4) plus established franchises of the present (Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Final Fantasy) all had its moments to bask in the sun and celebrate the creativity and efforts of all the people that had worked on these games. I'm not one to write a full play-by-play of the performance because I'm sure that there are a lot of videos of these concerts that can be found on youtube. Trust me when I state this, trying to watch any of these videos will give no justice to what a live show can bring. That is to say, the amount of tension, energy and release from live events that keeps an audience on the edge of their seats cannot be contained on a tiny recording device. Although, I have to admit, watching these videos does help reminisce what one was feeling at that time and it also adds a different perspective to where someone else was sitting.
As for those who are video game fringe fans or fell in the category of parent/girlfriend/boyfriend that were dragged out, probably had a relatively pleasant time. Objectively, this was a show that seemed to have had packed in a lot of bells and whistles including a lot of lighting effects and stage "gimmicks" that seemed to be thrown in to try to make the show more appealing. From this perspective, there was no connection to what was being presented and that is why I can see why the enjoyment level was paper-thin. It's hard for any non-gamer to connect to any of this because there is no emotional attachment to a good number of these games. A true gamer that has invested a lot of time and energy into playing these games and discovering these stories and creating emotional attachments to these characters and the universe that they reside, can make that connection and understand what VGL is trying to portray.
As an experienced gamer that was on hiatus for quite some time now, I found VGL to being something that helped me take a bit of time to reflect on my childhood and remember a time where my two biggest worries were where my next save point was or if I would find just one more 1up. But more importantly, it made me remember times with my family and hanging out with them; just being a kid and having fun.
It's funny how music can help make such strong emotional connections even if the music of the time was produced on an 8-bit console. My greatest disappointment of the evening was that I was not able to be one of the double bass players. I had payed close attention to this section as well as to the conductor, Jack Wall. I guess that can be a goal for something down the road. As for my highlight, Martin Leung is a 20-year old pianist that put together medley arrangements for Super Mario Bros, Final Fantasy and a game that I wish I had the pleasure of playing based on the music, Chrono Cross.
Enjoy.
Martin Leung: Chrono Cross
youtube.com/watch?v=hQ4fUhot1bI
Final Fantasy Theme by Martin Leung (Toronto 2008)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKKjQn5hSiA&feature=user
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Video Games Live
Call it luck, but it looks like I'll be heading to Video Games Live at Massey Hall this Saturday. I may have ruined the complete experience by watching a ton of these videos on-line, but that's okay. I'm sure it will still be fun to watch. I think it would be more fun for me if I were to be part of the orchestra. I await that chance but in the mean time, I'll keep on practicing.
Check it out and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVHGy9XEF9I
Check it out and enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVHGy9XEF9I
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Quote of the Week
The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.
- John Kenneth Galbraith
The only function of long-range weather forecasting is to make people think they need to invest in a snow-blower.
- BassBassDude
Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement.
- Charles M. Schulz
- John Kenneth Galbraith
The only function of long-range weather forecasting is to make people think they need to invest in a snow-blower.
- BassBassDude
Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement.
- Charles M. Schulz
Monday, February 04, 2008
House Hunting for a bass.
I've come to a point where it is in my best interest to buy a house. This is a big step in a person's financial life. Now, I've been doing a little research here and there to see what's best for me, but it always seems that I keep coming back to one requirement... where will the music room be? Yes, I'm concerned about many other elements of the house (the foundation, the roof, moisture problems, gutters, the basement, number of bedrooms, condition of the bathrooms and kitchen, et al.) but I still would like one room committed to music. It would be nice to have one place away from bedrooms where I can practice without waking the kids; a room where I can practice and create and also invite others to play as well. I guess I'll need to research sound proofing as well.
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