Sunday, February 13, 2011

More Geeky Goodness…

Folks,

Imagine a humanoid robot that was controlled not by a joy stick, punching keys, or limited to an onboard brain about as clever as a cockroach. Imagine if you could control it by simply moving your own body as you wish the robot to move. Through its mechanics, with its sensors, you could walk through fire to save an orphan, venture into the caldron of an active volcano, or work a mine on an asteroid. You might even chuck your Human form and map your motions into those of a crab to walk the deepest craters of our Luna. You might find it handy to be an Octopus to touch and taste the floor of the oceans of a Jovian moon.

Microsoft may have actually produced its most useful technology in Kinect, and with the help of hackers and roboticists, helped introduce something to Humanity that will be much more influential than their crappy software.

S




Saturday, February 12, 2011

More Lyrical Doodling…

Folks,

More lyrical drivel from the digital desk drawer. This one actually does scan and time and again even rhymes. I hear mandolins and harmonica, beat up old guitars, a stand up bass, a drummer drunk with subtlety, and some old guy that can hardly sing backed by a small chorus of angels… but, I'll leave it to my friends actually possessing some talent with music to make such decisions. Then, I'll just sit back and be amazed that my thorny words got turned into some part of something like roses, something like music for us kids to dance to.

S



Anything, Anytime © Solomon, 2008/2011
Puzzle pieces in memory
Oh, they do speak to me
Yeah, I  have been shown that real clear
that you are a fine melody
a secret to be told just to me
Oh, and you sure ain’t so easy
and neither so am I
but you are easy to love
you are somebody to love
right here now and for every time
Anything, anytime
Let me tell you real nice
count our change and roll the dice
You got my credit on the line
I’ll watch your back if you watch mine
I am with you all of the time
You are sure ain’t noway real easy
Well, kid, neither am I
but you are easy to love
you’re so sure easy to love
not just today but all the time
Now, tell me all of your secrets
Do part the brilliant clouds
and, then please show me everything
about all what you think you know
all your mysteries and shadows
Anything, anytime
Let me tell you real nice
count our change and roll the dice
You got my credit on the line
I’ll watch your back if you watch mine
I am for you all the time
We got a good peace of heaven
and a thread through the clouds
We got each other, not much else
and we have been born to love 
born to love for all time always
Anything, anytime
Let me tell you real nice
count our change and roll the dice
You got my credit on the line
I’ll watch your back if you watch mine
I am with you all the time


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Folks,


Something a bit off the charts, but a bit that I needed to share. This came from an blessed interchange with a lady that I have never met, will likely never meet in the flesh, but does pretty well get to my heart. Thus I try to speak to her own and my own heart. Here is my note to her, with a few emendations.


S


I spent a solid four decades as a stone drunk and true professional able to handle any substance thrown at me, or that I eagerly sought out. All the while, I functioned high and made a good living, living high.

All that came to halt about a decade ago. That had to happen along the path, and I'm actually grateful for that turn. I'm also grateful to notice a few other things.

There are folks more hard up than me. If you are inclined to pray, include Colleen, Sherri, Sonny, Bongo, Free, and my long suffering Mom in those heavenward offers. Hey, throw those offers any and everywhere! I am not a religious sort, but I have noticed that prayer does not hurt anything.

I also lately noticed that things take surprising turns in Human terms. Now and again, we meet a good heart who is a real friend. That is nourishment for the soul, and you know who I'm talking about.

Then there are these strange swirls in the tides in the stream. Nothin' much turns out the way that it seems to tend. I look over my shoulder and see the shadow of a millionaire. I look ahead and can see good reason for despair.

Whatever. I'm about to step into another puddle, maybe a pond, maybe an ocean… but if I make my connection, I know that I'll go toward good friends, and I do know how to swim.


With Love,


S



Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Things start thinking, and disappear…

Folks,


Some centuries ago, people were thinking about machines that might think. About sixty years ago, they started building prototypes. Vannevar Bush nicely spelled out the basic scheme. Then a few years later, Richard Feynman and a few other cats got thinking about building machines based on the principles that we observe in nature creating, well, us and everything else.


We seem to be on the cusp of this possibility becoming real.


S




Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Fine Notions…

Folks,

Here's a link to a geeky meditation on the astronomy of our local neighborhood.

Look to the Heavens!

S

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Drums!

Folks,

Here it is. It is dirty and real. It is noisy and takes a good long while, as real good lovin' should. This rendition of our old fave is ripped to pieces on sacred skins stretched across drums. It is shouted from the horse throat of a loving maniac. A kid makes a noise like cathedral bells clanging, and a young old man weaves with silver out of the thin air. Some geek who should be playing trombone is tossing gobs of paisley thunder from his bass. Totally ridiculous stuff. This is MUSIC.

Good Lovin', with Pig and Big Drumz!

S

Grim?

Folks,


I was in a rather foul mood when I composed this ditty.


S



A Bough on the Burying Ground © Solomon 2003/2011
I can’t help you right now
I can’t show you the way
won’t worry ‘bout your troubles
if you stay out’a mine
I could tell you right now 
I’ll spell out the story
but that would worry both our dreams
just the way they make you cry
No rest for the wicked 
no rest for the brave
no rest but in death
play the pipes on the burying ground
throw a bough of ivy on the grave
I know where to find you
y’know where to find me too
we won’t worry ‘bout your troubles
stay well away from mine
No rest for the wicked
no rest for the brave
no rest but in death
play the pipes on the burying ground
throw a bough of roses on the grave