Pat myself on the back day

Today, I made the world a better place. I didn't cure cancer, or eliminate world hunger.

I bought a slushee.

Living in Las Vegas for 13 years has poisoned my personality. The city's population makes New Yorkers look like the friendliest people on Earth. Strangers do not acknowledge each other, let alone say a polite greeting. I always have to remember myself when returning to California, Nevada's polar opposite.

I remember my first day back in California after having moved to Vegas was culture shock. My parents have a beach front condo in Southern Cal, where I stayed on my return visit. Every morning I would go for a walk on the beach. Total strangers out for a walk would say hello. Me, being the mean Las Vegan I had become, would ignore their existence, and have to catch myself and respond to their greetings before I looked too rude.

The past two years, I've spent more time in California than at home. And it's finally starting to bleed back into my personality. It really started week ago. Cycling in Petaluma. Across a 4 lane road, another cyclist was waiting for a green light, as was I. Going in opposing directions. He was already stopped, and fiddling with his water bottles when I pulled up to the light. When he looked up, he waved across the road to me. I haven't been a regular cyclist for over a decade, and I had forgotten the comraderie among cyclists. And Californians.

And so....today, my random act of kindness. I'm in a mini-mart in the middle of the afternoon, picking up some soda. The only other customer in the store gets steps behind me at the register. I glance up, and he smiles and says hello. All he has is a slushee from the fountain drink bar. I tell the cashier that I'm buying the gentleman's drink as well. After thanking me, he introduced himself. He had just gotten back from Reno. He coaches girls' softball, and his 5th seeded team took 2nd in the tournament. No shame in losing to the best team.

It's such a small thing. But it really has an effect on my outlook. The entire day, I was more upbeat and positive. Living in Vegas has turned me into a bitter, cynical, negative person. I hate what I've become. I hope this small change is reflective of the future me.

My new sub-career

I have entered the music industry, at last.

Not that music is anything new to me. I started playing the trumpet at age 8, way back in '78. Picked up the guitar in '80. Taught myself the piano in '85. So, there's plenty of experience there, but never any public performance. Until now.

[a little background]

There's a music production application called "Acid". You may or may not have heard of it. It was originally put out by a company called Sonic Foundry. Sonic Foundry was a few years ago purchased by Sony. Normally, when big companies swallow up smaller companies, it's a bad thing (think: Microsoft or Adobe). But kudos to Sony for not destroying the quality of the programs, and for actually improving the software packages, and the community behind them.

Sony has used their considerable industry influence to partner with other companies to allow inclusions of partner software in with their own. And, they have allowed small-time music producers (and the biggies as well) to get into a level playing field, and rub elbows with some major players.

At their website, Acidplanet.com, they have remixing contests. Anyone can participate. You don't even have to use their Acid software. Anything you want to use is fine. If you don't have anything or cannot afford Acid, they make available a free (not demo) copy of Acid Xpress to anyone that wants it. No restrictions.

They give you a package of sound clips from the master recordings of original songs, and you put them back together in any way you like, then upload to their website. Everyone can listen to your creation. At the end of the submission date, the judges listen to them all, and select their favorite. The winner(s) get a prize package of software bundles, merchandise from the band involved in the contest, and other goodies like recording contracts or gift certificates.

And it's not just small bands that you work with. Madonna, Depeche Mode, New Order, Berlin, Nine Inch Nails and many other big names are among those that participate. Imagine a home gamer productionist working with Madonna, remixing one of her songs, having her listen to his or her work.

[back to the subject]

So, I've known about this for ages. I already had Acid Pro for years. But I've never put in any effort to get involved. I had even planned to get in during one of the previous contests. Worked on a mix for a while. Never submitted it.

But now I have. I've finally completed a project, and uploaded to the contest. It's gotten a few listens. It was ranked as high as 443rd on the AcidPlanet charts. Far from a Top 10 hit, but considering there's over 11,000 songs currently in the rankings, I'm pretty proud of that position for a first timer.

The song is available here:
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=839620&t=6453

You can listen to it, streaming on the web, or download it for your collection. (Don't worry. I'm not the RIAA. I won't sue you for having a copy of my song without padding my wallet).

Actually, I don't like my remix. I didn't much care for the original song, either. I'm working on my 2nd entry, right now. I love it. I think it will be a top 25 performer, at the very least. It's a beautiful piece of work.

Stay tuned.