Telemarketing SPAM. Two Robocalls in 30 minutes from DISH Network. Yes we are on the National Do Not Call List. Do NOT buy service from DISH Network.
If you are not on the Do Not Call list it is a good idea. Maybe the only way to stop these people is to complain to the FCC.
https://esupport.fcc.gov/form1088/1088bform.do
The only reason I post this is to encourage you to complain maybe they can get sued enough to stop annoying people.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Badass 7 String Guitar
I still am learning what to do with it. Its fun.
Also see it in detail:
http://www.zacharyguitars.com/210409pics.htm
Also see it in detail:
http://www.zacharyguitars.com/210409pics.htm
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Another Rant on our Economic State
Yes I enjoy messing around in the studio. My latest track is of course not entirely serious, as I don't even own a gun. But have a listen for fun. I put this one together very quickly, and slapped it up. It needs another day or two in the studio before I can put it on the upcoming CD. The video version has a better drum and guitar track. Such the state of evolving music. Oh, and play it as loud as possible. That is a significant point of music like this. Go ahead, bother your neighbors, I'd be happy to wake them for you.
Or just for the audio:
Play With My Gun
Or just for the audio:
Play With My Gun
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Bike Chain Lube
For where I ride, which is mostly in a dry and often dusty area this is my opinion on bike lubes. If I were to ride frequently in wet and muddy conditions, I might have a different opinion.
ProGold Pro Link Lubricant is the best stuff I have used. It is kind of hard to find but you can get it online and at some bike stores. It stays very clean. It takes several applications to clean the gunk off a chain, or better if you actually use a serious attack of cleaning with a brush and solvent first. ProGold starts to build up after several applications. It is noticeble that after the first ride it seems to wear off quickly, then up to about 5 or 6 rides it seems to be lasting a very long time. This tells me that there is some kind of bonding thing going on. It seems like magic.
Google ProGold Bicycle Lubricant
Boeshield T-9 Bicycle Lubricant is very good, but attracts more dirt (if you ride in the dirt) and makes the chain more difficult to clean. Still better than most anything else. Lasts a bit longer than the above. If your cleaning time is not so valuable, this is probably a more cost effective product than the ProGold, but not so satisfying.
Google Boeshield T-9 Bicycle Lubricant
Notice that the best time to lube your chain is AFTER a ride. Not before. Otherwise it is WET and will ATTRACT DIRT. BAD DIRTY CHAIN. Lube after. Dry the next time when you ride. OK?
Now if you are getting ready to ride and your chain is already squeaky, a dirty wet one might be better than a dry squeaky clean one, but save yourself the energy of thinking about it and get used to the routine. (I am glad sex isn't so complicated.)
For any chain lube the thing you need to do is 1) clean the chain first - 2) apply the lube until the chain is wet - 3) run the chain through a dry clean rag to pick up the excess - 4) let it dry overnight - 5) the next day run the chain through a dry clean rag to get as much off as you can.
If you are using the pro gold stuff after a few uses the chain starts to stay clean longer, but you still need to lube it.
You know your chain needs lube when it starts to make a bit of a rattle. How much of a rattle? Well you will figure it out as you hear the difference between a fresh lubed chain and one that needs lube. If it starts to squeak, you are wearing it out badly.
To clean your chain, you need a stiff brush with plastic bristles that scrape all of the crud off. If you are using a good lube, you might not need a solvent. If you DO use a solvent, I would suggest something like Simple Green. Make sure you get ALL of the solvent off and then use two or three applications of the lube to make sure you displace all of the solvent. This fancy chain lube is not much good if it is contaminated by solvent residue. The solvent breaks down the lube!!
Also, your cogs and chainrings need to be cleaned as well. Same routine.
Best trick to apply the lube is to shift into the smallest cog in the rear, and run the crank in reverse while dripping the lube across the chain right at the rear cog as it rotates around. It takes a bit of technique to get enough lube onto it. Or if you have nothing better to do, put a drop of lube on each pin/roller and see it penetrate. This takes a long time and seems kind of silly. At some point you will learn how to use plan A with the right amount of pressure to minimize waste and splatter and still get enough on the chain. Then wipe down all of the excess that goes into the pulleys. If you have an old school bike with rim brakes, you also should make sure you wipe off any lube that drips onto the rim. (Doh!) If you are finding the whole drive train dripping lube all over it would seem that you have overdone it. Not the worst problem assuming you are not in your living room on a white carpet. Oops. I suppose I should have started out telling you this to begin with. My bad.
Once you have a good clean routine going, you might not need solvent. A good brush should take care of things. Particularly with the ProGold. Boeshiled is a bit more gooey. I think the ProGold is like an every time you ride thing (assuming it is several hours), while the Boeshiled is more like every other.
Other lubes:
I have used other more heavy duty stuff like Pedros, but I find that a dirt magnet and a cleaning nightmare. It might be just the thing in the Northwest however. WD-40 is the ultimate mistake. Not much in the way of anything but a dirt magenet, only slightly better than nothing.
ProGold Pro Link Lubricant is the best stuff I have used. It is kind of hard to find but you can get it online and at some bike stores. It stays very clean. It takes several applications to clean the gunk off a chain, or better if you actually use a serious attack of cleaning with a brush and solvent first. ProGold starts to build up after several applications. It is noticeble that after the first ride it seems to wear off quickly, then up to about 5 or 6 rides it seems to be lasting a very long time. This tells me that there is some kind of bonding thing going on. It seems like magic.
Google ProGold Bicycle Lubricant
Boeshield T-9 Bicycle Lubricant is very good, but attracts more dirt (if you ride in the dirt) and makes the chain more difficult to clean. Still better than most anything else. Lasts a bit longer than the above. If your cleaning time is not so valuable, this is probably a more cost effective product than the ProGold, but not so satisfying.
Google Boeshield T-9 Bicycle Lubricant
Notice that the best time to lube your chain is AFTER a ride. Not before. Otherwise it is WET and will ATTRACT DIRT. BAD DIRTY CHAIN. Lube after. Dry the next time when you ride. OK?
Now if you are getting ready to ride and your chain is already squeaky, a dirty wet one might be better than a dry squeaky clean one, but save yourself the energy of thinking about it and get used to the routine. (I am glad sex isn't so complicated.)
For any chain lube the thing you need to do is 1) clean the chain first - 2) apply the lube until the chain is wet - 3) run the chain through a dry clean rag to pick up the excess - 4) let it dry overnight - 5) the next day run the chain through a dry clean rag to get as much off as you can.
If you are using the pro gold stuff after a few uses the chain starts to stay clean longer, but you still need to lube it.
You know your chain needs lube when it starts to make a bit of a rattle. How much of a rattle? Well you will figure it out as you hear the difference between a fresh lubed chain and one that needs lube. If it starts to squeak, you are wearing it out badly.
To clean your chain, you need a stiff brush with plastic bristles that scrape all of the crud off. If you are using a good lube, you might not need a solvent. If you DO use a solvent, I would suggest something like Simple Green. Make sure you get ALL of the solvent off and then use two or three applications of the lube to make sure you displace all of the solvent. This fancy chain lube is not much good if it is contaminated by solvent residue. The solvent breaks down the lube!!
Also, your cogs and chainrings need to be cleaned as well. Same routine.
Best trick to apply the lube is to shift into the smallest cog in the rear, and run the crank in reverse while dripping the lube across the chain right at the rear cog as it rotates around. It takes a bit of technique to get enough lube onto it. Or if you have nothing better to do, put a drop of lube on each pin/roller and see it penetrate. This takes a long time and seems kind of silly. At some point you will learn how to use plan A with the right amount of pressure to minimize waste and splatter and still get enough on the chain. Then wipe down all of the excess that goes into the pulleys. If you have an old school bike with rim brakes, you also should make sure you wipe off any lube that drips onto the rim. (Doh!) If you are finding the whole drive train dripping lube all over it would seem that you have overdone it. Not the worst problem assuming you are not in your living room on a white carpet. Oops. I suppose I should have started out telling you this to begin with. My bad.
Once you have a good clean routine going, you might not need solvent. A good brush should take care of things. Particularly with the ProGold. Boeshiled is a bit more gooey. I think the ProGold is like an every time you ride thing (assuming it is several hours), while the Boeshiled is more like every other.
Other lubes:
I have used other more heavy duty stuff like Pedros, but I find that a dirt magnet and a cleaning nightmare. It might be just the thing in the Northwest however. WD-40 is the ultimate mistake. Not much in the way of anything but a dirt magenet, only slightly better than nothing.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Why do my brakes rub on my bike?
A friend of mine asked this question, then I found out my answer might be something worth sharing, as there is a lot of experience here:
I don't know how much you weigh. If you are over 185 you are heavy for the factory made typical sport class wheel which is made for riders with an ideal weight of about 150-170. The bike makers make lighter wheels because the market thinks lighter is always better. Bike buyers do not have enough experience to know this is not always true. The wheels do flex with torque and weight. Also as a wheel wears and is adjusted, sometimes the screws on the spokes and the nipples get looser and then does not stay true as long. Sometimes you can true it up then put a tiny bit of blue loctite in there and that keeps it set. Tighter tension is better, but that tends to pull the nipples through the light alloy rims when you hit stuff espcially if you are heavy and have a hard tail. I used crack rims at the nipple from hitting stuff, worse if tightly tensioned. If you are not hitting stuff because you are always on pavement it is less important, but I had the problems on road wheels too. A guy I know used to build wheels for me and then tension them on the tighter side to make them more true under torque. I think he had a tendancy to overdo it. But then he was in the business of selling replacement rims and wheels so there you go.
There is no way around the rim rub issue. It is just a compromise with design. Very much like a guitar with respect to action height, except you are not beating on the guitar (hopefully). My older bike has rim brakes and even with my weight (175) I get a bit of wheel rub when the wheels are not true and perfectly tensioned. So I just back the brakes off a bit. Of course at some point you back off too much and then you can't get enough pressure to brake as well as you would like, not to mention the brief delay. Another thing. Unless you have the CERAMIC surface rims (expensive enough to make you consider discs) with appropriate pads you will wear through the aluminum rim with the pads eating the rim. There is no way out of it unless you use softer pads then you are replacing them at least monthly which is a pain in the ass. Your wheels will need to be replaced after lots and lots serious riding. I went through a several wheelsets doing that until I got onto disks. One time I used some hard pads and ate a set of wheels in three months. OOPS. Very stupid. Every time I bought a ceramic rim it seems I would pull a nipple through it or dent it on a rock so it would have a bump in it while braking. I stopped doing that and then my wheels would always last until the rim got eaten by the pad, but before I pulled a nipple through it. I could not win. I still have one old ceramic front on my bike in the mountains. It is 7 years old. Pure luck. Of course front wheels have it easy if you ride right.
On my Laguna bike I have disks and they are now perfected. For a while they were unreliable but the technology developed. Still I would use nothing but Shimano (harder to adjust) or Avid hydraulic disks. The other brands are not as reliable. I use Avid Juicy 7s which are amazing. Needs pads maybe once a year, even with my level of riding. Even disks, the rotors can warp or get tweaked a bit from a stick or something and you need to mess with little bends on them to keep centered. Also occasionally align the calipers. But any rub is less inevitable, and the feel is far superior as is the power. I would never go back but its a huge price to upgrade from rim brakes unless you are already buying a new wheel set anyway. Also older bikes may not have the mounting points for disks.
All of the factory wheels are not as good as the best hand built wheels. The last wheel set I bought I got smart. I got tired of those wheel issues. I told the guy to build the lightest training (not racing) wheel he could. He used Hope (UK) hubs, DT (swiss) rims and spokes. They were hand built by a pro and cost me $500 for the set. They have been perfect in three years of heavy riding and I have only needed to have them tesioned twice, and this was just for maintenance purposes, not because they seemed uneven. They are on the heavier side (but NOT a downhill wheel) because I like strong more than I like light. A good wheel set is made by a pro with your weight and riding style as consideration. I have never pulled a nipple through the DT rims. I had that problem with Mavic rims, I think the alloy is softer.
Its also hard to know who is really good at it, like you know just because its handmade does not mean the guy who did it is better than a machine. In that way it is exactly like guitars.
I don't like the brain shocks. They get stiff when they feel no bumps. Then the first bump just kicks your ass. Then it gets soft like a stupid shock again until it goes smooth for a while. I am happy with my stupid shock where my ass does not get kicked at all. It might be ever so slightly less efficient but as I am not racing I don't care. It has a lockout so I can lock it out when I am climbing but actually I don't give a shit and don't bother because I am not racing. You can forget and then start going downhill, hit a rut and crash.
I rode today. My bike shifts crappy too. Time to replace the cables. You have got me thinking about it. Also I need a new rear tire, but they are like $40 and I am cheap so I think I will push it a bit more. Last year I would have thrown that tire out by now.
I don't know how much you weigh. If you are over 185 you are heavy for the factory made typical sport class wheel which is made for riders with an ideal weight of about 150-170. The bike makers make lighter wheels because the market thinks lighter is always better. Bike buyers do not have enough experience to know this is not always true. The wheels do flex with torque and weight. Also as a wheel wears and is adjusted, sometimes the screws on the spokes and the nipples get looser and then does not stay true as long. Sometimes you can true it up then put a tiny bit of blue loctite in there and that keeps it set. Tighter tension is better, but that tends to pull the nipples through the light alloy rims when you hit stuff espcially if you are heavy and have a hard tail. I used crack rims at the nipple from hitting stuff, worse if tightly tensioned. If you are not hitting stuff because you are always on pavement it is less important, but I had the problems on road wheels too. A guy I know used to build wheels for me and then tension them on the tighter side to make them more true under torque. I think he had a tendancy to overdo it. But then he was in the business of selling replacement rims and wheels so there you go.
There is no way around the rim rub issue. It is just a compromise with design. Very much like a guitar with respect to action height, except you are not beating on the guitar (hopefully). My older bike has rim brakes and even with my weight (175) I get a bit of wheel rub when the wheels are not true and perfectly tensioned. So I just back the brakes off a bit. Of course at some point you back off too much and then you can't get enough pressure to brake as well as you would like, not to mention the brief delay. Another thing. Unless you have the CERAMIC surface rims (expensive enough to make you consider discs) with appropriate pads you will wear through the aluminum rim with the pads eating the rim. There is no way out of it unless you use softer pads then you are replacing them at least monthly which is a pain in the ass. Your wheels will need to be replaced after lots and lots serious riding. I went through a several wheelsets doing that until I got onto disks. One time I used some hard pads and ate a set of wheels in three months. OOPS. Very stupid. Every time I bought a ceramic rim it seems I would pull a nipple through it or dent it on a rock so it would have a bump in it while braking. I stopped doing that and then my wheels would always last until the rim got eaten by the pad, but before I pulled a nipple through it. I could not win. I still have one old ceramic front on my bike in the mountains. It is 7 years old. Pure luck. Of course front wheels have it easy if you ride right.
On my Laguna bike I have disks and they are now perfected. For a while they were unreliable but the technology developed. Still I would use nothing but Shimano (harder to adjust) or Avid hydraulic disks. The other brands are not as reliable. I use Avid Juicy 7s which are amazing. Needs pads maybe once a year, even with my level of riding. Even disks, the rotors can warp or get tweaked a bit from a stick or something and you need to mess with little bends on them to keep centered. Also occasionally align the calipers. But any rub is less inevitable, and the feel is far superior as is the power. I would never go back but its a huge price to upgrade from rim brakes unless you are already buying a new wheel set anyway. Also older bikes may not have the mounting points for disks.
All of the factory wheels are not as good as the best hand built wheels. The last wheel set I bought I got smart. I got tired of those wheel issues. I told the guy to build the lightest training (not racing) wheel he could. He used Hope (UK) hubs, DT (swiss) rims and spokes. They were hand built by a pro and cost me $500 for the set. They have been perfect in three years of heavy riding and I have only needed to have them tesioned twice, and this was just for maintenance purposes, not because they seemed uneven. They are on the heavier side (but NOT a downhill wheel) because I like strong more than I like light. A good wheel set is made by a pro with your weight and riding style as consideration. I have never pulled a nipple through the DT rims. I had that problem with Mavic rims, I think the alloy is softer.
Its also hard to know who is really good at it, like you know just because its handmade does not mean the guy who did it is better than a machine. In that way it is exactly like guitars.
I don't like the brain shocks. They get stiff when they feel no bumps. Then the first bump just kicks your ass. Then it gets soft like a stupid shock again until it goes smooth for a while. I am happy with my stupid shock where my ass does not get kicked at all. It might be ever so slightly less efficient but as I am not racing I don't care. It has a lockout so I can lock it out when I am climbing but actually I don't give a shit and don't bother because I am not racing. You can forget and then start going downhill, hit a rut and crash.
I rode today. My bike shifts crappy too. Time to replace the cables. You have got me thinking about it. Also I need a new rear tire, but they are like $40 and I am cheap so I think I will push it a bit more. Last year I would have thrown that tire out by now.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Ryan's Laguna Beach Haunted House
My next door neighbor goes all out on Halloween. Way too cool. Background music by me of course.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Bailout? Bail Out Who?
So you don't think the government should spend your tax money on a bailout?
Actually, if you look at the details, it is not a giveaway. Of course Joe Public is not interested in the fine print when it comes to politics. That is why we are in this mess today. We all bitch about government but most common opinion is based on a very superficial version of what actually happens. What happens is a shell game where the rich and powerful make you think something so they can manipulate the rules. This has already happened. It is too late. It will never change. Next year it will be something else. Perhaps a different scam. Likely a bailout will be a scam for some of them too.
Bush, other than the fact that he thinks the government should DO SOMETHING is not going to be the instrument of this, it will be congress who seals the fate. Much of what is in negotiation now covers what penalties and rules there will be regarding the bailout funds. To attempt some measure of accountability. What a novel concept.
All the "wall streeters" have pocketed their money. They have nothing to lose either way. It is only about saving the portfolios and 401ks of Joe Retiree, who was led down the path by the evil finance crooks (who successfully lobbied both parties - and stripped finance regulations). If we were not trying to "extend home ownership to the less fortunate" this would not have happened. Of course the wall streeters made money on every transaction then sold the paper in deregulated funds to retirees. Screw them I suppose. Oh well. Mr. Wall Street is not holding the bag, no, its Joe Average stockholder. Not Mr. Smart Finance guru. He has already shifted into commodities and foreign currency.
Actually, if you look at the details, it is not a giveaway. Of course Joe Public is not interested in the fine print when it comes to politics. That is why we are in this mess today. We all bitch about government but most common opinion is based on a very superficial version of what actually happens. What happens is a shell game where the rich and powerful make you think something so they can manipulate the rules. This has already happened. It is too late. It will never change. Next year it will be something else. Perhaps a different scam. Likely a bailout will be a scam for some of them too.
Bush, other than the fact that he thinks the government should DO SOMETHING is not going to be the instrument of this, it will be congress who seals the fate. Much of what is in negotiation now covers what penalties and rules there will be regarding the bailout funds. To attempt some measure of accountability. What a novel concept.
All the "wall streeters" have pocketed their money. They have nothing to lose either way. It is only about saving the portfolios and 401ks of Joe Retiree, who was led down the path by the evil finance crooks (who successfully lobbied both parties - and stripped finance regulations). If we were not trying to "extend home ownership to the less fortunate" this would not have happened. Of course the wall streeters made money on every transaction then sold the paper in deregulated funds to retirees. Screw them I suppose. Oh well. Mr. Wall Street is not holding the bag, no, its Joe Average stockholder. Not Mr. Smart Finance guru. He has already shifted into commodities and foreign currency.
All of the cheap credit is no different than kids running up their credit card bills before they have any hope of employment to pay them off. This is a disease too many Americans have, and we have been teaching our children the same thing.
If this country does not do anything regarding a bailout, the "evil wall streeters" will simply make even more money. All of those bailout assets will be picked up for pennies off the backs of the 401k and retirement people. There will be a massive credit crunch and many more business failures.
Of course the people losing their homes deserve that. Likely they should not have gotten any kind of loan to begin with. Probably they don't give shit because it is worth less than they owe. Hopefully their credit is trashed enough so they can't do it again. But even then they are no worse than they were for the most part. Or how about all of those real estate speculators?
Do you like this idea of no bailout? It is not bad. It certainly seems fair. Just keep in mind that you too are going to go for a ride down the tubes. I don't know what you do for work, but if its not something really important and critical you might be looking for a new job. Or if you actually have been responsible for planning for your retirement. Well, probably you are really the loser here. You should have just spent the money. Now its gone. You are going to be either working or poor in your old age. Some moderately wealthy people can still retire and perhaps live a more frugal life on a lot less. They will have less money to put into the economy and will depend more on government services from your tax contributions. They will not be buying stuff from people to make jobs for them either.
Meanwhile, the "evil wall streeters" will watch everything ride down the slope and they will pick it up at the bottom. You will watch them cash in when it makes a recovery and they will smile when you will buy in at the top. Perhaps when you finally catch on (perhaps when your disposable income some day makes it possible to invest). If you are lucky you will have mediocre returns while they sell high and set up a repeat performance.
Just be careful what you wish for. It is WAY more complicated than you know. No bailout? You either have no financial assets or you may have really deep pockets.
I am not saying this bailout thing is good either. It would probably be a better lesson for people to learn the hard way. I am just saying it is not that simple.
Either way you are going to hurt. Hard to tell which punch to take.
If this country does not do anything regarding a bailout, the "evil wall streeters" will simply make even more money. All of those bailout assets will be picked up for pennies off the backs of the 401k and retirement people. There will be a massive credit crunch and many more business failures.
Of course the people losing their homes deserve that. Likely they should not have gotten any kind of loan to begin with. Probably they don't give shit because it is worth less than they owe. Hopefully their credit is trashed enough so they can't do it again. But even then they are no worse than they were for the most part. Or how about all of those real estate speculators?
Do you like this idea of no bailout? It is not bad. It certainly seems fair. Just keep in mind that you too are going to go for a ride down the tubes. I don't know what you do for work, but if its not something really important and critical you might be looking for a new job. Or if you actually have been responsible for planning for your retirement. Well, probably you are really the loser here. You should have just spent the money. Now its gone. You are going to be either working or poor in your old age. Some moderately wealthy people can still retire and perhaps live a more frugal life on a lot less. They will have less money to put into the economy and will depend more on government services from your tax contributions. They will not be buying stuff from people to make jobs for them either.
Meanwhile, the "evil wall streeters" will watch everything ride down the slope and they will pick it up at the bottom. You will watch them cash in when it makes a recovery and they will smile when you will buy in at the top. Perhaps when you finally catch on (perhaps when your disposable income some day makes it possible to invest). If you are lucky you will have mediocre returns while they sell high and set up a repeat performance.
Just be careful what you wish for. It is WAY more complicated than you know. No bailout? You either have no financial assets or you may have really deep pockets.
I am not saying this bailout thing is good either. It would probably be a better lesson for people to learn the hard way. I am just saying it is not that simple.
Either way you are going to hurt. Hard to tell which punch to take.
I can support the argument that every 20 or 50 years people need a hard lesson on how to not spend money they don't have.
I just wish we could teach people to run the government that way.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
She's A Vampire - Cool Rock Video
Featuring Frankie B and the Dogs of Noise
Frankie B plays the amazing Zachary Z2-T guitar with shred tones provided by the Zachary Z Pedal. Backing tracks performed by the Dogs of Noise. Mixed and mastered using Sonar Producer 7.
Frankie B plays the amazing Zachary Z2-T guitar with shred tones provided by the Zachary Z Pedal. Backing tracks performed by the Dogs of Noise. Mixed and mastered using Sonar Producer 7.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Is Obama a Communist?
Well that IS a legitimate question. According to Obama, you ARE your brother's keeper. That my friends is SCARY SHIT! This guy is so far left of center he has never made a right turn in his life.
Click this Link to Steve Chapman's Column in the Chicago Tribune
And you were worried that he has three Muslim names? That isn't even close to the real problem at all now is it?
This column has some critical points. Just what happened to freedom?
Of course even this Republican, John McCain is leaning left of center. Times are tough these days.
So what are we going to do??? You tell me.
Click this Link to Steve Chapman's Column in the Chicago Tribune
And you were worried that he has three Muslim names? That isn't even close to the real problem at all now is it?
This column has some critical points. Just what happened to freedom?
Of course even this Republican, John McCain is leaning left of center. Times are tough these days.
So what are we going to do??? You tell me.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Too Many Fools
Another original song written, performed, recorded and produced by
the Dogs of Noise:
(in case you have not already figured it out, I am the Dogs of Noise)
Click here to play this song or
here for Dogs of Noise at Garageband
Too Many Fools
she was right kind of girl for the wrong kind of man
so she wore funky shoes and wore clothes that were bland
she covered up her cleavage and put her hair in a bun
she looked like a girl that wasnt much fun
while walking her dog at a quarter past three
she became a believer in learning to breathe
no longer like a lemming with a fearful stare
magically awakened from who can say where
...
it is what it is and its there for the taking
some get hung up on delivery of a life still baking
some dilly and dally and piss and moan
they can find what is missing inside of a stone
step up to free will and sign right up
you can lose your fears and your need for stuff
there is no problem without a solution
its only man's problems with mental pollution
...
the man in the elevator lost all his money
he couldnt keep his wick out of the honey
a victim of desire and slave to his manhood
a simple mistake for a trophy wife falsehood
he decided to find a relationship of truth
leaving behind the mistakes of a careless youth
no more calls from the demon who isnt really there
understanding and belief to become truly aware
...
it is what it is and its there for the taking
no more desire for things and fears and shaking
cast aside those who insist on selling you what you need
they are only trying to feed their own greed
only a fool waits for god to come and save him
with passive waiting and total inaction
the only true way to find your soul
is to get off your ass and take control
...
he worked for many years to build a perfect machine
an fuel free engine for transportation dreams
then on the day of announcment it was completely ignored
because of teleportation the world was completely bored
another man lived a simple live of success
because he never got concerned with trying to pass any tests
this isnt a song that is trying to preach
its only a statement of what everyone can truly reach
...
be a fool if you want and continue your struggle
there will always be many inside of your bubble
angry communicants spout off in their blogs
while texting complaints and kissing magic frogs
fools with more knowledge of better ways
fools sadly wishing and waiting for much better dayswww
fools claiming the past was always superior
fools doomed to believe in a future inferior
the Dogs of Noise:
(in case you have not already figured it out, I am the Dogs of Noise)
Click here to play this song or
here for Dogs of Noise at Garageband
Too Many Fools
she was right kind of girl for the wrong kind of man
so she wore funky shoes and wore clothes that were bland
she covered up her cleavage and put her hair in a bun
she looked like a girl that wasnt much fun
while walking her dog at a quarter past three
she became a believer in learning to breathe
no longer like a lemming with a fearful stare
magically awakened from who can say where
...
it is what it is and its there for the taking
some get hung up on delivery of a life still baking
some dilly and dally and piss and moan
they can find what is missing inside of a stone
step up to free will and sign right up
you can lose your fears and your need for stuff
there is no problem without a solution
its only man's problems with mental pollution
...
the man in the elevator lost all his money
he couldnt keep his wick out of the honey
a victim of desire and slave to his manhood
a simple mistake for a trophy wife falsehood
he decided to find a relationship of truth
leaving behind the mistakes of a careless youth
no more calls from the demon who isnt really there
understanding and belief to become truly aware
...
it is what it is and its there for the taking
no more desire for things and fears and shaking
cast aside those who insist on selling you what you need
they are only trying to feed their own greed
only a fool waits for god to come and save him
with passive waiting and total inaction
the only true way to find your soul
is to get off your ass and take control
...
he worked for many years to build a perfect machine
an fuel free engine for transportation dreams
then on the day of announcment it was completely ignored
because of teleportation the world was completely bored
another man lived a simple live of success
because he never got concerned with trying to pass any tests
this isnt a song that is trying to preach
its only a statement of what everyone can truly reach
...
be a fool if you want and continue your struggle
there will always be many inside of your bubble
angry communicants spout off in their blogs
while texting complaints and kissing magic frogs
fools with more knowledge of better ways
fools sadly wishing and waiting for much better dayswww
fools claiming the past was always superior
fools doomed to believe in a future inferior
Friday, May 16, 2008
Another Day on The Trails
I ride on trails for fun and adventure. (Occasionally on the road, but in So Cal the cars rule and I don't really enjoy the thought of getting run over by 5000lb SUVs while riding an 18lb road bike.) At least on the dirt only my own mistakes can kill me. Some days I can hammer on the road when I go in a group and stick with early rides on way back roads.
Today I rode 36.5 (total out and back) miles on a trail near my mountain home. It took me about 5 hours. Killer workout with amazing scenery. Today I saw one nasty rattlesnake (unusual), a bobcat (very elusive), and various squirrels and birds. 5 other riders the whole time which is unusually a lot for a week day. Almost entirely the trail is wide enough for only one bike or hiker at a time. Some of it along cliffs where falling can kill you. Some parts (about 200 yards) I walk because falling is not an option you can live with. Of course the first time I did this ride it, it took all day and I thought I would die. And of course you don't start out doing 36 miles at a time, but just like 4 and then working up as you get stronger. It takes a couple of years to get in shape for doing this routinely. But I ride 3-4 times a week (usually more like 2 hours and 20 miles at a time) and have no fear of beer, steak, and pizza, as it all comes off. I am a skinny guy mostly from the rides.
I attached a couple of pics of today's ride made from my GPS tracks. I saved some sat photos from google earth and overlaid the GPS on them. You can't see the trail because its under the trees and narrow. Not for rookies. If you crash you could be bear food. Usually I prefer a partner, but I have enough (10+ years) experience to do it alone. (probably a bad idea anyway) Cell phones don't work everywhere and its usually about a 3 mile hike into parts of the trail from where any kind of rescue jeep can go. So its a cool adventure. I write songs in my head when I'm not totally wrapped up in navigating the scary parts. The nature is fabulous. I am happy to be able to do this at 53, but it is not luck it is hard work (and good fortune).
I have a Trek Top Fuel 9.9, Its about a $6k bike but its a tool not a toy and worth every penny at this level of usage. Made for constant use like this. Also an older Trek Fuel 98, and a couple of older spares. I can't not ride just because my bike is in the shop.
Aside from my family and my music, my bike riding is the next important thing.
You can click on each of the pictures to see the original, more detailed image.
Today I rode 36.5 (total out and back) miles on a trail near my mountain home. It took me about 5 hours. Killer workout with amazing scenery. Today I saw one nasty rattlesnake (unusual), a bobcat (very elusive), and various squirrels and birds. 5 other riders the whole time which is unusually a lot for a week day. Almost entirely the trail is wide enough for only one bike or hiker at a time. Some of it along cliffs where falling can kill you. Some parts (about 200 yards) I walk because falling is not an option you can live with. Of course the first time I did this ride it, it took all day and I thought I would die. And of course you don't start out doing 36 miles at a time, but just like 4 and then working up as you get stronger. It takes a couple of years to get in shape for doing this routinely. But I ride 3-4 times a week (usually more like 2 hours and 20 miles at a time) and have no fear of beer, steak, and pizza, as it all comes off. I am a skinny guy mostly from the rides.
I attached a couple of pics of today's ride made from my GPS tracks. I saved some sat photos from google earth and overlaid the GPS on them. You can't see the trail because its under the trees and narrow. Not for rookies. If you crash you could be bear food. Usually I prefer a partner, but I have enough (10+ years) experience to do it alone. (probably a bad idea anyway) Cell phones don't work everywhere and its usually about a 3 mile hike into parts of the trail from where any kind of rescue jeep can go. So its a cool adventure. I write songs in my head when I'm not totally wrapped up in navigating the scary parts. The nature is fabulous. I am happy to be able to do this at 53, but it is not luck it is hard work (and good fortune).
I have a Trek Top Fuel 9.9, Its about a $6k bike but its a tool not a toy and worth every penny at this level of usage. Made for constant use like this. Also an older Trek Fuel 98, and a couple of older spares. I can't not ride just because my bike is in the shop.
Aside from my family and my music, my bike riding is the next important thing.
You can click on each of the pictures to see the original, more detailed image.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Zachary Guitar Videos by Frankie Baker
Well, most of this is duplicated elsewhere in the blog, but to simplify things for people who are only interested in the Zachary Guitars videos - here they are.
The Zachary Z2 Guitar featured in these videos is quite the tasty treat.
Here are two demos that features several pickup settings and styles. The amp settings were not changed during the recording. The first uses a different amp from the second.
Tone demo 1:
An earlier demo:
This short clip (part of a song) is with a clean tone.
In this video, I crank it up to show off the shred or metal type tone capabilities of this bad boy guitar. I think the Z2 is unmatched by any guitar for this kind of use.
Here is an entire song with the Z2. This is the Z Surf Boogie.
I recorded the bass, drums and backing guitar first, the did the lead track on video and mixed it down on iMovie. This is my favorite of the videos on this page.
Here is a clip that compares the sound of a Stratocaster, Telecaster and The Z2 all through the same amp settings. I don't care much for the playing or chops here, its more about comparing the tone of the guitars. Some guy on youtube commented that my Strat is ugly. Well, I like it. Its certainly not beautiful like a Zachary, but it has that Fender 50s car kind of vibe. Nonetheless I'd trade an endless pile of Strats of any kind for one Zachary. Imagine what SRV or Jimi could have done with a Z.
The Zachary Z2 Guitar featured in these videos is quite the tasty treat.
Here are two demos that features several pickup settings and styles. The amp settings were not changed during the recording. The first uses a different amp from the second.
Tone demo 1:
An earlier demo:
This short clip (part of a song) is with a clean tone.
In this video, I crank it up to show off the shred or metal type tone capabilities of this bad boy guitar. I think the Z2 is unmatched by any guitar for this kind of use.
Here is an entire song with the Z2. This is the Z Surf Boogie.
I recorded the bass, drums and backing guitar first, the did the lead track on video and mixed it down on iMovie. This is my favorite of the videos on this page.
Here is a clip that compares the sound of a Stratocaster, Telecaster and The Z2 all through the same amp settings. I don't care much for the playing or chops here, its more about comparing the tone of the guitars. Some guy on youtube commented that my Strat is ugly. Well, I like it. Its certainly not beautiful like a Zachary, but it has that Fender 50s car kind of vibe. Nonetheless I'd trade an endless pile of Strats of any kind for one Zachary. Imagine what SRV or Jimi could have done with a Z.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Z Surf Boogie
I am happy with the way this turned out. It was more complicated than the typical youtube thing with a guy playing along with a speakers into a video cam mic. I hope you agree that it is well mixed.
Check out my tunes on Garage Band. Download the mp3 for your iPod.
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Amazing Zachary Z2 Guitar
The search for the holy grail of guitars continues. For the moment this is it. The precision of the fretwork and beauty of the artistry of this guitar is incredible. It is a unique departure from what all other guitar makers are doing. Before I mention any downside, I must say I consider this guitar priceless. It is the only guitar I have that I would simply not part with for any reason. It is simply the best of them all.
Now that said, I would have no credibility if I was such a fool as to say one guitar does everything and is the perfect guitar for all applications. That would be ridiculous. For example, the best jazzbox simply can't do good rock crunch. And this guitar can't do jazzbox. But I'm no Joe Pass either, and I don't play that kind of music well anyway. So I am being real. The Z2 cannot replace an entire collection of guitars. But it does stand on top of the heap. It is the very best with respect to several critical measures that I am concerned with. First of all, the intonation and fretwork is simply unmatched. Every single chord and note is perfectly in tune and harmonically balanced both within the scale and chord being played. I am not talking about anything other than my ear. It simply works. It is a bit on the bright side, which is probably due to its long scale, pickup design and placement, a relatively hard wood body, and very, very low action. I don't think it will replace my best strat clone (which can't touch this Z2 for the most part) for "that" tone. The Z2 is it is magic to the fingers and the ears. And it flat ass honks. This guitar kills for rock crunch. Billy Gibbons needs this guitar. As soon as he finds out about them good luck trying to get one for yourself, they will become legendary and impossible to obtain for mere mortals. I almost hate to tell you about it lest the build wait get longer. I want at least two more of these guitars and the more people that find out about it the longer I must wait. Good luck getting one, if you can't play you are out of luck. No posers need apply.
Click here to find out more about Zachary Guitars
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