Giving the same computer advice that I give dozens of customers a week.
I also like to ask and make political and religious questions and comments, hoping to provoke FRIENDLY debates and discussions
Welcome To My Blog!
I'd like to first say "hello" to everyone. I must lay down a single rule, and it's commonly known by many as the Golden Rule. Please treat everyone in here as you would want to be treated. I ask that no one "flames" anyone else, or say anything obscene or rude. This is a friendly discussions blog that pertains mostly to computers, music, politics, and religion, but not restricted to just these topics.
If you're looking for some computer help, then I highly recommend by starting with my first part in my series:
"Who's that?" you may ask. For those of you who was born before 1985 may know him as the lead singer of FNM (Faith No More), as shown in the video below. However, most of us probably didn't notice the white t-shirt he was wearing occasionally...
But FNM wasn't Mike Patton's only band. He's been in quite a few, and has helped with vocals in many other projects.
Mr. Bungle
A college friend of mine in the early 1990s convinced me to buy their first self-titled album and their second album, Disco Volante. I'm not mentioning any names, Nathan (LOL). Mind you this was years before broadband Internet, YouTube, and many other online resources where you could listen to music before you bought it. Back in these days, unless you knew someone who already had the album, you were taking a big risk with your $15. I was angry because I hated these albums, and thought I wasted $30 of my hard-earned money. Since I had already opened them, I couldn't return them, so I figured I would give these albums a few more tries. Mr. Bungle went from being my most hated Mike Patton band to my top three most favorite bands of all time. Their bassist, Trevor Dunn, is also amazing, and is in a few other Mike Patton bands (excluding FNM).
They've made several demo albums before their self-titled album, but their self-titled album is usually considered their "first". It's funky jazz rock meets deranged carnival/circus music along with stuff you'd expect to hear in a Pee-wee Herman show with offensively hilarious lyrics. Two of their most loved songs by most fans are "Squeeze Me Macaroni" and "Girls of Porn" (both containing explicit lyrics)...
Personally, "Dead Goon" is also a great song, until you realize what the song lyrics are about, and then you wish that you didn't (LOL). But seriously, "Dead Goon" is probably the most disturbing songs I've ever heard in my entire life.
I personally consider Disco Volante to be their musical genius album, since they drifted away from the deranged carnival/circus music into other genres, such as combining various forms of metal with techno, 1950's (both Beach Boys and Elvis), music from The Munsters, Italian James Bond music, avant-garde jazz, elevator music in a psychotic horror movie, weird sound effects/samples, and whatever else floated their boat. One of my personal favorites from Disco Volante is called "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz", or as I lovingly call it, "The Cartoon Song", since it reminds me of Looney Tunes intoxicated, and high on both acid and crack. My kids love it.
I never could get into their third album, California, because it was mostly 1950s music, but I may give it another try again soon. Here's my personal favorite song from that album...
Fantômas
If I thought Mr. Bungle was hard to get into, Fantômas was even harder. Their first self-titled album (as the cover album art implies) sometimes sounds like background music for a low budget, B-rated 1960s sci-fi movie that you'd quickly pass by on Netflix. It's been regarded as "anti-music", and Mike Patton doesn't even sing throughout the entire album, but uses his voice as "special effects", if you will. But you'd think with a superband line-up such as Mike Patton doing vocals, Buzz Osborne of Melvins playing guitar, Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle playing bass, and Dave Lombardo of Slayer playing drums, that it would be funky jazz metal. Nope, not really. It is considered "avant-garde" (experimental) metal, and here's a sample...
I need to listen to their newer albums because I've heard Fantômas have changed styles since their first self-titled album.
Tomahawk
Oh, how do I discribe Tomahawk? To me, IMHO, it kind'a sounds like Faith No More combined with some Native American music, but has ventured down a very strange, dark path. I like some of it, but not all of it, but perhaps it needs to grow on me more. Here's a sample...
Peeping Tom
It's Mike Patton doing electronica/hip hop. Yes, that's right, but it's actually not that bad. To me, it has kind of a sexy sound quality to it. Before you judge, here's a sample below. Just give Peeping Tom a try...
Mondo Cane
It's Mike Patton singing 1950s and 1960s Italian pop songs with a 40-piece orchestra (and you though him singing electronica/hip hop was strange). Still don't believe me? Here's proof...
Miscellaneous
And he's done work with plenty of other acts, bands, and even video games. For example, here's Mike Patton with John Zorn...
This is my futile attempt to play TOOL's "Undertow" on my drums, which isn't exactly the easiest song for me to play along to. I only wished my drumset sounded nearly as good as Danny Carey's (who's one of my greatest influences, and is playing the actual original drumkit that you hear in this video). No need to point-out my many mistakes, because I already know that I had made plenty of them from watching this video! (although I do like to improvise a lot when I'm playing a cover song) I realize that I'm not even close to being a really good drummer, but I try to be, and I also know that my basement is kind'a dark and in a mess! LOL I may redo this video sometime later in the future after I've practiced the song several more times, but I hope that you at least somewhat enjoy this video in the meantime. Other than obviously practicing more, taking drum lessons when I can financially afford to do so, and upgrading my current drumset, if anyone has any constructive criticism, comments, or suggestions, I'd like to hear them! :-)
Prodigious fans of A Perfect Circle and Tool may find this interesting...
When I bought Tool's album 10,000 Days, I wondered what was the meaning of "10,000 days"? What was the significance? I even tried tracing the date back from the date the album came out, and still couldn't figure out why was "10,000 days" so important. I then began reading the lyrics of "Wings For Marie (Part 1)" and "10,000 Days (Part 2)" to find out. As I was reading the lyrics of "10,000 Days (Part 2)", a name stood out to me... "Judith Marie". "Judith" ...that's a song on Mer De Noms by A Perfect Circle. Who is this "Judith" that Maynard James Keenan keeps singing about? So, I did a little research and now I see a few different songs written by "M.J.K." from a different angle, under a different light, and see them almost for the first time (sorry, couldn't resist). I hope you'll find this as enlightening as I did...
Instead of just giving you all of the information, I want you to see and experience it the way I did. First, visit this web site:
You may want to skip towards the bottom of the web page listed above to the section "Track Information & Trivia". After you've realized who "Judith Marie" is, now start reading Maynard's lyrics. Even though you may have them memorized, you may see these songs in a whole new light, and by all means, please play these songs while you're reading the lyrics! First, take a look at the song "Judith" by A Perfect Circle off of their album Mer De Noms. Read and listen to the song very carefully, and then you'll probably have the same reaction I did.
"Judith" by A Perfect Circle from the album Mer de Noms
You're such an inspiration for ways that I will never ever choose to be. Oh so many ways for me to show you how your Savior has abandoned you. Thank (f__k) your God. He did this, took all you had and left you this way. Still you pray, never stray, never taste of the fruit, never thought to question why. It's not like you killed someone. It's not like you drove a hateful spear into His side. Praise the One who left you broken down and paralyzed. He did it all for you. Oh so many ways for me to show you how your dogma has abandoned you. Pray to your Christ, to your God. Never taste of the fruit, Never stray, never break, Never choke on a lie, Even though He's the one who did this to you Thought to question why. It's not like you killed someone. It's not like you drove a spiteful spear into His side. Talk to Jesus Christ as if He knows the reasons why He Did this all to you. He did it all for you.
Now, if you want to see almost a whole different side of Maynard about "Judith Marie", read and listen carefully to the lyrics of "Wings For Marie (Part 1)" and "10,000 Days (Part 2)" off of Tool's album 10,000 Days...
"Wings For Marie (Part 1)" by Tool from the album 10,000 Days
You... You believed ... You believed in moments none could see. You believed in me.
A passionate spirit, Uncompromised, Boundless and open, A light in your eyes that could end all lies.
Broken, broken Fell at the hands of this moment so that I wouldn't see. It was you who prayed for me so, What have I done To be a son to an angel? What have I done To be worthy?
Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescence, Difficult to see you in this light. Please forgive this selfish question, but What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight? She never told a lie, ...Well might have told a lie, But never lived one.
Didn't have a life Didn't have a life But surely saved one So I'm alright Now it's time for us to let you go.
"10,000 Days (Wings Part 2)" by Tool from the album 10,000 Days
Listen to the tales and romanticize, How we follow the path of the hero. Boast about the day when the rivers overrun, How we rise to the height of our halo.
Listen to the tales as we all rationalize Our way into the arms of the savior. Feigning all the trials and the tribulations, None of us have actually been there. Not like you.
Ignorant fibbers in the congregation Gather around spewing sympathy, Spare me. None of them can even hold a candle up to you. Blinded by choices, hypocrites won't see
But, enough about the collective Judas. Who could deny you were the one who Illuminated? You'll have a piece of the divine.
And this little light of mine, the gift you passed on to me; I'll let it shine to guide you safely on your way, Your way home ...
Oh, what are they going to do when the lights go down Without you to guide them all to Zion? What are they going to do when the rivers overrun. Other than tremble incessantly?
High as a wave, but I'll rise on up off the ground. You are the light and the way, they'll only read about. I only pray, Heaven knows when to lift you out. Ten thousand days in the fire is long enough, you're going home.
You're the only one who can hold your head up high, Shake your fists at the gates saying: "I have come home now! Fetch me the Spirit, the Son, and the Father. Tell Them their pillar of faith has ascended. It's time now! My time now! Give me my, give me my wings!"
"Give me my, give me my, give me my wings!"
You are the light and way, that they will only read about.
Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance, Burden of proof tossed upon the believers. You were the witness, my eyes, my evidence, Judith Marie, unconditional one.
Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescence, Difficult to see you in this light. Please forgive this bold suggestion: Should you see your Maker's face tonight, Look Him in the eye, look Him in the eye, and tell Him: I never lived a lie, never took a life, but surely saved one. Hallelujah, it's time for You to bring me home.
When you do the math, you'll notice that 10,000 days was about the amount of time that Judith Marie lived after her brain aneurysm until she passed away, which was about 27 years.
"Jimmy" by Tool from the album Ænima
What was it like to see The face of your own stability Suddenly look away Leaving you with the dead and hopeless?
Eleven and she was gone. Eleven is when we waved good-bye. Eleven is standing still, Waiting for me to free him By coming home.
Moving me with a sound. Opening me within a gesture. Drawing me down and in, Showing me where it all began, Eleven.
It took so long to realize that You hold the light that's been leading me back home.
Under a dead Ohio sky, Eleven has been and will be waiting, Defending his light, And wondering... Where the hell have I been? Sleeping, lost, and numb. So glad that I have found you. I am wide awake and heading home.
Hold your light, Eleven. Lead me through each gentle step by step by inch by loaded memory.
I'll move to heal As soon as pain allows so we can Reunite and both move on together.
Hold your light, Eleven. Lead me through each gentle step by step By inch by loaded memory 'till one and one are one, eleven, So glow, child, glow.
Also, from what I've gathered, the song "Jimmy" from Tool's Ænima album (I assume Maynard James Keenan is referring to his middle name as "Jimmy"), is his response to when Judith Marie became physically disabled when "Jimmy" was only eleven years old. I also speculate that perhaps Judith Marie may have called Maynard James Keenan as "Jimmy" (his first name was originally "James"), but I have no facts to base this on, but only the song.
Also, from what little I’ve heard and read, “10,000 days” also has significance in the Kabbalah. I’ve even heard other songs by other groups on the radio that refer to “10,000 days”, and often wondered if they studied the Kabbalah or were Kabbalists. If anyone reading this knows anything about this topic, PLEASE reply to this blog!
This website listed below goes into a lot of detail about Tool's album 10,000 Days...
I've gotten a response or two stating about how my blog here isn't "enlightening" at all, that many people knew of this long before I did. I'm not writing this as a "oh, let me share what I know that no one else does", but this blog is only for those out there who do want to know who "Judith Marie" is and just now found out. This has been known for quite some time, and I'm only sharing my "experience" into finding out who Judith Marie was, and that's all. :-)
I welcome any and all comments, including other websites and web pages that delve deeper into this topic.
I've been debating about getting on here and talk about my personal beliefs, and I may eventually, but I'd like to first start off by talking about "spirituality" in general. Everyone has an opinion about what "spirituality" is, but here's mine. I view spirituality as how "comfortable" you are with your own personal beliefs, how "strong" you are in your own personal beliefs, and then trying to achieve greater happiness and fulfillment in what you believe. Pretty vague, eh? Well, I may come back to this topic later, but if anyone takes the time to listen to my playlist on my main MySpace page, I have my most favorite "spiritual" songs on there. Since the words of these songs speak so deeply to me, I only hope they may do the same for someone else as well... "Forty-Six and 2" by TOOL
My shadow's shedding skin and I've been picking Scabs again. I'm down Digging through My old muscles Looking for a clue.
I've been crawling on my belly Clearing out what could've been. I've been wallowing in my own confused And insecure delusions For a piece to cross me over Or a word to guide me in. I wanna feel the changes coming down. I wanna know what I've been hiding in
My shadow. Change is coming through my shadow. My shadow's shedding skin I've been picking My scabs again.
I've been crawling on my belly Clearing out what could've been. I've been wallowing in my own chaotic And insecure delusions.
I wanna feel the change consume me, Feel the outside turning in. I wanna feel the metamorphosis and Cleansing I've endured within
My shadow Change is coming. Now is my time. Listen to my muscle memory. Contemplate what I've been clinging to. Forty-six and two ahead of me.
I choose to live and to Grow, take and give and to Move, learn and love and to Cry, kill and die and to Be paranoid and to Lie, hate and fear and to Do what it takes to move through.
I choose to live and to Lie, kill and give and to Die, learn and love and to Do what it takes to step through.
See my shadow changing, Stretching up and over me. Soften this old armor. Hoping I can clear the way By stepping through my shadow, Coming out the other side. Step into the shadow. Forty six and two are just ahead of me.
"Reflection" by TOOL
I have come curiously close to the end, down Beneath my self-indulgent pitiful hole, Defeated, I concede and Move closer I may find comfort here I may find peace within the emptiness How pitiful
It's calling me...
And in my darkest moment, fetal and weeping The moon tells me a secret - my confidant As full and bright as I am This light is not my own and A million light reflections pass over me
Its source is bright and endless She resuscitates the hopeless Without her, we are lifeless satellites drifting
And as I pull my head out I am without one doubt Don't wanna be down here feeding my narcissism. I must crucify the ego before it's far too late I pray the light lifts me out Before I pine away.
So crucify the ego, before it's far too late To leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical, And you will come to find that we are all one mind Capable of all that's imagined and all conceivable. Just let the light touch you And let the words spill through And let them pass right through Bringing out our hope and reason ... before we pine away.
"Parabol" by TOOL
So familiar and overwhelmingly warm This one, this form I hold now. Embracing you, this reality here, This one, this form I hold now, so Wide eyed and hopeful. Wide eyed and hopefully wild.
We barely remember what came before this precious moment, Choosing to be here right now. Hold on, stay inside... This body holding me, reminding me that I am not alone in This body makes me feel eternal. All this pain is an illusion.
"Parabola" by TOOL
We barely remember who or what came before this precious moment, We are choosing to be here right now. Hold on, stay inside This holy reality, this holy experience. Choosing to be here in
This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal All this pain is an illusion.
Alive, I
In this holy reality, in this holy experience. Choosing to be here in
This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal All this pain is an illusion.
Twirling round with this familiar parable. Spinning, weaving round each new experience. Recognize this as a holy gift and celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing.
This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality. Embrace this moment. Remember. We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion.
"Lateralus" by TOOL
Black then white are all I see in my infancy. red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me. lets me see. As below, so above and beyond, I imagine drawn beyond the lines of reason. Push the envelope. Watch it bend.
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind. Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines.
Black then white are all I see in my infancy. red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me. lets me see there is so much more and beckons me to look through to these infinite possibilities. As below, so above and beyond, I imagine drawn outside the lines of reason. Push the envelope. Watch it bend.
Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind. Withering my intuition leaving all these opportunities behind.
Feed my will to feel this moment urging me to cross the line. Reaching out to embrace the random. Reaching out to embrace whatever may come.
I embrace my desire to feel the rhythm, to feel connected enough to step aside and weep like a widow to feel inspired, to fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity and still be a human.
With my feet upon the ground I lose myself between the sounds and open wide to suck it in, I feel it move across my skin. I'm reaching up and reaching out, I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me. And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been.
Spiral out. Keep going, going...
"Wings for Marie (Part 1) by TOOL
You... You believed ... You believed in movements none could see. You believed in me
A passionate spirit Uncompromised Boundless and open A light in your eyes Then immobilized.
Broken Fell at the hands of those movements that I wouldn't see Yet it was you who prayed for me. So what have I done To be a son to an angel? What have I done To be worthy?
Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescents Difficult to see you in this light Please forgive this selfish question, but What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight? "She never told a lie, ... well might have told a lie, But never lived one. Didn't have a life, Didn't have a life, But surely saved one." See? I'm alright Now it's time for us to let you go.
"10,000 Days (Wings Part 2) by TOOL
Listen to the tales and romanticize, How we'd follow the path of the hero. Boast about the day when the rivers overrun. How we rise to the height of our halo.
Listen to the tales as we all rationalize Our way into the arms of the savior, Feigning all the trials and the tribulations; None of us have actually been there. Not like you.
Ignorant siblings in the congregation Gather around spewing sympathy, Spare me. None of them can even hold a candle up to you. Blinded by choice, these hypocrites won't see.
But, enough about the collective Judas. Who could deny you were the one who Illuminated your little piece of the divine?
And this little light of mine, a gift you passed on to me; I'm gonna let it shine to guide you safely on your way, Your way home ...
Oh, what are they going to do when the lights go down Without you to guide them all to Zion? What are they going to do when the rivers overrun Other than tremble incessantly?
High is the way, but all eyes are upon the ground. You were the light and the way they'll only read about. I only pray, Heaven knows when to lift you out. Ten thousand days in the fire is long enough; You're going home.
You're the only one who can hold your head up high, Shake your fists at the gates saying: "I've come home now! Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father. Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended. It's time now! My time now! Give me my, give me my wings!"
You are the light and way that they will only read about.
Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance, (With the) burden of proof tossed upon the believers. You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence, Judith Marie, unconditional one.
Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescents. Difficult to see you in this light. Please forgive this bold suggestion, but Should you see your Maker's face tonight, Look Him in the eye, look Him in the eye, and tell Him: "I never lived a lie, never took a life, but surely saved one. Hallelujah, it's time for you to bring me home."
"Brena" by A Perfect Circle
My reflection Wraps and pulls me under healing waters to be Bathed in Brena
Guides me Safely in Worlds I've never been to Heal me Heal me My dear Brena
So vulnerable But it's alright
Heal me Heal me My dear Brena
Show me lonely and Show me openings To lead me closer to you My dear Brena
Lost again Broken and weary Unable to find my way Tail in hand Dizzy and clearly unable to Just let this go
I am surrendering to the gravity and the unknown Catch me, heal me, lift me back up to the sun I choose to live
I fell again Like a baby unable to stand on my own Tail in hand Dizzy and clearly unable to just let this go High and surrendering to the gravity and the unknown Catch me, heal me, lift me back up to the sun I choose to live, I choose to live, I choose to live
Catch me, heal me, lift me back up to the sun Help me survive the bottom
Calm these hands before they Snare another pill and Drive another nail down another Needy hole, please release me
I am surrendering to the gravity and the unknown Catch me, heal me, lift me back up to the sun I choose to live, I choose to live
UPDATE:
For me, music plays a huge role in my "spirituality", and I think it does for most people. I think a person's music preference speaks a lot for themselves, their personality, and what kind or type of person they either are, or want to be. Even though I love movies, I've yet seen a movie that spoke to me as much as music does. And when I listen to a type of music that "fits my mood", I feel such a release afterwards, such an uplifting, as if everything I listen to is somewhat spiritual, in a sense, even if the music itself mentions nothing about spirituality. Music illustrates how I feel, and speaks a lot for the person I am. And I don't except to turn anyone onto my music, because we all have different tastes and view music differently. I just hope that people can find something out there that speaks to them as much as my music speaks to me.
While I'm on the topic of music, of all of the instruments out there, drums are my passion. Why the drums? Because they are so raw, primal, and powerful. They need no electronic equipment or electricity to play, and percussion is the oldest type of instrument known to man. When I play my drum kit (set), I often feel like I'm getting back to all of our roots, our beginnings, and the basics. It's a part of me that makes me feel so human, in a sense, indescribable with words. I look at drums as the foundation of a house. Sure, when people are looking at a house, all they see is the beautiful structure standing before them, but without a solid foundation, the house will collapse. Rhythm is that foundation, and percussion sets the rhythm and the "mood". All else builds upon that foundation to form that beautiful house that everyone sees. It's all about getting back to the basics, the foundations, of music.
Anyone that knows me and has read though my profile knows that Danny Carey from TOOL is my most influential drummer of all time. Does that mean he's the best? No, but I personally think he is. I've listened to a lot of drummers that has influenced me throughout the years, such as Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater, Scott Rockenfield from Queensryche, and Lars Ulrich from Metallica. But of all of the drummers that has influences me (many not mentioned above), none has as much as Danny Carey. Most drummers only "show off" or "shine" during drum solos, but remain mostly a "human drum machine" while the rest of the band is playing. But Danny "shows off" and "shines" throughout all of TOOL's songs, with the ability to incorporate complex techniques while blending them into a song in such a way, only someone who has a "masterful ear" can truly hear them (not saying that I do, but I do pay closer attention to drums than most average people). His complexity comes from jazz and jazz fusion drummers, some of the best ever lived, but he's able to incorporate these unique styles, mold it, and blend it into TOOL's music, where is doesn't sound like jazz or jazz fusion at all! But he still uses the same complex techniques as they do, but is hardly detectable. Anyone can "go off" on a huge, massive drum kit, look like they can play with the "best of them", but rarely can do the same thing and make it blend so perfectly into a song, or an album, much less several albums. Danny does it with every song, every album, every time. I think I'm in love with Danny. LOL :-) To illustrate one of the many complexities he does in a song, I found this video of someone doing a "remake" of a complex piece Danny does in the same song Danny plays in the internview video on my profile, "Lateralus".
I can't do this, at least not while the music is playing, because it screws-up my timing. All I can say is brilliant, not just for the ability to do it, but just for even conceiving it! I would've never in a billion years thought to put together a piece such as this, and incorporate it into a song where it doesn't stand-out, but blends in with the song so perfectly, even though the song and the drums are two completely different timings! Wow.... and this is why Danny Carey is my most influencial drummer of all time. I doubt Danny will ever come across or read this blog, but if he does, all I can say is "Thank you, Danny".
