Van Santos

Let’s go into flashback mode, shall we?

I remember the fall of 1990 very well.  I was in junior high, unaware of the world around me, just simply enjoying the time with my friends (and my video games).  It was the “good old days”. 

I suddenly became aware of world events due to one unlikely thing: there was a prediction of a major earthquake in the Midwest on December 2nd or 3rd.  Yes, a prediction. 

As the date grew closer the general public started to become hyper-aware of the potential for an earthquake. The paranoia reached us heights that our school started having earthquake drill in preparation for that day.  I recall covering my head and thinking “Right, my hands have the ability to stop a massive building from killing me”.

It was all thanks to this dip – Iben Browening

Wouldn’t you know it, December 2nd and 3rd came and went with no earthquake, no end of the world, and Browening died less than a year later a laughing stock.  I like to think he died due the embarrassment of making such a bold statement, but doctors say he actually died of a heart attack.

Anyway, the Federal Emergency Management Agency just released updated information about the potential catastrophic effects of an earthquake in the New Madrid fault zone.  

The fault line is so powerful, as a matter of fact, that an earthquake back in 1812 reversed the flow of the Mississippi River.  So, yes, the fault zone is one of the most dangerous in the world, but it is also one of the most inactive.   I have no problem with warning people about potential dangers; I just have a problem with how it’s done… Such as…

“the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States.”

and

“a large earthquake would cause “widespread and catastrophic physical damage” across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee — home to some 44 million people.”

While they didn’t predict an earthquake, I can see the nut balls coming out of the woodwork once again trying to predict the end of the world.  Now only that, I can see a number of self-proclaimed “researchers” trying to make huge amount of money off of the unsuspecting, uneducated, members of that 44 million.

As if we don’t have enough to worry about these days…

I guess my reason to live may now be in question.  There is quite a bit of confusion over Little Britain USA and the contract for a second season.  It sounds like there may not be one.  Yesterday, after news came out of the UK that HBO renewed the series, some in the press decided to confirm the facts by calling HBO directly.

Tobe Becker, HBO spokesperson, said she “had no information about another season of the ribald comedy series”

While a press blackout could be in place during contract finalization, which I doubt, it seems odd the HBO wouldn’t know about their own show catalog… 

Maybe I was wrong to get so excited!  I hope that this doesn’t turn out to be nothing more than a rumor.

I’m a bit surprised that Alabama 3 decided to release a 3rd single from “M.O.R.” album, but they have. The single is “Monday don’t mean anything” and is available as a 4 track download, or 3 track 12″, that has new remixes for fans.

I know what I will be getting today…

Also, from the “how I wish I was going to be in the UK this winter” section of my mind, Alabama 3 and the Utah Saints will be playing shows on December 4^th and December 8^th.

How sweet is that!

I wish I could write with a level of confidence that most “trained” writers appear to have. I truly wish I had a thesaurus packed away in my mind that would allow the perfect word to flow out at the correct moment, creating the illusion that I actually know what the hell I was doing.

Forget my presentation for a moment; the manner in which I write, let’s just look at the very fundamental aspect of being able to write a paragraph without any spelling errors, let alone having the entire paragraph be littered with grammatical road bombs.

I will never be an eloquent write - ever. I will never be a successful writer - ever. My problem, maybe besides the fact that I seem to not remember 7th and 8th grade English, is when I write I tend to do so as if I am talking to YOU (the reader). It’s as if you and I were sitting here in my family room discussing the topics of the day. Basically, I have a conversation in my wee little mind as to how such a conversation would play out and the resulting dialog becomes the post. It becomes the “end work”.

I guess each person has a style, and this is mine, but I really wish I could be an outstanding writer, like some people close to me…I wish it would just rub off.

I just couldn’t focus on track number four because of this track, so I decided to add a few more things and call this one “done” for the demo, so here you go…

EDP/VMS Demo #3

So, a few notes from the studio note pad.

• the samples fit perfectly, but I need a bit more atmosphere
• I am doctor up the sitar a bit more
• the bass hit may continue a few more times (maybe 1)
• depending on a few other minor changes I may make - after listening to this over and over - this may easily be the intro track to the rest of the album