Author: Dale

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The Life of Julia

The world of propaganda is most times quite sickening. Today we have seen one of the dumbest examples ever given to mankind through Barack Obama’s Life of Julia. It is the heart-warming tale of a young girl who has a dictator leading her country for what appears to be the entirety of her lifespan. In Barack’s version Julia seems to love dear leader and participate in every program the dictator can dream up. I have made my own version:

Well there you have it the true story of the life of Julia. It could have been a lot worse if she had spoken out against Big Brother.

UPDATE: As I was making these images by messing around with the html I found this section of comment art:

Even the code is all about “The One”.

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Copyrights Gone Wild

Anybody else out there think that copyright laws should be more like patent laws or perhaps even more unrestricted? Have you ever heard of the Mickey Mouse Curve? Do you know what Fair Use is and have you ever tried to actually make something under a Fair Use exception? Even if you have expertise in all of these I recommend this video:

Even as the owner of several copyrights I sure do wish things would turn public domain after only 14 years. It would be awesome all around. Crony capitalism sees to it that this cannot be the case. As a real fans of true free market capitalism we should all be sick.

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New Man Crush

Who has a mustache like Tom Seleck and a brain like Thomas Sowell? My latest man crush does and he is none other than, John Stossel. He spreads forth uncommon wisdom across the land and asks people many tough questions. While my man crush has limits, there is very little that I do not agree with Stossel on. And I very much enjoy how he can get people to think about things they have never thought about before. Check this lengthy vid:

And seriously if you can sport a stache like that and make sense you deserve my respect.

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Ashby

Well today’s the day. The album has been released. Before you start to listen to any of it go ahead and set aside an hour. It ain’t easy being an album person in a single teeny-bop world. I made the album to be enjoyed as a whole and it does have a theme and a cohesive story. If anyone is curious about any of the songs meanings or inspirations I would be ecstatic to explain. Have a listen:

Now spread the joyous news. There should be a physical CD for sale within the next week that has the rest of my original artwork.

I just have to take a minute to clarify what an accomplishment this is for me and why, although I know it’s not perfect, I am very proud of this. I taught myself to play the guitar when I was 17 and have been writing songs since a couple of weeks after I got my first crappy guitar that made my fingers bleed on a regular basis. The first song I ever wrote, “Orchard”, is actually on this album. The second full song I wrote is “Breakthrough” and it is also in this collection. I played with a few incarnations of pretty much the same band until that fizzled out and went away in 2005. After that I have just kept playing on my own and writing new stuff on a fairly regular basis. I got tired of just playing that way and it felt like I was kinda just wasting time. I feel that music, by it’s nature, is meant for other people to hear it and enjoy it. I was not able to spread any of the music to others and it bugged me. I had done some recording before with the band and I had mixed it, but to be honest it was a horrible mixing job and it never felt great (I will remaster those in the future). I decided to teach myself how to actually record decently and how to play the drums so I could do all the parts I would need. Then I set a deadline for myself (today) and went for it. I learned quite a bit in the process and had some good fun doing it even though it wasn’t just a super easy cakewalk. Then I researched distributors and physical CD options until I found who I liked. Then I made all the artwork for the physical CD. All this learning and work may just be so I can have the only copy of my own CD that is out in the world and that would bother me, but I will live. It doesn’t keep me up at night to think of what people think of me at all, but I do care a little what they think about what I create. I hope just a few people will enjoy what I have put my time into. And maybe somebody out there might be as excited as I am about the next one I am going to make.

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“Ashby” by the Squatches

A while back I sat down and listed all the songs I have written. When the list got around 100 I decided that I really wanted to record them and let others hear them. I got myself a good cheap mixer and started recording. Then I decided to set a goal and actually put out the first batch of them as an album. We are getting closer and closer to my goal date when I must cease all mixing and tweaks on Feb. 21 and release the songs regardless of how much I want to change them. I can change them no more after the 20th. Here is the track listing and order that I have decided on:

1. 3rd Rail Kissing Contest
2. And I
3. Stay Out of My Corner
4. I-40
5. Breakthrough
6. Orchard
7. I Lied Again
8. Thunderhead
9. Soft
10. Apologetics
11. Nathaniel
12. Leave it Alone
13. Flat Ground
14. Killing Calm

There they are. Hopefully I will be fully done with the artwork for the physical CD soon.

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“Apologetics” Single Pre-Release “EDIT”

Well, I think it is time for those of you who stop by to get a little something early. I can’t promise that I won’t change the mix before Friday, when I will officially release and tell people about it, but you guys get to hear the first song (and a couple of b-sides) earlier than the rest of the world.

It’s called Apologetics:

EDITED HERE TO ADD A LINK AFTER RELEASE:

Go Here to Listen Now

There you have it. There are 13 more where those came from. Please spread the word if you think it is any good at all. Especially if you find it good as an extremely low budget basement recording which the whole album will be. I am proud of the low budget tactics I have used and think I have produced something pretty darn good, remembering that I just taught myself to play the drums too.

The album will be called “Ashby” and runs about 58 minutes so far. It will be another release from the band that the ol’ ball and chain and I formed called “The Squatches” and will be available on iTunes, AmazonMp3, Bandcamp.com and various other places. I am still working on getting a physical CD with my own artwork going. I like to do my own artwork and even this single’s artwork is my own. If anyone can steal a copy of any of my recordings of my music I promise to not get too angry if they tell at least 5 other people to check it out. Hope you enjoy and spread the music.

Many comments of almost all kinds are appreciated.

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Busy Busy Busy

I have been recording, editing, mixing and mastering songs for an album in my basement for the last little while. Therefore I have not spent that spare time making posts and such, as you may have noticed. I have resolved to make at least one post every week, even when busy making an album which I have decided to release on iTunes and the like in Feb.

To satisfy this weeks post I will put up something that is kinda dumb that I made during the recent NBA strike. I really dislike unions and this situation was no different.