The Republic of T.

Zen Out?

The mystery of just what's wrong with my Nomaz Zen continues to unfold. It seems it's not the battery that's the problem. Most likely it's the connection for the AC adapter.When I plug it in now, it doesn't necessarily charge the player. I have to pay enough attention to turn and adjust it until the player shows that it's recharging. Problem is, that doesn't always work. The act of putting the player back down, on my desk, may sometimes be enough to cause the AC adapter to lose contact.

My reviews of the Nomaz Zen have been positive thus far. I am, however, disappointed that this kind of problem crops of after having it for less than a year. I'd hoped to get more use out of it than that before having to deal with (inevitable) malfunctions.

So,I'm not sure what the solution might be. I don't know if there's a way to fix the problem, or if I'd be better off just getting another MP3 player. Of course, I could just be looking for an excuse to upgrade, or get another gadget. Still, music is pretty important to me, and my commute is about the only time I really get to enjoy it undisturbed. So, to me, that's reason enough to get another one if the current one is worn out.

The Day the Music (Temporarily?) Died

It came as a bit of a shock. Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting at my desk listening to my latest music purchase when my Nomad Zen Xtra suddenly went silent. I looked at the display and it read "Low Battery."

No problem, I thought. I'd just take it home and charge it. However, after charging all night it still read "Low Battery" when I turned it on. So, no morning tunage for my commute. This constitutes the first problem I've had with it since buying it, but one that may be easily solved. One of the reasons I bought it was because the battery is intended by the manufacturer to be replaceable by the user. So I went online and ordered a new battery, which should be here before the end of the week.

I hope that's the only problem. I'm a little concerned that the battery ran out in less than a year, but I do use it every day, so maybe it's par for the course.

If the battery fix doesn't work, they maybe it's time for me to shop for a new one.

The Power

Thanks to Ara Rubyan of E Pluribus Unum for brining this to mind.

I found my theme song for tomorrow. When I go head to the polls, and after I've cast my vote, I'll be listening to Patti Smith's "People Have the Power."

For the finale, the entire lineup emptied onto the stage and unleashed diesel-powered, 16-person versions of Nick Lowe’s “Peace, Love and Understanding” and Patti Smith’s modern-day call to arms, “People Have the Power.”

I was dreaming in my dreaming
of an aspect bright and fair
and my sleeping it was broken
but my dream it lingered near
in the form of shining valleys
where the pure air recognized
and my senses newly opened
I awakened to the cry
that the people / have the power
to redeem / the work of fools
upon the meek / the graces shower
it's decreed / the people rule

The power to dream / to rule
to wrestle the world from fools…

To redeem the work of fools. Indeed.

Learning to Play

A while back I blogged about my desire to spend more time on musical pursuits. Well, I've kept it in the back of my mind, and made a few contacts with music teachers in the past month or two in a low-impact sort of way. Well, one of them got back in touch with me about his October schedule, and now as a result I have my first jazz piano lesson this evening.

I rather excited about it, and looking forward to seeing how it goes. I don't expect to become a concert pianist, but it would be nice to learn to play well enough to accompany myself singing, if only for my own enjoyment. I'm also hoping it helps me become a better singer in terms of musical knowledge, etc.

Six Months With The Nomad Zen Xtra

It hardly seems like six months have gone by since I purchased my NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra. In truth, it seems like much longer. I didn't realize the sixth anniversary had crept up on me and actually passed without my noting. But upon realizing it, I decided it was time to post something about my six months with the Nomad Zen Xtra.

I've already gone through my reasons for choosing the Zen Xtra over the ever popular iPod. Six months later, I have no regrets about my decision. My Nomad Zen has become an indepsensible part of most days. It goes with me on my commute to and from work (though my commute is much shorter now), and keeps me company during working hours, when I need some musical release.

I've basically mastered the controls. and at this point I have I have about 14GB worth of music on a player that will hold 40GB. Chances are I have more storage space than I'm likely to ever use, but it's nice to know I have it if I need it. Of course, it's also clear that I could have purchased a 20GB iPod—less space for the same amount of money—and had all the storage space I apparently need, but since I don't know how large my digital music collection is likely to get, I'd like to be able to keep it all in one place if possible.

I do have one minor gripe. However, it's less about the Zen Xtra than it is about the old rule that applies to just about any tech-oriented purchase: it's obsolete before you even get it out of the package (sometimes before you get it out of the store). In the six months since my purchase, Creative has come out with a revamped Zen MP3 player,
the Creative Zen Touch. The most notable change is the design. The controls are now situated on the front of the player, rather than the sides, and Creative seems to have done away with the scroll wheel that some users didn't like. The only drawback I can see is that it currently comes only in the 20GB variety. So, I'm not entirely kicking myself for my purchase six months ago. Truth be known, if I had to make that decision all over again, I'd probably make the same choice.

Anyway, that's my review of six months with the Nomad Zen Xtra for anyone who's interested. All in all, I give it a thumbs up.

Super. Freak.

In the hours after Rick James' death hit the news, I must have received nearly a dozen emails informing of his passing. I have to admit, I did pause for a moment of reflection when I heard about his death, as did probably many children of the 80s, who could remember a time when James' music was everywhere. There was a long time when you couldn't go anywhere without hearing "Superfreak" and "Give It To Me Baby." The only other artist who could touch him, and match him in funk, was Prince. The man definitely left his mark on music, and will long be remembered (and sampled). He might even be forgiven that musical misadventure with Eddie Murphy. *shudder*

That's not to say that the man didn't have his problems; drugs; violence; prison. It's likely that the memory of his legal and drug problems will be remembered just a long as his music.

My favorite James' creation, however, was The Mary Jane Girls, which seemed to be his (just as short-lived, but more talented) answer to Prince's Vanity 6.

Queer Songs

You find some amazing things when you google your own name. Things crop up from the past that you'd long forgotten I stumbled across a little compliation I did back when I was first discovering the internet, and I'd made a posting on Usenet in soc.motts, asking for recommendations of gay or gay-themed songs. Later I posted the list of recommendations I received. I post it here now, for the enjoyment of anyone who finds it interesting. Perhaps it will come in handy while looking for music online or compliling MP3 playlists.

(Update: Note the email signature from the bottom of the document. It's from my Queer Nation days. Yes, I was a founding member of the chapter at my university. I had the black Queer Nation t-shirt with bright yellow lettering, combat boots, and a shaved head. Gosh, I've mellowed since then.)

Chords for Change

Via AMERICAblog.

I've never been a huge Springsteen fan, though I did enjoy some of his 80s work. However, I admired his move to prevent the Reagan campaign from appropriating his "Born in the U.S.A" caught my attention, and now his eloquent statement in the New York Times about why he is endorsing the Kerry/Edwards ticket increases my respect for him quite a bit, and makes a good case for why artists should just "shut up and sing."

Through my work, I've always tried to ask hard questions. Why is it that the wealthiest nation in the world finds it so hard to keep its promise and faith with its weakest citizens? Why do we continue to find it so difficult to see beyond the veil of race? How do we conduct ourselves during difficult times without killing the things we hold dear? Why does the fulfillment of our promise as a people always seem to be just within grasp yet forever out of reach?

I don't think John Kerry and John Edwards have all the answers. I do believe they are sincerely interested in asking the right questions and working their way toward honest solutions. They understand that we need an administration that places a priority on fairness, curiosity, openness, humility, concern for all America's citizens, courage and faith.

…Like many others, in the aftermath of 9/11, I felt the country's unity. I don't remember anything quite like it. I supported the decision to enter Afghanistan and I hoped that the seriousness of the times would bring forth strength, humility and wisdom in our leaders. Instead, we dived headlong into an unnecessary war in Iraq, offering up the lives of our young men and women under circumstances that are now discredited. We ran record deficits, while simultaneously cutting and squeezing services like afterschool programs. We granted tax cuts to the richest 1 percent (corporate bigwigs, well-to-do guitar players), increasing the division of wealth that threatens to destroy our social contract with one another and render mute the promise of "one nation indivisible."

It is through the truthful exercising of the best of human qualities - respect for others, honesty about ourselves, faith in our ideals - that we come to life in God's eyes. It is how our soul, as a nation and as individuals, is revealed. Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.

Springsteen's column, combined with a line-up that includes REM, the Dixie Chicks, the Dave Matthews Band, and James Taylor, is just enough to convince me to buy a ticket to the concert, if it comes anywhere near me. I'm not familiar with all of the acts, but I'm all for what they're trying to do.

Saturday Night Radio

It's Saturday night. Dance a little.

I Got the Music In Me!

Mad thanks to my blog buddy e.j. for hooking me up with the space to do a radio blog! As soon as I can get it set up, I'll put up a test post, and see how it goes.