Travis Dickerson Recording Studios Forum

This week I\'m attending a conference on mobile learning.  There are so many advancements in handheld technology and laptops to developing nations.

The keynote today spoke about her vision and humanitarian effort to give every child in developing nations a laptop.  She was part of a non-profit team to design a $100 laptop that runs on crank power (no cords), takes 2 watts of energy to run, converts from a laptop to a tablet for reading e-books, has different display requirements for students, and many other well designed features.  The whole premise of the project was to reduce the cost of print textbooks to the children of developing nations.  This project will be launched next year.  It is brilliant.  They have thought about every detail.

The project has so many benefits for the children, education, economy, and environment.  To me it seemed so perfect until later today I attended another session on the philosophy of m-learning in Africa.  The presenter had a valid point which brought to light the African traditions and culture.  It is based on the circle which has no end.  The community and fellowship are the center of their philosophy.  In the Western world, when we learn it is done individually and then the knowledge is shared with our friends.  In many developing countries the community works, educates, and practices their faith as a tribe.  There is no word in their language for "I".

So supplying $100 laptops to children for education is outstanding and should be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, but the ability to respect, balance, and educate within the parameters of their culture, tradition and invading Western learning philosophies will be much more desirable than just the technology.

Stef

Hi gkg,

Thanks for posting this news.  It is appalling.  I hear so much about threats to control non-white cultures, but this is over the top.  I don't understand why a person would try to control the actions of people who enrich their communities with their culture, traditions, and strong work ethic.  Many of these people work many times harder to achieve the most basic needs, like shelter, food, water, clothing, education, and income, and this is the respect they receive in return.

The person who composed this letter is not one who values the diversity of nations and the struggles and contributions they achieve daily to survive.

They deserve better.

Stef

Nicely said.  This brings back a story about my Grandfather, who was not part of the war.  He was the oldest of three sons and was required to remain on the farm to run it while the war continued.  Although he never mentioned it directly, he felt guilty about this.  His two brothers left to fight the war.  They returned, but one brother became a cattle rustler and a wanted man....he was the black sheep of the family...and to this day they don\'t speak his name; even though he\'s been gone for decades.

 It is amazing how choices we make in life leave a lasting legacy for those who work so hard to give others a better life, we must never forget.  My Grandfather recited poetry and one of the poems he would frequently share is the following.  He is no longer with us, but it continues to inspire me.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Oldfolkie,

I heard a session over the weekend on CBC about Neil Young.  He became frustrated with the youth of today because they are not singing about political issues (Bush and his entourage) and lobbying for impeachment, like in the 60\'s.  He felt he had to get his message out there.

This led me to thinking why the majority of new generation isn't more politically concerned or active.  Don't they get it?  I guess if the effect war has not touched your life you cannot relate or feel the implications....do they know how many babies are without families because of Bush?

This isn't a video game...Sorry...I'll stop there....too many emotions.

I just want to say "Thank You" to all the voices of America who stand for courage and action for a new government of tomorrow.

Stef

Thanks for sharing this news....a true leader...and her legacy will live on.

I support her thinking and am pleased these priorities are practiced.


These days it is difficult to manage cities and city centres because of globalization.  We need more leaders who will bring forth renewable, self-sustaining resources to overcome dependencies on other areas.

One concept I\'m learning more about is the idea of co-ops.  By having a large group of people or organizations offering different resources to each other, we not only support each other operations and families, but build self-sustaining communities.

That\'s just my two cents....

Cheers,
Stef

GKG

I share your opinion too.  It seems Bush will be the master of his own destruction (greed and power), but he will take the country and its people with him.  

Rome didn\'t fall in a day, but it had a beginning.  Similarly, Bush is sending the country in a downward spiral through division of loyalty.  He might be labeled in the history books as the leader that began the fall of America.  

You know the most frustrating thing about Bush is that he is a poor leader.  There are so many brilliant minds in America. He could harness and support this talent and find solutions to the gas wars by finding a new renewable, self-sufficient resource (like water, wind, or solar power).  
Even though this may take years, once the solution is established, the country could market it to the world. Then who cares about gas...it is running out anyway... But instead he is not an entrepreneur looking for innovation and setting a new world order.  He is all about reacting and dominating and commanding.  

To lead, you would need a person who is proactive, who can empower people to find solutions, and who has a vision.  He is not leading; he is dispatching.

Check this out...

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/28/guantanamo-powers060328.html


Is this possible...do you really think he will have a chance at a fair trial?  

....in the land of the free...there sure is a lot of bias....

...its shocking and I\'m sure it happens all the time

I very recently viewed an independent short film on campus.  It was about a young woman from India who has her life changed forever because of one incident.  The theme of the story is female infanticide, which is done quietly by both women and men because of cultural beliefs.  Baby girls born to poor families in India are looked upon as not "human" and are considered a financial burden.  This horrifies me, ...I almost walked out of the theatre.  I was a deer in headlights...it was hard to watch, but I continued to watch to better understand the circumstances.

I work with children and young adults, and can\'t imagine the disassociation these people make when committing this horrific crime. This definitely hit my nerve.  There is a strong need to educate women and men about the value of a girl's life.  

BTW: I\'m not a feminist; I just want equality for all humans...regardless of age, race, religion, gender or disabilities.  Anyone who is marginalized or suppressed must be emancipated!

On the subject of infanticide I find myself terribly disturbed and emotionally traumatized by this illegal practice that I think my bias and emotion would most likely interfere with my approach to change this practice.  Moreover, how can you change a religious and cultural belief that is very strongly held by both sexes?

I apologize for the subject matter, but there is a definite need for action and education, and I want to contribute to a solution, but where to begin?

Stef

Oh I enjoy MD music.  Miles is so innovative and extremely talented.  I really like listening to him...in fact,
I occasionally find myself lying on the floor in a dark living room looking at my 20 gallon fish tank, while listening to MD "Dingo".

I also like Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday and Ella.  Depends on my mood...sometimes I need a little jazz and other times I bring on the metal...

I think Chet Baker is Flea\'s dad - from the Chili Peppers...
what a lineage

Hey Chris,

Fantastic diversity of sound fx, and huge collection.  Do you sell them or just use them for your own creative endeavors?

Good point about the ice having sound too.  Getting the clacking hockey stick sound would be hard to capture because of the ambient noise, skates and ice; at least in a rink.  It would be hard to mike in during a live game, so it would have to be during practice, and I don't have those kind of connections.  

Maybe my best bet is to tape a game on TV and try to strip out the noise I don\'t want.

Oh yeh, I was thinking of speeding up the BPM, but I like the idea of playing with the pitch too.

Stef

Last night I was watching the Boston and Montreal hockey game.  I kept listening to the clack of the sticks as they struck each other and the ice.  I would love to record a whole game and then sample this sound slowly and then speed it up...it might be crazy especially during a power play.  I think it might mix well with a little Spanish guitar, Hammond organ, and electric violin.

Has anyone recorded hockey sticks hitting the ice or other sticks during a game?

WOW!  This is incredible....fantastic job...the lighting is perfect!  

Good luck with  management ...you should definitely negotiate something....you really know how to capture the moment...lots of talent in that room!