Merry Christmas from Studio 84

Here's a fun little video we put together at the Studio. I ran around the office with a digital recorder and sampled all the sounds. Then I put together a midi sequence using all the sounds. After that, Stuart, our head video guru, went to work filming all the sounds and all the staff. Put it together and what have you got? Merry Christmas from Studio 84!

Pimp my iPhone #1

If you've followed my blogging, you'll remember I've posted a couple of articles called "Pimp my Mac." I recently purchased an iPhone and have been busily attempting to fill it up with apps. I figured I might as well talk about the good ones. I've mentioned a few on Facebook. I'll probably post more here, since my blog is echoed on FB as well.

Today, I bought an app called TrueHDR. For those of you unfamiliar with the term "HDR", it stands for High Dynamic Range and refers to a photographic process in which a series of photographs are merged together. Usually, a minimum of three shots are taken, one at normal exposure, one slightly over exposed and one slightly under exposed (real photogs will quibble at my choice of terms, but this is the easy explanation). These three (or five or however many you wish to use) are woven together within your software of choice to provide a much more detailed photograph than is usually possible.

The iPhone has never been able to provide HDR shots, since the camera/phone cannot change Fstop and exposure settings. Most of the HDR apps available just mess with the saturation levels and call it HDR. TrueHDR is different. This little app utilizes the tap-to-focus feature of the 3.0 software in the iPhone. After you launch the app, it walks you through the process of taking two shots of your subject. In the first shot, you tap on the brightest spot in your frame and then take the picture. On the second, you tap on the darkest and repeat. The software does the rest. It will align your shots and merge the two pics, giving you a wider range of colors, lighting and resolution.

It's not as good as real HDR with multiple shots, but it's a big step for the iPhone. Here are a couple of HDR-ish shots I took this afternoon, just before sunset. It's not true HDR, as the app title suggests, but it sure makes an iPhone shot look better than it would normally.

While I'm talking about iPhone photos, I might as well mention a couple of photo editing apps. Photoshop Mobile is a good app. It does a good job of editing shots, but I prefer an app called PerfectPhoto. It offers more filters and options and I get generally better overall results.

Another fun one is Lo-Mob. This little program is chock full of special effects, the likes of which would have cost a pretty penny even just a few years ago. It's worth the few cents that it costs. Enjoy.

Birmingham 3-Day Diet

My wife stumbled upon a diet recently. I had serious doubts that any 3-day diet would make any kind of an impact and may even prove unhealthy. I guess I was wrong.

According to the old copy we received, this diet was developed, or at least used, by a cardiac unit in Birmingham for patients who need to lose large amounts of weight heading into a surgery. The claim is that you can lose up to 40 lbs in a month. After doing it I suppose that it’s possible, although I wouldn’t recommend trying it without the oversight of professionals.

The goal is to diet for 3 days, then spend a few days eating responsibly, then back another 3 days, etc. Sherri has gone through it three times in three weeks and I’ve done it twice in two weeks. Sherri has lost 12 lbs and 2 pant sizes. I’ve lost 14 lbs and a belt notch. It hasn’t been hard at all.

There are some substitutions allowed. I didn’t know that when I first saw it, which was the first thing that turned me off. Keep that in mind as you read it and I’ll tell you about the possible changes in a minute. So, here it is:

DAY ONE
Breakfast:
1 cup black coffee or tea
1/2 grapefruit or juice (8 oz)
1 slice toast
1 tbs. peanut butter

Lunch:
1/2 cup tuna
1 slice toast
coffee or tea

Dinner:
3 oz. any type meat
1 cup string beans
1 cup beets or carrots
1 small apple
1 cup vanilla ice cream

DAY TWO
Breakfast:
1 cup black coffee or tea
1 egg
1 slice toast
1/2 banana

Lunch:
1 cup cottage cheese or tuna
5 saltine crackers

Dinner:
2 wieners (franks)
1 cup broccoli or cabbage
1/2 cup carrots
1/2 banana
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

DAY THREE
Breakfast:
1 cup black coffee or tea
5 saltine crackers
1 slice cheddar cheese
1 small apple

Lunch:
1 hard boiled egg
1 slice toast
1 cup black coffee or tea

Dinner:
1 cup tuna
1 cup beets or carrots
1 cup cauliflower or greens
1 cup cantaloupe
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

The paper says, “This diet works on a chemical breakdown and is proven to work. Do not vary or substitute any of the foods. Salt and pepper may be used but no other seasoning. This diet is to be used 3 days at a time. In 3 days you will lose 10 lbs. After 3 days dieting you can eat your usual food, but do not overeat. After 4 days of normal eating, start back on the 3-day diet.”

I did some substituting within the diet. For instance, on lunch for day 2, I would do a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and a 1/2 cup of tuna instead of one cup of either one. I don’t handle fruit well (it’s a texture thing), so whenever apple or bananas were called for, I would drink grapefruit juice. On some days, I would substitute 5 crackers for a slice of toast (we have no toaster at work). We also found some tuna packages that came flavored... 1/2 cup of sweet and spicy tuna or lemon pepper tuna. They’re new. Even though seasoning is off limits, I did it anyway. I still lost 14 lbs.

As I’ve told others, anyone can do 3 days. Try it once and see if you like it. If so, try it again the next week. I did it Tues-Thu so I could have my weekends free for normal food... in moderation, of course. Good luck!

Help! I need this bike!

I need the help of all my friends online. I am looking for a special bike. This is a picture of Shay, from this season's Biggest Loser. She was eliminated in week 9 and this is a screen grab from her "where are they now?" video online. You can see the actual clip at this link. The bike scene happens a little over a minute into the video.

It's a trike, with a wheel in the back. There is no seat, you stand on the machine. In motion, it acts like a stepper. The handles move back and forth as you move, like a stepper as well. The bike/trike/stepper is apparently steered by leaning, like a Segway.

I've looked online and can't seem to find the thing. This would be perfect for me, if I can figure out what it is. Anyone have a clue?

Maybe Sean can help me out. Sean, did you use any of these on the Ranch or when you got home. What is it?

UPDATE: Thanks for the help folks. These are called Streetstriders and can be found at Streetstrider.com. They are apparently pretty popular and low in stock. And they cost $1,999. Ouchy.

Merry Christmas from Moyers Sound

South Africa 2009

I recently had the opportunity to travel back to South Africa to sing. My last trip to this far land was in 1995 with Marvin Phillips, George Pendergrass, Duane Adams and Robert Guy. This time around, I traveled with a group termed "Acappella Classic." Once again I was with George, but the remainder of our jolly troupe consisted of Keith Lancaster, Rodney Britt, Kevin Schaffer and Steve Maxwell.

We were booked for two concerts, Johannesburg and Capetown. I was not able to stay the entire time to make the Capetown concert, but my short time in Joberg was a wonderful experience. I've been many places all over the world and experienced many different cultures. I can say without reservation that the people of South Africa are some of the most open, friendly and accepting people I've met.

After a 30+ hour trip from Lubbock to Joberg (Wed-Thu), we spent the first evening relaxing and trying to figure out what time it actually was. Rodney did not make it in with us. He was stuck back in the States going through a long chain of troubles. Ask him about it sometime.

But I jumped ahead of myself. Before we made it to the lodge for the evening, we were greeted by the wonderful people of Joberg. After we had finally cleared South African passport control and customs, we emerged into the large rotunda/public area. We began looking for someone holding a sign that said "acappella" or something similar. We noticed a very large group (200 or so) of what appeared to be scouts, both boys and girls. A few of them were carrying drums and they seemed to be looking for someone. Suddenly, two of them noticed George and starting jumping around yelling something. Within seconds, all 200+ people crowded around us and began singing and going nuts on the drums. For the next 45 minutes, it was constant handshaking, hugging, singing and signing. The other guys (with the exception of George) did not know it, but this was a repeat of a scene 14 years ago in Port Elizabeth. The South Africans are exceedingly friendly.

Friday was a day of becoming acclimated to our new time zone and rehearsals sans Rodney. What amazed me was our trip to the mall for lunch. The mall itself was pretty cool, sprawled across several blocks and multi-level. Even more interesting was the mix of people we encountered. We obviously saw many Africans in their cultural dress. Within the space of a few minutes, we also saw Indians in sarongs, Muslims in hijabs, modern Europeans suits and even Hassidic Jews complete with peyot. I've seldom seen such a wide array of cultures mingling together in, what appeared to be, harmony. At any rate, Rodney arrived that night amidst a downpour and we were complete and ready to go. After another rehearsal or two.

The next morning we made the trip to a local radio station to promote the concert that evening. The security to get into the place was as tight as an airport. Searches, scanners, registration, etc. Pretty tight. After being "removed" from the wrong studio (the only rude Africans I met), we wound up in the studio of RadioFM 2000. As it turns out, it wasn't a local station at all. It was a nationwide radio station that was also the official station of the 2010 World Cup. Extremely cool. I was one year too early.

That afternoon, we rolled into Rhema Bible Church for sound check. I've seen some large church buildings, and this one is as big as any of them. 6500 seats. I did a slow camera pan of the empty sanctuary. It took 2 hours. We had almost 2000 people at the concert and the place still seemed mostly empty. Massive.

The concert was extremely well-received. The crowd knew and sang along with most of the songs. We sang through our exhaustion, and God took care of it. The next day, I boarded the plane for the long route home. The rest of the gang stayed for a safari and the Capetown concert.

I look forward to our return. I DO NOT look forward to the 30+ hour trip one-way. Nasty.

City of Black and White

Our head video engineer, Stuart Blalock, put this video together. He shot a ton of aerial footage over Lubbock. While editing, he started messing around with the colors and Matt Kearney's song came to mind. This is the result.

The Moyers Mash

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Songwriting 50/90

I stumbled across an interesting site today. It's called The 50 Songs in 90 Days Challenge. It's an online community of people who have taken up the challenge of writing, as the title suggests, 50 songs between July 4 to October 1, 2009. This is not the first year for it. I'm not sure how long it's been going, but this year there are over 2700 members and 4400 songs have been submitted. From what I've seen, about 10% of the members have done 90% of the writing. The rest are lurking along checking things out.

I find this idea somewhat alluring. The only way to become a good writer is to sit down and write every day. In the past, I have been an "on-demand" writer. Acappella would need a certain kind of song for a certain album, so I would write it. Keith Lancaster had somewhat the same approach. He just did a whole lot more of it.

The really good writers I've met (who make a living from it) mark out a daily chunk of time to write, say 9:00 AM to lunch. The goal is never really to write one song during that time, but more to document ideas. Over time, several of those ideas flow into one song. And then another, and another, etc.

I find it interesting that I ran across this site just as I am getting into a new group, The Sons of Korah. I really like their writing style, putting the Psalms to music. It runs right along the style I like and the way I like to write.

So who knows? Maybe I might challenge myself to something a little less stressful than 50/90. I'm thinking something more along the lines of 26/52. That 26 songs in 52 WEEKS. One song every two weeks. Even that would be a challenge. My schedule is crazy right now. Something to consider... anyone else up to it?

Shut De Do - Exappella

Here's another song from the Boys Ranch Telethon. We had rehearsed several songs for the show, one of which was Everybody Said. At this point, we were going to sing Shut De Do. My intro confused Kevin and he started the wrong song. Some things never change.

I refer to my ability to confuse Kevin, not his starting the wrong song.

Hush - Exappella

Here's a clip of the four of us, me, Duane Adams, Kevin Schaffer and Gary Evans, singing "Hush" for the Texas Boys Ranch Telethon.

Serious Street Corner Do-wop

Here's what happens when New York based Naturally 7 cuts loose on an unsuspecting crowd in the Paris Metro subway.

Exappella

This coming Friday, Aug. 21st, KAMC Channel 28 (ABC) in Lubbock will be hosting the annual Texas Boys Ranch Telethon. Several artists will be performing, including Richie McDonald (formerly of Lonestar).

Studio 84 is producing the music for the show as well as doing all the filming and graphics. When we were putting it all together, the folks from the Boys Ranch asked if I could get some of my old singers together. I immediately realized that Gary Evans was here in Lubbock with me, and Kevin Schaffer and Duane Adams were in Amarillo. That made it real easy to pull things together. Thus, Exappella was born. At least for one show. :)

So if you are in the Lubbock viewing area Friday evening and want to tune in, we will go on at the 10:35 PM slot, immediately after the newscast. And if you want to come out to the Firehouse Theater (where it's being filmed), there is no charge for entrance. We will also be singing a few songs for the crowd during the newscast. You are welcome to come for any part of the show, which airs from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM, with a break from 10:00 to 10:35 for the news. Be advised, the Firehouse only seats about 300 people. See you there...

Universal Health Care

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

Power of Music

My friend Russ White turned me onto this one. Bobby McFerrin does a great job of simply presenting the power of the pentatonic scale. You'll notice that he only sings three notes for the crowd, but they pick up on everything else. Pretty cool.

Barney Fife and Acappella

We used this video for a while as an introduction to our concerts. I found it again on YouTube. Funny stuff.

He Gave Her Water

Recently, I had the opportunity to return to an annual spiritual retreat in Paris, TN. It is nearly impossible to explain what happens at the retreat. Suffice it to say that it is a mountaintop experience every year.

This year, we gathered together several old fogies to sing, calling ourselves Acappella Classic. It was me, Keith Lancaster, Rodney Britt, George Pendergrass and Steve Maxwell. At one point, we sang the old favorite "He Gave Her Water" with our friend Jerome Williams.

Every time we sing this song, Jerry Jones hops on stage and tries to sing the song with us. This time, we pulled the old trick "turn your back on the guest from the audience" that Acappella (His Image) used to do years ago.

It worked, until Jerry decided to take the lyrics of the song literally. In an attempt to get the microphone, He Gave Me Water. I suppose I've been sprinkled by the pope. A baptismal redeaux. Take a look.

MJ's Death a Hoax?

The king is dead. Long live the king.

Many comparisons have been made between the death of Michael Jackson and the death of his father-in-law Elvis Presley. I'm sure you've seen them and I won't recount them here. So here's my prediction:

Within a month, you will begin to see stories suggesting that Michael Jackson is not dead. He couldn't handle the stress of the new tour. He wanted to drop out of site completely. We'll see shots of what appears to be clandestine meetings between Michael and his children.

The seeds have already been planted. AP released a story about Michael's death certificate and stressed that the cause of death was listed as "deferred." This is obviously because the autopsy had not been completed, but you watch... that's where it will start.

Also, why did the golden casket containing his body detour from it's trip to Forest Lawn? No one seems to know where the final resting place is. Could it be?

Don't get me wrong. I fully believe that MJ has truly shuffled off his mortal coil. This is more a comment on the current society of instant info and our Ethernet-in-the-belly-button lifestyle. Just wait. It's coming.

Book Review: Latter-Day Cipher

I have decided that maybe it’s better to read books by authors you do not personally know. This is no judgement against the book Latter-Day Cipher. As a matter of fact, I really like the book, but more on that in a moment.

I’ve known the author, Latayne Scott, for many years. I’ve read some of her other works and sat in seminars under her leadership and teaching. She is one of the few people I’ve met that I would consider brilliant. Her depth of theological understanding and her ability to present subjects in a clear and understandable manner are highly developed. She has a great sense of humor which, in my experience, runs on the dry and slightly sarcastic side. It’s a joy to be around her.

Which is why it took me completely by surprise when the opening paragraphs of Latter-Day Cipher graphically present the first in a series of serial murders. It made me wonder if I had the right book. I did. And I’m glad. As I write this, I am slightly over halfway through the novel. You are safe from spoilers.

As a novelist, it seems to me that Latayne has a unique style, at least when coupled with this genre. Her flowing language and use of metaphorical imagery create a striking contrast to the topic at hand. Oftentimes, her poetic description of events make them seem all the more horrific.

Latter-Day Cipher flows well. Characters are introduced and fleshed out at a pleasing pace. Events roll along without getting bogged down. The story is well constructed. You won’t fall asleep reading this, unless you take medicine and read it when you go to bed, as do I. But that’s not the fault of the book. That’s the fault of restless leg syndrome.

The story is very compelling and engaging, but what really impresses me is the way she presents truth in an apologetical wrapper. Latayne draws on her extensive history and understanding of the Mormon culture and weaves its secrets into an astounding tapestry. The truths of Christianity shine when compared with the falsehoods embraced by the Mormons of Latter-Day Cipher, and the Mormons of the world.

As I said, I have not completed the book. I look forward to finishing the journey, and I highly recommend you take it as well. Latter-Day Cipher by Latayne C. Scott. Best murder mystery I’ve ever read by someone I actually know.

Wings Point Aid to Nicaragua

Wings Point Ministries has shipped their first sound system to the mission field. Benny Baker heads up Mision Para Cristo in Nicaragua, a medical mission servicing the entire nation of Nicaragua. They were in need of a portable sound system to use as they travel from city to city dispensing aid. Also, one of the larger churches in the country had a place to meet but no means to be heard. God allowed Wings Point to provide for their needs.

On June 24, we delivered 2 sound systems to Global Samaritan Ministries in Abilene. Global Samaritan ships materials to mission points all over the world, including Mision Para Cristo in Nicaragua. Pictured here is David Catalina of Global and me as we stand by a portion of the system, delaying the men who were trying to load it. They had a serious production line going.

Each system we shipped consisted of 2 JBL Eon 305 speakers, a Soundcraft GigRac 600 powered mixer, speaker stands, mikes and cables. Benny tells me that they often use one speaker for their church and one speaker to set out in the street so the town can hear the gospel. That's what it's all about.

If you have any interest helping with future shipments, Wings Point is a non-profit entity. Any donations given are tax-deductible and will greatly help in spreading the Word of God to people who need to hear it around the world.

MLS

Anyone who knows me would probably assume I'm talking about Major League Soccer. Not this time. Since we are moving over the next couple of weeks, we have contracted a Realtor to deal with our house here in Midland. Therefore, MLS refers to the Multiple Listing System. At least I think that's what it stands for.

Anyway, our house can now be seen on Realtor.com at this link. Or you can just search our MLS number, which is 78589.

On another front, I enjoyed watching Gizmodo's live coverage of the WWDC keynote where they announced the new iPhone. I've waited 2 years for this one. My contract finally expired about 5 months ago, allowing me to upgrade around Christmas. I got phones for the family, but held off for mine. I suspected that there would be a new iPhone coming down the pike. I'm glad I waited. 3Gs 16G for me in late June! Whoohoo!

Pitch Pipecast: Episode 16 - Terry Cheatham

Just posted a new podcast!

Episode 16 of the Pitch Pipecast welcomes original AVB 1st tenor, Terry Cheatham. Wes McKinzie joins host Gary Moyers as the three discuss the original days of the Acappella Vocal Band.

Terry shares his favorite AVB songs from his tenure with the group. He talks about his first days as an AVB'er and his first 24 hours, which included the recording of one of his trademark songs.

You can catch the podcast from the Pitch Pipecast website, or as always you can access it directly from this link.

Pitch Pipecast Episode 15: Bret Testerman

A new episode of the Pipecast is now available! Bret Testerman joins me and Wes McKinzie for a great discussion leading up to AVB's reunion concert this coming July.

Bret was the lead singer for AVB during their transition from a back up group for Acappella to a full time independent ministry. He sings lead on some of their most memorable songs, including The Victim.

The Pipecast can be found at PitchpipePro.com. Or as always, you can download it directly from this link.

Roses and Recordings

Not much in general to say lately. We've got our house on the market and we're waiting. One week and no calls.

In the meantime, we've had some nice rains and Sherri's roses have come out nicely. Not that she planted them or anything. They were here when we moved in. She rescued them because they were in pretty bad shape. The rains have helped. Midland water on roses does not do well. Too many minerals. So the better the rain, the better the roses.

I'm heading to Lubbock for the next four days. I've been producing the new release for Taylor Productions. RJ (Sonny) Taylor released a hymnal over 10 years ago. Every year he releases a supplement accompanied by a CD for education and edification. The first 5 were done by Darrell Bledsoe when he was in Houston. The next 5 were done with Ryan Christian at Richland Hills. I get to do #11.

It's been a lot of fun. I've recruited 3 other singers to help me do it right. Lauren Mooney and Jill Riggan are both members of Best Friends from LCU. They sing like angels. For bass, well, there was never really a question. Gary Evans is amazing.

So, my first project with Studio 84 is taking me back to old school. A cappella again.

FSBO: 3306 Dentcrest Dr, Midland, TX

I've mentioned that we have our house up for sale. I realized I might as well go ahead and post the ad on my blog so you won't have to make a trip to 3306dentcrest.com. Here goes:

Great Two-Story House With Charm!
3306 Dentcrest Dr
Midland, TX 79707
MAP THIS HOUSE

3 beds, 2.5 baths
2050 Sq. Ft.
2 Car Attached Garage

FSBO: 3306 Dentcrest, Midland TX

Detailed Description:
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Total Rooms: 7
Floors: 2.0
Square Footage: 2150
Year Built: 1983
School District: Parker Elementary, Abel Middle School, Lee High School
Garage Size: 2.0
Lot Size: 7013 SF

LIVING ROOM (18×15): Fireplace, multiple windows, tile floor.
LARGE KITCHEN (22X10): Multiple cabinets and tops, built ins, incandescent lighting, matching appliances, adjoining breakfast area w/ceiling fan.
DINING AREA (11×12): Open architecture, flows into living area, multiple windows, wet bar and cabinets.
ENTRY AREA (9X14): Cut-back stairs leading to upper loft hallway.
UPSTAIRS: office/library/extra room at top of stairs (17×6).
LARGE MASTER BEDROOM (18×15): Tall vaulted ceiling, private backyard door, tile flooring, 2 huge walk-in closets (4X6 & 9X7).
MASTER BATH: His and her vanity, private toilet and shower/tub.
2nd/3rd BEDROOMS (11×15 & 11×12): Good carpet, natural lighting with multiple windows.
2nd BATH (11×6): Upstairs, vinyl floor, tub/shower combo.
HALF BATH: Downstairs just off living area.
PATIO: Large covered area.
GARAGE (20×21): 2 car attached with shelving and storage area.
ATTIC: Drop-stair, garage entry.
UTILITY ROOM (6.5X11): Area for washer/dryer. Closet for water heater.
BACKYARD: Fenced with cement apron, basketball goal with half-court (18×32), small out building, fenced garden area with 3 beds.
OTHER AMENITIES: Dual HVAC Systems w/Heat Pumps, Central AC, Central Heating, Security System, Tile Floors downstairs, Carpet upstairs, Ceiling Fans throughout, Built-in Appliances (Range/Oven. Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave), large mature trees.

The Sound of Music

This video was made in the Antwerp, Belgium Central Station (train) on March 23, 2009. It was a Monday morning and with no warning to the passengers passing through the station, a recording of Julie Andrews comes on the public address system singing “Do, Re, Mi.” As the bemused passengers watch in amazement, some 200 dancers begin to appear from the crowd and station entrances.

This was created with just 2 rehearsals. It was a promotional stunt for a Belgian television program that was looking for someone to play the leading role in their musical production of "The Sound of Music". You can see how the crowd reacts. Amazement. As well it should be. Life would be a lot better if this kind of thing happened more often. :)

Ashley & the Talent Show

Ash really wanted to be in the talent show at Midland Christian this year. She kept jumping back and forth on what she wanted to do... sing, play, what song, etc. The night before the show, 90 minutes from rehearsal, she still had not settled on what she was doing. I was concerned, being the stupid perfectionist that I am. So I made her try out for me. Afterwards, I made a small suggestion. She loves doing remixes on Acid (the program, not the drug). Why not do a remix of the song she really wanted to do? Her mind went to work and you can now see Ashley performing Bella's Lullaby from the movie Twilight... techno.

Moving?

It seems the rumor mill is still alive and well. We've not tried to keep this a secret. At the same time, we've not gone out and shouted it from the mountaintop either. That being said, yes, we are seriously considering a move to Lubbock this summer.

I've had several people come up and ask me about it. I suppose it's time to talk more about it. My job with Moyers Sound and Studio 84 is increasing in scope. Studio 84 is in need of someone to manage it. Things are about to take off there, with many plans on the drawing board. Instead of trying to find someone to oversee it all, Wally asked me if I would consider moving to Lubbock and doing it myself.

So, here we go again. This time, it's a good move. We have not sold our house as of yet. That's a big thing. We feel sure that God has something up his proverbial sleeve. I've begun to put together a website to help it sell. If you are interested, you can find it at 3306Dentcrest.com, which is the actual address of our house.

Sherri is applying at several school districts in the area, Lubbock, Frenship & Shallowater. We've made an offer on a house in Shallowater, so it would be very nice to get a job there. We'll see.

If anyone has any suggestions or networking possibilities, please let me know. God seems to be on a roll with this one, and he may want to use you. :)

Pimp my Mac #2

MacHeist is a pretty cool annual offering. Never heard of it? This is year three for the event. It's gotten progressively bigger every year.

The MacHeist people conduct an online spy game, leaving clues on servers all over the world. It's very detailed, so much so that I've never really gotten involved in the game itself.

The cool thing is, they bundle together a ton of software as the reward for being involved. I signed in this year as a player and basically observed the contest. Doing so allowed me access to free software as the game progressed.

At the end, they offer a great bundle of software to anyone who wants it, player or not, for a ridiculously low price. A large percentage of the money goes to charity. It a great way for software developers to get their product into your hands.

This year, the total retail value of the bundle is $950.70 and they are selling it for only $39. Ridiculous. And it's good stuff too. I highly recommend it. There are a couple of programs in the bundle that are easily worth $39 alone.

Here is a link to the bundle. Check it out. And no, this is not an April Fool's joke.

http://www.macheist.com/bundle/u/39573/

Tulsa Snow & Sound Ministry

I've spent the past three days in Tulsa at the Workshop. It's been six years or so since I've had a chance to be here. The event is much smaller than it was even a few years ago. It was still quite effective, I believe, even though it was smaller in size. At least, it was for us. Moyers Sound had a booth at the event and we made some wonderful contacts. My in-laws were also exhibitors at the event. You can see them here at their booth for New Mexico Christian Children's Home.

We had a significant weather event as well. I've been to the Tulsa Workshop at least 15 times before and experienced all kinds of weather. This is the first time I've seen it snow like this. We had 7 inches in about as many hours. The picture below was at about the three inch level. Pulling a trailer was a lot of fun in this weather.

I am amazed at the things God can do when you make yourself available. We came to Tulsa to let people know that I was now involved with Moyers Sound and, hopefully, make some inroads into churches needing system upgrades or new installs. Some of that happened, but much more took place in another area entirely.

Wally, my cousin and the "Moyers" behind Moyers Sound, has always had a dream to do more with Moyers Sound than install AVL systems in churches. One of the common questions we hear after a new install is, "What do we do with the old stuff?" Often, the old system will be relegated to a closet or sold on eBay with shipping costing more than the price it was sold for.

Wally and LaTronda formed a non-profit organization called Wings Point. Wings Point has several purposes, one of which provides an solution to the problem of perfectly good sound systems going to waste.

A system that may be 20-30 years old and "outdated" may be perfectly suitable for an inner-city church that has nothing... or a church in a third world country with less than nothing (is that possible?). Over the past few days, God made it possible for us to connect with several ministries located all over the world... South America, East Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Till now, our dream of distributing used systems to needy 3rd world churches has been hampered by two things: 1). a good system to identify deserving churches, and 2). a way to deliver them. God has provided an answer to both this week.

Lord willing, we will be delivering our first two sound systems to churches in Nicaragua this coming June. From there, who knows? At this point, the world is open to us. We just pray that God will bless this effort.

More to come...

The Simple Life

This past week was a both a breath of fresh air and an exhausting experience.

My mother's family is from central Missouri, the little hamlet of Middle Grove, about 30 miles north of Columbia. Her only sister, Margaret, is at home in hospice care after a long fight with cancer. We used the spring break from school as a chance for my family to reconnect with her and several other aging family members in Missouri.

The exhausting experience comes from the fact that the family no longer lives in Middle Grove. They've spread out in a 45 mile radius from Centralia to Mexico to Paris to Moberly. So instead of driving 2 miles to see the next relative, we drove about 50 miles a day after a 900 mile trip there. Then a 900 mile trip back. We are plum exhausted.

At the same time, what I experienced was refreshing as well. Certainly the family renewal was part of it, but we left Missouri with a new appreciation of the country lifestyle. The majority of my Missouri relatives are seemingly isolated from the changes of the world and the culture around them. They see the news and are aware of the issues, but they don't seem to be touched by it. Certainly not all of them fall into this category, and some of those who do have felt the effects at times (my uncle lost his farm because of the Nixon beef policy). But on the whole, they seem to be set apart from the entire thing.

We spent part of a day riding through Amish farm country. We shopped (and spent too much) in an Amish store. After leaving the Amish region and heading back into "normal society"... well, things didn't feel too different.

They still live in the same homes. The homes themselves haven't changed in 30 years. In some cases, it seems like the same dog is still in the barnyard. It's sort of an eerie experience, overall.

Don't take that as an insult. Remember, I said it was refreshing. They seem to have a better grasp on the biblical idea of taking one day at a time. Little worry and less rush. Get up, feed the cattle, work in the field, eat supper, sit around telling stories, go to bed. Sleep in the same bed your grandfather built. Next day repeat same.

There's a sense of peacefulness and continuity that we miss in our rush-toward-tomorrow society. Some of them may read this and laugh, wondering what old crazy Gary is talking about now. That's okay. I've always been a little off. I hope that's because I've got some Missouri roots in me. It sure felt like home to me.

Mutant Potato Two-Toed Tater

My son is in need of some extra cash and he's learned about capitalism. So he's asked me to sell this potato for him on Ebay. Here goes.

This truly unique potato is one of a kind. It's a special spud. A two-toed tater. You can't find a Murphy like this inside of Idaho or outside of Ireland. This one potato will feed at least one and a half people easily. This is one spud you don't want to miss. Bid now and bid high!

If that doesn't move you...

IT'S A MUTANT POTATO! Discovered in the south of New Mexico near White Sands, this potato grew from a small root into a two-headed terror. Nothing in Roswell can match it. The entire town of Lovington ran screaming into the night when this potato was unveiled. Buy it now and clear your block of any unsavory types. Simply set the potato on your porch and the let the hideous nature of this tater take it's course.

Or maybe...

For sale! Special lover's potato. This special spud was designed with two in mind. You may have missed Valentine's Day, but this V-shaped potato will bring it all back. Not only is it "V" in nature, but the rounded edges give it the unique properties of a heart. This potato beats for you. Buy it for your love now, or be forever sorry.

Or could it be....

If one were to stand on their head while looking at this picture, one would see that this potato looks very much like a Star Trek insignia. The new Star Trek movie is opening soon. Buy this potato and wear it on your chest with pride. This spud will help you live long and prosper.

My son just said, "I think that's enough, Dad." Please help him learn about the American Way. Buy my son's potato. Please.

If you have a heart and wish to bid on my son's potato and preserve his faith in justice, freedom and the free market system, follow this link to Ebay and bid high. My starving son thanks you. Well, actually he's not starving or he would eat the stupid thing. But he thanks you anyway. (Bidding available through Mar-20-09 17:57:29 PDT)

Moyers Family Riverdance

My daughter always wanted to be in Riverdance. I'm not sure how my son got there though... Happy St. Patrick's Day to ye.

P.S. Since I've posted this, two issues have been raised. 1) Sherri does so much work around here there seem to be 2 of her, thus 2 in the dance, and 2) yes, my son is secure in his manhood.

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Pitch Pipecast: Episode 14 - Acappella's Sneak Preview

I've just posted episode 14 of the Pitch Pipecast with Keith Lancaster. It's a sneak preview of Acappella's new album, Find Your Way. Keith joins us and gives the "behind the scenes" story of the album. Five songs are highlighted as Keith tells the background and reasoning behind the song... and then you get to hear it!

It's a chance to hear a part of the album before it releases. It's a sneak-peak treat you'll find only on the Pitch Pipecast.

You can hear it at PitchpipePro.com or download it directly from this link.

Before and After

A while back, I posted a couple of shots of my son getting a haircut, before vs. after. I thought I might do the same with my house. We had the trees trimmed today.

BEFORE:


AFTER:


WOW! There's a house in there after all.

Fake Phone Mesages

I was reading a blog by Kevin Rose and ran across a fun entry. I thought I'd try it for myself. AT&T Labs Research has a fun text-to-speech site. Enter your own phrase, choose your voice and go to town. I've been having a little too much fun.

Here are a few of the voice mail messages I created. Hope you enjoy...

This is the first one I tried.

Here's a fake iPhone message I borrowed from his site.

I love this voice. Speak loudly.

This is my oops message.

People are always interrupting conversation.

And last but certainly not least, a phrase or two borrowed from my previous life.

Give it a try. I may even bluetooth some of these into my phone and actually use them...

Pitch Pipecast: Episode 13 - Jay Smith

I've just posted the latest edition of my podcast, the Pitch Pipecast. Original AVB member Jay Smith is our guest on this episode of the Pipecast. Jay joined the Acappella Vocal Band at its inception in 1986 and was responsible for the birth of vocal percussion in the group. Though small in stature, he still holds a large place in the history of the group and the memories of his fans and friends.

Wes McKinzie co-hosts this episode with Gary Moyers.

You can get this podcast, as well as the previous 12 episodes, at pitchpipepro.com. Or, you can download the file directly from this link.

Helicopters and Hogs

This past week I had the chance to shoot some aerial HD footage in the Lubbock area. It was a wonderful experience that I plan to do much more of in the future (since it's part of my job). We shot out of a Robinson R-44 helicopter with the door removed.

After covering downtown Lubbock and some of the Buffalo Lakes area, we continued on into the canyons leading toward Post, TX. We flew over a herd of deer and had some fun with them, but the best part was the hog.

We picked up a massive feral hog coming over the back side of a hill in the canyon. We chased it probably half a mile. It was running full tilt trying to get away from this big red bird in the air. I imagine it was about to die of exhaustion by the time we turned off.

The hog did not make it into this compilation video. Sorry. Hope you enjoy it. YouTube does a good job of squishing the video into ugliness, but the original HD is just stunning. Someone needs to build a Statue of Liberty in Lubbock so I can film it. Maybe a 1200 ft. tall Raider Red.

Kiss a Wookie a cappella

Baby Dave's

With my new position at Moyers Sound and Studio84, I am beginning to receive a few job requests that don't fall under our business model (yet). I have just completed a logo for Baby Dave's.

Allan Durham was in need of a logo for his new restaurant opening in Shallowater, TX. He requested the design to be based on a picture of his father, Baby Dave. Their initial idea was to use an animated, cartoon-like mockup. After several attempts it was clear this approach was not the best. The new direction included a "rough sketch" of Baby Dave's face and a font style that suggested the country flavor of the store.



Anyone else need any logo work? I'm enjoying this...

Pitch Pipecast: Episode 12 - Keith Lancaster

The Pipecast is back!

The Pitch Pipecast returns after a year's hiatus with Gary Moyers and co-host Wes McKinzie. Special guest for episode 12 is Keith Lancaster.

Keith joins Gary and Wes to discuss Acafest 2009. They cover the history of the seminar turned festival, the future, the plans for this year and specifically the AVB Reunion Concert.

You can access the podcast homepage at www.pitchpipepro.com.

Or, you can download this episode directly from this link:

Aerial Inauguration

Ever wondered what 2 million people at an inauguration looks like? Try this:



On the far right you see the blue roof of the capitol building. The dark mass in front of it is the crowd out front. As you move down the Mall to the left, you see various other dark masses of people. This shot was taken during the swearing-in ceremony from the GeoEye-1 satellite, 423 miles above the National Mall traveling from north to south at about 17,000 mph.

Pimp my Mac #1

I have pretty much made the switch from PC to Mac. I held on for a while, living in both worlds. This week, I am transferring all my personal files off my PC in my office (bedroom) and sending the PC to my daughter's room. And I'm giving my Toshiba laptop to my son. That leaves me with a Mac Pro and a Macbook Pro.

I have always been a fan of the underdog, doing my best to utilize the really good programs that don't carry the Big Dog names (ala, Adobe, Macroshaft, etc). I figured I might as well share the programs I really like. Thus, Pimp my Mac #1.

It was hard to choose where to begin, but for this entry we start with Pixelmator, an excellent image editor designed for the Mac. And that's one of the first things you notice when you open the program. You think, "Wow... this is so Mac." The architecture of the program is just pretty. It's the kind of thing you find only in the Mac world.

The program is available as a direct download and has a free 30-day trial. Afterward, the costs is only $59 and well worth it. I use Pixelmator 90% of the time, only opening Photoshop when I have to. For seriously advanced editing, Photoshop is still the way to go. But for everyday image editing, which I do a lot of as a web designer, Pixelmator is great.

I won't go into details on the program since the website is very good and provides an in-depth overview. I will say if you are short on bucks and need a good image editor, terminate Photoshop and pick up the Pixelmator. Now read that last sentence again with a Schwarzenegger accent.

By the way, you may ask what I plan to do with the kid's current computers if they are both getting my old ones. Ashley's Dell may get set up somewhere in the house as a backup for my wife. I may have changed to Mac, but she's not going quietly. In the spirit of going with the underdog, as I mentioned earlier, Austin's Dell will soon become a Linux box. Ubuntu awaits.

And he smiles.

Walking on Water

Here is today's entry in my personal journal. I don't often share this kind of thing, but for some reason this one is supposed to be shared. I have copied and pasted directly from my journal.

John 6: 1-24. Jesus feeds the 5000 and walks on water.

I saw something interesting today in this reading that I’ve not noticed before. It may have not been meant as anything important, but I took it as a small encouragement.

Jesus has just fed 5000 people with almost no food. Everyone is astounded and John says that Jesus went into the mountains to hide because he knew they would try to make him king by force. After a while, the disciples get into a boat and take off to the other side, whereupon they experience a storm. Jesus walks on water to them and immediately the boat reaches the other side. Another miracle.

My question is this: why did the disciples leave in the first place? They’ve just experienced an astounding miracle in the feeding of thousands with nothing. They knew where Jesus went. They surely saw him withdraw into the mountains behind them. Why, then, did they get in a boat and head the opposite direction, across the water, from where Jesus went?

I have no answer. All I know is this: when the disciples, who knew better, went the wrong way, Jesus walked on water to go after them. I can only assume that when I do the same, Jesus will come after me. Thank you Lord.