The New Contenders

... for my (dads) money.

It all started when my dear friend Rikipu questioned my choice of desired guitar amplifier. If you were following my previous posts, its the Vox Valvetronix VT30. Since I'm already getting a Line 6 Pod X3 Live, "which is already some super amp modeling thing", I guess there is no point in getting an amp which is essentially, another effects unit with a speaker attached.

Since then, the competition has been thrown wide open. However, me being me, and having the time I do, I could not help but do some "research". Please do keep in mind that I've decided to keep an open mind when it actually comes to making a decision, this is just for the sake of showing the results of the research and what I find interesting, the highlights if you will, at my price range of course, even if its just a tad bit over. You might just realize that I am a very biased Vox man...

Meet this little bugger.

Vox AC4TV

Yup. 4 watts of screaming power. DO NOT BE FOOLED, 4 watts is NOT soft (as you may think). Anyone with a decent knowledge of logarithmic functions: the relationship between power (Watts) and volume (Decibels), is exactly that, a logarithmic function. Without boring the faces out of you (trust me, I can do that), it basically means that at lower Watts, closer to 1, the lesser the power, the more drastically the volume reduces, eg. twice the power can mean 10 times the volume. From Watts 5 and beyond, generally, depending on how you view the changing gradients of the graph (MORE MATHS?!) an increase in power means a less drastic increase in volume, eg. 15 W to 30 w can only mean an increase in 3 db of volume. All in all, this thing can be pretty darn loud.

This amp is all tube, Class A for those "pros" out there. Dear old Rikipu uses one, loves it. its a 4 watt, which means that it will (theoretically) have less "headroom". It can be a downside for me, I'm not the type that overdrives his sound ALL the time, especially when I need the volume out for a gig, this amp is not very gig worthy as far as I'm concerned (take note, I could ALWAYS be wrong), especially when the venue has poor PA equipment or crew (and there are plenty of those, I've been to a few too many already, drums that drown out the rest of the instruments, unbalanced EQ, the whole lot). Although I'm told this makes for the perfect practice amp, so that the neighbors won't start screaming at me. Plus its all tube, you've gotta give it that, natural overdrive is just sweet. From the video clips I've been watching so far, it sounds pretty good, another good mini tube amp to note is the Epiphone Valve Junior, far simpler construction and features, but its sound is very good, especially with the overdrive. Its cheaper too, well under my amp budget, which is superb when you are spending your parents money.

Lets bring in the big boy:

Vox AC30VR

30 WATTS! Definitely gig worthy. Reports say that its a good representation of the real AC30. I can only complain that the annoying VR logo makes it look like, what it is, an imitation. This amplifier is driven by the same technology that drives the VT. They call it the Valve Reactor. A 12AX7 preamp tube is used as a power tube (giving it tube like response), but with only 0.5 Watts or so of power, the actual amplification of the sound is done with solid state technology that "adds no tone coloration to the signal". The result is debatable, if not with a little sense of controversy, you are either with it, or against it, if you're on a fence, you don't know your gear. In my opinion, hybrid amps will never be able to fully emulate the texture of a true tube amp, since this is only emulating the preamp stage of the amp, but it can come very close to the real thing, so for musicians on a budget (*cough*, me), this could be a life saver. For me, I say, why can't we just treat this product as what it is, another amp, with its own character, flaws, pluses, if you like it, buy it, simple.

It seems that the amp has favorable reviews so far, although amp ownership by public is far from adequate to present accurate data. But some have commented on the early breakup of sound (ie. less headroom) at relatively low volumes. The overdrive channel is a bonus for a lot of people seeking versatility in sound, "vintage and modern" sounds can be created. Problem with this amp though, is the volume, if this is anything at all like the real AC30, then this is going to be LOUD (which can be an advantage as well). the 15 watt version (in theory) is not softer by much, so getting the AC15VR will not help with noise, only makes the sound breakup earlier.

The thing with these 2 amps, is that they appeal strongly to my appetite for that Vox sound. In my opinion, these are some of the best amps for they types of sounds I want to create. Sure, there are other amplifiers out there I'm sure, that sound good as well, its just that they seem to only be an expert in the type of sound that I do not need as much. DON'T get me wrong, I would love those sounds, just not as much. For the photoholics, I leave you with this picture of the man, Hendrix, and his Marshalls, carving tone history.


you only live once,
Artking

First

Ok, so, we, humans, competitive, love being first no?
Well, here my readers, is a list of firsts.

Humans are the first:

1. To be powerful or intelligent enough to affect mother nature (to a certain extent based on current technologies)inflicting noticeable change within a life time.

2. To defy mother nature by:
- terminating his/her own life.
- being sexually attracted to the same sex.

3. To create artificial life.

4. To manipulate preexisting life.

5. To choose his/her own ideals.


For all you evolutionists out there, if mother nature did indeed create us, we are a massive failure. Simply because we have evolved too far, as we can defeat and defy mother nature herself. If you are a believer in evolution, the human race is doomed and all forms of life like us, are likewise. A good analogy would be creating robots that have achieved such a high level of intelligence that they become conscience and can fight to rebel against us instead (think I-Robot, Terminator).

I am a Christian, what can I possibly say to counteract all this? Here is a list of firsts for Humans, according to the Christian faith.

Humans are the first:

1. To be able to be rescued from the penalty of sin, death through the perfect sacrifice that is Jesus Christ.

Yup, that's it.

The beautiful part of this is that even though, God died for us, he loves us enough to allow us the choice, of following him or not. That is what your prayer, your asking of God, to come into your life is for.

you only live once,
Artking.

Patterns of Emotions

As some of you may know, I seem to have this ability to predict what you are going to say. If you didn't then there you go. It does have limitations though, it does not work well on people I don't know (I can only narrow down the possible outcomes, not accurate enough to pinpoint exact actions or words, but enough to predict the most likely ones), and predicting exact words really is a matter of luck. I realized why I can "predict" human behavior. Humans of all things in nature, are predictable, unlike your everyday horse or bee, humans are a tad bit more complicated, but still, predictable.

Detour:

There seems to be this mathematical phenomena discovered by Leonardo DaVinci (yes, that Mona Lisa guy) called the Golden Ratio which pretty much maps out everything in nature mathematically. Of course, that's not ENTIRELY the case, because if it was, the "mathematically beautiful" would look more like Angelina Jolie instead of a random hobo, in fact that's what a study discovered, Mr. Leo isn't always correct. But his idea of an overall pattern in nature is still applicable, generally, not precise-to-the-dot accurate but hey...

Back to topic, this habit of mine, of saying what you are going to say before you say it. Its second nature for me to create this formula in my head (think of it as a mathematical function all you mathematicians eg. f(x)=...) , and factor in your personality and hey presto, I have a prediction. Sounds easy, in reality it is a lot more complicated and abstract than that, but i'm used to it. Now that I have the results, all I need to decide now is whether to say it or not, which could influence the mutual relationship between you, people around us, and me. I could also give myself away, allowing you to do similar judgments on me, which naturally, I wouldn't want (or would I? see this is the Great Paradox of Artking if you will, you will always need to see both sides of the coin to see if its two faced, or two tailed, or normal, either of which is possible, and even then it would be hard for you to know my motives).

Recently, I realized that the reason why my predictions aren't 100% (or close to) accurate is because i base my data on emotions, not so much the intellectual or rational part of the brain. I realized that all along I was actually "feeling" what people feel, kinda creepy I know.

I set myself this challenge, because I find that constantly doing this thing I do doesn't really help me or you or anyone else. If anything it makes my head want to blow, WAY too much information is being processed. I'd like to be a "victim" for once, helpless to the actions of the world around me. Often it feels so lonely, being myself, as all other people do, I want to try, just for once, to "fit it", destroying my "individuality" in the process. Well of course you would wonder, would I have hypothesized what I would feel during this self set challenge? well, I leave you to answer that question, a paradox in itself. Didn't I stand for individuality? Didn't I say that people are born who they are, unique in the eye of God? Well, all I can say is, frankly I don't care anymore. I'm tired of living an entire life within a few seconds, tired of experiencing things that should be beyond my physical self.

You could say I "know" what is about to happen to myself, then why would I do it anyway? Perhaps, perhaps to know and to experience are two separate phenomena of the human mind. Its funny how you can "know" the future and live through it at the same time, something like Dr. Manhattan, maybe I know what he feels like now (I do believe that he is fictional, its just something to stimulate the Watchmen readers out there reading this blog).

you only live once,
Artking

Dear diary,

Indeed this is another one of my English homework tasks, that I think is good enough to be posted here. The task is to write a diary entry to investigate the use of various language techniques. Dear Nexas, I am not suicidal.


Dear diary,

Will this be the last time I’ll write in you from the “comfort” of my room? The last entry written on my bed, somewhere in this inner-city suburb? As much as the cold hard street below stinks, it is 10 times worse in here, trust me.

I can hear my father, just beyond my closed room door, shouting at mom. World's most convincing drama if you ask me, I get a dose of it pretty much everyday, or at least when the dadium and momium particles collide. As if that’s gonna solve their problems. It’s funny how simple things like money and lipstick can tear apart the two people who made me.

There were nights when I cried like the kid I was, the quit sob I cried trying not to give in to “weakness” when I fell and grazed my knees, and I thought that was painful. Some nights I distracted myself with studies and stuff that other teens do, anything other than my parents. But tonight is different. I feel like I’ve been crushed in the debris of a collapsed building, but I’m not aware of the pain I’m supposed to be in, because I’m about to leave this world, and everything around me is fading into a bright light. I think I’ve earned this numbness, after all this bullcrap I’ve been through.

I feel this calling, a strong desire, almost a longing, all my life, to run away, escape this hell hole, before everything turns apeshit, with me in the middle of it all. Nothing has hurt me more than this, and nothing will. I cannot possibly be selfish in this decision. If anyone, they should be the ones mature enough to sort this out, bloody hypocrites. I’ve waited long enough, no more tomorrows. It should be easier for them when I’m gone. No longer will I be around to piss them off, “...what do we do with the lil-shit?” I’ll be on the streets somewhere, looking for something, or someone, somehow...

you only live once,
Artking

Down and Never Up

This a piece of homework I did for English as part of poetic studies. It was originally meant to be four lines of poetry, but I decided to finish what I started. The point of the task is to investigate the effect of poetic techniques and their applications in poetry as well as how feelings can be communicated indirectly. I did not get the chance to present my poem due to time constraints but here it is anyway. In case you are wondering, I am not psychotic.

My heart is chained to a mountain,
A burden too heavy to carry.
My heart is bound by the stem of a rose,
Piercing with every heartbeat.

Rid me of these memories,
These hideous acts of crime.

Should I run?
Should I hide?
Either way,
The demons will hunt me down,
I am never alone.


you only live once,
Artking.

Materialism

Over these few years, my musical taste has been through an incredible journey of both highs and lows. My taste in guitars has also evolved since then. Here is a list of guitars in my guitars wish-list as of 6.00 p.m., June 13th, 2010. (it is in order of most desired to least desired, from top to bottom)

Burny (Super Grade) Les Paul - almost a must in my collection, and I may be able to get one at the end of this year, from a friend of mine. Made in Japan with hand wound VH-1 pickups (only those made from 1975 - 1977), these are one of the best replicas of the original Gibson PAFs to date. The VH-1s are only available on the neck pickup of my friends guitar however, his bridge pickup is a Gibson 490, even better. The Gibson 490 is featured on Jimmy Pages Gibson EDS-1275 double neck guitar which he used to play Stairway to Heaven live, as well as several other Gibson guitars.

Gibson EDS-1275

Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster (Left-Handed) - call me a wannabe, I am one. Yes I play right handed, although I'm left handed, but I want a left handed Stratocaster so that I can play it like Jimi Hendrix did. Not for show if that's what you think i'm trying to do, for sound. The slanted bridge pickup on the Stratocaster was originally designed to highlight the highs of the high E string and make the lows on the low E sound mellow. This is because the closer your pickup is to the bridge, the more of the treble you will pickup (I call it twangy-ness, because that's what it is). When Jimi Hendrix played his Stratocaster the other way round (because there were next to none left handed Stratocasters available during the time) he accidentally created this new sound when his strings were restrung. The low E string, because bright sounding and the high E because mellow, thus the famous Hendrix sound. So although I play right handed guitar (despite being a left handed person), I would love to get a Stratocaster and play it just like the master did, inverted. Also, I have this bias toward maple fretboards, the warmness of the rosewood versions do not suit stratocaster sounds very well, although there are exceptions where it works very well indeed.

Fender Left-handed Stratocaster

Duesenberg Starplayer TV - a semi-hollow electric guitar made by the Duesenberg company which oddly enough used to make cars. This guitar has a P90 on the neck and a vintage humbucker on the bridge. The floating tremelo is a favorite of many artists including Nigel Hendroff of Hillsong. It looks like a Gibson, plays like a Fender, and sounds like a Grestch, perfect combination.

Duesenberg Starplayer TV

Epiphone Les Paul Custom - nothing too fancy about this guitar, however, it is a relatively cheap quality instrument I intend to upgrade. If I could, I would distress the finish, change the neck pickup to a p90 and put a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover at the bridge.

Gibson SG Standard - two humbuckers, 22 frets, one great body. That's all I need to say about this.

Ibanez JEM 7V - Steve Vai's signature guitar, 24 frets, tone that cries goodness, food for my progressive rock soul.

Ibanez JEM 7V

Danelectro 59' Original - cheap plywood body, two telecaster pickups, ideal for the beginner or the professional. I will not need a fancy Fender for a telecaster sound, this will do just fine.

Eastwood Airline 59' Custom 3P - Any good fan of The White Stripes would be craving for one of these Eastwood guitars. The model that Jack White uses (or used) is a 2P, slightly different, but in the spirit of 'originality', why not?

Fender Road Worn Mexican Stratocaster - maple fretboard please! and this time I will play it right the way round. A friend of mine gave this guitar a really good review and I'm hoping to get my hands on one. I have tried a Mexican Standard Stratocaster which is miles cheaper than the normal American ones, but you get what you pay for. The workmanship on that guitar is acceptable, and the sound is reasonable, but not as full or vibrant as the American version.

Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special - Super Stratocaster type guitar, used by Lincoln Brewster when he was in the Steve Morse Band. I plan to replace all the pickups to create a Yngwie Malmsteem/ Lincoln Brewster hybrid. The single coils will be replaced by Seymour Duncan STK-S10 YJM Fury pickups, and the humbucker at the bridge will be a P90.

Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special

you only live once,
Artking.

Influence

Music is a vital part of me as most of you would know. Music takes me to another world, another place. Music puts me in a trance quite literally, when its just me and my Ipod. Its quite hard to describe what I experience but I'll try my best here. Turn on Windows Media Player and put the visualizers on, that would be similar to what I see. In addition, I feel the music as well, weird and hard to grasp, but that is what I experience. Sometimes, I'm put in the shoes of the persona of the song. Sometimes I feel the emotions that inspired the song. Occasionally, I write songs in my sleep, or between my state of awake and asleep, when I'm 'drifting off'. I don't have a format, the music just flows out of my head, but as soon as I wake up, trying to scribble something meaningful from that dream/hallucination (or whatever you call it) and find that I don't remember anything but the feeling that I felt creating that melody.I am known for my wide and diverse musical taste, although I focus mostly and rock, I appreciate every other genre of music. I listen to material from blues, to contemporary, metal, progressive rock, sometimes even classical music.
Here is a list of some of the most inspiring and influential people of music that drive and inspire perseverance in my musical journey.

Mike Shinoda - a rapper and song writer who embodies meaning into his work, he (and his band Linkin Park) is one of the first to drag me out of the dark and exposed me to a whole new world of music.

Ray Taro - guitarist of My Chemical Romance.Matt Bellamy - of Muse. Incredible musical talent, and a unique voice.
Steve Vai - solo artist, guitar virtuoso. The elite of the guitar world, awe inspiring level of skill, musical knowledge and creative ability. His music made me realize that there was more to the melody than most people realize. How beats and tunes can evoke emotions of translate into emotions and feelings. I realized that music did not necessarily need lyrics to work, it is good as it is.

Steve Vai

Joe Satriani - Steve Vai's guitar teacher. Similar genre.

Jimmy Page - the one, the only, guitarist of Led Zeppelin. Pioneer of the blues rock genre and started musics movement towards metal.

Lincoln Brewster - strat wielding worship leader who plays a variety of guitars but is best known for playing his Fender Custom Shop Heavy Relic Road Worn 57' Stratocaster. He is one of the few who insist on using Multi-effects units to create his sound.

Lincoln Brewster : Today is the Day Album Cover

Eric Clapton - Rolling Stones #4 Best Guitarist of All Time. His softer and more delicate approach to rock adds a classy feeling to his sound, inspiring many including guitarist John Mayer.

John Mayer - a fusion of modern pop tunes and blues. Few have the skill and talent to produce work that is at par with his.

John Mayer

Jimi Hendrix - Rolling Stones #1 Best Guitarist of All Time, possibly the most influential guitarist of all time. His goal as a performer was to maker the audience feel the same thing he feels when he plays his music. He wanted to play the guitar so badly that he made one for himself with some string and a broom stick. He challenged the way many think of musicians as performers, and musicians as people of music.

Gary Moore - impeccable blues technique and soulful melodies. A tone to die for (figuratively speaking).

The Edge - introduces a different approach to creating his sound. Heavy effects instead of heavy distortion. His style and influence can be heard in many modern christian bands and churches.

Jack White - experimental and persistent. Creative in his approach to music, taking the seemingly impossible and conquering it.

Jack White's Eastwood Airline Guitar, made of plastic.

you only live once,
Artking.

Sun, Earth and Hair

First, the Earth is flat. Then it is round. Flat again. Round again. In the end? Round off course.

Ever since Ptolemy proposed that the Earth was the center of the Universe (Geocentric model) , Christian and Jewish astronomers alike could not part from that view, simple because we were created by the Almighty, right? It just seemed so right, it had to be! We are the special ones! The important ones! The center of attention! We were made in the IMAGE OF GOD!!

It did take time for someone with enough brains and guts to tell all these people that they were wrong. The sun, not the Earth, is the center of a Solar System (Heliocentric model). Man, did those people get into trouble or what! Further revelations showed that the Solar System is in fact a minority in the major event, the Milky Way. But that's not the whole story, billions upon billions of galaxies, all shapes, sizes, temperatures, compositions, etc. in the known universe, thousands of light years apart. The universe sure is a big place. Life on this blue globe seems so insignificant, like a grain, upon a grain, upon a grain, upon a grain, upon a grain of sand. Microscopic in the whole play of events.

With this big light show going on out there, are we too insignificant for God? No! The Bible says that our very hairs are numbered, meaning that even the very strands of hair on your head are numbered by God, a testament to his attention to the details of your life. God created the beauty of space to show us his power, that what he can do and what we can do are worlds apart. He created the galaxies to show us how small we really are. But, he is here with everyone of you, despite how small you are. No matter how small or how complex your situation, He is here with everyone of you, individually, personally, ready to help. You may not be the center of the Universe, but you are, the center of His world. As proof, there is the Cross, the seemingly unimportant event in history, about 2000 years ago. God almighty has appeared to us, fully God, fully man (if you are confused about this, don't worry, nobody can get it, because no one can), accepted death on the cross despite multiple opportunities for him to give up. God has lived through a human life, he knows your struggles because he has experienced them personally. We have been given the opportunity of a life time, because of his death and resurrection, because death has died with him and he came back to bring us life, all we need to do is ask, nothing fancy, not rituals, just ask. "Dear Jesus, I want to accept you as my personal Lord and Savior, from this day on my life is yours, may your Holy Spirit live in me." Its done! Welcome to your new life in Christ.

you only live once,
Artking

Concept

The beast is lurking,
beneath the deepest oceans,
the highest mountains,
the thickest forests.

The slumbering beast will be awaken,
its mask removed,
its true face revealed,
its voice heard crystal clear.

The day will come.
The day is near,
I know it!

Its limbs will fail
But its sight will sharpen,
to see its guts spilled before the Earth.
Its flesh feasted upon by the vultures of death.

Meet the nation built on the stilts of lies,
founded on the sand of deception,
surrounded by walls of hypocrisy,
topped with a roof of lust.

Meet the nation of first world infrastructure,
sculptured by the blood of third world swines.

In this world, there are no heroes,
because none can be.
So save your Hollywood fantasies for the Afterlife.

What Good?

What good is a flame that dies on a match?
What good is ice that melts in the sun?
What good is rain that falls on the seas?
What good is a seed in desert sand?
A flightless eagle?
A fish out of water?
A claw-less lion?
Airless earth?
What good is the shed blood, the broken flesh?
If the blind see not the light;
If the deaf hear not the news;
If the mute praise not His name?

God Only Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Someone said that to me when i was a really young kid, young and naive I must add. Whoever it is wanted me to do extremely well in my exams, I said I would pray, but "God only helps those who help themselves", as if I did not study...

Does God really do that? How can you say that a God who healed the blind, cured the lame, rose Lazarus dead, only helps you if you help yourself. It represents a view that is incredibly self centered, or rather, the "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul" and "I am the Sun, God is a planet" perspective of life.

Did Lazarus try to undo his burial wrappings when he realized that he was dead? There was nothing Lazarus or the people in mourning could have done, yet God helped him.

So, should we just kick back and relax, let the exam papers write themselves? Absolutely not. God promised miracles, for those in need. Sitting for an exam is a privilege, you are not needy. Besides, he gave you the One miracle you absolutely needed. All you needed to do was ask, and you received, simple. God also promised that he would not allow burdens on you that are heavier than what you can handle. Therefore, seek first his wisdom and guidance, praying in faith, then encounter the challenges of your life with his full blessing.

Remember that God is not "watching from a distance", he is right here, right now. He should be the center of your life and you should be a planet, simply because he is bigger and stronger. Not that I'm discouraging you, life is no Hollywood film, no special effects, the blood, the sweat, the tears are all real. This broken world is too much for you, the more you fight it the more you'll fall, he is your only solution.

you only live once,
Artking

The Theory of the Universal Language

Language, something we use to communicate as a social species.

Man has been able to count almost since he was able to talk. Anything from rough estimations value when barter trading, to counting the sticks on the ground, counting is an incredibly abstract task which is not easily performed. The number four for example, you can't touch it, it is not a physical object, you can't hear it, nor can you see it, you can however associate it with a quantity of physical objects present in front you.

Over time, mathematicians began to experiment with the numbers, resulting in a colossal library of relationships between multitudes of abstracts. Algebra, Pythagoras's Theorem, Calculus, Trigonometry, Pie... the list goes on. Its application in Physics in particular, Chemistry and all the other classes of science its vital to their reasoning and logic. Logic may very well be determined by the numbers, numbers may very well determine our logic. The finite, the comprehendable.

Generally, maths and science work hand in hand, a splendid combination. However, why the errors? The unexplained? The unpredictable? Black-holes for example, a distortion of the space-time continuum, The big-bang, the theory that some say started with a "super-atom, infinitely small, infinitely energetic", how all of this ties with the enormity of the universe, yet, the universe is still expanding? How small is infinitely small? Are we still infinitely small? How much energy can there be? Dark matter? Anti-matter? Are we a dimension within a dimension within a dimension existing within our own dimension? ERR0RS!

Scientists believe that mathematics is the language of the Universe, explaining the logic and the predictable, attempting to calm the storm of unpredictability, even with irrational values. So much so, Pythagoras's Theorem is a communication tool to identify us with the Alien.

What I propose is entirely out of most of your paradigms, something so ridiculous, you probably never wanted to consider, as all of mankind is afraid of weakness, afraid to admit he is wrong.

An analogy I would use to explain this idea, ironically enough, is something from Maths, as I am a student of Science and Maths. Have you ever done questions in an examination that are so long, you needed a whole page to solve it? Those of you doing Mathematics in your Senior years in High School or University should understand this. Now imagine if you had made a silly mistake early on in the question, say if 3+7 equaled 12 instead of 10. The whole working out, the answer you finally achieved, all done in vain, its wrong! The error carries forward and affects your subsequent solution. (Thank God for c.f.m.). Yet sometimes, if another mistake is made along the way, which then puts the correct value back into the working, then the correct answer can be achieved even though the working was wrong. Lets say if i was to substitute the 12 into a formula, but wrote 10 in by accident, the answer will still be correct, but somewhere up there was the mistake.

Assume mankind made that first mistake, if 3+7 equaled 12. If mathematics was not the language of the Universe, the key to its secrets, the definition of logic. HEADACHE! No! It can't be! It all makes SO MUCH SENSE! Assume that man made another mistake by placing 10 in the formula instead of 12, the working out was wrong although a similar result is obtained. Mathematics explains many phenomenons in the world, but not ALL.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce the weakness of mankind. He can comprehend the theory of evolution, of the big-bang, of millions of years of time passing with nothing,. He filters out the lies and only listens to the bits he wants, what he considers the truth. But he cannot comprehend that a God made him in his own image, of something beyond infinity, of existence without space or time. Here is his weakness. The singles paradigmatic mind. The limited. How a universe so big is small to a God bigger still, who breath it into existence, just as it is. How a God so big, cared for man so small, counted his every hair and died for him.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to so introduce to you, mankind. As long as he dwells in his earthly thoughts and presumptions and assumptions of the world, he will be nothing more than the earth that made him be.

you only live once,
Artking

Curse

I started school on the 28th of January, and today is the 25th of February. I believe having my maths teacher as my maths teacher is both a curse and a blessing.

A blessing? I believe I am doing better this year than I was doing last year.

A curse? View the picture below for an idea.


A close up on my maths workbook. the pages on left are the pages used, and the pages on the right are those not used. Its a 160 page book and I predict it will only last me until mid-late March. The work load is UNBELIEVABLE. I have since dedicated all if not most of my recess and lunch times to maths work whilst working on my other assignments at home.

you only live once,
Artking

My Own

A friend once asked me, if I was so desperate for an electric guitar, would I trade my existing acoustic in for an electric? Hell no.

Meet Lindele. Lin-the-what?. Lindele, Elvish for music. She's my my second acoustic guitar, the first being an old nylon stringed guitar with a ply wood top my uncle gave me. I affectionately called it Racfea, Elvish for broken soul.

Unfortunately I can't find a picture of it here but I have one uploaded on my Facebook page. If you could see the picture of that guitar you would know why I called it Racfea. It is about 20 years old, those of you guitar experts will know what happens to a plywood top after over 20 year without unstringing. Tension pulled the bridge away along with the top, my uncle used a combination of super glue and tape to put it back together, not the greatest thing to play but she served me well for about a month and was surprisingly still intact. She required tuning every time I played her so I got into the habit of playing an out of tune guitar, which gave a different feel to precisely tuned guitars. Call it unpredictability, it was fun. Even now I would intentionally "untune" my guitar slightly to achieve that "unusual" tone, part and parcel of experimenting.

Lindele, my first truly intimate experience with my music. I got her at Carlingford Music Centre for $580 including an Ashton hard case and strap plus complimentary picks. I later got an Ashton stand for $26 at the same place. Lindele is a Cort MR-100 with solid cedar top, mahogany sides, back and neck, rosewood fretboard, and Fishman pickups. Shes not very bright sounding and leans more toward the mellow sounding acoustics, great for blues. She has a single cutaway which allows me to play with the higher registers and a big body for big sound. Her neck is one of the most comfortable necks I have played. Despite being crafted in China, the quality of this instrument is surprisingly good and I compliment Cort on this excellent job, definitely more than worth its price.

It has been approximately a year and five months of guitar playing now, I have extensively used some of my friend's guitars while I was trying to get one for myself and will never forget how generous he was. He also thought me the basics and the fundamentals of guitar playing. Thank you Bobby! I will also not forget Kelvin who launched me further along my journey. As for my guitars, they are the only way I was able to reach where I am today.

you only live once,
Artking

Electric Dreams

I've been praying for an electric guitar for ages now. If only there was a breakthrough in our financial situation and my dad can finally buy a house.

I'm a huge (and I mean HUGE) fan of electric guitars. I believe all guitars are individual and have their unique sound. Nothing excites me more than the sound of an electric guitar.

I can be quite a fussy pot to satisfy when it comes to sound as well as price. So far, I've been blessed enough to be able to try a few Stratocasters, Les Pauls, Super Strats etc. I'm looking (hoping rather) for something that's reasonably cheap first of all, something with good sustain, a comfy and not too fat neck, and something that's good for blues. My favorites include Epiphone Les Paul (Standard of Custom makes not difference), Burny's Les Paul, and the Fender Mexican Stratocasters. None of them are feel perfect but I think the Burny's best fits the bill. However, Burny's is a hard to find brand and I do not foresee myself flying all the way to Japan just to get one.

As for amplifiers, my eyes are fixed on the Vox VT 30. It is a bloody good amp, even for the price. It offers all the amp models I need and will ever use.

Effects? Its either a POD X3 LIVE or a stomp boxes. The POD has good amp mods but already the Vox amp can do the trick, other than that, the effects are pretty normal. Individual stomp boxes on the other hand are very expensive, but you get what pay for and quality is pretty much assured.



you only live once,
Artking

In My Head

Have you ever heard a tune, and it just sticks in your head for the rest of the day?
It happens a lot to me. A LOT. Anything from a catchy song to the ring of my alarm clock (its rare but does happen, it normally is a catchy song). I can't help but think if I'm borderline Schizophrenic.

Sometimes, I have these moments of inspiration, I hear a song (or a part of it) in my head, or a tune, or come up with a lyric. As soon as i get to my guitar its gone... how depressing. I have heard beautiful melodies just as I'm drifting of to dreamland or come up with something meaningful I could add to my drafts in the shower and experience the momentary euphoria that is oh so hard to find; a melody that speaks from my soul. I once heard a full song play while I was sleeping and I swear it was not of this earth, not anything anyone has come up with yet. When i woke the next day, all I could remember the feeling of listening to that song - beyond euphoric. In fact that's all I remember anytime I forget the music i came up with, the emotion it created, or rather, the emotion that created it.

It isn't easy to come by these experiences. Maybe I should just savor those moments as they come? The more I pursue them the more I think its futile.

However all is not lost, I have managed to gather a tiny collection of melodies and portions of lyrics (those that I manage to recall or get to my guitar, pen and paper in time). I am currently experimenting with it and hope to accomplish something meaningful in my musical life.

you only live once,
Artking

Meet the Flesh

I'm either a genius or a maniac, some people might say. I think I don't need people in my life but my life is nothing without people. I am on a mission. I am on a journey.

I am a philosopher and a blabber. I am a scientist. I am a man governed by believes and self formulated values. I am a man of relationships and not religion. I believe in purpose and meaning. I believe in knowledge. I believe that I'm not invincible, yet I'm not impossible. I ponder on the rational and irrational, the logical and the insanely wrong. I am a man of answers and even more questions. I wonder about "facts" and hope that the truth can shine through.

My strength is drawn from the Word, the Blood, the Love. By His strides my wounds are healed. I seek faith that walks me on water, love to fight injustice. I have a hope in my Savior.

Music is my language, and the guitar is my dialect. Music is a God made channel for man to expresses what words can't. It is beauty that only the ears can see.

The Word is sustenance for the soul, food is sustenance for the flesh. My dedication to it has contributed to my size and I can only wish to go back in time and remake some decisions. Nonetheless, I love food for the wonder that it is.

I game not for any cause, just for fun. To me games are an art form and playing them is a skill only the select can master.

You have just met the flesh, let's see if you'll get to witness whats beyond that in my posts to come...

you only live once,
Artking