Sixth Sense Technology
Mar.09.2010
One the speakers at the conference today made reference to a couple of interesting video clips including this one about the Sixth Sense Technology Project.
As a photographer, I thought his digital camera was “unique”.
Baltimore
Mar.08.2010
I am attending a conference in Baltimore over the next few days and then off to the Great Smoky Mountains for a week’s vacation. First time ever in Baltimore. It took about 8 hours to make the drive down from Kingston. Beautiful day for driving although the tinnitus was really going full bore. Funny how certain environments magnify the effect of this ringing in the head. The condition has been gradually improving but not today. I arrived at the hotel feeling very unwell. Tinnitus can take its toll.
Getting out and walking around the hotel helped a lot. And it will be an early night for me tonight. The sessions start at 7am tomorrow and run to about 6pm. A good rest is definitely in order.
I had my point and shoot camera with me as I walked around the hotel. A few shots of the hotel and the harbor. Baltimore looks like a great city.
More Keys Please
Mar.06.2010
New keyboard player joined the band. Unfortunately, he is a little light on equipment. Specifically, he has no laptop to drive his rig. Click on the photo for a full size view.
Youth Diversion
Mar.04.2010
The past few days have been challenging ones for our family. Without going into specifics, our son is doing fine and the aggressor has submitted to the Youth Diversion Program.
You can learn more about this organization here. From their website:
The Youth Diversion Program is a charitable organization which has offered service to youth in the Kingston area since 1974. The goals of the organization are to allow youth to take responsibility for their behaviour, to reduce the number of youth involved in the young offender system, to reduce the number of people victimized by youth in our community, and, to involve the community in youth corrections.
The Program offers two young offender services which hold youth accountable for their actions, by giving them the opportunity to make amends to their community. The Youth Court Committee meets with first time minor offenders, their parents and victims to mediate an appropriate response to the crime. By participating, the youth does not go through the formal Youth Court System.
Hopefully this will help turn a young life around. We will be heading out of town for the next few weeks for a much needed break as a family. Blogging might be even more erratic during that time.
First Email Today
Mar.02.2010
First email of the day today was from my youngest son:
Matthew Cleaver to Richard
Happy Birthday Daddy-O!
He is such an awesome son. Unfortunately, he had to be rushed to the hospital later in the day. He is on his way home now and doing fine.
One never knows how a day will turn out.
Leave No Doubt
Mar.02.2010
A friend passed this along to me at work. A powerful message.
In the world of sports, it’s not uncommon for athletes or teams to focus on a phrase or a few key words that drive them to perform their best. For the Canadian men’s hockey team, those words were: Leave no doubt.
Team Canada had plenty of motivation to win Olympic gold Sunday in front of a hockey-mad host nation in Vancouver, but just in case they needed some extra inspiration, they found it on the wall of their dressing room at Canada Hockey Place.
Below is the English version of the credo that adorned the wall. It was written by Canadian head coach Mike Babcock with help from a friend from their Saskatoon days, Rick Larsen. He runs the Chicago advertising firm Leo Burnett.
* LEAVE NO DOUBT
* That this is our game.
* That this is our time.
* That 14 days in February will be 2 weeks for the ages.
* That every day counts.
* That every meeting matters.
* That every practice makes a difference.
* That each one of us will rise to every occasion.
* That this isn’t about us, it’s about our country.
* That we know 33 million Canadians will attend every game.
* That home ice is an advantage.
* That nothing can distract us.
* That nothing will stop us.
* That our determination will define us.
* That we are built to win.
* That we are a team of character.
* That we are a team of destiny.
* So let the world be warned on February 28, 2010, we will …
* LEAVE NO DOUBT
Swart Amplifiers
Mar.01.2010
I was trading a few stories about tracking guitars in the studio with George Seara when I was working on a project with him a few months back. He had mentioned to me that some of the producers he is working with are totally sold on the Atomic Space Tone amps. Manufactured by Swart Amplifiers, the amps are intended for studio or bedroom use. Although a new model, the AST PRO, is designed for the gigging musician.
A very novel approach to design, the amps have a decidedly vintage look. The only dealer in Canada near me is Boutique Tone in Montreal. Perhaps I will take a drive down over the next few months and check out one of these amps.
Tinnitus Update
Mar.01.2010
I received a lot of emails on my recent post about tinnitus. Thank you for the kind words of support.
What is different for me this time around compared to when the tinnitus first emerged three years ago? I do not have the same intensity of emotional response to the condition. Is the condition challenging? At times, you bet it is. Last night, I awoke around 3am and I was shocked at the intensity of the ringing noise in my head. However, I was able to control the “fight or flight” response and I resumed sleeping. Three years ago, I would have been overcome with anxiety and nausea. Three years ago, I did not sleep at night.
The process of habituating to the condition seems to be going faster this time as well.
No question that it has been a setback in terms of quality of life. It is hard to describe just how terrible the condition can be when it is present in the conscious mind.
But for those who did write to me, I am doing fine and I am coping much better these days.
Phase One Studio C
Feb.28.2010
Phase One C Room was designed by Pilchner-Schoustal. The room features a 48 input SSL Duality console and monitors by DynAudio, Kranis One and Tannoy. I’ve had the pleasure to master in this room.
I have collected pictures of some of the most stunning recording studios in the world and you can travel through the set by clicking 
