Thursday, September 14, 2023

On The Road With Al and Ivy: September 2023 Compilation Issue




SEPT. 2023 ISSUE:
How Will A.I. Change Art? Part 1-3
Preview: Second Edition of "Knee Deep In Glory"
Preview: On The Road With Al & Ivy: The Journal Entries (2016-2018)



Note: This series is published as The Space Age Oracle on X

Part 1: How Will A.I. Change Art?

The legal battles raging between Hollywood and upper-level writers and artists are a different battle than what you and I are probably concerned with. Whether or not they get compensation isn't going to benefit most of the artistic community selling stuff on Etsy or eBay, indie music, etc.

For example, do you want a new front room? Don't hire a designer; have the A.I. program give you hundreds of ideas within the budget and where to get the items (or even order for you). Are you a young filmmaker who needs a soundtrack? Just feed the program your script (written by A.I.) and have it create the perfect music.

Now the Talking Heads of Tech will thump their chests and proclaim that the software will have proper safeguards, and only regulated copies will be allowed, abuse will be minimal, and so on. This is the type of spin we all heard when people had concerns about online banking.

The legal issues will be straightened out, mainstream companies will follow the law, and copyright issues will be settled, at least to the satisfaction of businesses and the upper tier of artists. Even upper-tier artists who get compensated will find that their audiences might shrink once people can have A.I. give them similar art.

Most of the art we buy is street level. Most of us can't afford Picassos or have Taylor Swift sing at a wedding. You have a budget, and there's generally an artist that can do the job. Aspiring artists need these levels. That's where all of them get their start on the way to hopefully becoming a star.

So far, much of the press has been from analyst opinions, artists, and A.I. companies. The opinion that counts is those of future customers. What do they think about A.I., and what would they do with it? The opinion leaders have put out a lot of speculation and scare stories about killer bots. Still, some smarter ones say the uncomfortable truth: that the customers will replace human beings. Not maybe, but as soon as the A.I. can do it.

As far as the good? 

Despite complaints about spell and grammar checks, writers have benefitted from it at the expense of editing companies. Almost all indie book covers are designed by artists using software that automates design and execution at the expense of artists who work on canvas and paper. Indies use a variety of software to create and distribute art and market it at the expense of many designers, copywriters, sound engineers, producers, and so on.

Or...would these Indies even exist if they had to pay that considerable support structure?

We know the harm A.I. can do to the art community. The question is, will it create the same opportunity it did for Indies in the last few years? 

In other words, can it lead to an explosion of new artists like Indie writers after Amazon KDP and software made it possible to become a published writer without the expensive approval and support structure?

Is what we think is art changing, and is A.I. part of that?

I've said in past blog entries that technology drives much of the change in art. I'm hardly the first and won't be the last to say it. Rock and roll would have been different without electric guitars, as with the 80s without electronic keyboards and synthesizers. Those instruments allowed artists to create new sounds, primarily for young, upcoming artists.

In other words, is the fight over A.I. actually a struggle by old-school artists and sensibilities about change? Is A.I. a new technology that will be embraced by a young generation already going full blast on social media, and will it be their electric guitar or home computer?

Part 2: How Will A.I. Change Art?

Note: I'm sure you'll notice this series isn't a structured article delivered in parts. I'm exploring the subject like many others are.

The problem with A.I. "scraping" isn't that the output is derivative. Humans scrape all the time. The entire education process is based on studying data, sound, and images already created.

The problem of counterfeit books, like those that purported to be written by authors such as Jane Freidman, which were recently taken down off Amazon, is the age-old problem of bootlegging rearing its head again.The Rock Music Industry is a good example. The first known rock bootleg is said to have been "The Great White Wonder," a collection of demos by Bob Dylan and the Band, which was released later as "The Basement Tapes." There's a lot of history to that bootleg, and it's worth researching on the Internet, but I'll stick to the narrower point of it being the quasi-official start of that illegal Industry.

The early vinyl bootlegs tended to be a limited release, as even with some pressing equipment becoming more accessible, most had to be slipped through a legitimate pressing plant under a fake title. Bootlegging was always a corruption issue, also. Tape and, later on, C.D.s made the process of stealing music easier, as anybody could buy the equipment, and in the present, digital recording has automated the process so a bootleg can be easily distributed worldwide, virtually without cost.

In the case of A.I.-generated art, it's not as simple as being a mean old computer app that steals stuff. It's a tool, and any unethical use is due to humans with the same mentality as bootleggers.The music bootleg was a product that enabled the seller to skip the stages (and expense) of creation, performance, and manufacture.

Almost every artist starts off as a beginner, which generally means studying and being influenced by previous works. Thanks to the sources like the  Internet and mass media (and not because of it), that process produces results that can be seen as original, derivative, or copies and identified as such.

An example would be music. A group like Fleetwood Mac started as a Blues group, developed a style of its own, then went through stages to become major rock and pop stars. 

A.I. not only has the potential to steal a lot of the established chain of talent to produce art but adds the troubling dimension of assimilating lesser-known work. As said in previous entries, the latter can derail the careers of new artists who find their efforts incorporated into an A.I. work.

One could say that A.I. could steal much of an artistic genre's future and be a boon to bootleggers. The potential for exploitation is immense as no matter what anyone says, A.I. is a product of human labor and talent (and greed).

As a matter of disclosure, some of you might wonder why I've moved my blog to X. I moved it due to the controversy over Elon Musk and Reddit limiting access to the API by A.I. companies.

Many here may not like Musk, but the body of my work is at least a little safer from scraping on a site that limits access, and while not perfect, the process of restricting access via restrictions and cost is on the right side of the debate on A.I. scraping.

The issue is complex, and there will be a lot of discussion, so my opinions here are only one voice in the debate.

I think the current generation of new artists will use A.I. more and more and will have to navigate the intricate web of laws and entrenched attitudes to find their potential. Every new technology has and will be abused, but has resulted in new art or advances a genre into a new future.

In part 3, I'll talk about new art forms created by social networks like Tik Tok and YouTube, which are rooted in the older television age.

Part 3: New Art Forms

I talked about new art forms that could emerge from the new A.I. era, and honestly, I don't know what that will be. 

If I did, I'd probably be wrong, looking in the wrong direction, mistaken for a press agent trying to hype an artist or an egotistical self-promoter if I'm talking about my art (which is permissible under the sacred commandments of selling art to the public).

When the first Cave Persons saw a stick and colored clay, it didn't occur to them that drawing and painting could evolve from those objects. 

However, there is a way to see where that new art may come from and who will do it.

One way is to remember the 60s. Uh, that is if you're a Boomer. The rest of you will know it as "ancient times."

At first, the mainstream called boomer music "hippie music," "noise," drug music," and the musicians and fans described as "stoned dirty and smelly long-haired freaks." The Boomers returned the compliment by calling their elders "the establishment," "warmongers," and "hypocrites" and declared that they had no interest in "becoming part of the system," at least until they got past draft age and had to start paying bills.

This cycle repeated when Boomer artists became rich and famous and began to trash-talk Punk and Disco, whose adherents were happy to return the favor. Life is a circle, as they say. So, one clue as to where the next generation of artists who'll create new art forms is to find a group or subculture that the mainstream depicts as young idiots engaging in silly or antisocial antics that make sensible adults shake their heads.

Well, we don't need to look any further than our smartphones, which is good because we hate having to look up from our screens.

One of the places where new art is coming from is social media, particularly sites like TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, or wherever the young hang out. They enjoy the requisite disdain of their elders, so it's a promising area to look.

From an artist's perspective, plenty of interesting stuff is going on.

One form that's emerged is the 15-second video, or "short." That's been around for decades in advertising but is now a staple in social media and relatively new. It bears watching where it can go (or not; it may already be mainstream and boring). As an old fart, my impression is that it's sort of a modern offshoot of photography. It's a captured moment but in live motion. The aesthetics are similar, though I'm sure some photographers might disagree.

I'll go more into social media forms in a later entry, but there's a more controversial example of media that A.I. is revolutionizing, and it's creating the same combination of anger, fear, concern, and controversy that rock and roll and Punk did in their early stages.

I'm talking about "deep-fakes," which have enormous potential and capability to harm, present possibilities that could upend media industries like Hollywood, are already being used in legitimate and illegal projects, and are very controversial.

The concept of deep fakes has been around for centuries, but A.I. appears to be taking it to a new level of potential and fearsome abuse. However, there's no question that it'll be part of the media and the artistic scene now and in the future. There's an adage that the press is generally late in covering a new trend or phenomenon, so it's safe to assume that what we see and hear about deep fakes isn't the cutting edge.

It's a complex subject, so I'll devote an entire entry or two to it in future entries.

- Al HANDA



Preview: Second Edition of "Knee Deep In Glory" (now available on KU)

The first edition was published on Kindle Vella as "Knee Deep In Glory: Vol. 1 - Demystifying Military History," which was a good title for that site but too wordy for an eBook cover.

That edition is still on Vella, and I'll review it and make corrections soon (the first three episodes are free, and it has a complete listing of the chapters ).

The Vella description was "Observations and meditations on warfare and historical battles from a skeptical and contrarian Armchair General. The episodes reflect the author's opinion and should be treated as such by those who disagree. It's one view among many, intended to be informative, thought-provoking, and amusing for the average reader."

As a teen, I loved to read history books and found that military capability determined the fate of most civilizations—wars created and destroyed most nations. Any study of history without that element is incomplete.

There's no need for everyone to become an armchair general. Still, when the taxpayers leave military matters to the Pentagon, politicians, and experts, the downside is taxpayers often allow billions to be spent on weapon systems that don't work as advertised or not at all.

The argument that it's best to leave such things to experts is silly; the taxpayers are on the hook for the cost, and they or their children will have to fight and die in future Wars. Most people have the intelligence to understand why the country needs this or that weapon system, and they have a right to know why any war is necessary. That especially goes for ones started without public debate and declaration of war.

Vietnam and Afghanistan were started by Presidents using their "War Powers," but the soldiers sent to fight certainly knew they were in a War.

There's another effect that ignorance creates; most people will end up trusting the word and expertise of leaders and experts, which is essentially a "Pro Management" attitude and can result in soldiers getting overworked with an increased rate of mental illness and suicide. In World War One, that decline in morale and mental health was called "war rot," where exhausted and worn down soldiers developed "shell shock" and sometimes inflicted wounds on themselves to escape the front.

The modern attitude of thanking service members for their service is laudable, but it would be even better if citizens also regularly asked leadership if the precious resource of youth and courage is being used wisely. Most soldiers rejoin society and are essential to the nation's future. There must always be a good reason to put them in harm's way, and if so, with the proper equipment.

So, does this book address all of the issues above?

In some cases, yes, and other parts are more for history buffs and people who'd like to get what amounts to a primer on some aspects.

The book is only subtly topical, though I make some preliminary comments on the war in Ukraine. I'll talk about more current subjects in Volume Two, starting on Vella sometime this Fall. Reading this book will give the average reader an entertaining glimpse into the world that people like me inhabit; a complete picture of what is happening in the world and not just what we're told is happening.

The United States was born after a violent revolution, survived a major test with a Civil War, and has fought wars since. A future war may diminish or end this Democracy, so knowing some Military History is essential.

However, read and decide for yourself. My only hope is that you read it. I can live with the result.

- Al Handa



Preview: On The Road With Al & Ivy: The Anthology Vol. 1 (2016-2018). Work has begun on the revised Second Edition due out in 2024 and upcoming excerpts on this timeline and in Subscription Section. First excerpt is right after this introduction.

When On The Road With Al & Ivy Vol 1 was published, it was made clear that it was a compilation of Blog entries that were sometimes written weeks apart. 

I did say that the second edition would incorporate other written entries from social media and GoFundMe entries, which would fill in the gaps between the blog entries and provide a sense of what daily life was like for a homeless person. That took a while to collect.

The format will be simple; the original text with the date and then commentary to add details and context. If it relates to a blog entry in the eBook, I'll add the reference to look it up on KU. These pieces, which will be in the revised eBook, will have the working title of On The Road With Al & Ivy: The Journal Entries.

On The Road With Al & Ivy: The Journal Entries (2016-2018)

Introduction:

The Journal Entries begin on June 25, 2016. The format will have the actual post as an attachment, and each will have commentary for extra detail and context. The title and book cover used are for this series. The cover will actually be a new design when it officially comes out as the Second Edition.

The posts were on Facebook or GoFundMe, but I've removed the headings. Each has the date in large red text so I could recognize each image in the various apps used To edit. There’ll be some redacting in future posts for legal reasons.

On The Road With Al & Ivy: The Journal Entries (2016-2018): June 30, 2016

Intro to June 30 Entry:

This is the second installment of three that'll be published on this timeline. After the third, the series will continue in the Subscription section.

The Entry is an attached image file like before. What follows here is my additional commentary.

June 30 was a good day with some hope. I was hired for a job on the night shift, which made it possible to safely leave Ivy alone in the car (with other homeless in vehicles keeping an eye on her). I thought that it was a good first step, and it was.

Note: I've redacted the business name and will do it on any word or term that would identify it or the exact location of these incidents.

I didn't realize that several other homeless around me already worked in retail, some for years, and didn't earn enough to get into an apartment because of the low vacancy rate and the real estate boom in this region. Even more importantly, I didn't realize that even if the Night Manager knew I was homeless, that didn't mean upper management would treat me differently.

What I found out later was almost all of the others who worked had to keep their situation a secret. Many had been fired from previous jobs as soon as it became known or soon after. The usual perception is that many companies are eager to hire people experiencing homelessness. It's more complicated than that.

I would soon find out that the official company policy of being accepting of people without housing didn't mean much to the upper management of this business, but that will be covered in later Journal entries.

The last sentence was the actual situation; buying a new key didn't work. That meant that the problem could be the electronic ignition, which, even on an old Cadillac, was costly to replace.

The Entry was short because the car wasn't running. There was no way to recharge the old iPhone used to type out these entries (my phone was smaller and only turned on if I needed to make a call). Donations had come in, but other than some food for Ivy and me, I didn't dare spend it because there was a future repair bill that would possibly be a lot more than I had at the time.

However, on this day, getting any job was good news. The effect of even a little hope couldn't be underestimated. It was devastating when things completely fell apart over the following two weeks, but hope kept me mentally strong enough not to give up because of days like this, I could tell myself that wins were still possible.

That doesn't mean there was a Hollywood-style scene where I stood up and shouted to the Heavens that the fight wasn't over yet. By the following Journal entry in July, it was evident that I was in profound trouble.





- Al Handa
   August 4, 2023


Now live on Kindle Unlimited 










Please check out and listen to my music on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and other music sites. Please add any cuts you like to your playlists!

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

The Space Age Oracle: Cancel Culture And Witch Trials Part 2




The Space Age Oracle: Cancel Culture And Witch Trials Part 2 

(Note: Essay could contain triggers for some)

There's been a controversy on TikTok and other media about a woman who made a video about being assaulted with a brick by a man because she refused to give her phone number, adding that a group of men stood by and watched without intervening. That's a story where details are still coming out, with many different views, so I won't try to summarize those. Those interested should research it, see the wide range of opinions, and decide for yourself. 

However, I refer to it later in this essay because it's a good example of the difference between the legal system and social justice, which always contains the seeds of cancel culture.

The Internet didn't create cancel culture; it's always been around. All it's done is expand peer, village, or community control to a broader audience of like-minded people.

The social sphere is rarely controlled by law because it includes religion or control of social conduct. An extreme example would be in the old days when a man couldn't assault a woman in public, but if she was his wife, it was OK in private.

I'm talking about that grey zone between the law and social mores or customs, where Churches, political groups, or mobs can inflict punishments or apply pressure to enforce codes of behavior not covered by the law. That's a perfect "sweet spot" or breeding ground for witch hunts and cancel culture. 

There won't be one single opinion that'll get somebody canceled or persecuted. You can credit the Internet for that; mass communication has made it possible to form virtual communities that can or will do what a medieval village did to a Karen, witch, or heretic for various reasons.

Also, the image of a witch hunt resulting in a burning at the stake is a simplification. In ancient times, the punishment for heresy and even witchcraft could range from a fine and penance, public shaming, shunning, torture, beating by a mob or no protection from it, enslavement, harassment, blackmail, exile, excommunication, and, of course, a public trial and hanging.

The Halloween type image of witches being tried and executed is popular for at least one reason: it distracts from the reality that a textbook witch hunt can target people for a variety of reasons, utilizes a large palette of procedures and punishments not covered by law, and often is an unvetted, exercise of power against an individual or smaller (weaker) group.

Regarding the argument raging on TikTok over the brick incident, that's not a witch hunt or canceling taking place (as yet). As they say, "Democracy isn't a beauty contest," and as long as there's open discourse, the First Amendment is working. It's healthy that all the points of view are expressed.

The same difference between the law and social behavior applies to the "brick" incident on social media like TikTok and mainstream media.

The law will look strictly at the charge of an assault on a woman. Many discussions will surround it, but the legal machinery will only be technically interested in whether the assault occurred and whether it was self-defense.

In the social sphere, the explanations will encompass a wide array of symbolism, political beliefs, feminism, traditionalism, bias, religion, racial politics, and conflicting theories governing male and female conduct.

The discussion can lead to canceling if the issue becomes a judgment on the victim and whether she deserved it. The law won't (or shouldn't) consider that. However, society can and sometimes will treat such an assault as just punishment and double down by adding blame, shame, and ostracizing her.

The sequence that leads to a witch hunt or canceling can be like an airline disaster, a series of more minor failures or problems that cascade into a crash. It can also occur when a mob forms, with known psychologies and types of personalities involved.

In Part 3, I'll talk about Modern Feminism and how witch hunts and cancel culture are common ways to attack it.

- A Handa

Saturday, August 26, 2023

On The Road With Al & Ivy: New Vella Series

 


New Vella Series: Literature's Greatest Hits

I'm giving this a low key start, with two free episodes loaded. One is a combination of essays about Hermann Hesse and Marcel Proust, featuring a comparison of a tech outlook and human inspiration.

The second is the full version of an examination of Tom Wolfe's opening chapter for Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and writers can learn from it.

Future episodes will examine English translations of Native American literature and stories, where free form novels really came from, and other topics.

These are free so please check these essays out.

- Al Handa

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0CGMG4HRY

#LiteraturePosts #Proust #tomwolfe #hermannhesse #steppenwolf #electrickoolaidacidtest

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Delta Snake Review: September 2023





- How Will A.I. Really Change Art? Part One
- At The Movies: Cromwell (1970) And The Nature Of Violent Revolutions
How To Find The Perfect Headphones - Part 1
The National instrument of Madagascar 



How Will A.I. Really Change Art? Part One

Note: This was hoping to be another Vella nonfiction book but I decided to run a few of the pieces here then continue it in the Subscriber section.

The legal battles raging between Hollywood and upper-level writers and artists are a different battle than what you and I are probably concerned with. 

Whether or not they get compensation isn't going to benefit most of the artistic community selling stuff on Etsy or eBay, indie music, etc.

For example, do you want a new front room? Don't hire a designer; have the A.I. program give you hundreds of ideas within the budget and where to get the items (or even order for you).

Are you a young filmmaker who needs a soundtrack? Just feed the program your script (written by A.I.) and have it create the perfect music.

Now the Talking Heads of Tech will thump their chests and proclaim that the software will have proper safeguards, and only regulated copies will be allowed, abuse will be minimal, and so on. This is the type of spin we all heard when people had concerns about online banking.

The legal issues will be straightened out, mainstream companies will follow the law, and copyright issues will be settled, at least to the satisfaction of businesses and the upper tier of artists.

Even upper-tier artists who get compensated will find that their audiences might shrink once people can have A.I. give them similar art.

Most of the art we buy is street level. Most of us can't afford Picassos or have Taylor Swift sing at a wedding. You have a budget, and there's generally an artist that can do the job.

Aspiring artists need these levels. That's where all of them get their start on the way to hopefully becoming a star.

So far, much of the press has been from analyst opinions, artists, and A.I. companies. The opinion that counts is those of future customers. What do they think about A.I., and what would they do with it? 

The opinion leaders have put out a lot of speculation and scare stories about killer bots. Still, some smarter ones say the uncomfortable truth: that the customers will replace human beings. Not maybe, but as soon as the A.I. can do it.

As far as the good? 

Despite complaints about spell and grammar checks, writers have benefitted from it at the expense of editing companies.

Almost all indie book covers are designed by artists using software that automates design and execution at the expense of artists who work on canvas and paper.

Indies use a variety of software to create and distribute art and market it at the expense of many designers, copywriters, sound engineers, producers, and so on.

Or...would these Indies even exist if they had to pay that considerable support structure?

We know the harm A.I. can do to the art community. The question is, will it create the same opportunity it did for Indies in the last few years? 

In other words, can it lead to an explosion of new artists like Indie writers after Amazon KDP and software made it possible to become a published writer without the expensive approval and support structure?

Is what we think is art changing, and is A.I. part of that?

I've said in past blog entries that technology drives much of the change in art. I'm hardly the first and won't be the last to say it.

Rock and roll would have been different without electric guitars, as with the 80s without electronic keyboards and synthesizers. Those instruments allowed artists to create new sounds, primarily for young, upcoming artists.

In other words, is the fight over A.I. actually a struggle by old-school artists and sensibilities about change? Is A.I. a new technology that will be embraced by a young generation already going full blast on social media, and will it be their electric guitar or home computer?

I have ideas about that and will discuss them in part 2.


At The Movies: Cromwell (1970) And The Nature Of Violent Revolutions 

The Coronation of King Charles was a joyous occasion for Monarchists and, indeed, for those who long for the days when the nobility is abolished and rank properly determined by levels of wealth like in the United States. 

Such festivities give anti-monarchists a voice in the English media who love everything royalty, especially if they smell blood. Thanks to social media, new stars are born, like Penny Mordaunt, a Tory Boudica in the Coronation ceremony who wore an outfit that even wowed some in the Labour Party. Talk about a bridge between parties!

I'm oversimplifying, of course, but my description is adequate for the purposes of this essay.

The movie "Cromwell," starring Richard Harris and Alec Guinness, was on movie sites, and being in a festive Royal mood, I watched it. Most reviewers rate it as inaccurate and so-so, which makes it like 99% of historical films. It was about the English Civil War between the King and Parliament in 1642.

I enjoy watching English actors chewing up the scenery in historical costumes, so whether critics like it or not is irrelevant.

To an American who's puzzled as to why Britain still has a monarch, reading about the rise and fall of Cromwell explains it. What happened (sorta) in the movie is why most Western Countries keep the military under civilian control.

Oliver Cromwell was a Puritan Squire who became the leader of the Parliamentary Army, known as "The New Model," who defeated the King's forces and became Dictator. His tenure was so unpopular that England restored the Monarchy after his death.

Scholars and intellectuals cite Cromwell as why the Military or Church should never run a country. It also illustrates a point about revolutions, which are generally seen as a glamorous fight against oppression.

Violent revolutionaries often destroy the system they're trying to protect or restore. It doesn't matter if they claim it's about freedom; the new reality is that power is up for grabs (i.e., might make right).

That's why many revolutionary governments become oppressors. If they can do it, so can anyone else. The French and Russian revolutions ended up with an Emperor or Dictator to consolidate power.

You see the change from revolution to military rule in the movie (though it's whitewashed). Cromwell, played by Richard Harris, becomes exasperated by Parliament, which keeps extending its term of office (Congress would love that), and uses the Army to impose what he thinks is the original aim of the revolution.

The English Civil War was about ending the King's power, but as the movie shows, a violent revolution can lose its way when there's only one rule: force.

Regarding the movie, there's only one rule; is it entertaining? In my case, I've seen it several times. The facts are slightly off, but the look and feel are spot on.
-Al Handa 5/11/23

How To Find The Perfect Headphones - Part 1

Sample description: The right pair of headphones will enrich your musical listening experience and lead to endless rediscovery of heretofore buried joy in your beloved music collection.

As you can see, reviews aren't just reviews. You must consider who the writer is, what they know, their agenda, and from what personal experience the information comes from (if any).

This guide should be useful for finding the right pair of headphones. It may just cause more confusion, but if so, as a dedicated Blogger, you can trust that I'll feel bad about it and not remind people that there's a First Amendment.

I think the best way to present this with the least amount of words is as a step-by-step guide. 

Step One: Decide how much you want to spend. There's good stuff in every price range, so stick to your budget. 

The headphones companies just want your money and happily provide gear at every price tier, complete with experts saying it's "great for the price" or "an unbelievable value."  

For example, let's say your budget is ten dollars. No need to be embarrassed about such a small amount, even in America. My backpack spare is a cheap 15.00 set purchased during a Christmas Sale for 9.99.

A spare might be unnecessary if a two-hundred-dollar set gets lost or stolen. People rarely feel like popping in a cheap backup after such a loss. I would, but I'm a music nut.

Your spare should actually be the set taken outside, but there are compelling reasons for having premium cans on your ears while on the go.

That leads to Step Two: Get new headphones designed for the intended use or environment. If you're only going to listen at home while sitting in a chair, forget Bluetooth or any wireless. 

Wired headphones outperform wireless in every price range, and that's the only way to go in the recording studio.

The reason is that music is sorta kinda maybe analog information transferred to digital and has to travel a path to your earphones. A cable transmits the data best as it has the more bandwidth than a wireless signal. 

That said, let's say you want headphones for on-the-go activities; then wireless is an option. You'll give up some sound quality, but that happens once you leave the chair.

Street traffic sounds, for example, are in a frequency range that'll make the midrange and top end disappear and the music can sound tinny. In other words, outside sounds become part of the music.

You can sorta get around that by turning up the volume or wearing a tighter set (or earbuds that block more noise out), but overall music will still sound harsh or thin. That won’t be a problem with audiobooks, of course.

Street sounds can be overpowered by cranking up, the ear space mechanically isolated with tighter cans (the part over your ear), or electronically with noise canceling, but safety comes into play. You can become unaware of your surroundings.

But before you do step two, there's one major factor you have to consider: headphones are conduits that deliver the sound that hardware and software produce. 

If you don't look at that factor first, there's a chance you'll buy more headphone capability than you need. In fact, the right software can make your old headset sound like a more expensive model. 

It's not like the 90s; in 2023, even an inexpensive phone or mp3 player can deliver at least 75% of the desired sound quality if correctly set up. 

I'll cover that in part 2.



The National instrument of Madagascar 

About a month ago, I stopped by an antique store to check out its book section and spotted a Madagascar Valiah on a table with other items. 

The Valiah is considered the national instrument of that African island and is generally described as a zither built around a bamboo tube (see the attached picture). However, it's played like a harp or lyre, so calling it a zither isn't accurate (to me, anyway).

I could tell it was an economy model, but it was intact and playable, and I was always in the market for one, so after some haggling became the harp's new owner.

These things are pretty cool looking, so somebody probably would have bought it for a display, but I feel that even the cheapest instrument deserves to be played, not hung on a wall. 

I'll need to replace the little bridge pieces with better quality wood, at least banjo grade, but other than that, it's ready to go.

I recently uploaded a video short for "Madagascar Summer," it's one of three African numbers that Handa-McGraw International has recorded.

The Madagascar number is one of the most personal because African music drew me back into playing music after spending most of the 80s and 90s writing.

I took a chance on a record by a Madagascar artist named D'Gary and was impressed with his guitar playing. Oddly enough, the first instruments in my new collection were percussion, but I got an old friend, Mark McGraw, to work up a guitar part that was in D'Gary's style and became the Madagascar Summer instrumental.

Justin Vali was another artist from that island, and his specialty was the Valiah and the larger rectangle-shaped Box Harp. I've always liked the various styles of harp music, so his music was an instant hit with me.

That's why I immediately recognized the Valiah in the store (but acted dumb; otherwise, the price would have been less flexible) and made it a point to get it. 

I'll probably never see Madagascar, but musically, I've visited it several times, and I'm sure my new Valiah will take me back there again.

Here's a link to one of many Valiah videos on YouTube. Also, check out D'Gary and Justin Vali. I'll do a piece on Madagascar music sometime in the future, but those two are good examples of that genre.

 "Liva's Valiha / Ilay tany nihaviana (Feom-baliha)"

youtu.be/fH6nihLmF7I














Delta Snake Review




How To Find The Perfect Headphones - Part 1

Note: This is a revision of a Delta Snake Review Consumer Electronics series that ran this year.

Headphones come in all shapes and sizes now, so you might find it interesting to know the difference between “bone conducting, “over ear,” “helmet speaker,” “air buds,” and so on.

How To Find The Perfect Headphones - Part 1

Sample description: The right pair of headphones will enrich your musical listening experience and lead to endless rediscovery of heretofore buried joy in your beloved music collection.

As you can see, reviews aren't just reviews. You must consider who the writer is, what they know, their agenda, and from what personal experience the information comes from (if any).

This guide should be useful for finding the right pair of headphones. It may just cause more confusion, but if so, as a dedicated Blogger, you can trust that I'll feel bad about it and not remind people that there's a First Amendment.

I think the best way to present this with the least amount of words is as a step-by-step guide. 

Step One: Decide how much you want to spend. There's good stuff in every price range, so stick to your budget. 

The headphones companies just want your money and happily provide gear at every price tier, complete with experts saying it's "great for the price" or "an unbelievable value."  

For example, let's say your budget is ten dollars. No need to be embarrassed about such a small amount, even in America. My backpack spare is a cheap 15.00 set purchased during a Christmas Sale for 9.99.

A spare might be unnecessary if a two-hundred-dollar set gets lost or stolen. People rarely feel like popping in a cheap backup after such a loss. I would, but I'm a music nut.

Your spare should actually be the set taken outside, but there are compelling reasons for having premium cans on your ears while on the go.

That leads to Step Two: Get new headphones designed for the intended use or environment. If you're only going to listen at home while sitting in a chair, forget Bluetooth or any wireless. 

Wired headphones outperform wireless in every price range, and that's the only way to go in the recording studio.

The reason is that music is sorta kinda maybe analog information transferred to digital and has to travel a path to your earphones. A cable transmits the data best as it has the more bandwidth than a wireless signal. 

That said, let's say you want headphones for on-the-go activities; then wireless is an option. You'll give up some sound quality, but that happens once you leave the chair.

Street traffic sounds, for example, are in a frequency range that'll make the midrange and top end disappear and the music can sound tinny. In other words, outside sounds become part of the music.

You can sorta get around that by turning up the volume or wearing a tighter set (or earbuds that block more noise out), but overall music will still sound harsh or thin. That won’t be a problem with audiobooks, of course.

Street sounds can be overpowered by cranking up, the ear space mechanically isolated with tighter cans (the part over your ear), or electronically with noise canceling, but safety comes into play. You can become unaware of your surroundings.

But before you do step two, there's one major factor you have to consider: headphones are conduits that deliver the sound that hardware and software produce. 

If you don't look at that factor first, there's a chance you'll buy more headphone capability than you need. In fact, the right software can make your old headset sound like a more expensive model. 

It's not like the 90s; in 2023, even an inexpensive phone or mp3 player can deliver at least 75% of the desired sound quality if correctly set up. 

I'll cover that in part 2.

- Al HANDA









Thursday, June 22, 2023

On The Road With Al And Ivy: Cancel Culture And Witch Trials Part 1 - Introduction




“…in a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went stamping about, and shouting ‘Off with his head!’ or ‘Off with her head!’ about once in a minute. Alice began to feel very uneasy: to be sure, she had not as yet had any dispute with the Queen, but she knew that it might happen any minute, ‘and then,’ thought she, ‘what would become of me? They’re dreadfully fond of beheading people here; the great wonder is, that there’s any one left alive!’”

-Lewis Carroll (Alice In Wonderland)

On The Road With Al & Ivy: Cancel Culture And Witch Trials—excerpt of Part 1.


My treatment of the subject of Cancel Culture and Witch Trials will be in the realm of occasionally satiric literary meditation or social commentary. 


As a result, I'll try to walk the fine line between observation and conclusion and try to stay on the main point that these two subjects result from a root cause.


I've read opinions on the subject and feel that most are true. Canceling occurs in various situations, and in my mind, it shows that it's a basic principle that is a very adaptable weapon.


This introduction was part of a series of essays planned for a Kindle Vella nonfiction eBook but will instead be presented as an ongoing series for free. There's a risk that some of the pieces could be taken out of context or misinterpreted, but that could happen even if it came out as a completed work.


I'll write and publish the serial in real-time as each section, episode, or chapter is written. I'll listen carefully to any feedback but will evolve the serial online.


I chose to put it on the "On The Road With Al & Ivy" blog site as it's the most suitable place for this work due to the subject's controversial nature. It's being launched here with an excerpt, and those interested can read the rest on the blog.


I'm going to enjoy exploring the subject as an ongoing serial work and hope you will also.




Cancel Culture And Witch Trials - Part 1: Introduction


Even the humblest earthworm contributes to the intricate perfection of our celestial oasis, spinning about in the spectacular confetti of bits and pieces of matter that humankind calls the Heavens, Universe, Void, or future territories for the commercial exploitation of minerals. 


Even more enticing, the absence of Aboriginal inhabitants

allows intrepid explorers to mark off territories to fight future wars over without the expense and complications of ripping off or killing previous landowners who may hinder the natural process of commerce.


The simple earthworm is an unheralded foot soldier who helps aerate the soil which grows so many of life's necessities to nourish the burgeoning masses of humankind.


The relentless multiplication of the near hairless descendants of apes creates overpopulation that nasty microbes, sharks, poisonous snakes, bison in Yosemite, 99% of the species in Australia, and Tik Tok dares have failed to bring under control, thus creating the necessity for humans to assist in Nature's quest for balance by unaliving each other in bulk using special tools like automatic weapons, tanks, and explosives.


Unfortunately, the average person is helpless to assist Nature as culling the excess population is only allowed in State-sanctioned warfare to increase wealth or political gain.


Put simply, other than behaving like author Lewis Carroll's Red Queen towards service sector workers or engaging in snobbery, the Powers That Be have made sure that the only way to obliterate or cancel other human beings is through quasi-legal legal or social systems. 


It doesn't solve the population problem but does confirm our status as a superior species that doesn't require the necessity of survival to kill, main, rob, cheat or pay too much money for everything.


Sure, one can act like a High School weenie and get everyone to hate or abuse somebody, but it doesn't produce the tingling feeling one gets when the object of disgust or hatred has been stripped of dignity or means of making an income.


I return to the seemingly insignificant earthworm in this intricate essay and direct the reader to the fact that despite its usefulness to humanity, its small size and position in the food chain make it fair game for anyone who wants to kick ass. 


If people treasured the little tykes as super cute expensive pets or regarded them as the sacred manifestation of higher beings whose appeasement would bring luck, then that would limit the abuse to routine commercial exploitation. Still, the current interpretation of natural law places the squiggly little thing at the bottom of life's hierarchy and thus subject to the whims of those above it.


So, in regards to canceling culture and its subsidiary activities like witch trials, bullying, Housing Associations, Puritanism, single-issue politics, gossip media, racism, and making sure people feel guilty, the basic principle of cancel culture is to lower the target's status to the point where any Tom, Dick, or Harriette can finish the job by engaging in any of the activities mentioned above that would usually be considered obnoxious unless directed towards females (except where prohibited by law or company employee policy).


In other words, it doesn't matter if the target is woke, anti-woke, liberal, or Conservative. In a textbook canceling, the victim is exposed to attack or punishment. How the resulting attack occurs isn't particularly important and can be done in various ways.


In the case of a witch trial, the point is to create the perception that a person, most often a woman, is a danger to society. In many cases, those on trial were mentally ill or were considered "Karens" so fear or anger could help fuel the mob sensibility. In the case of a culture that requires a trial for extreme punishment, prejudices, hearsay, gossip, unvetted expert testimony, hatred, and displaced anger are substituted for standard evidence, and the proceedings become a parody of the judicial system that also shows contempt for a process that hinders the righteous.


A popular perception is that it's an ignorant or superstitious mob at work, and that's partially true. However, it also reeks of intellectual snobbery or manipulation of historical facts to serve an agenda.


The fact is a witch trial wasn't any one thing; it could have a lot of factors in play, not simply sexism or religion. It also involves power, manipulation, and sociopathic behavior by people in power or seeking it. It involves ambitions and impulses that are part of basic human behavior that's never changed and are still present.


Witch trials and canceling have never gone away. What's changed, and will keep changing, is the definition or the perception of what a witch is.


Coming in Part 2: A survey of various types of witch trials.



Now live on Kindle Unlimited 












UPDATE ON ON THE ROAD WITH AL & IVY: THE ANTHOLOGY VOL. 1 (2016-2018)


I’ll be pulling this ebook off Kindle Unlimited sometime this month and will resume free distribution on other sites. The main reason, besides shifting the focus to wider readership is that this Anthology will come out as a revised version sometime this year. I’ve obtained most of the social media posts from this period and will insert edited versions into the book in chronological order. This adds the day to day observations and activities which will add continuity and many of the blog entries will make more sense in context. Also, I’ll add new commentary to make this volume feel like a chronological account of the period. Until then, it makes sense to make this version free to increase interest in the new edition.





BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE DELTA SNAKE REVIEW ON THIS SAME SITE




Here's info on some of my Vella books:




The Quitters


https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09PC3L6PC



I, Ivy


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0B3RCBT4D



The Forbidden Lost Gospels Of Murgatroyde


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BJ2TW4P1



The Boogie Underground Think Tank: How To Survive The End Of Civilization


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BG6LNXTG


The Adventures Of Queen Khleopahtra: Ruler Of Egypt, Time Traveler, and Literary Detective


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BJC122G7


Please check out and listen to my music on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and other music sites. Please add any cuts you like to your playlists!


Tuesday, April 18, 2023

On The Road With Al And Ivy - April 2023



“All that Mankind has done, thought, gained or been: it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books. They are the chosen possession of men.”

- Thomas Carlyle (Heroes, Hero-Worship And The Heroic In History - 1841)



THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC

I recently watched the 1928 film, The Passion Of Joan Of Arc. I first saw it in 1994 on DVD that featured a new oratorio composed by Richard Einhorn called "Voices Of Light" and performed by Anonymous 4 (a group) and various soloists. The film is making the rounds on sites like Freevee (free with commercials), and after viewing the beginning, I was drawn in by Maria Falconetti's shattering portrayal of The Maid. By coincidence, I was rereading W.P. Barrett's 1932 translation of the French and Latin transcripts of Jeanne D'Arc'd trial for heresy and apostasy.


The movie simplifies the trial for dramatic reasons. However, what is remarkable is that she was tried by a group of sixty French politicians, lawyers, and ambassadors who were considered skilled and knowledgeable in the intricacies of the legal and theological hearings. It was an unprecedented show of political force against a young peasant woman. Almost all had suffered political or financial damage from her military successes and were avowed enemies. Most were or had political and economic ties to the English.


The life and achievements of Joan Of Arc are mainly controversial outside of France, like those who diagnose the mental illness of historical figures. She has her critics there, but on the whole, the people of France revere her as a national hero and Saint. I think Jeanne was arguably saner than some American heroes whose mental state was never as scrutinized as closely and for such a sustained period.


She is one of history's most written-about women, and the documentation is extensive. So, my aim here is to riff on a few particular points and offer some observations and opinions that might give readers a different perspective on this remarkable person.


Note: Treat my words as coffee house rambling on the subject and think what you want about it.


There have been different portrayals of Jeanne in film, from girlish and devout to impulsively energetic. My guess is that she might have been all of those things. She was a young woman during an era when one of the few things that would make the nobility take notice of a peasant was an unusual religious personality, not just a vision, but charisma. In this case, it happened to be religious, but the clergy and theologians who examined her judged her as sincere.


Not only that, but these men and the nobles, including the one Jeanne would crown as King, Charles VII, saw something in her that inspired the trust to put her in command of the French Army to relieve the City of Orleans under siege by the English.


I've read opinions that imply that she was a figurehead used merely to take advantage of her popularity with the common people and that the Generals did it all. In fairness, a noble or even a King would more often than not have to depend on professionals to handle the operational end. Undoubtedly, a 19-year-old woman wouldn't know the logistics and organization to run an Army. It's evident that on a tactical level, they needed to run things. 


However, the war wasn't going so well when she arrived. The relief of Orleans was bogged down, and the men were demoralized. It probably seemed like another more of the same after almost a hundred years of unsuccessful fighting against the English.


Also, though many people might think otherwise, France wasn't a country in the sense we know it now. It was like Germany, a collection of smaller countries that a King needed the support of to hold the title. The French Army was a typical medieval gathering of nobles who brought men at arms with them and, like many high-born men, probably weren't well-liked by the ordinary people who were perhaps shaken down or robbed by them at one time or another.




…galvanizing…


If Joan of Arc did anything, she galvanized the soldiers, and the relief of Orleans was a military success. Her next campaign resulted in another victory at Patay and the unopposed occupation of Reims, where Charles was crowned King. Unfortunately, the new King didn't give her much support after his coronation. She was captured leading a volunteer company of soldiers to relieve Compiegne, which was under siege by the Burgundians (who sold her to the English).


She was still a national hero to many of the French, and jealousy may explain why Charles didn't make an effort to save her. In those times, a nobleman could be freed after a ransom was paid, but the trial proceeded without any political or military attempt to stop it. It's doubtful that the English would have sold her back to Charles anyway. They thought she must have been a witch (and other disreputable terms) to have reversed a long period of English dominance.


Also, staging such a large trial attests to her popularity. If she had been an unknown peasant, they would have just executed her or given her to the soldiers to do what they wished. Clearly, it was essential to them to establish that she was a dangerous heretic and mollify the English who hated her. It was a textbook witch trial, unlike the modern perception that such affairs are the chaotic rage of bumpkins. Witch trials were a spectacle put on by the so-called betters, in this case, using a sham trial to put a legitimate face on a state-sponsored execution.


…not a lunatic…


The Barrett translation of the trial transcripts attests to the immense effort to legitimize the inevitable execution. The records, which her enemies kept, don't show her to have been a lunatic or witch. She appears to have been a remarkably strong teenager who was put under extreme pressure by a large tribunal court and abused and tormented by the guards in her cell.


It would be hard to create a mental picture of her ordeal without resorting to modern caricatures, though most women could imagine being mansplained and abused by a large group of males who had the power of life or death over her. It would have been understandable if she had broken down under the relentless pressure.


That's where this 1928 movie comes in. The silent film has minimal dialogue text drawn from the trial transcripts. It's all about faces and personalities; after seeing it, it's hard to imagine how a talking film would have improved on it. The main image of the early part of the movie is the constant barrage of questions and accusations by the tribunal, all delivered with threats and extreme aggression, and Jeanne's self-possession fluctuating between confidence buoyed by spiritual certainty and earthly fears of death and confusion caused by the manipulative questioning.


…close up…


The Director, Carl Theodor Dryer, chose to primarily use close-ups so the emotions that passed through the faces of Jeanne and her inquisitors are plain to see. In the case of the judges, there isn't a steady buildup like a modern court film, but a sustained rage at a young woman who upended their lucrative collaboration with the English. You see the constant desire to punish Jeanne on their faces.


The face of the actress, Renee Jeanne Falconetti, dominates the film. In the trial segments, she's on the screen most of the time, and her ability to express varied reactions and emotions is remarkable. You feel that this could have been how Joan of Arc behaved in the trial.


The crisis is when they finally manipulate and pressure her into recanting the claim that she received her mission from God. Falconetti does an impressive job of showing that this act took away the spiritual refuge and strength that had sustained her during the trial and broke her spirit. When she decides to recant that agreement, you see her strength coming back, and even some of her enemies feel grudging respect.


That recanting seals her fate, and she's condemned to be burned at the stake.


This moment is where the movie leaves the trial transcript and moves into a historical account of her execution, which I've never seen done better by any later films about her.




I'll give a spoiler alert here. I'm going to discuss the ending.


The execution begins with a poignant, very human scene. Jeanne tells God that she accepts her fate but asks him not to let her suffer too long. She looks very young in this scene, and the way she asks shows a feminine side for the first time. Once her fate is determined, she seemingly sheds her epic role on earth and becomes the young woman she was before these great events became her life. It's probably the most affecting and human scene in the movie. We're no longer seeing the future Saint or great military commander but Jeanne, the 19-year-old woman. It makes the following scene all the more shattering but also makes you admire the courage and faith that transformed her ordinary life into mythology.


The film shows the grief of the peasants and clergy who believe in her. When the fire is lit, the depiction of the following pandemonium is a stunning cinematic feat. As she begins to die, a man exclaims that the English are burning a Saint, and the soldiers begin to attack the now-aroused crowd. The smoke from the fire gets thicker and starts to cover the frenetic action of the riot, and a haunting image of peasants and soldiers falling into a pit looks like people falling into a smoke-filled underworld. It's a shattering image that's all the wilder because it's not CGI; it's like a chaotic tumbling into Hell.


Instead of showing Jeanne screaming, she reveals her extreme pain and succumbs, and the image of her limp body as a silhouette in the smoke and rioting is heartbreaking but is described as her soul leaving the body and becoming the soul of France.


Jeanne D'Arc's final victory was over herself. By reasserting her faith, she chose death but died whole.





UPDATE ON ON THE ROAD WITH AL & IVY: THE ANTHOLOGY VOL. 1 (2016-2018)


I’ll be pulling this ebook off Kindle Unlimited sometime this month and will resume free distribution on other sites. The main reason, besides shifting the focus to wider readership is that this Anthology will come out as a revised version sometime this year. I’ve obtained most of the social media posts from this period and will insert edited versions into the book in chronological order. This adds the day to day observations and activities which will add continuity and many of the blog entries will make more sense in context. Also, I’ll add new commentary to make this volume feel like a chronological account of the period. Until then, it makes sense to make this version free to increase interest in the new edition.





BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE DELTA SNAKE REVIEW ON THIS SAME SITE




Here's info on some of my Vella books:




The Quitters


https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09PC3L6PC



I, Ivy


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0B3RCBT4D



The Forbidden Lost Gospels Of Murgatroyde


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BJ2TW4P1



The Boogie Underground Think Tank: How To Survive The End Of Civilization


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BG6LNXTG


The Adventures Of Queen Khleopahtra: Ruler Of Egypt, Time Traveler, and Literary Detective


 https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BJC122G7


Please check out and listen to my music on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and other music sites. Please add any cuts you like to your playlists!