A B C D E F G H I The truth behind AI.

 I see that bloggers around here have been looking into AI. In reality they're like musicians who only play in one key.

AI covers nine letters of the alphabet (A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 I) and can really start on any letter. Let's take Peter's name - P Q R S T U V W X. Now let's look at Rob's - R S T U V W X Y Z. So, Peter should be using PX and Rob should be using RZ. I think that the old blogger boys should look into this.

* * *

Yesterday was quite a busy day, but I did manage to get 1 1/2 hours of practice done. 30 minutes of that was on the double bass. Not too bad. As you may know, I'm really into playing my violin like a singer. At our recent PBs jam we played a lot of tunes that no one had practised or played before. Daryl (on bass) was onto it, but I noticed that the other three boys were struggling a bit and two of them spent quite a bit of time playing percussion instruments. Playing like a singer gives your playing a whole new dimension. Though, I did notice that the lady who sang with us sang songs that she knew in keys she felt comfortable with. I played on every song, as did Daryl. I played a lot of melodies that I had never played before. No one said, "Well done, Rich." I guess they all had egos to look after. 

I'm presently making sure that all of my 30 tune repertoire is well memorised. If I ever get to play it anywhere, I won't have any written music in front of me. Actually, there were only four tunes that I didn't have fully memorised already. I've done some work on those.

* * *

Okay, okay, I admit it! I did use RZ to write my musical bit of the post today. 

That's it from me.

Enjoy your day and don't waste time worrying about sin. Especially if you're not a Catholic.

Ciao tutti.

Some interesting thoughts for all you readers.

 

BLANK

Sorry, but I have to go to work.

Ciao.

Another cold morning.

 

Again, not my actual heater.

I'm off to work soon. The car warms up when I climb the Nui hill. I'll look forward to that. 

Rob heads overseas on Saturday, to a place that has week weeks. "Here's where we will be based. In the second week week go to a little island resort for 3 days at the very top of Panay." Maybe they use a different form of English there? Sort of like how Americans talk about sidewalks and spell things differently. 

Peter wrote a short post yesterday. He seems to have a thing about a guy named Samuel Beckett. Ah well, it keeps him busy. Remember that Peter is the guy who uses the phrase, "For cough." I assume that means, "For a cough." Maybe he meant 'far cough' and just forgot to proofread again?

Okay, I'm off to work.

Ciao.

Monday morning and it's cold.

 

Not my actual heater, but you get the idea.

Far cough.

 I see that TC has been busy using a term 'for cough'.

"For cough."

He seems to have stolen this from my phrase 'far cough', which is a cough in the distance. He is a bit of a Benedict and seems to, as he and Rob do, have got the phrase a bit muddled. Boy, I hope he's not wearing that silly hat in Thorndon or on the Berhampore gold course.

The PBs are getting together for a jam this afternoon. I'll take Signora Violina and my little amp. I'll let the boys call the tunes. Don't expect much jazz because Daryl is the only brother who really knows how to play jazz. Hey, that's okay. I like playing my violin like a singer - getting through tunes I haven't played before by using my ears. Rob mentioned in his latest post that he won't be using the diminished whole tone scale. No big surprise there. Personally, I'm more interested in using diminished scales but augmented sounds are important too. Hey, I suspect there won't be much need for them today. Anyway, it'll be nice to see the boys and play some tunes. 

At present I'm working on the four tunes in my thirty tune repertoire that I haven't got memorised. That's enough tunes, with a few short breaks, for a three hour gig. If a gig ever comes my way, I'd like to do it with no music. Well, I already can, if I leave those four tunes out, but let's go the whole hog. I'd use my backing tracks on a gig because I think it makes it easy for the listeners to hear the whole thing, as it were. 

Hey it's time for me to far cough and get a few things done.

This one's a bit close.

Ciao tutti.

Nothing to say.

 

Well, I guess I could tell you about the diminished whole tone scale. 

Starting on C this would be C Db D# E F# G# Bb C and it would work well over a C7#5#11 chord. 

Okay, I can tell no one is interested.

Ah well, I might as well just wrap this up.

Bye.

Lack of haircut pulls in comments.

 Ah, so that's how you get comments!

Both of the elderly bloggers are concerned about my disability to get a haircut.

"Can't you get one in the Nui?"

"I'm not sure how you spell 'Waiwetu', is it Wyfetu? Why can't you get a haircut there?"

"What's wrong with Thorndon? You've got a car. Drive there!"

"Buy some scissors and do it yourself!"

Well, I'm certainly getting comments now!

I've been going to a hairdresser in Queensgate Mall for quite a few years. I've got to know a lady there and, to be honest, haven't thought about going somewhere closer. When I arrived there yesterday they were busy and I waited for twenty minutes. They did nothing wrong, they were just busy. I had other things to do, so I decided to leave the haircut. No big deal really. I think I will find somewhere closer to home. Just for convenience. Ah well, it got me some comments.

I did some good violin practice yesterday. I've been doing quite a bit of work on diminished scales. I also spent an hour playing through my 'with a backing track' repertoire. There are 30 tunes in that repertoire. Maybe I'll get a chance to play it somewhere, sometime?

It's another cold morning in the Nui. I'm up early because I need to take Shelley's car for a warrant check in Seaview. Oops, that'll start the old boys off again!

"Why not get it done in Whyneweomarter?"

"There's a place in Island Bay that could do it."

"Try Mowerror."

Gsus!

I see Rob has posted this morning. He wasn't impressed to see a statue of a Hindu godess at the creche he has been cleaning. Why? He says, "I wonder if parents really want their toddlers being familiarized with eastern spiritual entities? They'd be safe with a statue of the BVM; not so sure with spirits bordering on the demonic." In case you don't know BVM stands for Bloody Virgin Mary. I don't know what makes her so safe for toddlers. Is that because no bonking was involved when she had her kid? Well, she really got bonked by the old god, God the Father's name tells us that. What a strange religion those Catholics have!

No post from Peter. Hey, to be fair, he has probably dropped his phone in the bath again. Why can't he just leave it in the kitchen or by his bed?

That's it from me. I have a WOF to sort out. I will get some bass practice done today too.

Ciao tutti.

See...

 ...no haircut.

No comments...

 ...no haircut.

They were too busy. I suppose the boys must be too.

Nessun commento:

What happens when your hairdresser is busy too often.

Another stimulating morning on the blogs?

 Good morning. I think I'll get a haircut today. Before that I'll have a peanut butter toasted sandwich, I'll have a shower and I'll take my pills. Hey, I know that doesn't sound very exciting but what else have you got to read on the blogs this morning? Rob briefly told us about a book he was reading and paying his accountant for sorting out his tax return. Peter's last effort, if you can call it that, was yesterday when he handed us over to his 'Agony Aunt'. 

Boar ring.

Obviously I'll be doing some practice today. I only managed one hour on each of the last two days. Going to work and then picking up my elder grandson took up quite a bit of my time. I'll try to make up for it today. I'd better get some double bass practice in there too.

What else can I tell you?

Hang on, I'll make that toasted sandwich first. 

Done and dusted.

[I'll add a bathroom visit to that list of things to do this morning.]

Okay, there is really nothing more to tell you, so I'll get this day underway.

Ciao.

Really no time to post this morning.

 Though, I must say that a comment by Rob on my last post has disappeared.

A post, but not my blog post.

STRANGE.

Hey, I know his blog disappears a lot. Maybe this is just a minor version of that?

Well, I'm off to work on this cold morning. I have pills to take and I need a shave, and possibly a bathroom visit. I've just had a peanut butter sandwich.

Have fun but develop a good set of morals that have nothing to do with sin.

Ciao.

The day starts with a banana toasted sandwich.

 I'm up and cold. I got dressed fast and have the heater on full.

Lovely.

I got two hours of practice done yesterday. I've been doing quite a bit of work on diminished scales and arpeggios. I've also run over the two whole tone scales. Yes, there are only two. Just like there are only three diminished arpeggios and three diminished scales for playing over dominant 7th chords and three diminished scales for playing over minor chords. These sounds give lovely character to a solo. 

I don't think that Robert likes me replacing the c**t word with Catholic. He said, in one comment, "As Phillip Jenkins said in 2003 anti-catholicism is the "last acceptable prejudice"." Okay, maybe I'll have to find another word. 'Benedict' would work because he certainly was a c**t. What Catholics forget is that, through their clergy, the Catholic church has done a lot of harm. I'm talking about hands up little boys' pants, etc., etc. I remember some very sadistic nuns too.

I'm off to work soon. I didn't sleep well last night, but I'm up early because it was cold in bed. 

Ciao tutti.

Here we are again...

Happy as can be.

All Good friends and

Jolly good company.

The heater is on. I've seen that Rob has posted and Peter hasn't. That's what I'd expect to see.

Rob tells us he's up early, "... to clean the creche which RBB says isn't a kindergarten." I didn't actually say that. There are childcare centres and kindergartens. Quite a few of these places fulfil both functions. Ah well. He also tells us, "Those in purgatory desperately need our prayers." I don't know how he knows who is in purgatory. He has got to be guessing. Never mind. 

Rob also left a comment on Peter's blog saying, "Did you hear me beep at 12.40? I drove passed to show K your house." Rob, you drove past Peter's house, and there you are criticising (in a comment) my lack of vocabulary! Gsus!

I practised for two hours yesterday. Not too bad. 1/2 an hour on the double bass and 1 1/2 hours on the violin. I won't tell you what I practised because I know that no one is really interested.

Moving on.

No gigs coming up but the PBs are having a play on Sunday. Oh, yes, I told you about that in my last post. What else have I got to tell you? Nothing really. I really need some biblical quotes like Rob likes to drop into his posts.

Derek 23:7 Gsus was walking through a town and he spotted a group of people praying. He walked close to them and listened. "Lood, please save the people in Purgatory and don't send them to Hell." "Who is Lood?" Gsus asked. "He is a fourth person who missed out on getting into the Blessed Trinity. He's the older brother of God the Son." a man told him. "Well, that would make him my older brother and I've never heard of him." said Gsus. The people ignored him and carried on praying. Gsus walked on, looking for someone else to bother.

I hope you enjoyed that biblical quote. I hope you learned something from it. 

What a wonderful chord the dom7b9 chord is! Oh, that's right, you're not interested.

Hey, I feel like a banana toasted sandwich. I should eat something before taking my pills. It might mean another trip to the bathroom, but what the hell!

I was told, at Peter's place on Saturday, that I'm not allowed to use the 'c' word. I'm talking about the word that has 'u' as its second letter. I think it is troia in Italian. I did get called tonto when I was in Italy. That's pretty close too. 

Okay, okay, I've run out of things to say.

I think I'll leave it there for today.

I'll go and make that banana toasted sandwich and take my pills.

Ciao tutti.

No coffee this morning.

 Today is Rest The Bathroom Day.

RTBD

It was great to see Peter and Lynn yesterday. They have plenty of bathrooms, so it was a relaxing visit. Thanks guys. I found a good park too!

Today is Mother's Day. I always think that it should be Mothers' Day because there are a lot of mothers out there. I gave Shelley a gift, even though she is not really my mother.

I must make sure that I get some double bass practice done today. I only did half an hour's practice on my violin yesterday. Ah well, that sort of makes it like a rest day. I'll endeavour to make up for it today. I probably should record my six original double bass unaccompanied pieces, not that anyone really cares. Well, I do. Recording is a very good form of practice. You certainly find out what you need to work on. 

The PBs are having a play next Sunday. I'll take my violin. There will already be basses at Daryl's place. He has converted his large garage space into a music room. It'll be interesting to see the finished product. It has been functioning as a music room for quite a while, but he has put in some finishing touches. 

Well, that's it from me for this morning. Hey, I forgot to tell you that Lynn and Peter have some amazing art on display in their residence. I didn't see anything that I didn't like! Well done, you two.

Oh, and judging by the comment he left on my last post, I think that Robert wants it known that he does believe in sin and will continue going to confession. Ah well, that's his problem. 

Ciao tutti.

Saturday and I'm heading out for lunch.

 

Good morning. I did two hours of violin yesterday. I didn't do any double bass. Well, it's unlikely that I'll ever get another double bass gig. Though I do have six original pieces that I constantly practise. I worked on a few of my violin pieces yesterday, with particular effort put into two Bebop tunes - A Night in Tunisia and Anthropology. Anthropology has the subtitle 'Thriving on a Riff'. As I've told you before, it uses what are referred to as Rhythm Changes. A common thing that pops up in quite a few of my chosen jazz tunes is the progression m7b5 to dom7b9. I practised playing over this progression yesterday. The b5 and the b9 in this progression are the same note and it opens things up for substituting with a diminished triad. That gives a really nice effect to your solo. Talking about double bass gigs, or lack of them, I'm hardly inundated with violin gigs either. For example, May is Music Month. In past years I have been asked to play at libraries. Nothing this year. Never mind.

I'm off to see Peter and Lynn today.

I couldn't find one of these at the supermarket
yesterday, so I had to buy a different bottle.

I've been told that I can't bring pies. Ah well, it'll be great to see them. Shelley is coming too. Finding a park could be interesting. Peter suggested, in a comment, that I park in Mount Victoria. That's helpful advice. Not.

I read Rob's latest post this morning. He has been practising his bowls and has gotten rid of his golf clubs. He also said that he sees my point about sin. He implied that he'll stop wasting his time by going to confession to tell stuff to paedophiles. Good on you, Rob!

It has been very windy in the Nui. I've just been out looking for our elderly neighbour's newspaper which we deliver to her door. The person who delivers it throws it on her drive. I don't know why it can't be put in her letterbox. I even hopped in my car and drove around adjoining streets. No sign. I'm having a coffee to settle down my lungs. Yes, I know what will be required next. [Bathroom.]

While I'm at it, another thing that annoys me is that on wet rubbish collection days the people who empty the bins always leave the lids open. It would take half a second to close them, then the bins wouldn't fill with rainwater. I don't think they give a shit.

Well, it's nearly time to think about getting some practice done. No gigs? Who cares? I enjoy the challenge of getting better.

[Bathroom is calling.]

I'd better go.

Ciao.

Banana Toast.

 

    I woke up just before 6am this morning. I looked at my phone and checked Richard's Bass Bag.* No new messages, but I saw that Rob had written a post. Nothing new from Peter, as expected. Rob showed that he doesn't know the difference between a Kindergarten and a Childcare Centre.

"Had an early call out to work yesterday. It was to help clean a creche. In RBB's day they were called by a German word...kindergarten."

Ah well, he can work out that one for himself. He tells us that he spent time, when he could have been practising, praying to an imaginary group of people. He finished up with, "Don't listen to RBB. Sin does exist." Well, I suppose that sin exists for him, thanks to his silly church.

Actually, I only practised for an hour yesterday, but I certainly didn't waste time praying. I'll make up time today. Though the practice I did yesterday WAS good practice. I worked on a Bebop piece (among other things) that uses the Rhythm Changes. I see that Evil Doctor Richard mentioned the first 8 bars of those changes in a comment on my last post. When I mention my 'last post' I'm not talking about ANZAC Day. Also, half of my practice yesterday was double bass practice. That's good.

[Bathroom visit. The banana toasted sandwich has moved on.]

SIN.

We hear quite a lot about sin around here (our blogs). I read a definition that defined the word as, "An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law."

Let's look at the word 'divine'. "Of or like God or a god."

So, sin is linked to some godly entity. Without a god there is no sin. Okay, we still have a sense of right and wrong. We use the word 'morals'. I've heard religious people say, "But, why worry about right or wrong if there is no sin?"

This is where they get it very wrong. Morals are decided on by what is fair, or best, for the greatest number of people. Morals give us a safer environment, when they are followed, and give us respect for how others get to live. Morals are really common sense. Don't hurt others. Don't take things that are not yours. Hopefully others apply the same 'rules' to how they treat you. 

Sin is tied up with a set of rules that some imaginary entity has made, along with a set of punishments.  The worst of these punishments is suffering forever. Remember that 'forever' is a VERY LONG TIME! VERY LONG!

Yes, we have designed punishments for people who don't follow morals that give the best chance of people having a happy life. Here we are working on what can make life best for everyone. 

Please understand that there is a difference between morals and sin.

Well, that's just about me for today. It's nearly time to take my pills and start my practice. The new strings on my violin are sounding good and the shoulder rest is back in my strings drawer, where it will hopefully stay.

It's a wet old day in the Nui. I guess that it's wet in Thorndon and Moera too. 

I'll have a quick shower and then get the day underway. Don't worry, I don't take my phone into the shower. 

Ciao tutti.

* the original bass bagging site

Late start.

 

Well, at least I'm writing a post, unlike the two old chaps who should be posting.

I had trouble with my computer this morning. Shelley had moved it out of Harrison's reach and didn't realise that she had knocked the plug out. The computer lost its internet connection and its battery was flat. All fixed now. I don't know why Robert hasn't posted this morning. I can understand Peter not posting. You see, he bought a new lamp and is still trying to work out where to put it. 

Shelley and I have been invited to Peter's place for lunch on Saturday. We're not allowed to bring pies or eclairs. I'll probably take a Cleanskin.

I know he likes these.

The Evah Pirazzi Gold strings are sounding good on my violin. They have a big sound. I must get some double bass practice done today. Obviously I'll be doing violin practice too.

Well, I'll leave it there for this morning.

Time is getting on.

Ciao tutti.

No shoulder rest.

 

What tune is this improvisation from?

Yep, the shoulder rest has gone again. That video was a solo from Oh Lady Be Good. I was just doing a warmup. However, you can see that there is no shoulder rest. 

Still warming up here.

I'm off to work soon. (Though these videos are from last night. Maybe I was warming down?)

After that there will be time for a bit more practice, then it's grandson minding time. 

I'm still looking after my hands. They are sometimes good and sometimes not so good. I guess that's just part of getting old. Peter will know about that because he is older than me.

There is not much happening around the blogs this morning. TC is evidently getting into the harmonica and has found a new friend in the Cuba Mall. Ah well, that keeps him out of trouble. 

Robert has written a post. Same shit, different day. It seems that Gsus has given up on becoming a shepherd and is now becoming a gardener. Silly bugger.

I'd better leave you there for today. I'll get into work early so that I can do some violin practice before the troops arrive.

Ciao tutti.

Evah Pirazzi Gold

 

Gsus Kryst!

Good morning.

Rob left a comment on my last post.

"The shepherd knows his sheep by name and calls them. The goats are stupid and ignore him."

It's all to do with Gsus being compared to a shepherd. The blame has all been put on goats, though it's a known fact that they don't eat sheep. Shepherds do. What, did you think that all shepherds are vegetarians? Ask yourself, why are sheep kept in flocks? They supply wool and meat. That's not rocket science.

No promised post from Peter yet, but Rob has posted. He finishes with this statement.

"If you sin, repent and go to confession to a Catholic priest. Though you probabaly have to be Catholic, which everyone should be anyway." Sorry about the spelling of 'probably'. It seems that Catholics don't proofread. I wonder how many mistakes there are in the Bible?

Most Catholics (or, at least, many) are baptized as babies, before they are old enough to have a say in the matter. That happens in all religions. When you see a guy wearing a turban, there's a very good chance he was born into that religion. Everyone who belongs to a religion is convinced that their religion is the one true religion. Some have to be wrong! In fact, everyone but one religion has to be wrong. Rob is sure that he has picked the right one. The odds are not in his favour. 

Anyway, where is Peter's promised post? Maybe I need to write it for him?

He'll probably wear this hat.

"Lynn and I went to do volunteer work at Zealandia yesterday. We did a predator-free fence inspection. The fences turned out to be fine. We didn't see any rats or mice. A sparrow had flown in, but how do you stop that happening? I mean, a lot of birds fly. We get them in Thorndon. They sometimes shit on our car. Little buggers! That's it for this morning. I'll have a bath, dry my phone, then I'm off for a walk."

That could have been a bit longer, Peter!

[Bathroom visit, and I hadn't eaten or drunk anything. That's a bit cruel!]

Maybe I need a couple of little pies? There are four in the fridge. I bet Peter hasn't had an eclair this morning. Definitely not a little pie or a coffee! He'll have to ring for a cuppa with oatmeal milk.

Well, that's it from me for this morning. 

Ciao tutti.

Who will post this morning?

Heater on, banana toast. I will post.

Peter will be squiggling around in bed thinking about bowls.

Robert will be thinking about his shepherd because he is a sheep.

 

I'm thinking about my practice. It's going pretty well. The shoulder rest is feeling more comfortable too. I think I'll add a slice of peanut butter toast to my breakfast. Done. If the old boys both take up or return to bowls, will they take their golf gear to op shops? They'll both need to get white outfits too.

[To bathroom.]

Toast sent to the coast.

[Back.]

I suppose that Robert could wear his white outfit to mass. Peter will be up and dressed now, in white, and drying his phone. I think he will have dropped it in the bath again. I'm pretty sure he will have. He'll be ringing Lynn for a cup of tea about now. With oatmeal milk.

As usual I'll start my practice with some long notes and then some chords. I need to do work on my double bass tunes too. It's nice to be near the heater. I'll make a trip to the Hutt today. Lower Hutt. I want to pop into a couple of music shops. I'm looking for some music for a violin student. 

The sun has shown a face in the Nui. All the carparks will now be full in Thorndon but there will be some spare ones in Moera. I don't know what the parking will be like at mass. It probably depends on how many church shop people turn up.

I think that's all I have to say this morning.

Bye to the boys dressed in white, for now.

Be careful if you're taking orders from a shepherd. He may finish up eating you.

BOTH.

 

I did 2 1/2 hours of practice yesterday. Half an hour on the double bass and two hours on the violin. I kept getting the shoulder rest out of my drawer to try it one more time. Then I finally made a decision and put it in my violin case. I did one hour of violin without it and one hour with it. Why not go both ways? That way I'll see what works best for my hand. Both ways were successful yesterday. There you go.

* * *

Good morning. I'm not long up (the same height really) and the heater is on. I think I might even commit the sin of having a coffee [and then a trip to the bathroom]. I have no pies left. Damn! My daughter flies to Melbourne today, so at 11am we head to the airport. It is her intention to get a job and a flat over there. It could be good for her. I guess that time will tell. Shelley and I are thinking of moving to Thorndon.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

You are not allowed to eat things containing chocolate and cream there. Pies are probably off the Thorndon menu too. 

I see there's a post from Robert this morning. I had a quick read but I kept thinking of that song 'The Lord Is My Shepherd'. You often hear about Jesus being compared to a shepherd. Shepherds look after herds of sheep but, when the time is right, they also join in the procedure of eating them. I wonder if Gsus will end up eating Robert?

Robert in Heaven?

I'm drinking that coffee now. Boy, I'd love a pie!

Never mind, the coffee is nice. Maybe I could get a pie at the airport?

It seems that both Peter and Robert are finding golf hard going at the moment. Maybe they should try rugby? No, I don't think that would work. Robert mentioned the possibility of bowls in a comment. That could work. 

You don't hear much about lawn bowls these days.

[Bathroom.]

[Back.]

Maybe Peter should take up the cello and the boys could work on those Haydn concertos together? Or maybe violin? He could use his golf trundler and bag to push the violin around.

Yes, that would work. They could take their violins to Berhampore Golf Course and play duets. Probably best if they memorised the music and didn't need music stands. Sheet music would be a nuisance if there was a bit of wind.

Boy, I certainly solve problems for the two old boys!

I wonder if Robert would let Peter use a shoulder rest?

Would that stop the sound travelling to Peter's body via his collar bone?

I guess the boys will have to work that out between themselves. Hey, they might decide to both wear skirts kilts.

I'll leave you there for today.

Ciao tutti.