Thing Ring Revelations

  So I received the PedalTrain Grande the other week and got some time to install all my pedals, of which I promptly blew an inline internal fuse thanks to Behringer's Harmonizer.  I need to find a more "robust" plug.  In the meantime I'm using a Chinese plug that has a bit of inline noise though mostly imperceptible.

  The Blackbird preamp pedal is quite nice and boosts richly when needed with 3 12AX7 vacuum tubes for extra creaminess.

  A final, noise-reduction pedal near the end is needed.  I think the Decimator II will do nicely in a few months, but it's somewhat pricey. 

Behold, The Thing Ring!

  Please take note of the "Freeze" pedal in the top left.  Connections go from bottom right to left as follows:

Boss Octaver OC-2 (Japanese vintage)
Behringer Harmonizer US600
Mooer Acoustikar
Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer
Boss Super Feedbacker & Distortion (vintage)
MXR Fullbore Metal Distortion
ProCo Rat Distortion (Rat2 1988)
Rocktek Distortion (cheap and gritty)
MXR '78 Badass Distortion
Boss Metal Core ML-2
Rocktron Silver Dragon Distortion

(next row up, right to left)

Effectrode Audiophile Blackbird SR71 Preamp and Distortion
Boss EH-2 Enhancer (used for loss in the signal chain to this point)
Boss Dimension C DC-2
Boss Digital Dimension (aka Dimension D) DC-3
Boss Chorus CE-2 (Japanese vintage)
Boss Phaser PH-1R (Japanese vintage)
Toadworks Barracuda Flanger (Heart's Howard Leese signature edition)
Mooer Shimverb Reverb
Electro-Harmonix Freeze
Artec Analog Delay

  

This all goes up into my rack system, through the Digitech 2112 where I usually add:
Compression
5-cent stereo Detune
light bit of 12ax7 Preamp boost
light bit of Noise Reduction
Though I also can add other effects, they are not "boutique".  I have on "The Thing Ring" setting immediate access of:
Stereo Chorus
Digital Stereo Delay
Solo Boost 5 db
Digital Wah-Wah
Time Warp (plays backwards what I play)
(I can access others...)



This then goes into a:

TC 1210 Electronics Spatial Expander Chorus/Flanger (vintage):

Roland SRV-330 Dimensional Space Reverb:

BBE Sonic Maximizer 882i (used for loss in the signal chain):

Behringer Ultragain Pro Preamp 12AX7 Tube (for analog boost and warming the digital signal):

Finally, into the computer interface:
PreSonus 22VSL:

Recording with:
PreSonus Studio One




    
                   
 

Marajuana Overdose Kills 37

 

  So far the death toll of marijuana overdose here in Colorado is only 37 from yesterday, though up an additional 22 today, possibly due to the snowfall keeping drug-head-losers indoors.  Indirect marijuana death, such as driving-while-intoxicated is under 100 as of today, which is nice, as I expected a higher value. 

  Minimum-wage has gone up to $8/hr. here in Colorado as well, so munchies will become vastly more expensive, causing "marijuana-munchies" riots at places like 7-11 and Kum n' Go convenience stores across the state.

  Of the 159 deaths due to marijuana, 21 were children under the age of 16.  Says one spokesman, "I didn't think it would get this bad.  I hoped the legalization would make people act responsibly, because marijuana users are the most responsible, upright citizens I know."  Many of the overdosers had smoked over 3 pounds in a 24-hour period having a Blood-THC level of 43% causing their lips and skin to change to a slight olive complexion.  "Even the tears were toxic." reported on doctor from Memorial Hospital Central.  "You could get high just from touching their skin."

  Currently, marijuana is going for $560/oz.  3 pounds worth would have cost approximately $26,880.  Many people have dumped their 401k plans to pay for the expensive luxury-smoke.  The stock-market should plummet shortly due to the massive sell-off.  When asked a local stoner girl, "What about college?" she replied, "What's the point?  I can just get high."

  Widefield Water and Sanitation District cannot filter-out the THC through the sewage lines and many children and prenatal infants are getting mental, developmental damage by getting "high" second-hand through the water supply.  Sales of bottled water have gone up 4000% so the children aren't brain-damaged.

  "At least Colorado is getting more tax money." says one city worker, noting the 25% tax-rate for the Devil's Weed.  When asked where the tax money was going to, such as plowing buried roads here in Colorado Springs after a foot of snowfall, city planners slammed the door in our faces, saying, "That's how it works!  We collect more taxes and you can pick up your 'Bama Phone T-shirt at the kiosk."  We mentioned there weren't any more T-shirts and city workers said, "Yeah, there never was.  That's how it works.  More taxes, less rewards, and we get to drive a company-Mercedes.  Priorities first after-all."  A child started weeping next to me but city workers hushed her up with a brick to the face.

  Enjoy your tax dollars at work, kiddies.  Ah, idealist voters thinking it's easier to take down a government than a corporation.  That's why I like Republicans better, because it's easier to boycott a product than overthrow a government.

Locals have decided to take matters in their own hands and plow their own streets despite Democratic Taxation without representation.

The End.

Happy 2009!

 Well, it feels like 2009 by my reckoning.  I think I'll sign all my checks "2009" (or 1997.. Now.)  It was time I sell my 2008 Ninja 250 for a 2009 CBR 600RR/A (as it is 2009 after all).  The bikes feel similar in most respects but the RR has more pull (of course) and a tad more comfortable (interestingly).  The 2005 Superhawk 996 I miss a bit, but it was time to move-on.  This 600RR should be my last bike, just as the Corvette will be my last car.  Both are fine and at my age can respect the technologies.  Both have no limitations or issues, though the RR is a bit banged-up I got for quite a steal, I'm an ace with a wrench.  Mostly cosmetic issues, a few scratches.  Plastics can always be replaced (and will be as-necessary).  The chain was dry-ish.  She'll need some TLC.

  Becky and I were going to go to Cripple Creek in the mountains but opted instead (my idea) to drive to "Big Johnson" Reservoir and sip hot cocoa (in the dark night) and watch Pike's Peak launch-off fireworks to bring-in the new year.  There may have been kisses involved but I'm not telling as I'm not a kiss-and-tell kinda boy.  Orion was high in the sky through the skylight of the car and Lepus was prominent.  The Night of the Lepus!


                                   

  Can you believe the Earth is 2014 years old now!  Wow!  LOL-Zeeee! Oh Emm Geee!  Yay!  We won!  Hang, on.. my 'Bama-phone is ringing...
 

  So I'm sure you've made your resolutions.  I'm loathe to hit my local gym for a week or so, though a part of me wants to see the heavy-set chaos of fat-ism suffer as they over-do it and then surrender their membership cards.  Nice and easy is the key.. and persistence.  Still, lots of chippy-monkies huffin' in sweats ready to drop, "I've fallen, and I can't get up!" (Insert swooping juicers announcing, "Daddy LIKE!")

  My Blackbird SR71 booster pedal came in and the manual indicated it's weight as 2 pounds then (on Earth) oddly in parenthesis.  Further on, 2 x 10^9 pounds (on a neutron star).  A neutron star is essentially a black-hole (though there are some that don't understand they are the same, not a wormhole to another world, but a very very dense star compacted and near-infinite gravity, bending light and such).  I contacted the UK manufacturer "Phil" online and he was glad I was the only one that noticed this and that he was a nerd like myself and we had a good chuckle.  I have a new pedal board and it's way too heavy and too big, like a coffin demonic.

  So in 5 more years, the movie Blade Runner will be a reality and Los Angeles will house the mega-complex Tyrell Corporation and it will rain radioactive, sperm-corrupting death and all animals will die-off.  Neat-o!  I just got the "Theatrical" version which has the voice-overs of Harrison Ford gumshoe-style 1940's which I alone prefer.  Win!

  Nothing much else to say, just popping-in to say hey.  Here's some cool upcoming movies for you to consider, such as Black Panther, Dr.Strange, and The Fifth Voyage of Sinbad as well as an all-star cast of Noah with horrible, cheap CGI!

Black Panther "bitch-slaps" Tony Stark for being a wuss.

http://www.movieinsider.com/movies/-/2014/

Happy 2009!