Danny Williams - That Guy's In Love

I really like the original, maybe more then the Herb Alpert version... 

Korg is making the legendary ARP 2600...

I know it's not the same but I had the Arturia 2600V for years and without the sequencer I say it is only 50% of what it can (should) be...  here is a detailed SOS review of the Arturia 2600V https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/arturia-2600v

To celebrate this reissuing, Reverb made a wonderful little documentary, well worth watching:

After nearly 40 years, MIDI is about to get an upgrade...

MIDI 1.0 has been with us for along time and I think it will be with us for quite some time longer. MIDI is a survivor, there has been so many formats that tried to out do midi, but none of them are still here. I many cases the alternative had a lot more to offer but in most cases, there were tied into an hardware infrastructure of various manufactures or had proprietary licensing attached to them. So midi prevailed, but an update has been a long time in the works and it is about time as our instruments and controller devices are too complex, not to mention require speeds that midi 1.0 just can not deliver.

This SOS articles is a wonderful introduction to MIDI 2.0, well worth your time, if midi something that you using.   
                       
https://www.soundonsound.com/music-business/introducing-midi-20

nbn offering not good enough?

So much talk about Australian nbn, working, not working, not being good enough, being too expensive. Seriously let's just get nbn installed where it is meant to be installed like East Melbourne and many other locations. Once that is done and tweaked to perfection (2022 or os). Then we expend, rebuild or do whatever on that existing infrastructure.

I realise that this is a somewhat ignorant statement; as there have been many ireversibel (hardware/software) paths taken. Still, I think comparing the AU internet situation to other countries is pointless. France had public internet since the 1990s and many countries still do not have any or are only just starting to get some kind of internet infrastructure.

The IA article below is still worth reading, as it points out the political BS that is involved and shines some light onto relevant issues.                   



https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/nbn-offering-not-good-enough-for-21st-century-australia,13647

MB.com have a more realistic view point/solution
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2020/03/another-16b-needed-to-fix-nbn-debacle/

Fractalness of Things - MAQUETTE | Reveal Trailer

Like the fractal concept... looking at this, I wondering why we do not have more games exploring the fractalness of things   

Beautiful looking and sounding times ahead

Beautiful looking and sounding times ahead - 12 TFLOPS GPU, VRS, (Audio) Raytracing and dedicated (3D) audio processing hardware...
There already is Dolby atmos on the box one but dedicated audio processing hardware has been a long time coming... but audio occlusion / tracing are all relatively new and only experimental (CPU intensive) game audio futures.


In this Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb podcast, Jason Ronald describes many of the new aspects on the Xbox X, including the spatial (3D) audio features:
https://soundcloud.com/xbox/647-xbox-series-x-12-teraflops
or read this if you don't have time to listen to the whole ~20min podcast:
https://www.vg247.com/2020/02/26/xbox-series-x-spatial-audio-ray-tracing/

A nice (little) post from Phil:
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/02/24/what-you-can-expect-next-generation-gaming/

Some general (speculations) regarding upcoming xbox x audio features: 
https://wccftech.com/xbox-series-x-audio-hardware-acceleration/

Finally got the Criterion channel

I finally got the Criterion channel setup and working on my tv (65" OLED). I am quite excited, feeling like a kid in a candy store. I will say that it is not the easiest to get working in Australia. But I managed to get it going via the iOS (US app store) and that is steaming to the Nvidia Shield, there is also a VPN involved, but anyway it is all running now. I think it may be a little simpler if using apple TV, but I wasn't going to get that old thing out of the cupboard, besides I like to use the ipad app as an interface.

What is there to say, if you like movies as much as I, the Criterion Collection was/is always the cream of the crop. But browsing the selection there is so much more than expected. Like the focus of woman filmmakers - all films Directed by Jane Campion in one place (Yes) or the 5hr version of Until the End of the World (Yes) or Staring Danny Kaye Collection. I have endless praises for the service and cannot recommend enough.

This is a nice little video hinting on the history, film selection and also some of the current limitation of the Criterion channel service and app.

Why don't we shoot all movies on a Holodeck?

Long time ago I had a long conversation with Michael Mann about shooting special effects movies. Basically I was trying to talk Micheal into making another science fiction movie. I love The Keep and Michael has been sitting on an amazing sci-fi script/story for many years...

Anyway I think this is a few step closer to freeing filmmakers from the dreaded green screen. Still a long way from scenery actually materializing as it happens on a 'real' holodeck. I fear this tech may sill not be trasperent or real enough for Michael... So as is The Keep is the only Michael Mann sci-fi we will have.                   


https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/02/the-mandalorian-was-shot-on-a-holodeck-esque-set-with-unreal-engine-video-shows/

Self Understanding, Philosophy, Consciousness, Meditation and Health

In the last two years, a lot has changed in my life. I don't feel that an annual (basic) update to the Self Understanding, Philosophy, Consciousness and Health post is going to cut it this year. Essentially this post is information that I think points to some consequential if not vital things. I used to email this to friends who are interested, now I just point them to the latest version of this post.

Most if not all of the books/authors mentioned are available in audio form. To great benefit some of the Seth books have been specially formatted for audio and are infinitely easier to grasp. I recommend to seek the audiobook first as most of the time they can be easier to digest. Nothing will replace real books, but I also have a nice collection of digital books, and they are a lot easier to search... 

Philosophy and Self Understanding

For me Alan Watts was the first and probably the best to shine some intellectual understanding on (my) western existence, our egos and our roles within society... Alan has set me on this amazing path of self discovery and I am forever grateful. After a few good years of Alan, Seth was possibly one of the first beings that actually (correctly) unbiasedly explains: life, death, the soul, consciousness and many other things. I strongly believe the Seth books are essential reading.
After rereading Seth and finally moving past the victim mindset that has plagued me for too many years. The universe (my partner Cima) reintroduced me to regular meditation practices. It took me almost a year to work up to meditating daily and it makes such a beneficial difference.

Ok, so enough about me, for someone who is seeking deeper understanding of our earthly existence; what we doing and why. Basically anyone who is trying to understand life on a more personal level; Your Soul's Plan by Robert Schwartz is a good if not the best place to start.

If the universe, it's creations and in depth explanation of the functionality of our and God's presence within it all, is what you are looking for, you are in luck as Guy Steven Needler has covered all this and tons more in The History of God.

The list below is in a rough influence or impact on my life order. In many ways Guy Steven Needler should have the top spot, but he is a relatively new edition and I am still exploring the body of his work. 

Seth

Unlikely that Seth has been the only hyper intelligence that has visited earth. Still I think that Seth's words/wisdom has already influenced humanity. Very powerful and illuminating, if not life changing!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Material

I suggest to actually get the Seth books...
https://sethcenter.com/collections/seth-bundle

Seth Speaks - The Eternal Validity Of The Soul (my favorite):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x6HDgDCse4
love this part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkA-vijnVOA&feature=youtu.be&t=18s

Alan Watts

Alan played and still plays a important part in my life. I think Alan is easier to relate to and understand in recordings of his live talks and presentations than in his writings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts

Lectures playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOZqGwwGqgsT7mcgmuZ-gg3LDrRaHVrgB

Work As Play Pt 1/3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei9iLjNpFmA

A Conversation With Myself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2mvaYaPbto

Drunvalo Melchizedek

Drunvalo has written books and made videos about the earth's consciousness grids and their evolution/degradation. He has written about living in the heart and how to take meditation to higher levels. I suggest to watch the Birth of a New Humanity video first, I think it is wonderful and amazing - Drunvalo has done extraordinary services for humanity, earth and the universe.
http://www.drunvalo.net/

Birth of a New Humanity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rkqA1eaFB8

Non-dualism

Honesty there are no words and should (can) never be a description or more to the point understanding of non-duality. For me non-duality is a sense of clarity without words, a short (1-2sec) thought-less realization  that there is no ‘separate self’ or ‘separate’ anything - everything is part of a oneness. Simply ‘all there is’, is an infinite eternal unknowable no-thing that is also everything. I consider that non-duality or radical-non-duality was a trigger to my deeper awakening. But as said, writing, talking or thinking about (radical) non-duality can be (is) pointless. But there is a wonderful "All There Is, Is This" post by Dave Pollard, that I think is well worth reading. And always there are Tony Parson, Jim Newman and a few others radical nonduality personalities and they are 'apparently' all worth investigating.

Tony Parsons:
https://www.theopensecret.com/

London • May 2019
https://youtu.be/wSpbIjqULaw

There is No I and Nothing Ever Happens
https://youtu.be/0jK5DiTTXa8

Jim Newman - his videos are 'apparently' worth watching
http://www.simply-this.com/

Vienna • August 2019
https://youtu.be/5AeIydfOqNQ

Dolores Cannon

I think Dolores was the first person to take past life regression into a totally new area. But how the information comes is probably not so important. Dolores has written a lot of books, I highly recommend starting with The Custodians and then moving onto The Convoluted Universe 1. It is impossible to sum up theses two books; but most (not all) of it is essential information for our continued existence and humanities growth.
https://www.dolorescannon.com/

Dolores Cannon on Life After Death:
https://youtu.be/FhjoEnG4gww

Guy Steven Needler

I find it hard to believe that this essential and important information is widely available - it's a miracle. The History of God is not a hard book to read or understand. But at this time it is not for everyone. It should be for everyone as it truly explains the structure, creation and functionality of our and all other universes, dimensions and realms of existence.
http://www.beyondthesource.org/books/the-history-of-god/

History of God - The More Show Interview
https://youtu.be/irzdH4baTlw

Robert Schwartz

Robert has written books about souls planing before birth. I believe it is essential reading for anyone seeking understanding of life on earth.
In the interview video link, Robert explains a lot, it is probably a good place to start. I will say that Robert's books are not exactly easy reading or well structured and unfortunately exclusively focus on horrific and negative aspect of life. So, be warned this can be a somewhat dark read, as the author mainly focuses on sad if not horrific events. If you squint (a lot), you can see positivity. I just feel happy life events could have been also investigated. But all that aside the books do illuminate the subject of a person's and their soul deeper purpose on earth.
https://yoursoulsplan.com/

Discover Your Soul's Plan Interview:
https://youtu.be/fyJigICUIxE

Ken Wilber

A philosopher and mystic who attempted (multiple times) to combine all fields of study into a singular framework of understanding. There are so many aspects to Ken Wilbers work that just explaining them warrants a book in itself. The Rise And Fall of Ken Wilber article by the wonderful Mark Manson is a good point of reference.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Wilber

This is the best quantification of enlightenment I have ever heard (thank you Ken):
https://youtu.be/auKqzbhXZGM

Dr. Joe Dispenza

Joe scientifically explains a lot of important and interesting things. In comparison the the others in this list, Joe is a relatively new discovery. Joe is still very active and is actively searching and helping to raise the human consciousness, understanding and vibration. It may be futile or imaporirate to sum up Dr. Joe Dispenza's work to law of attraction science, but essentially in a large part, that is what it is. 
http://www.drjoedispenza.com/

I think this is a good interview that shows what Dr. Joe Dispenza is all about
https://youtu.be/5Gcb3Omk-0g

Terence McKenna

Terence was a futurist and explained a lot of important and interesting things. Thanks to my friend Nuwan for pointing out Psychedelic Salon to me, where many of Terence's talks and presnatation can be listend to https://psychedelicsalon.com/category/people/terence-mckenna/. I have always enjoyed Terence's humor, he holds a special place in my mind and heart.    
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_McKenna
http://youtu.be/9c8an2XZ3MU

Wayne Dyer

A self-development celebrary, but still Wishes Fulfilled is a wonderful personal account of a spiritual journey of self development, that we can learn from and connected with. It is a perfect getaway for anyone who only wants a small sample of the greater understanding.
https://www.drwaynedyer.com/ 

Meditation

I started meditation when I was about 20, also did yoga and then life got busy and somehow I abandoned meditation. Not totally, as I still meditated from time to time. Only now I realize how close I was then to experiencing (true) meditation. Not sure why, but probably for simplification, we tend to call 'meditation' the act of being still or preparing (breathing...) for doing meditation. Meditation is a state of mind not an act; doing something/anything is not meditating... Maybe one day I will write about meditation, but this here is more a hint into a few directions. Needless to say there are and have been for thousands of years wonderful meditation guides...

Hemi Sync possibly the easiest and quickest way to get into deep meditation states. I do not know of a quicker way to (trully) meditate. As Hemi Sync has been around for a long time, there is an avalanche of resources. I suggest to start with the Gateway Experience - Wave 1.
I recommend watching the little documentary explaining the technology and principles behind Hemi Sync.
Robert A. Monroe (Hemi Sync inventor) on Exploring Expanded Consciousness:
https://youtu.be/-GxiUgkuPlo        

Another thing I like to suggest is that Chakra/Energy Balancing is important if not necessary for (all) meditational practices. Again there is an avalanche of resources. I personally suggest to start with guided meditation. I listen to Clearing Chakras to Awaken or Sleep by the wonderful Fred Haas almost every morning. It can be downloaded from:   

https://www.guidedlifestyle.com/meditations (scroll down). As I listen to it only in the morning, I edited an shorter (better) awake only version (happy to share, if you interested).               

Health and Diet

Possibly the healthiest thing we can do is to eat one pawpaw or papaya (same thing) a week and stop eating from time to time; fasting is extremely beneficial. The 16:8 fasting is quite easy - 16 hours of not eating 8 of eating (2 meals). But it can be more complicated, but 16:8 is a good starting point. Here are a few links to information that I find beneficial, if not life saving.

Dr. Eric Berg DC on intermittent fasting
https://youtu.be/lwCRjwDs1Ek
https://youtu.be/ZY0_GoROp6I 

Dr. Terry Wahls

Interesting and important researcher and pioneer of functional medicine.
http://terrywahls.com/

Her presentation is probably the best place to start
https://youtu.be/lJT4gRUlpkc

Dr. Steven Gundry

Has an good understanding of diet and I recommend his book The Plant Paradox. It looks like the whole thing exploded into a slew of products based on the polyphenol diet/digestion philosophy. When I had digestive problems I did use two of the products and found them beneficial. But in all honesty if you regularly balancing your energy chakras, watch what you eat and fast from time to time. You probably only need the The Plant Paradox book, even if only as interesting new things to understand about the digestive system.    

http://gundrymd.com/

I think the intro to his book is a good place to start
https://youtu.be/2h0VhF9ad78

Don Tolman

Don is amazing but he gets some things wrong, but still very worthwhile. If interested I suggest to get his books and maybe some of the products. I strongly suggest to never go to any of his or related live (salesfest) presentations/seminars!
http://www.dontolmaninternational.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDtny2HMNXo