While discussing certain topics during a training regimine at work, our trainer mentioned a website for online training in many software areas, from operating systems, to content management systems for web programming; from your favorite application programming language, to your favorite 3D animation studio. Learn about these things in a pay-for-service, classroom or workshop type setting. If interested, check out their website for more information:

http://www.lynda.com/

Listen to these songs as you read:
Eagles – Hole In The World
Eagles – Seven Bridges Road
Eagles – Love Will Keep Us Alive

As I sit here listening to these songs, I am reminded of certain events in our recent past. As an American, I am reminded of the events of late 2001, where we lost 2500+ people to an attack on one of the largest cities in the northern hemisphere. Without declaring war publicly, cowards tore at the fabric of the United States with several stolen jets and hundreds of hijacked, terror-encapsulated lives in hand. We were rocked to the core. And still yet, after extremely poor economic conditions have plagued us, and retaliation has reflected the nature of the world in accurate and just repudiation of tyranny, which has pressed us into a mortar of self-distrust; a country erupts. We represent an entire timeline of fire. We find no justice in lies and we bring forth no error in blunt reverences toward heroism. People of the world unite knowing that children exist with parents engulfed in the fiery chasm that is a 500,000 ton burial chamber. We know that these children will learn to love the world despite their horrific circumstance. They will stand tall knowing they can overcome anything.

As a human living on this beautiful planet, I find no fault in the pains we give to the molten rock we inhabit. The ones we exalt as leaders in preservation, the ones we lift as heroes onto the shoulders of humanity for recycling and re-habilitating this lively place; should be praised with an energy rivaling the stars’ combined force of expulsion. We need not speakers of the faith. We need not wraiths of religion or politics. I can tell you, my fellow man, that we need the power within. It resides in you. It beckons not only your action, but your electric presence. The sheer significance of your wit will trump the dismal flight of the ignorant. Your concise rank and file dedication to our progress will preside over the thoughtless abandon that exists within the apathetic.

As a friend, I see a comrade. I see a soldier who fights for the charismatic purpose onto which bloody papers I have cosigned. Ages have passed since our insurrection, but seconds have passed since our salvation. When I look up, into the dark blue, I do see the light. There is shadow all the same, but there is warmth as unexpected as the colonial union. What are we if not together in this place? Our battles reside in a moment, but the explosion lasts an eternity. Life does not exist without strife. We gather not smiles without pain. When on the plain, do you not see rays of hopeful light under ash-laden cloud? This world encapsulates the undeserving inhabitants. We must be appreciative.

As a father, I see the flicker of life in her eye. I see the moment we become one. There he is now, the model of our person, sent to survive in a world we have created. Fathers drove the stake, we wrapped the cloth, and sons must finalize the shelter for this stormy sentience. Again, a pleasure cruise exists only in dream; a peaceful golden field blends with reverie for the hopeful; and we finally see that all seas of green endure timeless embers. Life, in its entirety, is beautiful beyond artist’s words.

I was speaking with a co-worker the other day who introduced me to a website which houses a large database of pdf/text files. You’ll find things like sheet music scanned into PDF format, Dilbert cartoons, instruction/product manuals, cooking recipes, etc. You name it. I think of it as YouTube for documents, rather than videos. It’s an outstanding resource and you don’t have to worry about copyright infringement. Somehow, it’s legal. Take a look for yourself:

Below is an image from Forza Motorsport 3′s photo mode. I took this while racing with two friends.

I took this image to photoshop to create a sig for a forum and came up with the following.

Let me know what you think. Note: I cut the spoiler off of the Mercedes. This will be fixed. =)

NOTE:  Both Files auto play.  Stop them both, then click play on one at a time.

Keep in mind, there isn’t much talent here and even lesser structure to these audio clips.  They are entirely improvisation, hence the chaos.  My purpose is to record, listen, improve, record, listen, improve, repeat.  If in the interim I can obtain some feedback from people I know and also those I don’t, I’ve accomplished a bit more.  Thus, the reason I place a sample or two here.

Mic: Samson Q1U USB

Specs: USB interface, 16bit 48kHz sampling rate AD converter, 50Hz-18kHz response range

I placed the software on my computer (Cakewalk Music Creator LE) and wasn’t able to figure it out just yet.  It’s ironic, considering the fact that the thing is called Cakewalk.  However, I put together a recording method using Windows Movie Maker that seemed to work fairly well for now.  It’s MONO sound, so it’ll only come out of your left speaker.  I’ll improve the recording quality, etc, soon but for now, let me know what you think!

Recording 1 – Electric Using Flash

Recording 2 – Acoustic Using Flash

This is a decent run I have recently made of a single lap of Nurburgring. It serves as the second full lap I’ve done of the ‘Ring since purchasing Forza 3. I’m a little rusty, so my line isn’t great, but I do acheive an 8:33.49, which is on par for this car class. Enjoy.

I’ve recently joined a Forza team by the name of Formula One Evolution (F1E) and have submitted an entry to their race livery contest. Above is an example picture of my entry. For those that follow Forza, check out the team website, Formula1Evo. For those that don’t, =P

What can I say? I love racing.

I’ve come across some videos on You Tube that have done nothing short of blow me away.  These musicians are pure artists, playing guitar, piano, violin, and singing with an essence of grace and perfection that I haven’t seen anywhere else.  The studio is called Candy Rat Studios and they post under the username rpoland. I’ve not seen anything of them on TV.  I don’t believe they belong on TV.  Their music is entrancing, nearly every single one of them.  I personally recommend Andy McKee, Bob Ross, and Andrew White.  I have posted a couple of their videos here.  Follow the links on the YouTube page lists for their other songs.  Comment!

Andy McKee – For My Father

Andrew White – Wild Eagle [Widescreen]

So my design finger was itching this afternoon so I sat down for a few hours and compiled a new background for the theme that we were using to give the site an updated personality.  I’d like to get everyone’s opinions on it so just comment on this post and I’ll make the modifications as I have time.

I do plan on slowly tweaking the rest of the aspects on the site (ie: font type, font size, colors, logos, footer, etc…).  Right now I’d like to just concentrate on the background.

Here was my source of Inspiration.

Other areas of updates:

• Favicon
• Comments
• Footer
• Header
• Sidebar

Areas of comments / concerns:

• Background not dark enough – I have modified this to be darker, please let me know what you think of the new color and if it makes the text on the first post any easier to read.

Thanks in advance for the comments.

I’ve put together a paint job for my tutorial car.  I figured I’d play a bit with the Vast Reality design on a previous car.  While sitting at work, I drew up a design on a sketch pad and was able to convert it to FM2.  I like the way it came out.  This car will be featured in future tutorials as well.  Let me know what you think.