REVIEW: ‘Protecting Your Company’s Intellectual Property: A Practical Guide to Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents, & Trade Secrets’
July 30, 2008
What “you don’t have a creative company”? Go get one and make your wetware work for you!
If you put ‘practical guide’ in the title of any book, this particular Creative Artist - me - is pretty much into picking that one off the shelf or selecting the check box that places this work into the shopping cart ready for purchase and shipping immediately. However, it better be practical. Because, though many think artists are not practical, that would be a largely incorrect assessment and assumption. Read more
Oops! (or “How to Prevent the Pain and Expense of Obsolete Software!”)
July 30, 2008
This is about one computer user’s expensive lessons, brought on by software obsolescence.
A tale of woe, misery and lost production time due to not thinking things through.
It also shows what happens when one decides that keeping to things one knows (solely because one knows how to maintain them) can trap one in high cost hell. Read more
Creative Artist (Haiku)
July 28, 2008
Creative Artist
An Author Poet Loves Art
You are soul create
Writing Craft: A Fantastic Capital Confusion Resolved
July 26, 2008
In early July of 2008 I was working on an edit with an author from the Fargoth World Building Project, on a particularly lengthy description of a realm in the world of Belandir. During the course of working on this edit we had to deal with the description of some castes, which were described as Singers, Gardeners, Divine Dregs, and as is often the case it became confusing as to which should be common nouns and which should be Proper Nouns.
The author, who calls himself “I’m_Sparticus” after the lead character of a movie we both share as a favorite, asked me about how to sort this out and I realized that the conventions are not the same in writing the fantasy genre, as usual, and that few people have ever delineated the conventions involved and why they exist. Read more
Review: The Rhetoric of Fiction by Wayne C. Booth
July 24, 2008
There is something about the quill pen that I’ve always found attractive, intriguing and iconic, so when I first saw this book on the shelf in Borders Books in Glendale, California a few years back, it caught my eye.
Rhetoric has some interesting definitions which according to Onelook’s Quick Definitions span the gamut of speech and writing. It can be both a disparaging pejorative and an analysis and critique of structure. I obtained the Second edition in 1998. I remember being intrigued by the Booth’s Preface to the First Edition when he stated: Read more
Review: Nelsen Adelard Band Seductive Sexy Blues—Spirit-lifting Music!
July 23, 2008
CD: Blues Got a Hold on Me, (JBird Records, Rohm Music/BMI 1999)
The first time I was introduced to the Nelson Adelard Band was in 2000 in Los Angeles. They were playing in the Borders book store in Glenfield, Los Angeles, California. One might think this was an odd place for a band to be playing, but I found it refreshing and bold. More bands in bookstores please! I bought the CD the same day and it’s a part of my signed collection of songwriters I admire and whose work I enjoy.
“Why?”
I love that sort of question; why is it that too few ask? But let’s leave that question for something that is not a review—perhaps I’ll write another article on it someday. I buy the material of artists who create their own material, who have integrity and a passion and skill that moves me through the vehicle of their craft. If it doesn’t move me I’m not interested. I want original material, and that doesn’t mean it has to be far removed from genre or a twisted warp on style and tradition.
Nelsen Adelard is without a doubt a talented songwriter and he commands a mighty set of chords which he uses to good measure. From the start of this beautifully mastered CD you feel the raw warm power of the blues stir your heart, emotion a perfect match with the lyrics and sentiments expressed. These songs get me rocking, they are infectious, welcome spirit-lifters that cover a range of mood and style that just puts me into a groove while I write.
I gotta say, “Nelsen, I love it, keep writing.”
But he doesn’t just create his own material. Nelsen epitomizes what we look for in a songwriter at the Free Articulator; he’s a multitalented songwriting instrumentalist who not only writes the material he plays it: on the Mississippi saxophone (harmonica) demonstrating with unmistakable style why it has that name; guitar and keyboards.
The title track of this album lays honest claim to the mastery of the band that Nelsen ably leads to deliver these great tunes that add to the R&B library. Several could be staples. Nelsen’s harmonica just rips at your nerve endings like nails raking over velvet skin…”Yeah, sensuous baby!”
Reminiscent of the trademark ebb and flow of some of Sting’s sophisticated R&B-based arrangements on landmark albums like Ten Summoner’s Tales the Nelsen Adelard Band has an amazing ability to change mood and pace, playing with the natural predictability all of us look for in great music, and surprising us constantly with turns of musical phrase and timing as it moves from track to track for ten great R&B tunes that showcase the truly expressive instrument of Nelsen’s voice—“torment and tenderness” as one reviewer has described him. I’ve seen him in person, she’s right. Reviews are, for once, consistent and with good reason—this is quality.
If you have a heart for R&B you’ll fall in love with this collection of songs and play them over and over again, because the music, the message and the arrangements have the R&B kicks ‘n licks that make it a solid ass-kicking genre in its own right.
If you want to dance, or just listen to some blood-stirring music that has passion in every chord, then this collection of R&B will get a hold on you and provide hours of listening pleasure. You can get it here. Jack of All Trades is a second album released in 2002 and when I’ve got it I’ll let you know all about it. I’m also eager to listen to Take Me Back which was released in 2005, once again as soon as I have it, I’ll review it. Until then Blues Got a Hold on Me is regular on my play list. Buy and listen to this CD. If you’re in California look up the band. But do buy and listen to this CD and be grateful, the Nelsen Adelard Band is performing in and around the stomping grounds of Los Angeles and next time I’m there, I’ll be stopping by. As one reviewer has said of Jack of All Trades, “I would like to hear someone from any label explain why Nelsen isn’t signed. What song on this CD won’t sell?”
Well, I would say this: Nelsen is a performer of lasting quality, he continually produces good quality material, songs that have a powerful emotional effect, that capture human experience and treat it with dignity and respect, demonstrating a profound empathy for the human condition. His music runs the gamut of emotion, and he is not confined to a single mood, atmosphere or emotion. His appeal is in his range and the sensitive way with which he and the musicians he plays with present the music.
It has heart and soul because they put their collective heart and soul into those songs and therefore the songs communicate with an intensity of feeling that is the hallmark of great musicianship; the kind of musicianship that stems from an inner love of the power of music to move the human spirit in meaningful ways. So not a note is wasted, each one knows its place and it is placed with consummate skill and an instinct that is unerring. The band disappears and the songs take on the life their composer has given them. Nelsen’s music will survive him because it has the kind of qualities that people will always look for. I’m a fan, I believe when you hear Nelsen and his band, you’ll become one too. Check out the YouTube vid here for some live Nelsen Adelard.
You can find out where Nelsen is playing at his website.
Website: http://www.nelsenadelard.com/
Ready to go “Exploring”? - A Better Way to Manage Your Computer
July 23, 2008
We often want to know, “What’s that program running in my computer?” and never more so than when odd things start happening, unexplained behavior and phenomena that may indicate a virus, or other malicious software, has somehow managed to execute itself. Yeah, right. Like computers can do things without instructions. Some people think they can.
Some programs and games require one to disable security software just so they can run or install. So how do we find out, “What’s running?”, “What’s going on?” or, “What to kill?”? Read more
Ideas Whose Time Have Come
July 19, 2008
From time to time you’ll find the Free Articulator seems to deviate from its principle focus on the art & entertainment industry. It’s not a deviation, it’s a result of deliberation, in an encouragement to help Creative Artists become aware of, and through the process of creativity deal with, the issues of our times and an encouragement for them to explore these issues in their particular creative mediums. For example, Read more
Creative News We Exist For! What Can Be ~ New Possibilities for Humanity!
July 17, 2008
We just received the following announcement through Rockrap a list of musicians and other creatives all over the world who are creative activists in terms of social justice, civilization and the inequities of the art & entertainment industry music sector. What Can Be sounds very promising! If you like the idea show them your support and pass it on to others you know. “A culture of vision” now that’s what we need ~ definitely an idea whose time has come! Check it out. Support ‘em!
Book Review - The Supernaturalist - By Eoin Colfer
July 16, 2008
The Supernaturalist is written by Eoin Colfer, best-selling author of the Artemis Fowl Series.
Cosmo Hill, a 14 year old orphan lives in Satellite City at the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys. The Myishi Corp Saetillite controls the entire city. Satellite City is also known as Pig City or the Big Pig because the material all the buildings are constructed of is similar to pig iron.
In the Big Pig if you don’t have a sponsor, meaning parents or someone who will take responsibility for you, you are a ‘no-sponsor’ (orphan) and placed into an institute.
At Clarissa Frayne they fund their institute by using the no-sponsors as test subjects, testing products from deodorants to weapons. When the orphans aren’t testing new products they are either sleeping or being bullied around by Marshall Redwood, who polices the orphange and keeps the no-sponsors ‘in line.’
The average life span for a no-sponsor like Cosmo, is fifteen years, if they’re lucky. He’s getting close to his use-by-date and as you can imagine he’s getting pretty desperate to escape.
An opportunity presents itself as he and other no-sponsors are transported back to the insitutue after completing a survey at a company that generates computerised pop music groups. Their vehicle crashes when it loses contact with the Myishi satellite’s navigation systems. The satellite has been experiencing recent malfunctions. Taking advantage of the satellite’s downtime, Cosmo makes his escape. However, it’s not that easy to elude Marshall Redwood.
After a near death experience, Cosmo discovers he is able to see blue creatures known as Parasites. Cosmo is rescued by a mismatched group of people called the Supernaturalists, which includes an ex-gangster, ex-cop and a Bartoli baby. Bartoli babies are an experiment conducted by a Dr. Bartoli where many of the children involved didn’t grow past a certain age and most of whom have not survived.
This group’s sole purpose is to eradicate the Parasites. Due to Cosmo’s new ability to see these creatures he joins in their mission, to stop the Parasites who appear to be sucking the life out of injured people. However not all is as it seems - especially when Myishi Corp becomes involved.
In a world full of strife, dominated by large corporations and loaded with lawyers equipped with more weapons than the armed forces, this story will not disappoint.
Eoin Colfer’s writing is direct and to the point, but nonetheless the imagery is in depth and sucks the reader right into the story.
The dialogue is rife with wit which keeps the writing moving rather than bogging it down, as too much humour can.
The characters are colourful and easy to relate to, despite their futuristic setting. The Supernaturalist takes a deep look into the determination of the human spirit, and also raises the question to whether our world could one day be similar to that of the Big Pig.
This well-written and engaging tale has the potential to satisfy any readers who enjoy stories set in the future and are looking for an entertaining read.
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