James Cooley's Blog

Circle To Remember:

2012-02-04T17:58:00.000-05:00

A Good Man Testifies for Another Good Man:

2011-12-10T22:16:00.001-05:00

Self-censored.

Les Claypool on NPR's:

2011-11-21T03:35:00.001-05:00

Weekend Edition

A FB Post:

2011-11-17T02:10:00.002-05:00

"The pilot in this clip was the guy who performed the wedding service at Meg and Kyle's wedding. Pretty cool! He got his Reverend license online!"

Heh.

A Letter To Bank of America:

2011-11-10T15:11:00.002-05:00

Alaska Airlines,
Many people, including myself, enjoy Alaska Airlines for its plans, service, and customer loyalty.

Many people, including myself, hate Bank of America. You don't need me to describe how horrible their protocol, policies, and customer service is; that much is public knowledge. The vibe of the nation is that BOA has taken advantage of these current economic times. Unacceptable.

Most Alaskans, myself included, are AA credit card holders and subsequent customers of Bank of America.

Why does AA still consider it a wise plan to stay associated with such a second-rate company? I request/recommend that AA switch to any number of more honest banks for the AA credit card. When first signing up to be an AA card holder, I let out an audible sigh when the telephone prompts informed me that the call would be transferred to BOA.

As far as average America is concerned, customer service is everything. The recipe book has been written, and BOA is ignorant to that.

Looking forward to your response,
James Cooley

Well That's Cool To Watch:

2011-10-31T01:29:00.003-04:00

Patton's At It Again:

2011-10-17T04:33:00.000-04:00

Art At Its Best:

2011-10-12T00:59:00.001-04:00

Televised:

2011-10-07T03:03:00.000-04:00

Coast Guard Alaska. Next month.

Best Bike Video To Date:

2011-10-06T04:04:00.001-04:00

...that I've seen anyway...

OMG, especially 3:36:

2011-06-05T20:36:00.001-04:00

Wow

Chris Potter One Of My Fav's:

2011-04-10T08:59:00.002-04:00

It's tough to say who my favorite saxophone player is. I can easily narrow it down to Bob Mintzer, Lenny Pickett, Jeff Coffin, Joshua Redman (mainly live, and Chris Effing Potter! Skerik's up there too, of course, but different.

9:05 - WWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA?!
But here's some Chris Potter.

Morgan Spurlock on TED Talks:

2011-04-09T22:58:00.000-04:00

Funny as always. His talk was released on 4/6/11 via podcast. Clever.

Rekindled Band; Blinker The Star:

2011-03-29T22:14:00.003-04:00

In 2001, Thom gave me some Blinker the Star songs. 'Pretty Pictures' stuck with me for years. I recently recorded the bass for Clinger for Silent Trio's new album. It reminded me of 'Pretty Pictures.' Over the years, I forgot about 'Crazy Eyes,' another Blinker' song of the same album. Also fantastic. Just bought it. Snuggling up with nostalgia tonight.

'Difficult to Determine What the U.S.'s Response Should Be...':

2011-02-16T22:42:00.001-05:00

...ugh...surely I'm not the only one that thinks the U.S.'s response to protests in the Middle East should be acknowledgment?

On a related note, it's frustrating to hear the media "report" that The Media is pressing for some kind of a U.S. stance. 24-hour news = 24-hour dribble.

The Next Muse?:

2011-02-12T19:12:00.000-05:00

New Mare's Nest Song:

2010-12-21T22:39:00.002-05:00

Has a section where the guitar is in 5/8 and the bass is in 14/8. 'What do we do with the drums?' you ask. Well, that's where this player piano scroll format comes into play. I couldn't think of a better way to figure this part out. You'll hear the song sometime this decade.

Learning How; Laughing As Well:

2010-11-15T13:43:00.001-05:00

Boo!:

2010-10-31T01:58:00.001-04:00

OMG of All OMGs!:

2010-10-27T01:24:00.000-04:00

Proof that Idiocracy is Our Destiny:

2010-10-21T00:53:00.002-04:00

I just learned this depressing statistic today:

While 47% of American teachers come from the bottom third of college graduates, Finnish teachers comprise the top 10% of college grads, along with doctors and lawyers.

BOTTOM THIRD?!

Best Video:

2010-10-18T13:25:00.001-04:00

Of Course This Is Great:

2010-09-13T21:03:00.001-04:00

Along with the few millions of others that have already seen/played/heard this music video, I also like it.

Today's Purchases:

2010-08-30T16:40:00.001-04:00

1. Chainsaw
2. Fire starter
3. Power Tower

I also pounded my chest, spat, and grunted this afternoon.

Victory:

2010-07-21T21:18:00.001-04:00

Was ours.

AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:

2010-06-13T14:27:00.000-04:00

Seriously:

2010-06-12T12:20:00.000-04:00

Colbert Said

The Dan Band will make you laugh:

2010-05-16T14:44:00.000-04:00

Aha - re: March 31 post

2010-05-10T19:54:00.003-04:00

I wrote Vandoren about my aging reed question. You can now rest easy, I got this great answer:

My name is Jim ___ and I am the marketing manager for DANSR inc, the sole US importer of Vandoren products. My colleagues in France asked that I respond to your email.

Your question has been the subject of a debate that has gone on for years. Some musicians swear up and down that aged reeds are better while others simply swear about aged reeds because of their unreliable response.

Over the 105 years we have been making reeds, we have found absolutely no scientific evidence that aged reeds perform any better than fresh reeds. In fact, aging reeds will actually increase your chances of experiencing more problems than fresh reeds will. Reeds behave just like wood – they can rot from too much moisture or from not enough (i.e. dry rot). To keep them in good condition over time, they will need to be stored in an environment that is consistently between 40% and 70% relative humidity and between 65 and 75 degrees.

On the opposite side of that, the flow pack keeps the reed at the same humidity as the factory for at least two years, guaranteeing that the reed will be fresh and ready to play at any time.

Ultimately, the “right” answer is the one that helps you sleep at night. If you think that aged reeds play better and that helps you to mentally relax, then go for it. If you’re happier with fresh reeds, go that direction. If you’re okay with buying reeds now and taking the chance that they may not survive (succumbing to wet rot, dry rot, or something else), then you should follow your heart.

Pretty Sweet:

2010-04-02T17:26:00.001-04:00

Skateboard

Reeds Age Well, So I Just Bought A Lot:

2010-03-31T18:21:00.001-04:00

Though I've known this, I never followed it through to the point of obtaining a bunch of reeds now for benefits later. That is, until today.

From TSGT Grant R. Koeller:
Reeds get better as they age, like fine wine! If stored properly, out of the sun, cool and somewhat dry location, the reeds will not go "Bad". They will mature. Right now, my very best reeds are Vandoren Javas that I've had stored since the early 90's. They out play the newer ones. Reed companies are depleting their sources for cane, the soils nutrient level is lower, because the company is trying to keep up with the demand. I read that the finest cane in the world is grown in Cuba, even though the Varr region in France (Vandoren's source) is still considered tops. I've met people in my life that are reed wasters. That's best described as someone who thinks their reeds are bad, when instead, the reed is fine, but they don't know how to take care of it. At the factory a reed is cut flat. When moisture is first introduced by playing the first time, the dry reed fibers swell making the reed stuffy and seemingly hard to play. Once you scrape the bottom of the reed flat again with a reed knife or a single edge razor blade, the before "bad, unplayable reed" will now become the best of the bunch. I've even had a reed become the best of my life reed. Reserved for the very best of all time!! Keep doing what your doing. It's the best way to get reeds.

My Favourite The Duke and The King song:

2010-03-15T21:52:00.001-04:00

YES!:

2010-02-11T00:06:00.001-05:00

Rock and Laughter

How I've just come across this guy...?:

2010-02-10T22:54:00.002-05:00

Check out Vinnie Colaiuta's discography. It'll blow your mind. 3 decades of tens of albums/artists per year. From jazz to metal to boy bands - I've never seen a busier musician.

Haiti Relief:

2010-01-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

Rescue Swimmer Mike in the landing zone 'Kill It.'

Less Red Tape, More Rescue/Support Please:

2010-01-16T14:28:00.003-05:00

Why am I blogging?!

I wish I were doing more work in Haiti right now.

For those that have been checking in with me and checking on how we're all doing, thank you.

Stoked by this:

2010-01-11T13:55:00.001-05:00

Silent Trio IS Artist of the Day

Rawk!

Proud:

2009-12-22T18:35:00.002-05:00

My recording of Oh! Holy Night reached the following on soundclick:

Charts position
» highest in charts: # 83 (193,261 songs currently listed in Rock)
» highest in sub-genre: # 6 (8,504 songs currently listed in Rock > Christian Rock)

» today's position: # 83 in Rock
» today's position in sub-genre: # 6 in Christian Rock

This song will be played on WMNF's 88.5 Christmas morning show.
Rawk!

Good:

2009-12-11T18:38:00.001-05:00

Remember this greatness?:

2009-12-08T18:30:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAt7sawS8_4
(no embedding allowed)

(Thank you NPR All Songs Considered for the reminder, and holy crap, this decade is ending?!)

LOL'd!!!!:

2009-11-28T22:58:00.000-05:00

Ode to Joy is no slouch either.

Favorite Holiday Song:

2009-11-25T23:24:00.001-05:00

New Music:

2009-11-20T18:39:00.001-05:00

I like.

Thank you:

2009-10-14T19:19:00.001-04:00

New Music:

2009-09-19T23:19:00.000-04:00

The Swell Season especially the song 'Back Broke.'

Eddie Izzard Is:

2009-09-19T11:30:00.000-04:00

Impressive

My Being In A Band and Moving Is Less of an Issue Now:

2009-09-16T22:39:00.000-04:00

In My Possession:

2009-09-15T18:29:00.001-04:00

As of today, I am both an organ donor and an organ owner.

YES!:

2009-09-07T17:19:00.002-04:00

Booking:

2009-09-07T16:45:00.001-04:00

RAGBRAI 2010 Theme Song for Team Jorts:

2009-08-30T18:09:00.001-04:00

...:

2009-08-27T19:32:00.001-04:00

Trent Provides:

2009-08-25T21:59:00.001-04:00

Good insight.

Fav Elvis Song:

2009-08-19T23:21:00.000-04:00

Easily

Entirely Too Cool:

2009-07-31T01:16:00.002-04:00

Weezer, but cooler.

From side of stage a year ago:

2009-07-31T00:07:00.000-04:00

This is part of what made 2008 the greatest year of my life. Wild.

Holy Hell, I can't wait:

2009-07-13T22:18:00.000-04:00

Miller Lite Returns as Official Beer of RAGBRAI
....Be sure to stop by and register to win the Miller Lite Bus which will be given away on Friday in Mount Pleasant! All bus raffle proceeds are donated to charity.

Henderson
The Beer Barn
Red Oak
Red Oak Beverage Garden (Fairgrounds)
MONDAY, JULY 20

Williamson
FOAM PARTY
Greenfield
Greenfield Beverage Garden (Town Square)

My heart rate increased at least 30% with this song:

2009-07-09T21:08:00.001-04:00

Is the video as good as the music?!?!?!
I cannot stop. Jack Conte is my caffeine.

Also jammy:

2009-07-09T16:13:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1qaAcJG70

I need more time:

2009-07-09T16:08:00.001-04:00

you familiar with jack conte. i can't get enough.
check out:

New Music:

2009-07-07T20:18:00.000-04:00

I'm currently digging Mos Def's 'Casa Bey.'

Things That've Made Me Happy Lately:

2009-07-06T00:05:00.002-04:00

Swimming with deployed-mates in one of Andros Island's big blue holes
Beach partying with deployed-mates with a rock 'n roll band rocking and rolling
Working on beats to Chris' bro's rap song
Flying
Storytelling while flying
Finishing The Tipping Point and resuming Musicophilia
Stretching
Seeing and thoroughly enjoying The Right Stuff

Well, this is what I've been into lately:

2009-07-01T22:52:00.000-04:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Oliver Sacks

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Jason Jones in Iran

More Freestyle Walking:

2009-06-09T08:32:00.001-04:00

I present Damien Walters.

Helicopter...:

2009-06-02T11:11:00.000-04:00

geek stuff.

Adult Onesie Madness:

2009-05-26T21:08:00.001-04:00

Catch the fever!

Music High Points:

2009-05-26T20:51:00.000-04:00

Flying back from deployment, Radiohead's 'House Of Cards' just played. Seeing them 3 times last year (Tampa in concert, Chicago at Lollapalooza, and beautifully in San Francisco at the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival). They played 'House Of Cards' and it was moving. With those thousands of people, somehow they're able to control the mood with every hanging note and nuance.

High Points:
1. First concert - Primus - favorite band - meeting Les - SPAC.
2. John Fogerty - 1999 or 1998 with my old man at SPAC.
3. [this is a work in progress]

Altissimo Notes:

2009-05-21T14:27:00.001-04:00

Slightly close your throat by raising the back of your tongue (e.g. say something like "too" Like a running faucet or sink.)

Play a low Bb and try to hit overtones by slowly adjusting your throat and visualizing that you are singing high notes. You should be able to hit Bb, Bb2, F, Bb3, D, F, Ab, Bb4, etc.

Rather than adjusting your embouchure, adjust the aperture of your throat muscles; tighten your throat muscles as if saying a high pitched "hee."

Get a list of altissimo fingerings by searching the web and try a lot of them as they won’t all work for every horn and mouthpiece

Using a mouthpiece with a high baffle will make it easier; so will playing with a slight overbite.

Breathe from the bottom of your lungs

Don't bite down; stay relaxed. It takes awhile to become comfortable hitting these notes. The longer you practice, the easier it will become. Don't expect it to work right away but keep plugging.
The fingerings don't really matter. As long as you can hear the note you want to come out, it will come out.

These Days:

2009-05-21T13:29:00.002-04:00

I'm thoroughly enjoying the band Years. They do a song called 'The Major Lift.' I can't get enough of it. Enjoy it.

Great Vid:

2009-05-15T12:33:00.001-04:00

Confusing Rotor Blades:

2009-05-15T01:27:00.004-04:00

This I can explain:

These, I cannot. Lead & Lag in a hover? If you can tell me what's going on in the bottom picture, I'll buy you a beer.

The World's:

2009-05-10T02:56:00.001-04:00

Happiest places. No surprises. It validates a lot of notions, that's for sure.

The Main Event Theme Music:

2009-05-09T14:17:00.002-04:00

For when Matt and I arm wrestle, this is my theme music:

Lead and Lag:

2009-05-07T17:52:00.001-04:00

100,000 Miles In My 1989 Geo Metro:

2009-04-30T19:03:00.003-04:00

And here's how I'm celebrating:

View Larger Map

A bike around St. Pete, drive across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, causeway grill/4-Square/swim, Anna Maria Island play, and an evening in St. Pete.

Thing is, my odometer has 5 digits. I wonder what will happen when I hit 100,000 miles...

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum:

2009-04-30T00:20:00.001-04:00

Saw them tonight!!!

My Audition:

2009-04-28T22:49:00.001-04:00

to record with Chris in Boston.

4 Corners, Oh Boy!:

2009-04-23T21:39:00.001-04:00

When Kyle, Hoss, Moose, and I did our roadtrip from Saratoga Springs to Las Vegas, we competed in the Maxim roadtrip contest by playing 4-Square at many of the Nation's most renown sights. We considered the Four Corners to be the most ideal locale to play 4-Square in. We, however, ruled it out since there is usually a line and we just simply wouldn't be allowed to play there.

Good news: The surveyors in 1868 were 2.5 miles off. Kyle! Hoss! Moose! Let's haul ass to the real intersection of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah before word gets out.

The Origins of Music:

2009-04-23T20:45:00.002-04:00

Is the book I just received in the mail. Well, it's a textbook. Dweeb?! _______!

A Jenny Saffran says:

2009-04-20T23:20:00.001-04:00

"Absolute pitch is too fine a form of categorization," she says. "If that's all we knew, we couldn't generalize any of the sounds we hear. If we only used absolute pitch as adults, we wouldn't understand that 'Happy Birthday' in two different pitches is the same song, or that the word 'cup' spoken by a man and a woman was the same word."

Fires on Androse:

2009-04-07T02:24:00.001-04:00

Deploying With Brian:

2009-04-07T02:02:00.001-04:00

The Big Guy

Deployed and soaking up...:

2009-04-02T18:03:00.002-04:00

NPR's abundance of free podcasts. Free concerts, news, stories, new music, talk shows...

JORTS!

2009-03-19T10:48:00.001-04:00

are awesome.

Celeb:

2009-03-08T16:09:00.000-04:00

Recognized at 4-Square World Championships.

2009-02-17T23:43:00.002-05:00

Before:

James R. Cooley
5956 Grandview Drive
Milton, FL 32570

518-(but with actual phone number on here!)

June 23, 2005

After:

James R. Cooley
5956 Grandview Drive
Milton, FL 32570

518-editing this on Feb 17, 2009 because I am just now finding out that my damn phone number has been on the Internet for the past 3.5 years!

June 23, 2005

Charles Lindbergh's timeline:

2009-02-03T19:44:00.001-05:00

7:52am - Charles Lindbergh takes off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York. The heavy plane, loaded with 450 gallons of fuel, clears telephone wires at the end of the runway by only 20 feet.
8:52am - Altitude: 500 ft. Wind velocity: 0 mph. Currently over Rhode Island. Except for some turbulence, the flight over Long Island Sound and Connecticut was uneventful. Only 3,500 miles to Paris.
9:52am - Boston lies behind the plane; Cape Cod is to the right. Altitude: 150 ft. Airspeed: 107 mph. Wind velocity: 0 mph.
10:52am - There's a breeze blowing from the NW at 10mph. Lindbergh begins to feel tired, although only four hours have passed since leaving New York. He descends and flies within ten feet of the water to help keep his mind clear.
11:52am - Four hundred miles from New York. Altitude: 200 ft. Nova Scotia appears ahead. After flying over the Gulf of Maine, the Spirit of St. Louis is only six miles, or 2 degrees, off course.
12:52pm - Wind velocity has increased to 30 mph. Lindbergh flies over a mountain range. Clouds soon appear and thicken as the Spirit of St. Louis approaches a storm front.
2:52pm - Altitude: 600 ft. Air speed: 96 mph. Lindbergh's course takes him away from the edge of the storm. Wind velocity has dropped to 15 mph.
3:52pm - The eastern edge of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island lies below. In minutes Lindbergh will be over water again. Although it's only the afternoon of the first day, Lindbergh struggles to stay awake.
5:52pm - Flying along the southern coast of Newfoundland. Altitude: 300 ft. Air speed: 92 mph. Wind velocity: 20 mph.
7:52pm - Stars begin to appear in the sky as night falls. The sea below is completely obscured by fog. Lindbergh climbs from an altitude of 800 ft to 7500 ft to stay above the quickly-rising cloud.
8:52pm - Altitude: 10,000 ft. The cloud that first appeared as fog is still below. A thunderhead looms ahead. Lindbergh files into the towering cloud, then turns back after noticing ice forming on the plane.
10:52pm - Lindbergh's fight to keep his eyelids open continues. To keep warm, Lindbergh considers closing the plane's windows, but then decides that he needs the cold, fresh air to help stay awake.
11:52pm - Altitude: 10,000 ft. Air speed: 90 mph. Five hundred miles from Newfoundland. The air has warmed -- there's no ice remaining on the plane.
1:52am - Halfway to Paris. Eighteen hours into the flight. Instead of feeling as though he should celebrate (as he had planned), Lindbergh feels only dread: eighteen long hours to go.
2:52am - Daylight! Because Lindbergh has travelled through several time zones, dawn comes earlier. The light revives the pilot for a while, but then drowsiness returns. He even falls asleep, but only for a moment.
4:52am - Flying in the fog. Lindbergh continually falls asleep with his eyes open, then awakens seconds, possibly minutes, later. The pilot also begins to hallucinate. Finally, after flying for hours in or above the fog, the skies begin to clear.
7:52am - Twenty-four hours have elapsed since taking off from New York. Lindbergh does not feel as tired.
9:52am - Several small fishing boats spotted. Lindbergh circles and flies by closely, hoping to yell for directions, but no fishermen appear on the boats' decks.
10:52am - Local time: 3:00pm. Lindbergh spots land to his left and veers toward it. Refering to his charts, he identifies the land to be the southern tip of Ireland. The Spirit of St. Louis is 2.5 hours ahead of schedule and less than three miles off course.
12:52pm - Wanting to reach the French coast in daylight, Lindbergh increases air speed to 110 mph. The English coast appears ahead. The pilot is now wide awake.
2:52pm - The sun sets as the Spirit of St. Louis flies over the coastal French town of Cherbourg. Only two hundred miles to Paris.
5:22pm - The Spirit of St. Louis touches down at the Le Bourget Aerodrome, Paris, France. Local time: 10:22pm. Total flight time: 33 hours, 30 minutes, 29.8 seconds. Charles Lindbergh had not slept in 55 hours.

My Dad got this video when it came out...:

2009-01-28T21:39:00.000-05:00

...1985! I literally played those videos so much that the VHS couldn't play anymore. So awesome...even still.

GOOD NEW MUSIC:

2009-01-19T00:01:00.003-05:00

The standard is set. And hell, this video is CAPTIVATING!

My Rival!:

2009-01-18T17:34:00.002-05:00

Check out 2:27 to the end. I need to beat him. I am training. Note the sweatpants. Key.

Beautiful Tune:

2009-01-05T15:28:00.000-05:00

Laugh:

2009-01-05T15:04:00.000-05:00

Spanish Love Song

Shredders:

2008-12-25T11:16:00.001-05:00

Blah blah blah - Muse Rawks:

2008-12-24T19:41:00.000-05:00

Mom's Favorite Christmas Song:

2008-12-18T21:30:00.002-05:00

Wanting to rock this with 'mates Nathan and Matt, I listened to 17 different versions of this on songza.com. This, hands down, is my fav.

P.S. If this doesn't make you fall in love with The Corrs, nothing will.

Signed,
In Love.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!:

2008-12-16T22:06:00.001-05:00

Heard of these guys...:

2008-12-15T00:58:00.002-05:00

...off NPR's All Songs Considered, which I'm now addicted to.
Very pretty and wintry appropriate.

More!:

2008-11-27T15:01:00.002-05:00

Don't know about you...:

2008-11-27T14:54:00.001-05:00

...but I'm inspired. More martial arts & gymnastics for me please!

Breadth of People:

2008-11-26T19:49:00.003-05:00

Today we:
1. transported cuffed criminals
2. read to primary school kids who wished me a Happy Thanksgiving
3. met the U.S. Ambassador who gave us an Ambassador's coin.