Monthly Archives: August 2013

I Never Get Tired Of Listening To…

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Patrick O’Hearn, David Helpling and Jon Jenkins.

There, I said it.

Now to backtrack a bit. I started the MFNA web site in 1995 as a means to teach myself HTML and (the then new) web technologies. In the beginning it was pretty much a site filled with links to other sites.  I enjoyed finding new music, and began writing reviews. Writing reviews became an offshoot, and I wrote reviews for other sites as well as my own.

For a while, the web site became a central part and focus of my life; I had become divorced, and it helped fill the time. It also became a way to contact others with an interest in the same kind of music.  Let’s be honest: “New Age Music” (a term I loathe, by the way) isn’t “mainstream.” Therefore, it’s hard to find like-minded folk. Admitting to liking it is almost a way to embarrass oneself in public.

But I do. I can list other artists whose music I enjoy on an ongoing basis: Vangelis, Checkfield (defunct), Steve Roach, Erik Wøllo, to name a few. These days, most of my listening occurs on the Internet, where I listen/subscribe to several services and podcasts. Chief among these is Music From The Hearts of Space, the unpredictable Spacemusic.nl (and its bookend, Fresh Air) from the Netherlands, and Australian Ultima Thule. It is truly a global world in some respects!

The sites mentioned above provide me with a constant flow of new music – and when I’m out running, new music is a special joy to experience – but I must come back to the title of this entry.

There is something intangible and indescribable about the music of Patrick O’Hearn and

So Flows Sessions Cover

The So Flows Sessions by Patrick O’Hearn

the duo of David Helpling and Jon Jenkins (oh, the two as solo artists have some outstanding work as well).

As I review the different devices I use to listen to music (a conglomeration of computers, tablets, iPods, etc.) I find that each and every one of them contains works by these artists. In random rotation, whenever one of these tracks begins I am instantly transported to a place of peace, serenity and bliss. Even the “darker” tunes leave me feeling comforted and satisfied.

It’s rare that I purchase music these days, as the podcasts and Internet broadcasts fill up so much of my listening time, but I own releases by all of these artists. This article isn’t a review of their music, specific albums or even an attempt to rate them with their peers. It’s merely an appreciation of the pleasure they’ve given me over the years, with the hope they will continue to create more.

Logging Runs

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This is part shout-out, part unsolicited recommendation and 100% rave.

Sometimes the little guys get it right. And when they do, they should be recognized for it. Eric Yee gets it right.

A little background: There are a plethora of web sites about running. Some of these are corporate sites, like Garmin‘s, which provide a means for users of Garmin GPS watches and devices to upload and store their collected data. Some sites are forums, some are training programs, and many are a mix of the above. The explosion of mobile apps has created a whole new generation of web sites focused on serving these apps. Many of these sites make their money by subscription, “gold” level memberships and the like.

A few years ago, I used a web site to track not only my running, but also my gym workouts and more. Unfortunately, the site’s creator stopped supporting it, and my $25 per year subscription was not giving me the value I sought.  I searched around a bit, and found a lot of sites.

The problem with many of the sites seemed to be the lack of focus; there seemed to be more bickering and personality conflicts than there was actual running information. As many runners may remember, 2008 saw a major upheaval among several of the top sites, as one acquired the other, and the fallout was extreme and a lot of bitter feelings were expressed.

Enter Eric Yee. Eric’s site is RunningAHEAD.com, and it’s been online for years. Maybe it’s flown under the radar (although the active membership seems to be quite large), or maybe I’m just bowing to the principle that when you’ve found something you’re looking for, you stop looking!

RunningAHEAD includes the ability to upload data from Garmin and other devices, create and save courses, list personal records, maintain an equipment log, produce reports on configurable parameters, create a training program, and a host of widgets, tools, and custom displays.  Add to this the ability to create user groups, join other groups, and participate in forums, and you have a soup-to-nuts solution for every runner.

Here’s an example of a live widget that posts my last five runs:

Running Log powered by RunningAHEAD



Oh by the way, did I mention it’s FREE? Well, there is a slight wrinkle: a free account includes some advertising, but it’s usually unobtrusive and pertinent.  One can (and I do) contribute to the site’s upkeep, and Eric will remove the advertising.  Nice.

I’ve been a happy user of RunningAHEAD.com for five years. After a run, the first thing I do is connect my Garmin Forerunner to my computer, open my browser to the site, upload my data and review my run. It’s become a regular part of my running routine. Thanks, Eric!

Is It Time For Article V?

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Liberty Amendments Cover

This past weekend I have become increasingly aware of a possible legal way to reduce the growing federal government overreach and reduction of individual liberties. I first learned of the new book by Constitutional expert, author and radio personality Mark Levin, The Liberty Amendments: Restoring the American Republic.

Then, I happened across an interview with a man whose name I didn’t catch, who was speaking of something called The Madison Coalition.

James Madison has been called the “political philosopher of the Constitution.” It was his brilliance that resulted in the three separate but equal branches of government, and the system of checks and balances.

James_MadisonBut even Madison knew that the system wasn’t perfect. He knew that people and organizations naturally seek to grow in size, influence and power. Thus, built into the Constitution was Article V, which details the mechanism for how the Constitution may be amended. It states,

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Not once in the history of the republic has a constitutional convention been called via the Article V route. The possibility of “rogue” constituents and the premise of a mass re-writing or overturning of the Constitution are given as reasons for this. But Article V has its own built-in protections against this possibility. Nevertheless, the Madison Coalition seeks to educate legislators at state and local levels and encourage them to support the Madison Amendment.

The Madison Coalition encourages both State leaders and Members of Congress to work for the eventual adoption of the Madison Amendment to permanently and constitutionally guarantee the right of 34 states who propose an identical Amendment to limit the scope of a Convention they call to an up or down vote on that specific Amendment.

Congress and the president seem to have grown deaf ears. The purpose of the Constitution was to limit the powers of the federal government, and the Tenth Amendment specifically states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” I think it’s time the people took back their power.

I Vote “No” On Instant Replay

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I love technology. It’s enriched my life and working in the technical field has enabled me to earn a relatively comfortable living. I also love baseball. I grew up a fan of the Washington Senators, of whom it was quipped, “Washington: First in war, first in peace, last in the American League.”

Yet when I heard the news that Major League Baseball was instituting a new instant replay policy, my gut reaction was swift and sure.  I’m against it.

Rafael Soriano pitches for the NatsYesterday I watched a game with my new favorite team, the Washington Nationals. The Nats were leading the San Francisco Giants 3-1 in the top of the ninth. The home plate umpire clearly missed calling what would have been the game ending third strike. Both the pitcher and the batter thought so. On the next pitch, the batter hit a three-run homer that put the Giants ahead, and the Giants wound up winning the game, 4-3.

Instant replay would have reversed that call, right? Maybe. But that’s not the point.

Baseball is a unique game in many ways. For one, it’s the only game where the defense has the ball. It also isn’t ruled by a clock. It’s a game where every player has the same opportunity to contribute to the offense (n.b. the designated hitter rule in the American League, to which I also object). And that’s the point. This is a game for and by human beings. And being fallible, human beings make mistakes. A baseball box score lists runs, hits and errors. Errors are as a much a part of the game as everything else.  Bill Buckner, anyone?

Last night on the radio, a local sportscaster, obviously stung by the loss, disagreed with the “human element” of the game. He argued that the technology exists (and the media uses it prolifically during broadcasts) to accurately measure balls and strikes. Why leave it to a human umpires, who can – and often do – misread the strike zone? My response to that argument: The technology also exists to throw a perfect strike. Every time. Why not replace the pitcher with a machine that gives each batter the exact same hitting opportunity?

Because that removes the human element of the game and turns it into little more than high-priced batting practice. Fans of the game know this well: A game of baseball changes with every pitch; with a runner on second and the count three balls and two strikes, the strategy will be different depending on how many outs there are.

Do we want to reduce the subtlety and nuances of the game just because we can? Certainly I’m not happy the game was lost on a blown call. But I also believe these things tend to balance out, and I think teams are the beneficiaries of as many blown calls as they are victim to them.

And that’s as it should be, in my opinion. Because we’re human and bystanders to technology.

So What’s With The Shoe?

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The shoe shown in the header image is the new Saucony Virrata.  Runner’s World gave it a Best Debut award when Saucony introduced it in early 2013.  Designed to be a “zero drop” shoe (no offset from heel to midfoot), the Virrata goes the minimalist shoes one better by retaining some foam beneath the foot.

Runner’s World claims their tests show it to actually have a 4mm drop, but I’ve run in the Kinvara (Saucony’s other minimalist trainer), which I absolutely loved, and it has a drop I don’t feel in the Kinvara.

In any event, at 6.7oz (men’s) this is a lightweight, minimalist running shoe that still provides a measure of cushioning.  Since I am blessed to work at a running store part time, I am able to purchase shoes at a discount.  The Virrata isn’t my daily runner, but it’s a sweet option when I’m choosing!

About this site…

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Hello!

I first built the Music For A New Age web site in 1995.  At one time, it was the number one Google hit when “New Age Music” was the search criteria.

That was then, this is now.

I’ve let the site go catatonic, having found work, life and technology take priority.  So, I thought maybe it’s time to get modern.  With the latest and greatest software, I chose to turn my “first generation portal” into something a little more interactive. And personal.

The title of this blog comes from two of my primary interests: Running and politics.  I’ve been a runner for decades, and although I can tell my days of distance running are numbered, I still have a love for the activity, and hope to be running into my declining years. My interest in politics goes back to my childhood, growing up in a government service family, and my undergraduate studies in international relations.  I confess, that the current state of politics – American politics in particular – distresses me.  I think we’ve come so far from what the original framers intended that they wouldn’t recognize the country they birthed.  And many died to preserve.

So, I’ll be writing about things that interest me.  I have no intention of running for office; I served six years as a volunteer in a state-mandated organization and feel I’ve done my part for public service.  From here on in, I’ll be an observer, running FROM office!