Autotune Live

So it seems that Antares is at it again.
They just announced today the release of Autotune Live. A software plugin specifically to use in live performance situations where you are either mixing with, or processing your vocal with a computer instead of standalone processors.
No matter what you might think about the use of such a tool in a live setting, you have to admit it's a pretty cool trick. It even allows for the targeting or specific notes in real time. So for instance, you could play the melody you want to sing on a keyboard and record the MIDI data, and then use that to target notes via autotone. As long as you stay mostly in rhythm, you will always hit the right note! Cheating? Perhaps. But is it really the fact that singers hit perfect notes that makes us love them, or is it what they're saying and how they're saying it?
I guess that's still up for debate, huh?

http://www.antarestech.com/products/auto-tune_live.shtml

Top Ten Adventures.

After bicycling across the north-american continent, I've set my sights a little higher! I love adventure and exploration, so I figured I needed some more! I think this list of my top ten adventures probably includes a few places you want to visit!

10. Go Skydiving.

This being the most basic, and probably most commonly shared adventure goal on this list, I figured it should go first. I would go skydiving pretty much anywhere, but a really neat location would be great too!








9. Hang Glide Over Ha Long Bay.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam looks amazing to me. I don't even know if they do hang gliding there, or if they would even allow it. But I think it would be great. Especially at sunrise.











8. Circumnavigate The Earth, Unpowered.

What I mean by unpowered is 'no motors'. I would use sailboats to get across water, and probably a bike for land. If I wanted it to be completely human-powered, I could use a customized human-powered hydrofoil to cross the water with.





7. Kayak Down The Amazon River.

I've only been kayaking once, on a very calm river. But I loved it so much that I decided I needed to do more over it. A lot more of it.
I would probably use a standard Plastic kayak. They seem to be pretty lightweight and sturdy, and can take a few collisions with no problem.







6. Scuba Dive Down The Great Blue Hole.

I'm sure this is not nearly as interesting to see (If you even can see down there.) as a shipwreck or something, but it still seems like the thing to try when SCUBA diving. I have never been SCUBA diving before, but I love the idea of being able to stay underwater for extended periods of time.




5. Visit The Bottom Of Mariana Trench.

Yet another Aquatic-wannado. I'm not sure how I would go about doing this exactly. I don't know anyone with a submarine, let alone one that can handle over 15,000 psi! But I'll figure it out!











4. Swim In The Devil's Swimming Pool At Victoria Falls.

This is one I've thought about for a long time! Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe has the largest curtain of falling water in the world. And also happens to have a stone pool at the top that you can go swimming in and not fall over the edge!

3. Trek Across Antarctica To The South Pole.

I've always found Antarctica very intriguing, and if I don't get to trek to the South Pole, I would at least like to go camping there. And maybe start a new country on the 1/8th of it that isn't claimed by a country.







2. Climb Mount Everest.

While certainly this would be quite the undertaking, I think I would do this one even more cautiously than most. I've heard too many stories of people dying...
However, it's still something I want to do.






1. Circumnavigate The Moon.

Say what?
Most people would be content with just visiting the Moon. But not me. Oh no! I want to be the first person to circumnavigate it. Preferably by human-power. Like on a moon-bike or something.
Since I'm looking into an aerospace engineering career for after I turn 35, and have played enough concerts for 8 lifetimes, I figured, eh, why not? I could hook up with someone like Sir Richard Branson, and make it happen!

I Can Do Anything!

I grew up without much TV. What I did watch was usually PBS. Shows like Arthur, The Magic School Bus, Wishbone, etc. These shows all tend to emanate the thought "You can do anything." "You can be whatever you want to be."
I thought everyone knew this. I thought this was common knowledge. But apparently I am one of the few people who heard that and actually believed it whole-heartedly.
When I say "Man, I would love to make a computer game!" or "I would love to build a sky-scraper!" or "I want to bike across the continent!" I say it differently than most people. Or mean it differently. When most people say things like that, they are saying "I wish." When I say things like that, I usually mean "I intend."
Why don't people believe in themselves? Is it really our parents and educators fault that we don't believe in ourselves? Or is that just how most humans are naturally?
Looking back on my life, I do feel like I have always been optimistic and self-confident. And I mean from a very early age. I did grow up in an environment where I was encouraged to believe in myself, but I think I started out that way.
What is the real reason most people don't have self-confidence? And why do so many, when they see true self confidence, show disdain or label as egotistical?

-Gabriel

You're On A Diet!?

It happens to me all the stinkin' time. I'm at someone's house, or a restaurant with friends, and I'm offered something especially tasty, that also happens to be diabetes on a plate. I usually say something like "Oh, no thanks." or find some other smooth way respectfully decline. And then they ask the question. I don't know why they feel it's necessary, or even polite to ask, but they do.

"Why?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why don't you want any?"

And that starts it. Now I have to try to explain without getting myself and everyone around in too deep.
"I'm on a diet." is my usual approach to giving as little information for them to continue the conversation as possible.

"You're kidding! You're on a diet!? Why!? Like you need it!"

"Um, to stay in the condition I want."

Seriously people. I don't really consider myself to be on a diet. It's kind of a lifestyle thing. That's what it's supposed to be! Now, sure I'll eat ice cream occasionally, but it's not a consistent thing. The point is, the reason I'm in the condition I'm in is because I watch what I eat regularly. Not just when I want to drop a couple of pounds. Most of the people I know who are in at least descent shape are that way because they intend to be that way, not because they were just born skinnier.

Granted, I actually weigh more now than almost ever before in my life. Part of that is left over from the weight I gained on my transcontinental bicycle trip, but part of it is because I haven't watched what I eat as consistently as I used to. Also, I think I'm probably still transitioning out of my youthful body into an adult body. Which generally means you weigh more.

I digress.

But my rant is over, so it doesn't really matter that I digressed.

Thanks.

-Gabriel

Everyone cancels on me. But I'm still happy.

I like making things. I like making things that I've never made before. I also like projects that I don't need help with. Why? Because if something screws up, I can fix it on my own terms, and I don't have to worry about someone else's expectations. It seems like every time I get involved in a multi-person project, something gets messed up, and the whole thing is ruined just because an outside party didn't hold their end up, or didn't follow through, or in some cases never got involved like I thought they would.
Why is it that humans are so notoriously unreliable? I guess we all know the answer to that question. It was mostly rhetorical anyway.
I feel like I do a good job at most everything I do. I just want others to do the same!

-Gabriel

Last night in Wyoming!

The past few days I've spent in Wyoming have been much more pleasant than the last time I was in the state.
Last time I was in Wyoming, it was winter. There was snow everywhere. My brothers and I were driving a convertible LaBaron, pulling a small trailer. The interstate was closed, but they wouldn't let us turn around to find another route. We waited on the side of the interstate for nearly 2 and a half hours for road crews to plow the road. When they finally opened the road again, they had only plowed one lane. So, we drove in that lane, and the semis drove at 70 MPH in the unplowed lane, throwing mud and slush up onto our windshield. We tried to wipe it away, but it would only smear, making visibility even worse. So we tried windshield washer fluid. It was frozen. One time, when the mud and slush was so thick and smeared on our windshield, and the snow was really coming down hard, we were driving along and suddenly there was a stopped vehicle ahead of us. We couldn't stop, so we had to jump over into the unplowed lane. As luck would have it, there just happened to be a semi going over the speed limit in the lane we had just pulled into. As luck would further have it, there was another vehicle ahead of us. We slammed on the breaks, knowing that there was no way we could stop in time, or that the semi could stop in time. Somehow, (and I'm not exactly sure how) we didn't get hit or hit anyone. Not a pleasant experience.
Anyway, the worst thing I've had to deal with on this bike trip in Wyoming is the number of hills.
Thanks for reading!

-Gabriel

Finally updated!

Alright, I know I haven't updated this since my second day, but give me a break! I've been biking all day, everyday for 25 days.
That excludes rest days.
Today, Friday, July 24th is the 26th day of my trip. It is currently a rest day. I am in Rapid City, South Dakota, and am pretty interested in seeing Mount Rushmore's evening lighting ceremony. I have seen Rushmore a couple of times before. Once during the day, and once during the night. I have never seen the lighting ceremony, however. Every time I see it I think 'Man! I should make something like that!' Unfortunately, even though I think I'm pretty good at coming through with whatever I set out to do, no one would believe that I could do something like that. I guess I'll just have to do it all by myself... :)
Tomorrow I bike to New Castle, Wyoming. It's about 78 miles, and my route goes right past Mt. Rushmore, so I should have a lovely (Albeit difficult) ride out of South Dakota. It's hard to believe I've been in this state for 5 days already! That won't be anything compared to the 8 days spent in Montana I'm sure!
Anyway, until next time!

-Gabriel

Ps. I'm going to try to keep this thing updated better, and hopefully start uploading photos as well!