Work in Progress

Working on a Brass Choir Arrangement of Franz Biebls Ave Maria Angelus Domini. Franz Biebl - Ave Maria / Angelus Domini

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The "Where has Classical Music Gone" Rant and "My Influences and Why You Should Listen to Them" Ramble

Bear McCreary John Williams Hanz Zimmer

Like A Phoenix Rising From the Ashes....

Only nowhere near as dramatic or awesome. HI! Welcome back to the Rants and Ramblings of Rakkis. I've been meaning to get back to this, my little corner of the Internets but due to life occurrences have been unable to do so... until now! (and because I have to for my Music Technology class) What, you may ask, does anything I've posted in the past have to do with music technology!? To which I respond, Nothing!, But keep an eye out in the coming days, cool stuff is headed your way people! Until then? Watch this!

Bluesdays 1

So as promised, every tuesday will be a rant or a rambling on either the state of music today or stuff that doesn't suck. This inaugural post will cover great songs from the man, the legend, the dude who died to young, Stevie Ray Vaughn. Stevie's life and times is a subject for a later post, Today I'll just talk a second about a song you should listen to in order to get a taste of what Stevie has to offer. When you have a few minutes to waste, or you're feeling a little down, take a moment and look up "Life Without You" preferably the live version. If this doesn't give you some pick up, you might need to seek professional help. Just take some time out of your day, sit back relax and enjoy. We'll be back to more important matters tomorrow, for now ladies and gentleman, enjoy.

Rakkis Out.

Do Not Look at the Finger or You Will Miss All That Heavenly Glory

For those of us that choose to carry defensive firearms, a little chat about the defensive mind frame.  The carrying of a firearm is an awesome responsibility, which is why there are all kinds of “house” rules regarding firearm safety. Those rules will be the topic of a later discussion. Call it what you like, be it “alert conditions”, “combat mindset”, ect.,  they are all the same. What we’re talking about is situational awareness. Situational awareness is the ability to take in all information regarding a developing situation and act upon that information in a calm and rational manner. We all have this ability, honing it is your responsibility. Now, Jeff Cooper invented the "Cooper Color Codes", It’s what I use, It’s what most CCW license holders use, If your occupation doesn’t require razor sharp awareness 27/7 I strongly suggest you start exercising the use of Coopers Color Codes. For those of us that DO require razor sharp awareness (as many of you know I’m an Air Traffic Controller), The paradigm shift to Coopers Color Codes should not be difficult, just a matter of adapting that awareness to a different use. There are MANY other writings on awareness and combat philosophy, among those I highly recommend are Bruce Lee’s The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, and Sharpening the Warriors Edge: The Psychology & Science of Training by Bruce K. Siddle.

All Along the Watchtower

There are more than just Service Members and Law Enforcement watching your back. For this post I was thinking about following that statement up with a rant about citizen gun owners, but in life there's more than just those guys and gals out there looking out for us. So here’s some love for the Firefighters, EMT’s, apolitical Church Organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and all others who take time from their lives to lend a helping hand to their fellow man, regardless of race, status, or creed. Most of these people are fairly selfless, and either work for free or a pittance salary. So next time you see one, just say thanks, they might not say much back, but it’ll mean more to them than you’ll ever know. Sadly in todays world, most of their work goes unnoticed. Leading me to say to any of the aforementioned that may read this: Thanks Guys, next rounds on me.

 

PS: Incidentally, during all the Michael Jackson coverage someone important died.

An ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness

So inside the military as everyone knows is a Chain of Command.  The Chain of Command exists for a reason. That reason is to ensure that under no uncertain circumstances there is a contingency plan for decision making. Within every Command form US Navy Bases to US Army posts there are multiple Chains of Command reaching from the highest O-10 to the lowest E-1 and everywhere in-between. It is the “in-between” that is the subject of this post.

Air Traffic Control in the US Military is a different world. In our world exclusively governed by black and white rules of altitudes and mileage is a place devoid of Military Courtesy. The Tower Cab, and Radar Room have no room for such “situationally” petty nuances. These places are for professional behavior, not military behavior. Military behavior in such an environment gets people killed, plain and simple. An Air Traffic Controller worth his/her salt will save more lives in one shift, by separating aircraft than an ER surgeon will in his/her entire career. Now, speaking in professional terms, In an Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) there is a Chain of Command separate from that of the Military. This Chain of Command is solely dependent on qualifications. If an E-3 is qualified higher than an E-7, then in an ATCT the  E-3 is in charge, this is a safety protocol, and is designed to work as it does. Now, As with ALL Chains of Command, from Military, to Government to Corporate, Morale is a defining factor in the amount of productivity achieved. Lack of Morale in a conventional setting results in a loss in productivity. In the Air Traffic Control world, Lack of Morale results in loss of life. Here is where Loyalty enters the picture.

Loyalty is defined by Webster as “the quality or state of being unswerving in allegiance” . Loyalty in an ATCT is paramount. Lack of loyalty results in the cut-throat environment common in most professions. A cut-throat environment in an ATCT is deadly plain and simple. If one controller is willing to make a mistake to discredit another controller for the sole purpose of advancing his/her position, people can die. This is why most Air Traffic Controllers you will meet (If you meet any) will be the most humble conceited bastards/bitches you’ll ever meet. So, Next time you fly, think of us. We live in a World Apart, but that Domain exists for you. Fair skies and following Winds.