Here is an excellent article explaining what Twitter is and how it works:

http://www.iadam.org/2008/05/03/quick-guide-to-twitter/

It’s funny, because Adam (the author) talks about how people always think he’s weird for being a part of something like Twittter, and that Twitter itself is weird… I usually get a similar reaction, and I had similar feelings when my friend Taylor first introduced me to it. But, I pushed through my qualms, and now I don’t think I could live without it. I can honestly say I’m proud to be a member of the Twitter community.

BTW, my Twitter username is KingTiger.

I’ve know that for a while and had my reasons, but this article, as short as it is, explains it better than I ever could. And I agree with every single bullet point on there. The one it didn’t mention, though… by using Firefox, you’re helping support the little man! and consequently supporting new ideas.

Post your thoughts!

Oh wow. Illiad over at User Friendly just made an awesome news post describing exactly how I feel about immigration & multiculturalism:

Those immigrants who refuse to learn the local language are in effect attempting to carve out an enclave, or colony, for themselves in their new country, an enclave where they can ignore all of the locals and in fact reject the community in which they live. I abhor this behaviour, as it serves only to erect walls within the community, and in this age of globalization that can’t possibly end well.

Even though he lives in Canada, and I live in the US, we still deal with some of the same issues. Wow. Here is a link to the whole post: http://ars.userfriendly.org/news/?id=1208466459

My apologies to anyone who posted a comment that never appeared, apparently my spam filter has been blocking everything and since I never checked it until now, I never knew what was going on.  I’ll be sure to check it more frequently now…!

So my new album, Perceptions of the Interior, is up over at kingtigermusic.com, along with my older EP, the hasty ep. You should check them both out, they’re both free for download. I’ve also got my music up for download at various music sites, like last.fm and music.download.com Most of my music is available at last.fm, but only a couple songs are available at music.download.com. In fact, I just uploaded another song over at music.download.com – go check it out!

In case you’re wondering why it’s all free, it’s because I have a strong belief in free distribution of art, especially independent art. I’m trying really hard right now to just “get it out there,” get it heard. The more people who hear my music, the better. To that end, if you wouldn’t mind heading to Digg.com, Stumbleupon, or your favorite social bookmarking site, then please do! Like I said, the hardest thing for me right now is getting my music heard.

Soon, I’m going to start selling merchandise (stickers, t-shirts, etc.) through Zazzle.com, and that is how I’ll make money. Like I said, I just want to help promote indie music, so the music’s free…but I need to make money somehow! So, if you want to support me financially, then buy some merch. Once I have it made, that is… (On the other hand, if you live the Phoenix valley area in Arizona, then I might be able to sell you a t-shirt… I have about 70 t-shirts with the artwork from the hasty ep on them, and I’m selling them for $6-$8 cheaper than they will be on Zazzle. If you want one, then post a comment and we can arrange something.)

So until next time, please keep Digging my music! (Or Stumbling Upon it… or whatever.) Thanks!

I just added a whole bunch of stuff to the Portfolio section of my website…it’s now divided into 3 sections: “Professional,” “Personal,” and “For Fun.”

Go look!

So, I have a new car. It’s a light blue 2003 Dodge Stratus. It’s awesome. I’ll post pictures sometime. It actually has “oomph” when I step on the gas pedal. I was losing that in the Subaru. I miss the Subaru’s hatchback, though. I feel like I lost an old friend when the insurance company took it away. (They declared it “totaled” because the cost of repairs would have been a lot more than the value of the car itself…so they took it and gave me some money for a new car.) I’ll miss that car.

I released a free EP a couple of weeks ago. It’s called the hasty ep and you can download it from my MySpace page. I’m also looking to do more concerts. So, if you like my music and have a connection with a Phoenix-area venue, please let me know!

I just finished reading Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies for the second time. I guess it’s classified as a children’s novel, but the author also classifies books such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy as children’s books. Although they technically are, I don’t think most people do, considering the level of writing in such books is above the head of a typical child today. In any case, it’s a very good book. It’s funny, when I finished reading it just now, I wanted to cry. It’s a happy ending, but I find myself so connected to the characters in any book or movie I consume that it’s as if I knew them in real life. I’m sure I’m not the only one like this, but it still feels rather foolish at times.

I will post more later. I know I haven’t updated Bakaare in a long time. I’ve been rather busy, but I promise I’ll get back to it eventually.

I was in a car accident yesterday (Thursday). I was driving north on the I-17 when the traffic suddenly stopped. I hit the brakes and managed to avoid hitting the car in front of me, when BAM someone rear-ended me.

I’m unhurt – so far. I’ve been noticing a persistent ache and weariness…both possibly from the aftereffects of the adrenaline rush & shock I experienced. I’m kinda depressed/sad, too.

An appraiser from the insurance company is coming on Tuesday to see if the car is worth fixing (the back end is totally mangled)…I’ll keep you posted.

Some of you know that I do electronic music under the alias of KingTiger. Well, I have a great manager/producer in the form of Al Harbison of Screachen Management, and he’s helped me out a lot. Shortly after he first decided to help me (Screachen does non-profit work for unsigned bands), he told me that there were some major record labels (I won’t say which ones) interested in my music. Something in me didn’t like that idea, but I simply said, “Cool!” because I knew a major label would get more exposure for my music and take all of the marketing & selling & etc. work off of my shoulders.

Well, last week I had a long talk with God, and He told me to re-evaluate what my intent is with my music. When I first started, I wanted to make good art and touch some lives. I realized that I wasn’t reaching that dream, and I made a rather impulsive decision to not work with a major record label and release my music independently.

For some reason, I thought having Al as my manager was dependent upon eventually releasing my music on a major label, and I was almost ready to “fire” him, in a sense, to avoid a record deal. But after some thought, praying, and a lecture from my father , I sat down and had a talk with Al about my dreams and aspirations regarding my music. I told him that I didn’t want to work with a record label, and he said it was fine — “but don’t just write off a label until you know what they’re offering!” What an idiot I am! I almost threw away a great resource and a great friend. He has helped me with networking, producing, advisement, etc. much more than I know. I’m still planning to release my albums independently, but now I have someone I can count on for help.

For those of you wondering, “What on earth is wrong with being signed to a major label??” here are my reasons:

1. Less control over your music
Now, this may vary, or not happen at all. Also, once you’re an established artist, the label will probably let you do whatever the heck you want, as long as it still makes them money…but I’d rather be “honest” in my music and let the fans hear who I really am to begin with.
2. Less money for yourself
Now, this might sound rather selfish, but considering you’ve poured your heart and soul (and countless hours, and possibly lots of money for gear) into your music, wouldn’t you like to paid a some money for your efforts? This can be a rather significant amount of dough that you miss out on sometimes, and you might wind up with very little money at all. If you’re established already, you can ask for more money, since the record labels will probably want you pretty bad. (If I had to choose between making music and having more money, I’d choose the music…but in this case, there is a “door number 3.”)
3. Less control over marketing
This means posters, web stuff, CD art, photos, etc. I don’t mind losing this so much, except for the artwork part…I want lots of influence in that area. (I love looking at cool album art!)
4. Possibly locked into certain things
…like losing the rights to your own music, or making a certain number of albums for that particular label.
5. Big business
Sometimes I just feel like fighting the man…local independent stuff is the way to go lots of times.
6. I love the indie scene
…need I say more? The fans are awesome, the music is usually creative and honest, and the people are nicer and actually care about the music more than the money. (Like I said, I would choose the music over the money if it came to that.)

I don’t think I’ll mind signing to a record label once I’ve been around for a while…I might be sick of all the work by that time.

So there’s my rant for the day. BTW, be on the lookout for my first album, Perceptions of the Interior…I plan to release it in the next two months!

Yup, finally I sorted through the pictures from my vacation and put them on my website! I’ll be adding descriptions for them as I have time.

You can find the Hawaii pictures on the photos section of my website.