My beloved Iphone...almost lost...

This post is not music related...but I had to post this story to share it with you all and have it documented on the interweb...

This past weekend I was at BMO field to watch Toronto FC and I did a really really stupid thing.  I lost my iphone.  However, a worker at BMO field found it and did the right thing, she got in touch with me to return it.



My Iphone and its Cassette Case Cover



Here is my letter to Fan Services:

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this letter to praise the actions of one of your staff members in the clean-up crew at BMO Field. Last weekend I attended the DC United vs TFC match and at half time realized my iphone was not in my pocket! After a quick look around and assumption that it was still in the car you could imagine the panic and distress from losing such an expensive device!

On the Monday following the game I recieved a phone call from an Angelina. She had found my phone in the stands while cleaning and found it in her heart to call me to report it found!! That very day I considered replacing it at a cost of $280 with new 3yr contract with our friends at Rogers Communications.

A used iphone 4 on the Craigslist/Kijiji market could easily fetch $250-$300 cash and Angelina instead opted to do the right thing and track down the original owner, something that not many would do.

When we met up for the exhange I handed her some giftcards as a small token of appreciation. I am hoping this email will give her some additional recognition by her employer for her extreme act of kindness.

Yours truly,
Season Ticket Holder...

This was the response from Fan Services.

Dear John Moerman,

Thanks for your email and taking the time to write in with high praise.  We just received your email from Michelle Risi who has passed it along to Angelina and her boss.  We are glad your iPhone was returned safe and sound and we hope to see you at BMO Field again soon!

Sincerely,

Fan Services 

Here are a few tips that can save you from losing your phone for good:

1. Turn on "Find My Iphone" in settings...location services.

2. If you are a rogers customer register your phone at www.rogersphonefinder.com

3. If you are really bad with your phone purchase a "wireless leash" from http://www.zomm.com/

Don't do what I did which was ignore 1 and 2 above.  Dumb dumb dumb. Right when I noticed it missing I could have borrowed my friends smart phone and it would have told me it was in the vicinity of the stadium.  Instead I assumed it was in the car.  My friend who was at the game with me said "wouldn't it be great to have a device that beeps when you leave your phone behind?" or something to that effect.  That is where the wireless leash from zomm comes in.

All I have to say is that I am pretty lucky.  Question is what would you do if you find a valuable smartphone?

You may notice that I have labeled this post under "coolness."

Thanks again Angelina!



Wiik Wiik Whaaaa!

I am not a scratch DJ by any means. Was never my thing. Back in the day I was the guy playing house and dance tracks with long smooth mixes and my DJ partner Marlon would play all the hip hop. So naturally he was the guy doing all the scratching...and quite good at it too! You can find him on facebook. Just look for Marlon Magictricks Tanner.  You can also here him regularily with The Drill Squad on 89.5.

For those that don't know the World DMC DJ championships is coming to an end. Finals for Canada are in Hamilton in the next week. Check here for the event listing. This is an interesting year for the DMC championships since it is the first time they will allow DVS (digital vinyl system) in the finals albeit without additional controllers. It is also the first year of the DMC online DJ competition in which voters vote online! They are now down to the online top 10 finalists with the winner being invited to the DMC championships wich are being held in London England in October.

For those not in the know here is an explanation of what DVS is from wikipedia...

Vinyl Emulation software allows the user to physically manipulate the playback of digital audio files on a computer using the turntables as an interface, thus preserving the hands-on 'feel' of deejaying with vinyl while allowing playback of audio recordings not available in

phonograph form. This allows DJs to scratch, beatmatch, and perform other turntablism that would be impossible with a conventional keyboard-and-mouse computer interface. The technology is also referred to as DVS for either Digital Vinyl System or Digital Vinyl Software.

It's basically a specially made record that sends a signal to the software that the software then applies to a digital media file playing. Quite cool really. Traktor (what I use) and Serato are the more popular systems...

Now why is it interesting? Well what these guys can do with a 2 turntables and a mixer is unbelievable! However the shift to DVS and external controllers opens up a whole new avenue of creativity...mind boggling actually. For example check out these two videos of DJ Craze (5 time DMC champion) and DJ Dummy performing on Traktor software...

Seriously how awesome is that?

Gonna be interesting to see how DMC changes in the coming years and to see the shift from the traditional to the digital. Pureists will probably resist the change. It was not to long ago that Technic 1200 turntables and a mixer were the norm. But with technolgy moving ever so fast there is no arguing that change is coming. It just allows for so much more creativity which at the end of the day is what is all about and the traditional set-up is just limiting. But at the end of the day...software does not scratch for you...well not well yet anyways.

I guess I should go dig up "Le Freak" by Chic and start practicing...

Wiik wiik whaaa...wiik wiik...Wahhhhhhhh.....freak out!

Enjoy the Silence!

Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence" is a BIG TUNE.  I have heard countless remixes of this track and I don't think there has been anyone remixed more then Depeche Mode except maybe for Everthing But The Girl (side note...I love EBTG...)

Meet Ian Golden of djtechtools.com.  This guy is a genius!  In this video he is using a brand new Traktor Kontrol S2 which is a midi controller that interfaces with Traktor DJ control software.  Check him out remixing his version of Enjoy the Silence:

Here are notes from his blog:

In the left deck is a dubstep instrumental I worked up for the song.

In the right deck I triggered the acapella using cue points.

each of the 2 jog wheels are sampling and effecting the instrumental and accapella to create fills.

In each loop deck is a different loop that I drop over various sections and effect individually.

I use the same software!   I would need to divorce Tasha and say goodbye to my children in order to spend the rest of my life dedicated to practicing these skills to even come close to the skillset of this guy.

Who says you need two Technic 1200s to be a wicked DJ?  All you need is a laptop and one of these new bad boys and you are good to go...oh and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of practice...

Decks and Lego!

I have to say I love Lego!  Just ask my wife.  Few years back I bought this.  It was over 5000 pcs and don't ask how much it cost :)

But I love DJing just as much...well really a lot more.  But what better way then to marriage the two with this in your home!

Lego and DJ Gear...Heaven!

You can see more pictures of it here.  The instructions are in German and I am already getting in translated.

After my kids move out in 20 years I am going to make it to add to my sweet lounge area in my basement that will never get finished :(