A savage red screen today in the markets. The VIX, or Volatility Index. Is over 40, jumping from 16 just last week. At one point it hit over 82 (not a typo). Pretty much a big sell off is happening and is underway. Could be a scary day.
Meanwhile there is serious “Carry-Trade” happening with the Japanese Yen. This tactic involves borrowing Yen at a low interest rate and buying other investments that have a higher yield to pocket the difference. The risk does get amplified because this carry-trade is used by hedge funds that use up to 30 to one leverage. When loses happen they can be big.
This could be mucho ugly. I’m going by the future’s pre-market numbers. 9:30 today will be interesting…
I imagine gold is being taken down by “forced-selling” because margin calls are happening. Cash has to be raised to cover loses or else forced selling occurs to have adiquit collateral to prevent the banks that are extending credit from ever experiencing losses.
So the game of musical chairs has begun and the music (soft landing) has stopped. “Look out below,” I say.
I watched a lot of U-Tube performances. My powder room off the kitchen has good acoustics I learned, and even an IPAD sounds good. I miss me tube stereo…
I learned a lot about singing last night. Pretty much you can sing using your chest, your head, and your head and chest. Then there is exploiting your natural range and voice. I think I am a baritone/tenor, and my range falls within the first 12 frets of the six strings, but the high “E” string and the other higher strings can be a strain.
Not so sure of the best genre for my voice yet. I think and believe that being able to sing will enhance and add fluidity and smoothness to my guitar playing.
I got a vocal tutorial last night that offered a reinforcement to the attitude required when I was a performance artist and a creature of the world of theater. Of course one has to learn to deal with performance anxiety. I was reminded of how one needs to just put everything into the performance, and that is all you can do.
The anxiety pretty much is caused by self consciousness and wasting energy on thinking about the response of the audience. The voice tutorial suggested to frame a performance as a gift to eliminate any expectation or response. By making a performance a gift it changes everything.
I have done this before, and I know the results. This reframing certainly has application elsewhere. In a ways wanting or the need/expectation for a return or interaction in a way commodifies and countermands the idea of a gift. A gift is not a gift unless given freely…
So a great amount of growth musically and personally is underway. A major part of BS has been cut away, that resonates with other posts here, about freedom, creativity, and even the definition of being an artist. I have been preaching about not wanting fame or recognition.
I am not a religious person. In fact I dislike all organized religions, but I do believe in a higher power and perhaps even having a destiny. I realize what I’m expressing here is part of my spiritual journey. I do believe there is some greater meaning to my life, and that somehow I am being guided and protected. It is not luck or coincidence that I am alive, and I should have been dead many-many times.
Today the lawn will get mowed. The oppressive humidity has moderated. Sometime in the morning the exterminator will come.
Last night I played my custom Santa Crux Model “F,” and it indicated a vast improvement in my playing. Very clean and fluid with a level of smoothness was displayed to give me a sense of accomplishment.
My muscles are taunt from the strength exercise performed yesterday, even though I did not do very much. In the mirror I see the tightness and the muscle tone. Pretty much I have returned to being a skinny bitch. My guess is that I’m weighing in at 155-156, and I’m 5’10.” I figure around 152 or less is my “fighting-weight” meaning all muscle and totally ripped.
Don’t forget that muscle is more dense than fat…
I dug into this tribute performance for George Harrison at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The song that was covered was “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” being sung by Tom Petty in 2004.
There was a suggestion that there was some drama/conflict in a rehearsal between Prince and another guitarist who played lead. Basically the other lead guitarist played into or over Princes lead. It was also suggested that Prince let it go, but also possibly skipped another rehearsal.
The actual performance though had the other lead guitarist performing the first and second solo’s, and then Prince had the third. It was also suggested that Prince had to listen to the song and learn it. The reason he took the gig is because he admired Tom Petty. Also Prince was also being inducted into the R&R Hall Of Fame, so basically he was just sitting in.
Anyways, Prince certainly put on an amazing performance. It blows me away. He never lost his cool, and pretty much stole the show. He held back, but when he emerged it came with impact.
Cal