Jody Whitesides

Category: News

  • Overcoming Tech Hurdles to Deliver the New Birmingham Squadron Theme

    Overcoming Tech Hurdles to Deliver the New Birmingham Squadron Theme

    The end of my Kubernetes nightmare is around the corner. So is another musical release. Lots of little changes finally starting to work and take shape.

    It’s been several months of intense learning as it relates to Kubernetes / Microk8s. In the last several days some obstacles have finally been overcome. I’m hoping to have a solution to my last problem within a few hours. Hopefully not more than 24 of them.

    As much as I like to dick around with tech, this was probably a situation where I bit off a bit more than I could easily chew. Definitely lives up to my adage of “start before you are ready.”

    One thing I learned on the journey is that some AI is great for research. Some can kind of code, but if you don’t keep an eye on it, it will drop the ball in big ways. As long as I make notes along the way of what worked, I’m ok. When I don’t there’s trouble.

    The great thing is, as soon as this solution is given or clarified in a few hours I can start getting back to the real work – RECORDING!

    Like this morning…

    While I’m waiting, I opted to work up another version of Do You Want to Play. The version I worked this morning will make it’s debut in a few weeks.

    Timelines are getting shorter sometimes. Like today’s release. It was recorded months ago. Artwork done, months ago. And now it makes for a sunny debut for the Birmingham Squadron. Very fitting for a cloudless blue sky where I’m at today.

    If you’re a fan of basketball and the G League’s Squadron, then today is your day! Celebrate it loud and proud. I know I will.

    Stay tuned…

  • Battling Tech Woes and Health Hiccups to Launch a New Anthem

    Battling Tech Woes and Health Hiccups to Launch a New Anthem

    Another week has come and gone. Holy shit I feel a bit like I haven’t made any progress. Last week I was in process of destroying something because it wasn’t working after weeks of trying. Here’s another week and as I’m writing this, I’m destroying the last try yet again…

    My option is to avoid one particular aspect to the email server. It’s something I never use anyway and I’ve spent weeks attempting to get this one thing I have no intention to use, to fuckin work.

    Hopes were high on this go around. Everything was working great. Then it came down to this one last thing – a webmail interface – and that’s when the hacks began. Each hack slowly ended up killing a working aspect of the server until most of it was broken. ARGH.

    Kinda like the tooth I had fixed this week as well. Last week I had a dental visit and tooth cleaning. In the vigor of the flossing, the hygienist managed to pull a filling out – no pain, but I had a what the fuck is this moment.

    Of course I had to return another day for them to go about replacing the filling and fixing it. Kinda like how this server is going. Though I will now only install the working files I have and not attempt to go for the last bit that doesn’t work. I’ll be done with it and life will be grand.

    Oh, let’s also add to the health storyline…

    Went in to see the knee doc to figure out why my knee was swelling under normal use. X-rays came back clear. The decision was to stick a needle in there and drain the fluid, plus add a little cortisone.

    All lovely 12ccs of liquid came out, not sure how much cortisone they put in. But I was out being athletic within the hour.

    Probably a lot like what pro level basketball players might be like. The knees take a beating with all the running around and jumping on a fairly hard court. I’m sure they see their share of knee issues.

    Which segues into today’s release of Do You Want to Play Rip City Remix. Another version of the sports song for another sports team. I dig their name Rip City Remix. Makes me think I ought to find a remixer to remix this version for them as well… Hmmm…

    Stay tuned for more.

  • Why Letting Go of Bad Systems Can Lead to Your Next Big Win

    Why Letting Go of Bad Systems Can Lead to Your Next Big Win

    There’s nothing more disappointing than realizing something is not working. The result requires understanding that it is time to dump the procedure that isn’t working and come up with another one that will.

    A slew of musicians, or rather people who want to be musicians, will create a piece of music and get very attached to it on a personal level. Nothing wrong with that. However, in the business of music – pro musicians tend to let go of taking anything personal about what is said about music they have created.

    This is an important aspect to writing music and definitely very important when co-writing.

    Same can be said for creating something with tech. Yes, I’m still working thru issues with something tech related. I was anticipating having it finished last Friday. Sadly, a small bit of the system kept failing. In fact it’s the major thing that I’ve been attempting to solve for well over a month.

    Frustrating!!

    Last night was a moment of needing to dump it all again to go after a different tactic. Later today, that new tactic will hopefully solve the issue. Finger’s crossed.

    Yesterday was another one of those moments where you get some good news from your network of people you work with. I got a call about a piece of music that created for a commercial. Turns out my creation got picked. Mind you, it wasn’t exactly as I created it. The connection decided it was advantageous to speed up the music to a faster tempo.

    A lot of composers or musicians may get bent out of shape about that. I thought, well, if it gets me the gig, more power to it. And sure enough, it has worked to my favor.

    Now if A.I. could be something that gives musicians or composers more power to make money, it would be great. But I don’t hold A.I. companies with the ability to be honorable or ethical when it comes to creators. And certainly our current government isn’t following the law about it.

    Which is extremely sad.

    What isn’t sad is another new release. This time for those who are fans of the Valley Suns basketball team. That’s right another version of Do You Want to Play (Valley Suns). Pass it like a pro basketball player to those who would love to blast it loud and proud.

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