About me:
Bill Batty, Jr.
29 years old.

Father of
Julia Valentine,
husband of  Susan

Musician.

One who writes the occasional poem, though not a poet.

Reading:
Now:
?????

Just Finished:
The Maltese Falcon
Dashell Hammett

Listening:
Now:
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
MOFI Japanese Vinyl

Just Finished:
Altered Beast
Matthew Sweet
150 Gm Vinyl

Watching:
Now:
Enemy at the Gates
DVD (Rented)
Dolby Digital

Just Finished:
Se7en
Platinum Series
Dolby Digital

Places I go...

sometimes!

The Quiet Storm

The Bagman

Textism

Biz Stone, Genius

A Grave is Full of Deadman's Bones,
or TRAA Archive
 

Link to me!

3/31/2001

At a tradeshow right now. No real time to post. Be back soon. I want to talk about the Thorens, my Dad, and a couple of other things.
posted by Billy Rhythm Saturday, March 31, 2001

3/28/2001

So my friend Charles gave me an Apple 550. It's got system 7.1, which I'm trying to upgrade to 7.5.3. (It's a free download.) So, I downloaded 20 floppys worth, and I can't get it to work. Bummer. I may have to contact Waterman. In any event, it's a free computer. You can pick one up on ebay for about $50.

Also, while I was at Charles' house, I left a bunch of muddy footprints on Lindsay's white carpet. It was a mistake, honest. I mean, the driveway looked like Yasgar's farm on Sunday. Deep, deep mud. If needed Lindsey (I don't know the spelling, so I thought I spell it each way once) I can bring over the Kirby, and give it a shampoo.
posted by Billy Rhythm Wednesday, March 28, 2001

3/27/2001

I got the Thorens fixed! I don't really know how. I checked the connections under the tonearm, and a the headshell. I then reset the connections at the cartridge, and BOOM, it worked. So no trip to Bangor for me. Thank you Gary!

Also, no one emailed me their bluesname. So sad. Someone could have one the prize. I will start another conest soon.
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 27, 2001

So Gary at Summit Sound (207-947-HIFI) gave me some advice on the old Thorens. If that dosen't work, I'm going to take a ride to Bangor to see him. Tomorow afternoon, if all goes well.

And, some reject backed out of an auction for a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. Great! Now I have to request a refund from eBay, which I can't do for another 10 days. Luckily, there was another bidder on the bass. It looks like he may take it. I hope so.
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 27, 2001

3/26/2001

So I thought I would do a little tweaking on the Thorens. I tweaked it all right. Now I get no sound out of the left channel. Neat. Looks like it will be going to the shop. I hope Gary from Summit Sound can help me.

For those wanting an update on Dad--it looks like he's going in fo surgery on Friday.
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 26, 2001

3/25/2001

No updates yesterday. I was at a tradeshow all day for Midcoast. 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Ouch. Doing it again today, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. So all you TRAA junkies get is this little post.
posted by Billy Rhythm Sunday, March 25, 2001

3/23/2001

Don't forget to email me your blues name. Here's the recipie again: ailment:fruit:last name dead president. Like "Bow Legged Honey Dew Washington." Don't forget there really is a prize. And it's nice, too.
posted by Billy Rhythm Friday, March 23, 2001

Now I like Pop Tarts. Just thought you should know. I don't know who would eat a grape Pop Tart, but somebody would. Me? I go for the chocolate fudge. Then, I drizzle some Hershy's Syrup all over it, and wash it down with a big glass of Jack Daniels. Whoops! I mean milk.
posted by Billy Rhythm Friday, March 23, 2001

So the Greasy Wop has this comic strip that he and Chris do. It's here. Does anyone get it? Ron over at TU doesn't even get, and he's a hardcore computer user. Can somebody 'splain this to me?
posted by Billy Rhythm Friday, March 23, 2001

3/22/2001

Want a good online music store? Try Interstate Music. They have a good selection, and the prices look pretty good. And then, after you check their price, call Northern Kingdom. My drum kit for example: $1850 from Interstate. $1900 from Northern Kingdom. $50 more to go local, support my buddies, and have a place to go for service? In a heartbeat.
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 22, 2001

Home again today. I have a tradeshow this weekend, and I didn't want to put in 60 hours. So today I did some grocery shopping, washed some dishes, and I am going to cook supper this evening. I also need to post some more content. I need to post some stuff on my DJ business, and on drums.

Speaking of drums, Cracked 5a (from Low-Z Studio) had a discussion on drum plies and thickness. He wants a drum with fewer plies. I was more of the argument that a thin shell does more for the sound than the number of plies. But for a given thickness, fewer plies would be better. But would I rather have a 2 ply inch-thick drum, or a 10 ply 5 mil thick drum? The latter.
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 22, 2001

3/21/2001

So the tub is re-caulked. It looks nice too. It had some black mildew stains under the old clear caulk. I used white this time, so hopefully it will stay clean looking. And I vacuumed too. And I cleaned up some stuff I had lying around.

Supper--2 eggs, fried spam, hashbrowns and toast. Wicked good.

I forgot to mention, on Monday we went to my grandmother's for St. Patty's day. (Yes, it wan't the 17th, but hey.) Julia was running around, and she fell and hit her head on the coffee table. Result: her first shinner.
posted by Billy Rhythm Wednesday, March 21, 2001

I am spending my afternoon off re-caulking my tub, while my wife watches a screaming baby. How she ever did daycare is beyond me.
posted by Billy Rhythm Wednesday, March 21, 2001

3/20/2001

Finally I've gotten it to work. It's been several hours, but it's working again. I'm so glad I'm going to bed soon. But first I'm going to have a Courvoisier.
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 20, 2001

This thing is broken!
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Why won't this work!
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Just got word on Dad. He has some kind of growth on his kidney. They're going to take his kidney, regardless of whether the growth is malignant or not. The other kidney is clean, and his long term prognosis look good. Even if it is cancer, he says kidney cancer usually is localized, and doesn't usually spread past the kidney, so chemo probably won't be needed. But they won't know for sure until they get it out. So, on a scale of 1-10, (one being everything otay, ten being hell broke loose) I give this little bump in the road a 5.5.
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Whoops! Looks like I've got some code to fix!
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 20, 2001

So, I ordered a 6 1/2" by 14" brass Tama snare drum. That still leaves me with $150 or so credit at that great music store I habit, Northern Kingdom. (For a really great deal, you should talk to Harv or Mack. You can call them at 207-236-8721.) Perhaps I will get a nice throne and backrest. Perhaps not.

I'm still waiting for Dad's test results to come in. This has been a hard wait.

Fettucine Alfredo and Chicken for supper tonight. I will eat it all myself.
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 20, 2001

3/19/2001

I have also finished Murder Must Advertise. I will move on to something else. I have a Brautigan novel I haven't read yet, but I will skip it for now. (I haven't read "So the Wind Won't Blow it All Away," but have read the other two.) I think I will head over to Second Read Books and Coffee to spend the $10 gift certificate my brother gave me for Christmas.
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 19, 2001

Well, I got my Flash movie working at BillyRhythm.com. For some strange reason, I had the first keyframe set up with both "stop" and "play" commands. I would get confused, too.

I got "mad props" from Harmonic D of Independece Scorned. He didn't give me mad props when I informed him that he had misspelled "Independece." In fact, there is at least one static link on the Internet referencing "Independance Scorned."

Have you ever wanted your own blues alter-ego? (I have several alter-egos: an Italian one, a cowboy one, a British one, and of course, Billy Rhythm) To make your own blues name, follow this recipie. Take the name of an infirmity or malady. (Note to JP: a vasectomy is not an infirmity. Unless you got one when you went in for an ingrown toenail.) Then, take the name of a fruit. Add to that the last name of a dead president. Presto! I've always liked 'Skip-toothed Watermelon McKinnley.' Dake came up wth Hobblin' Pickles Johnson. I then came up with a contest. Submit to me your favorite blues name. I will then pick a winner, and award them a fab prize. (this is not a joke. I have a prize all lined up.) So get thos entries in! Contest ends in one week.
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 19, 2001

3/16/2001

So, my flash movie isn't working at BillyRhythm.com. But, if you want to see it, right click the drum set and select play. I also see the page isn't optimized for 800X600. I'll have to make that change too. And I think that the movie looks so good, the opening page is a real let down.
posted by Billy Rhythm Friday, March 16, 2001

3/15/2001

The good news and the bad news...

The good news is BillyRhythm.com is online. Not much there, but stuff will come.

The bad news? My dad had a CAT scan today. They saw a spot on his kidney. It may be just a cyst, or it may be cancer. He goes in Moday night for an MRI. Please keep Bill Sr. in your prayers.
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 15, 2001

Sugar. Oh, honey honey. You are my candy girl, and you got me wantin' you!

Jim, you stink!
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 15, 2001

If you want some fun, go to a local Golden K Kiwanis club, and help em stuff envelopes for Meals-On-Wheels. I did. What follows is actual dialogue that took place.

"I like watching that high school basketball."
"Me too. I like watching it for the cheerleaders." (Remember, I am not making this up.)
(A third guy.) "If you like the cheerleaders, you should try the XFL. They've got some good cheerleaders on there."

And also:

"We could get this done a lot faster if someone brought us some Manhattans."
"It might not be faster, but we'd be more crooked."
"I'm already crooked, maybe it will straighten me out!"

80 year old guys talking about cheerleader and getting snookered. Now that's fun!
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 15, 2001

Ring a ding ding! BillyRhythm.com is now happening! (Of course, there is nothing there yet.) But soon I will be on my own dedicated web-server, throwing out bandwith hand over fist. I'll be runnin' some scripts, loadin' some stats, and giving away email addresses @billyrhythm.com. Now the only hitch: how to get people to remember how to spell "rhythm." Anyone have a good pneumonic device?
How about:

R-rhythm
H-hates
Y-you
T-The
H-hosebag
M-Man

???
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 15, 2001

3/14/2001

Coming soon: BillyRhythm.com!

Anybody know how to change cell background colors in Dreamweaver?
posted by Billy Rhythm Wednesday, March 14, 2001

Chocolate covered bacon? Nope. Draw the line there.

I went home to have my lunch. The place was swarming with kids, toys, and women scrapbooking. And so, I came back here to the office. I have been playing some NES emmulation, especially Mike Tyson's Punch Out. I can't get by Soda Popinski! AHHH!

I also thought I had been hacked. I FTP'd into my space, and there was nothing in my public_html folder except a CGI bin. I don't get a cgi bin. So I open it up, and see all these scripts in folders for Bill and Pete! Who are these people? Then I realized I was logged into the wrong server... I was on another server on which I have an account. Oh well, maybe I should move this page over there, and run my own ICQ bots and what-not. (Not really.)
posted by Billy Rhythm Wednesday, March 14, 2001

So, the person hitting my page from The Samoset wrote me an email, confessing. Due to my love of privacy, I will not reveal the name. But let me say I'm sorry for spelling your name wrong, Allison.

I also had a hit from JellyDonut.org. How they got here, I don't know. But anyway, check their site out. You know, I mention them, maybe they'll mention me.
posted by Billy Rhythm Wednesday, March 14, 2001

3/13/2001

Man! Somehow tonight a version of CuteFTP made it onto my machine. How do all these programs end up on my machine?

Took a swing over to Napster tonight, just to see what was going on. You know, if you want to find Lenny Kravitz's "Mr Cab Driver," you can still find it, but it might be called "Mr Cab Drvr." I could still find all kinds of things.

I spent the day at a seminar for Proofreading and Grammar. I learned all kinds of neat things. I guess I need a copy of Gregg's Style manual. I have been using Turabian's since college, at it's not serving my needs too well in the business community. I also learned that the rule I learned for when to use "who" and "whom" may not be correct. Their method was different than mine, and yielded different results. I will do some more digging and let you know. I know you will all stay on the edge of your seats!

Want to buy some great new vinyl? Want to buy me some great new vinyl? The British have Simply Vinyl, and they have come out with some great stuff. I will have to put together a wish list.
posted by Billy Rhythm Tuesday, March 13, 2001

3/12/2001

Some minor hacking. I somehow managed to get a copy of Dreamweaver here on my home machine. So, I put my Tracker and Blogger buttons in a table down at the bottom, to try and neaten things up. When I did that using Composer, it did all kinds of crazy things. I also added a link to Harmonic Distortions "Independence Scorned."
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 12, 2001

This is a test...
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 12, 2001

Have you ever bitten the inside of your mouth, and you get that little nub of skin and swelling? I bit the front of my bottom lip. Now, that little nub is like a target! You know, it's not usually there, so you chew just like you always do and BANG! you've bitten the same spot again! Now the spot gets bigger. It's like a bigger target! Bang. Soon, the inside of your mouth is so swollen you can't even put food in...

Win a Harley Davidson Fat Boy!

Somebody is hitting my page from the Samoset Resort. Who is it! Fess up! Alison? Chris? Will? Frank? I know a bunch of you over there. Let me know who you are!

One friend of mine from Kiwanis has a son with a new domain name. Sumner's (who reads this page, or so he says) son, Shane, has a site at ShaneKinney.com. I've known Shane for years. We grew up in Spruce Head together. Shane is a writer for Face Magazine, and the drummer for Broken Clown. Shane works down in Portland at The Drum Shop. (OK, enough links and stuff.) Anyway, I cruise over to check out Shane's site, to give him a plug and all, and there's nothing there! Just an opening spash page. Take a look anyway, if you want.
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 12, 2001

Crazy weekend. I will explain. No, there is not time. Let me sum up.

A) Thursday night gig cancels. Instead, Blind Albert, Harmonic Distorions, and I went to the Waterworks for a Black and Tan and nachos.
B) Nobody at Friday's gig at Bloomfields, Skowhegan. Apparently, their high school basketball team was in the finals, so the town went to Bangor.
C) Drive home Friday night/Saturday Morning: 1 time unable to make it up a hill in Augusta, causing severe truck slidadge. (Slide-adge?) A little while later, the Billy Rhythm-mobile snuggled up with a snow drift up by Mirror Lake. Luckily, a tow rope was behind the seat, and a good samaritan with a Jeep pulled me out.
D)On way to gig Saturday, Sea Dog, Bangor, a flat tire occurs. It gets fixed and arrival at gig, on time, is assured.
E) On way to Sams Club, Augusta a piece of exhuast system falls off.

Other than that, I had a great weekend.
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 12, 2001

3/9/2001

More auctions running. We had 3 end successfully out of the last 6. I've made almost $300 selling items for Northern Kingdom. Too bad they already sold that Yamaha electric kit. I have the day off today. I was supposed to play in Ellsworth last night, but they cancelled the gig. Blind Al was on his way, when he decided to check his voicemail. That's where they left the message. The funny part is, he called th day before, and they confirmed the gig! Then 24 hours later they cancel. It's a good thing Blind Al called his voicemail.
posted by Billy Rhythm Friday, March 09, 2001

3/8/2001

Not much by way of posting for me the last couple of days. I did a trade show (as we P/R guys do, sometimes) yesterday, and the last couple of days have been long ones. And then tonight, I have to play in Ellsworth. Lucky for me, I'm taking Friday off. SLLEEEEPPP!
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 08, 2001

3/5/2001

I've gotten a couple of hits from Google, when people look for the Nitty Gritty Record Cleaner. So, you can check Deadman's Bones, or TRAA Archive. The short skinny is I own one (The Record Doctor II) and I would encourage all vinyl heads to get one. The difference is not subtle.

I got some HTML done for Northern Kingdom, so we can run some more auctions. I'll let you know when they are up and running.

Supper tonight: Pierogies and CheddarWurst. Yummy!
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 05, 2001

Also, the powers that be over at Totally-Useless have done a redesign. I really prefer it to the old layout. (Actually, I didn't really care for the old layout at all.)

My cat's (my daughters cat, really) name is Rumpleteaser. Someone suggested I name my next cat Martini. Hopefully, my next cat will be a black short hair, and he will be given the name Deutoronomy. (My last bunch of cat names have come from T.S. Elliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. We also had a Growltiger, but he didn't last too long on a busy street in Rockland. We also had a Jennyanydots, but she wasn't happy when Julia came along, and had to go to a different home.
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 05, 2001

So, no posts from me this weekend. Walkie Chalkie Jr. did show up, with his lovely wife. Harmonic Distortions did not show, as he is a wee-wee. (I know, you don't usually get bad language here.) Some items are selling on ebay, that's good. Blind Al is releasing a new live album. I am usually very critical of my playing, but I am actually pleased with how it sounds. I hope to rip some to MP3, and make some of it available here.
posted by Billy Rhythm Monday, March 05, 2001

3/2/2001

Don't forget to come see Billy Rhythm tonight at the Sea Dog in Camden. Walkie Chalkie Jr. is comming, as is Harmonic Distortions. Old H.D. is also going to work mys shift tomorow with The WOP. That way, I can get a little sleep.

And add another snare to the list of must haves. Ludwig now offers a Black Beauty in a Supersensitive model, hammered, with tube lugs. I guess they go about 5 bills. The thing with Black Beauties--the price just goes up. They almost never depreciate in value.
posted by Billy Rhythm Friday, March 02, 2001

3/1/2001

We got some auctions running now, baby. Need a guitar? We got plenty! Check out the whole list here. There's more guitars here than an entire office full of musicians could use.

After I sell all this stuff, I need to decide what to spend it on. I'm leaning towards this Tama Starclassic quilted maple snare with gold hardware, a Tama Hand Hammered Copper snare, or a Yamaha Club Jordan cocktail kit. (I think a cocktail would be great when playing duos with Blind Al.
posted by Billy Rhythm Thursday, March 01, 2001