News Archive
April 11, 2022
Announcing simplicity, "The Museum," and peace!
The site has been "broken" since being moved to a new server a few weeks ago; many of the PHP routines I use were written in outdated code and as such many of my CONTENT pages don't load properly.
Rather than troubleshoot the old site, I have decided to decommission it and start over. The new design is simple (K.I.S.S. anyone?) and straightforward; and the OLD site/design shall henceforth be referred to as "The Museum" and kept for archival purposes.
Forthcoming, hopefully, shall also be a new direction for ... music! Time (and Rocky -- my German Shepherd) permitting...!
... just in time for the 10 year anniversary of the release of my opus, "Pandora's Box (2012)!" :D
In HIS Love,
- christofori
December 18, 2016
The 2016 Tulsa Hospitality House light show video has been posted! This is a volunteer project which i program and otherwise set up each year. Head on over to the video blog page to check out the light show video!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
February 29, 2016
"FutureProof" released today! This latest public release of mine is a choon (or tune -- what i call a song without words). Check it out by playing it or downloading it from my music page!
The theme of this one's meant to focus upon faith/hope and optimism, as opposed to the more common "fight or flight" mode and pessimism which seems to be driving much of the "world" (at least, so it seems). For many, the future brings a sense of dread; people seem to be afraid of the unknown, and seem to worry about things beyond their control. The inverse of this kind of mindset would be to see the future as full of wonder and possibility; and to keep one's focus and thoughts (mindset) centered upon the "here and now," where it belongs. :)
So that -- and to go along with the artwork for this choon -- we might be able to "shed" the "garments of fear" and step boldly into the future (regardless of what it may or may not hold in store!), with optimism and wonder, faith, and hope. :)
While i've never done this before, i think it appropriate to link to an external article, which explains this theme/concept quite a bit better: "Fight or Flight" (fear) vs. "Rest and Digest" (peace), Love thy neighbour, Optimism/Faith (courtesy of the site AboveTopSecret.com). Note that i have created a PDF version of the article available here in case the article linked is nonfunctional or otherwise unavailable. Note that to save the PDF file you might have to right-click and select "Save..". ;)
Oh, and happy "Leap Day" everyone! :P
In HIS Love,
- christofori
January 24, 2016
"Panoramic Mindscape" released today! This latest public release of mine is a choon (or tune -- what i call a song without words). Check it out by playing it or downloading it from my music page!
Anyone who has followed me (or my page) on Facebook will already know this next bit, but here it is for any/everyone else. There's been quite the gap in time since my previous release, until this one. That's because my computer hardware had begun failing to the point that i could no longer write music with it; that happened not long after completing and releasing "Inner Light." Recently, i've gotten things replaced and am again able (finally!) to compose. So, hopefully, there shall be more frequent releases from me, from now on...! Stay tuned...! ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
December 27, 2014
The 2014 Tulsa Hospitality House light show video has been posted! This is a volunteer project which i program and otherwise set up each year. Head on over to the video blog page to check out the light show video!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
June 24, 2014
"Inner Light" released today! This latest public release of mine is a choon (or tune -- what i call a song without words). Check out my music page!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
June 20, 2014
OK, song/tune update! i have had a "new release" sitting around, music/composition completed, for months now. Having not been led (*yet) to be able to write the lyrics for it (and i've TRIED, a LOT!) it has become clear to me that the song needs to first be released as a "tune" or "choon" as i call them -- a song without lyrics.
SO.... [rubbing hands together fervorously]
Tuesday, June 24th, 2014 -- a new choon will be released!
It might one day become an "official" song; but for now, this is whatcha get!
October 23, 2013
OKAY... so, time for a music update. For the record: there are currently 4 songs/tunes in development; rather than only 3 as i've stated in a bit more detail on my "christofori" facebook page. The "fourth" song/tune, which is also the oldest, i had simply neglected to mention... meaning (in other words): NO, i haven't been spending all this time to create yet another unfinished idea...! Now, since that's settled, we can set that "fourth" song back aside for possible future development... and get back to the "three" songs/tunes which we're attempting to discuss. ;) These 3 all began their existence in a short and (arguably..) recent window of time. One of them, which is (still) quite early on in terms of development; is not much more than the exposition of an idea, really; no real news there.... The second song/tune is/was actually the first of the "three" which began to take shape; and is also (still) in the exact same stage of development as mentioned previously on my "christofori" facebook page. It needs lyrics, mastering, and release (though not necessarily in that exact order..).
And now, we find ourselves talking about the THIRD of those "three" songs/tunes; which is (still) REEEEEEEEEeeeally close to being done. At last update on it, i was working on the lyrics. Where are we at, then, today..? (still) working on the lyrics...! :)
While i won't even hint about the topic/theme of the song (or it's message...) what i WILL share with you at this point, is that it's message is VERY, VERY important... as in vital -- crucial, even. Partly for that reason, i'll say that i'm being very, very careful with the development of these lyrics; to ensure that i "hit the nail right 'squar' on it's head" -- and the other part: to make absolutely certain that the message itself is exactly (and ONLY) that which the Spirit wills it to be.
One of the primary reasons that it's taking this long is the due diligence that the Spirit is directing me to take -- in the form of RESEARCH, STUDY, and DEVOTION. In that very process, i must mention that i've been doing a TON... no, a veritable PLETHORA.. of reading... so much so that my "normal" schedule for sleep has been thrown all out of whack over the past week or two. The things which the Spirit has led me to read have been mind-blowing-ly good; at times, so much so that i literally do not stop reading. Not even to sleep..! Have no fear; i am in no way sleep-deprived, nor have i allowed myself to "slip up" and revert to any of my prior chemical addiction problems (well, wait... does caffeine count?? If it does, then i admittedly have been taking in more than usual, lately..!). :) Anyway, i'll be sharing excerpts of this Spirit-led research on my web site as time goes on; so watch the site [or, better yet, sign up for the site's update notifications feature!] for those...!
Also... there is a growing realization within me that seems to know with a fair... and an almost ABSOLUTE certainty that this song (the third of "three"... or, really IMPORTANT one...) will be the last SONG -- to be followed by "tunes" (instrumental music without lyrics) for a time. Part of the reason: the importance, power, and timely nature of the current song's message is such that anyone who hears it WILL get the message that the Spirit wants them to have; which honestly renders future songs (that could end up simply "re-hashing" themes/messages already established in my prior songs) to be pointless. Since it seems the Spirit will have said (through my songs) all that He desires be said, there would be no reason whatsoever to spend time crafting the same "tale" into a different motif; so... quite likely... it seems as though the future of "christofori" will be like going back to my roots. The complexity of the music itself that i've come to create has always been such that makes lyrical content CHALLENGING, to say the least... so... fans of the older "epic/adventure" kinds of tunes (which i so love) should delight in this revelation. :D This should not be taken to mean or imply that i'm departing from my "calling" to present spiritually-minded songs, either -- since for all i know, another song/message will develop some day... so long as He wills it, anyway... but for the time being, the messages He's given me are all He's given me. If He gives more for me to say/sing, then i will write/sing them.
Lastly (for today, anyway..): i've decided to post music updates on both my web site's news page (the "official" source) AND also on my "christofori" facebook page from now on. This will help me reach all of my intended audience members equally .. in whichever site/page format that THEY prefer. Of course, it makes the consistency in my content delivery quite a bit better, too... ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
July 31, 2013
Another new instrument/sample set added! Be sure to check out the exclusive (and rare) "Hurdy Gurdy" instrument/sample set, located on the "samples & instruments" page! The sample comments explain everything anyone might need/want to know about it; so i won't delve into all that detail here. Simply click on that oh-so-tempting "samples & instruments" option in the site menu (on the right). :)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
July 20, 2013
Site navigation issues fixed; everything should be working properly now! ...
Some might have noticed, but recently the site had been refusing to display anything of itself -- OTHER than the main/introduction page. Clicking links to sections (music, videos, etc) and/or other on-site content also did not work; it would merely cause the intro/welcome page to reload. The site was doing so for some period of time which i'm entirely unsure of (as i didn't notice when it began misbehaving...); so, allow me to at this time extend my apologies to any/all who were in any way unable to procure any of my actual content during that (unknown) time span when the site was acting 'da fool. :)
As it turns out, the issue(s) directly responsible for said foolish behavior were the result of the site/server administrator having updated PHP to the latest version; additionally, for a (possibly unrelated) reason i couldn't connect to the server via FTP (so, all the while, i couldn't do a blasted THING about the site issues...!). Anyway, once the FTP issue(s) was/were resolved, and once i was made aware that PHP had been updated, i began to delve into the problem causing the site to ignore it's reference/content pointer variables (which is what kept making it display the default/intro/welcome page, ad nauseum).
A tad bit of reading and research later, i then discovered that the newer version(s) of PHP no longer allowed the (very insecure) setting: "REGISTER_GLOBALS" to be enabled. That setting allowed (amongst other things..) the site/pages to pass an "info" variable back and forth via the pages' URL code; which is what would (under normal circumstances..) allow content to be browsed normally. Once i discovered that "REGISTER_GLOBALS" no longer had any effect, i set out upon the small (but vital) task of updating the index page's PHP code to work properly with the aforementioned "info" content variable in the URL -- and then [BOOM] ... (like magic...) things began working all over the place..!
So, for you non-techie readers, the "take-away" here is simply thus: The site's fixed. You can now browse to, download, and/or otherwise absorb all of the various content which had previously been (for an unknown amount of time..) inaccessable... including (but of course, not limited to): Music, stories, samples, videos, and yadda yadda yadda; and even ALL THAT JAZZ. :D
Having said this, i now also ask any/every-one out there to please LET ME KNOW if you happen to come across any part, page, section, or doodad of the site which (for whatever reason) doesn't seem to be working as you'd expect it to. While i'm fairly certain that everything is working A-OK at this point, it's entirely possible that i may have missed an issue here (or there...) because, of couse -- and yes, just like you; i'm ONLY HUMAN. :P So yeah; if something's broken, be a sport and let me know..! Thanks in advance.
In HIS Love,
- christofori
December 12, 2012
Latest HHT Light Show video posted -- check the Video Blogs page to see it. ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
November 10, 2012
Life Testimony posted -- please check it out by clicking on the "life testimony" option, under Personal, in the menu along the right-hand side of the page. :)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 21, 2012
"By Our Love" video fixed! After re-editing the "By Our Love" video (the slides now slowly 'move towards' the viewer, instead of remaining in one static location -- which seems to have been the cause of the encoding issues that caused the 'buggered' transitions) YouTube now plays it properly! Hence i've removed the video on Facebook and replaced it with a link to the video on YouTube. Check it out, yo! ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 20, 2012
Slideshow video for "By Our Love" released! Both on my YouTube channel and on my facebook page; both facebook and YouTube's encoding processors buggered up the transitions, looks "less buggered" on FB tho. ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 12, 2012
"By Our Love" released! Check the music page for this, my latest (and likely final... at least, for a while...) song release!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
September 24, 2012
Announcing the next new song release date: "By Our Love" (codename: "The Catalyst") will be released into the Public Domain on Friday, October 12, 2012! Be sure to check back then for the FREE download! :) This will be my final song.
In HIS Love,
- christofori
April 16, 2012
2 more new samples posted! A new bass sampled from the Micron, and another of the V-Drum sets -- both newly arrived on the samples/instruments page. Free for the taking. :)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
April 13, 2012
Pandora's Box released!
A photo of me holding the first 5 CD's made. (i make some each time a song's finished, to hand to friends/family, or just to hand out to whomever intersects my path! Making the discs brings [usually] several weeks' worth of 'tinkering' to an end in the physical formality... and it always seems like a moment of "Ah! Finally!!" for when i finish a track... so it is what it is. Lol. ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
April 10, 2012
Announcing the next NEW SONG: Pandora's Box arrives here on Friday the 13th! The main page also now is adorned with a sneak-peek of the song's CD artwork. Any of you who're familiar with my older tunes will recognize the name at least -- and rightfully so as this new song release is a re-release... or an entire re-write, to be technically accurate! ALL of the instruments have been replaced and updated, some of the content has changed slightly to greatly enhance the song's dynamic impact, and most importantly - it is now becomming a SONG (yep, lyrics!) Be sure to check back to the site and snag the SONG on Friday April 13th, 2012..! :D
In HIS Love,
- christofori
March 14, 2012
Spring-like weather brings along with it a new video blog of sorts..! Check it out on my video blogs page, youtube channel, or facebook. :)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
December 16, 2011
Yard ornament idea photos posted! A few pics of our meager (humble is a better word..) Christmas decorations in the yard this year have been added to my Photos page (almost half-way down..). Merry Christmas, all! A new Christmas tune is in the works as well and should be showing up soon..! ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
December 4, 2011
2011 HHT Christmas Light video posted!
Here at last is this year's Christmas Light show for the Tulsa Hospitality House's 2011 "Room in the Inn, Room in our Hearts" event! This time I got a few seperate angles shot so I could cut away when a car drove in front or whatnot.. ;)
This was my third year working with HHT on their light show (which has become the sole light programming project lately, it seems..). Still, I thoroughly enjoy working on this project; light is VERY important to me for a great number of reasons..! I hope you enjoy this year's show..! :)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
November 1, 2011
"Student Loan Crisis" picture submitted to occupystudentdebt.com! A new 'moveon.org' movement seeking for the government to forgive the outstanding student loan debt in this nation has formed, and I've teamed up with them in support! My own picture (below) is somewhat 'theatric' as I took it after watching "Green Lantern" for the first time on DVD (it was an 'impulse buy' while I was at Wal-Mart the other day...) -- an AWESOME movie I'd recommend to all/any! Quickly on this topic I'll mention that many of the comics, movies, and TV series we've all fallen in love with are in fact prophetic revelations to the original authors... if you watch them with an open mind you'll likely see themes of Jesus portreyed within! Anyway, my picture is listed on the occupystudentloan.com site under October 29th -- and while my own 'story' is not all that impressive, I'd encourage everyone to go check out the site and look at some of the absolutely CRAZY amounts people have payed and still 'owe' the banks due to interest, late charges and fees -- many owe twice the amount they borrowed originally! People aren't able to use their God-given talents and gifts in this economy because they're "slaves" to the system, forced to make money just to pay the banks' collective greed; hence why people aren't out buying houses, and much more. If you've not ever taken the 'student loan bubble' issue seriously, I definately encourage you to go and LOOK at occupystudentdebt.com and educate yourself on this astoundingly serious problem for the economy. Click on "Archive" once there to see many, many more pictures (including my own).
Here's my picture (click the image for a larger view).
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 23, 2011
Book of Revelation now explained for all! It's been found by many already, and some are still quite slow to want to look for it -- so I bring it to them and all at the same time. To read more and figure out what exactly I'm talking about, check my literature section for the awakening of the spiritual self. :)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 22, 2011
Deeper understanding, much more growing -- and completion of unfinished business! Yep, friends, been on a quest for my whole life and it's culminated to a point not far in the future. From a certain point of view, it has to do with Star Wars -- the third and final trilogy, to be exact.
WHAT third and final trilogy? Heh. The one we, society, are playing about us on the "stage" that is life, in the here and now! Friends, the human being is on the verge of something too amazing to describe with words or any other form of understood (by society) communication; and I can't communicate it with any justice via words or anything else. I can come close, though, with a symbol -- which I've always communicated best via imagery. So here and now (though the Holy Spirit gave me the design some time ago, and it was put into this form near the beginning of this month) I am allowed to publicly reveal it for all to see, on my own "home" on the internet. :)
The symbol I speak of, below, is the new Trinitarian Christian flag which shall represent the deliverance of the human race to the new Heaven and Earth promised by scripture. Don't worry -- if you don't believe in God or aren't Christian -- ALL PEOPLE have been promised this, some just might not see it that way (yet). But you will!
Before the flag image is posted I want to give the symbolic meaning so that the world can understand that it's NOT simply a modification of the flag of the United States of America -- though Betsy Ross was, herself also a prophet in her day, trying to express the idea with her original design as well; she just didn't have all the pieces then. No, friends -- the flag below represents the WORLD, not any country. The coming new world order -- and the one to bring it to you is Jesus Christ, through prophetic revelation in the physical form of his two witnesses, which have yet to be unveiled to the world.
OK, the symbolism in the flag! It's a combo of the union jack resistance flag, the righteous rattlesnake (read whatever Franklin said about the snake, regarding Gadsden's flag -- that is, if you wonder how in the world a snake and Christianity would ever be connected..!), the Christian flag (which the format of the whole flag emulates if you'll notice), and a unity logo (over the Earth) which symbolizes Logos (the Bible or the open book outline -- also logic, or written communication) and Rhema (in the form of the blood-red Cross, which symbolizes Christ as well as physical and symbolic communication; hence why He always spoke in parables and LIVED the example of Love we all ought to be living as well) at the center, and 4 light arrows reaching to the four corners of this world and also forming 4 dark (un-enlightened) arrows representing the darkness which those who are lost feel as they're led into the new Jerusalem. The 13 stripes also represent both the original colonies (which was the beginning or 'Alpha' of the 'free world'), and a very symbolic concept of 'Six degrees of seperation' in the form of Jesus and the first 12 Apostles -- as well as His blood (TRUTH and LOVE) which washes all of us white as snow (to become like Him, inheriting His kingdom). 'Six Degrees' basically says a message sent to your 12 relationals will reach the world of 6.6 billion people.. hence Jesus with His 12 disciples. :) You can also read about the concept on wikipedia.
And now with no further ado, the flag design itself (click it for a full-sized view):
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 14, 2011
BIOS Persistant Rootkit REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS posted!
Finally available! Sorry it took so long, but now you've a permanent reference on this very site for if/when you need it! Just check out my Literature page and dig-in. :)
NOW I can get back to installing my music software, cleaning my synths, and writing my books. :D
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 14, 2011
BIOS Persistant Rootkit Page formed!
OK people -- I've been working on the information I learned (and the insight given me by Jesus is the ONLY way I was able to figure this out!) a month or so ago when my home network was infected 'en masse' by a rather persistant BIOS Persistant Rootkit -- the information I've accumulated so far is available under my Literature section. Because the concepts and removal instructions are incredibly detailed, composing the 'how-to' guide itself has proven to be a massive task -- please bare with me as I continue working to accomplish this feat.
In the mean time however, I did want to post the most pertinant information about KEEPING YOUR SYSTEMS CLEAN so you can avoid getting a BPR in the first place (trust me, you DON'T want one of these infections..!) -- just check out "My Literature" for these words as well as several web documents available for FREE download which I found in my initial research of the BPR concepts. I won't be able to clean your infected machine for you; but I WILL give you the information to do so yourself..! :)
Be watching this page for more updated information over the next week or so -- I have placed all my other projects on indefinate HOLD until I complete this how-to guide. Yeah.. it's THAT big of a deal. I do pray those of you reading these words NEVER have to find out the hard way as I had..!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 11, 2011
FINALLY on facebook..!
Yep! I like to start my news postings with 'Yep!' Haha, well... sure, I 'spose. But more importantly to some of you guys, I've finally gotten signed up and made a quick profile on facebook; find me and friend me if you want, I'm at: www.facebook.com/thechristofori and have sent my brother and sister invites... some others I searched briefly for but didn't come right up... and with my 'love' of technology I decided to post here and let you friend me, instead. :P Seriously though... I probably won't spend much time on facebook all day -- I do prefer to spend time in the real world these days, especially since my mission is to reach out to people (not their avatars, profiles, or what-have-you's) -- besides, my sentiments on computers (remember what I said just above about technology? lol) hasn't changed... I still hate them. :)
On other fronts, another 'narconon shoutout' -- friend me if you want to guys, should be easier to find me than ever, now. :) (and I STILL LOVE YOU ALL..!) Just a short posting tonight since it's been a long day and I'm about to go to bed... so... I do hope Jesus' blessings for your life are well received! Go in peace and love thy neighbor.. ya'll know the drill. ;)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
October 9, 2011
I'm BAAAAaaaack...! :D
Yep! After an interesting and spiritually-led chain of events I won't go into huge detail here about, the ongoing healing of my body and mind has been shown evident to those very close to me, and God's allowed me to return home to help out here, as well as continue the ministries He's given me! I made it back home this evening at about 7PM or just prior and spent a wonderful time with my parents over dinner, sharing many many awesome testiments of the things God's had me up to, including the wonderful time I spent learning and teaching and being an uplifting example of Jesus' LOVING ACCEPTANCE to all those students at the Narconon Arrowhead facility! Guys -- I REALLY DO LOVE YOU ALL and wish you each great success in all that you do! Those of you who don't believe in God -- Hey, that's OK -- I still love you too and don't seek to judge! That's not my job, anyway. I really meant what I told you each, and all in my self-introduction Friday at the graduation ceremony -- I'm Chris from Broken Arrow (aka 'Chris the Broken Arrow, now mended!') and I LOVE ALL YOU GUYS! Best of luck in your programs, and remember: BELIEVE you can, AND YOU WILL! MIND OVER MATTER, "ya'll!" :D
My other friends, family, and people of the world -- know as I proclaim in the gracious glory of Jesus that I'm 100% confident in my healing from addictions and can testify to many many blessings from the Narconon experience as well as my whole life in general; I seek to be 100% transparent so that only HIS LIGHT shines through for this world to see! You can trust God (or, if you want -- feel free to take me at my word here, if you don't believe in Jesus as the creator of this universe) when I tell you that things will be wonderfully exciting in the future! I'll be working on music at some point (when He leads me to do so) as well as some free books, testimonies, and also working with a LOT of people to begin many new exciting ministries in the Tulsa area. In faith I can say that my home church of 21 years, Arrow Heights, has MANY great opportunities ahead as well -- I will be working with my Pastor and Brother in Christ, Bob Green, and over time we shall truly be about God's work. I also hope to be a fundamental resource to the church in hopes that we can begin our very own Drug Healing ministry and continue spreading the loving, accepting and grace-filled HEALING POWER that Jesus has shown me, to the WORLD! GREAT THINGS are in store for the future, I can assure you all of this!
Everyone, to keep this brief I'll let you all know that while at Narconon I shared as the Spirit led with individuals (and at times, a small group) examples of His grace and love, as well as His teachings with many fellow-students -- and in the process, I handed out several of my "invite" cards directing fellow students and staff to this humble web-site for news, music, and a myriad of resources! One of the first things I will be working on is a detailed 'how-to' guide for removing "BIOS Persistant Rootkits" for those out there who've been having problems fighting these pesky infections -- some of you already know of my success (after laboring for weeks, literally!) in cleaning and stabalizing my home network, and I wish to share all of the resources and tasks, tools, and knowledge I acquired in the process (also freely) with the world! These things I do as Jesus leads me, being an example of LOVING ACCEPTANCE for all, and knowing that they're NOT my resources to share -- they ALL belong to HIM WHOM I SERVE -- thus I shall never capitalize on my gifts, talents, teachings, or any such thing. I also encourage fellow Christian artists and ministers world-wide to humble yourselves and examine your 'worldly' contracts -- know that MONEY is the beast of bondage keeping us slaves to this world -- the sooner you TRULY TRUST IN GOD to lead you without worrying about HOW OR WHEN He will provide, the sooner you will see JUST HOW GREATLY HE DOES provide for your needs IN ALL THINGS! Seek HIS WILL on this and all other issues in your life -- and as always, feel free to drop me a line anytime (my contact information is provided in the menu along the right side of the page; or click the guestbook (as of this posting's date it's 'do not click') to drop me a line there! I made TONS of friends at Narconon and truly hope you guys will stay in touch -- I'll be getting on Facebook (finally!! lol) soon, as well, and there'll be another posting made here when I do so!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
September 28, 2011
Well, it will be another long spell! Friends, family, and anyone/everyone -- I cannot and will not lie anymore. While more of my personal testimony will be forthcoming as a direct result of my own choices and actions in the weeks to come, I must also state that it seems there will be a long spell before more can be posted here. This is because I've in recent months relapsed and had begun using crystal meth again, and this time it really hit hard.
This time... as I sit here and think, it's been a perpetual thing, my drug usage. I never really gave it a chance to stop using me -- and I mean those words specifically. I have consistantly allowed them to USE ME when, all the while, I felt I was the one in control...! How vain I had been! No, to be honest, they used me the entire time... and I am guilty of having let that happen! While I feel strongly that God has finally shown me what I needed to see, and healed me of these drug addictions finally (as I've finally been obediant to Him in allowing Him to show me these things!), I have already also agreed to enter a program -- voluntarilly -- at my parents' request. I'm set to go into the program tomorrow after meeting with my pastor.
So -- this means it'll be some time before you hear/see anything more from me! But I've already decided this is something that's important to me and my family, and thus have already agreed to go -- in doing so I am putting into my actions the sentiment that I feel -- "Not my will, but God's Will for me!" I truly feel that I'll be a valuable participant to the program (I'm not sure someone like me has ever been through a program like this -- feeling and knowing 100% that the Holy Spirit of God has healed me and going into it anyway) -- and I'm also not to 'proud' to admit that of course, I'll actually learn something along the way, too! :) I absolutely see this as an answer to prayer, and as an opportunity to allow God to work through me in powerful and exciting ways! So while this might shock some of you, do know that I'm seeking only God's will for my life in this and all things I do, because my continued habits and failings along the way have hurt more than just me, I'm very aware. I had been working on a poem that the Spirit gave to me along this journey, and I'm posting a link to it here in case anyone would like to read it. :) (Of course, as 'anal' as I am with regard to organizing things, I'm also putting a link to it on my stories page!)
Be with Him in all things you do, and go in peace!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
September 17, 2011
ACK! Almost a month since an update! Sorry 'bout that, ye who read these words -- but as God's continued growing my boldness in ministry, ignorance of demons or their power and reach into lives of people (especially Christians, including me!) brought unto me NOT any feeling of bliss -- but a vicious backlash. All I will say openly unto the world of such is that an annonymous posting of key terms (to help others, exposing large parts of the "picture" that represents the Order's plans for the world) caused the generation and attack of the worst computer virus I've ever seen -- placed by an entity I only identify to those Jesus leads me unto (yes, I know exactly who's responsible) -- which took my entire household network down and left me patiently and persistantly working almost 2 solid weeks to fix the few systems currently free and running. I still have piles of infected hardware and other PC components to systematically clean; some in the forms of computers still as well. I often in life have said "I HATE computers..!" and now.. I ESPECIALLY do! This is no reason to stop sharing the good works God does through me unto the world via the medium, however! I just do so only as He directs me now. It is clear that anything resembling an open "attack" (or exposing the devil's plans and secrets to large groups) on the coming world Order is only asking for trouble, in other words.
So, from here on out, my testimony on this very page is and always shall be free and part of the Public Domain. Use it in any way God should lead you to! Also, my music or other content shall be similarly distributed (via Public Domain). My ministries of prophecy may be rendered here as God leads me to provide it (if only/even parts of it) to the world, though largely those shall be shared only with those God allows me; and any other kind of personal ministry shall be done just as the personal nature of Jesus Christ, who lives within me, shall direct me thus. :D For any/all information on my moving away from a copyright, just check my full disclaimer (link at the very bottom of this page -- but if you'll read this news, then click 'back' and THEN look for the full disclaimer, you won't have to scroll thru all the full news testimonies just to get to it!). :D
Speaking of music, 'The New Path' is taking a bit of hiatus for a few upcomming releases, which are going to be part of another identified (but open to change as God may lead me... nothing set in stone yet, in other words!) title/album-like group/collection. I 'waffle' on word choice as there may be too few songs to qualify using the phrase 'album' or the like for this particular collection. Another part of what I'll say now may've been said in some way before, too... but for now I'll say: Ask and ye shall receive! The world's feedback I'd received of my music, did tell me many things; but the most prevelant things boil down to: "We want something simple(r)." While I trust the world is becomming a place which wants more sophistication (for Christians I see this meaning deeper boldness in the times that are to come! Jesus questioned whether He would find ANY with faith when He returns), and while my works for 'new path' mean only to give Glory unto God, it's further creation/evolution (as God's led me, an 'album version' of songs will get done if He blesses me with time to do such, and the album will ALL be Public Domain) will be set aside for a time, to give something appropriate for the next couple of works. Great care and sensitivity is being taken and given by me in these, too, so that they be works that: a) glorify God, b) people like, c) make ME quite happy in the process, and d) FIGHT DEMONS! Some of them will have God's lessons -- as well as classy (NOT overdone) expression of my creativity -- communicated in interesting (and unexpected) ways. ;) Look for them soon -- I'm nearly ready to pick back up on the music after the vast time without my tools..! Just a couple of synths and a yet-still-stray component here or there (including my mom's computer as well, though think of me not as an unloving son; the family PC was done some days ago, before I ever started working on the music system!) which I've got left to clean first..! God's patience and love have seen me able to come through the storm safely as I know and trust they shall always do, for all those who believe (TRULY believe). :)
In HIS Love,
- christofori
August 18, 2011
My first DVD is now online! That's right -- many of you might recall me, early this year, working feaverishly on editing footage of our church's Christmas Dinner Theatre presentation -- the whole process took about a month in my spare time, and involved sifting through 4 unique presentations (each night, something else went wrong or someone else forgot a line, etc) -- each one also had a unique camera angle. Some of them were literally "set it and forget it" on the camera, too -- so after taping, when facing the daunting task -- I seriously wondered if the whole thing would even WORK!
Well, that month of 'blood, sweat and tears' (BS&T for short) was coupled with my ever-trusting faith that God would make a way -- and remarkably, as I made it through the footage, it all fell into place rather uniquely. In some places (more than I could say, now!) it really only WOULD work with a specific shot; often times, the other 3 shots weren't viable for some reason...! I clearly was able to see God's hands working through the video shooting when I sat down to edit and countless times found myself in utter amazement as I discovered yet another scene that came together only by His grace and power! Very groovy stuff!
Well then... the DVD was actually completed and we turned it into a special 3-disk set with all of the bonus features and even some still photos taken by a professional photographer. I donated my entire portion of talents -- to this day I (thankfully!) still have received $0 on the entire project -- and the church decided to offer the DVD's for a $10 donation which ALL proceeds went to provide direct monitary support for our church's recent Ethiopia mission trip (my folks both went!) -- so the whole thing has truly been a remarkable blessing to many people!
Fast-forward from 'then' to 'now' and you'll find I've uploaded the WHOLE feature 'film' from the DVD for the world to see, for free! The link is under my visual media section in the menu to the right (called 'freelance editing: example dvd') or click here to get to it as well, if you'd rather!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
August 16, 2011
Wondering what's been up with me lately? Well, I spent a great deal of time re-arranging my room to make more space for the music area (I was tired of running my chair into those shelves that used to sit behind me, lol) and getting all that squared away; all that is now thankfully done! I'll probably do another video blog soon which shall (at least in small part) show some of the changes. And on the music front -- well, more on that in a moment!
It's become clear to me, along my journey, that demons are everywhere and ESPECIALLY attack those who seek to follow Jesus. A GREAT site I've found, which is based entirely upon scripture, to help those like me is now the first link at the top of my page: Demon busters! Are you one? Jesus said (Mark 16:17): "And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues."
That in mind, my music from here on shall be designed to fight demons. :) It'll sound pretty cool, too, if the first one I've been working on is any indication as to the rest! They shall all be part of a new collection entitled "Music 4 Masses" or Music for the Masses, not meaning a catholic mass per se; rather, the masses of people in the world. As the first release is coming soon, I will begin to restructure my music page to divide the songs into 'albums' of sorts (the main page will list each album): The new/current Music 4 Masses songs, then "The New Path" songs, and finally the older/pre-Christian songs I made. Stay tuned!
In HIS Love,
- christofori
August 3, 2011
Today is a day for me of divine appointment! And look, it's the third, what a 'cooincidence!' No, I'm not "kickin' the bucket" or somesuch -- it's much more about realizing what exactly my potential is and what I'm supposed to be in existance for. :D
But first -- one tidbit of randomness shall grace thee, dear reader: truly something from the past which as a memory did thus serve me inspiration once, but be it memory no longer! I'm riddling about my very own 'RetRo' song entitled "Moonwalker" -- anyone who's ever heard it likely thought it was some kind of hype-tune or that I'd just plain gone mad; what, with all the 'mysterious!' annoyanceishness going on! Now friends, you have the key itself to the source of that inspiration for me; as we look back to What WAS. Click here for a new window to take you literally RIGHT to the song's notes -- which now include links to background on the source of inspiration (which is Milton Babbitt's 'Philomel'.... yeah..) including a bit of backstory on why the inside joke thing even started; and ALSO a brief (~1 minute) excerpt of the 'song' itself; at the end of which you shall hear the dreaded pseudo-'Mysterious!' itself!
Now then, that was THEN. NOW you are here. But to come? From me you shall see soon enough what is to come; but to those I've been led to share with (as I cast ripples in the sea of life, my own obedient actions disturbing/effecting the 'sea' so that others shall take note!) and those who care to check 'under the surface' (thus you are reading this right now!!) -- know the following TRUTHS from the scriptures and logos that is GOD'S Holy written word! I know that you shall gain the insight He needs you to take from these powerful amd timely lessons I now impart to you through link..! Please, watch these videos -- they're all about 5-7 minutes long or so, and they are TRULY life-afferming and course-correcting and inspiringly fulfilling -- I KNOW for a certainty that if you've got questions, or worries, or concerns -- THESE WILL CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE! I myself learned many of the principles within these very lessons as the Rhema (or 'Keys to the Kingdom' -- or very WORDS unto the HEART from God's Holy Spirit!) was given my soul by God! Some of you know I've been shown things that are yet to be, for part of my purpose is prophecy. Though we are not all the same; some are teachers, others preachers, healers, etc -- I'm not a teacher! But for those like me, SEEKING without finding for so long -- NOW is your time -- watch and discern what it is God can truly do in your life so that "... ALL these things shall be added unto you!" Without (too much) more ado, here is a concise, clearly articulated and 100% POWERFULLY TRUE method of teaching the precepts of how to worship God and walk according to His will along the path of the Prophetic life! Are you also a prophet? FIND OUT! (Even if you're not, these are POWERFUL truthes all CHRISTIANS should carry ALWAYS and without ceasing!) Please watch them -- CONQUER your demons in ALL THINGS, praise GOD! (No, I'm not kidding!)
Note: when done with a video, close it and click the next link on this main index page -- once God's taken you along the first several steps of this suggested path, then you can feel free to click the links on the target site as He leads you -- but just as Jesus asks us to follow HIS footsteps as you began your walk with Him, so too should you follow this path as He's asked I share with you in such the specific order He desires!)
Fundamentals: Link to External Video 1 =-= Link to External Video 2
Ah, you're hooked now, huh? Feel called to live the prophetic life (even if it's not your ONLY gift, but one of MANY indeed)? Next you need this 5-part series that explains just how God truly wants to work with you! [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5]
And now to follow, 4 MORE wonderful lessons all should see (for HE truly shall speak unto you through them as He faithfully did with me!) May you catch fire with the very BLAZING passionate love of God and continue in victory the remaining days before His return; that HE SHALL truly find the faithful among us when He comes!!
[Grow more]-[Live more]-[Feel more!]-[BE more!]
BRIGHTLY burning in HIS LOVE!
- christofori
July 27, 2011
Two new instruments (including the first of my 15 recorded set patches from a friend's former Roland V-Drums kit!) today! That's right, I went and put together a complete samplepack loaded with all the drum sounds from the V-Drums' GigaHall patch! Sampled at many multiple dynamic levels, this is a complete kit giving the user the GigaHall sound with all included bells and whistles. As I sampled it (and as there were few artifacts in a couple of the samples, thus they were modified slightly) this is actually a unique set. ;) Additionally posted is a smooth 'Mini Twin Bass' sound from the Micron!
Additionally, I've breaking music news...! Though God's had me working on another complex piece lately, lately He's switched gears on me so that I'm actually working on another one as well -- this one's NOT going to sound like I wrote it,,, it'll be a pop/rock song without a bunch of stuff in it! I know, sounds odd... christofori writing a song people will be able to like on their FIRST listen.. :P This one's gonna be for the masses, and may be the first of more to come (don't know yet). :)
Briefly to describe the process; He's always inspired me via my 'hearing' a song (or a segment of a song) in it's complete structural form -- if it's a symphony He wants me to write, I hear all of the strings, percussion -- like I was sitting there listening to it finished. Sometimes I only get a few measures; others I get about an entire song. It's always been that way, but now that I've grown so much closer to Him throuh my obediance and willingness, allowing my trust in Him to exceed limits (lol, hey it's true!) there are many many times I find my hands working (entering notes, setting dynamics, selecting instruments and their parameters; everything!) all on their own! My brain's hardly involved; nor should it be really, if it's truly a work He's given me I shouldn't have to think how I WOULD WANT something to go about it... ;) Praise Him!!
That's it for now. ;)
In His Love,
- christofori
July 25, 2011
Join me in saying 'happy birthday!' (if you want.. lol...) to the new section created today! Now anyone can freely download and use sounds I've created, via the brand new "Samples and Instruments" section of the site! Check it out!
In His Love,
- christofori
July 22, 2011
Hey everybody! Just a quick note to let you know that finally, another video blog has been posted! This one talks about my tendencies to use unconventional samples (recorded sounds) and turn them into nifty-sounding instruments. ;)
Also coming hot on the heels of this video blog (as it is currently uploading) is a short 'behind the music' video clip describing how the message for my latest song "Believe!" came together -- which won't be a video blog, but will be linked from the song notes of 'Believe!'
In His Love,
- christofori
July 19, 2011
Major site update! That's right friends -- as you may have already noticed, the site's looking a bit more shiny now, than it has for quite some time! This is of course because of the newly implemented "content summarization" features, which are MOST visible and useful on my Music page as you'll see! As I have come to realize, most people these days don't really want to be 'bombarded' with a fair amount of text right up-front -- when they are, they actually lose interest and desire to explore a web site. I didn't believe it for a while -- but the more I hoped for people to come and explore my site, the more the Holy Spirit convicted me about the verbose nature I've been holding onto most of my life -- which is still important to me as I now properly understand it's a tool that shouldn't be selfishly used on others' -- thus, you'll only find areas of my site that have "lots of words" if you look into sections/areas that SHOULD have lots of words! But of course, as I'm a detail-oriented (and even meticulous) person, I've left MANY details everywhere in fact -- just that now, the user's been given free control to choose to SEE the detail or not, in all the places where people will be frequenting. So if you wanna know more about anything, look for a link or a button to click on, and click away -- my life is truly an open book now! Thus if you contact me and ask a question, be forwarned that I'll be honest in my response -- don't ask anything you're not SURE you want to know. I have nothing to hide from God nor the world, praise God!
The Spirit took my mind in another direction for a moment there -- thankfully -- as it likely would've continued on and on in technical details you don't care about, had He not! I'm so thankful for His presence in my daily walk of life as I obediantly follow. I did also want to be sure to mention this, though: Still to come will be a mailing list feature for any/all to sign up should they want news updates about me or my music! Also, some of you with a good eye will also have noticed that the color scheme of the whole site is also new -- everything done has been for the sole purpose of allowing God's light to brightly shine through my life, including my own web site -- in many places I've also changed what was formerly a merely static background color into a more polished and detailed (almost "3D" if you will) creation -- and truly, it will reflect God's continuing loving presence in my life! I give Him ALL of the glory in all things I do, and now even the site is a testament to His loving grace! :D
As always I do hope you're well, and hope you like the 'spiffi-fied' site scheme! Don't have TOO much fun "putting christofori on 'mute'" using those neat new content buttons, though! :P
In His Love,
- christofori
July 16, 2011
Newest Song: 'Believe!' is released! This one I can't take much credit for; it's the most directly-inspired (by God..) song I've been part of creating! :D I can say it takes into account the comments and things people have liked about my other stuff, and definately is not a 'busy' song -- I can also say that any time I didn't have inspiration for a time when writing this song, that what I 'tried' to write always ended up scrapped in favor of inspired material again. There's a bit more detail in the song notes on the music page; head on over and check it out!!
With Love,
-christofori
July 12, 2011
Latest recorder performance released! I've performed my own arrangement of 'Amazing Grace' in my church's worship service; here now is the MP3 version. :) Enjoy!
With Love,
-christofori
July 4, 2011
'Amazing Grace' file fixed -- the original uploaded to the site somehow managed to have a small 'click' every 2 or so seconds throughout the whole track; this has been fixed. For the 1 person who has downloaded the track from this site at the time of this posting, you may consider replacing that copy with the new one :)
With Love,
-christofori
June 25, 2011
New instrumental arrangement: Amazing Grace released today! This was a request from family members wishing to sing it at a funeral; so I spent some time over the previous 3 or so days and came up with this rendition. It has purposely been designed to work as an accompaniment track or just a nice choon to listen to; your preference! Here finally is my 'take' on this powerfully moving spiritual favorite!
With Love,
-christofori
Oh! One more thing..
click me you must! (safe, I promise -- as God is my witness I swear upon my eternal soul that this is NOT a harmful link in any way! It does concern the future though..! ;)
June 16, 2011
I've updated the links (at the top of the page) as well as added a song/track time in each song/track description on the various music pages for my music..! The track times are the numbers inside the parenthesis before each tune/song's format, in italics. ;) Oh - the old links that were removed from the top of the page, are now accessable via the 'old links' area. What can I say? I'm nostalgic!
With Love,
-christofori
June 14, 2011
'Changes' (and all of the other 5 unique mixes, available on the resources page) has been publicly released! Head over to the music page and download this and my other new song, 'Childlike' immediately! :D
Just another quickie -- though not to short-change the sentiment in any way. Just wanted to publicly show thankfulness to God for allowing me the time and energy to get these songs finished and posted online! It's truly been a wonderfully enjoyable experience and I'm looking forward to completing several more songs as He inspires me to do so! Thank you, Lord. :D
With Love,
-christofori
June 12, 2011
My THIRD song (though second new release...) entitled 'Childlike' is now available on the Music page! Just clicky that little 'My Music' link in the menu to the right for all about it...! Or read below for more on why the SECOND song, 'Changes' is not yet available publicly.
With Love,
-christofori
May 29, 2011
Hey again folks! Just a quick note - I actually have finished my newest song, 'Changes!' Before you ask: "... uh, where is it, then?!" once you notice it's not on my Music page yet... know that as I am dedicating this song to someone, I'm going to let them be one of the very (few) first people to hear the track, before "releasing" it to the world at-large. I'll give you a bit of a forward to the song here, though... in case anyone's so curious they just have to have SOMETHING to bide the time until I've posted the song..!
'Changes' is mostly meant to explore (and perhaps explain.. perhaps...) changes that happen in life; pointed mainly towards the larger, 'life changing' kinds of change; like when someone dies or moves far away, or perhaps the loss of a job or a good friendship; or a beloved pet. All of these things are those I've personally experienced; the beginning/intro of this song musically addresses these kinds of feelings very deeply, making good use of the brand new Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 -- the intro portrays dynamically expressive and full-voiced strings as well as technically realistic timpani instruments from the library. The Bösendorfer extended-range piano heard throughout the intro, as well as the slightly-tweaked tubular bells (tweaked as I have always been 'rubbed the wrong way' about tubular bells played in octaves or fifths; something about the intonation of the harmonic overtones, just drives me crazy! I tweaked the instrument to help make it more pleasing to the ear), both hail from EastWest Quantum Leap's Goliath library. All of those instruments, together with some occasional effects (mostly 'soundscape building' selections from Storm Drum 2 from EWQL) to dramatically enhance the ambience of the intro, will set the emotional and excitingly building intro theme.
Next is the energetic transition, making use of some sampled instruments from my library. The grand piano sample, which has been enhanced by layering in some effects on the delay channel, begin to create a driving and yet funky momentum, building up to the expositional verse/chorus section of the song. The transition also facilitates the change of key between the intro and exposition/ending themes.
Following that, I've made use of blended VSTi synths for the melody of the verse/chorus section... which by the way (I almost forgot to mention!) the verses are NOT sung, but spoken -- forming a tone poem. :) The choruses and the vocals of the intro and transition sections are sung using -- get this -- layered vocalizer modules for more accurate pitch (if not also more interesting and/or funky elements as well!) for the vocals. :) Yep -- I've never claimed to be a vocalist or a singer; but my love (and also my focus, pardon the intended pun referring to my prior song's vocals) has always been aimed at the music and it's composition. And yes, as some of you noticed and even pointed out to me (you didn't have to do it, but you did; yes you did, yep you did... and I thank you!.. lol), the intonation issues and somewhat strained-sounding aspects of the vocals in 'Focus' aren't also appearing in this song. :)
The lyrics in the chorus talk about how I'm 'walking around in a bubble' -- this serves multiple (if even symbolic) purposes: a bubble of insulation and protection from God, a 'bubble' of isolation (in that I seem to step out of a situation briefly to comment about my gratitude to God), and also in reference to the odd and almost 'bubbly' sounding vocals throughout the song. :) Last thing I'll mention for now, is this...: Via the "Ministry of Rock" library from EWQL, I've tracked an AMAZING sounding lead guitar solo! It is a bit over 24 measures long and right between the second chorus and beginning of the third verse (where there happens to be yet another key change). One of my former band-mates actually compared it to Steve Vai's playing/sound when he heard the preview of it I sent him, not long ago! I'm actually planning to also have a version where I'm playing a recorder solo there, as well as performance-appropriate versions of the music available for this song upon it's release; as well as possibly even CD label and album (single) cover graphics available as extra resources for 'Changes,' too. :)
Well, that's it for the 'forward' -- now, the person this song's dedicated to is currently moving, so it might be a little bit before I'm able to get the song to him, which will delay the release of the song a little. My appologies in advance; but as it's dedicated to this person, I feel it's just the right thing to do so they will have a chance to preview the single before the rest of the world (who may know him/her... and may also start contacting him/her to ask about the song, or some such...) has their own chance. I trust everyone understands! The wait won't be too long though; and I can promise you now that 'Changes' will be MUCH more appealing to everyone than 'Focus' ended up being..! OH -- and the kicker -- it's 5 minutes 40 seconds in length. :P 'Till then..!
With Love,
-christofori
May 19, 2011
Breaking out into the Christian music scene! I'm now among several talented and humble artists featured on godlychristianmusic.com where my first devotional 'opus' for the Lord was selected for inclusion by their admin team! All of the music on their site is written by true, God-fearing (loving, trusting, and obeying!) Christian artists AND is and always shall be provided free of charge. :)
If you've been following my site and/or news for a while (or if you're bored and reading back through old updates..!) you may see bits here and there about my convictions about music and my development of it; but to summarize all of that here, I'll just say this: God doesn't want me out trying to make a buck on my tunes (though I had dreamed of 'making it big' and touring around the world; those dreams are in the past). I'm part of a growing movement in the Christian music scene who realize that our music should be freely shared with the world so that HIS name should receive all the glory -- it ain't about me, in other words. ;)
I encourage you to check the godlychristianmusic.com site and delve into the expanding world of music designed to praise, worship, and honor God and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ! Now that I've got my own humble 'nitch' there as well, you can expect my newer songs to follow 'O Come' on over. ;)
[Quick sidenote on the 'opus' comment -- My most sincere prayer is for Jesus to return and set an end to the deception and corruption on this world; truly, the very prayer of my entire soul echoes the song as it says: "Come, O Come! Emanuel!"]
With Love,
-christofori
May 12, 2011
A 'ray of hope' for everyone after 'Focus,' and TRULY AMAZING blessings along the way! I've received a fairly widely-ranging array of feedback and criticism (constructive!) since the release of 'Focus' and first would like to thank those of you who have listened and let me know what you thought! I really do appreciate the compliments and criticism alike (how can you progress without that?) and hope that for some (I realize of course, not ALL..) there was something of interest within 'Focus' for you. :)
About my music... while I've seemingly been uninterested in changing away from the 'busy' and overly-complexified kinds of musical themes/ideas I write, I can assure you this is not the case. While there are indeed several things about contemporary music I really don't like at all (it's all been sounding the same to me for a while, with few exceptions from some 'outside-the-box thinking' kinds of artists), I also realize that my audience (or, potential audience as the case mostly is in this case) doesn't feel the same way about things. So, while I've feverishly been working away at the next track for some time now, I've recently also decided to refocus slightly on the process. I'm still going to try 'pushing the envelope' regarding complexity within music, but I'm going to do so with both: more restraint (regarding how quickly [and forcefully..] I 'dump so much' stuff into your ears, if you will), and more creativity towards the aspects of production (rather than composition). I realized as well that I had been spending too much time, thought, and energy in writing the musical ideas and themes, and have decided that my energy will be much better spent focusing instead on the overall production quality -- not to mention how more people will like to listen to my songs when they are more ear-pleasing (rather than the attention-grabbing and seemingly unrelated riffs/moments here and there throughout a song).
So, continue looking this way for updates/news of course, but hopefully the rate at which I'm able to actually finish songs will increase as well! Before I end this blurb, however, I would also like to mention one of the blessings God's allowed me recently. I've used (in the past... and in limited amounts, this is even true with 'Focus' which I feel is one reason I lost the source file...) pirated instrument samples. God has been really working on me with this issue for a while, and I know that His name cannot really be glorified when you go about the process in the wrong manner; as I had done with some previous tracks and even with some orchestral string samples within 'Focus.' With that realized, I REMOVED ALL of the pirated material from my system. But the blessing doesn't end there -- God's not only given me means enough to live (even without employment!) but also enough to become an authorized and fully licensed and registered user of BOTH the Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 and the EastWest - Quantum Leap: Complete Composer's Collection instrument libraries! For those who don't have a clue what this means, it's about better-sounding (and more realistic) instruments in my songs. The 'CCC' alone was about $800 or so, and it contains 7 of EWQL's award-winning professional collections of instrument samples (each of which retails individually for around $450)! Though you don't realize it perhaps, most people have already heard music created using EWQL's instrument sample collections -- MANY renowned film composers, music industry leaders, and pop artists proudly use EWQL's libraries! Friends, not only has God seen to it that my needs are met, He's provided me with the right attitude AND the right sounds so that His name could truly be glorified! He's amazing! I'm so very thankful that God's been so good to me, when so much of my life had been so badly self-centered. Let this be a testimony to the riches and blessings God bestows upon those who follow His will!
Not much of a 'teaser' here, folks, but you may actually be astounded at the realism of the orchestra parts in my upcomming release. If you didn't read about it here, you might think I paid an orchestra to perform my music..! It's EXCITINGLY amazing even to me! Stay tuned -- with my updated 'compass check' on my composing process I should have another new song pretty soon!
With Love,
-christofori
April 20, 2011
FINALLY! ALL music now available in MP3 format! [...that is to say, all official releases. Compo tunes, though they may be listed in tracked form on the main music page, aren't considered 'finished' pieces; thus they are not official releases]
Yeah; it finally dawned on me that some out there may not want to install a propriatery player just to hear some of my (admittedly older) tunes; so now the music page shows each of the older tunes which formerly were not available in MP3 format. These tunes will feature the -=(RetRo!)=- logo next to the song name in the description; and also an additional link to the Retro Music page -- so you'll be able to get your MP3 copy finally! This special sub-section isn't going to be updated in the future (which is why there is no menu option to get to it, but simply clicking on the tune's "MP3 Format" hyperlink will get you to the Retro page in a jiffy. :P
Additionally (and uh.. go figure!!..) each Retro song description has been expanded to include the tune's individual story (if applicable) from the original module file's comments/info data, as well as some uniquely interesting and not-widely-known background on the tune (like fun-facts)! So yeah, you know me; verbous and meticulious. This approach saves site visitors from having to wade through 2 versions of EVERY file on the main music page; and also provides information to MP3-only listeners they'd not be able to have otherwise. And of course for those that simply gotta-know-more-Christofori lore, there's the tidbits of background/development info there as well...! So while the Retro Music page looks quite similar to the main page, the content is actually quite expanded... but still made easy to navigate and read what you want (instead of what I assume you'd want). :) Enjoy!!
With Love,
-christofori
March 30, 2011
NEW Samples posted!!!
All, I've recently been sampling my synths some more and have began posting the samples in .ITI instrument format on my 4Shared page. Free to all. :) Both organs (one I created myself on my Roland SH-201; the other a factory preset from my Alesis Micron). Both multi-sampled and excellent quality!
With Love,
-christofori
March 29, 2011
NEW SONG RELEASED!!!
"Focus" makes it's debut today! This SONG (so called, having lyrics!) was first inspired by way of a fairly vague theme, some years ago. God did give me the melody for the chorus and the first phrase of it back then; but as friends around me at the time could tell you, it seemed to be (at best) confusing -- and it wasn't long before I'd set this one on the back burner, being (at that time) much more vested into the band, work, and my 'own life' (or, my own path if you will). Fortunately, God had patience with me -- and saw I was able to finish this song, finally! But, friends, it wasn't without issue of course!
Work on Focus began in earnest back in November of 2010, but soon had to (again) take a back-burner to other projects. In December and January I was very pre-occupied with projects for ministries through my church. I volunteered my lights, services and talents for their Christmas dinner theatre presentation -- designing and running the lights as well as playing in multiple instrumental groups for the 'pre-show' -- and, I also video taped each night...! In January I took all of the footage and created a DVD with it -- and ALL of that was because GOD allowed me the honor; I wasn't actually sure I'd be able to get it all done; but had faith that He'd see me through it, and He most certainly did!
Then, February rolled around -- more work spent on Focus. Much of it that month consisted of working through the rather expansive sampling library I had accumulated, and turning it into usable (track-able) instruments. There was also fairly considerable time spent then working on balance and blending of the samples. Then at the end of February, I lost my job... a blessing in disguise! :D
March finally saw me finish this song! Although, in a freakish twist of events, I LOST THE SOURCE FILE for this after all of that work -- I did at least have a slightly-less-complete version with no vocals at all; which has turned into the accompaniment track for the song (this explains why the perf. tracks are slightly different than the release version). As near as I can figure, I had FAR too many samples and VSTs and VSTi's in the file; and OpenMPT freaked out when I tried to save it and wrote a 0 byte file. I had no backup. (the source file was around 300MB last I checked... which any tracker will tell you is HUGE... I was multi-sampling!!...) You can tell (fortunately) in the track that the instruments/samples at least sound good. This is why... of course, it probably didn't help that I had all the vocals in the track as well. Oh well, you live and learn..!
While that means I will probably never be able to change this song, I took it as a bittersweet message of sorts; God gave me enough to produce the final and accomp. versions of the song, and also ensured I released it sooner rather than later (some know my tendencies to be a perfectionist... one of the reasons lately that I've had no releases..!)
So, that means I did lose a lot of those instruments I had set up and will have to make them again, should I want to use them in other songs. Of course, SOME of them I did make .ITI instrument exports of, so that's the silver lining. And as much as I love some of the VSTi's I used this time, I STILL love the control available via tracking too much not to continue doing so!
Well, go on and head to the music page and check it out already. :P
With Love,
-christofori
March 13, 2011
Latest christo>Economic Update: Friends, christofori was laid off from his long-time IT Managerial employment a few weeks ago. I am OK -- in actuality, at least financially anyway, I'm actually doing GREAT -- but that'll change of course in a short time, once unemployment benefits begin -- unless I've been able to procure a new job. While I won't go into specifics at this time, I will definately state that not long ago, God dropped a couple of WONDERFUL opportunities right into my lap..! Oh, and by the way... I hadn't done A THING about the job search/hunt since being let go the final day of February...! THIS IS TRULY A POWERFUL TESTIMONY to the FULLNESS of God! This happened of course, because I ultimately and completely trust Him (and Him alone..!) to provide for each and every single (even if some consider them trivial) need I'll EVER have..! Friends, God is GOOD -- ALL the TIME!
Well, I won't go on longer on that -- but to say one last thing, of course. It's a modest tidbit of powerful knowledge and trust I've learned/noticed about God. This is: The more one gives God the glory (credit) in their daily walk of devotion, the MORE GOD DOES for him/her!
I've always known, but not always admitted, that my gifts/talents/abilities/everything(!) were because God allowed them in my life -- I've (within the last several months..!) accomplished astounding things for others (not to mention how my understanding of God/Universe/Everything has exponentially expanded and shaped towards a righteous fullness, as I allowed God to mold and shape my very essence!) and for the Kingdom works. Praise God! Of course as you likely are already aware, evidence of multiple accomplishments (I was only able to complete because God was able to use my hands/mind/soul as His own tool..!) is available via this nifty site!
Lastly, in other news (and in case anyone had forgotten or lost hope...):
I'm (since having somewhat more available time, lately...) making significant progress towards the completion of MY FIRST SONG -- yep... lyrics included.. and I'll be singing. :) The message is one God's been working into my mind for several years -- and (to be upfront) deals specifically with the main disconnect in modern Christian life today -- SIN. What is it? Or, what MAKES it a sin? The lyrics outline 'portraits' at times in my life, in each verse -- while the (partly evolving/living/breathing even..!) chorus is a 2-part piece of what God sees wrong, in many throughout humanity: 1 God's dispair towards man -- deals with mankind's attachment to 'posessions' or materialism [ie: money/capitalism.. whatever you want to interpret it as] -- and His dissatisfaction/disgust! 2 A three-pronged (each chorus cites a different parable from Jesus) reminder encouraging Christians to become FOLLOWERS of Jesus (Do as HE did/does, don't just SAY what HE SAID..! THIS is what He meant when He asked us to 'Go into all the world, preaching and teaching...' -- BE A LOVING AND SERVING EXAMPLE TO ALL)!
Well, while I didn't intend to dissect/outline the lyrical content of the song to you, there you go. :D I'm finished with the lyrics and am actually VERY CLOSE to completing the remaining compositional tracking -- This is TRULY a JOYFUL NOISE to God, which also happens to contain a potent and empowering message! (Of course: it will also be ornamented according to the style fans of my music have come to expect: perhaps even epically-interwoven melodies and barrochial countermelodies of course become interwoven into this somwehat whacky, though DEFINATELY upbeat and joyful "Christo-esque" composition -- in other words, it's richly scored and has many 'busy' parts..! Surely NO ONE expects anything less..!?)
AND VERY FINALLY: I am proud to mention that ALL samples have been pain-stakingly mastered, collected, and worked/balanced/tweaked for a rich, harmonious and joyfully playful theme. The source track [file which of course contains the raw WAV sample data of all sounds/instruments] is (currently) almost 200 MB in size. Pretty much all of that are hi-quality 48000 rate samples. :D I did many myself, and collected the others along the way -- and they were excellent multi-sampled sets of (almost entirely) REAL (and GOOD quality) instruments. Really! ... and yeah, perhaps this is PART of the reason it's taken me so long to get SOMETHING written...! Anyway though, while of course I can't see the future to know when the song will FINALLY be done, I can tell you this: It will BE very SOON..!
Allright.. another tid-bit I feel obligated to explain...: It likely goes without saying that many of today's non-believers dispise much of Christianity as it tends to be quite judgemental and hypocritical on the whole. I can only remind people that we're NOT judges -- GOD is! (there is NO justice in this world..!) -AND- Personally, it was NOT until I spent significant time in devotion and research seeking the truth about, and God's concept of; SIN -- NOT UNTIL having saught His word had I EVER been able to 'wake up' from the "this is wrong, but that's OK... oh, and that and that and definately THAT are WAY wrong, too!" mentality which seems to plague modern believers. Furthermore, I will make 2 terms distinctions here:
1) Christian is a word which describes a person who believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died to save every one of us.. so long as we simply BELIEVE (though we cannot SEE Him before we make that step of faith).
AND
2) a Follower of Christ is one who has obediently submitted to the will and purpose of God as it is made known to that person through the Holy Spirit. One begins Christian life as simply a believer; but ALL believers are expected to CONTINUE TAKING THOSE SUBSEQUENT STEPS in their journey of obedience after Jesus!
While of course, I cannot speak to anyone's situation other than my own; and I can tell you that I became a Christian long ago, but only VERY RECENTLY turned BACK away from my SELFISH AMBITIONS and became a humbled and obediant servent of Christ -- allowing the awesome and powerful LOVE of God to flow through me everywhere I go -- as a LIGHT unto the world existing in the DARKNESS of selfishness and sin. Ask anyone who knows me -- I know they'll tell you I'm a changed person! Friends, who alive is righteous enough to tell you a thing is a sin or not a sin? Truly, people, I tell you this: I CAN DO ALL THINGS through Christ who STRENGTHENS ME! (Phil 4:13) -- This truly is the verse of my renewed and rededicated life, as I've been in downright constant AWE at the things accomplished in/around/because of me and my willingness and obediance! I'm complete, now -- and NOTHING will ever break me down again! :D This of course (silly reader, if you thought this is what I meant!) DOES NOT mean I can decide what is a sin and what is not (didn't I just address that? hehe) -- what it ACTUALLY means, friends, is that since GOD'S WILL in my life is what determins exactly what/when/how/why I do things, then so long as I earnestly seek after God's will for the purposes of HIS Kingdom, I am living RIGHTEOUSLY. This is only because of God's GRACE and love for each and all -- without them, people, there would literally be no hope nor any reason to live.
OKAY -- I promise the 'message' is done, now!! :D Sorry friends, I cannot make a news posting without spewing forth the abundance of loving, merciful grace-filled TRUTH which God's shown me for life! Hopefully you'll be happy for me, having found self-esteem, purpose, and REASON to go on HAPPILLY and EXPECTANTLY each day; rather than losing interest/respect/what-have-you for me and the like. [Why isn't this guy deep into depression having lost his job?? Hmm.] My soul overflows (over-abundantly!) with optimism and praise for God because His will for me is realized!
OK... Well, if any have made it this far, it becomes time to bid farewell and love as we go our seperate (designated, or chosen?) ways in this life... perhaps coming together again before long. Until then; let me know if I can intercede with the Father on your behalf, or if you've any questions or concerns of me, please don't hesitate to bring 'em on. I'll do my best to provide any/all help/insight/knowledge/wisdom/power/grace/LOVE I possibly can, to anyone seeking it! I guess I'll close for now, with the promise of forthcoming GOOD NEWS in the not-at-all-distant-future...! Stay tuned, folks/friends/fans/family/freeloaders[okay... EVERYONE!]!!! :D :D :D
With Love,
-christofori
PS: Have no fear -- ALL of my music (including my own soundsets, sample packs, and even variants of the final release [1 'Christo' mix, 1 with no lyrics for those who'd like to sing it themselves, and also a version featuring NO solos allowing someone to both sing AND play their own adlib (in the section following the bridge... you'll see!)]) are all going to eventually make their way onto my web site for FREE downloading by all. :D I am not to gain materially from any of His blessings in my life -- the purpose, however, is for the betterment of humanity in perhaps just the smallest of microscopic manners... [that is: can it not manage, for example, to instead become benevolent blessings that are bountifully multiplied and then bestowed unto MANY in the MASSES! :D] . . . AIIGHT I'm done..! ;)
December 17, 2010
Ahh! Here we have a somewhat 'hurried' recording of this year's Christmas Light show for the Tulsa Hospitality House's 2010 "Room in the Inn, Room in our Hearts" event! (I only say 'hurried' cause I recorded it in my car [and through my windshield] so as to get the audio; ideally I'd have set up outside... maybe next year!)
So, yeah! This is one of the 2 seasonal light programming projects I happilly create each year on a volunteer basis; and this was my second year working with HHT. Apart from practically doubling the number of individual lights adorning the facilities, we were able to significantly expand the control structures for the show system -- allowing several seperate objects to have multiple colors (not to mention that second light tree we added as well!). This year I also selected the music tracks to be animated and mastered the mix and info/testimonial tracks -- so yes, in other words: I really got to put pretty much all of myself into the show. It was a very neat experience for me as I realized along the way the awesomeness in my mind -- which is, the talents God enriched in me. How He gave me all the technical insight and understanding, and the patience and planning; not to mention pure, joy-driven and inspired creativity a la Christofori! :D
So check it out already. Now you can't come up with excuses for not getting over to HHT to watch the show for yourself! >:P
With Love,
-christofori
November 29, 2010
New "O Come" released! This special "HHT 2010" edition has been almost 100% resampled and reworked, and additionally features the whole family of recorders I have, playing in harmony! This was a project I did for inclusion in a local ministry's animated christmas light display, which I'm also designing/programming. Turns out I also performed the tune for each of the pre-show entertainment segments preceeding the "For Unto Y'all" presentations I did at AHBC. Hey; when you're busy, a few common elements help tie everything together for you..! ;)
With Love,
-christofori
October 8, 2010
30 BRAND-NEW vacation photos just posted!
Of course -- you knew I would post pictures from my recent Utah vacation... right? Well you were right. I have added 30 select photos from my collection of pics taken during the trip (I actually arrived back at home just a few days ago) -- one might consider this unusually quick of a news/photo posting to be some kind of omen..! Sorry about my usual 'I'll get around to it..." approach in recent months... I'm trying my best to break that habit by making timely updates and postings to the site from now on. :)
Anyway, head over to the Photos section to check out the latest additions! These shots are particularly beautiful as they were taken in the mountains near where I used to live in Utah -- oh yes, I mustn't forget to mention that the vacation occured during the onset of Autumn; providing for many remarkable examples of fall colors! Each of you will enjoy browsing through these vivid pics, I assure you! So get over there and start checking the photos out already..!
With Love,
-christofori
September 20, 2010
New vacation photos now online!
Yep, folks -- I've finally gotten around to picking a few photos from my recent Summer 2009 trip to Utah, and also my Labor Day 2010 trip to New Mexico! Head on over to the photos page to check 'em out!
With Love,
-christofori
August 27, 2010
FINAL Effects Reel from Band posted!
Wow, a month since my last post! Well, I've been busy indeed. The final bit of work for/with my former band is now online (or, a segment of it is anyway -- the entire song is 19+ minutes long, so the video segment you see is right where I began adding effects after the camcorder went into 'focus haze' mode). Check it out on the video blogs page!
In other news, I'm beginning work on several new songs of my own. I've been working on 3 off and on and should have some notable progress on at least one of them soon... cross your fingers for a preview!
On the personal front, I've been doing excellent lately. God's been doing great things! I will be taking some vacations before year's end (my company's vacation policy changed, so I pretty much have to use all of my days before year's end) -- this reminded me that I hadn't posted any pics from my 2009 trip to Utah -- be watching for those soon. I've got some beautiful pics to post from my last trip there in June 2009; and I also plan to go back in late September to catch more pics (of the changing colors of the fall foliage!).
While I miss hanging out with my friends all the time like I used to, I have been enjoying life so much more than I had ever been able to before. Hope everything's going well for all of you out there! Hope to get to those pics sometime this weekend... stay tuned!
With Love,
-christofori
July 27, 2010
MAJOR changes in the life of Christofori...!
What you're about to read will likely shock you. Be prepared. It's been very difficult to come to this point in my life, where I can actually talk about these things... but I need to get them out. Please bare with me here.
So, yeah! Big changes... that's right, folks. July has been a busy, busy, busy month for me -- but not as you might expect, if you've been following me and/or my site for some time. Let's start with the biggest change musically -- I am no longer in my band.
Now that that has had a chance to sink in, believe me when I tell you that this has been the BEST thing I have done for myself (considering the big picture -- in other words, I'm not only talking about my leaving the band, here). God's been working in my life for some time, and things for a while had been spiraling out of control. Addictions in my life had taken over (as more time goes by, more details will undoubtedly get posted here) and had been causing a distance to grow between myself and my family, friends, and work -- which wasn't working out too well for me. I was a functional drug addict -- doing drugs at night or on days off, and still managing to report to work (albeit late just about every day -- not a couple of minutes late, either... we're talking an hour or two [or more...]). I was lucky I hadn't lost my job. These things were also affecting my performance in the band as well -- and I had come to realize that I was hindering my friends more than contributing to the band... even though I was doing most of the 'work' that anyone would ever see of the group. All of this, not even mentioning issues it caused for myself and my family.
Jump back nearly 2/3 of my life to the point I accepted Christ in my life. Yep -- I have been saved most of my life... but (due to personal issues which led to the drug use in the first place) I never grew close to the Lord, nor had I ever began walking with Him in my daily life.
So back to the band. My best friend was the leader of the band, though we never really got off the ground with our compositions. I (at the time) felt held back -- ignored -- and all the while, hated myself more and more, because of what I'd become. This took a huge toll on my relationship with my best friend and led to an evening of bitter squabbling which made me realize that I needed to get away. Usually when this happened, I went after whatever drug I was on at the time... but this time, I began to listen to the Holy Spirit as he urged me to DO SOMETHING to get myself out of the rut I knew I was in. The thought of going to our storage unit, gathering all of my lights/gear/cables/etc. and moving out and leaving the band behind me had occured numerous times -- and again, that night, I thought about it. This time, however, the Spirit urged me to listen to that thought, even though I was telling myself "No, I can't do that to them! It's not worth throwing a fit and stomping away angrilly... I just need to cool down." The Spirit's response to me, though, was to say "Go ahead and do it. You NEED to do it."
As much as it hurt me to remove each and every cable, each light, each bit of gear that I had built into that storage unit -- I did. I sent text messages to the guys, and I even called another bandmate (my other best friend and long-time room-mate from Uni, he was also one of my fraternity brothers there) to vent -- which turned into a scathing emotional breakdown. But his words of re-assurance to me, telling me that I worked too hard and did so much to be mistreated as I had been, helped me to see that instead of the end of an opportunity (I felt as though all of my life-long dreams had been crushed), I needed to do what was right for myself -- in the midst of that conversation, I knew God was telling me "No, not the end of an opportunity. This is just the beginning of a NEW opportunity."
Since then, I've redidicated my life to God and committed ever fibre of myself to His work. God's gracefully taken my issues away -- no more drugs, no more self-hatred, no more issues at all!
While this process did take quite a bit of time over the last few months, I'm very greatful to still be friends with all of the bandmates -- though I don't see them as often as I used to. But even so, I know that God put them in my life for an important reason -- I would not be alive today if it weren't for them. They put up with my issues for so long... you have no idea. They saved me from drowning, and saved me through my addictions in showing me their friendship -- but it took God's grace to save my eternal soul!
So now, I'm composing again. I've turned what was an absolute pig-sty of a place into a beautifully designed (and in true-to-Christo-form: 'explicitly organized' applies, too!) place where all of my gear is set and ready to go. Pictures and new video will be coming soon!
As for older projects (like the effect-laden video I was working on for the band, I had been calling it "I'm Feelin' It") I plan to complete the ones that were in-progress. Though I have the only store of the band's recorded jams/songs (which, in total, comes to 48.8 hours) I am working on getting the other guys' copies to them. I'm not gonna hold back all of that creativity just because I left.. that's not the right thing to do. However, there won't be any additional band material posted to my site -- the only things I'll post from here on out (other than the previously-mentioned video) will be my own works, and they'll be Christian oriented. I'm going to finish the final few minutes of video from the one I was working on because it's preview is online, and I really owe them (and you) a finished product.
Don't take this to mean I'll be 'preaching' to anyone. Christian life is SUPPOSED to be about living for Christ -- setting an example for others to follow! It's NOT about telling people how to live their lives (only God can do that). I'll bet anyone out there who's ever liked music I've been part of, will continue to like my new stuff. :)
So strap in, hang on, and check back when you want. New stuff WILL begin to appear on this site as it is created. :D
Lastly thanks to everyone in my life, and even those I don't know about, who've been praying, thinking, or wondering about me. These last few months have been full of lessons and living -- and please know I'm no longer 'going through the motions' of life, but am finally LIVING LIFE, just as I should have been all along! God's blessings to you all!
With Love,
-christofori
April 10, 2010
New video preview on the blogs page!
No long rant this time, just a show of recent productivity. Hope to be able to post the whole thing when it's done, perhaps, but the friggin' thing's over 19 minutes long. What can I say? We enjoy getting together and jamming. Sometimes we go on for whole sets.. sometimes we play variations of stuff we've played before, or combinations even; other nights are totally unique. The choon in the video was recorded April 1 2010 (no kidding) and I've been working steadilly on the video effects since. Go watch it and even go ahead and drool a tiny bit if you feel the urge. :P
April 5, 2010
Hey, all! First while it's been a while (and I'm sorry!) I gotta say that I hope everyone is doing well and that ya'll are truly very happy with life (in general)! :)
Additionally, I must take a brief moment so as to point out that I (of course!) noticed (and enhanced, to be fully honest -- even while I am in the very midst of this quite wonderful/enjoyable creative mindset, which I currently find myself in; which of course, has [amongst other things] inspired me to take all of the 'oh-so-nit-picky' time it took in order to actually get all of my thoughts down coherantly, whilst doing myself enough justice through venting, so that I might even be so lucky as to feel any bit better about my situation [...which, I feel confident -- in a 'tongue-in-cheek'-ey kind of a way -- that all my efforts are due; especially considering my seeming lack of attention to things like {oh... I dunno.......} UPDATING MY SITE ONCE IN A WHILE; not to mention of course those discerningly-thorough eyes of yours. Yep! There it is! I actually *do* contain something of a sense {albeit you, the reader, may well find yourself entertaining words akin to 'seemingly-vague' or perhaps 'outright-ignored' when considering apt vocabulary to describe this afore-mentioned sense of mine!} of just exactly who my poor, enduring audience is! I believe you'll consider this update, my latest example {which just so happens to be JAM-PACKED with TONS/TONNES of these ever-persistant tangents...!!...}, to hold true to my {just as, each in their own way, all my other works have done} own, 'quirky' attention to detail. This one, however, isn't just a mish-mash of melodies that seem to flirt and dance their ways around other independant-yet-complimentary counter-melodies -- but rather, this is just a long-overdue, dangerously-critical "vent" fest]). :)
...Or, if it helps you sleep tonight: please consider yourself to be but a mere, pseudo-willing participant in this, a journal which so happens to do it's absolute damndest to actually end up dragging it's reader(s) through many of the rough, messy details (that is [of course, as I must digress, to append]: should the reader *accept the risks* of actually READING any/all of those dreaded tangents...!] -- I always did tend to perform exceptionally well in those mundane composition classes, with regard to (again I might add: amongst other things!!) revision/editing/summarizing/connotating tasks. So if you're daft enough to have missed it till now; the bold/italic/strike crap is my sad attempt to make this stuff something easier to read... where one might [dare I say this?] consider skipping those easilly-spotted, and totally worthless "fluff type" sections, if so desired.
You'd have NEVER GUESSED that an annoying tendancy of mine in my writing (of course, like I haven't over-explained this already!..) would be: my tendancy to ramble on into detail when the reader actually might rather not read all of that crap (I'll call it: "understandably/reasonably accepted summarization" -- yep, sounds to me as though it's accurate for my summarized thoughts on the matter... and our "theme/key-phrase" for today is: TOTALLY NEEDLESS DRABBLE!). Now, doing my absolute best to genuinely make a whole-hearted effort in order to make this whole mess any easier to read (and even including [of all the "insane-to-any-of-his-old-IRC-friends-who-remember-how-Christo-writes,-complete-with-his-[amasing/annoying]-ability-to-go-on-in-outlandishly-extraordinary-detail-about-something-he-obviously-feels-is-important;-yet,-may-not-be-(quite-so-much)" {and of course, it wouldn't at all surprise you to learn that I've even taken the time to mention this, equally-fine yet utterly-needless tidbit: "now that's 'itaohoIfwrhCw,cwh[a/a]atgoioedashofii;y,mnb(qsm)' for short -- now, don't ya'll just *know* that one's actually gonna catch on... some..time... soon..?{wink}"...?} things]: the ability for the reader to more easilly skip those oh-so 'extraneous' tangents!) Wow! All of this wasn't hard for Christo at all!... yeah.
Now I'll finally get on with catching you up to speed on all things Christofori, as well as make some more of those "hope to see this, but being realistic: I don't know when I'll get to it" kinds of promises. For the latter I will appologise up front; but I know any/all of you out there understand -- so I say to you: "Thanks!... again!" :D
I've been (as usual) working full-time with my IT career, heading up an understaffed department in a little slice of what I like to call the "Good-ole' American Private-Sector Industry" (or GAPSI for short). We're (as you can imagine) always busy (yaay, job security!) considering we currently operate with a 2-person staff (myself included) in an organization with 120-160 employees -- housed in locations scattered literally across the globe (some offices in China, remote users in Germany -- not to mention our domestic showrooms and locations, to give you a hint) no less! This may begin to paint a picture of just how 'whack' my ratio of 'business to personal' time (which as you might guess, has been horridly shifted [in my absolute dismay and utter horror] towards the 'business' side of my scale) actually is. The point should easilly be driven home once you discover that about 2 years ago, our department employed 4 people (including myself as well as an arguably "somewhat easy-to-impress, yet once you rub him wrong he loses all respect he ever dreamed about holding for you" kind of boss [I always viewed him just as the department manager {carefully avoided the word/thought/idea of him as my "boss" since prior to his arrival I reported to the owner directly, and whaddya know; currently do as well! Quality and dedication actually DO pay off!... but I digress.}; which may have been some of my issue with him, to be fair!] -- which I might add, I also had to train -- on our projects, goals, and way we do things...!...). (Whew! I promise not to do my "nested tangents" thing again anytime soon...!)
To put it bluntly and keep my thoughts succinct: I've been run ragged. And we haven't even begun to discuss that other half of my 'business/personal' scale! (Really: I am sorry to vent this much in a news posting; but I've heard how it's a good thing to express your 'pent-up-and-so-deeply-felt/insanely-intense-emotions' before they've become so bottled up tight, that the next straw causes you to kinda pop!... Or, am I wrong...?) Oh, before I do, I gotta mention a SHINING POSITIVE -- after aaaages of wish-wash, the owner finally decided to hire a third person for IT -- which to my shock, starts next week and works full-time!! I had been only even dreaming about getting a part-time lackey to help spread the work more tolerably!
On other fronts, I've been busy as well with band projects. Even though we still haven't made the jump to "seriousness" that it takes to get gigs and make money, I've continued and amped up my efforts to archive the ideas we come up with when we jam. This includes not only audio of our stuff; but video footage of much of it, too (long story short -- it's easier than hooking all that crap up so we end up with a decent and worthwhile end-product). However, without getting too nitty-gritty again, I'll just say that I've got 2 bad (or dying, at the least) camcorders and need to buy a new one. Meanwhile, what video we DO get ends up fine for a moment, then suddenly will just swing out to EXTREMELY unfocused blobs of light and color... so for those, I've lately taken to spending time to warp the unfocused footage, via effects, in time with the music. Hope to post something from one of those on this site, sometime.
Lastly with the band: one of the guys is making the big step and purchasing his own home! This means we'll be able to quit over-paying for an entirely disturbing unit in an over-crowded complex, that (because of the clashing styles of music ALL AROUND YOU...) honestly I'd say we've grown VERY tired of lately -- in a few months or so, anyway..! We'll just have to decide exactly what we're gonna do about the space we'll use (and moreover, whether we're building it on his property by ourselves -- or perhaps if we'll just simply take over one of my friend's rooms). I'm out there a lot working on miscelaneous tasks, and I do want to continue that -- but also want to make sure none of us end up messing up my friend's life by always being IN his house (instead of just NEAR his house). Everyone should have their own space!
Family has been a huge blessing for me -- ESPECIALLY lately. I probably never really show any of them properly, how they really do help make a difference in my being: but, I still feel very blessed to have the loving family that I've got. With so much of my "drive" made up of my ambition for music, it's hard to say the right things to family when I see them... sometimes I have to settle for little (if any) family time on any given day; so I tend to think things (at times), like: "I wish I had told them THIS" or "Why didn't I say it THAT way?!"
Hopefully you're in a tighter circle with your family and loved ones than I feel I am, sometimes. Family is the most important thing to a lot of people -- myself included -- and if nothing else, perhaps through my hardships and trials, someone might read these words and decide (for themselves) that they're like me, and maybe -- just MAYBE -- that person will become a better child/brother/sister/parent/loved-one for somebody out there..!
I guess that's all for now. I was tempted to get into politics quite a bit more deeply than I have; prior to sitting down to write all of this; but I think now, that I'm glad I saved that topic for another time...! Anyway, hope to hear from some of you out there. I do miss all those 'good times' in IRC years ago -- whether you know it or not, some of you guys/gals out there REALLY made a difference to me, in some way -- or helped me to see something in a way I'd not been able to before. For those things -- and of course, also because I'll NEVER forget the friendships that grew in those days (and yet now have almost seemingly withered and died; kinda like I had done with IRC) -- for ALL of those things I'm VERY thankful. I'm satisfied in myself and at ease with my life in a way that I'd never want go back in time to change ANY thing -- even if I could! Again, I'm grateful and glad to have been called 'friend' by lots of you out there. Hang in there, everyone -- look on the bright side (even when it's the LAST thing you wanna do) and learn to enjoy things that you can! Be honest and genuine with those you love -- it's far easier and more rewarding for you, when you're not worried about what they think -- it's really enough to know they still love you anyway. :D
HOPEFULLY my next update will be very soon. See ya then!
/christo
October 12, 2009
Now you can check out the band in action! That's right, folks; this is a collection of jams from my band -- excerpts from a couple of tunes from a few nights in August and September. Enjoy them now in the Video Blogs section!
September 24, 2009
Video Blog section Updated -- already!
That's right folks; you can now not only see where we ARE playing, but where we WERE playing before moving to our current complex! Check out the just-updated Video Blogs section to explore the Garage -- our hang-out and practice facility for over a year. The Garage, also known as the 'Thyme Musheen' had all of our gear hooked up and ready to use at any time we'd want. We could also watch DVD's, play X-Box or PS2/3, or watch YouTube videos there. We began our t-shirt printing operations there as well!
The Garage was located in Sapulpa, OK, which is not far outside the Tulsa area. It was a great town we enjoyed calling our home-town for a while... but then a bond issue was passed (by only 2 votes!) that would build a new school in town -- which happened to be planned for the very spot we'd made our home -- the Garage! That lot and several others were purchased by the city to be torn down and used as a blank slate where the future school will be built. So, we made the move into Tulsa and now, call it home.
Be sure to swing by the Video Blogs section and check out our old diggs!
September 20, 2009
NEW Section introduced in long-overdue update!
Hey hey hey! Bet you thought I had fallen off the face of the Earth, eh? Well, not so! :)
In an embarrasingly-overdue update, I fill you in on some of what I've been up to, as well as kick off a brand new feature section of my site: Video Blogs! That's right folks, I'm into video and am loving it. I wanted to take some time and show everybody the swanky digs we've created in our ever-developing studio, as well as showcase some of the sleek and nifty coolness at my fingertips there! In the first edition of the Video Blog, I offer viewers a virtual tour of 'The Asylum' -- the facility that bandmembers and I have worked hard to create so that we can jam, practice, and record new choons. The tour includes previews of 2 tunes/jams we've recorded (from an ever-growing library of over 32 hours of recorded jams!) as well as some demonstrations of my lighting system, and an overall "around-the-room" look at our sacred lair!
Friends, I'm very sorry that I've not been around much lately, and that I've neglected posting updates on my site for those of you who're curious what I've been up to lately. The brief low-down on life lately goes something like this:
I'm still working at IMAX Worldwide Imports as the IT Manager, and as such I don't get very much down-time. In fact, I just returned last night from Las Vegas, where I worked to support one of our domestic trade show events (didn't even have much time to get out and enjoy the town while I was there -- most of my time was spent working). Anyway, most of my spare time outside of work revolves around family, friends, and jamming with the band -- which (on good weeks) we get to get together and jam about once a week. Each of our jams gets recorded (keep checking back periodically and you're VERY likely to see more band updates, previews, news, etc!) and then I spend more time at 'The Asylum' working to cut the recorded source material down into tracks (or "choons" as I like to call them) so we can more easilly locate and review our jams. Our latest recordings, made on-location at our current facilities, have been video recordings -- so I'll be sharing some clips from our jams on a regular basis! :)
We've been making music together for the past few years now. The core of the group has remained the same (there is myself on keyboards, Charlie Parker [aka ChuckP or ChuckPizzle] on lead guitar, and KY [aka NDN or Noble_Savage] on bass) while about a year or so ago, we brought aboard a new drummer (Derron [aka MrKilla]). We began playing together in the detatched garage of Derron's house, and over time we gained new and improved gear and lights. The garage was an extremely sweet hang-out for us all, offering convenience in location as well as a plethora of audio/video options for our use and entertainment. We had all of our band gear, as you can now see in the introduction I've posted on the Video Blog section; but in addition, we had a large screen and digital projector; with which we could watch DVD's, play XBox or PS2 games, or even YouTube videos! I had it rigged up so that the "big screen" could be used as a virtual monitor from 'PianoForte' (the name of my on-site computer mainly dedicated to recording our jams) so that we could browse the web or even watch neato visualizations on the big screen. We also enjoyed air conditioning in the summer months, and could even keep the place warm in the winter months, for suitably comfortable jam-session experiences! For more on our setup while at the garage, keep an eye out for an upcomming Video Blog about it, which will highlite all of the details and features found in the garage, our most versatile and complete setup!
Since the end of May 2009, when the city Derron lived in passed a bond issue to build a new school, we briefly disbanded and tore down the garage. The bond issue had provisions to procure the property Derron lived at, and as such, the house would be moved elsewhere and the garage -- our beloved home -- would end up being torn down (along with the 4 other remaining houses on the block) so as to make room for the new school. We spent about a month and a half without a home, but then came across our current location. We at first moved into a unit about half the size of our current one, where we spent about a week or two as we waited for our actual unit to become available. We then moved into that unit, where we finalized our setup (much as you can see it now) and we began once again to record our jam sessions. After about a month there, a situation developed where another unit (with less surrounding bands -- this complex where we've set up 'The Asylum' also happens to be home to 34 other bands!) became available, and we jumped at the chance to relocate. Our previous space came complete with 2 bands through the wall behind us, and one right next to us -- we quickly became aware of the fact that practicing or jamming was very difficult when you had to 'compete' with the volume levels of several neighboring bands. Our current (and likely semi-permanent) location is prime, as there are no other units behind us and only one nearby band to deal with. Because of the neighboring bands, and since our desire is to record and develop our choons, we're currently in progress with sound-proofing projects to help eliminate any noise pollution issues. We all are very proud of our space and enjoy spending time out there working on our stuff. While the majority of the music gear shown in 'The Asylum' belongs to my bandmates, the lights are all mine -- and customization/set-up of the whole place was done by yours-truly; it's been something I've enjoyed immensely! I love working in there, making the place look NiftyCool! as well as developing a sweet place where we can cut loose and easilly make music together. :)
Now that I've started a new section on my page for my Video Blogs, be sure to check back regularly! I will be spending time making new videos to post -- these videos will show off new/updated coolness as well as new gear we'll obtain over time. They'll also be packed with unheard jams, tunes, and even video-jams of us playing music! Hope everyone out there is doing well, and I truly miss all of you and the times we spent chatting on #modarchive. Please feel free to drop me a line on my guestbook -- let me know how you've been and what's new in your lives! See you soon!
December 15, 2007
I've survived the storm; I'm alive!
That's right, folks! In case any of you had heard of our crippling ice storm or had been wondering 'bout me, I'm still hangin' in there. We were powerless for a few days as a result of the freak ice storm which hit the entire state of Oklahoma, causing hundreds of downed tree limbs and massive power line issues -- resulting in the worst (most devestating) power outage in state history. The storm hit last Sunday, the 9th, and left millions statewide sitting in the dark for days.
Fortunately, we regained power at my household a few nights ago, so things have been slowly returning to normal. Ironic how as a society we seem to have grown so accustomed to the modern comforts that we tend to go "stir crazy" and develop hateful attitudes when faced with the prospect of having to live without a creature comfort we otherwise take for granted... ;)
December 9, 2007
Latest release entered into competition!
That's right, folks, my most recent online release, Triumph, is competing this month in the Novus Compo, an online music competition where several songs from different categories compete to make it into the final round, which is comprised of the winning song from each of the 5 available categories. The competition will run throughout the month of December, so please take a few moments and browse over to the Novus Compo site, and please vote for my tune!
On other fronts, all of my band mates are living in the same area now, so we will become more productive. Work still sucks a lot of energy from me daily, but I'm managing to survive taking it one day at a time. Stay tuned, folks, and again, please participate in the Novus Compo and vote for my tune!
June 11, 2007
I put up a few new photos today; go check 'em out! :)
May 26, 2007
New site design & new choon!
That's right, folks! You CAN believe your eyes! I've finally gotten around to updating my site layout. Hope you like the change! It was long overdue.
Double-Bonus! Hey folks, my newest track is now online! Check out Triumph from my music page!
Update!
Triple-Bonus! WOW, three updates in one day, can you believe it?! Now also included in the realm of newness are several photos from my 2005 trip to Great Britain! Check out some of my pics and let me know what you think. :)
May 6, 2006
A quick note about genres...
I've found that most people have very, very different ideas when it comes to classifying (or trying to classify) a piece of music, tune, or song within a set genre. I myself have always had problems deciding upon a genre to fit a tune into. If you've listened to any of my tracks, I'm sure you will be able to tell; the genres I've picked for the tracks (I'm sure) will not always match the genres you would have picked.
Bottom line here, folks, is that no two people are going to feel the same way about any one song. That said, please keep in mind the difference of oppinions where genres are concerned when you're listening to music (not just mine; all music). With an almost infinate list of musical genres (which continues to grow with each passing day, it seems) it is important not to knock someone too hard for writing a "Trance" tune which you would call by any other name (dance, club, etc).
// End of "Public Service Announcement" :)
October 22, 2005
It's been a while, and it'll be a few weeks... before I return. I'm going to be on vacation for a few weeks in Great Britain. There should be some photos soon after I get back.. :)
December 23, 2004
A Special Christmas Treat!
I've managed to (finally) release one of my favorite tunes that I've performed in my church: Oh Come, Oh Come, Emanuel. I played the tune in 2001 I believe, and have since updated and resampled the entire thing. To save you all the time of searching my cumbersome music page for the song, I've linked it here.
Hope everyone is doing well! Also please don't take offense to my mentioning Christmas on my own site... I'm not trying to be rude, but I didn't create this site to stay politically correct. :) I mean no offense to anyone of course, but still... these days you have to say these things up front... (sigh)
November 10, 2004
A Brief Update...
Hey all. Time has gone by quickly, and things have kept me away from my "online life" like never before. It's time for some sort of... um... WAY overdue update here.
Ah yes, plans for the future, there we are. I looked at the photos section and realized that it's been over a year since I posted anything -- I'm looking for things to post there. Also, I've been asked to contribute tunes to a GBA game in development -- once they're done (or at least nearly done) with the game, those tunes will appear on my site (most likely, licensing permitting). Also, I've still got some ideas for "regular" tunes, and hopefully will be able to release something soon. Also along the lines of music, I have a few Christmas-type tunes that I'm going to release soon. :)
Let's see... what else.... Oh yes. I had promised a few people not long ago (or was it? Probably... too long ago it seems) that I would be working on some sort of "elusive" literary/music-themed project. I had nearly given up hope on the project, until recently, when I found my concept sketches for the theme and idea. I've been going over it a bit, and would still love to do it -- although the music part will be scaled back quite a bit (just a "theme" song, instead of a track for every "chapter" like I had originally planned). Of course, this is still just on my "wish list" of things I'd like to do -- but hopefully, it will be a true, active project before long.
Hmmm.... Anything else? Well, sure. I need to also be working on the website for my band -- somehow, people have already found it and have been downloading tracks -- I need to put up some more information so they'll have ample reason to avoid the music! :P Anyway, there's the status update. I hope everyone out there is doing well, and I just wanted to let you know I was still kickin' -- though you wouldn't know it due to my lack of an online presence.
June 21, 2004
2004 EMC Music Disk online!
Skizo has, as promised, delivered! Der Elementalist, the official 2004 EMC Music Disk, is now online! You can download it here: http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=12604
May 2, 2004
2004 EMC RESULTS!
The 2004 Elemental Music Compo has just officially ended! That's right, the results are official! Congratulations to obScene, skyscape/Libris, Benefit of the Boomerang (featuring Ethelion), and Skizo, the winners of the 2004 Elemental Music Competition!
I'd also like to say a special thanks to AladdinSane, Annonymous (I know who you are, lol!), obScene, and delux-cloudx, who assisted me during the judging phase of the competition. Well, what are you waiting for? Head on over to the 2004 EMC page and check out the results!
April 2, 2004
2004 EMC Entries Online!
The 2004 Elemental Music Compo is off to a great start! In total, there were 24 songs entered into the compo, and they are available for download! Just check out the Entries section.
Just a reminder; I'm still seeking judges for all categories in the competition. If you're interested in being a judge for one or more categories, please contact me! Thanks, and good luck to everyone!
March 1, 2004
2004 EMC Accepting Entries!
The 2004 Elemental Music Compo has kicked off, and entries are now being accepted! I've already begun to receive some, and I'm looking forward to receiving more as time marches onward to March 31, which is the final deadline for submissions.
Just a reminder; I'm still seeking judges for all categories in the competition. If you're interested in being a judge for one or more categories, please contact me! Thanks, and good luck to everyone!
February 20, 2004
Another Volume of 'Oddities' escapes!
This time, SLAM[CD-CoS] and I explore the high road (while you, the readers, take the low road, of course...) of the universe which is 'Oddities of Time and Space.' Check out my stories page, and read along!
February 13, 2004
2004 Elemental Music Competition announced!
The 2004 Elemental Music Compo has been announced! Check out all of the info for the compo, including rules, deadlines, awards, and more! Best of luck to everyone who enters!
February 2, 2004
Modula One Returns!
That's right! You finally get to find out what happened to the S.S. Modula One (portrayed in my tune of the same name)! "S.S. Modula Three: 'Return of Modula One'" is now officially released. As I finished it on February 1, and because it involves/depicts space travel, I've decided to dedicate the song to the Shuttle Columbia and her crew. One year ago on February 1 was the day many of us will not forget, when Columbia broke up upon her re-entry.
Modula 3 was written in the same spirit as the other two Modula tunes, and so it will sound quite similar. All three tunes are meant to depict the perils of space travel; and yet, the third tune also involves rescue and a spirit of triumph, as well as new friendships and alliances. As such, there are differing sections; hope you like it! Go check it out on my music page!
January 25, 2004
Something odd is afoot...
Actually, a new series of stories makes it's online debut tonight! Check out the first volume of 'Oddities of Time and Space' on my stories page!
January 21, 2004
A new feature to announce!
Hey! It's 2004! I'm finally getting with the program, so to speak. I've just set up a nifty little guestbook with lots of extra features and stuff. Go check it out! (use the link in the 'Contact' section of the menu)
November 20, 2003
All I'll say is: It's time!
Well well well! Anyway, for those of you who have been wondering, "Will he EVER finish TimeScape?!" - To answer your question, you'll be one step closer if you visit my stories section, where a jem of wisdom now sits, waiting! Go read it, and send me money. Well, the money part is optional of course... erm... yeah.
October 17, 2003
My Guestbook has been discontinued! That's right, folks. The wonderful people at www.theguestbook.com have decided to make everyone pay for their guestbooks, effective two days ago. I just found this out today, though. Another thing I found out is that they seem to have deleted several of the posts, all the way back to the middle of March! I'm sorry I ever recommended www.theguestbook.com to anyone. I'll be looking for a new guestbook (or writing my own) soon.
September 1, 2003
New song images adorn the Music page! I've finally gotten around to getting some images gathered up that I feel somewhat represent each of my tunes. So far, every song except for the Modula and ThunderHawk series has an image. I can't quite think of images for either of the series' tunes... anyone have some suggestions? :)
At any rate, please check out the Music page to see the new content. As always, I'm working on new tracks; just very slowly.
July 28, 2003
Another FB release escapes in a drunken stupor! The Drunken Monkey, my latest release for Funky Brains, is now out and about to cause trouble. Check it out on my Music Page!
Still working on more tunes, including some previously mentioned. Of course, stuff that pops into my mind and won't go away, like The Drunken Monkey, will probably get finished faster... Oh well, a release is a release, right? :P
July 27, 2003
New #modarchive story from a new author! That's right, folks! Yet another story now adorns the stories page! This one from JMTM explains the mystery behind TMA and other bots known to frequent the #modarchive channel from time to time. Go take a look in the Other Authors section!
July 16, 2003
I'm back! I've taken several photos of my vacation; some of which are now up in the photo section. I had a good trip to Wyoming for a family reunion, and things went well. The drive to and from was long, but worth it. The sun burn was worth it, too, I guess... :)
At any rate, please check out the new pictures in the photo section. I've removed a few of the less popular moon pictures. I didn't get a chance to track anything on vacation (I really wanted to, but didn't have a laptop suited to the task) but, as I'm sure you will see, I'm greatly inspired by mountains. I took a side-trip into some nearby mountains and took plenty of photos. Stop reading this pointless stuff now, and go look at The Photos!
July 10, 2003
I'll be out for almost a week on vacation! Yes, even I take vacations. I'll be going to a family reunion in another state; and, in old-time family style, we'll be driving. I was hoping to have some way to track on the way, but (alas) my notebook isn't good enough to run MPT to my standards; so all the music stuff I've been "working" on lately will just have to wait until I get back, which will be on the 15th (the 16th for most of the world).
June 27, 2003
New icons adorn the Music section! Thanks to fellow Funky Brain Gargoyle, I now have some distinct icons to help identify some of my tunes! They're proudly displayed on my Music Page.
On a side note, hopefully I'll soon have a few more tracks online. I'm currently working on one for a compo, and I've got several ideas as well. Some of my next few tracks will also feature some outstanding string samples; keep an eye out for them. I'm also hoping to finish the third installment of the Modula series soon, too.
May 19, 2003
Yet another new FB tune released! Yes, folks, I've been busy lately. This time, Moon Walker makes its way onto my music page. It's the first release I've decided to use an image for as well. For that image, I used the moon photo which had the most downloads (moon8.jpg -- well, it tied for most at any rate).
This new song could be considered a sibling to Pandora's Box, as it uses the same blend of instruments to make the melody. It also shares the slightly spooky feeling that PB has, although I feel like Moon Walker is darker and spookier! :-D Go download it. Now. (Please). Thanks!
May 10, 2003
SMC ends and a New Funky Brains song is out! Check out Shades of Futility on the Music Page!
Shades of Futility is my latest FB track. It was entered into Nifflas' Spectrum Music Compo, where it placed second in it's category. It's a blues tune that expresses frustration and hope.
April 22, 2003
New Funky Brains release on a new Music Page!
I've released an updated version of Pandora's Box for the group. You can find it on my Music Page.
And yes, the music page has yet again been updated! Sorry those of you who don't like to read descriptions by default (yes, they are back). By the way, if you know of a way I can allow users to toggle long descriptions on and off without sending cookies, please let me know!
April 17, 2003
Scene Rep launch is official!
Scene Rep is a new scene resource site that I've been involved with lately. It features loads of useful information on the demo, tracking, and gaming scenes, as well as the monthly Scene-Zine, which contains pertinant articles for the entire scene. Go check it out!
April 16, 2003
I've added a new section to the site! Check out my photo section!
This section makes use of PHP that is similar to the Music page, though it's more expanded. I'll be converting the Music page to something like this soon. Also, I've been working on Libris' dillema on his music page, and I'll be using something like this for him, as well. For now, enjoy the new section!
April 8, 2003
I've fixed a small bug on The Music page, which caused an invalid inclusion PHP error when users tried to download my songs. Everything is working well now, thanks to timely bug reporting by DJ Brough!
Also, I'm in the process of, yet again, reworking the music page slightly. My goal is to end up with something that resembles both the new and old formats.. in that it provides enough information at a glance about each song, yet is also automated. Stay tuned for more information.
March 30, 2003
I've reorganized The Music page, as per some suggestions I've received recently. Please check it out, and let me know what you think! It now lists the songs, with pertinant information, and allows the user to click a link to display the song information, instead of making you search through everything to find the song you want.
In deciding to list the songs like this, I had to weigh out the lesser of two evils. First off, the design of the new music page is cleaner and more efficient; yet it's also somewhat clinical and statistical. The older page looked more natural, placing more emphasis on what each song was about. However, as I've been extremely busy lately, I wanted to implement a system where I would have to do as little editing as possible when releasing a new song. With the new page format, all I have to do is write some comments into a new HTML file, and upload the song. Before, I had to edit and organize the entire page. The new way, the lesser of the evils, is easier. :)
March 27, 2003
I've entered a song into the Spectrum Music Competition! Please go and check all of the entries out. Fellow Funky Brains member Gargoyle has also entered. If you're interested in reviewing for the competition, it might not be too late! Just contact Nifflas from the contact page on his site.
A little more on this song, now. I'm sure there are about three of you out there who actually read up on the news anyway, so it's no big deal for me to mention some "behind-the-scenes" plans for this track. Anyway, I had intended to release this song as a Funky Brains tune, and will once the competition has finished. I wanted to make sure of two things before it was released to the public en masse: 1) That no other FB members had entered a 'Blue' song (we won't compete against each other), and 2) To see how well (or not) the song does and enter that into the comments. Also I'm looking forward to getting some feedback on the song, so it (in it's current form) may not end up being the 'final' release version. Interesting, eh? :-)
February 15, 2003
Libris astounds and amazes with a new story! Check out his smelly sock-fest on the stories page!
February 7, 2003
I've created a news mailing list for the site! Please feel free to sign up using the link below the main window. Signing up for the news list will ensure that you keep up to date with news, updates, new releases, and new stories which are posted to this site. If you're one that likes to stay informed, please sign up!
Also, yes I *really* am going to optimize my site for different screen resolutions. I know it's hectic when you're not using my preferred default settings, and I appologize for my slowness in this area. I'll be working on yet another layout update which will correctly display the site at any resolution, and I'll finish ironing out the bugs/details for those of you using browsers other than IE. For now, please have patience as I ask you to continue putting up with the site's current (static) layout.
February 5, 2003
TimeScape Part III: Shattered Reality breaks out of my head, onto my site! Directly from the IRC channel #trax to the site, even! Please, go check it out on my stories page!
I took the time to get the story edited (both regular and IRC versions) for inclusion tonight since most everyone didn't get to read it all the way through in #trax. Speaking of which, the reason(s) we did the story in #trax, and not in #modarchive, were pretty much so that we didn't have to worry about non-interested people in that channel. That way, if someone didn't want to see the story, they didn't have to leave #modarchive -- which is most fair.
February 1, 2003
TimeScape Part II: The Eternal Void in theatres now! Actually, it's been posted on the site, in all it's glory. Check it out on my stories page!
January 29, 2003
There's a new story coming soon! Check out the trailer (preview) here. The full story should be up in a few days.
The actual story was written tonight in the #modarchive channel. If you were there, great! If you missed it (in whole or in part), then you'll have to wait for me to post the story here on my site. I will most likely have it done by this time tomorrow; it should at least be online by February. Keep your eyes peeled!
January 27, 2003
Never gonna keep me down! While there were a few problems with the new server, my site is back up and going strong. My server admin had been working on updating the scripts on the server, which somehow caused some downtime for most of today; and also the site E-Mail was not working. However, all should be back to normal again. :)
January 23, 2003
I've just finished an entire update to the layout of christofori.net! I hope you like the new, rounder (less rigid) look. Now, then, I do need to ask you all for a favor. As I'm sure you know, with any site, a re-design means that some things could have been missed. So, if you see something which doesn't appear to be working (ie a bad link, the index page opening inside the center window, or anything), please let me know so I can fix it! I really appreciate your help in this matter. Thanks in advance, and enjoy the new look!
January 21, 2003
Some of you may have already noticed my new address, but in case you haven't: I've moved! Yes, that's right, folks; I finally got my own domain name and have moved off of AcidSoul's site for good. I'd like to thank him yet again for so many months of graciously hosting my site! He's been great, and I really appreciate him :)
I had been meaning to move for a long time, to a bigger server and all that; well, this one's got 200 megs (instead of 15) that I can make full use of, so I'll be fine for a while. I know that some things aren't quite working to 100%, and I'm working on some updates for the page, so be patient. But, if you find a broken link, or anything that seems out of the ordinary, PLEASE let me know!!! Thanks!
January 7, 2003
Hello and Happy New Year! Start it off right; go vote in the CMC!
My tune "Pandora's Box" has finally made it into the competition for this month. Also, an older tune of mine (Technicolor Combustion) is running for the Best of 2002! Please, PLEASE take the time to go vote at the CMC! Support the scene!
December 30, 2002
Just as the year is about to close, I had to go and release a new tune! 'Cue Ball' - a Funky Brains tune - is now out in full force. Read about it on the Music Page while you download it! :)
December 21, 2002
Not much else new here, save a new short story! Click here and read RedHeat's tale of life as a filterer at Mod Archive; in the spirit of the season, even!
October 12, 2002
Okay, a small update. SLAM managed to get a story in to me for the MASC, and since he had somewhat extenuating circumstances, I decided to post the entry anyway. There's no real "compo" going on anyway, just a voting system for fun. Anyway, check his story out (and the others, too, if you haven't read them already)!
October 4, 2002
As promised in an earlier news article, the MASC entries have been posted! Click Here to be transported to the MASC stories. There were only three entries, but all of them were really good.
I've installed a voting system and a little counter that will let everyone know how many times each story has been read. The information is accessable from the MASC Stories section. Also, at the end of each story, there is the option to vote for it. Please feel free to vote your conscience, as I'm sure the authors would like to know what others think of their work. Please DON'T vote more than once, though. If there had been enough entries to warrant a "real" voting system, I would have made a better one; but I just wanted to toy with the idea, really, so I didn't bother using any verification or validation coding. Please, though, just vote once. I can trust the honor system for now.
Also at the top of each story, you may notice a list of award nominations. Quite late in the game, the idea occured to me to allow readers to submit an "award" nomination. For full details, please E-Mail me. Basically, you think of an award (IE: "Best Story" award, "Most Original Story" award, "Best Use of Humor" award, etc). You can use anything you want for the award name, but please be positive (or at least constructive). Humerous award names will be accepted, so long as they aren't distasteful or demeaning (read: negative). Once I receive an inquiry about the awards, I will send details to you. Once an award is submitted to me successfully (using instructions in my reply email), the award nomination will appear on the story's page. Once some time passes, I will award the best nominees to the story (IE - Winner of the "Best Kept Secret" Award, etc). Again, if you have questions or would like to nominate one of the MASC stories, E-Mail Me.
October 1, 2002
The stories are in! The MASC entry deadline has passed. I am now in the process of editing the submitted stories and devising a clever voting system to register everyone's opinions of the stories. Unfortunately, the contest isn't really bound by the rules anymore; there are not enough entries. However, I will get everything working before the end of this week. Then, people will be able to vote for their favorite MASC entry, for an unspecified amount of time (there is no more voting deadline). The stories will be posted under the MASC section of the Stories page. Keep an eye on the site news for the announcement of the posting. As always, if you have questions or need clarification, please email me.
September 21, 2002
I've finally released a new track! Yes, that's right. There's a new track of mine floating around out there somewhere. Actually, you can find it at the top of the New Music section on my music page. It's called Pandora's Box - go check it out!
August 29, 2002
The MASC deadlines have finally been set! The official entry deadline for the MASC is now September 30, 2002. All stories MUST be sent to the Host (me) before this date. The date for voting on the stories is set at October 20, 2002. This should give everyone about two weeks once the stories are posted to read each of the stories and let me know their top five picks. Please, if anyone has any questions or feedback, contact me. Thanks!
August 4, 2002
The MASC is still accepting entries! The submission (and voting) deadlines are currently TBA (to be announced) until after I move. I am thinking that the submission deadline will be somewhere in the middle of September.
Now then, the rules for the contest have been updated. Basically, I added more clarification to them, but I also revamped the voting process considerably to allow ANYONE to vote in the contest, not just the authors. This way, more people will get to participate, whether or not they write a story. So, please take this time to read and brush up on the rules again. As always, if you have questions about the contest, please let me know via E-Mail or IRC. Thanks!
July 28, 2002
OK - I've been thinking about the MASC for the past several days now. Thinking, quite seriously, of cancelling it. To date, I've not seen any real response to the idea, other than some who really like it. Also, with the deadline for submission only a few days away, let me just say that the number of submissions I've received is significantly under my expectations. With that, and some mad-dash work on my part to finish my classwork in time, I've been extremely busy reading books (ask me, it's a story). Anyhow, following that, I've got to move in the first half of August, after which I've no idea what kind (or how much) of an internet connection I will have. I am presuming that (at least, at first) I'll use a dial-up connection, but for that I will need a phone line, funded with what money, exactly?
Basically, right now is very hectic for me. I do still find time to get on IRC and do the normal things I do, but as per hosting a competition of any sort, or writing my own works, I've had no time whatsoever to dedicate to these ideas as they deserve. Since I'm moving in the first half of August, times are even more uncertain for me. I don't want to cancel the competition at all, but instead I've decided to postpone the date(s) and deadline(s) for the competition until I can get settled in and get a better handle on things. So, officially, you all have more time to write your stories! Even if you've already sent me one, and you think you might want to send either a different one or an updated version of it, you may do so with this extra time (in fairness to those who may have already sent me a submission).
So, a brief recap: The dates and deadlines in the MASC rules shall be "TBA" until such time as I can determine a good set of dates. This may mean you have anywhere from one to several additional months to get your stories done. Above all, please keep checking the news and the MASC rules for the final dates.
Thanks to all who read this, and if it is not to inconvenient, please drop me a line letting me know your progress on your stories. I'm really curious to see what sort of response I'll get.
July 3, 2002
I've started work on a new line of stories based on the #modarchive channel! This new series, called 'Timescape,' features new characters and a new theme. Go check it out on my stories page!
July 1, 2002
I have added some clarifying notes to the MASC rules. Please make sure you read the rules! Also if you have any questions, please contact me!
June 26, 2002
The new Layout for this site has been launched! I hope you all like it. I'm sure there will be some small changes to it over time, but everything is definately more organized now (which was my main goal). Let me know via email if you find any bugs or broken links.
The fabled Story Compo is here! Yes, that's right, I'm hosting a story writing competition. Look on either the stories page or in the Other Stuff area for information.
New Project in the works! I'm creating a new story/music project. There is information about this on the Stories page.
That's all for now. Go and explore the page!
June 19, 2002
Another day, another new story! Libris finally presents his much-anticipated Part 2 of 'Christofori's Enlightenment!' Go and read it now at the Stories Page! Also, a note: I'm going to host a story-writing contest of sorts. The rules will basically be the same as most OHC's in that people who submit their stories will rate all of the stories, and the winner will receive the accolades of story-readers everywhere! Keep checking back for more news on this contest. I will update my site layout first, and then the full rules and regs will be posted for the contest. Get some ideas going!
June 18, 2002
Now you will all know what happens! For real! I've just finished the fifth chapter of the Enchanted Forest series! Go and check it out from the Stories Page! I've also begun working on my new project, about which more details will be made available here in the news as I progress. Also, I'm probably going to work on updating the layout of the site to make it easier to find what you're looking for. Wish me luck (and scroll down and sign my guestbook, too, while you're at it!)
June 14, 2002
Allrightythen! FINALLY what you've all been waiting for! I've read and re-read this story several times and it's still one of the best I've seen, which is why it finally takes it's place among the other stories on this site. Kruser's story has finally been added to the list from the Other Writers on the stories page! Go and read it now, you must! Hmmmm!?! Actually I'm sure you will really enjoy it. I know I did. Now, go read it!
June 13, 2002
OK, OK, OK. Yes, I have been a bad person and have not been online as much as I probably should be lately. Yes, I still play a lot of music with my band. Yes, I still enjoy tracking, even though I don't get much time for it anymore. No, I'm not intentionally trying to avoid people. No, I am not dead. Yes, I feel bad about not talking to my friends on IRC like I used to!! OK, now that all of that is said, I want to update you with some new information. Kruser's story should be up sooner or later, hopefully sooner. I have to have him send it to me again as I seem to have lost the copy he sent me already (oops!). Also, I intend to wrap up the "mystery" in the Enchanted Forest series, and possibly finish it, in one installment (A.K.A. Chapter Five). Last but not least, I have had a new idea which has led to some very creative brainstorming on the story and music front. Once I get a chance to work on this, I will post more information here. I'm very excited about this new idea of mine and hope that it will be as enjoyable to you as it seems to be to me. Speaking of you, if you read this page and you've not signed my guestbook in a while, please do so! It helps me to know that people want me to be around online. Of course, if this is not the case (everyone hates me, God forbid...) then you can still post your feelings on my guestbook. I don't edit the entries or submissions, so, post away! Comments, criticism, anything. I just want some feedback. Thanks in advance, and please keep checking this site as I will hopefully have some new tidbits online shortly!
May 16, 2002
Today is IT! The premier of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones is on! Some friends and I are to watch it a bit later today. As for where I've been and what I've been doing, well, I still have been making music, but just with my band instead of tracking. I've put some of our tunes up on my site here. The band is called the Japanties and we have a variety of styles in the works; three of our songs are now up. A new story will be added to the stories page VERY soon! One of mine is in the works, and Kruser has sent me his first installment (finally!) Very good reading here, folks! Also I've been working (here and there) on S.S. Modula Three; should be finished sooner or later. Stay tuned....
April 22, 2002
Well, first my computer died for a week, and lately I had been away (on some vacation); but I brought along some nifty vacation photos! You can look here.
April 5, 2002
Another new addition to the stories page! This time, SLAM writes a volume based on the Spacestation #MA series, but it is not an actual chapter of that series. Check out the stories page for more info!
April 4, 2002
Latest story addition: SLAM's Spacestation #MA part 3! Check out the Stories page!
March 31, 2002
I am now a member of a new tracking group called Funky Brains; and have just released my first FB track! Check out my music page for more information.
Previous News
Stories section added and expanded! Now included is a Character Guide for the Enchanted Forest series!