Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

I started my blog years ago with the help of my daughter, to reach out to other artists, tell my story and post original songs I have written or produced for great local artists I have been lucky to know. I added pictures and opinions from time to time. People visited. People viewed. People liked. People commented. I responded. I was encouraged to post more.

A few years back I retired from my day job. Shortly after I retired from musical gigs for other groups and individuals. I posted less often and as you (or anyone) would expect my views dropped. Because of this I noticed something strange after one WordPress Update, and you may have as well.

Then I got one of those surveys from WordPress and whatever they call themselves now. JetPack, I think. I responded and said basically everything was fine but I could not trust the view/like data. Now that I was getting very few views and responses to actual posts, there was an obvious problem. I would have two visitors and three views in a day, but have 35 downloads of my songs and PoetryPod or creative posts……. Sometimes the same song or file would be downloaded 10 times in the same day. But only two visitors. I scoffed and thought surely they know about all the AI e-bots scanning and copying creator content.

A month later and another update. To my surprise, I got a follow up message from my survey with the attitude of what could you mean by our data is not dependable? We are great Please tell us what you mean. I thought about responding but knew it would be a waste of time. So I just let it roll.

Another update. I rarely post now. Sometimes I respond to their question of the day messages……. but now I get between eighty-five and one hundred views in a day. Every day.

More views this month than all of last year. But no downloads. No likes. No Comments. No Referrals. No people.

It used to be fun.

I moved my catalog of music to my SoundCloud page under MIDIMike. Here is a link to one of my PlayLists of great songs so you don’t have to wander through more than one hundred songs I have posted there so far. If you do feel like wandering, I have a different picture or icon that indicates the various projects or styles of music.

I will be posting more on SoundCloud, but I am just too old to fight the system JetPack seems to be using now.

MIDIMike

My lyrics are often preachy. Giving the false impression that I think I know what to do. Empathically linked to people around me I share their perspectives and histories. The failed attempts at secrets and the impossibility to hide lies. Once someone you love or trust has betrayed you with lies even though it holds you frozen for years, you will never let it happen again. Some lessons are painful but better shared early in life or love.

Personal Touch as a duo with me and Ric Ahlers. Yes, he is that tall!

As a duo and later as a trio adding vocalist Ann Ellis, we tried to play popular current songs along with songs we wanted to play. As the Personal Touch we tried to play cover songs with an original flair. Often having Ann sing songs by male artists. She obviously had the best voice of the three of us so she often got the more challenging songs.

Brilliant

Posted: September 22, 2020 in Uncategorized

USA is #1

Posted: September 21, 2020 in Uncategorized
Tags: , ,

200,001

I began this blog to share stories of people and events I have been lucky enough to be involved with over the last five decades. Along with my poetry and original music I also enjoyed sharing my pictures and personal observations.

While I am sure there will also be beautiful and exciting things to share in my future, I also want to chill. I need to make life simpler from here on.

I have enjoyed this community and those willing to share everything with total strangers. There were many times when this was the hi-light of my day. I could go on posting my views and thoughts on politics, religion, money and other hot topics but there are too many of us doing that these days. So this is a good time to phase out MIDI Mike.

While the site remains live, feel free to take a look at the topics on the top of the page to find something that might interest you.

I may throw in a post from time to time just to surprise myself. In my usual style, let me show you a few recent pictures I took at a favorite place of mine: Spring Grove Cemetery. We had a heavy rain days before these pictures with hi winds. Before that the fall colors were really starting to jump out. Unfortunately the rain hit a bit early and dropped most of the leaves, but I managed to get some good pictures.

Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 1
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 2
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 3
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 4
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 5
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 6
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 7
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 8
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 9
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 10
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 11
Spring Grove Cemetery
2019 MSK 12

To Be With You.

Posted: October 18, 2019 in Uncategorized

I am not here because I want to be here.

I am here because I want to be with you.

These are not my favorite things to do,

But I am happy just to share them with you.

The sounds that surround us are very nice.

Though to hear them with you is worth any price.

Beauty, Laughs, even our crying and tears,

Would thrill me for at least a thousand years.

Struggling together, working towards our dream,

Powerful emotions triumph over a panic of screams.

It takes work and time, nothing is easy or free,

So I thank God you are standing next to me.

Yes, I know it is Friday the 13th! And with it a full moon not to be seen on Friday the 13th for another 30 years. Not until August 2049! It is also a Harvest Moon for all you visitors from another planet. It will be late tonight but I am sure it will be worth it.

I think it is time for a campfire in my yard and maybe howl at the moon for a while!

Not To Worry

Posted: August 30, 2019 in Uncategorized

…… it has been a little busy. Got a full time job. Fun things had to go on the back burner for a while.

I’ll be right back lol!

Given an odd set of circumstances that would give you the choice of listening to your favorite songs and bands on a really weak radio signal (cheap, broken or terrible stereo system) or listen to songs you don’t really like in hi quality sound?

Being an audiophile and passionate about great music this is a tough question for me lol.