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Wintermute
Joined: 08/29/01
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 35
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My life in a nutshell-- for the last 6 to 9 mos
Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 2:58 AM
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All,
I just wanted to take a minute to let those who care to know what has been going on in my life that has impacted a few of you, and how it has or hasn't affected Wintermute
This is not to drum up support or anything, but just to let a few of you know why I have or have not answered, well pretty much anything over the 6 to 9 month. First off apologies and props to anyone I have not replied in the last year or so. If you emailed me about Wintermute and I didn't reply, believe me, it is not because of you or that I don't want or need your support or want to not support you--it is quite simply this: here is the synopsis of my life over the last year or so:
Lay off, contract/contract canceled, job loss, foreclosure, chapter 13, more job loss chapter 7...thank god I still have my wife  --honestly, I would take her over anything else I have lost
The market here in Austin especially for the more experienced Java programmers(I have over 10 years Java experience)--for some reason--has been in a very volatile. So finally my life starting to get a bit better--I was so far down there really is not much more to go down to--so over the last month I have been releasing a ton of stuff--I have been making music the whole time, just not releasing a lot. Like I said, this is not to get "I am sorry for your state of affairs" but merely to let people know who I have not or have partially responded to--Neotone's bass questions a while back come mind--that I do care and I am not blowing you off. I am very grateful for the support I get here at AS--especially the artist support. I am hoping to be around more on the forums. I still use AS as a great barometer / general cross section to get a feel for how a song will or will not do. Wintermute currently has two albums: "Life in the Machine" and "The Principle of Chill" that have been generally released over the last two years--ITunes, emusic, napster, major cell carriers, XM, etc--and the songs that have done the best here at AS, are the tracks that do the best in the "open market". Two albums is in sharp contrast to what Wintermute has in "back catalog" so hopefully of 5 to 6 cds Wintermute has on deck now, at least one will be released for 2009--Bluewater Records will also release any older Wintermute CDs that I send their way: "Spaces", "Wide-screen", "Music for Space Travel", etc... If any are curious here is the list of the albums that are "on deck" (at least 60% complete)
"Electronicus Arcana Majoris"
"H4X0R2600"
"Digital Kingdoms"
"Pattern Recognition"
"I Robota"
"$yn329y: R3volution" (double album)
"Core - An introduction to Wintermute (you cannot probably imagine the intimidation factor of having over 300 songs to new fans...
Trance stuff that will more than likely be self released, at least for now:
"$yn329y: 3volution" (double album)
Club Futuris (at least 1 thru 3 I hope...)
maybe "Die Walküre", but I am really not happy with the first two parts of it... shall see
I really would like to get a general release done this year as it is Wintermute 10th anniversary in Q1 (formulated around June, first uploads/releases around Sept/Oct first CD sales around Dec of 1999)
Well hope all is well--Gideon, this place just keeps getting better and better 
Cheers all....
WM 
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Subtronik
Joined: 01/14/03
Posts: 1193
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RE: My life in a nutshell
Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 8:54 AM
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Sorry about your luck. At least you still have your wife.
Just stay motivated and things will eventually turn around.
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A Bit Crusher
Joined: 01/26/02
Location: Tilburg
Posts: 1794
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RE: My life in a nutshell-- for the last 6.....
Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 11:01 AM
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Wintermute
Joined: 08/29/01
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 35
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RE: My life in a nutshell-- for the last 6 to 9 mo
Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 12:38 PM
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Thanks guys, Our whole country is in a mess--I really feel sorry for people like my in-laws who grew up in the first Great Depression--looks like they are gong to go out in one too  --talk about not fair...
Amen to that Subtronik
Believe it or not, Chapter 7 is one of the better places to be right now--not that I would take any of them, but since I got my discharge of dept the other week, I have had 4 car loan offers in as many days. The reason is they know you can declare bankruptcy for 7 years, so you can't "default" on the loan--of coarse the loan conditions are a no win so there is _absolutely_ no way I would take the loan from them.
WM
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Subtronik
Joined: 01/14/03
Posts: 1193
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RE: My life in a nutshell-- for the last 6 to 9 mo
Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 12:54 PM
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Wintermute wrote:since I got my discharge of dept the other week, I have had 4 car loan offers in as many days. The reason is they know you can declare bankruptcy for 7 years, so you can't "default" on the loan
I'm curious, if you claim bankruptcy why would anyone even consider giving you a loan afterward? If they did, I know the rate would have to be very high. But why wouldn't you be able to default on the loan after bankruptcy? Do you mean you couldn't escape paying them because they could come in and take away your possessions if you didn't pay?
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Wintermute
Joined: 08/29/01
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 35
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RE: My life in a nutshell-- for the last 6 to 9 mo
Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 5:42 PM
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It is because you can't declare again for 7 years. Whenever they normally make a loan--to anybody else who has not within 7 years, or never--they run the risk that you may effectively "Default" by declaring chapter 7 (vs Chapter 13 which they will get some of the money back). Even if you have stellar credit, they always have that risk of you going bankrupt and not ever paying them back--so the irony is, sometimes--especially like what our economy is currently like--the person who most recently declared chapter 7 and was discharged is the best bet to lend money--since you can sue them to get it back, and they have no chance of Bankruptcy as an out.
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louwhoz
Joined: 03/13/05
Posts: 429
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RE: My life in a nutshell
Monday, February 16, 2009 at 2:57 PM
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This brings to mind the old saying "That which does not kill us makes us stronger". 
It sounds like you have the right attitude to survive all of this, just know you are not alone. You have friends and support, people who care, and again...your wife.
Let's hope this 'recession' does not turn into another full-blown 'depression'. So many people are hurting right now.
Thanks for taking the time to let all of us know how you are doing.
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Wintermute
Joined: 08/29/01
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 35
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RE: My life in a nutshell-- for the last 6 to 9 mo
Friday, February 20, 2009 at 11:40 PM
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Wow Lou, you always make me feel better--it is a very nice habit from my viewpoint ;)
I too believe strongly in the "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" motto/concept--it has been my mantra throughout most of this ordeal along with the only good advice my father ever gave me: "Just remember, they can ruin you on paper, but... they can't eat you"--it has been this phrase that has given me the most solace since my Divorce in the last 8 years ago (it was that event that served as the catalyst for my early music--songs like: "A land called June", and "Memories of May" are direct and cathartic results of this (my ex was born in June and her middle name was May, if any ever wondered what the source of those titles was ;)
I would have to say if Gideon is the Brains, Heart, blood sweat and tears of AS/ES then you are definitely the Soul--at least in my world you are
There is another upside to this--I produce a lot more music when I am depressed-- I tend to work a lot faster too. Most recent is what is to be a 3 part series about different Crusade born Knightly orders. The first part, "1119 AD: Ride of the Knights Templar", was literally done start to finish in one night--like a lot of my earlier work--The other two parts of the trilogy will be the orders: Knights Hospitaller, and the infamous Teutonic Knights(extra credit to anyone who can tell me why I chose those three)--which were the protagonists in Sergei Eisenstein 1938 classic film "Alexander Nevsky" scored by the great Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, how is that for full circle Finally I can "Flesh out" my album "Digital Kingdoms" which was in need of a theme to pull it all together.
Sorry I probably put somebody to sleep with that Spiel  Less I digress  --too late--What is new in your world Lou?
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louwhoz
Joined: 03/13/05
Posts: 429
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RE: My life in a nutshell
Monday, March 2, 2009 at 12:52 PM
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Gosh! Thank you for the compliments! 
Everything that you are going through reminds me of my own life about 11 years ago...
I lost four close relatives, filed for divorce, totaled my car in a bad accident and then filed for bancruptcy, all within nine months. It was, as Douglas Adams would say, 'the long, dark tea-time of the soul'. I became completely numb and depressed, but I had a close group of family and friends who would not give up on me and they helped pull me through. 
I look at my life now and it seems like all of that happened to another person, not 'me'. It's funny how the brain can do that, and how time does seem to, if not 'heal' all wounds, at least lessen their pain.
Just know that we are here for you...
As far as what is going on with us right now, well, we are just holding our breath and waiting for our first child. We have about six weeks left to go, and each day brings us a little closer to all of the unknowns lurking in my mind. I am excited, nervous, thrilled, anxious...but mostly just filled with wonder at how things have worked out. It took us so long to get to this point, I am just happy to be here. My job future is uncertain, like so many others out there, but somehow that just doesn't seem important right now. I have a little boy just kickin' away at me right now and I couldn't be any happier! The pups are anxiously awaiting thier rolls as fuzzy siblings and Gideon can't wait until he can buy the little guy his first tiny guitar. Wheeeee!
So kind of you to ask about us, especially with all that is going on with you. Just keep dealing with it as you have been, which seems to be working, and keep on making your music! When goodness can come from bad, it just proves how strong (and talented) you are.
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Wintermute
Joined: 08/29/01
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 35
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RE: My life in a nutshell
Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 8:16 PM
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louwhoz wrote:Gosh! Thank you for the compliments!
Quote:Everything that you are going through reminds me of my own life about 11 years ago... I lost four close relatives, filed for divorce, totaled my car in a bad accident and then filed for bancruptcy, all within nine months. It was, as Douglas Adams would say, 'the long, dark tea-time of the soul'. I became completely numb and depressed, but I had a close group of family and friends who would not give up on me and they helped pull me through.
See a Douglas Adams fan too, I knew I liked you
I look at my life now and it seems like all of that happened to another person, not 'me'. It's funny how the brain can do that, and how time does seem to, if not 'heal' all wounds, at least lessen their pain.
Just know that we are here for you...
Thank you, that means a lot--very much in fact
Quote: As far as what is going on with us right now, well, we are just holding our breath and waiting for our first child. We have about six weeks left to go, and each day brings us a little closer to all of the unknowns lurking in my mind. I am excited, nervous, thrilled, anxious...but mostly just filled with wonder at how things have worked out. It took us so long to get to this point, I am just happy to be here. My job future is uncertain, like so many others out there, but somehow that just doesn't seem important right now. I have a little boy just kickin' away at me right now and I couldn't be any happier! The pups are anxiously awaiting thier rolls as fuzzy siblings and Gideon can't wait until he can buy the little guy his first tiny guitar. Wheeeee!
Wow!! , congratulations !! (that will teach me not to read the forums more) that is very good news--what a lucky kid Yes job wise I seem to be at a cross roads too, but we will see ;)
Quote:So kind of you to ask about us, especially with all that is going on with you. Just keep dealing with it as you have been, which seems to be working, and keep on making your music! When goodness can come from bad, it just proves how strong (and talented) you are.
Ah thank you, it will keep coming--got to break 500 ;) (just ask Gideon ;) )
Again, very happy for you both
Matt
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louwhoz
Joined: 03/13/05
Posts: 429
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RE: My life in a nutshell-- for the last 6 to 9 mo
Monday, March 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM
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I want to see you break 500, too! 
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