Breeding Update: Sheds All Around

The past week or so has been light on courting for the snakes. Both animals have been in shed until tonight. I found it interesting that both snakes shed on the same night and that it is the first rain we've had in a while. Hopefully they like each other's fancy new skin and resume heavy courting in the next few days.

Carolina Bound

Every state has its problems, but we're especially glad this month that we don't live in Maryland, where Governor Martin O'Malley has been undertaking something close to a tax-increase-a-day tour.

This was a quote from a Wall Street Journal article this week talking about O'Malley's planned tax increase. While at first he tried to hide the tax hikes behind a 3 cent cut in property tax and reductions in income tax for lower and middle income homes. It seems now the reality of these new taxes is too much to hide. I did the math for my wife and I and we would be saving about $7 per month with these reductions. Compare this with the planned 20% increase in sales tax and the broadening of the tax to cover services and that $7 is out the window real quick. And don't forget this is before the 9 cent increase in gas tax that is also planned. My wife and I are also in for a special treat as we are both starting a home based business. Under the governor's tax plan we will be facing an additional 26% increase in taxes on those businesses. For me that is a huge disadvantage as I will be competing in a national market operating under a higher tax than most of my competitors. Maybe it's time to look out of state for the next home and a friendlier place to start and operate a small business. Besides, I do have real issue with this tax increase outside of the financial strain it will cause my family. Maybe I will post my views on that later. Right now I have to go start packing...

Nyctibatrachus minimus

Scientists at Delhi University have discovered a new species of frog. Nyctibatrachus minimus is fully grown at only 10mm making this the smallest land vertebrate in India. This is one of a few species the team has found in the Western Ghats over the past several years.

Link

Bass Gear Review: Gallien-Krueger 1001 RB-II

I have to start out this review with a little side story about my experiences buying this amp. I ordered my first 1001 from Musician's Friend the beginning of August and had the head within a week or so. The amp worked perfectly for a total of 12 hours before it emitted a nice little cloud of smoke. The amp continued to work but had a terrible burnt smell. I was in denial for maybe a hour blaming everything from the Mylar crossover in my cab to a bug flying into the amp. I couldn't imagine a new GK amp breaking so quick or any solid state head continuing to work after what seemed to be a major malfunction. My friend Steve offered a solution to my problem chiming in, "maybe it's some sweet hidden smoke effect feature!" Thanks guy. To keep it short, I returned the amp to Musician's Friend which got all messed up and took way too long. So in the end I bought a second amp from Guitar Center and that is the one I am currently playing at 40+ hours now.

The GK 1001 RB-II is a 700w solid state amp. It weighs in at 22 lbs. and takes up two rack spaces. I will link to the GK site at the end to save you from the endless list of features. Instead I will comment on some of the features that really factor into my opinion of the amp. This amp has a separate tweeter amp that can put out an additional 50w to the tweeter directly. Unfortunately you will need to use a GK cab that is designed to use this feature. I can understand why this is necessary but it seems almost pointless with such a limited range of use. The amp does put out plenty of watts though and is incredibly quite while doing so. My old Ampeg head was real noisy and had a super loud fan. The GK's fan is super quite and before it went in my rack case I loved watching it rev up and down as I started to really push the head. The head as all of the inputs and the direct out on the front. This will certainly make the sound guy happy at shows but I would have liked to see the option for the effects and tuner jacks on the back as well.

While the design has a few faults the tone and power of this amp is where it really shines. GK is known to be a more sterile sounding amp. While most Ampegs sound like Ampegs the GK really lets the sound of the player and bass come through. One of my bass instructors once told me that the majority of your tone is in your fingers and that the gear is just there to help it out. With the 1001 RB this is exactly what happens. The amp has a four band graphic equalizer and this is almost set entirely flat. I cut the bass a little, this also helps take some of the work load off the power amp, and have a slight mid boost. The amp boasts a 4/5 String, Contour, and Presence filter. The 4/5 String filter is a simple on off switch. I am still playing with these filters a lot. On 5 string the amp seems to give more growl on the lower notes. On 4 string the amp is more balanced in tone and sounds much clearer on my 5 string tenor's high C. This switch may very well turn into a mood switch for me. 4 string for those mellow days with lots of chord work and 5 string for the days when the boss pissed me off and I just want to rock. The Contour filter is basically a mid range scoop based on the same circuitry in the famous 800RB. The Presence filter adds extra sparkle to the high-end, again to help with chord work and high end clarity. I am using these two set at about 12 O'clock on both. I find myself playing with these three controls more than anything else. They are true filters and don't over power the tone you have already dialed in. I can use just these three controls to shape my tone to taste on a session to session basis without messing up my EQ settings. All this clean focused tone pumping through the 700w power amp leads to one hell of a great bass sound. I am very please with this amp despite it's flaws in layout. The Gallien-Krueger 1001 RB-II is a great sounding head with tons of power for the casual to semi-pro player. And at $750 it is a great deal as well. I would buy this amp a third time if need be and GK may have made a lifer out of me.

Gallien-Krueger

Leave Mike Rowe Alone

Discovery channel has a show called Dirty Jobs. I think most people have seen it. It's a pretty decent show with some hilarious antics. The show is hosted by Mike Rowe, a wise cracking inept blue collar looking fellow who tries to take on the dirtiest jobs around. As it turns out Mike was once an employee of the same company I work for. And with the Alumni Crab Picnic just around the corner the whole company is sending Mike a video invitation or something. I am obviously not a part of this nor would I care to be. From what I have heard Mike was employed by my company for no more than 14 months and this was sometime around 1980. Why the hell would he come back to eat crabs in a parking lot to see 4 people he met in 1980? Mike Rowe, if you can read this, just stay at home.

How Fredward Met Abigail

Since last night I have observed my boas courting heavily. The male was introduced into the female's cage on Wednesday and they both showed immediate interest in one another. Lots of tongue flicking and crawling on top of one another. Within 24 hours the male was on top of the female forming a zig zag pattern over the lower half of her body. He will squeeze her in regular intervals and ride her around for the next several weeks. All this leads up to copulation and helps stimulate the female for breeding. Right now they are under the paper in their cage but I will try to get some pictures soon. Needless to say I am super stoked to see good signs of courtship. It's still early in the season but I am feeling pretty confident.

Come On Little Miss And Do The Twist

My '04 Albino female boa was doing the twist this morning. The "pre-ovulation twist" as some breeders call it. This is the development of ovarian follicles before they move into the oviducts to be fertilized. She had the typical swelling over about 30% of her body. She was stretched out with tight curves and seemed to be uncomfortable and tense. I guess this is something like boa PMS. I am very excited to see the first signs of breeding interest in her. My '05 Hypo het Albino male has been off food since the last week in August and this is the second week the female has refused to eat. Now with signs of pre-ovulation and the male searching his cage all night long I am ready to introduce the two. I plan on cleaning the female's cage tonight and placing the male in with her tonight or tomorrow at the latest. With any luck I will see courtship between them by the weekend.