Here we are again!
This video shows you what happens when you don’t obey the rules at camp! Based on SNL’s Digital Short.
If you dig, post a comment!
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Tags: Amp'd Students, Camp Orlando, Motif XS, Socrates, socratic music, Yamaha Motif XS
Socratic Music #8: Bass Love
Here’s my latest beat made on the Yamaha Motif XS8. A little bit of R&B flavor with some old-school sounds. Some sound patches I used include Vintage Phase (Rhodes), VeloGrowl (Bass), Jazz Kit, HipHop Kit, and Duck Lead.
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Tags: Socrates, socratic music, Socrates Perez, Yamaha, Yamaha Motif XS8, beats, loops, keyboard, rhodes, vintage, phase, upright bass
5 Reasons to Switch to Gmail
Less than a year ago, I made the full switch from Yahoo! Mail to Gmail as my primary email service. I have to say, I’ve never regretted it since. Here are 5 features I’ve learned about Gmail since then, features I think are convincing reasons for you to make the switch as well!
1. Massive Free Storage and Archiving
Gmail gives 7 GB of free storage space. (I’m currently using only 4%!) So here’s the idea: when you no longer want to see an email in your inbox, you can store it in your archive rather than deleting it. Have you ever trashed a message only to find that you wish you could go back and reference it? Problem solved.
2. Labels
When it comes to organizing email, the folks at Google came up with a nice, tag-like way to sort your messages. Similar to folders, once I want a message out of my inbox, if I have a specific place I want it to go, I stick it in a label. Unlike traditional folders, labels also allow for one message to be sorted into multiple categories. An email can also remain in my inbox while being tagged in a label. (e.g. If I get a receipt from Amazon that I want to keep it in my inbox for easy reference, I can do that while sticking the receipt in my “Receipts” label.)
As a side note, if you like the old way of sorting in folders and sub-folders, you can duplicate that functionality by using Gmail Labs’ Nested Labels feature.
3. Filters and Forwarding
Gmail’s filters are a snap. Just specify a sender–or a keyword, or a subject, or whether there’s an attachment–and you can automate any number of actions on those emails. One of my recent favorite filters is one that applies my “Social” label to any emails I get from Facebook or Twitter. I also have that filter make those messages skip my inbox without marking them as read. That way, I’m not pestered with those emails on my phone in my regular workday, but when I get home and open the full web client, I see that I have, say, 10 new emails in my “Social” label. You can also forward emails using filters, like one I’m planning on using to forward all messages of new T.V. show episodes on Hulu to my wife, since we share a Hulu account. Beyond lightweight forwarding through filters, Gmail also allows for full-blown forwarding of all your email through POP or IMAP servers, a powerful feature that Yahoo! Mail makes you pay for.
4. Labs 
Gmail Labs is one of the more fascinating and unique of the service’s features. The concept is just what the name implies: when a developer at Google thinks up an idea of an add-on to Gmail’s feature set, they let users experiment with it through Labs. Whether it’s a powerful new tool (like Undo Send), a highly requested feature (like Nested Labels), or a purely aesthetic add-on, there’s no limit to what kinds of new tools can be added without a completely new release of Gmail. To explore some useful Labs functions, check out this makeuseof.com’s post.
5. Gadgets
If the offerings in Labs aren’t enough to satisfy your desire for add-ons, Gadgets offer third-party developers the opportunity to extend the functionality of Gmail. Say you want to be able to access your email, keep up-to-date with facebook, and tweet to Twitter… all in the same place. There are gadgets that can do all of that!
Here are a couple of other articles to help you discover such gadgets: 5 Gmail Gadgets (ReadWriteWeb) and 10 Great Gadgets (MakeUseOf.com).
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Gmail’s benefits extend beyond these 5 features, from quick & easy navigation with keyboard shortcuts, t0 slick themes that help personalize the look of your own inbox. Gmail has changed the way I approach communication on the web. Looking for a better way to do email? Give it a shot!
Filed under: Tech | Leave a Comment
Tags: archive, filter, forwarding, gadgets, gmail, gmail gadgets, gmail labs, Gmail v Yahoo! Mail, Gmail vs Yahoo! Mail, google, IMAP, labels, labs, POP, storage, Yahoo!, Yahoo! Mail
Socratic Music #7: The Way
Socratic Music is back! I apologize for the long hiatus, but I’ve been working on some exciting new stuff that I promise will make it all worth it.
Here’s a worship song that I wrote recently to use in Amp’d Student Ministry @ First Baptist Orlando! (Lyrics are below the video.)
The Way
Burn in me like fire, come ignite Your Spirit’s flame
Shine in me so brightly binding darkness in Your name
I’m running in Your freedom to that goal to win the prize
Pressing on to what’s ahead, forgetting what’s behind
Show me the way, show me the way to go
I give it away, give it away to You
I am Yours
I will follow where You go
Take my life and lead me on
You are the way
You are the way
Even when the road is hard
Even if I lose it all
You are the way
You are the way
Jesus where Your heart is, that’s where I want mine to be
Forsaking my desires and giving to the need
Your ways are higher than the plans that I’ve devised
Now my life is not my own, my old self’s been denied
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Tags: Acoustic Guitar, Advanced Jumbo, Amp'd, Amp'd Student Ministry, Amp'd Students, church, First Baptist Church of Orlando, First Baptist Orlando, First Orlando, Gibson, Perez, Socrates, Socrates Perez, Socrates Perez Jr, socratic, socratic music, song, songwriting, The Way, vocals, worship
Got a treat for you this week! I had the privilege of leading worship with Meka King at Amp’d Student Ministries a couple of weeks ago. To kick off the night, we put together a mash-up of Kanye West’s “Heartless” and Rhianna’s “Umbrella”. Take a listen!
See you back soon!
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Tags: Acoustic Guitar, Gibson, Gibson Advanced Jumbo, Heartless, Kanye West, Mashup, Meka King, Motif, Remake, Remix, Rhianna, Socrates Perez, socratic music, Umbrella, Yamaha, Yamaha Motif XS8
Socratic Music #5: Morning Song
Glad you’re back for more! It’s been a wild couple of weeks, but I’m so ready to get back into the swing of things with Socratic Music. Enjoy my latest, “Morning Song”.
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Tags: acoustic, Advanced Jumbo, Gibson, morning song, singer/songwriter, Socrates, Socrates Perez, socratic music, songwriting
My Google Reader Revamp
In this day and age, keeping current and up-to-speed in our world is essential. RSS feeds are an excellent way to do that, and for me, Google Reader helps me organize them just how I want to give me the most effective news-reading experience. (And why not make it a great experience?)
Today, I took a good look at my news feeds and–with the help of some Google searches and great sources I was already following–beefed up my collection. For me, this is just part of the process. I still have yet to sift through some of these feeds and fine tune how I organize them. But for now, here’s a quick look at what my Google Reader looks at this moment:
My Reader Feeds (Click for larger image)
- News – This folder is my top-level source for news, like a newspaper with various sections of interest. It represents my favorite sources for each category, and I can look to this folder for a quick glance at what’s going on.
- Google News - My source for national and international news.
- Central Florida News 13 - Local news.
- CNNMoney.com - Economic/financial news. Still shopping here, but this fits for now.
- ESPN.com – Sports news. (Not pictured.)
- Engadget – Overall tech news. Just edged out CNET for me.
- Spin Magazine - Arts & entertainment news. Rolling Stone & Paste were also in the running.
- Living — My category for feeds with life-improving tips & tricks.
- Bible Gateway Verse - You gotta have that daily bread!
- Lifehacker - One of my absolute FAVORITE sites. Highly recommended!
- The Simple Dollar – Personal finance tips.
- Wise Bread - Tips for frugal living.
- Tech and Web – Full of great sites w/ general technology interests of mine.
- Android Phone (Phandroid) – My source for news on Google’s Android OS.
- Android Tapp - Great reviews on hot Android marker apps.
- Digital Inspiration - Excellent blog. “Tech á la carte.”
- Makeuseof.com - Updates on great up & coming websites/services.
- Mashable! – To me, THE definitive source for social media. Awesome!
- Smarterware - How-to on using technology well by one of my favorite tech personalities, Gina Trapani.
- Go2Web20.net – Updates on the latest & greatest Web 2.0 apps.
- WebUpon - Trying this out for 1st time. Interesting web tidbits.
Are any of these on your list of favorites? Any feeds I missed that are worth mentioning? Let me know in the comments!
And if you haven’t already, check out some of these feeds. Also, take a peek at WebUpon’s “10 Life-Changing Websites & Best RSS Feeds”. You’re bound to find something new you’ll love!
Filed under: Literature, Tech | Leave a Comment
Tags: Android Phone, Android Tapp, Bible Gateway, Central Florida News 13, CNNMoney, Digital Inspiration, Engadget, ESPN, ESPN.com, Go2Web20, Google News, Google Reader, Lifehacker, Makeuseof.com, Mashable, News, Phandroid, RSS, RSS Feeds, Smarterware, technology, The Simple Dollar, web, WebUpon, Wise Bread
Socratic Music #4: My Jesus
Here’s one of my original worship songs. It’s generally about being thankful for what Jesus has done in my life, and about remembering the things He’s done in the past that help me look ahead for what He has in store.
I’ve used this one at a few services @ First Baptist Orlando and really enjoy singing it with others! Lyrics are posted below the video. Let me know what you think in the comments section!
My Jesus
my Jesus, He healed the blind man
and He’s caused these blind eyes to see
I’m so glad my Jesus caused these eyes to see
so I can give Him glory
my Jesus, He raised the dead man
and He’s raised these dead bones to dance
I’m so glad my Jesus raised these bones to dance
so I can give Him glory
my Jesus He died and rose again
and He’s coming back for me
I’m so glad my Jesus caused these eyes to see
I’m so glad my Jesus raised these bones to dance
I’m so glad my Jesus is coming back for me
so I can give Him glory
Filed under: Ministry, Socratic Music | 1 Comment
Tags: Acoustic Guitar, Jesus, My Jesus, singing, Socrates, socratic, socratic music, songwriting, worship, worship music
Socratic Music #3: Funk Hop
What up? Thanks for checking back! This week, I put together something instrumental using my Yamaha Motif XS8. This keyboard is an INCREDIBLE composing/songwriting tool and has been a huge help to me in my music-making. Here’s Yamaha’s official site for it: http://bit.ly/uDiHW
And now, on to the music… Dig it!
See ya next time!
Filed under: Socratic Music | 3 Comments
Tags: beats, Composing, Funk Hop, loops, Motif, Music, Recording, Sequencing, Socrates, Socrates Perez, socratic music, Writing, Yamaha, Yamaha Motif XS8
Europe 2010: Lenk, Switzerland
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- The Swiss Alps
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- Doug Pierce & Friends Set Up
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- Socs & The Ice Wall
As we pulled out of the Zurich Airport terminal, my eyes became quickly fixed on the mountains ahead of us. Wow. Just as quickly, I had to pry myself away from the jaw-dropping view, because we were about to get lost in the Swiss metropolis. Our GPS units were working their tails off to find satellites that would guide us to our destination…satellites accessible from Florida, and not Switzerland! So when they found the right guideposts nearly twenty minutes later, our 4-van caravan was scattered throughout the city. Luckily, we were finally able to establish communication via cell phone, and all was well once we reached a common rest stop within the hour.
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The Men’s Conference in Lenk turned out to be so fruitful. A couple hundred men from several IBCs (Int’l Baptist Churches) gathered to challenge each other in reaching out to and involving their local communities in the work of the church. Most of these churches begin through the work of American missionaries, and as a natural result, many of these churches become spiritual communities of English-speaking Americans. The call was one to tear down walls between the culture of the “host” country and the American culture, to bridge the gulf of language, race, traditions that bar Christians from reaching out, accepting and binding together.
I met a man named Tim, whose church seemed to be an example of what this kind of outreach looks like. In Naples, Italy, their church of about 150 members is practically 50-50 when it comes to American v. Italian in the demographics! So they hold joint services in which they all sit together, they all sing the same songs in their own language, they all share in each other’s differences. What a beautiful picture of the body of Christ!
While we received many thanks and gratitude for leading worship music for these evening conference sessions, we were deeply moved by the openness, passion, and genuineness of these men. Getting a glimpse of the kind of work and trials these leaders have to go through was a deep blessing and encouragement for us to apply in our own way. How are we reaching out to others? How are we trying to unify as a church for the sake of the things that truly matter?
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The breathtaking Swiss Alps demanded our attention, our effort, and our time. The day time was a true treat for us, filled with hiking, skiing, and sledding excursions. And yes, an occasional snowball fight sometimes came into the mix! It was an amazing time, but the demand of our schedule paled in comparison to the work that was ahead in Germany.
Filed under: Life, Ministry, Travel | Leave a Comment
Tags: Europe, First Baptist Church Orlando, First Baptist Orlando, First Orlando, IBC, Lenk, Men's Conference, Ministry, switzerland, Zurich
