Fortress Of Freedom Board

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2025 6:20 am Post subject:

Continuing to get back to my usual self and life.

One thing that has changed is walking around the flea market down the road. It used to be a Sears store as an anchor store for this little strip mall. They closed and this discount store opened up and went bankrupt - or at least that’s what it looked like. Now it’s this flea market and that has turned the place around. It’s only open on the weekends but I am used to walking around there looking at stuff. I can even get my DVD/Bluray fix if I need to.

I just find it funny how something like that can uplift your spirits on the weekend. You get tired of the regular malls with the regular stores and here is a guy selling paintings he makes. Then this guy selling used tools. Another guy selling really old fashioned video games and pinball machines. Then around the corner is a guy with the largest selection of video games you have ever seen - puts EB Games and Game Stop to shame.

You get the idea. Anyway I’m changing the copyright dates on my most popular sites as I do every new year…..

2025 is up in the air right now. It could go big or small and it’s really just a toss of the dice…..

But it’s crazy that I can do whatever happens - whatever presents itself…..

Goodnight…..

Maurice Ali · Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 9:20 am Post subject:

Taking care of the websites today.

Tomorrow is back to the usual - and if I’m honest - I like that lifestyle. Regularity in other words. Something you value when you didn’t have before.

This is the most boring time of the year, but this time I actually had time to doodle with the guitars and clean off the equipment and play them even though I play horribly. I am checking out the video cameras and the editors just to make sure everything works. I updated all my current laptops - all three.

Appreciate that this is a weird time for me. I can retire on a whim (but that would be stupidly for me now) if I wish. I have options now that I didn’t before. The strange thing about options is that you constantly think about them - while before you didn’t and just had to deal with things because there is no way out! But having options increases angst because you don’t want to make mistakes. And then there is the whole thing about you whole life changing. You hand out with old retired people, instead of the more youthful mix you have when working. You are no longer forced to accept now culture because it’s all around you - retired you are in a 60s/89s/89s echo chamber and there you stay. I am rambling now - but that is what is going on in my head right now.

Anyway - new music coming out at the end of the month…..

This weekend was productive and relaxing all at the same time…..

https://youtu.be/zmRmVc4u18w?si=R94CECd0Qud7S77N

Maurice Ali · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 7:35 am Post subject:

I’m charging up batteries in the office. Batteries for the camcorders and then the DSLRs. Things have to be maintained and all that.

First decision is no early trip to the UN to get that grounds pass. We are totally on spot to put on the Canada Day music festival, so all the money goes in that war chest. If we find out we don’t then February is still an option is all hell isn’t breaking loose in New York. So for now I stay put.

Roaming around the net and I see I’m in TV Guide of all places. TV Guide was this small but thick weekly thing that had all the channel listings you would ever want along with TV news and reviews. I wanted my network shows to show up here - and I believe but not sure - that that did happen but I have no proof. Now you have proof: The Fortress Experiment in TV Guide!

Goodnight…..

(NSFW)
https://youtu.be/OdxSbc0ap-s?si=2g5oiu2XYA51va1U

Maurice Ali · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2025 6:43 am Post subject:

I’m charging and rejuvenating batteries…..

Right now it’s the camcorder batteries. These are expensive costing hundreds of dollars each so you have to manage them.

Then there are the proprietary batteries for the pro DSLRs I have and I’m only having trouble with one but it is coming back to life.

Sankofa Square

The rhetoric between Canada and the United States keeps ramping up so the decision to hold off on travel was a good move until things settle down. Still no word from Sankofa Square, getting Canada Day isn‘t like winning the lottery, I still have to pay through the nose to rent it and put on the event. So I keep this nonchalant laid back attitude while things flesh out.

Anyway, the battery stuff is a real hassle and overdue by the looks of it. At Fortress and IAIJ, I’m really the janitor of the place and stuff like this just cements it.

Oh well…..

Goodnight…..

https://youtu.be/637ER6dlGDg?si=OjHG3Gn_3K50KqsZ

Maurice Ali · Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:26 am Post subject:

New music coming out shortly:

Maurice Ali · Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2025 10:09 am Post subject:

So with all the stuff happening in the States, I started looking for more ways to prove your Canadian Citizenship. There used to be a citizenship card but that stopped in 2012 but if you have one they are still valid - I don’t have one…..

In the States like elsewhere internationally, your passport is your only proof of citizenship. But that’s officially, your drivers licence carries weight with New York police along with a birth certificate - not sure about the health card. I carry all there as replacing stuff lost is less hassle than being held in the States.

I figured I could just apply online and pay for it and get it - Surprisingly not! So a guy born in Canada 65 years ago has to apply by paper. I suppose if I came off some boat I could apply online - whatever. This will be a pain but if I can get the digital version of a citizen certificate I’ll just add that to my phone and be done with it along with copies on my personal servers.

I will not fly down to New York just before the new administration takes charge as I think US border guards are up for this last minute activity and will scrutinize even harder under the old administration. So it’s probably better to wait until things die down and then fly down there and get the UN grounds pass. I cannot get it during General Assembly as they are not official until the assembly is over. So I would have to do it as usual in February or later before September. Funnily in Manhattan that is the only ID that protects you from the imagination police - and from afar - as in Manhatttan every one knows what the grounds pass is all about. So I probably need that anyway in September even if it’s not valid inside the UN (but unofficially still helpful in addition to the paper passes).

So that’s the plan going forward…..

Goodnight…..

https://youtu.be/mELYcjK2M_E?si=QhfSirNVjGevXP6Z

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2025 4:02 pm Post subject:

I have a minor bug so taking it easy.

Filling around with the guitars and firing up my video editors and spending time making the Speed editor work again. It’s amazing how much time I had for all this stuff when my parents were all alive and younger. No with all the responsibilities it hard just to have time to chill out.

Anyway…..

Canon XA50

My small 4K Canon Camcorder is still relevant. The sensor in it is the one used in all the more expensive camcorders from 6 thousand and 9 thousand dollar camcorders. I charged up the batteries days ago. I might add a third batter as it’s on sale at Vistek for about 190 bucks (and these are cheap ones - Sony is way more expensive).

That thing with the wheel in the foreground is the speed editor!

So I have two editors like Avid that I know backwards and forwards. Then the new editor I got at the same time as that small Canon Camcorder three years ago: DaVinci Resolve. You can buy the software alone or get it for free with hardware like that speed editor I was fooling sound with today.

Anyway, I’m getting myself back inshore for anything that may happen. We also still have a distribution account with Prime I can use if it’s a fiction movie. I’m just keeping my option open.

Goodnight…..

https://youtu.be/HnJaWnn9kW8?si=DJ4TqAaOGtxLGXTs

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2025 12:32 pm Post subject:

Here is an updated picture of the editing workstation as it is today:

Now there is actually four editors there:

Avid Express (SD ONLY)

Pinnacle (HD)

Avid Media Composer (HD/4K)

DaVinci Resolve (4K)

I know everything with Avid and Resolve is new, so I have to start getting comfortable with Resolve. If we do the music festival we will probably do a small documentary on it so that the “why” of the last few days. Ina pinch I could do it in Avid but DaVinci Resolve is the future.

I put our chances of a Canada Day festival at Sankofa Square at 50/50 - it keeps dropping the longer we wait, but these chances still make us prepare as if we had the date. So we still carry on…..

I will also start the forms to get my citizenship certificate. It’s a pain but I want as much proof as possible. We shall see if the new administration does away with pre-clearance to the States - that would be a pain!

Later…..

https://youtu.be/8NkuuFfhKpY?si=KcNaT2JG8c3JfT1j

Maurice Ali · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:36 am Post subject:

That weekend…..

Just taken up dealing with the family. I did get a few hours off on Sunday to visit a couple of music stores and check out the guitars. I basically have all I need, but I thought a Jazzmaster/Jaguar would cap things off. The first store had a plain Jazzmaster with no high E string. That means there is a burr somewhere and I’m not bothering to fix it in a new guitar. That guitar also had Fender’s PAF lookalike pickups. For those who know, PAF pickups are very desirable and the lookalikes just invite interest where you have to sheepishly tell
them they are not PAF.

The second store had a vintage spec Jaguar like the one Kurt Conain used to use. That one had an aged white (read cream yellow) with all the bizarre switches Cobain liked. I noodled with it for a while but there were issues. First the neck was bowed a bit but with the old spec guitars you have to take the neck off the guitar to adjust it! Then I noticed the high E string looked like it was going to fall off the fret board. A bad nut I figured, so that went back on the wall. Meh, had some fun and didn’t spend any money. It could be worse.

Lucifari has finished production. I only have to download the new files and finalize everything with Michael and out it goes! It’s amazing the label is still active with AI and drying up of royalties. Speaking of which I should send out those royalty checks now that the postal service is working again.

 The rest of my head is full of retirement stuff and what impact a recession would have given the change of administrations in the States. Everything looks bleak but we just have to wait and find out what will be…..

Goodnight…..

Maurice Ali · Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 6:31 am Post subject:

I’m ready to release Lucifari’s latest EP: GREN!

I usually give it at least one day delay as on more than one occasion, I would send it and then the band would want to make some change. So I deliberately wait until everyone takes one last look and listen to things.

Aside from that it’s business as usual. I will actually preen myself up a bit. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions but so far I’m holding to several resolutions and so far so good…..

Goodnight…..

https://youtu.be/sg3wshbaQDQ?si=KpFRw8TM0nQPSlCU

Maurice Ali · Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2025 8:19 pm Post subject:

Surprise! FOFSTOCK now has an organizational profile at the United Nations:

Maurice Ali · Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 5:52 am Post subject:

Some more advocacy at FOFSTOCK:

Maurice Ali · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2025 6:36 am Post subject:

Everything going nowhere…..

Our app developer accounts with Google and Apple end soon if we don’t renew. Apple is easy as we just hit a button to renew as we have a free account - the only proviso is that we only distribute free apps. Google wants more activity, so I updated the Worldwide Vote app and usually it’s approved immediately, but this time it’s stuck in review.

Lucifari’s new music is stuck in review. I’ll give them one more day and then ask what’s up?

Nothing yet from Sankofa Square.

Remember that 3.8 billion dollar human rights case I started in 2021? Well, we dodged the summary hearing where the Attorney General wanted to dismiss it - but now you can wait between 4-10 years for the case to come to court. It’s 2025 now, so I could get notice anytime, but since I’m suing the government (technically the King of England now), I expect closer to 10 years as we have a point in the matter…..

BTW: That billion dollar court case - TOOK BALLS TO DO!

I just keep waiting.…..

Goodnight…..

https://youtu.be/2Q3fyW4FnJY?si=REUO4kq4NRhCCjrc

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 7:35 pm Post subject:

I spent much of the day with the family. I had to fix the garage door so it would close and now it does. Next up is a couple of clogged sinks and the home improvements are done.

The update to the Worldwide Vote Android version has been approved and is rolling out:

Maurice Ali · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 3:24 pm Post subject:

I spent Sunday getting a new cellphone for my sister. That took most of the day.

Things at the orgs are getting resolved but not the big one at Sankofa Square - always that.

Ok, So Amazon promises me delivery on the 16th, no tracking update since the 9th. Then on the promised day it shows up from the States and is delivered on the promised day but we never got anything. Then two days later it gets delivered. Really, but people tell me that’s not rare…..

Goodnight…..