The Timeless Symphony Of Music & Technology - IMRAN™

The Timeless Symphony Of Music & Technology - IMRAN™
Timelessness of music and technology... playing ~220 years old Symphony # 5 by Beethoven, off a ~60 years old vinyl record, on a 12 hours old modern Bluetooth enabled Sony turntable (not Yamaha as I accidentally call it in the livestream), via a then-latest now dozen-years old Yamaha Music Corporation Aventage RX-A3020.....

© 2024 IMRAN™

#IMRAN #music #technology #sound #inspiration #memories #audio #Beethoven #Yamaha #Sony #orchestra #symphony #IMHO #Bluetooth #vinyl Pandora Top Gun #dangerzone

Making Music & Memories At Columbia University Manhattan New York Apartment 35 Years Ago Today - IMRAN™

 Making Music & Memories At Columbia University Manhattan New York Apartment 35 Years Ago Today - IMRAN™

Some things never change. My lack of talent in learning to play music. My taking selfies. My still having this necktie that my late beloved mom had bought for me 40 years ago! 

My Yamaha B200 synth keyboard. Even my Atari ST computer from the 1980s. And that Columbia Business School textbook. It is among ALL my books from that time I still retain. They are all still at my blessed home on Long Island, New York.

Being a Gemini, and wanting two of everything, has not changed. You can see I had two computers even in 1989, and two monitors.  Heck, you can even see two of me, if you see my reflection in one of the monitors, which I still have. The monitor. I am sure I do not have that same reflection anymore, but I have a lot more reflections on life! 

I do take care of my things. Even that wall poster from the  New York City Tourism + Conventions' “I ❤️ New York” tourism promotion campaign, titled “New York Is Music”, from 1989 is still intact in Pakistan. My mom had it framed for me. 

What did change is clearly me having far more fat and far less hair. But I remain blessed and grateful for an incredible journey. No one could have lived a fuller life than I have, from the day I was born until today - and God willing on every day - until it will be time for the grand finale of my life, when my music must fade out. Thank you for all the love all along the way. 

© 1989-2024 IMRAN™

WaveRunner On Tampa Bay, Florida - IMRAN™

It was another perfect winter day on Tampa Bay Florida when I decided to make a run for Pine Island (Beer Can Island) near my blessed Apollo Beach home.

The stunning blue water and powder blue sky were just perfect. The horizon looks curved because this is from a 360° spherical video action cam.

This is a one-third crop of a Nikon KeyMission 360 action cam on a selfie stick I shoved down my life vest.

I cropped it or you would also be seeing my chest hair and up my nose in more detail than you would like!

Enjoy the fun ride on my Yamaha WaveRunner SVHO.

© 2017 IMRAN™

Tampa Bay Florida Jet Ski Ride After Storms - IMRAN™ (HyperLapse)

Finally after the storms had passed Tampa Bay Florida was its beautiful normal version again.

I managed to get back on my jet ski briefly. This is a hyperlapse (accelerated) video of my ride.

The sailboat sounds were just fun to add.

Thankfully the Yamaha WaveRunner SVHO does not creak like the sounds in the video would suggest.

© 2017 IMRAN™

How To Think Clearly Before You Buy A Motorcycle!

I just read an interesting article in BusinessWeek, How to Buy a Motorcycle by Mitch Daniels.


I love motorcycles. (Of course, I love flying, boating, driving German cars, and motorcycles, in that order!).


My Dad bought me my first (and until recently only) motorcycle, a Yamaha Enduro in Pakistan in 1981-82, when they were still imported from Japan.


Twenty years later, in about 2001-2002, here in the USA, I went to go buy another bike because I wanted to enjoy them while I was physically fit. (I prefer racing style bikes to hogs). I figured the under $200 monthly payment was worth it, but was dissuaded by the shocking price of comprehensive insurance.


The insurance company was treating me like a new rider considering how long I had not ridden officially. (I did take friend's bikes in Pakistan for occasional spins during trips there in that time).


So, 10 more years went by, but as I near 50, I took the leap and last year at my birthday, got myself a gorgeous 2011 Yamaha YZF-R6.


The R1 was just a couple thousand dollars more, and a year older unsold Kawasaki 1400cc was just a thousand more on clearance. It was very tempting. But, I realized the few thousand dollars more was worth the price of the toy but not the almost certain guarantee to have too much power and get myself killed.


However, even though I decided on the 600cc, even after the R6 was delivered to me, I did not ride it until I had taken three riding classes. I was delighted at how the instructors were pleasantly surprised that I did not need classes but took them anyway. And I am glad I did. I still learnt so much more. I had all the mechanical and riding skills to pass my test, but the lessons, the tips, the advice, the stories of how people get in trouble, made the riding classes a great investment.


Fortunately, I realized something a lot of people may rather forget. In the 30 years since my first Yamaha, the bike I owned went from 100cc street legal dirt bike weighing probably 100 lbs to a 600cc monster of power (max speed 165 mph) weighing 350 lbs, while my body, though fairly fit, has gone from that of a 150 lbs. 18 year old to a man nearing 200 lbs. and 50, even if not feeling (or looking, LOL) it.


I also bought, and read, books like Proficient Motorcycling, and others, and learned even more. In about 8 months, including winter in NY, I put nearly 4000 miles on the bike and loved every minute of it.


I believe in the adage that at the end of life we regret the things we did not do more than the ones we did (and shouldn't have). But, keep in mind, there are many cases of people where the purchase of a motorcycle more than they could handle led to a hastened end of life.


So, be very, very careful in making this decision. I did not regret it and am blessed so far. But I realize, one false move, even from an inattentive car driver on the road, can mean the end for me.


Choose wisely. Ride safe. I'll see you on the road.