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As you may have guessed this blog has nothing to do with a Facebook Login. This is a blog about sound, soundscapes and Film 420 with Kelly Kirshtner.

At the last class, the first class, Ms. Kirshtner suggested we think about sounds differently for the long weekend. The "tuned out" was what was said. Considering the meaning of this seems a bit complicated. Is it the noises in my house- this fish tank filters, refrigerators, the multiple ticking clocks here? Certainly they make up a subtle set of sounds unique to this space. Perhaps it could mean the trip  to the mall: the music in each store; the hundred simultaneous conversations  and greetings; the many noises that modern day cash registers make- these too fall in the category of tuned out.

Of course I suppose that questioning what was meant is sort of silly. I think what was meant was just to be mindful of the sounds in a space that are taken for granted. In order to imagine a sound space, one must first be mindful of the sounds which would be obvious as well as those sounds which would be integral and noticeable if left out. One might imagine a busy street in late August in Milwaukee. Passers by, bicycle tires and hubs, cars, busses, trucks, footfall. However, one might cement the location subtly by adding the sounds of a distant festival, the last of the cicadas humming, and the heavy but persistent roar of the neighborhood air conditioning units.

Field recording for this post:
DIY attempt at Redhead Windscreen
Results: Good.
Cost: $1.99 plus 1 hour
Savings: Redheads come direct for $54.95 a pair, $34.95 each.

It's Labor Day in Milwaukee. Mostly cloudy, wind gusting up to 12mph. The sound of the wind in the trees is dominant. At about 20 seconds, a dragonfly buzzes my recorder. This is a raw unprocessed recording, noting the absence of wind noise.