ABOUT
I've always had a wide range of interests: music, science, psychology, literature, cosmology, history, economics, and so many other aspects of the world around us. I've learned and discovered many things, primarily for my own interest. But it occurred to me that I should share my life's experiences. I hope my work and my discoveries make a positive contribution to the world and to humanity. To those who find joy or enlightenment in my work, I am glad to have added to your life.
MUSIC
I've had been playing and writing music for as long as I can remember. I started out taking piano lessons as a kid, but quickly moved to the guitar when I heard an album by Andre Segovia. I studied classical guitar for several years until my aunt gave me an album by the late great Brazilian Bossa Nova guitarist Baden Powell. At that point I switched to Bossa Nova and spent many years trying to duplicate the fantastic sounds that Baden Powell created with his guitar. He is the reason I am a guitarist today. Finally, I rediscovered the fingerstyle music of the 1960's, in particular: Paul Simon and James Taylor, and lately that has been my passion in both performing and writing songs. Please download and share as you wish, the only thing I ask is that I be acknowledged as the artist.
Marissa
Words and Music: Mike Paolucci
This song was inspired by someone I had a brief but beautiful relationship with.
Cordelia
Words and music: Mike Paolucci
This is what I will sing to the love of my life, should I ever find her.
It is what I believe real love is all about - good times and bad times, but
you go through all of it together.
Special thanks to Ashely Furst for the added vocals.
Lisa
Words and Music: Mike Paolucci
This is a song to my good friend Lisa.
The Promise
Words and Music: Mike Paolucci
This is the first song I wrote. I was 18 and in my medieval phase.
It is loosely based on the French poem "La Chanson de Roland" and
the opening scene of Macbeth. Spoiler: he keeps his promise.
Con Todo Lo Que Soy
Words and Music: Mike Paolucci
This is my first and only song I've written in Spanish.
Perfect Moment
Words: Art Garfunkel
This is a beautiful love song by Art Garfunkel.
What touches me about this song is that it is an experience we have all had —
we look across a room and our eyes meet in an embrace that we cannot break.
I Miss Your Love
Words and Music: Mike Paolucci
This is based on my experience that women fall into my arms just as we embrace.
I don't know why they do that, but it feels good.
Eu Nâo Existo Sem Você
Words: Vinîcius de Moraes
Music: Antonio Carlos Jobim
This was written by the same two songwriters who wrote the Girl From Ipanema.
This is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful love songs ever written.
Here is an
English translation
but you need to hear it in the original Portuguese
to fully appreciate its beauty.
Angel Eyes
Words: Earl Brent
Music: Matt Denis
A torch song from 1946.
Easy
Words and music: Lionel Ritchie
A classic from the 70's and Lionel Ritchie best song.
And, yes, it is very easy to float along on the syncopated rhythm.
Cry Me a River
Words and music: Arthur Hamilton
From the American Songbook, a great "torch song".
In my opinion, the definitely version is by Julie London.
Another song in this same vein is Peel Me a Grape done by Dianna Krall.
When I Loved Her
Words and music: Kris Kristofferson
Kris tends to write two kinds of songs: raw songs and love songs,
this is one of the latter. I do several Kristofferson love songs but
this one is my favorite.
April Come She Will
Words and music: Paul Simon
Paul described this as a "nursery rhyme" he wrote for fun. It's true the rhyme
has a child-like innocence, but the theme is very mature: the end of a
relationship.
WRITINGS
Harmony
This is meant to be in the style of a fable, but strictly speaking I think it is a parable. It's meant to show what great things can be accomplished when people put aside their discrimination and work together.
Just Another Flight
This is a (very) short story in the category of Gothic horror. The inspiration for this was a Twilight Zone episode titled "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet'. Just FYI, I have no fear of flying; in fact, I usually sleep through the entire flight.
Charlie
Having worked in IT for many years I met many people like Charlie — people who are good with technology but very poor in people skills. This is a story about being able to "read people" and why it is so important.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
I have worked in the field of IT for over 25 years. I've
worked primarily as a software developer,
including extensive database work, and I have designed and built websites and IT
systems.
I have always thought that software development is like
throwing a pot.
The software is reworked as insights accumulate during the development process.
I believe that well-designed and well-written software will accomodate changes easily.
Web Apps
To start the game, select the number of decks you want in the shoe and hit New Shoe. Then hit New Deal.
Version 1.0 keeps track of hands won. When I get time I will add betting, double down, and splitting.
Blackjack
The Game of Life was invented by John Horton Conway and introduced by Martin Gardner in Scientific American in October 1970. It helped launch a new branch of mathematics called cellular automata. This is variant of Horton's original version.
Game of Life
Do you find sitting at a computer for long periods of time causes neck and back pain? That's where MoveIt! comes in: it's a small webpage that creates a popup every hour or half-hour (set by you) to remind you to get up and move around.
Move it!
When you first run it you may notice an icon at the top right of your brower that says popups from this website are blocked. You need to click on that icon and select "allow popups".
