December 2010
1 post
May 2010
1 post
New sites
So I think it’s time for this blog to take a rest again… I’ve been working on a new project and it’s taking up all my attention. Actually, it was indirectly inspired by my posts here: the future of record labels + web design + paying for music = Take a wild guess what I’m up to!
You can follow the new project at:
Facebook and Twitter
See you over there!
April 2010
2 posts
Why buy?
This past week, I did something that I haven’t done for a while: I bought music.
And I was amazed by how good it felt.
I would imagine that a good number of people get their music from free sources. You can use YouTube as a jukebox, listen to online radio stations, stream tracks from MySpace. Thanks to the Internet there’s a lot of music out there, and a lot of ways not to pay for...
Simplicity, Steve Jobs, and the iPad
This was a big question for a while: Why isn’t Steve Jobs including a video camera and multitasking in the initial iPad?
A few months ago, when we (consumers) heard about that, we were shocked because we assumed an advanced computing product like the iPad would contain such straightforward and accepted technology.
We didn’t yet grasp what Steve Jobs is trying to do with this...
March 2010
11 posts
Making the web more user-friendly
These days on the web, it seems like many sites have settled on the same underlying structure: A title and a directory of pages - Home, About, Contact, etc.
It’s simple, it makes sense, and it works in the same way that a book’s table of contents does - as a linear description of what the website contains. A cover page, followed by content. But as the Internet evolves, so should our...
Follow up on 3D
Earlier today, Nintendo announced its next portable gaming platform - the 3DS.
Although it hasn’t been confirmed yet, it could use the same 3D-without-the-glasses technology (using a built-in camera to track the position of your head) that I mentioned a few posts ago. This video shows a glimpse of what it might be like.
I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of this tech in the...
The Recognizers and the American Dream
There’s a moment in Hoop Dreams, a fantastic basketball documentary from 1994, in which a group of sportscasters is sitting around a table discussing the top up-and-coming prospects in Chicago, and they mention a young player named William Gates.
Usually, if we were watching this kind of television show, we wouldn’t take special notice of such a mention. But in this case, we’ve...
For those who might find this interesting - you...
Wisdom of the Day (which I'm going to start...
Stop talking, start doing.
What the hell is going on in that "Telephone"...
Given that over 17 million people have watched Lady Gaga’s new music video on Youtube in its first 5 days, it’s clearly spreading fast.
Why?
Because it’s seriously weird - a nonstop visual grab bag of subliminal imagery and product placements, by turns unexpected, hilarious, disturbing, insensitive, tacky, and appalling. And, dare I say, brilliant?
I’ve watched it...
And...
Remember how I thought we had the technology to make 3D internet right now?
Turns out I’m behind the times - someone is already working on it.
Thanks to Christina for the info (one of the most internet savvy people I know!!).
It’s a company called Oblong. Here’s a video of their 3D interface:
Very cool.
Where the internet is going
Now that Avatar has proved that 3D can be commercially successful, the rest of the film industry has been quick to follow in its footsteps. TV channels, too, have announced plans to broadcast in 3D; ESPN will broadcast a 3D World Cup match on June 11.
But there’s something that would be far more exciting in 3D than movies or sports: the Internet.
Think about it: while movies and...
The Future of Record Labels
First, have a look at this article. It’s a remarkably clear-eyed overview of the current state of the record business. The conclusion? Record companies will have to change their business model in order to become relevant in the internet age.
OK, sure, that’s no surprise. But how will they have to change? The article poses some good ideas, many of which I’m rehashing here, but...
The Hurt Locker
I watched The Hurt Locker again last night. It’s a compelling story. But especially in terms of filmmaking, it’s fascinating.
Kathryn Bigelow, the director, doesn’t waste a detail. Every shot is efficient; every camera movement draws our attention to what Bigelow wants us to see. The tired blink of Sanborn’s eye as he mans the sniper rifle in the desert, which James...
Six months later...
Halfway into my time in Ireland, I’m going to start up the blog again.
Now, though, it’s more about what I’m thinking than what I’m doing. I might post about music I heard, a movie I saw, issues I read about in the news, who knows. This is mainly a chance for me to write.
And even if I’m doing this mostly for myself, it’s always better to share. Leave...
September 2009
2 posts
Summer's End
Wow. I haven’t posted anything for weeks now. Sorry about that. Here’s the belated wrap-up.
Istanbul, as you can see in the last video, was different and unforgettable. I had finally reached the edge of the Middle East and it left me wanting more. Sometime, someday, eastern Turkey beckons.
So I made it to Istanbul. When I take a step back, I realize that is something in itself. The...
August 2009
13 posts
Istanbul!
Fast-forward one surprisingly painless night bus ride, and here I am in Istanbul.
It was really tough to leave the farm, especially since a couple great new volunteers had arrived and things were getting better and better. But I said goodbye to that little corner of Bulgaria, pushed the five kittens off my lap, and got on the bus for Istanbul.
Luckily, Istanbul is awesome. I had a somewhat...
Tech issues
For some reason the videos aren’t showing up right now … I think it’s something to do with the fact that I’m in Turkey, where Youtube is outlawed. I’ll see if I can fix it, but more likely it will fix itself in three days once I’m in Ireland.
Update
I’m quickly losing track of time. The date, and to a certain extent the actual time, doesn’t really matter here. Daylight is the thing you plan your life around.
I’ve been getting up at 8, working for around 5 hours, having lunch, and then relaxing, reading, playing music until dinner. In the nights we’ve had bonfires with neighbors and last night we watched the meteor...
Bulgaria
So due to the limited internet here, I can’t post pictures or videos - although having any internet at all is quite an achievement, considering it’s a town of 900 in rural Bulgaria!
I’ve gradually started to settle into the routine here. It’s so nice to just take things slow. Even though I didn’t mention this much on the blog, I was getting completely burned out by...
To the farm
So tomorrow I’m heading down to the farm in Bulgaria. I might be without internet for a week or two (or maybe not) but in any case, don’t be surprised if I’m out of touch.
Until then -
Experimenting with some theme music …
I...
July 2009
18 posts
What's Next
I’m in Cesky Krumlov right now… working hard… in roughly 4 days I will have some moving images for you. And this time I mean it!
Prague
Having been here for a couple days, I can say that this little corner of Eastern Europe has been 100% “discovered.” It’s about as far from undiscovered as it’s possible to get.
What is it that attracts the flood of Eurotripping teenagers? Maybe things like this:
Nevertheless, Prague is a beautiful place, probably the most architecturally pleasing city that I’ve...
Berlin wrap-up
The rumors were true. Berlin is very, very cool.
There are artists, and graffiti, everywhere:
The popular snack is currywurst - sausage drowned in ketchup and curry powder. There’s roughly a 10 minute window between “Wow, this is delicious” and “I’m seriously regretting this.”
Day 2. A visit to the zoo, which never fails to entertain me. Eliot and I...
Thank You
As I pass the halfway point of the trip, I want to take a moment to thank my wonderful hosts so far:
Frank and Debbie, Justine, David and Sara, Eliot and Elza…
Without exception they’ve been absolutely terrific hosts and because of them, I’ve seen parts of these cities that I never would have otherwise.
I’m looking forward to repaying some of this karma once I have an...
A slight change to the itinerary
I hate to say it, but I’m beginning to get a little tired of European capital after European capital. They’re all so exciting and beautiful and one-of-a-kind that it’s impossible to avoid getting jaded.
I need to go outside, wake up at dawn, and get covered in dirt. It’s time for some manual labor.
That’s why I spent a couple hours online yesterday and got in...
Playing catch up
Back online!
I have tons of pictures to show you. Let’s start two weeks ago in Strasbourg, on the French-German border:
And into the Black Forest… doesn’t look so menacing from here… just wait:
My first stop is Haslach, on the fringes of the forest:
Next, Triberg, in the heart of the Schwarzwald:
That’s more like it.
Triberg main street:
...
The Schwarzwald
I finally found internet in the black forest… and it’s coin operated.
So you’ll have to forgive the lack of updates recently (and the lack of pictures in this post).
Despite the technological issues, the last four days have been great. I wanted a taste of rural Germany and I got it. The black forest really is as isolated as its name suggests, with some areas too densely...
Strasbourg
Loving all this free wifi in Europe.
I’m in Strasbourg, stopping over for the night en route to the Black Forest and the town with the largest cuckoo clock in the world. I think I’ll treat myself to the new Harry Potter movie tonight….
One thing I realized today: As this trip continues, my language skills become more and more useless. Started with English, then Spanish (had a...
Music
Notre Dame might be the best place for busking … in the world.
I’m not exaggerating. It’s one of the most touristed spots in Paris, and Paris is the most touristed city in the world, so… playing right next to it?
I made 20 euros in an hour.
Bingo!
Afterwards I went to a surprisingly nice Irish session at a pub downtown, which was recommended to me by a guy I met...
Update (stream of consciousness edition)
Certain movies have such a symbiotic connection with their setting that it essentially becomes another character in the film.
These movies make me want to visit the cities they’re set in.
In the past, it was Lost in Translation for Tokyo. And just as intensely, Amelie for Paris.
I’m watching Amelie again right now and the movie - both the visuals and music - is as much about Paris...
Paris
It’s good to be back in Paris. There is something about this city that really is … well … magical. It’s a cliche because it’s true. For example, this is what I saw my first night here. Those are bubbles in the air. BUBBLES!
Needing to dampen the mood somewhat, I visited the Catacombs, which were built after city residents complained about the stench coming from an...
4 tags
If you read one thing today, read this
When I’m traveling, it’s easy to get caught up in little annoyances like a broken camera or a missed train. But then I have an experience like this, and all of that suddenly seems a lot less important.
I met Kader Belmouaz at the Hotel Concorde in Nimes. His story is one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever heard.
He is originally from Algeria and emigrated to America...
The Tour
A couple days ago I found out that the Tour de France would be coming through Montpellier. Since I was only a half hour away by train, I knew I had to check it out.
And it was worth it. The whole city was buzzing with people. The fenced-off route began in the central square and was lined with crowds as it headed towards the city limits. Before the riders began, there was a strange - and...
uh oh.
Broke my digital camera. I’m mostly to blame for dropping it, but c’mon… I dropped my last camera more times than I can remember, and somehow it survived. What I really need is one of those toddler cameras covered in soft plastic. Here’s hoping I can find a way to do video stills.
Damn.
While it’s on my mind - check this out....
Into France
Moving right along…
I spent my last few days in Spain at the small and incredibly picturesque beach town of Cadaques:
More Cadaques:
And just like that, the whirlwind tour continues and I’m on to France. Met a nice French couple on the train who had walked the entire Costa Brava. They treated me to breakfast and I have an invitation to visit Toulouse the next time I’m in...
Pictures
I only have an hour of battery left so I’ll make this quick.
Tower bridge:
What I thought was Buckingham Palace was, in fact, another British-sounding palace. It makes for a nice picture, though, doesn’t it?
Solstice at Stonehenge, surrounded by 30,000 druids and hippies:
The underwhelming (but still totally worth it) sunrise:
Day 1 of Wimbledon, Sharapova playing here...
June 2009
6 posts
Don´t worry, I´m alive
Despite the fact that nothing has been posted here yet, the trip is going great. I´ve spent the last 10 days or so in London and Barcelona, where I met druids at the summer solstice at Stonehenge, sat in the stands for the opening day of Wimbledon, and ate some of the best (ok…and only…) tapas I´ve ever had.
Funny enough, the busking has been the complete bust so far. The number of...
WatchThere will be some goodies coming your way soon….
Meanwhile, check out this video!