Saturday, December 31, 2005
Jason Calacanis
OK, so I know nothing about the celebrities of Web 2.0. And, I really feel like an idiot because I did not draw the connection between Jason Calacanis of Silicon Alley Reporter fame and the Jason Calacanis of Weblogs, Inc. fame. Duh! Until I read the Wired article. And then it hit me.... Jason Calacanis was the guy who opened the conference with his keynote that basically said... don't expect to make money with Podcasting! Very inspiring, we all thought. Well, then I looked back at the PME website and saw his photo. Quite a bit different than Wired's (obviously taken some time ago). Anyway, now that I read the piece in Wired, I understand a bit more where Jason was coming from in the keynote.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Cheney's Ipod
This article popped up today...
Cheney's iPod Takes Top Priority on Extended Flight
. . . .Reporters Wait to File Stories as VP's MP3 Player Charges
J thing he is listening to Soccergirl Inc. and Dawn and Drew!
Cheney's iPod Takes Top Priority on Extended Flight
. . . .Reporters Wait to File Stories as VP's MP3 Player Charges
J thing he is listening to Soccergirl Inc. and Dawn and Drew!
Friday, December 23, 2005
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Steve Rivers has the right idea about iPods
A couple of guys from musicbiz.com did an interesting piece -sort of a two-way diaogue in print. One of them is Steve Rivers, the former director of programming for Infinity. He's got more smarts than most... and here are some comments he made about the iPod and some recent discussion about "iPod fatigue:"
Riv: I love Rick, and highly respect him, but "iPod fatigue" seems to be something he's put on his Santa wish list. Just as Bill Gates turned Microsoft on a dime and centered on its success being Internet-driven, Steve Jobs has pulled another rabbit out of his hat with the iPod, and even renaming all the Apple stores as the iTunes stores. And the Apple hits just keep comin�. The new iPod, with the ability to view videos that the geeks are calling the viPod, now opens up another new way for Apple to compete. With Disney/ABC and NBC signing up to allow their content on iTunes, and Fox and ESPN about to join in, it's refreshing to see the television industry come to the party early rather than late. There was a time when they stood their ground and allowed cable TV to seize market share; this time they seem to be saying, "We're ready to put one foot in this pool."
Riv: I love Rick, and highly respect him, but "iPod fatigue" seems to be something he's put on his Santa wish list. Just as Bill Gates turned Microsoft on a dime and centered on its success being Internet-driven, Steve Jobs has pulled another rabbit out of his hat with the iPod, and even renaming all the Apple stores as the iTunes stores. And the Apple hits just keep comin�. The new iPod, with the ability to view videos that the geeks are calling the viPod, now opens up another new way for Apple to compete. With Disney/ABC and NBC signing up to allow their content on iTunes, and Fox and ESPN about to join in, it's refreshing to see the television industry come to the party early rather than late. There was a time when they stood their ground and allowed cable TV to seize market share; this time they seem to be saying, "We're ready to put one foot in this pool."
Friday, December 09, 2005
Mena Trott's speech was controversial????
OK - I am a relative innocent in this world of blogging. I post a few thoughts, then go away for a while, post some more. So - I may lack some of the passion that others have about this medium. But this one got me...
I am struggling to see how anything in Mena Trott's speech to the Les Blogs conference could be even termed remotely controversial. Someone who could theoretically benefit from incivility (increased sales of six apart products in an ever-escalating arms race) in the blogosphere asking for civility is about as controversial as asking someone not to sneeze on you during cold and flu season.
Give me a break - there really are some people out there who need to reassess their perspectives on things. I noted the linkback about "Currygate" on Nicholas Carr's blog and I have to concur... people are taking this way to seriously. Just deal with it. Grow up. Geesh.
To badly paraphrase Rick, in Casablanca, "none of us amount to a hill of beans on this old web..."
I am struggling to see how anything in Mena Trott's speech to the Les Blogs conference could be even termed remotely controversial. Someone who could theoretically benefit from incivility (increased sales of six apart products in an ever-escalating arms race) in the blogosphere asking for civility is about as controversial as asking someone not to sneeze on you during cold and flu season.
Give me a break - there really are some people out there who need to reassess their perspectives on things. I noted the linkback about "Currygate" on Nicholas Carr's blog and I have to concur... people are taking this way to seriously. Just deal with it. Grow up. Geesh.
To badly paraphrase Rick, in Casablanca, "none of us amount to a hill of beans on this old web..."
Sunday, November 27, 2005
The Grateful Dead and Archive.org
Disappointing to hear about the challenge that archive.org is having keeping Grateful Dead content online. Cory Doctorow had a post about it on Boing Boing. Indeed, the Dead were the most "Open Source" band that we have ever seen... maybe John Perry Barlow could get the EFF to fight the "good fight" with this.
After Jerry Garcia passed away, I noticed that there were suddenly a lot more Jerry Garcia ties in the stores... I always wondered what the deal was , and now I think that maybe his estate is a bit greedy and released a bunch of designs that he wouldn't have released had he survived.
After Jerry Garcia passed away, I noticed that there were suddenly a lot more Jerry Garcia ties in the stores... I always wondered what the deal was , and now I think that maybe his estate is a bit greedy and released a bunch of designs that he wouldn't have released had he survived.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Chickens to humans....
I love the day after Thanksgiving... it's like a gift -a totally free day on which we can suffer the indignities of the mall or spend time on things we would never otherwise do., like researching the chicken populations of the US and China.
While reading a blurb in Time Magazine, quoting Zhou Liwei, a provincial spokesman of Liaoning, China, I noticed that Time was saying that China has a chicken population of 5.2 billion. It struck me that - given the human population of China - this was not an extremely large number of chickens. So, I delved a bit into USDA data (2004 domestic US chicken and broiler production and global broiler statistics) and came up with some numbers that I think are pretty amazing...
| Country | People | Chickens | Ratio |
| China | 1,300,000,000 | 5,843,394,740 | 4.49 |
| US | 296,000,000 | 8,934,000,000 | 30.18 |
This means that - in China - there are 4.49 chickens in every pot. In the US, there are 30.18 chickens in every pot (assuming that every man, woman and child has a pot)!
Puts a new perspective on things, doesn't it? I mean - abstract statistics about hunger and all of that are pretty boring... but when you think about the implications of each person in the US being represented by 30 chickens - versus only 4 in China - it is pretty mind-boggling.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Opening Day - Afternoon Sessions
Starting with the "Secrets of iTunes and the iPod" session. Paul Griffin (Griffin Technology), Chris Breen (Playlist), Leo Laporte and Dan Frakes.
Pretty interesting group.
Pretty interesting group.
Opening Day
Well, it has kicked off nicely here at the Portable Media Expo (aka Podcast Expo) today. Definitely crowded, but not so much that it's a problem.
Leo Laporte and the guy from enGadget did a good couple of keynotes this morning... basically the message was stay out of the infrastructure part of this business and do the content.
Two of the sessions this morning were so packed that if you were late - you were out of luck.
Leo Laporte and the guy from enGadget did a good couple of keynotes this morning... basically the message was stay out of the infrastructure part of this business and do the content.
Two of the sessions this morning were so packed that if you were late - you were out of luck.
This is an amazing thing...
I had heard about the windmills east of LA... but nothing prepares you for the pure other-worldliness of it. It is like being on a science-fiction movie. These photos give you a small idea of the scale - there are hundreds, if not thousands of them. But, until you actually see them all turning at the same time in the incredibly strong wind that blows up the canyon from San Bernadino to Palm Springs, you can't truly "get it."
Portable Media Expo - Podcast Conference
Made it out here for the first Podcast expo - and what a kick-off night it was! It started kinda slow, with a few folks floating through the bar at the Marriott and having a little drink and maybe some sustenance before the show began.
Then, around 9PM, the show kicked off in a function room at the Marriott with some pretty decent music - Podsafe, I am sure.
A few digs at the big bad "traditional" radio biz, but for the most part a real upbeat time.
Adam Curry and friends showed up - with a special appearance by Madge Weinstein!!
Reminded me of the days of '70s progressive radio.
One of the coolest things was seeing the new celebrities, like Brian Ibbott, get their props. Quite nice.
On to the opening of the conference itself... tomorrow morning, bright and early!!
Then, around 9PM, the show kicked off in a function room at the Marriott with some pretty decent music - Podsafe, I am sure.
A few digs at the big bad "traditional" radio biz, but for the most part a real upbeat time.
Adam Curry and friends showed up - with a special appearance by Madge Weinstein!!
Reminded me of the days of '70s progressive radio.
One of the coolest things was seeing the new celebrities, like Brian Ibbott, get their props. Quite nice.
On to the opening of the conference itself... tomorrow morning, bright and early!!
Monday, October 10, 2005
RFID article in Globe
Great article in the Boston Globe today by Hiawatha Bray on the subject of RFID tags called, "You Need not be Paranoid to Fear RFID."
It is clear that we should have no expectation of privacy as we move into the future. I wrote a paper in college on this subject in the '70s. My conclusion then is the same as it is today... there will be no privacy, so therefore everyone must have access to all information for society to work. At the time, I envisioned pay terminals (much like pay telephones) in public areas for people to use to access databases... but, as it turns out, we have realtively ubiquitous access to the network today, so at least that won't be necessary. But in order to provide checks and balances against abuse of this data by large corporations and the government, we must make it available to all so that everyone can by spied on by everyone. Not because this is a good thing, but because being spied on is inevitable.
If the spy knows that she can be exposed, she is less likely to expose others. Awful situation for a society to be in, but here we are.
It is clear that we should have no expectation of privacy as we move into the future. I wrote a paper in college on this subject in the '70s. My conclusion then is the same as it is today... there will be no privacy, so therefore everyone must have access to all information for society to work. At the time, I envisioned pay terminals (much like pay telephones) in public areas for people to use to access databases... but, as it turns out, we have realtively ubiquitous access to the network today, so at least that won't be necessary. But in order to provide checks and balances against abuse of this data by large corporations and the government, we must make it available to all so that everyone can by spied on by everyone. Not because this is a good thing, but because being spied on is inevitable.
If the spy knows that she can be exposed, she is less likely to expose others. Awful situation for a society to be in, but here we are.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Katrina exposes the real
Seems that the Kanye West comments were edited by NBC for West Coast airing Friday night. But then, upon viewing Tucker Carlson's coverage of the situation in New Orleans on Saturday night, I didn't see any punches pulled. Seems that even the neo-conservatives are angry at the incompetence of this government.
katrina
hurricane katrina
kanye west
katrina
hurricane katrina
kanye west
Saturday, September 03, 2005
The NBC Hurricane Katrina Cover-up?
While reading the post from No Rock&Roll Fun on the Kanye West comments from the NBC telethon last night, I watched an MSNBC reporter (Carl Quintanilla) say that the people in New Orleans were not as angry about the lack of response from the government as the rest of the country. "All the outrage and anger that is registering around the country isn't registering with them." It's almost as if NBC is trying to "toe the line" with the government line. The quote from "Ragin' Cajun" Gen. Honore when asked why it was taking so long was "...this is a disaster - we ain't stuck on stupid..." Oh, and then there's the "Texas sized welcome" at the Houston Astrodome. MSNBC has got the word from the Man, I think.
hurricane katrina
hurricane katrina
Friday, September 02, 2005
Slidell and Bush
It's 5 days after the departure of Hurricane Katrina. And FEMA and other rescue organizations are just now arriving in Slidell. Slidell is not some remote town in the middle of the bayou... it is at the intersection of two major interstates (I10 and I12), for goodness' sake!
There will be heck to pay once things get under control in the Gulf region. Bush can't blame this on the "evil-doers." It was a hurricane, and his government was less capable of dealing with it than they were the aftermath of 9-11. Might this have something to do with the fact that we are now 5 or six years into his adminsitration and he has ripped the guts out of our ability to respond to anything but military events?
There will be heck to pay once things get under control in the Gulf region. Bush can't blame this on the "evil-doers." It was a hurricane, and his government was less capable of dealing with it than they were the aftermath of 9-11. Might this have something to do with the fact that we are now 5 or six years into his adminsitration and he has ripped the guts out of our ability to respond to anything but military events?
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Gulf Coast
OK - previously this has been a lighthearted blog, with posts of pictures of friends and co-workers. However, after watching the coverage of the aftermath of Katrina, there is one burning question that I have...
Where the heck is the assistance from the feds???
It's not like there has never been a hurricane strike before. It's not like there was some mystery about what would happen if a category 4 or above hurricane hit the New Orleans area... it has been clear for decades that this was an disaster waiting to happen. So, where was the planning? Where is the basic support that the Feds are supposed to be providing for our tax dollars?
There should have been an organized plan, in place, in the hours when the strike area was clear. Food, water, transportation, portable housing for tens of thousands, and so on should have been ready to go. What were they thinking? That this would not be as bad as Andrew?? Camille??
At first, I watched the coverage with awe at the power of nature and then sadness at the plight of the people caught in this disaster. However, as the days passed, it has become clear that our federal disaster officials have no plan to deal with disasters until after they happen. It is a disgrace. Before war, our treasury should be invested in the safety and protection of the citizens. It is clear that our federal government is incompetent.
Where the heck is the assistance from the feds???
It's not like there has never been a hurricane strike before. It's not like there was some mystery about what would happen if a category 4 or above hurricane hit the New Orleans area... it has been clear for decades that this was an disaster waiting to happen. So, where was the planning? Where is the basic support that the Feds are supposed to be providing for our tax dollars?
There should have been an organized plan, in place, in the hours when the strike area was clear. Food, water, transportation, portable housing for tens of thousands, and so on should have been ready to go. What were they thinking? That this would not be as bad as Andrew?? Camille??
At first, I watched the coverage with awe at the power of nature and then sadness at the plight of the people caught in this disaster. However, as the days passed, it has become clear that our federal disaster officials have no plan to deal with disasters until after they happen. It is a disgrace. Before war, our treasury should be invested in the safety and protection of the citizens. It is clear that our federal government is incompetent.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Friday, July 15, 2005
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Monday, July 04, 2005
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Friday, July 01, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Saturday, May 28, 2005
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