Sad Salvation

Song of the Day: California One Youth and Beauty Brigade

2009-07-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

California One Youth and Beauty Brigade - Decemberists

And the road a-winding goes
From golden gate to roaring cliff-side
And the light is softly low
As our hearts become sweetly untied
Beneath the sun of California one

There are too many things for me to write about this song. How this is the perfect two songs stacked together to make one song. How the length of the song is carried by the dreamy nature of the tune and playing. How the song reminds me of the stretch of the California Highway One between Carmel and Big Sur. How I fell I feel in love with this song while I was traveling alone in Europe. How the first time I heard this song I play it ten times in a row. How the song strikes the perfect cord about being alone. How this song in an amazing ending to an unexpectedly good album. How I cried when I saw them play it live.

We're calling all bed wetters
And ambulance chasers
Poor picker-pockets, bring 'em in
Come join the youth and beauty brigade

We're lining up the light-loafered
And the bored bench warmers
Castaways and cutouts, fill it up
Come join the youth and beauty brigade
Come join the youth and beauty brigade

What amazes me still is how they are calling to there listeners. They are calling to the misfits and losers of the world and saying "We are you, You are us." It caught me the very first time I heard this song. They are ending their first album by calling all their fans. it is a brilliant move.

There are lots of songs about California. I have learned that is because California is a millions different things to 40 million people. This song is about my California.

I figured I had paid my debt to society
By paying my overdue fines
At the Multnomah County library, at the library
They said "Son, go join up
go join the youth and beauty brigade"

Wrapping up the decade

2009-06-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

I have been taking part in Aught Music blog. It is an music blog put together by Jeremy Bushnell. The point is for people to write little love notes or appreciations for the songs of the last decade. The project is broken up to be done year by year. We have just finished up 2000. I am sending my posts for 2001 songs that will be posted over the next couple of weeks.

If you like you can see my posts. I would suggest looking through all the posts. There is a lot to look at there. I would recommend it all.

John Hodgman is a Nerd

2009-06-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Watch John Hodgman Roasts Obama and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

The more I see John Hodgman, the more I think he is a comic genius. I love him on the daily show, but he does not even show a quarter of his talent. Watching his above video really shows his skill. I was just amazed by this. His Ted talk about Aliens was really funny. When I see these clips I want to see more and more of John Hodgman.

The problem is that he is already on the best platform for his humor, The Daily Show. I cannot see how he can make use of what he does really well anywhere else in the mainstream media. I cannot see him getting a tv show of his own, a sitcom would not work, and I am not sure what else would work. There is so much in these clips. Maybe he will be able to make an internet future for himself, but will that make any money. I want to see more of John Hodgman, but I have the feeling I won't.

The double edge sword of subscription mobile apps

2009-06-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

I think that Apple is playing with a double edged sword when it comes to subscription iPhone apps. One thing that I have hated about Verizon is that they want to charge a fee for everything. Just about every add on app for my non-smart LG phone comes with a monthly fee. non of these apps are valuable enough for me to want to pay every month for it.

The reason that cell phone carriers have been very attractive businesses is because they get reoccurring monthly revenue from most of their customers. Most MBA's eyes get big when they think they can get the same kind of revenue for their business. Lots of people want to sell you service that you have to pay every month to get. Sometime I think business people see a greater ROI by having a subscription business and end up chasing a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow they cannot find.

There are a class of apps that can come to the iPhone with a subscription service that would never come with a one time purchase model. Subscription apps really open up the kind of content based apps we will see. I think this is a good thing for mobile platforms and content providers.

The problem is that you run the risk of turning off your customers. For years now there have been backlash toward subscription services. People are already paying too many monthly bills. While a service like Netflix has done well, subscription music service and sat radio business have not done well. The value proposition has to be in line with customers expectations.

The reason this is a concern for Apple is because they have put themselves in charge of their ecosystem. The iPhone is popular in part because of the app store. It is not an open market, it is a market that Apple guides and controls. If developers start turn off iPhone customers, this can effect how people think of Apple and the iPhone in the end. It is a very tricky situation.

I am in a part of my life where very little is worth another subscription. I was willing to pay for the MLB app, because paying $10 at the start of each season is easier to budget, that playing $2 a month for the baseball season. I guess it is all about how the users thing of their finances.

Pay for Hulu

2009-06-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Last week there was a lot of talk of Hulu becoming a subscription service. The reaction to this has been all over the map. Everything from it is a great idea to everyone will go back to being a pirate. Of course no one know anything until the details come out.

If you look at Hulu now, you will see that most of the A-level content only goes back a few episodes. You cannot catch up for a whole season on Hulu. It is there if you missed an episode or if you want to watch episodes on the internet around when they air on TV. The premium content, like the Showtime Show Weeds, you only get clips.

In the best of all worlds the current free content stays free. Subscription content is only for things you would otherwise have to buy the DVD to get or full episodes of premium content. If that was the subscription service Hulu offered, it might be successful.

The problem with this model is clear. A successful pay wall will cause more programs to go behind that pay wall. In part because networks control the shows, there are still lots of hands in those pockets. If someone sees a new revenue stream, everyone will want to swim in it.

This year people have been talking a lot about cutting the cord of cable TV. This works, as long as not many people do it. TV networks and producers count on the revenue from cable subscriptions to make their business work. If enough people stop paying cable bills the whole business model will stop working. Right now cutting the cord works, if you want less content to watch. Yeah, I cannot watch all the networks that get with my cable, but I sure watch a lot of them.

I think that people who are looking at Hulu as source of free TV will be upset in a while. If everyone wants TV for free we will be stuck like crap like I'm a Celebrity get me Out of Here and The Hills as the only new content to watch. That is not really the world I am looking forward to.

The Future of Youtube and UGC

2009-06-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

Mark Cuban talks about the problem with Youtube operating at a loss and what that means to the future of the internet. His point is that Google is subsidizing the cost of bandwidth for user uploaded video. He wonders what will happen when they stop. He gives a basic rule of gravity reason that they will have to stop someday.

This is supposing that YouTube and sights like YouTube will never make a profit. There will never be a cost effective way for people to put up user generated content and share it with other people.

Part of the problem is that the average person has no idea about bandwidth fees. They have no idea where the cost centers are. They assume that all this video is just a drop in the bucket compared to everything else Google is doing. Everyone know that Google as a Googolplex of servers.

People do not understand why bandwidth cost money. They do not understand the cost structure of the internet. They are not sure why Google would be paying for that bandwidth. Without knowing about those costs it will be hard for businesses to change money for these services. I will admit that once YouTube starts to charge for videos, the business of internet video will change forever. We just don't know how it will change.

New Lost Questions

2009-05-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

I have really enjoyed the last season of Lost. Even though I have a TiVo, I still tried to watch every episode as it aired. It is just so amazing, I wanted to watch it right away. I wanted to be able to listen to the Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack right after the show aired. It is the best show I have seen in a long time. It is worth watching right away.

Lost is all about questions, puzzles and plot twists. This is part of the show. I have done this a couple times before, now it is time to do it again. It is time for my questions I want Lost to answer.

Note: I wanted to post this so I would have a reasonable change not to spoil my readers. If you are not caught up on Lost, you might not want to read this.

1. How did Richard meet Jacob?
2. Is Jacob's Enemy the Smoke Monster?
3. What is the relationship between Jacob & his enemy?
4. How did Charles Widmore come to the Island?
5. Why is the Island special?
6. Who built the four-toed statue?
7. Who are Adam and Eve?
8. What is the state of the DHARMA Initiative now?
9. How did Ben become leader of the others?
10. Why does Charles Widmore want to come back to the island?

Here are the questions they do not need to answer.

1. What happened to Rose and Bernard?
2. How was the four-toed statue destroyed?
3. What is the deal with the whispers?
4. Why was Danielle Rousseau's Team changed after entering the temple?
5. What did Charles Widmore want Danielle Rousseau and Alex killed?
6. What is the story with the Black Rock?
7. Why did Danielle Rousseau lie to the survivors and tell them that she never saw the Others when they abducted Alex?
8. What caused the problem between the DHARMA Initiative and the Hostiles?
9. How did the DHARMA Initiative find out about the island?
10. Why were people drugged for the trip on the DHARMA Sub?

Status of the old Lost Questions

First Post

1. What happened on the island after the Oceaninc 6 left? - Answered
2. Where is Clare? - Unanswered
3. How did Locke die? - Answered
4. What is the Temple? - Part Answer
5. How will the Oceaninc 6 make it back to the island? - Answered
6. Where is the Island now? - Unanswered
7. What is Charles Widmore connection to the DHARMA Initiative? - Answered
8. Who found the island in the first place? - Unanswered
9. Why does Richard not age? - Part answered
10. Why is the wheel to move the Island in a frozen room? - Unanswared
11. What is the story about the Four Toed Statue? - Part Answered

Second Post

10. Who were the first people on the island? - Unanswered
9. How old is Richard? - Unanswered
8. How many "Log Carriers" are left? - Unanswered Oceaninc Flight 815 assumed 0 Ajira Flight 316 unknown
7. Will we see the Four Toe Statue while the island is bouncing in time? - Yes
6. Where is did "Jughead" end up when flight 815 got to the island? - Answered
5. Did Charles Widmore Use the Frozen Donkey Wheel? - Unanswered
4. What is the Smoke Monster? - Unanswered
3. How does Charles Widmore become an other? - Unanswered
2. How Many Different Ways have people come to the Island? - Unanswered
1. How Many People Died on the Island? - Unanswered

The Old Idea clashes with the Old Idea

2009-05-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today I have seen two stories about how Hulu is blocking anonymous Proxies. The reason Hulu is doing this is to block international web content. This is a problem that Amazon, Vudu, and TiVo has run into in the past. This is a problem with international licensing. Pick a show, Fringe for example, and look at its international broadcasters. If someone can get this show on the internet for free, these broadcasters will pay a lot less for them.

The said truth is that all content is worth less that it used to be worth. The problem is that the money made by content providers is also going to be reduced. Ad revenue is going down and putting up walls will not help. Getting content in front of people is what will make content producers money. The first content provider who realize this can stake claim in the next world of content. Not realizing this could ruin companies like the ways newspapers have ruined their business model.

The Future of the Left

2009-04-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

I read today that a Center Left coalition is in the lead in Iceland's General election. The two groups are the pro-EU Social Democratic Party and the Left Green Movement. This is not a surprise to me. A few months ago we heard about how Iceland was hit very hard about the current economic downturn. The country was at the edge of total financial failure.

I will not be surprised if the left has a new resurgence in Europe. I am not sure how the average European is seeing the current economic problems. I have seen a lot of coverage of the world, but none of the coverage has been a European Man on the street story. I know that Fox News and the American Right has responded to the stimulus package and the Obama administration is turning American into Socialist. They are falling over themselves to say that the American way of life is ending. They are saying it no matter what they truth is.

That being said, I can see how the Socialists in Europe gaining real ground. Over the last couple of year center right have gained a lot of ground in Europe. If you look at the Leaders of France, Germany, and Italy, they have all be from center right parties. I wonder if Europe will go to the left because of the current problems.

Song of the Day, April 24

2009-04-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Beefy - Play With Me

I think Beefy is becoming my favorite Nerdcord rapper. He has a combination of joy and skill that I really like.

Song of the Day, April 21

2009-04-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek

This song make me think about dreams.

Song Of The Day, April 20

2009-04-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

Doom - Absolutely

I love the sample of a marble being dropped. I really like this album. It is my favorite Rap album of 2009 so far. I am not sure what that says about me.

The Mobile Life

2009-04-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

I have been using Four Square for the last couple of days. It is a social mobile service that lets you tell the world where you are and what you are doing. It is really like Dodgeball 2.0. Since Dodgeball was a web 2.0 darling, maybe this is Dodgeball 3.0.

Four Square has some of the Social features of Yelp giving you suggestions of where to eat and drink. It is good because other users can suggest things for you to try. I can tell people to try the Meat Lovers Omlete at Bill's Cafe or go see other people's dogs at the San Jose Rose Garden. It is also cool because I get points and badges for doing things. There are rewards for taking part. The rewards are meaningless, but you can make a game out of it.

I think that Four Square is learned a lot of lessons from Dodgeball. Dodgeball was only cool if your friends were using it. If your friends are not using Four Square, it looks like you can get something out of it because of the people who are not your friends.

It makes sense to me that google let Dodgeball die to start Google Latitude, that service more fits Google's culture. I think I like the features of Four Square better. Google Latitude seems to almost be a tracking collar. I can tell Four Square if I am visiting TJ Maxx or not.

I did not sign up for it earlier because I thought it was an iPhone only service because the only thing I read about was their iPhone app. It is not for iPhone only. Any smart phone can access the mobile site. You can also make updates via SMS.

I am not sure where the commercial future of Four Square. It seems like it would need to roll out a lot of features to really be useful on its own. I think it would be a great addition to Yelp, City Search, or Yahoo Local. Linking the review features and the check in features would make a lot of sense to me. Right now I am not sure how a service like Four Square will make money.

Lets see if I am still using it by Labor Day. That is the real test.

Song Of The Day, April 18

2009-04-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Soft Pack - Beside Myself

"No one leads this life, No I'm not here" What a great lyric. That alone makes it worth hearing.

Taxes and the Rule of Law

2009-04-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about the Fox Anti-Tax tea parties. For the most part I find this protests to be very cynical. I understand the problem people have with taxes. I just see people who are very well served by the government as the people protesting the taxes. That is just silly. I think that people are protesting what they imagine will happen with taxes and not what is happening.

Many of the roots of this protest come from the people who voted for Ron Paul last year. I know some people who are against income taxes. What I can see in the world is that there are only two kinds system of rule. There is the Rule of Law and the Rule of the Gun. All over the world we see the way warlords, sectarian, and gangsters rule by killing and putting populations in fear. The Rule of the Gun is not fair, it just is brutal. Often this starts happening before the government stops working. Look at Mexico.

I think governments having tax dollars is something that is important. I think ti is taxes that keeps us away from anarchy. Let me know if I have something wrong here.

Song of the day, April 15

2009-04-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Telekinesis - Great Lakes

This band makes me pay attention every time I hear this song.

Remembing Harry Kalas

2009-04-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Harry Kalas passed away today. I am usually not one to get choked up when famous people die. Maybe I feel a connection and closeness to Harry Kalas that I do not have with other famous people. I guess it has something to do with Radio and Baseball.

I would like to call Harry Kalas genius at calling a ball game. When I was in high school and start of college the Phillies were bad, 87-92. His genius came in by making the games entertaining even when the teams were bad. I listened to more loses than I care to remember, but Harry and Richie somehow made them alright. Harry Kalas is in no small part responsible for my personal love of baseball.

Song Of the Day, April 12

2009-04-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Richard Swift - The Original Thought

This song makes me relax for some reason. I think it has to do with the piano.

Song Of the Day, April 11

2009-04-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

John Wesley Harding - Oh! Pandora

I like the sound of the song, but the lyrics are just out of my grasp.

P.U.M.A. and the Future

2009-04-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about the P.U.M.A a lot lately. Yesterday GM and Segway announced a new personal transport vehicle. Everywhere on the web the P.U.M.A has just been ripped to shreds. People wonder why anyone would ever want one of these vehicles. They are saying that this is a sign that GM is a has been and Segway is a never will be. They are wondering what good is a vehicle that cannot go on the highway or survive a car crash.

In my heart, I think there is something important here. If you are a person that thinks either Global Warming or Peek Oil is important, the P.U.M.A. makes sense. It is not the only answer, but it is a piece of the puzzle for a new system of transport. Gas will get expensive again and people will rethink how cars are used.

Right now people use cars in a one size fits all way. No matter where I go or what I need to take there, I have one car to take. I am taking thousands of extra pounds every time I go to the school. Something like the P.U.M.A. can get away from that. I know that I have heard people "Why don't you just walk?" That only works if you have time to work. There are trips where I could pick something smaller if I could.

There is something important here. A plug in car is not the only answer for global warming. Going from gas engines to electric might reduce the carbon footprint, but that electricity still has a carbon footprint. If you want to keep cutting that carbon footprint things like the P.U.M.A are needed.

Did anyone notice that the P.U.M.A is just a concept and has no production date. I think that this is a step in the right direction. I just hope that GM sticks around long enough to make something real with it.

Song of the Day, April 9

2009-04-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

Oculus - Butterflies

I like the sounds of the instruments, but not the singing. I cannot even find a link for this band.

Sticking Around

2009-04-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am happy to see that the Internet Slogan Generator is still around. Just remember

A Rich And Kate Works Wonders.

Generated by the Advertising Slogan Generator. Get more Rich and Kate slogans.

Song of the Day, April 7

2009-04-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

The Soft Pack - Bright Side

It only took one listen of this song to catch my hear. It has that kind of youth to it.

Mass shootings and the end of the world.

2009-04-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

In the past couple of weeks there have been five mass shootings, including yesterday in Binghamton New York. There is something about having a whole bunch of these shootings right in a row that make me think about the end of the world. If I was writing a novel about the end of the world, there would be a new mass shooting everyday in the news. The idea would be that the people doing these things are somehow more in touch with the world coming apart. It is like people who are breaking down are connected to the end of the world. I just hope this is just a fictional idea and not what is really happening.

Pulled away fro a while

2009-04-01T19:34:00.001-07:00

...or So much has happened, I have not had the time to blog

Sometimes your life just has too many things going on. I got married in March. That pretty much took me away from my blog for a month. I did not have the time or the mental space to sit down and blog. I was either too busy, too tired, too stressed, too focused, or too distracted to just sit at my computer and type. When I did use my computer I was either working on wedding things or vegging out. I seemed to have no mental space to work on my blog.

Now that I am married I have to find a new approach to work on my blog. I need to come up with the time to work on it and the will to not screw around on the web when I find that time. When I started this blog I had all the time in the world to work on it. I would often spend four nights a week doing nothing but my blog.

Now I have to be more selective. I see and hear lots of things that I want to blog about. The problem is that I do not have the time to work my thoughts into something that I can easily post on a blog.

Of course there are other ways I can get things out. While I have been working on this post I have sent three tweets and posted three links to del.icio.us. If you like you can follow all that on Friends Feed.

Postdating

I am going to do some postdating of blog posts. There are notes that I took during the week before I was married so I would remember things. I know that I am using my blog as a journal trying to keep track of things, but deal with it. It is my blog and I don't really care