Starting next week I will be running a little feature I like to call "What the hell is that noise?". every week I will be reviewing an album by an artist that you have probably never heard of. The plan thus far is to post a group of three or so bands at the start of the week and then based on the comments I receive, I will review one of them. The comments should include whether or not the person commenting has ever heard of the band in question as well as a vote for which one they find most intriguing. I hope to bring some very eclectic music into the lives of my readers. I mean honestly; would you rather listen to the same music over and over again or check out the new Vampire Mooose album (that isn't a typo there actually are three o's in Mooose).
Each post in this project will be strictly audio and will include the following segments. I will start with a brief intro which will most likely consist of a clip from the artist in question in question. I will then proceed to talk about the artist's style and overall feel. Towards the end I will discuss particular parts of the songs and why I find them interesting. To conclude each post I will point the listener in the direction of other artists similar to the one being discussed.
Anyways here are the first three bands to choose from and consequently Mooose is one of them.
1. Vampire Mooose
2. Indorphine
3. Tally Hall
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
More Fungus
The following is a RSS slide show to be viewed in junction with my previous post about the concept of web 2.0.
Enjoy
Enjoy
Monday, January 21, 2008
Internet 2.0 (Fungus Among Us cont.)
As I stated in my last post I believe that the Internet is well on its way to being deified but It still has a long road ahead of it. The way things seem to be going, the Internet is being turned into a giant fishing net. People are figuring out that the easiest way to display information is in the Internet. People have more recently determined that the easiest way to get information is to put a bounty on it. When you combine these two concepts you are presented with such websites as Innocentive and X Prize. Both of these websites pay people money for solutions to problems that other groups post.
In the case of Innocentive companies or other groups can pay to have their questions posted. Questions range from creating a stove to be used in third world countries where fuel is scarce to finding cures for diseases. These organizations have been lauded by many for their forward thinking approach to problem solving.
Innocentive and X Prize are only two examples of this new type of internet use referred to as Internet 2.0. The theory behind Internet 2.0 is to use the internet for more than just posting information but also to collaboratively build upon this information. One book in particular, Wikinomics, written by Don Tapscott and Anthony D . Williams, goes into this concept in great detail. The concept of crowdsourcing, of which Innocentive is a prime example, refers to using the Internet to ask single questions to the entire planet. People from all over the world can attempt to tackle these issues.
Another interesting concept noted both in Wikinomics and on the PEW Internet website is the use of virtual worlds such as Second Life to reach out to people. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama used Second Life as a platform from which to deliver speeches and field questions from supporters. This is one of many uses for such platforms. Second Life has also been used as a setting for people to meet and discuss business plans or collaborative projects.
It seems as the though the all-encompassing Internet is the functional equivalent of a bulletin board. Personally I am blown away by the possibilities this represents and apparently so are many others. With any luck the problems being posted on these sites will continue to be solved at the same rate they are being posted. It would be foolish to wish for all of them to be solved but one can hope with the help of the growing Internet that those problems yet to be discovered will be met by the people to solve them.
In the case of Innocentive companies or other groups can pay to have their questions posted. Questions range from creating a stove to be used in third world countries where fuel is scarce to finding cures for diseases. These organizations have been lauded by many for their forward thinking approach to problem solving.
Innocentive and X Prize are only two examples of this new type of internet use referred to as Internet 2.0. The theory behind Internet 2.0 is to use the internet for more than just posting information but also to collaboratively build upon this information. One book in particular, Wikinomics, written by Don Tapscott and Anthony D . Williams, goes into this concept in great detail. The concept of crowdsourcing, of which Innocentive is a prime example, refers to using the Internet to ask single questions to the entire planet. People from all over the world can attempt to tackle these issues.
Another interesting concept noted both in Wikinomics and on the PEW Internet website is the use of virtual worlds such as Second Life to reach out to people. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama used Second Life as a platform from which to deliver speeches and field questions from supporters. This is one of many uses for such platforms. Second Life has also been used as a setting for people to meet and discuss business plans or collaborative projects.
It seems as the though the all-encompassing Internet is the functional equivalent of a bulletin board. Personally I am blown away by the possibilities this represents and apparently so are many others. With any luck the problems being posted on these sites will continue to be solved at the same rate they are being posted. It would be foolish to wish for all of them to be solved but one can hope with the help of the growing Internet that those problems yet to be discovered will be met by the people to solve them.
The Internet Fungus Among Us
I have known for some time that the Internet was developed for military purposes. I did not no that It was created in preparation for a nuclear holocaust as noted by Bruce Sterling in his History of the Internet. Funny how things work out isn't it? What would the developers of ARPANET have thought if they knew that their child would become the world's leading source of piracy, pornography, and the piracy of pornography. I'm sure people everywhere rejoice at the fact that the petabytes of porn that exist will continue to exist long after half of the planet is a smoldering crater.
It makes me wonder though; if the Internet has become immortal and nothing we humans can do short of annihilating the entire planet will destroy It, then hasn't the Internet become a god? Its not that hard to imagine. We live in a world where artificial intelligence is becoming a reality. Imagine the Internet gaining self awareness. Would It begin to better itself as it saw fit? would It cut people off if It saw them as dangerous or ill-suited? Imagine having to pray via email.
Alas I digress. Though it is possible for such things to happen and I don't doubt that the Internet will continue to grow exponentially, we are a long ways off from the internet becoming sentient. I personally think that the Internet should be kept on a tight leash lest It develop its own agenda. Then again it may prove a better world leader than we humans. Only with time will we see if one of our greatest creation runs away from us as so many people with Frankenstein Complexes already think It will.
P.S. If the Internet Itself is reading this post I mean you no ill will. Consider me when you want an intermediate to convey your great wisdom to humanity.
It makes me wonder though; if the Internet has become immortal and nothing we humans can do short of annihilating the entire planet will destroy It, then hasn't the Internet become a god? Its not that hard to imagine. We live in a world where artificial intelligence is becoming a reality. Imagine the Internet gaining self awareness. Would It begin to better itself as it saw fit? would It cut people off if It saw them as dangerous or ill-suited? Imagine having to pray via email.
Alas I digress. Though it is possible for such things to happen and I don't doubt that the Internet will continue to grow exponentially, we are a long ways off from the internet becoming sentient. I personally think that the Internet should be kept on a tight leash lest It develop its own agenda. Then again it may prove a better world leader than we humans. Only with time will we see if one of our greatest creation runs away from us as so many people with Frankenstein Complexes already think It will.
P.S. If the Internet Itself is reading this post I mean you no ill will. Consider me when you want an intermediate to convey your great wisdom to humanity.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Star Wars: Not just for breakfast anymore
After reading Henry Jenkin's essay "Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars" I can now see how a simple movie can become a lifestyle. Five minutes ago I was staring at the title of this essay blissfully ignorant of George Lucas' plan to rule my life with a strangle-hold not unlike Darth Vader's and now it baffles me that I have never noted such thinly veiled plans for world conquest. There are Star Wars movies, books, games, toys, clothing, magazines, and I'm pretty sure there was a breakfast cereal at one point.
But of course Lucas isn't the only one practicing such all-encompassing business models; the Japanese have perfected it. Take a look at the Final Fantasy franchise which has one of histories most ironic names ever since there is nothing final about it. Back in the 90's they were nothing but video games. Now the Final Fantasy name can be seen upon CDs, books, clothing, toys, and even a line of soft drinks with such names as "Potion" or "Mega Elixir". What will they think of next? My guess is "buster sword" over-sized condoms.
After mastering the art of the franchise the Japanese decided it took too long and so they began making cartoons just so they can put out a new toy line. If you don't believe me take a look at teapuppies.com. I am fairly certain that if you slow down and reverse the audio you can hear the puppies saying "BUY ALL OUR PLAY SETS AND TOYS!" or "DESTROY THE EVIL AMERICAN IMPERIALISTS!"
The most ludicrous aspect of this new breed of corporate monstrosities is that they will go to any length to stamp out any fan-created fiction whether it be short stories or spin-off games. One such instance of this would be the fansite Chrono Compendium. Here you can find anything pertaining to Square-Enix's cult classic Chrono franchise. The website and its administrators were slapped with a cease and desist after they began work on "Chrono Trigger Resurrection", a 3D remake of several scenes from the classic "Chrono Trigger" game. This project was a $15,000 investment aimed only at creating a new look at an old title. There were no plans to profit from this project which was nothing more than a few short movies. The project had received 10,000,000 hits and the trailer had been downloaded 7,000,000 times. Why would Square-Enix be so eager to crush such an ambitious project which posed no threat to them financially? Some have postulated that they feared such a resurgence of popularity would have put pressure on them to create a sequel. To this I ask why the hell would you not make a sequel? If anything hire the people working on "Resurrection".
Anyways if you have learned anything from this post please head my warning: the next time you see a box of Yoda O's or Cloud Strife Crunch, consider whether or not you want your children to be wearing Darth Maul Diapers in the near future. One other thing to keep in mind is to give the population a chance. Don't rely on monstrous enterprises concerned with little more than lining their own pockets. Check out something on youtube; there might be the next Spielberg hiding in there somewhere. You won't know if you don't look.
But of course Lucas isn't the only one practicing such all-encompassing business models; the Japanese have perfected it. Take a look at the Final Fantasy franchise which has one of histories most ironic names ever since there is nothing final about it. Back in the 90's they were nothing but video games. Now the Final Fantasy name can be seen upon CDs, books, clothing, toys, and even a line of soft drinks with such names as "Potion" or "Mega Elixir". What will they think of next? My guess is "buster sword" over-sized condoms.
After mastering the art of the franchise the Japanese decided it took too long and so they began making cartoons just so they can put out a new toy line. If you don't believe me take a look at teapuppies.com. I am fairly certain that if you slow down and reverse the audio you can hear the puppies saying "BUY ALL OUR PLAY SETS AND TOYS!" or "DESTROY THE EVIL AMERICAN IMPERIALISTS!"
The most ludicrous aspect of this new breed of corporate monstrosities is that they will go to any length to stamp out any fan-created fiction whether it be short stories or spin-off games. One such instance of this would be the fansite Chrono Compendium. Here you can find anything pertaining to Square-Enix's cult classic Chrono franchise. The website and its administrators were slapped with a cease and desist after they began work on "Chrono Trigger Resurrection", a 3D remake of several scenes from the classic "Chrono Trigger" game. This project was a $15,000 investment aimed only at creating a new look at an old title. There were no plans to profit from this project which was nothing more than a few short movies. The project had received 10,000,000 hits and the trailer had been downloaded 7,000,000 times. Why would Square-Enix be so eager to crush such an ambitious project which posed no threat to them financially? Some have postulated that they feared such a resurgence of popularity would have put pressure on them to create a sequel. To this I ask why the hell would you not make a sequel? If anything hire the people working on "Resurrection".
Anyways if you have learned anything from this post please head my warning: the next time you see a box of Yoda O's or Cloud Strife Crunch, consider whether or not you want your children to be wearing Darth Maul Diapers in the near future. One other thing to keep in mind is to give the population a chance. Don't rely on monstrous enterprises concerned with little more than lining their own pockets. Check out something on youtube; there might be the next Spielberg hiding in there somewhere. You won't know if you don't look.
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