Music to My URL's II
I just heard co-worker Dan's band Cathode for the first time. Media Dieticians everywhere should listen to some of their MP3's. Beautiful instrumental music on a slightly post-rock tip.
Thursday, July 18, 2002
Music to My URL's
WebPlayer is one of the most interesting Shockwave projects I've encountered recently. The tool converts Web pages' HTML code into numbers, which are then run through formulas that create sound streams. The Fast Company home page evokes a soothing wash of sound, while this very page results in a stuttering, busy signal-like series of tones.
Thanks to Metafilter.
WebPlayer is one of the most interesting Shockwave projects I've encountered recently. The tool converts Web pages' HTML code into numbers, which are then run through formulas that create sound streams. The Fast Company home page evokes a soothing wash of sound, while this very page results in a stuttering, busy signal-like series of tones.
Thanks to Metafilter.
North End Moment XXIII
In the alley behind the Scotch & Sirloin building, there's a Meola Vending van. Meola is based in Worcester, Massachusetts. On the rear door of the van, there's lettering that reads "Just Say No to Drugs." Quote marks formerly surrounded "No," but they've been removed. You can still see faint traces.
I have two questions. One, why is Meola taking such a public position on the drug issue? And two, grammatically, "Just Say 'No' to Drugs" is correct, while "Just Say No to Drugs" is not, no? I'm no copy editor.
In the alley behind the Scotch & Sirloin building, there's a Meola Vending van. Meola is based in Worcester, Massachusetts. On the rear door of the van, there's lettering that reads "Just Say No to Drugs." Quote marks formerly surrounded "No," but they've been removed. You can still see faint traces.
I have two questions. One, why is Meola taking such a public position on the drug issue? And two, grammatically, "Just Say 'No' to Drugs" is correct, while "Just Say No to Drugs" is not, no? I'm no copy editor.
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Technofetishism XII
Finally up and running with my new PowerBook G4 full time! Getting all of my preferences set -- printer, etc. -- and making sure everything's here. What a beaut!
***
Just a quick review of the Toymax Activision 10-in-1 TV Game, which I took for a test drive last night. It's important that you use fresh batteries in the controller, or you get these surreal, shifting pixellated graphics on your TV. I thought it was broken at first. Of the games included, Grand Prix and Crack Pots seem to be the most fun. There's a game called Freeway that really perplexes me. You're a chicken, and all you can do is cross the road in a straight line. It's like Frogger, only boring. Additionally, it doesn't seem that you can actually progress through levels in the games. When you complete a run, the game just ends, and you have to select a level manually. So it doesn't bode well for long-time game play. But the biggest frustration is the fire button. You see, it doesn't work very well. The directional keypad works fine, but the keypad used for firing is slightly inconsistent and difficult to work. That'll also affect gameplay. But it's fun revisiting all the old Activism games. And for $20, some cheap design elements can be overlooked.
Finally up and running with my new PowerBook G4 full time! Getting all of my preferences set -- printer, etc. -- and making sure everything's here. What a beaut!
Just a quick review of the Toymax Activision 10-in-1 TV Game, which I took for a test drive last night. It's important that you use fresh batteries in the controller, or you get these surreal, shifting pixellated graphics on your TV. I thought it was broken at first. Of the games included, Grand Prix and Crack Pots seem to be the most fun. There's a game called Freeway that really perplexes me. You're a chicken, and all you can do is cross the road in a straight line. It's like Frogger, only boring. Additionally, it doesn't seem that you can actually progress through levels in the games. When you complete a run, the game just ends, and you have to select a level manually. So it doesn't bode well for long-time game play. But the biggest frustration is the fire button. You see, it doesn't work very well. The directional keypad works fine, but the keypad used for firing is slightly inconsistent and difficult to work. That'll also affect gameplay. But it's fun revisiting all the old Activism games. And for $20, some cheap design elements can be overlooked.
Sketchy Ethics II
In her blog Hangzhou T-Salon, Media Dietician Andrea Leung comments on my recent post about Steve Friess' time working in China. She argues that as a foreigner, Steve probably didn't have any opportunity to initiate change at the paper -- and that any attempts to do so may have written his ticket home.
Valid context. Thanks, Andrea! I must admit that I'm still somewhat bemused by opinion pieces like Steve's, however. American journalist works overseas. American journalist comes home and writes a snarky take on the experience, pointing out the limitations of non-American journalism with some humor. American journalist makes little effort to improve conditions overseas. The columns just write themselves!
In her blog Hangzhou T-Salon, Media Dietician Andrea Leung comments on my recent post about Steve Friess' time working in China. She argues that as a foreigner, Steve probably didn't have any opportunity to initiate change at the paper -- and that any attempts to do so may have written his ticket home.
Valid context. Thanks, Andrea! I must admit that I'm still somewhat bemused by opinion pieces like Steve's, however. American journalist works overseas. American journalist comes home and writes a snarky take on the experience, pointing out the limitations of non-American journalism with some humor. American journalist makes little effort to improve conditions overseas. The columns just write themselves!
Read But Dead VIII
The Oxford American which almost shut up shop this spring, has found a new backer. But don't expect to see the same magazine. OxAm's going to relocate to Little Rock, Arkansas, has let go its existing staff, and will hire a new team after the relocation. I hope they continue publishing the music issue, at least.
***
In other news, it looks like Paul Miller and a gang of others is going to relaunch 21C magazine, an Australian mag that combines elements of Mondo 2000, BoingBoing, Wired, and Shift. The issues of 21C that I've read were quite solid, and this is a way welcome relaunch.
The Oxford American which almost shut up shop this spring, has found a new backer. But don't expect to see the same magazine. OxAm's going to relocate to Little Rock, Arkansas, has let go its existing staff, and will hire a new team after the relocation. I hope they continue publishing the music issue, at least.
In other news, it looks like Paul Miller and a gang of others is going to relaunch 21C magazine, an Australian mag that combines elements of Mondo 2000, BoingBoing, Wired, and Shift. The issues of 21C that I've read were quite solid, and this is a way welcome relaunch.
Telefun and Games
Junkbusters, an organization devoted to helping people eliminate junk mail and messages from their lives -- telemarketing calls, spam, Web ads -- offers an anti-telemarketing script that you can use to gather information about telemarketers who call you, request that they not call you again, and learn what you need to know if you decide to pursue legal action against telemarketers.
The script identifies what questions might be grounds for legal action if the telemarketer responds negatively, and the script is separated into two sections, the first of which is pretty general. "If you feel like making them pay, keep going."
Thanks to Utne Web Watch.
Junkbusters, an organization devoted to helping people eliminate junk mail and messages from their lives -- telemarketing calls, spam, Web ads -- offers an anti-telemarketing script that you can use to gather information about telemarketers who call you, request that they not call you again, and learn what you need to know if you decide to pursue legal action against telemarketers.
The script identifies what questions might be grounds for legal action if the telemarketer responds negatively, and the script is separated into two sections, the first of which is pretty general. "If you feel like making them pay, keep going."
Thanks to Utne Web Watch.
Tuesday, July 16, 2002
Technofetishism XI
In the mail today, I received my Toymax Activision 10-in-1 TV Game. It's got 10 old Activision games stored in the handheld controller, which looks like a Nintendo controller. You just plug it in your TV and go, go, go. Games include Pitfall, Atlantis, River Raid (!!!), and Grand Prix.
Tonight I'll be clickin' it old school!
Thanks to Matt.
In the mail today, I received my Toymax Activision 10-in-1 TV Game. It's got 10 old Activision games stored in the handheld controller, which looks like a Nintendo controller. You just plug it in your TV and go, go, go. Games include Pitfall, Atlantis, River Raid (!!!), and Grand Prix.
Tonight I'll be clickin' it old school!
Thanks to Matt.
Fill Your Television
Marc Weissbot is reviewing the pilot episodes of TV shows slated for the 2002-03 season. The blog is all about pilots -- about 20 tapes worth -- and seems to be geared toward getting more work reviewing TV shows. Weissbot also maintains a more general site, Weissblog.
Thanks to TV Barn.
Marc Weissbot is reviewing the pilot episodes of TV shows slated for the 2002-03 season. The blog is all about pilots -- about 20 tapes worth -- and seems to be geared toward getting more work reviewing TV shows. Weissbot also maintains a more general site, Weissblog.
Thanks to TV Barn.
Adventures in Book Reviewing
Taking a step beyond Katha Pollitt's piece in the Nation in April, Mark Bauerlein contributes a thoughtful look at the differences between peer review in academia and being reviewed in the mainstream press to the July 19 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Bauerlein considers the slow pace of reviews in academia -- it can take years for a scholarly tome to have impact -- scholars reaction to reviews written by what they consider "unqualified or uncongenial" writers, the lack of discource in the mainstream media, and how academics can improve their relations with mainstream reviewers.
Thanks to MobyLives.
Taking a step beyond Katha Pollitt's piece in the Nation in April, Mark Bauerlein contributes a thoughtful look at the differences between peer review in academia and being reviewed in the mainstream press to the July 19 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Bauerlein considers the slow pace of reviews in academia -- it can take years for a scholarly tome to have impact -- scholars reaction to reviews written by what they consider "unqualified or uncongenial" writers, the lack of discource in the mainstream media, and how academics can improve their relations with mainstream reviewers.
Thanks to MobyLives.
Products I Love II
Toscanini's ginger snap molasses ice cream. It's like eating gingerbread with vanilla ice cream, only all mixed up. Real pieces of ginger snap -- though they're soft, not snappy. Sooo good. I left the pint in the freezer when I went home to Wisconsin, and it was still tasty when I returned a week later. I usually eat a pint of ice cream in three sittings. How many does it take you?
Toscanini's ginger snap molasses ice cream. It's like eating gingerbread with vanilla ice cream, only all mixed up. Real pieces of ginger snap -- though they're soft, not snappy. Sooo good. I left the pint in the freezer when I went home to Wisconsin, and it was still tasty when I returned a week later. I usually eat a pint of ice cream in three sittings. How many does it take you?
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