I’ve had this idea bouncing around in my head for a few days, and with your patience in mind, I’ll jump right in: what if we could combine the strengths of Twitter and RSS into a standard that could form the new backbone of the open Internet?
Music Geekery
August 30th, 2010 § 0 comments
My music library is one of my prized possessions. (This does not make me unique.) My music software of choice is, and has been for many years, iTunes on Windows. (This does make me unique, or at least part of a badly misunderstood minority.) As such, I spend a lot of time keeping my library organized and trimmed, and today, I’ve been struggling to pin things down by the cruelest, most elusive species of metadata: genre.
I hate genre because there’s no solution to satisfy the purist in me. Clearly I need some method of classification; the latest Radiohead album does not belong in the same category as The Best of Enya. But where are the borders? When does pop become pop-rock become rock? Should I separate punk rock, indie rock, progressive rock? Too many Rocks, you might say – not enough Boulders. And that’s just for the artists whose styles are vaguely pigeonhole-able. Where, really, would you put The Books? No-Man? Andrew Bird? What do you do when Sufjan Stevens releases an EP* that is clearly anything but rock, except for one track which is explicitly called the “classic rock version”? And just when you think you’ve got a peaceful situation, will Bear McCreary decide to cover a Bob Dylan folk ballad with Indian instrumentation for a science fiction television soundtrack? I usually end up with a very big “Alternative” section, which is code for “this stuff does not fit anywhere else even though it makes up a plurality of everything I own.”
None of that is relevant to what I meant to write about here, which is this:
By some weird coincidence, I ended up with exactly 1019 songs in the “Rock” genre, and exactly 1019 songs in the “Soundtrack” genre. But, even stranger, the Soundtrack group adds up to 2 days, 8 hours of music, while the Rock group trounces it with 4 days and half an hour. This is pretty counter-intuitive to me. I tend to think of rock stuff as being fairly self-contained pop-length numbers, and soundtracks as long, formless, sprawling soundscapes. On the other hand, I have a lot of Genesis, Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree, which may have dramatically skewed the results.
Anyway. I invite you, wherever you are, whether you’re at home or wherever, to inspect your own auditory treasure for fascinating anomalies.
*It’s also an “EP” that’s sixty minutes long. It really is futile to define art sometimes.
More Pockets
August 25th, 2010 § 2 comments
A followup on my earlier submission to EDC. Click for full-size.
This is the armory of Useful Items™ in the front pocket of my backpack. I’m a big fan of pouches: all the “misc” and “electronic” items live in the two pouches on the top, while the iPod, camera and binoculars have their respective holsters. The result is that all my stuff is stored in five self-contained packages that I can easily transfer from bag to bag. And when I need to make room, I can also attach all of them to my belt.
- Binoculars: very compact, and equipped with a long-range digital camera.
- Camera: what it is.
- iPod: 80GB iPod Classic, black, with a modular case; belt clip can be exchanged with elastic armband for running/biking.
- Misc: Playing cards (useful for more than poker), sunglasses, spork, signal whistle, compass, disposable lighter, SD card (redundant backup of important data), concave/convex mirror and magnifying class, 2 miniature padlocks.
- Electronics: just the peripherals I need to keep the other stuff running. Camera and iPod USBs, earphones, spare batteries. I usually have a 3.5mm-to-RCA cable for connecting the iPod to stationary speakers.
- Pockets: mostly the same. Phone, wallet, pen & mechanical pencil, Moleskine notebook. I did replace my carabiner with a stronger one, and the laser/flashlight and Leatherman Micra are now on quick-release detachable keyrings.
Ah, my friend, you’ve returned!
August 13th, 2010 § 0 comments
Hello, Myst Blogs! I’ve just started working on this, my third-ish attempt at a useful and entertaining blog. My plan (read: desperate hope) is that, now that I’m paying actual moneys for this server space, I’ll be more inclined to use it. However, if you find it neither useful nor entertaining, you may rest with the knowledge that all tangible precedent has doomed its fate. :)
You might know me from Myst Online: Uru Live as that guy from Unbound Hearts spouting nonsense about Yeesha and pride and so forth. I also hang around MYSTcommunity much of the time. Despite my status as a recovering lurker, a part of me still thinks of it as my “home” in this big scary Internet. It seemed like all the smartest and liveliest people in the community gravitated there, which I found very inviting in my adolescent years. (I am also, to this day, awed and intimidated by chucker and the other mods, which Capella finds hilarious.) Though it’s quieted down some, there’s still wonderful people there, and I welcome you to join us.
Anyway, since most of you probably have no idea who I am, I thought I’d make a Myst-related contribution. The following is a map of the island itself, drawn by me with colored pencils when I was about 13. Somehow – I can’t quite figure it out – I managed to rotate the gears 180 degrees. But aside from that, I think it’s quite accurate, and I’m very pleased with how it turned out. I always meant to do the other Ages, as well, including Rime. It may yet happen.
One other thing: thanks to amonre for putting up with my badgering. Unbound Hearts have changed servers three times in six months, which meant three update requests to Uru Blogs. He’s responded promptly each time, and he hasn’t even hit me over the head with something blunt. Such restraint! I am grateful.
Diplomatic Immunity Payment
August 11th, 2010 § 2 comments
The Internet is a wonderful place. Every day, without fail, I receive dozens – if not hundreds – of emails from total strangers who want nothing more than to make me outrageously wealthy. This very morning, for instance, I eagerly leapt from my pillow to lay eyes upon my waiting inbox, and within five minutes I was melting in the glow of a heartwarming benefaction from Mister pardon me, General Charles Maynard of Her Majesty’s realm:
Is me Charles Maynard Call me
Winner Lottery
I am General Charles Maynard I am delighted to inform you that the contract panel, which just concluded it’s seating in England just released your name amongst contractors to benefit from the Diplomatic Immunity Payment. This Panel was primarily delegated to investigate manipulated contract claims, contracts and over-invoiced payment as the effect has eaten deep into the economy of our dear country.
However, we wish to bring to your notice that your contract profile is still reflecting in our central computer as unpaid contractor while auditing was going on.
Well! I say! Goodness gracious! What honorable men and women, to be looking out for my well-being in a time of mass hardship. Particularly in light of the fact that I am not and have never been to Britain. Should I be good enough to mention that small detail before I venture further? Maybe, but I don’t want to add anything to these heroes’ struggles – between their manifest difficulties with periods, apostrophes and capital letters, it would only be cruel. I continue reading:
Your contract file was forwarded to my office by the auditors as unclaimed fund, we wish to use this medium to inform you that for the time being Federal Government of London have stopped further payment through bank to bank transfer due to contractors numerous petitions to United Nations against London on wrong payment and diversion of contract funds to different account.
Also, commas. And nouns. And the word “and.” And the word “the.” My, my. ‘What can I do?’ I thought. ‘How can I help you virtuous folk put this obviously-taxing labor behind you?’
In this regards we are going to send your contract part payment of 4.5 Million USD. To you via our accredited shipping company and I have secured every needed documents to cover the money.
‘In America, we tip fifteen percent. Will you take a cheque?’
Note: The money is coming on 2 security proof boxes. The boxes are sealed with synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine.
This was the point at which I began to question whether General Maynard was entirely in command of his faculties. My packages usually arrive padded with styrofoam, layered cloth, or plastic bubble wrap. Machine padding seemed rather problematic. I imagined my tiny shoebox of money surrounded by a jagged phalanx of gatling guns and space shuttle parts. While duly imposing, it was not clear to me how this steely facade was to protect one’s belongings from accidental falls, unless, perhaps, its intimidating gleam persuades the ground to move aside.
Please you don’t have to worry for anything, as the transaction is 100% risk free. The boxes are coming with a Diplomatic agent who will accompany the boxes to your house address.
Ah, now I understood. They were sending a handler. Probably a veteran SAS commando. They’d thought of everything. My confidence was restored.
All you need to do now is to send to me your. The Diplomatic Attachee will travel with it. He will call you immediately he arrives your country’s airport.
Send to him my… my what? This was not good. I am not a snob; I can forgive the lackings of my fellow man, even the ones that could have been fixed long ago with a Hooked on Phonics gift certificate. But now I was missing a piece of information crucial to a six-figure transaction! I would have to read for clues from context…
I hope you understand me.
‘Doing my damnedest, General.’
Note: The diplomat does not know the original contents of the boxes. What l declared to them as the contents is Sensitive Photographic Film Materials for security reasons.
Well, there was no misinterpreting that. But again, a passing blip of uncertainty. Will it really be easier to get this money into the country if the Department of Homeland security thinks I got a box of porn guarded by robots? I must, I suppose, have faith.
I did not declare money to them please.If they call you and ask you the contents please tell them the same thing Ok.
Ok. …ok. Ok? Ok.
I will secure the Diplomatic immunity clearance certificate, which will make it pass every custom checkpoint all over the world without hitch.
While I was no closer to discovering what contribution the General required of me, I was impressed to learn that the British government has acquired the most powerful adult film studio in the history of the world.
Confirm the receipt of this message and send the requirements to me immediately you receive this message. Please I need urgent reply because the boxes are schedule to live as soon as we hear from you. Call me immediately.
Oh, dear. I still didn’t know what the requirements were, but by now I wasn’t sure if I wanted this deal at all. Not if the boxes were scheduled to live. Imagine a four-and-a-half million dollar combination of male strippers and defense technology becoming self-aware in my own home! Would I be responsible for the rise of the steamiest Skynet ever devised by mankind? It was someone’s fantasy, but it wasn’t mine.
Contact me on my direct email: ( charles.maynard1@gmx.com ) and I will let you know how far I have gone with the arrangement.
Best Regards,
Charles Maynard
Call me +234-703-968-8709
I decided, after careful consideration, to decline the offer. However, if you feel differently about the scenario I described, please do get in touch with this excellent fellow. As the recipient of such a generous (if equally perilous) offer, I would be embarrassed not to measure up.
Pockets
July 25th, 2010 § 0 comments
I threw this together for a submission to EDC, one of my new favorite blogs. I guess it makes as good a first post as any.
Toys!
EDC on a budget. Each of these items was purchased (if at all) for $20 or less.
- Moleskine notebook, ruled, 3.5×5.5″
- Leatherman Micra. Includes scissors, tweezers, three screwdrivers, a nail file, a bottle opener, and a knife – it may be only two inches long, but I won’t be left out!
- Verizon Coupe.
- Flashlight & red laser combination keychain.
- Keys, miniature padlock, cheap carabiner.
- Wallet.
- Disposable pen and mechanical pencil. (That said, I adore those pencils, and they’re out of production now, so I take good care of this one.)
- Watch, hybrid.
Machan Inspirations
August 16th, 2010 § 1 comment
Participants of the White Rose project know that I’ve started work on the commentary document. Since it’s basically nothing but a big pile of spoilers, I’d rather not make this publicly available yet. In the meantime, however, I thought some of you might be interested in the visual media which inspired White Rose’s primary setting: the city of Macha.
Like all the cities of Cernun, Macha filled out its original borders, then expanded, not laterally, but vertically. The result is that much of the city, especially the core, is a truly three-dimensional space. Buildings, streets, blocks, even whole complexes are suspended at their original elevations, as excavation and construction take place directly beneath them. It is therefore difficult to draw a line where a particular property ends and the outside begins. Indeed, in many ways, the city is a single indivisible labyrinth.
Eye candy after the jump. » Read the rest of this entry «