I remember signing up for MySpace because I heard it was "what all the kidz were doin."
My very first friend request - after Tom of course - came from a young lady who looked like a model and wanted me to check out more pictures of her on another website.
Spam.
It only got worse. Soon there were all sorts of folks pitching get-rich quick schemes along with shitty bands trying to get me to listen to their sub-par works.
And then there were (and still are) the bugs. Half the time the site doesn't work.
Google paid 1.65 billion for this?
In the last couple of weeks I've become addicted to Facebook. I've found loads of folks I hadn't heard from in years. Best of all the interface and nifty real-time features makes it easy to maintain my profile and keep up with what my friends are doing on theirs. And these are real friends, not random strangers.
Best of all I have no scam artists or fake hotties waiting for me when I log in.
Thank you Facebook. You've killed MySpace and given the rest of the world something to get excited about.
Now who's gonna tell all those folks who own stocks in Google?
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Still a hipster after all these years
Last weekend, my friends Jas and Bruce were down from London to see the re-united Sebadoh perform at Lee's Palace.
The band initially broke up about 10 years ago. Nothing strange about that. Three old guys going to see a band they loved when they were young enough to keep up with what's new in music.
The funny thing is that unlike adults in the pre-internet age, we aren't listening to oldies stations. We still manage to keep up with what the kids are listening to. Through the magic of sites like Pitchforkmedia.com and Metacritic.com; combined with music sharing sites and bittorrents, all three of us are probably better connected today then we were young and "cool."
When the boys the arrived on Saturday the conversation quickly turned to what we each had been listening to. By the next afternoon I had Broken West and the Rosebuds on my iPod.
I'm not going to get into a rant about "stealing" tracks - which in Canada I'm not.
What I am going to do is explain how I manage to keep up. I simply visit the sites listed above and download every album that gets a great rating. Should be simple enough. Only 9 out of 10 of the albums I download are crap. Most don't even get through the first play.
But at least when I hear kids talk about Modest Mouse, Nelly Furtado or Califone - I not only know what they're talking about, I can give an honest opinion that they suck.
The band initially broke up about 10 years ago. Nothing strange about that. Three old guys going to see a band they loved when they were young enough to keep up with what's new in music.
The funny thing is that unlike adults in the pre-internet age, we aren't listening to oldies stations. We still manage to keep up with what the kids are listening to. Through the magic of sites like Pitchforkmedia.com and Metacritic.com; combined with music sharing sites and bittorrents, all three of us are probably better connected today then we were young and "cool."
When the boys the arrived on Saturday the conversation quickly turned to what we each had been listening to. By the next afternoon I had Broken West and the Rosebuds on my iPod.
I'm not going to get into a rant about "stealing" tracks - which in Canada I'm not.
What I am going to do is explain how I manage to keep up. I simply visit the sites listed above and download every album that gets a great rating. Should be simple enough. Only 9 out of 10 of the albums I download are crap. Most don't even get through the first play.
But at least when I hear kids talk about Modest Mouse, Nelly Furtado or Califone - I not only know what they're talking about, I can give an honest opinion that they suck.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Dodging the bullet
One of the truly great feelings in life is going out for a night of overindulgence and waking up the following day without a sore head or shaky hand.
I like to call it dodging the bullet. The weapon was aimed. You were loaded. The shot was fired...nothing.
It's a great morning and you know that you should be dying.
But like everything else, it can work both days. Like when you go out for 2 pints and the next morning you have all the symptoms of serious bender-fatigue.
Cruelly as one gets older the second option seems to occur more and more.
Thankfully last night falls into the first category. I went to see Sebadoh at Lee's Palace in Toronto. It was the "classic" line-up that hadn't played together in over 10 years. I understand it's not the Police, but I did spend a lot of time listening to Sebadoh when I was younger.
The evening got started with an afternoon. I had some old friends show up from London before 3 and we were drinking beer on the patio before they'd even toured my new house.
Without giving a gulp-by-gulp rundown, let's just say a pattern for behavior was set.
When we got to Lee's at about 11 the band came on and rocked the house. I'd seen Lou Barlow solo and he pretty much sucked as a individual performer, so it was good to see him with a live band.
I always thought Sebadoh's Harmacy, was one of the most underrated albums of the 1990's (along with Sugar's Copper Blue) so I was a little disappointed the band didn't play more from that record.
But for a bunch of old(ish) guys they still put on a great show.
Anyway, back to the original point. I dodged the bullet like it was 1995 all over again.
I like to call it dodging the bullet. The weapon was aimed. You were loaded. The shot was fired...nothing.
It's a great morning and you know that you should be dying.
But like everything else, it can work both days. Like when you go out for 2 pints and the next morning you have all the symptoms of serious bender-fatigue.
Cruelly as one gets older the second option seems to occur more and more.
Thankfully last night falls into the first category. I went to see Sebadoh at Lee's Palace in Toronto. It was the "classic" line-up that hadn't played together in over 10 years. I understand it's not the Police, but I did spend a lot of time listening to Sebadoh when I was younger.
The evening got started with an afternoon. I had some old friends show up from London before 3 and we were drinking beer on the patio before they'd even toured my new house.
Without giving a gulp-by-gulp rundown, let's just say a pattern for behavior was set.
When we got to Lee's at about 11 the band came on and rocked the house. I'd seen Lou Barlow solo and he pretty much sucked as a individual performer, so it was good to see him with a live band.
I always thought Sebadoh's Harmacy, was one of the most underrated albums of the 1990's (along with Sugar's Copper Blue) so I was a little disappointed the band didn't play more from that record.
But for a bunch of old(ish) guys they still put on a great show.
Anyway, back to the original point. I dodged the bullet like it was 1995 all over again.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Requiem for Aidan
I'm not dead, nor do I plan on being dead for a long long time.
I was listening to the CBC's Vinyl Cafe last Sunday as I was tootin' about and the main character, Dave, was obsessed by which songs would get played at his funeral.
It got me thinking. What would I like to have played when I shuffle off?
When I was in high school a guy from one of my classes was killed in a car accident. He had a Bon Jovi song as his going away tune. I think it was "Dead or Alive." At the time, I thought it was pretty cheesy. And, 20 years later that's about all I remember about him.
When my own brother shuffled off - or skidded off - on a motorbike a few years back, there wasn't any music at his visitation other than the usual classical you'd expect at funeral homes.
My point it that if I'm going to choose music, I don't want it to come across as dated when folks think back in 20 years. But I do want something that is me.
So without any further adieu, here is the song list for my funeral - when I final give it up at the ripe old age of 206.
Skydiggers - Slow burnin' fire
It was my wedding song, so I make as well keep it for the reprise.
Brian Wilson - Good Vibrations
Hopefully someone is checking my pulse every couple of hours to make sure I didn't just accidentally eat the bad part of a puffer fish.
Beatles - Here comes the sun
It's gorgeous and timeless. Just like me.
Beautiful South - Old red eyes is back
A great song about someone who drinks too much. I'd hope that I can keep my current pace until at least my late 170's.
Bruce Springsteen - Born to run
Could very well be the best rock song ever written. By anyone.
Crowded House - Better be home soon
As one to go out on, I hope this is played as they turn off the lights.
Joel Plaskett - Nowhere with you
It's a nice little ditty, that makes me happy to be married. And I'd hope that Deb makes it to at least 207.
Pixies - Here comes your man.
Yes. It's about buying drugs. But my folks don't know that. And at 270, they probably won't figure it out.
Stone Roses - I am the resurrection
I'm not, in case you are wondering. But as a anthem, I'd be happy with it.
So there you go. What's on your list?
I was listening to the CBC's Vinyl Cafe last Sunday as I was tootin' about and the main character, Dave, was obsessed by which songs would get played at his funeral.
It got me thinking. What would I like to have played when I shuffle off?
When I was in high school a guy from one of my classes was killed in a car accident. He had a Bon Jovi song as his going away tune. I think it was "Dead or Alive." At the time, I thought it was pretty cheesy. And, 20 years later that's about all I remember about him.
When my own brother shuffled off - or skidded off - on a motorbike a few years back, there wasn't any music at his visitation other than the usual classical you'd expect at funeral homes.
My point it that if I'm going to choose music, I don't want it to come across as dated when folks think back in 20 years. But I do want something that is me.
So without any further adieu, here is the song list for my funeral - when I final give it up at the ripe old age of 206.
Skydiggers - Slow burnin' fire
It was my wedding song, so I make as well keep it for the reprise.
Brian Wilson - Good Vibrations
Hopefully someone is checking my pulse every couple of hours to make sure I didn't just accidentally eat the bad part of a puffer fish.
Beatles - Here comes the sun
It's gorgeous and timeless. Just like me.
Beautiful South - Old red eyes is back
A great song about someone who drinks too much. I'd hope that I can keep my current pace until at least my late 170's.
Bruce Springsteen - Born to run
Could very well be the best rock song ever written. By anyone.
Crowded House - Better be home soon
As one to go out on, I hope this is played as they turn off the lights.
Joel Plaskett - Nowhere with you
It's a nice little ditty, that makes me happy to be married. And I'd hope that Deb makes it to at least 207.
Pixies - Here comes your man.
Yes. It's about buying drugs. But my folks don't know that. And at 270, they probably won't figure it out.
Stone Roses - I am the resurrection
I'm not, in case you are wondering. But as a anthem, I'd be happy with it.
So there you go. What's on your list?
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Wafting in the beer farts of midgets
With another St. Patrick's Day safely behind me, I can't help but acknowledge how drink-fests are starting to bore me.
Don't get me wrong. I drink.
A lot.
And maybe that's the problem. I go out all the time and have become accustomed to feeling a bit groggy on Sunday mornings.
So I really see New Years and St. Patrick's Day as amateur night at the pub. The equivalent to alcoholic karaoke. As a weekly finalist in Drunkard Idol, it's not a lot of fun watching chumps murder my favorite past time.
The sad part is I will do it again next year and feel the exact same way the next morning.
Don't get me wrong. I drink.
A lot.
And maybe that's the problem. I go out all the time and have become accustomed to feeling a bit groggy on Sunday mornings.
So I really see New Years and St. Patrick's Day as amateur night at the pub. The equivalent to alcoholic karaoke. As a weekly finalist in Drunkard Idol, it's not a lot of fun watching chumps murder my favorite past time.
The sad part is I will do it again next year and feel the exact same way the next morning.
Friday, March 16, 2007
If you have to be poor...
If you have to be poor in the Caribbean (and let's face it if you are living in the Caribbean, you'll probably be as poor as your neighbours), it's better to be poor in Cuba than anywhere else.
In the last five years I've vacationed in Mexico, Dominican and Cuba. Without a doubt the people of Cuba have it the best of all three. Healthcare, education and housing are available to all.
Before someone responds about the "freedom" of democracies like Mexico and Dominican, let me say that freedom is a luxury of the rich in any country. Ask yourself how free a homeless person is in New York or Washington? That homeless person is free to write a book, or vote in elections. But in 2004 only about 60 percent of eligible voters in the U.S. even bothered to vote.
So what is the value of democracy to the poor when the daily necessities aren't met?
But why do Cubans wash up in Florida? Does it mean that Fidel Castro is as hated as the US State Department would have you believe? Mexicans trek through the desert to get to America to. It doesn't mean they hate their country. In both instances folks are just looking to try their luck in a richer nation. And as despised at the U.S. seems to be around the world, it's still the number one destination for anyone who still believes in the "American Dream."
From what I saw in Cuba - Havana in particular - Cubans are not as oppressed as some folks would like you to believe. And when the transition to democracy happens - and it will happen - the population will be healthy, educated and ready to succeed in a way no other Caribbean democracy can.
Castro eliminated foreign ownership of his island's wealth, and redistributed it amongst his people. It's hard to find another country in the region where the citizens are in such control of their own destiny. Cuba is an good instance of Socialism paving the way for a successful transition to first-world status in a country that would otherwise have a super rich with no middle class to hide it's poor.
If you are curious to see my pictures from Cuba, I've got them posted on Flickr.
In the last five years I've vacationed in Mexico, Dominican and Cuba. Without a doubt the people of Cuba have it the best of all three. Healthcare, education and housing are available to all.
Before someone responds about the "freedom" of democracies like Mexico and Dominican, let me say that freedom is a luxury of the rich in any country. Ask yourself how free a homeless person is in New York or Washington? That homeless person is free to write a book, or vote in elections. But in 2004 only about 60 percent of eligible voters in the U.S. even bothered to vote.
So what is the value of democracy to the poor when the daily necessities aren't met?
But why do Cubans wash up in Florida? Does it mean that Fidel Castro is as hated as the US State Department would have you believe? Mexicans trek through the desert to get to America to. It doesn't mean they hate their country. In both instances folks are just looking to try their luck in a richer nation. And as despised at the U.S. seems to be around the world, it's still the number one destination for anyone who still believes in the "American Dream."
From what I saw in Cuba - Havana in particular - Cubans are not as oppressed as some folks would like you to believe. And when the transition to democracy happens - and it will happen - the population will be healthy, educated and ready to succeed in a way no other Caribbean democracy can.
Castro eliminated foreign ownership of his island's wealth, and redistributed it amongst his people. It's hard to find another country in the region where the citizens are in such control of their own destiny. Cuba is an good instance of Socialism paving the way for a successful transition to first-world status in a country that would otherwise have a super rich with no middle class to hide it's poor.
If you are curious to see my pictures from Cuba, I've got them posted on Flickr.
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