Wait, so, to publicize release of the Vista OS, Microsoft has hired... Starship? On a FLATBED TRUCK???
Way to keep your finger on the pulse, Gates. I bet all Zunes ship with "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" pre-installed, huh? Sheesh.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
i have hardly grown up since you met me
HOLY SH--wow, that was close.
So, like, for ages and ages, a long long time, THIS blog has been at the top of my Blogger options. Now, however, "Music, Copyright and Digital Technology" is before mine in my blog listing (there are only three blogs--it's not like it's overwhelming), so I, of course, blindly click on the first blog and start typing.
And thank GOD I decide to use my "shenanigans" label for, like, the second time, and yet it doesn't pop up automatically after I start typing. So I click the "show all" option and the only tags are "Apple," "iTunes," "DRM"... and I think, huh. Have I even USED those tags?
THEN I realize, OH. THIS IS NOT MY PERSONAL BLOG.
ABORT ABORT ABORT
I could save myself a lot of trouble if I just hosted my own damn blog on kkdotcom. Sigh. I was going to talk about shopping for swimsuits in January, but now I'm just thankful I DIDN'T talk about shopping for swimsuits in january on my CLASS BLOG.
Off for Indian food, which should make it all better, I hope. yikes.
So, like, for ages and ages, a long long time, THIS blog has been at the top of my Blogger options. Now, however, "Music, Copyright and Digital Technology" is before mine in my blog listing (there are only three blogs--it's not like it's overwhelming), so I, of course, blindly click on the first blog and start typing.
And thank GOD I decide to use my "shenanigans" label for, like, the second time, and yet it doesn't pop up automatically after I start typing. So I click the "show all" option and the only tags are "Apple," "iTunes," "DRM"... and I think, huh. Have I even USED those tags?
THEN I realize, OH. THIS IS NOT MY PERSONAL BLOG.
ABORT ABORT ABORT
I could save myself a lot of trouble if I just hosted my own damn blog on kkdotcom. Sigh. I was going to talk about shopping for swimsuits in January, but now I'm just thankful I DIDN'T talk about shopping for swimsuits in january on my CLASS BLOG.
Off for Indian food, which should make it all better, I hope. yikes.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
all about chemistry
It's official. Music class = the best law school class ever.
Why? Because my reading for tomorrow (portions of Rockonomics) contains an extended quote from (Semisonic drummer) Jake Slichter's masterpiece, So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star.
Coincidentally, I read that book nearly two years ago, while visiting the law school for Admitted Students Weekend. It's a phenomenal piece of work about the music industry and you should all read it yourselves.
And *I* should finish my reading for tomorrow. But seriously? I LOVE THIS CLASS. It's like getting class credit for doing the stuff I do normally.
I'm totally pulling one over on the administration. (Shhh, don't tell.)
edited to add: Well, whaddya know. Apparently music class will be blogging through Blogger, too. So, I'm making my profile private for the time being--no sense tempting fate. I've said nothing but good things about the class here, but I'd just as soon not encourage clickthroughs from bored classmates.
Why? Because my reading for tomorrow (portions of Rockonomics) contains an extended quote from (Semisonic drummer) Jake Slichter's masterpiece, So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star.
Coincidentally, I read that book nearly two years ago, while visiting the law school for Admitted Students Weekend. It's a phenomenal piece of work about the music industry and you should all read it yourselves.
And *I* should finish my reading for tomorrow. But seriously? I LOVE THIS CLASS. It's like getting class credit for doing the stuff I do normally.
I'm totally pulling one over on the administration. (Shhh, don't tell.)
edited to add: Well, whaddya know. Apparently music class will be blogging through Blogger, too. So, I'm making my profile private for the time being--no sense tempting fate. I've said nothing but good things about the class here, but I'd just as soon not encourage clickthroughs from bored classmates.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
haven't thought of you lately at all
So, what would you rather do tonight:
Watch the State of the Union, on EVERY major channel at 9pm/8 CST...
...or watch Veronica Mars's first new episode in two months on the CW?
Unless there's a murder mystery on the State of the Union, I'm sticking with option (b), please.
(er, that is, after I spend four hours taping students negotiating. THEN Veronica.) reprieve! I can go home now--and do laundry! hooray!
Watch the State of the Union, on EVERY major channel at 9pm/8 CST...
...or watch Veronica Mars's first new episode in two months on the CW?
Unless there's a murder mystery on the State of the Union, I'm sticking with option (b), please.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
come on chemicals
This video is completely insane. Like, batshit-crazy. And you must take three and a half minutes out of your busy weekend to watch it:
I have a lot of Of Montreal songs, but I've never taken that step forward in purchasing an album. Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer is a must-get, no question--comes out next Tuesday.
edited to add: Apparently this was directed by the Brothers Chaps! That actually makes a lot of sense. Heh.
I have a lot of Of Montreal songs, but I've never taken that step forward in purchasing an album. Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer is a must-get, no question--comes out next Tuesday.
edited to add: Apparently this was directed by the Brothers Chaps! That actually makes a lot of sense. Heh.
Friday, January 19, 2007
we're on the edge of a knife
Blogging on a Friday night--how rockstar of me.
But anyway--our music class prof told us to check out the Digital Music Weblog, which I'm now subscribed to and find really interesting. So, if you're into that sort of thing (iPhones and Baidu.com and ragging on the RIAA--what's not to like?), check it out. Or, at least, read this posting about an independent artist who managed to sell enough shares (or "parts") of his record to fans on Sellaband to make the $50,000 necessary to fund his album. Awesome! And a truly auspicious harbinger of success with a new business model in the music industry.
Oh, and grades came out today, a day or two later than they were supposed to (the 1Ls were in a FUROR--still are in a furor, actually, if the action on our listserv is any indication). I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat, but I do get a little rush of adrenaline when I log on to check grades each semester. Keeps the heart pumping. All I can say is apparently I'm getting the hang of law school now, which is good. I wouldn't relive last semester for ANYthing, but all's well that ends well, I suppose.
Now the Boy and I are going to watch the Office from yesterday--well, we will, when Monk and Psych stop recording. (Yes, I still use a VCR--but I also get free cable from my building management, so the TiFaux will have to wait.)
But anyway--our music class prof told us to check out the Digital Music Weblog, which I'm now subscribed to and find really interesting. So, if you're into that sort of thing (iPhones and Baidu.com and ragging on the RIAA--what's not to like?), check it out. Or, at least, read this posting about an independent artist who managed to sell enough shares (or "parts") of his record to fans on Sellaband to make the $50,000 necessary to fund his album. Awesome! And a truly auspicious harbinger of success with a new business model in the music industry.
Oh, and grades came out today, a day or two later than they were supposed to (the 1Ls were in a FUROR--still are in a furor, actually, if the action on our listserv is any indication). I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat, but I do get a little rush of adrenaline when I log on to check grades each semester. Keeps the heart pumping. All I can say is apparently I'm getting the hang of law school now, which is good. I wouldn't relive last semester for ANYthing, but all's well that ends well, I suppose.
Now the Boy and I are going to watch the Office from yesterday--well, we will, when Monk and Psych stop recording. (Yes, I still use a VCR--but I also get free cable from my building management, so the TiFaux will have to wait.)
Thursday, January 18, 2007
it's not unusual to be loved by anyone
Is there a reason that iTunes would send me an "alert" containing news about a Decemberists live EP... and Tom Jones's From the Vaults??? Huh. We appear to have a fraught relationship, iTunes and I.
I killed a silverfish the size of a small car in my bathroom this morning. I still have the heebie jeebies. Add to that the ENORMOUS cockroach that disruped my Music, Copyright & Digital Technology seminar (hereinafter, "music class") and I've had a very buggy day. The cockroach gushed when it was killed. Ickkkkk.
Music class is great, though--I love that I could participate by being able to explain what the Grey Album was and who did it. We also got to listen to snippets of both George Clinton's "Get Off Your Ass and Jam" and N.W.A.'s "100 Miles and Running," for academic comparison purposes (of course) regarding a recent sampling decision by the Sixth Circuit (in effect, "If you sample, get a license").
I've gotta give props to my good ol' college senior advisor, Professor Dunne, because I read enough cases and learned enough about copyright law four years ago to be able to hold my own against those who took copyright law in law school. Campbell v. Acuff-Rose? Newton v. Diamond? That George Harrison lawsuit w/ the Chiffons? Yeah, we were all over it. Anyway, it's shaping up to be a great class, cockroaches notwithstanding.
I've got miles of trusts & estates reading to do before I sleep, so off I go. Even though I've now got "Shit! Goddamn! Get off your ass and jam!" running a pleasant little loop in my head...
I killed a silverfish the size of a small car in my bathroom this morning. I still have the heebie jeebies. Add to that the ENORMOUS cockroach that disruped my Music, Copyright & Digital Technology seminar (hereinafter, "music class") and I've had a very buggy day. The cockroach gushed when it was killed. Ickkkkk.
Music class is great, though--I love that I could participate by being able to explain what the Grey Album was and who did it. We also got to listen to snippets of both George Clinton's "Get Off Your Ass and Jam" and N.W.A.'s "100 Miles and Running," for academic comparison purposes (of course) regarding a recent sampling decision by the Sixth Circuit (in effect, "If you sample, get a license").
I've gotta give props to my good ol' college senior advisor, Professor Dunne, because I read enough cases and learned enough about copyright law four years ago to be able to hold my own against those who took copyright law in law school. Campbell v. Acuff-Rose? Newton v. Diamond? That George Harrison lawsuit w/ the Chiffons? Yeah, we were all over it. Anyway, it's shaping up to be a great class, cockroaches notwithstanding.
I've got miles of trusts & estates reading to do before I sleep, so off I go. Even though I've now got "Shit! Goddamn! Get off your ass and jam!" running a pleasant little loop in my head...
Saturday, January 13, 2007
makes me kind of nervous to say so
YAY three-day weekend! And possible snowstorm on Sunday night/Monday! If I were in grade school, I'd be furious to have a snow day on a holiday--but I'm not, and I love winter weather, and we just haven't had enough of it this year. (Sorry, Bruce!)
Anyway. I'm working on ExRec '06 (*tiny cheers from the crowd*) and accidentally deleted the iTunes playlist with all of my ideas, lovingly compiled over the last 4-5 months. This is the second playlist I've accidentally deleted in as many days, and I'm REALLY annoyed at iTunes for not having an "undo" function to fix such errors. I guess I'm so used to being able to undo anything--cutting and/or pasting, moving files, transferring things to the trash--that this new development came as total shock/horror. I acquire a LOT of new music on a weekly basis (courtesy of the music blogs, mostly), and many of the tracks on this lost playlist were one-off songs that I couldn't recall offhand. GRRR. I've managed to cobble together a new playlist and am working on whittling it down/fixing the track listing, but seriously? iTunes needs to get its act together. If there's a way to make it ask you twice ("Are you sure you want to delete this playlist? Circle one: Yes, No, HELL NO, AND BACK AWAY SLOWLY FROM THAT DELETE KEY"), I'd love to hear it, because, arrgh.
Anyway. I'm working on ExRec '06 (*tiny cheers from the crowd*) and accidentally deleted the iTunes playlist with all of my ideas, lovingly compiled over the last 4-5 months. This is the second playlist I've accidentally deleted in as many days, and I'm REALLY annoyed at iTunes for not having an "undo" function to fix such errors. I guess I'm so used to being able to undo anything--cutting and/or pasting, moving files, transferring things to the trash--that this new development came as total shock/horror. I acquire a LOT of new music on a weekly basis (courtesy of the music blogs, mostly), and many of the tracks on this lost playlist were one-off songs that I couldn't recall offhand. GRRR. I've managed to cobble together a new playlist and am working on whittling it down/fixing the track listing, but seriously? iTunes needs to get its act together. If there's a way to make it ask you twice ("Are you sure you want to delete this playlist? Circle one: Yes, No, HELL NO, AND BACK AWAY SLOWLY FROM THAT DELETE KEY"), I'd love to hear it, because, arrgh.
Monday, January 08, 2007
swear to shake it up
So, I'm spamming my blog this evening--think of it as penance for taking an extended hiatus over the holidays. Those of you who don't use a blog aggregator to read these entries might notice a rather unending list of Panic! At the Disco songs to the left, courtesy of last.fm. I kind of feel silly, because their lyrics are SO earnest and almost laughably meta at points--but holy crap, it's catchy stuff. And it's proof positive that a good alternative radio station works wonders for album sales: if I'd listened to Trunger's recommendation a year ago, I'd've bought the album back then--but with no music to go on, I forgot about them. And I was feeling severely heat-sick during their set at Lollapalooza (plus the burlesque girls onstage with them were a little off-putting), so I missed them in favor of the AT&T Blue Room o' Air Conditioning.
But when I was home for vacation, friend Dara recommended that I check out a new alternative radio station out of Cincinnati, 94.9, that was playing GOOD songs, like what we used to hear on the radio in high school, not that new-metal crap that alternative stations morphed into in the early 00's. And it did play good songs (Pearl Jam, Bush, old Beck, even stuff like the Smiths and the Cure)--but it was also playing the heck out of "Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" (did I mention that this band is overly earnest?). And I was intrigued, and the chorus got lodged in my head, and I received $50 in iTunes bucks from the 'rents for Christmas... and now? I'm so all over it. A little behind the curve, and possibly a little sheepish (the median age at their concerts must be, like, 16), but all over it.
Relatedly, I've long thought that the first version of a song that you hear is the version you like the best (assuming you like the song at all). For instance, I'm way more partial to Rufus Wainwright's "Hallelujah" than Jeff Buckley's (and Leonard Cohen's, though that possibly goes without saying) because I heard it first, and I think his voice just suits the song so well (and is a little less over the top, blasphemous as that might seem to some). So it makes sense that I think I prefer the Snakes on a Plane remix of "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" (I downloaded it from some blog or another; I swear I do not own the SOaP soundtrack (though I do still like the Cobra Starship theme song)) because I heard it mere seconds prior to the album version. Heh.
Whoo. Anyway. I'll try to rebuild my indie cred tomorrow; for now, I'm happy with my carnival emo-pop. Let's get these teen hearts beating faster, faster...
But when I was home for vacation, friend Dara recommended that I check out a new alternative radio station out of Cincinnati, 94.9, that was playing GOOD songs, like what we used to hear on the radio in high school, not that new-metal crap that alternative stations morphed into in the early 00's. And it did play good songs (Pearl Jam, Bush, old Beck, even stuff like the Smiths and the Cure)--but it was also playing the heck out of "Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" (did I mention that this band is overly earnest?). And I was intrigued, and the chorus got lodged in my head, and I received $50 in iTunes bucks from the 'rents for Christmas... and now? I'm so all over it. A little behind the curve, and possibly a little sheepish (the median age at their concerts must be, like, 16), but all over it.
Relatedly, I've long thought that the first version of a song that you hear is the version you like the best (assuming you like the song at all). For instance, I'm way more partial to Rufus Wainwright's "Hallelujah" than Jeff Buckley's (and Leonard Cohen's, though that possibly goes without saying) because I heard it first, and I think his voice just suits the song so well (and is a little less over the top, blasphemous as that might seem to some). So it makes sense that I think I prefer the Snakes on a Plane remix of "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" (I downloaded it from some blog or another; I swear I do not own the SOaP soundtrack (though I do still like the Cobra Starship theme song)) because I heard it mere seconds prior to the album version. Heh.
Whoo. Anyway. I'll try to rebuild my indie cred tomorrow; for now, I'm happy with my carnival emo-pop. Let's get these teen hearts beating faster, faster...
adrenaline pulls us near
YAY! Good news on a Monday: R.E.M.'s being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Hooray! Other inductees: Patti Smith, Van Halen, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and the Ronettes. I don't really know what the induction gets you, other than absolutely no indie cred whatsoever (hopefully some cash?), but it's damn cool nonetheless. Supposedly they're recording a follow-up to Around the Sun right now? Maybe I ought to renew my fan club membership in case they tour--it's worth the $10 fee a hundred times over for second-row seats, no question. The fan club CD this year was the songs they played at the 40 Watt club in Atlanta w/ Bill Berry--verrrry excited to listen to that.
Oh, and you get another YouTube video to commemorate the occasion. I was going to post Bad Day, because I love how earnest and news-anchorly Michael looks, but there's too much going on in it and it doesn't translate well to pixely streaming video. So, you get this one instead:
well, I lied--you get two videos, because I have a very fond memory of making my friends rent a tape of R.E.M. videos in high school and then watching this one over and over again until we had the dance down. Heh.
Oh, and you get another YouTube video to commemorate the occasion. I was going to post Bad Day, because I love how earnest and news-anchorly Michael looks, but there's too much going on in it and it doesn't translate well to pixely streaming video. So, you get this one instead:
well, I lied--you get two videos, because I have a very fond memory of making my friends rent a tape of R.E.M. videos in high school and then watching this one over and over again until we had the dance down. Heh.
Friday, January 05, 2007
throw your love around
Happy 2007!
It's January 5 and it's 60 degrees here in warm & cheerful Centerville, OH. (At least the "warm" part is apt, but "cheerful"? Try me again when I've got something to show for my paper revisions.) Woo freaking hoo. El Nino + global warming = teh suck, for serious. I want WINTER weather, damnit--or if it's going to be WARM, at least be SUNNY. *stomps foot*
Anyhoo. I had a wonderful Christmas (would you believe... the Get Smart DVD Box Set was under the tree?!) and a KICK-ASS New Year's in New Haven--more Catchphrase than anyone thought humanly possible, peppered with spontaneous renditions of "Dick in a Box"--yeah, good times. I won (!) a game of Poker, helped teach 6 people Euchre, and floundered at both Apples to Apples and Categories (underwear is SO sports equipment. sheesh). We had 16 former classmates show up for the NYE festivities, which was a truly amazing turnout. Oh, and if Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers come to your town on their spring tour (as they're likely to do--they'll be in Chicago twice in the next four months), you TOTALLY need to check them out. SUCH good music, and so very all-around entertaining. (Also, though it helps to look up directions to the venue before you leave, it's definitely not required--especially if you want an accidental tour of the sketchy parts of Bridgeport, CT.)
I could go on, but I'd rather share this gem I came across from Filter's celebration of Michael Stipe's 47th birthday yesterday (it was also the Boy's birthday yesterday! but he hasn't danced with the Muppets, so he doesn't get a YouTube link):
Does Peter Buck ever smile? Seriously. Watch the original Shiny Happy People vid again, too--SO AWFUL, and yet so awesome. Christmas also brought When the Light Is Mine, the DVD comp that coincides with R.E.M.'s IRS-label retrospective, and I'm eager to watch it...
...which is why I need to get going on these paper revisions. Sigh.
It's January 5 and it's 60 degrees here in warm & cheerful Centerville, OH. (At least the "warm" part is apt, but "cheerful"? Try me again when I've got something to show for my paper revisions.) Woo freaking hoo. El Nino + global warming = teh suck, for serious. I want WINTER weather, damnit--or if it's going to be WARM, at least be SUNNY. *stomps foot*
Anyhoo. I had a wonderful Christmas (would you believe... the Get Smart DVD Box Set was under the tree?!) and a KICK-ASS New Year's in New Haven--more Catchphrase than anyone thought humanly possible, peppered with spontaneous renditions of "Dick in a Box"--yeah, good times. I won (!) a game of Poker, helped teach 6 people Euchre, and floundered at both Apples to Apples and Categories (underwear is SO sports equipment. sheesh). We had 16 former classmates show up for the NYE festivities, which was a truly amazing turnout. Oh, and if Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers come to your town on their spring tour (as they're likely to do--they'll be in Chicago twice in the next four months), you TOTALLY need to check them out. SUCH good music, and so very all-around entertaining. (Also, though it helps to look up directions to the venue before you leave, it's definitely not required--especially if you want an accidental tour of the sketchy parts of Bridgeport, CT.)
I could go on, but I'd rather share this gem I came across from Filter's celebration of Michael Stipe's 47th birthday yesterday (it was also the Boy's birthday yesterday! but he hasn't danced with the Muppets, so he doesn't get a YouTube link):
Does Peter Buck ever smile? Seriously. Watch the original Shiny Happy People vid again, too--SO AWFUL, and yet so awesome. Christmas also brought When the Light Is Mine, the DVD comp that coincides with R.E.M.'s IRS-label retrospective, and I'm eager to watch it...
...which is why I need to get going on these paper revisions. Sigh.
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