NBC Vs. The World

I'm doing some random internet roaming and was linked to THIS. Apparently NBC exec Jeff Zucker is blaming Apple and YouTube for ruining everything from his network, to the corn industry. This is how I look at it:

Zucker probably sees himself in a David Vs. Goliath situation, where David will smite the terrible content stealers and vanquish the enemy. What he apparently doesn't realize is that he isn't David. YouTube and the iPod are our stone to the forehead of the Goliath mega-media outlets of this common age. We're winning!

The old farts and luddite CEOs aren't really seeing the big picture here. In the same way that the movie industry showed losses when the television first got on the scene, media outlets are seeing losses now that the internet has kicked in to high-gear. So did movies die because the government wouldn't ban the sale of televisions?

No, of course not, that's the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Movies actually got better, and sales went up when studios began making movies in widescreen, and adapting their business models to compete with television. It's not a biblical fist fight, it's economics. Use the internet to distribute your content and you will make more money than you ever have before.

I admit that at 21 years old, I am getting past my techno-prime. It's sad but there is stuff out there that I cannot even fathom. Justin.Tv is a pretty good example of why people would turn off their TVs, ignore shows that are going to get cancelled in 3 weeks, and veg out to something a little more interesting.

Labels: internet, philosophy, rant

Band Wagon Jumper

I know it's hurtful to stomp on other people in light of terrible trauma, it makes people cry and such...

But I just have to be frank. Britney Spears is nothing but a cheap whore. There, I said it! I'm so frank because I think that even though she may not be having sex for money (yet) she is in the line of work where you become someone else's property. If she had any sense in her bald head, she wouldn't have done the MTV VMAs. It was a terrible decision to go out there, do a piss poor job of lip syncing, and choreography. It's like she has a pimp, and she needs the money to pay him off and support her coke habit.

I'm not accusing Britney of having a coke habit, but I am going to say that everything bad that has happened to her, is her own damn fault. If I get drunk and party all night, and miss my classes and fail university, it's my problem, no one else's. How can someone like the above video blogger think that she is some saint who has been ruined by the media? She chose to do all those things on her free will, she chose to skip the panties while partying with Paris, and sadly, she apparently chose to do the MTV awards.

My advice? Get help! If you're record company is treating you like shit, which is causing you to lash out in childish ways, then use your millions to get yourself out. Take your children to where they can be cared for, and get yourself some psychiatric help. Just because their father is a talentless hideous chud of a fuckup, doesn't mean your children should suffer, they didn't ask to be born. So before I start sounding like Perez Hilton, I will end this rant here and never speak of Britney again.

Labels: anger, philosophy, video

For the Pioneers of the Internet

It's conceited and elitist to call myself a "Pioneer" in the grand scheme of the Internet until now, but on a historical time line this generation is pretty much the first crop of Internet users. We look 2000 year back and see Rome and Greece as being early civilization, in 2000 more years people could could look back on us with similar interest. Until then, here is a little look back at things as they were.

The young Internet filled with users of every background, picking up mice and tilling the virgin soil of the world wide web. It was wild, ugly and mostly pointless, but it was the beginning, and I like what has come since. This is a nice little essay on just that. UPDATE: Here is a good example of early web design that is still online, I was looking for my crappy homepages, but it looks like they may be lost forever. My friend Jason had some good content for us nerds who played too much Nintendo 64.

Labels: internet, philosophy

Brave New World and Daft Punk

I went to see Daft Punk play in Seattle on the 29th of July and I am only now going to blog about it. It's sad, calling myself a "blogger" and never blogging. A little before, and into the trip there, I read Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" and I wanted to talk about the two of them side by side.

In the book, entertainment is heightened to the next logical level: adding the other senses in to a movie. Just as sound was added in the early part of the century, and then colour, taste, smell and touch is added in A.F 632. This somehow reminds me of the Daft Punk concert experience.

See for yourself:

The show was out of control, and I think everyone was really impressed. The only complaint I had was that it was getting a little hot, and an air gust here and there was barely cutting it. I would love to see air vents and smells added to things like concerts. Imagine: Patchouli drifting through the air, during a slow portion and then crash! a swirling vortex of citrus from the stage during a more explosive portion.

This however may not be enough for the average person who is suffering from work day woes. Like in the book, I am in favour of a drug like "Soma", however I do not think it should be a mandatory dosage. If we could combine some of the effects of Marijuana, LSD and morphine we could create a audience member that has it's senses artificially heightened.

Drugs tend to have negative impacts on the human body, so most drugs in their current form aren't a feasible option, they are however used illegally and experiments like this take place to this day.

I hope that the makes up for taking so long to post something. If you don't want to read the whole thing just check out this mathematical equation: Daft Punk + Seattle + Myself = Awesome/(good times)+Robots+(the Future)

Labels: books, music, philosophy, road trip, summer

Bicycle Buddhism

Only a few days back on my new bike, and I must say that I am smitten. The weather here has been great bicycle riding weather. I was riding tonight, with a cool breeze in my hair and warm pavement under my wheels. Call me a romantic, but I was seriously in love with my life. There is clarity in the craft of bicycle riding, and I must say I am rather sorry I hadn't been in so long.

Like I mentioned before, my bike was stolen and that discouraged me a bit from riding. However this newish addition to my life has pepped me up with a love for a nice bike. I think I have developed a new style of thinking due to this fact, and I'm very excited. My summer has exponentially improved.I'm sure these ideas have a lot in common with many other thinkers, I do not consider myself a philosopher or a profit of any sort.

When I was a child, I felt chained down when I did not have my bike. Locked down in my basement, doing banal little things because I been grounded or popped a tire I could not afford to fix. A terrible atrocity to a 14 year old boy. Did anyone else feel this way? I usually only had one desire, adventure and explore.

Riding these past few days, I felt the same way, I felt like I was exploring. I think I saw most of Nicolas Sheran park in the past few, and it feels great. I am also finding some fine time to meditate. When I am riding, I am focusing forward, on my bike, on pedaling, and maintaining balance. Clearing my mind of everything else, moving forward without dying is an interesting goal to set. I also find that I do not want as much when I am riding my bike. My desire for worldly possessions falls limp, and my mind goes almost blank. Bicycle meditation? Bicycle Buddhism?

Not saying that this type of feeling is exclusive to cycling, as I am aware of the thrills and fun of many other modes of transportation. I guess whatever works for you will hopefully guide you to a place you want to go. Just as Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty found America and themselves kicking up dust up and down California. Jack Kerouac knew the score, and I feel closer to his stories now that I can relate. I may have found the strange hybrid of Buddhism that I have been looking for.

I'm not preaching to destroy your cars and join my cult, but I would not shy away from a leisurely ride around the west side of Lethbridge with anyone willing for a ride.

Labels: adventure, lethbridge, philosophy, summer

Weekly Blogging Doesn't Cut It

Sadly, blogging once a week just does not cut it. People tend to stop checking for new posts after a few days of being let down. I had it down to 1 or 2 days a few weeks ago, but with two jobs, radio and trying to stay in contact with old friends, I have lost my momentum.

Last night I got to hang out with some great old friends, I will toss up some pictures of the evening tomorrow or later this evening. I'm going to be working a lot next week, but I will try and make sure to blog a bit for you fine folks. This may be a rip off of another nice quote, but... "I'd rather live a great life, than blog a bad one".

Labels: blogging, friendship, philosophy, summer

I hope I have made a difference in your life

Some of this may come off as pretentious, and I no doubt am a little pretentious from time to time. I'm sure it pisses people off, and I don't even realize. Anyways... A story:

I was bobbing along Blackfoot Road towards the Backstreet, I was going to have a few beers with some friends and I thought that I should walk. The night was clear, crisp, and packed with an energy that I could not explain. Bob Marley's "Jammin" was keeping my steps in time, and putting a giant smile on my face. I walked with passion and conviction under the silent streetlights, and I felt that nothing could stop me. However, something did cross my path that I did find concerning.

Two shadows appeared a distance from myself, traveling in the opposite direction. I noticed stumbling, a case of beer, and a little red ember that the big one casually brought to his mouth. I inferred they were drunk, or had at least been drinking and I became a little concerned. Drunk people have a tendency to do two things: Make fools of themselves, and become violent. I have enough real world, and pop culture knowledge to know these things to be facts. I began weighing my odds as I approach the shadowy duo, and realize that instead of them being some university students coming home from a party, it was two first nations people.

The big one, a young man smoking a cigarette motions for me to stop. I bounce ideas back and forth in my head, deciding if I should stop and talk, or keep walking. This guy could spit in my face for a number of things, he could steal my wallet, but he could also be no different then myself. I stopped, slowly pulled my earphones out, and simply said "Hey", "Take out your iPod headphones and let me ask you a question" he replied.

"Can you see this girl here, serving you as a stewardess for Air Canada?" he asks, pointing to his shorter counterpart. I look his friend in the eyes and see thirty some years of potential balled up and ready to shoot out. I wonder why she didn't believe in herself, and if it was because there were too few people that did. I remember back to "Indian Reservations" that I have been to, I remember back to Bob Marley's inspiring words of perseverance and happiness.

'"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds"'

I think about myself, and what I have learned since I have come to Lethbridge. I stupidly spout "I think that she, and anyone else can be whatever they want to be. They just need to believe in themselves" and the woman smiles. "She's in a place where she has no idea where she is going, her head is mixed up" her friend responds. The last thing I say of any importance or interest is "I know the feeling", we shake hands and go on our own way.

I placed my earphones back in and begin to drown out the silence. I really hope I have made a difference.

Labels: drunk, friendship, philosophy, summer

I may just have to shit dice

It's probably no big deal, but how rotten would it be for the headlines to read "MPAA shuts down YouTube for Good"? I am sort of basing a project on the use of YouTube, and I may just be SOL.

However, this could lead to an interesting spin to our assignment. Could we do an impromptu funeral for the service? I think that would be so cutting edge, BoingBoing worthy for sure.

Lucky for me, this isn't the end of the world if YouTube goes away forever, I'm sure something just a huge comes a long. I do however feel slightly bad for all the folks who could be traumatized by the end of YouTube.

Please don't panic, I doubt this is a permanent thing, but it does seem like it could be a problem for me (even in the short term).

EDIT: It's 2 am and YouTube is back. I had a feeling this would not be permanent, but the impending doom and "I told you so"'s was so ominous I couldn't help but blow it out of proportion. Clearly I'm an idiot, but let's still ponder what would happen if YouTube disappear.

Labels: internet, life, news, philosophy

Fun For The Whole Family

Fun for the whole damned family! May I present: Writers of Sociologic Theory, ACTION FIGURES! these are great! It makes me think about how I used to play with Action Figures as a child while watching the television show. Now I can read scholarly text, and play with the action figure at the same time!

Now I really want a Hunter S. Thompson and Candy Apple Red convertible, with optional suitcase filled with two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... Also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls.
Thanks to YouTube Addict for the good tip.

P.s This is my 400th post on Lifebystereo.com! Whoo Whoo

Labels: funk, internet, life, movies, philosophy

It's been awhile

I am blogging over at wordpress these days, as I have a blogging class that the prof prefers to be done using wordpress. It's a little hard because I can't just type and whatever, I have to actually convey a message. I do very little of conveying anything on this blog, and I apologize to all of you.

I've been updating my flickr a lot, so I think I will be just posting random artzy things here, and leaving in depth word play to other blogs.
This Picture while not taken by me, is blowing my mind as of right now.

Keep it real guys, keep it real.

Labels: emo, internet, life, philosophy

The Love

I am listening to a piece on the CBC about the French, and their love of love. It's strange thinking about the cultures out there that put a lot less stock in monogamy, and abstinence before marriage. It's not that I suggest doing these things, I don't think I am in any position to condone anything, especially anything sexual. However, it really got me thinking about living life passionately.

Is it the conditions that we live in that cause us to supress our feelings of desire? Is it the religious revival of our land that is killing our lust for life? Is it so wrong to want to seize what makes us passionate?

A friend wrote me a letter about how he had figured out why he was always so happy and successful. He told me that he always had a positive outlook on life, regardless of how shitty his life was, he just looked forward as if there was nothing in his way. This same friend has no problems with people seeing him naked, no problems with making love, and no problems with making a complete ass of himself for other's amusement (he is a professional clown and magician). He does what he loves, and loves what he does. Why should that be different than everyone else?

Again, I'm not saying sleep with everyone you know. However, I would like everyone who reads this to take a moment each day, and just do something that you enjoy.

Labels: emo, life, philosophy