A Day of Silence

as a fan of music in general - it has been incredibly heartening to witness the emergence of:

1. Amazon's Long Tail
2. iTunes decoupling of individual songs from albums, and
3. smart internet radio

since listening to pandora for a few months - i've created two radio stations (posted on the side of my blog) and based on songs in those stations, i've purchased two full albums and two singles from iTunes. i've also become interested in purchasing more stuff from one established artist, as well as about five more obscure artists... as my budget allows.

This is stuff I never would have discovered any other way - were it not for the genetic algorithms that allow me to enter songs, albums and/or artists as seed elements, and return new stuff that i find i am loving.

somehow the music business feels, ugh... threatened(?) by internet radio - and has managed to push through legislation that increases licensing fee's for internet radio - to the point that their business model (on-screen adds and purchase referrals?) won't survive. another model i've heard will limit these fee's to only the "big boys" of internet radio - but this approach is no better - no one will invest in cool ideas if there is no payout on the other side.

internet radio helps both music and musicians by bringing more and better music to the masses.. and it really seems like free advertising to me. i'd really like the music execs to recognize they are shooting themselves in the foot by limiting the kinds and amount of music we are exposed to. What they are doing seems so very short sighted and ultimately counterproductive to their own interests. But ultimately - this is legislation - and our government is sposta be looking out for the consumer

what follows is currently on the home page of Pandora:

Hi, it's Tim from Pandora,

I'm sorry to say that today Pandora, along with most Internet radio sites, is going off the air in observance of a Day Of Silence. We are doing this to bring to your attention a disastrous turn of events that threatens the existence of Pandora and all of internet radio. We need your help.

Ignoring all rationality and responding only to the lobbying of the RIAA, an arbitration committee in Washington DC has drastically increased the licensing fees Internet radio sites must pay to stream songs. Pandora's fees will triple, and are retroactive for eighteen months! Left unchanged by Congress, every day will be like today as internet radio sites start shutting down and the music dies.

A bill called the "Internet Radio Equality Act" has already been introduced in both the Senate (S. 1353) and House of Representatives (H.R. 2060) to fix the problem and save Internet radio--and Pandora--from obliteration.

I'd like to ask you to call your Congressional representatives today and ask them to become co-sponsors of the bill. It will only take a few minutes and you can find your Congresspersons and their phone numbers by entering your zip code here.

Your opinion matters to your representatives - so please take just a minute to call.

Visit www.savenetradio.org to continue following the fight to Save Internet Radio.

As always, and now more than ever, thank you for your support.

-Tim Westergren
(Pandora founder)

also: Today KCRW is streaming a one-hour program that features interviews with a variety of Internet broadcasters about this important issue. You can listen to this stream in iTunes by clicking this link.

on species and flocking

we see birds flock overhead, we see fish flock in a pond, we see people flock to their respective places of worship, and children of similar age find each other - we all seem to take comfort with the idea, "you look like me".

as an s2000 owner - i've experienced another flocking phenomena: the instant brotherhood and trust that comes from crossing paths with another s2000 on the road. for the record: the protocol is a wave (a finger lift will do - after all the business at hand is driving), a broad knowing smile, and when stopped (with tops down) the reflexive compliment "nice car".

i've met guys that felt like my best friend after a few miles, and i was sad to see them go. i met one guy who was reading a book in the middle lane of the tollroad - and felt it my personal responsibility to kick his effing ass for that. but mostly i've met entities just like me - quick, alert, courteous to a point, guys that have no desire or need to compete, but rather immediately acknowledge my intrinsic worth and shared values. it's an instant safe environment.

lets compare this to a few other species:

minivans - as long as they are in the right lane, or moving out as appropriate, proper courtesy will be rendered. minivans are not people though - they are self absorbed elephants.

SUVs are inbred minivans - bigger, dumber, laden with genetic errors. SUVs are not people either - they are self absorbed mutants without free will, but with an ego. don't expect them to do much but wonder why you are pissed at them for matching the speed of those around them in the 3rd or 4th lane for miles at a time. ignorance incarnate.

trucks, particularly big trucks, from texas, and with tandem wheels - are dangerous. their weight distribution is whacked - yet they are surprisingly quick. they think they are as fast as an s2000 in the curves and have been known to tail you through the twisties into triple digits - but also arrogantly see no need to move out of the left lane with they clearly are not that fast. they needlessly add drama and tension to what could otherwise be fun situations, and i don't like being around them because i don't trust them and don't want to see one roll over or come off a cliff. if they stuck to what they know i'd respect them a hell of a lot more.

american cars are nothing more than pylons for driving by, including the high potential of the corvette. in deutschland- all of them know their place in the right lane of the autobahn. all image and no engineering... they have no free will and are doubtful sentient - although i've never actually tried to talk to one.

bmw - are sentient and usually make good travel companions. the 540's in particular - are secure in themselves but wise enough to not want to compete - and can indeed be a kindred spirit. but sometimes something inside is retarded and seems incapable of administering their gifted physical capability. unfortunately there are enough of these outsider data points to confound any verdict. the three series bmw's aren't that much of a direct threat and are usually capable enough... but those bmw that compete directly - the M3s in particular, are cold and indifferent. they can be fun to watch though.

porsche - are a relational disappointment. in all but the most expensive and capable porsche, s2000s compete closely or exceed them... a point that most porsche don't allow into their universe given our differing socioeconomic backgrounds. the most capable porsche are either way over my capability point - or are piloted by incompetents who somehow feel the privilege to take up space in the left lane. like i said, a disappointment.

miata's are well behaved little guys that don't mess with us and understand the difference better than anyone. consequently relations are civil and normalized. we're happy to eat lunch together and chat about whatever. ego's are never at issue.

Z4's are a parallel species but aliens. we don't talk to each other and don't mess with each other.

Nissan Z's are our bulkier cousin. competition is always a possibility - and a friendship isn't necessarily in mind - but its only about bragging rights... not anything more serious than that. personally, i think we have the edge. G35's are their equally capable sibling dressed in a suit scared to go outside.

performance modified ricers - aspire to be s2000s when they grow up, and jump at every chance to prove their worth. like a little brother they are willing to provoke to get a response (revving, horns, and weaving). usually well natured and fun and only mildly irritating. occasionally foolish enough to be dangerous.

cosmetically modified ricers - couldn't afford driving school and think they have somehow changed their performance by swapping out air dam's and moding tail lights. if they come alive nearby your best bet is to exit the situation as quickly as possible... either by disappearing forward or backing off. any close contest will result in them overdriving their car. it's not worth it.

old school muscle: displacement vs technology. ideally a respect for the generations keeps the peace. if not, all bets are off and the stakes go high. things can get primal very quickly. too bad we don't always respect our elders. and too bad our elders don't have the self confidence to not feel threatened by something newer going by. but sometimes a little tussle builds respect.

crotch rockets. a similarly complex eco system is present in the sport bike world. one of the most incredible aspects of owning an s2000, is that i'm actually recognized in their world as a sentient being with free will and a personality. after all - if you have to be driving on four wheels you might as well have 9,000 rpms. in a tunnel (a great time to relish your engine sound!) my two liters can add a respectable sub-harmonic to their 18,000 rpms.

semi's are the wizards of the road. too old and too wise to buzz about - they nevertheless are courteous and respectful of the s2000's capability and can handle themselves with respectable aplomb. often enough they will select a lane that allows you to complete a pass at nearly maximum acceleration so that you won't get stuck behind them. they always return a thank you for such courtesy.

it's a jungle out there. and a friend with whom you share common values is always a welcome sight. even if you just met him.

on language

i think words suck. so listening to me describe words' failings, while using words - makes no sense. i suggest you turn away.

i visualize words as posts, sunk in concrete, arrayed along a rolling field (e.g. a microsoft wallpaper), with very specific meaning associated to each post based upon their location.

the problem is the location of the the posts seem arbitrary - they are in weird locations (actually the locations/meanings are tied to culture - but culture is arbitrary); while the distance between the posts is often much too far to allow much finesse or elegance of expression.

i much prefer music / sound to convey subtlety of meaning - and i much prefer a mathematical equation / formula for efficiency of communication.

not long ago, my wife was speaking arabic in the kitchen, to herself - but for my benefit, while she was washing sweet potatoes. she said the arabic word for sweet potato - and then said literally it means "honey potato". i thought - wow, what rich meaning there - what an amazing new way of looking at a sweet potato.

as i discover arabic - i'm learning that very few arabic posts are co-located with an english post. and, that a new language - which requires looking at things from a new perspective - serves the same purpose as art, is as valuable as art, and enriches life experience just like art.

i think if we each spoke 10 or 20 languages - and could mix and match at will - i might not find words as inadequate as i do.

the oil companies are screwing us

yeah i know. but this is one instance when corporate greed could potentially really work itself out... if all goes really wrong - or right - depending on your point of view.

- a buddy and i were talking at lunch sunday, about a particular post from Scott Adams (Creator of Dilbert) that really caught our attention and has been resonating with us for weeks...

we both said we aught to blog about it - but all i'm really gonna do is link to it.

anyway - these two articles taken side by side pretty much sum up why I am a fan of american gas prices reaching $5 / gallon - and the sooner the better.

Wired | Scott Adams