Music in the Cloud

The Times They Are A-Changin' ...

In December 2009 Apple bought Lala.com. The news seemed to be met with...well, a whimper. A lot of people probably don't know what Lala is, so let me quickly explain.

www.lala.com is a website where you can stream music. You just need a connection and you're ready to go. Lala uses the Cloud computing model - where information and databases are stored remotely, in the "Cloud" as opposed to locally. The advantage for consumers is you don't need to worry about space or a computer crashing, and the advantage for the Host is annual fees and, likely, little customer service and maintenance. A win-win for both.

So that's where Lala gets it's wings. It uses the Cloud to let users stream music, and store it remotely on the Lala server (or whichever company they use). Users can listen to most anything one time for free. After that you only get a 30 second clip, but you can buy a song credit for $0.10. Once you buy it you can access it online as much as you like. To truly BUY a song, download it and OWN it, you usually pay around $0.89, comparable to iTunes or Amazon.

For me, I like the online option. I use it quite a bit to try out albums I think I might like to buy. I must say I have not purchased any credits, but only because they give you 50 free to start. Plus, I probably use it the most to listen to things I haven't heard. One free listen, the whole album. If I like it there's a good chance I'll buy the cd. If not, I won't. Easy.

Yes, I still buy cds. There's just something about a cd that I still like. A tangible, real feeling. Putting it in the cd player. Pushing play. Hearing it spin (old cd player). I like the ease and transparency of digital music, but I still like cds too. I just had to comment, sorry. Back to the story....

So Apple acquires Lala. A few articles were written about it, but all in all not much coverage. I guess that makes sense since, really, not a lot of people use it. But I think Apple purchasing Lala is rather significant. It signals either a) Apple wants to squash the $0.10 online model or b) Apple is moving to the Cloud, for iTunes, iPhones, and everything else 'i' you can think of. It makes sense. It's transparent. People will have more access, and ultimately more chance to buy - music, tv shows, movies. Smart.

I don't think it's a bad thing. As I said, I use Lala quite a bit. I really like it. It's very easy to use and I like the "one time free" option. Let me try to like something first, then I'll buy it.

Eventually, I've got to believe we'll have online access more or less everywhere. In your car you'll have internet through your navigation screen, or LCD, whatever. You'll search for what you want, then click the map for the directions. You'll be home and your TV will have internet (they're already becoming more popular), you'll stream music from your computer. Why not online? I just think it's inevitable. The convergence will happen.

Which brings us back to Lala. I believe it makes sense to have a model where users effectively 'rent' songs. If you want to buy it, great. But you don't have to, and maybe 'renting' makes more sense.

Corey Haim RIP

Cry Little Sister [Theme From ...

I was very sad to hear of Corey Haim passing away. He starred in a couple movies that were a big part of my growing up - The Lost Boys and License to Drive (I'd throw Dream a Little Dream and Lucas in there but I just didn't take to those as much).

The Lost Boys was the first 'R' rated movie I saw in the theater, at least that I remember. I think I was 12, and my brother Brian let me tag along with him and his friend Luca. I remember it clearly. It was a visual assault for me, I'd never seen anything like that - so big, so loud, so.....cool!! It was incredible. To this day, I love that movie. I know a lot of people love it, so I'm not original, but it really is an awesome film. A fun story, not too scary, action, a little romance (c'mon, Star is hot!), great final battle, a fantastic soundtrack...and vampires. It's obvious people like vampires (as evidenced by the Twilight saga). The Lost Boys is absolutely in my Top 10 favorite films. Towards the back but I'm sure it's in there. Gotta be. Here's the original trailer:



Corey Haim was great in the The Lost Boys. I don't care what anyone says. Even with the dumb little tongue waggle thing he did, he was cool. Colorful 1980s clothes, but cool. So was Corey Feldman. So was his Frog brother (was that guy ever in another movie??). Jason Patric was cool. Keifer Sutherland was cool. Even Marco with the curly hair was...COOL. Corey Haim gets props for The Lost Boys. Moving on.....

License to Drive is a film I'm not sure many people like. I certainly understand why. But I liked it, especially when it came out, and at least for a few years following. So did my brothers. It was funny, and stupid. We liked that stuff. Police Academy. Airplane. The Naked Gun. Those are funny movies. Stupid, but funny. So was License to Drive. The Dad is hilarious. Heather Graham as Mercedes Lane. WOW. Probably the first girl I really, truly thought I loved. She was incredible. When he finally gets her in the car towards the end? Oh, man. OH, man. You felt so good for him. Les Anderson was King. The kind of dorky guy who got the girl. Corey Haim. I would say I've seen that movie at least 25 times (though none in the last, probably, 15 years). For me, License to Drive is one of those movies. We've all got a couple. A movie we love, that a lot of others probably don't. Another reason movies are great - something you think is bad...someone else thinks is good. There's a balance. And I loved License to Drive.

So there you go. I just paid tribute to the movies he was in, but not really Corey Haim. His is a sad story, one no one really seems surprised about. To me, that's the most tragic thing of all. We all say we could likely see something this coming. We're not surprised. We were surprised with Heath Ledger. We were surprised with Michael Jackson (were we? We seemed like it). We weren't surprised with Corey Haim. That's really sad, and I think that's part of the reason his passing hurts a little more than those others. Who else fits that profile? I'd offer Lindsay Lohan. We've watched her spiral into whatever she is, and really, would you be surprised to hear she overdosed? Nope. And then there's Keith Richards. The guy falls out of a tree (a tree!), hits his head and year later he's back on tour. Nothing can destroy that man. Some are just made for it, I guess.

So, to Corey Haim. May you rest in peace. Thanks for the memories.

Academy Awards 2010 - A Half-Assed List

The Weary Kind (Theme from Cra...

It's Oscar time again and I thought I'd take a few minutes to put down some thoughts. There's always so much buildup to something that usually seems so, well, predictable. Who hasn't won before? Who should have won last time? Who won't win this time because they'll probably win in the future? We'll watch the show because we always do, and Lizi loves the red carpet stuff. I think it's fun to watch the awkward walks to the stage after people have won. To me, that's how you tell the surprises - the farther back someone is sitting, the less likely someone else thought it was that person would win. Fun, but predictable.

This year it's Alec Bladwin hosting with Steve Martin. I think that'll be good. I like the idea of the dual-host. It's such a stale kind of show that I think it's good to have two people. Billy Crystal, while funny, had run his course so I'm glad to see they haven't gone back to him. Maybe one day they'll get Ant and Dec (for my US readers, look them up. Ha, I have US readers).

Lizi and I enjoy movies. A long time ago, I wanted to be a director, a writer, editor...whatever. I was even a Media Arts major at UofA. I grew up on The Goonies, The Lost Boys, Ferris Bueller...everything you'd guess of a kid in 1980s America (including Weird Science, the Star Wars films, and Academy Award winner for Best Picture in 1976....ROCKY!) . We don't go to the movies much anymore but we still try. Having a kid makes it tough. Lizi gets there a bit more than I do, as she and her friends sometimes go. I don't have many friends who enjoy going, plus, I'd rather spend my free time playing golf or something.

Here are my picks. It's a 10am list, not 10pm. And I haven't seen a lot of stuff, so yes, it's a half assed list. But I'll make some guesses and see if predictable wins out yet again. I'm just going with the 'major' (I certainly don't mean to discount anything else, I just don't know the films at all) categories because I haven't seen everything, and who am I to say if Il Devo had better makeup than The Young Victoria?

Best Actor - Jeff Bridges
People like him and want him to win. He'll win. Clooney will get his later, I'm sure.

Supporting Actor - Christopher Waltz
He was incredible and should easily win. If he doesn't it just means it's definitely all a scam.

Best Actress - Meryl Streep
Maybe Sandra Bullock but I think Meryl (I call her Meryl, too) wins this time. See above for: who hasn't won in a long time

Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique
Because I don't know who else and this seems like a winner. Going with the predictable factor....

Animated Feature Film - Up
Because I don't think it wins Best Picture. I heard Fantastic Mr. Fox was really good but I didn't see it. I'd like to.

Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow
Reitman will get his. I don't think Cameron wins, and I don't think Hurt Locker wins Best Picture, so I go with Bigelow.

Music Original Song - “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)”
Because T Bone Burnett is cool. That Robert Palmer/Alison Krause album he produced was awesome.


Writing, Adapted Screenplay - Up in the Air
I think this is the one it will win, if just one.

Writing, Original Screenplay - “Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
Because the man can write, and I think thought the dialogue was fantastic.


Best Picture (I will give brief run down, if I saw it; winner in bold):

• Avatar- say whatever you want, it was pretty cool
• The Blind Side - didn't see it, but heard it was good. I'm sure it was. Not that interested.
• District 9 - I am in the huge minority of those who didn't like this. I appreciated the idea, and liked the documentary style. Loved the lead guy. But just didn't care for it. Felt like I was supposed to because of it's "message". Sorry, just too in your face for me, and didn't need that. Cool sci fi but not as groundbreaking as I think a lot think it is.
• An Education - didn't see it; haven't heard much
• The Hurt Locker - liked this a lot but, like District 9, thought it was a bit overhyped. I personally like Black Hawk Down more, but whatever.
• Inglourious Basterds - for me, the most entertaining and best made film I saw. Great script, great acting, great story. Just really enjoyed it, more than I thought I would. I think it's the best film he's made since Pulp Fiction.
• Precious- didn't see it but looks really heavy. I'm sure very good but it won't win.
• A Serious Man - need to see it; heard it was good. I love that the Coen Brothers just churn movies out. Not everything will be, or needs to be, a masterpiece. It's about telling stories and these guys are the best.
• Up - I liked it a lot but Best Picture it most certainly is not.
• Up in the Air - need to see it; Lizi saw it and liked it a lot though not as much as I might have thought she would. Think it got built up a bit. Don't think it wins.
  

So there you go. Half a list. Probably wrong. Enjoy.....

How To Catch a Rabbit Under Your Couch

White Rabbit - Jefferson Airpl...

It's not often I've found myself chasing rabbits. Playing golf in Arizona you encounter many of them, but you don't (usually) chase them, and you certainly don't try to catch them. I've seen many people try, and none succeed.

Tonight, while my daughter was eating dinner, and my wife and I were sitting with her, my wife turned to me and said "there's a rabbit in the family room."

We don't have a rabbit. We have two cats, Floyd and Alice. They're both pains in the butt in their own special ways, but they have yet to bring a rabbit into the house. Birds, sure. Lizards, yes. Rabbits, no. I thought maybe it was a rat, or mouse. I'd seen a small mouse (rat?) outside a few months ago but I've never actually seen rabbits at our house, let alone in our house. We don't live in the middle of the desert (it's pretty suburban) so we don't see many rabbits.

This was a pretty little guy. Here's a picture of him, while eating a little Green Delight (don't mind the couch. I could kill those cats sometimes).


Right when Lizi said it I looked over and he ran into a corner. We thought we had him cornered but then he ran behind the entertainment console, where he buried himself beneath the mess of wires (it really is incredible how many wires you have if you've got a lot of stuff hooked up - power cables, component cables, hdmi, optical, etc). Eventually, he found his way under the couch, where we tried to chase him into a box, which worked...except that he actually jumped out of the box. I thought maybe I could 'rabbit whisper' him back into the box. That didn't work very well. Here is a picture of my post-rabbit whisper attempt. Do not try this. It doesn't work.


I had obviously underestimated my bushy-tailed foe. So, the following is what you need the next time you've got a rabbit under your couch. This is a two person job, unless circumstances do not allow.

• 2 long handled sticks
• box - big enough so he can't jump out
• pillow - or something to cover box
• flashlight
  
• lettuce and/or carrots
• 2 1/2 year old little girl to 'help'

You need to stuff the bottom of the couch so the rabbit can't get out. He must be contained. Pillows and blankets work well for this step. After we stuffed the bottom of the couch, we actually ate dinner while he (she?) was eating some nice carrots under the couch. I think that was a win-win for both of us. Take some time to gather your thoughts. Relax. Wine might help.

When ready, you need to identify where the rabbit is. Maneuver one of the sticks so the rabbit can't get past it. You will create a 'wave' effect - and push the rabbit toward the box. Next, you will use the second stick to gently guide rabbit towards the box. Inside the box is more Green Delight, as well as some carrots. Once the rabbit enters the box, slide the pillow over the top, securing our friend inside. If it's a 'normal', brown cardboard box, use the sides to help lock the pillow on the box.

At this point transport the box to somewhere you can let the rabbit out, and let him feel free again.

I hope you don't ever need to use these instructions, but if you do, hopefully this will help.