Friday, April 29, 2005
Skype - Out, In, Etc.
I have found myself in the last several weeks using Skype a lot. We have had a couple of conference calls for AMP(Association of Music Podcasting) where I am President and I have been working with someone who is spending time on Acmenoise who will be working remotely with a distributed group of people. So I decided last night to take the big time Skype Plunge. I am going to ad a link to the blog, I bought a Skype In number I am going to publish and really want to see how far they can take this.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Edge of the Network Propaganda - Welcome to the Future
This is an incredible piece of videoblogging edge of the network propaganda by Chuck Olsen from Minneapolis. Do yourself a favor and check it out! Its witty and poignant. Cameraphones have replaced lighters at concerts. Classic.
The Scooter Diaries
Che Guevera rode a motorcycle through South America, as chronicled in The Motorcycle Diaries, and ended up departing his career as a physician in favor of becoming a revolutionary in the 3rd world. As we look to the mobile world and the incredible opportunities in edge of the network content we derive some of our inspiration from our scooters.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Podcast Broadcast
Infinity is creating an all podcast radio station called KYOU. More thoughts later...I've been aware of it for a little while and am curious to see what the execution is like.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
ArtWalk
We came home early a day from vacation and decided to take a quick run down to the Little Italy section of San Diego to check out ArtWalk. It had been a number of years since we had been to this event as we try to go to Jazzfest in New Orleans on the same weekend most years. I was blown away. It had been a number of years since we had been there and it has grown substantially. In addition to the volume, the quality was awesome. Too many of these types of shows are heavy on the arts and crafts category. We picked up two small things by Grant Pecoff and Cynthia Colis. We had seen Grant's work for many years hanging in our favorite sushi bar in Solana Beach and couldn't walk away with out something small.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Mt. San Jacinto
We took a break from the poolside for a quick trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. At the top we were six miles from the peak of Mt. San Jacinto. It was gorgeous. It reminded me of how much I miss hiking, which was something Jessica and I did a lot when we first started dating and well into the years before kids. I can't wait until I can make them march up with me. We had climbed this peak from the South Side probably 7+ years ago. 15 miles roundtrip. That's a good hike.
Google Video Upload Part Three
I got back from vacation and was anxious to check out my video that I uploaded on Google. Um, its still not there. Strange, but then it's free right? Its going to be really cool when putting video on the net is easier than configuring Trumpet Winsock to surf the Internet.
Lexis Nexis
Got back from vacation refreshed and ready to go. I had one interesting piece of welcome mail that I thought I would share. A couple of weeks ago when I heard about this story on NPR, I chuckled. Unfortunately for me I had two pieces of mail from Lexis Nexis when I got home. Ok, so I guess it wasn't that funny any more. I am going to be spending some time with them on the phone today and since I am a California resident I am "freezing my credit file". I'd recommend that if you live in California you should look into it.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Palm Springs
Each year around this time for many years my wife and I take a quick break by hauling out to Palm Springs and spending a little time by the pool on days where the temperature is between 90-100 F. This year we decided to take the brood.
All in all its been a good trip so far. I planned on not blogging or working or really doing much of anything. Today on a whim I fired up the laptop and found some free wifi. This from a house on a golf course. I guess that makes sense but in years past my cellphone barely worked.
I try to use this break to decompress and always try to read something I wouldn't normally read. (I normally read business and technology books). I think last year I was reading Free Culture but that might have been around July.
This year I am reading "From Jesus to Christianity" which is unlike anything I have read since Guns, Germs and Steel. I found myself slightly interested in the papal succession and had some lingering issues from reading The Da Vinci Code so the Michael White piece seemed like one of the better books on early church history. I have a friend Copil Yanez who undertook a study of the transformation of the Mormon Church as it achieved it's amazing current growth rates and began to smooth out the rough edges. Reviewing the foundations of early Christianity seems as interesting a topic. I'll let you know later.
All in all its been a good trip so far. I planned on not blogging or working or really doing much of anything. Today on a whim I fired up the laptop and found some free wifi. This from a house on a golf course. I guess that makes sense but in years past my cellphone barely worked.
I try to use this break to decompress and always try to read something I wouldn't normally read. (I normally read business and technology books). I think last year I was reading Free Culture but that might have been around July.
This year I am reading "From Jesus to Christianity" which is unlike anything I have read since Guns, Germs and Steel. I found myself slightly interested in the papal succession and had some lingering issues from reading The Da Vinci Code so the Michael White piece seemed like one of the better books on early church history. I have a friend Copil Yanez who undertook a study of the transformation of the Mormon Church as it achieved it's amazing current growth rates and began to smooth out the rough edges. Reviewing the foundations of early Christianity seems as interesting a topic. I'll let you know later.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Blogging, Riverside and Ned Cooney
I think that as you continue to blog, you increasingly understand the power of information and networks. Several months ago a friend from high school sent me an email as she had discovered my blog and wanted to see if I was the same Derrick Oien.
Recently I noticed a person from the City of Riverside had been reading my blog. Nobody came to mind, then I recalled that a friend I hadn't seen in like 10 years was the head of a non-profit in Riverside County. Rika Dotson, who was the other person mentioned previously was a friend of this person Ned Cooney as well. I emailed her to see if she knew his email address. I got it and sent him an email asking him if he was reading my blog. I didn't hear back.
We recently hired a system administrator who worked with us at MP3.com who is based in Montana. Scott comes down once in a while but generally overseas our managed hosting group here in San Diego from afar. Yesterday I got a call from Montana and I answered the phone, "Yeah Scott"
"Hey Derrick"
"This isn't Scott?"
"No it's Ned Cooney"
"What the hell are you doing in Montana?"
"How did you know I was in Montana?"
"My System Administrator lives there."
"Weird"
We had a great chat. I still don't know who in Riverside is reading, but it was great getting in touch with Ned.
Recently I noticed a person from the City of Riverside had been reading my blog. Nobody came to mind, then I recalled that a friend I hadn't seen in like 10 years was the head of a non-profit in Riverside County. Rika Dotson, who was the other person mentioned previously was a friend of this person Ned Cooney as well. I emailed her to see if she knew his email address. I got it and sent him an email asking him if he was reading my blog. I didn't hear back.
We recently hired a system administrator who worked with us at MP3.com who is based in Montana. Scott comes down once in a while but generally overseas our managed hosting group here in San Diego from afar. Yesterday I got a call from Montana and I answered the phone, "Yeah Scott"
"Hey Derrick"
"This isn't Scott?"
"No it's Ned Cooney"
"What the hell are you doing in Montana?"
"How did you know I was in Montana?"
"My System Administrator lives there."
"Weird"
We had a great chat. I still don't know who in Riverside is reading, but it was great getting in touch with Ned.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Ourmedia Vs. Google Video
I have had a couple of hiccups getting my podcasts over to Ourmedia. I think they are going to figure it out soon, which will be great. I like the Ourmeda Publisher tool so far as it is really feature rich as far as metadata for content. I am a bit bummed that the files are getting stuck at the Internet Archive, but hey its almost there right?
So the Google Video tool is even easier. Except it doesn't really have any other information other than the file name. Hmmm. Ok. So I sent a file to the Google servers and guess what? It's not in my account. Maybe this whole video thing isn't so easy. I know when we did Mp4.com several years ago we realized that there is a lot to chew on here. The good news in all of this though is that hosting really heavy content on the Internet just got a whole lot cheaper. I mean free. The question I have to ask myself is what are the hosts going to do with it? It will be interesting to see.
So the Google Video tool is even easier. Except it doesn't really have any other information other than the file name. Hmmm. Ok. So I sent a file to the Google servers and guess what? It's not in my account. Maybe this whole video thing isn't so easy. I know when we did Mp4.com several years ago we realized that there is a lot to chew on here. The good news in all of this though is that hosting really heavy content on the Internet just got a whole lot cheaper. I mean free. The question I have to ask myself is what are the hosts going to do with it? It will be interesting to see.
TMobile Voicemail Upgrade Problems
I just searched around the web and I guess I must be one of the only ones, but I have to say that the new TMobile voicemail upgrade has driven me to the edge of my sanity. I have phones from just about every carrier (surprise, surprise) but TMobile is my primary carrier. Recently they took the voicemail program that they have been using for the last several years.
Aside from major changes in how the voicemail works, I have had a number of really cool new features like missed voicemails, voicemails that mysteriously appear hours or days later, voicemail icons that wont go away - or wont appear. I can't take it. So I can understand that as a user I have to change how I use my voicemail if they change software providers. What I don't understand is why it doesn't work. That's not good.
Aside from major changes in how the voicemail works, I have had a number of really cool new features like missed voicemails, voicemails that mysteriously appear hours or days later, voicemail icons that wont go away - or wont appear. I can't take it. So I can understand that as a user I have to change how I use my voicemail if they change software providers. What I don't understand is why it doesn't work. That's not good.
Google Video Upload
Been trying to try out Google Video Service. The tool is really straightforward, but I can't seem to get past the login screen. Must be really busy right now. It's hanging or something. Can't wait to see what they are doing. Oh, I am so thankful for that Gmail invitation that allowed me in. Anyone need one? ;-) Right.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Triplet Spotting
I was driving in heavy traffic tonight northbound in between meetings with our developers and our CFO. The car in front of me had a license plate frame that said "I used to have time...Then I had triplets." I quickly pulled alongside him and honked my horn while rolling down my window.
"Hey, I have triplets too!"
"Yeah, how old?"
"Four Months"
"Mine are 10 years old, there is hope, don't worry."
I waved and continued on.
"Hey, I have triplets too!"
"Yeah, how old?"
"Four Months"
"Mine are 10 years old, there is hope, don't worry."
I waved and continued on.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
AMP - Association of Music Podcasting website
The AMP website went up over the last couple of days. It looks awesome. Check it out!
We went to Fry's today
Can a trip to Fry's ever really be satisfying? There are too many things to buy and not enough time or money to ever make it feel as good as you think it will feel before you go in. That said, we bought the following:
An Apple Ipod Mini for Jessica. Blue. 4Gig
I bought a Ramsey's Electronics FM Stereo Transmitter. Back in October I wanted to do a little broadcasting from a low power transmitter. So after I lean how to use a soldering iron and I can find a couple of hours to spare, I'm finally going to give it a try.
Two Electric Powered Razor scooters. The office was feeling a little stark and Fry's didn't have any beanbags. I am sure these are going to be a lot of fun. I'll post a picture or a videopost soon.
An Apple Ipod Mini for Jessica. Blue. 4Gig
I bought a Ramsey's Electronics FM Stereo Transmitter. Back in October I wanted to do a little broadcasting from a low power transmitter. So after I lean how to use a soldering iron and I can find a couple of hours to spare, I'm finally going to give it a try.
Two Electric Powered Razor scooters. The office was feeling a little stark and Fry's didn't have any beanbags. I am sure these are going to be a lot of fun. I'll post a picture or a videopost soon.
Copyright and Grouper
Neil Berkman, who worked with me at Echo sent me this link to an LA Times story today about Grouper and pushing the boundaries of intellectual property law. Neil said it reminded him of what I was writing about in The Copyright Fairy pieces.
There is no question in my mind that there are opportunities to make money for those who can solve the technological and intellectual property issues around media. As I have said before I think the best way to facilitate that is to work with people who openly embrace the interaction between consumers, technology and media. Any other hair splitting approaches such as limiting to a certain number of people, or streaming not downloading, seems destined for litigation. Litigation as a component of a startup's business plan is generally not advised. Rare cases like Lindows aside, I think that staying clear of the controversy is the best path.
There is no question in my mind that there are opportunities to make money for those who can solve the technological and intellectual property issues around media. As I have said before I think the best way to facilitate that is to work with people who openly embrace the interaction between consumers, technology and media. Any other hair splitting approaches such as limiting to a certain number of people, or streaming not downloading, seems destined for litigation. Litigation as a component of a startup's business plan is generally not advised. Rare cases like Lindows aside, I think that staying clear of the controversy is the best path.
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