Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Facebook and privacy

I like how Facebook has “opened up” recently. In other words, I am glad this once little college-based social network has grown massively into a social network pioneer. Facebook is an Internet gigant now. It continues to “blow up” so to speak. The addition of the mini-feed and applications has created a totally new social network experience.

Facebook’s features are plentiful and, fortunately for us users, they offer very elaborate privacy settings. (Myspace, for better or worse, gives users a simple choice: private or public. That’s it! Last time I checked at least.)

I URGE everyone to pay attention to your privacy settings on Facebook, especially those of us living in the “real” world (not in college anymore).

Facebook added a new “Public Search Listing” today. It means two things. The first being non-members of the site can now search your name and pull up the thumbnail of your picture with four options: Message, Poke, Add to Friends, View Friend List. (You can change what will appear by checking and un-checking boxes in your privacy settings.)

Secondly, your public search listing will be indexed by external search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, or MSN. That means your little Facebook box showing the thumbnail and the user set options will appear, I assume. Search engine indexing will occur soon; a vague timetable is set.

Of course, both public search listings are a privacy setting set by the user. You can opt out of both if you wish. But, the default setting allows anyone to search for you both through Facebook and through search engine.

Personally, I turned off the external search engine setting, but left the search through Facebook open. If people want to find me on here, find me through Facebook. I don’t need someone Google-ing my name and finding me on Facebook.

My privacy settings are moderately strict. My photos, friends, wall, notes, mini-feed, etc. are ONLY available to my friends. Granted, I have a few random friends on Facebook, but they are either friends of friends from college or high school. I don’t accept random requests. Message me if you need to, but I am not going to open up my profile for just anyone. I have a lot of stuff (i.e. photos, notes) that random people don’t need to see.

The only piece of this privacy puzzle I’m not totally knowledgeable about is the limited profile. Let’s say someone sends me a message, they cannot see my profile or my limited profile. But, if I send a message to someone who is not a friend or reply to a message sent from someone who is not a friend, they can see my limited profile for something like 30 days. I think that’s how it works.

And the default settings for the limited profile aren’t very “limited.”

So…

Be careful!

Examine your privacy settings!

I recommend making your “limited” profile actually limited.

Read about this new public search listing.

Be smart and responsible on Facebook. It’s an outstanding social network.

Friday, June 01, 2007

The Interrupter

Late Night with Conan O'Brien is silly, random, ridiculous and just plain hilarious, in my opinion. Here's a video to prove it.

The Interrupter is played by Brian Stack, a writer and comic best known for things like this on Conan. I can't find a video of his sketch as Hannigan the travelling salesman (it's fantastic) but I stumbled across another gem from the O'Brien/Stack collection recently and had a good laugh with a buddy. In this one he plays Artie Kendall the "Ghost Crooner" and ... you just have to watch it.

I'll continue to look for the travelling salesman video.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

I like my camera

I've been shooting my D70 at friends' softball games and I've gotten some decent stuff. Here's a little Scotty H. for you.

Riot May 19 2007 (58)
Riot May 19 2007 (59)
Riot May 19 2007 (60)
Riot May 19 2007 (61)

She's out!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Web 2.0 video

It's cool. It shows Netvibes, which you should totally use by now.

Friday, May 18, 2007

The Boy With No Name

I can't stop listening to the new Travis album, The Boy With No Name.

But, it's not shocking. I've loved this Scottish band since I started consistently spinning The Man Who back in 2002. (Yeah, I know, it hit the US in May 2000. Shoot me.)

"Closer" is the first single on The Boy With No Name. It's a light-hearted, poppy and sorta love song-ish, but I still find it completely irresistible. It's the third track on the new album (their 5th full-length) released May 7.

Here's the video for "Closer"


Right now, my favorites on the album are the opener, "3 Times And You Lose" and "My Eyes" but I'm sure that will change with more and more listens.

They should tour soon. I use "should" because normally bands tour following an album release, but so far they are playing some festivals but no US tour announcements. I'll be there when they do though.

Buy The Boy With No Name on Amazon here. If you've never listened to them, it might not be a bad place to start. Who said working backwards isn't cool? This live DVD is great too, btw.

Oh man, I just found a video of Demetri Martin "interpreting" the second track on the album, "Selfish Jean" and that dude's just friggin' hilarious so here ya go.




And I'm including one more video for good measure. Here's the opening track of their fantastic sophomore album, The Man Who. It still reminds me of someone I used to know.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Nicole Atkins on World Cafe

It's no secret I think Nicole Atkins is awesome. I've never met her but I feel a certain connectedness with the Jersey gal singer-songwriter. And before everyone thinks I'm creepy, I should mention I knew her younger sister, Courtney, fairly well while in college.

Yes, Courtney and I were Outlook buddies; I was her successor for the Editor-in-Chief position at our wonderful college newspaper. I think it was 2003 when she gave me a CD her sister put together called Paperhouses. To be honest, I didn't give those eight songs enough time in my CD player.

Skip ahead a few years to March 2006 and here I am, just browsing around Rolling Stone's site and who do I see as one of the 10 artists to watch? You guessed it.

That's some serious press. AND... she'd recently signed with Columbia. It was then I realize this girl is seriously going places. Good for her, I thought. That's really cool.

So now she's a friggin' rock star... sorta. I mean, she recorded a full length album, Neptune City, for Columbia and has an EP out on their label titled Bleeding Diamonds to get the ball rolling. It is really her demo Party's Over and live performances responsible for landing a deal with a big record company, so I've read.

Her most recent exposure (and the motivation behind this blog) is a three track live performance and interview on the World Cafe from WXPN (the NPR station out of Philly). Check it out right here, right now. Seriously, that's the main reason I did all this. Go there.

And I'm a jerk for not mentioning her awesome band, The Sea, by now. They create the soundscapes that compliment Nicole's style so wonderfully. Basically though, you just have to hear them.

Go to her official website
Or check out their Myspace page

Here's the beautiful video for her song "Neptune City"


My copy of Paperhouses, an orange burned disk with Nicole Atkins "Paperhouses" written in marker, the obviously DIY artwork with simply the word "thanks" on the inside, is a musical treasure I am proud to hold. The case is busted, the label is cut off center, and the red letters are smeared as a result of me getting it wet at some point, I suppose. In the bottom left corner on the front cover, in small pencil-written handwriting is 53/56. I hope there are 55 people out there with one of these in their collection. But she's a rarity in and of herself.

Why is McNabb at my gym?

I saw Donovan McNabb at LA Fitness on Friday. It is the second time in about a month.

At first it's pretty cool, you know, seeing a star athlete up close and personal. He's a big dude and was no slouch with the weights.

But then I start wondering why he's working out at some public gym when the Novacare Complex – the Eagles multi-million dollar, state of the art facility – is a half hour drive down 295?

The first time I saw the big guy gettin' it done at the gym was a Friday afternoon. Last Friday is was early, around 7:30 a.m. That was the day the rookies and free agents (and maybe some others) reported to the Complex for the first time. Saturday was the start of the first mini-camp.

Maybe McNabb wanted to avoid the media hoopla and just let the new guys get in there and get settled.

But maybe this demonstrates the emotional rift between #5 and the team.

Or maybe I'm just a dumb fan reading too much the situation. I read he works out like crazy, so perhaps he just wants to get in some reps at a gym close to his house.

Either way...

GO BIRDS!

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Interpol - first single from upcoming album

“The Heimlich Maneuver” is the first single off Interpol’s upcoming album Our Love to Admire (out July 10) and you can check it out right now on AOL’s Spinner right here.

In typical Interpol style, the album's open "Pioneer to the Falls" is slower, moody and ... well, fantastic. (There are a few decent YouTube vids of it played live.) Guitarist Sam Fogarino is quoted saying the track is "sub mid-tempo, kind of dirgey."

I didn't know what dirgey meant, so I looked it up. Technically, it's not a word. But dirge is a slow, solemn, mournful piece of music especially to accompany a funeral or memorial. Beautiful. Love it.

Pioneer to the Falls @ Coachella


July 10 can't come soon enough.

Incredible tornado video

A couple crazy guys from TornoadoVideos.net shot this footage in Kansas last week. It's nuts.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Google Calendar

Let me just clear the air here: I love my Google Calendar.

I recommend it. I tell friends about it. I say they should have one too.

So far I have six personal calendars in one, plus US Holidays and phases of the moon. I can select which calendars I want to view, making the view either very simple or full and complete. All my calendars are color coded based on my preference.

To give an idea, I have separate calendars for bills, birthdays, concerts, Eagles games, and then just personal stuff.

I defaulted mine to the monthly view, but you can view by day, week, next 7 days or choose an agenda view.

And it’s pretty. It’s fast. It’s easy.

I can access my Google Calendar at work, at home, at a friends house, wherever.

Weather is shown as a tiny icon on today and on the next few days. Roll over for a brief description.

I want a scrybe account, but I’m still on the waiting list, apparently. Their calendar looks sick. Go to their site and watch the video. Pretty crazy. I <3 Web 2.0.

If you don’t have a Google Account, the calendar might be a reason to get one. Or get on the waiting list for scrybe.

PS – I have Outlook 2003 at work. It’s old school, sorta, and I always forget how to access it from home.

Revitalized! Facelift-ed!

Check it out. This blog looks nice now, huh? I upgraded (or Google-ized) my Blogger account, which allows for easy customization. Basically, any person with a few shreds of Internet know-how can put together an aesthetically appealing site of their own without difficulty.

I chose a new template for the layout and I’m really happy with it. I dig the color scheme and fonts.

But it didn’t stop there, oh no.

I have a new profile picture. Taken nearly one year ago on Mother’s Day, but I like it.
My music (viewable under my full profile) is updated and more complete.
I added a feed showing my Clipmarks. Check out www.clipmarks.com, it’s a cool site.
We also now feature my Flickr photostream as little Flash box. Click a photo to check out the full size.

And the Blog Archive is much more accessible thanks to the drop down style. Now just click a year or month to view the titles of the blog posted that month.

There’s also a link to my Last.fm page. Be my friend!

Speaking of, if you want to be my friend on Myspace include a message along with the request saying your got the link from my blog. Occasionally I get random friend requests and I think they are viruses.

I revamped my photo blog in similar fashion. Maybe I’ll get back into posting photos there. We’ll see.

I’m going to try and post more videos here, so keep an eye for them.

Cheers

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Music that matters to me: a this and that approach

Modest Mouse “sails” to number one spot on the Billboard charts with new album We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Congrats to them. I haven’t bought it yet but I like what I’ve heard so far I suppose. It’s nice when a unique and quirky band is very popular. (Like these guys… or The Shins.)

Thrice’s “Elements” album (a four disc concept record corresponding to the four natural elements – earth, air, water and fire) is being mixed by band member Teppei. Are these guys serious? You’d think the mixing of such an ambitious project would be put in the hands of a “professional.” But this whole process has been very DIY for them so they wanted to keep it to themselves, and I can understand their desire to “keeps it real” but I just worry. Teppei is the man, though. Ugh, I’m undecided how I feel about all this. I guess more power to ya guys. Go Teppei, go!

Thursday parting ways with Island Def Jam. A City By The Light Divided wasn’t very good, in my opinion, but War All The Time is great still. And Full Collapse is just classic Thursday. If you’re a fan, check out their first one, Waiting. I think this band has peaked, but I hope I’m wrong.

Korn still doing this Family Values crap. Family Values Tour ’98. Hell yeah! Wow, I’m old.

The Rock the Bells hip-hop festival featuring Rage and Wu is 100 bucks and at the end of July (meaning it could be really, really hot). I always thought a Wu-Tang Clan/Rage Against the Machine show would be f-ing sick, but this just seems really intense. I’ve been to Randall’s Island and it wasn’t a cheap or easy. The heat could be an issue as well. And one of the lesser-known acts, Sage Francis, is playing the TLA at the end of May for like $10. This one is very up in the air.

So far the only members of The (reformed) Smashing Pumpkins are Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain (drummer) as far as anyone knows. The new album is probably getting close to complete and is due in July. They’ve booked a bunch of festivals in Europe, one or two in Canada and couple in the US but nothing too local yet.

New Travis album in May! I’m eagerly awaiting album number five from these Scottish dudes. Their last release, 12 Memories, took a while to grow on me, but I love it so I’m really ready for anything they put out. I have to see them when they tour.

Interpol has their third album on the way. Hopefully it’s out this summer. I can’t wait! I’ll go see them again for sure. Very good live show.

SHOWS I DID NOT SEE RECENTLY:

The Shins new record, Wincing the Night Away, is good, but it’s no Chutes Too Narrow. I didn’t go see them in Philly or NYC when they were around a few weeks ago. I’m not too happy about it even though the new album wasn’t their best work, in my opinion.

The Decemberists played the Tower last night, but I wasn’t crazy about the venue and feel as though I don’t know enough of their repertoire so I skipped. Plus, I don’t really know anyone dying to go see them with me. I’m actually listening to the replay on Y Rock right now though.

Owen played at the First Unitarian Church last night as well, but again didn’t have anyone to go with and I wasn’t sure I’d really enjoy seeing Mike Kinsella’s sad songs by myself on a warm spring evening.

Pete Yorn played the Electric Factory on St. Patty’s Day. If it was any other day I would have certainly gone even though I just saw him at CBGB’s a few months ago. Nightcrawler is growing on me – finally.

He Is Legend was playing with Killswitch but I bailed on this one too. I’m waiting for another headlining tour. They guys freakin’ rock.

Guster. I’ve seen them a bunch but they are great. I missed their last show at the Electric Factory. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen them play indoors.

SHOW I SAW RECENTLY:

I recently attended Snow Patrol’s show at the Tweeter Center and it was really good. Zach and I were close to the stage and the performance was good as expected. One welcome surprise was Gary Lightbody (singer, frontman) bringing a random female fan onto stage to sing the duet “Set the Fire to the Third Bar” in place of Martha Wainwright who does guest vocals on the album track. I’d go seem Snow Patrol again… even if they played “Chasing Cars.” Man, that song is so weak. I kept my arms folded while all the other chumps sang along. Ugh.

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Keane – I already have tix for the Central Park show on May 30.

Travis - No U.S. dates yet, but they should tour to support the new album.

Say Anything - May 2 at Electric Factory w/ Saves the Day. I should get tix. Who wants to go!?

Thrice/Receiving End of Sirens - What a lineup! They are only doing a few shows and one is in Towson, Maryland. W/ Norma Jean too. I would love to see this show. Who’s taking a ride with me?



So the title of this blog was “music briefly” but I’m changing it now. So much for keeping things short. Oh well, music is my life and that’s my update. Happy rockin’ out.

Cheers.