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Beyond Robson is using some of my photos

My photo on Beyond RobsonWell, ok, as far as I know, it’s just one. Beyond Robson was looking for submissions for rotating header photos to run on their site, so I submitted a few shots.

As far as I know, they’re only using the shot of Sapperton Station[wiki] that I took some months ago. I have a bunch more from months back that I should upload to my Flickr. It’s just a matter of making the effort.

Still, it’s pretty sweet to have my something of mine featured on BR. Mark that as a first. Well, at least that I know of. Afterall, I did give my permission.

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Zazzle, CafePress, or… what else is out there?

I’ve experimented with making t-shirts and other various things that you can stick a nice jpg onto through a variety of screen printing web sites that are out there.  I actually made a shirt with Zazzle about a year ago and wore it just the other day.  I was really happy with it.  There’s something satisfying with wearing something you made and someone saying, “Hey, that’s a cool shirt.  Where’d you get it?”

Talking to DaveO last Saturday, he said something that I’ve been thinking about for a while now.  I should market RadioZoom through apparel, coffee mugs, and what not, and he’s pretty spot on.  It’s just the process of actually getting it done.

I’ve heard that CafePress has some shotty stuff when it comes to t-shirts, and I already like the quality that you can get with Zazzle.  I’m unsure about what else might be out there that is comparable and potentially better.

Are there people willing to buy this stuff and wear it on their body?  I’ll be sure to mention this on the podcast as well.

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Thoughts on Jobs’ keynote at the WWDC

WWDC 2006 Keynote Streaming Re-Broadcast (apple.com)I’m sitting here, being my classic, Apple geek self, watching the stream of yesterday’s keynote speech by Steve Jobs[wiki] at the World Wide Developers Conference. I figured that I would throw some of my thoughts about it while I watch it.

Why? I dig this type of stuff. It’s not about being on top of everything that comes out there in terms of technology. It’s exciting. It’s a spectacle. I’d do the same thing about the NAB in Las Vegas, but I don’t make it down there for it, nor is there anything comparable to what Jobs does during these keynotes.

Dude, it’s just fun.

Phil Schiller[wiki] always kills me, and I think it’s great that he came out to unveil the Mac Pro. Yes, say good bye to the PowerMac and the legacy of the G5. I’m actually sad to say that. That word “Power” had a nice ring to it, but getting back to the basics is alright with me. My parents bought an original Macintosh when they came out in 1984. Life changed a lot then, and damn… look at where we are now.

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The pains of not having the right papers

I had a job interview today. This is the most recent one since coming to Vancouver, and it continues the list of jobs that I can’t have because of my immigration status. It’s a topic that I plan on getting into more once the process gets closer to completion, but I don’t want to start on it yet. No doubt about it though. It’s a crazy one, and as an American coming to Canada, it’s not a simple thing to do. Patience is a virture, if not a must.

The interview today went well, but there is very little chance that I’ll get it. I don’t want to get into the specifics of who it was with, but it’s something right up my ally, on par with what I used to do back in the states. They want somebody in the next few weeks, and my status is set to come through any day now. That could mean this afternoon or in two months. That doesn’t help me too much.

It’s a pain. Maybe heartbreak is the better way to say it. Every job that I have applied for in Vancouver, since moving here, has given me an interview. Some of them have been radio stations, and some have gone as far as checking my references from previous employers. That says a lot. They want to hire me, but it’s that lack of go ahead from Immigration Canada that stops everything. I’ve had a company go as far as saying I was hired only to have the same problem. Seriously, if you know some one who can kick the process in the pants for me, I’d be forever in your debt.

The folks I met today were really great, and I wouldn’t put it past a few of them to fire up the Google and find the blog here. If so, hey guys, great time meeting you today and checking out the setup. Very, very cool stuff. Would love to be apart of the fun.

That’s probably the hardest thing, too. I like to take whatever I do and make it fun, including anything that involves “work”. Pride in your work. Enjoying what you do. I’m itching to start doing something in this city because there are times where I feel everything passing me by. Rebecca sees it, and I know my time is coming. All in due time, right? Trust me, I’m not whining or complaining. I’m just ready.

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RadioZoom Episode #106 – Take Two; Celebration of Light; Pride Week 2006; Vancouver Trivia

This was published last night, and with the B.C. Day long weekend, I’m just a little behind making a note about this over here. However, the latest episode is up and ready, just for you.

Long story short, technical issues caused us to completely record a second take. Short explanation, always check to see what your audio input is because it was something I overlooked. Rebecca and I chat “back at the studio” about the Celebration of Light and Pride Week 2006 in Vancouver, as well as play some audio that I captured from both of those events. Also check out the trivia at the end to find out what I know and don’t know about one of the greatest cities in the world. This is another episode that was completely recorded with Ubercaster.

49:06 minutes
radiozoom.net

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Give, take, and then you sue

Around seven last night, Rebecca was in front of her computer when she told me about an ongoing issue that Kris Krug was dealing with. It might not be so truthful to saying it has been long running or constant, but it quickly escalated last night. I’m incredibly intrigued by the situation, so allow me to explain a little.

Krug made this post back in February that details how Kevin Corazza had stolen photos on Flickr and claimed them for himself. In fact, the photos in question belonged to Krug, and when contacted, Corazza removed the disputed photo sets almost as soon as he was discovered. Then yesterday, Kris got a cease and desist from lawyers representing Corazza.

I checked out the post and went wandering around the photo sets of Kevin Corazza to see if I could find the disputed photos. That’s when I clicked the next picture to view only to have “kcorazza is no longer active on Flickr” pop up, big and bold in the middle of the window, all of this happening within a twenty minute time span.

This makes little sense, and it really pains me to some extent. I often run into the stereotype that Americans (Kevin Corazza) are quite content with pursuing legal action (suing) in order to get their way (money). You won’t hear me disputing this, and the whole situation at hand makes it even more apparent.

It almost makes me curious about getting Kris on the podcast to chat about this a little. The implications from this could fizzle or really try the creative commons license[wiki, flickr] that everyone falls under when they sign up and post on Flickr. There are some copyright issues to hash through on this one.

Update: This has made its way to Digg, and the discussion is getting very interesting.  Join the photo hunt on Flickr and see if you can match other people’s photos there to Corazza’s personal website.  Amazing…

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Understanding the origins of Isreal and Palestine

I’ve read various sites of where people are having a hard time understanding where the tensions in and around Isreal has come from. Long story short, it’s been a constant struggle for a very, very long time, political and ideological differences being a factor that skims the surface. However, a post on BlogCritics the other day had a really good introduction to explaining the basics. It’s hardly a complete explanation, but it will enlighten those looking for some introductory answers.

A month or so ago somebody asked me a question that took me aback, not just because of the question, but because of the questioner. She is someone I’ve always thought was informed and knew about issues and their background, so I was quite shocked when out of the blue she asked me if I knew who the Palestinians were.

I must have look puzzled, and some of my shock must have shown on my face, because she clarified by saying that what she meant was where did they come from and how did the situation originally come about. I was still shocked, not the least because I wondered how many other people don’t know what had happened back in the late 1940s through to post-1967? [blogcritics]

The discussion that followed in the comments has been interesting to watch. History will always have flaws in the way that it is relayed. Bias and slants are a given. The best you can do is get information where ever you can. Just keep an open mind while you’re trying to sort out how much hard fact is in what you’re finding.

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RadioZoom Episode #105 – Adventures in Stanley Park

I’m happy to report that the second shot at this epsiode proved successful. So download it now and tell all your friends!

Some soundseeing, mobile recording, and messing around while Rebecca joins me for a bit of wandering through Stanley Park. We discuss a little bit of the history of the park, venture into some favorites spots of ours, and head into the bush to see what else there is off the trails. With no plans of where to go, we didn’t know what to expect or what we would come across. FYI, Stanley Park is 1,000 acres, and New York’s Central Park is 843. [radiozoom]

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Indie means independent, not major record label

Warner Brothers Records is getting into the business of podcasting. A major record label doing such things is not the worst thing in the world, but I take issue when they start calling it “indie” and refer to the music played as being by “independent artists”.

Murmurs and whispers around the podosphere have hinted that Bands Under the Radar, described as “a music podcast featuring unsigned bands and indie artists,” is not “indie” at all, but is in fact a podcast being quietly produced and distributed by Warner Brothers Records.

The podcast features music from “indie bands”, such as Tom Petty, Chris Isaak, Kasey Chambers, Better Than Ezra, Mark Knopfler, Johnny Cash, Loleatta Holloway & Muse – all Warner Brothers artists. [podcastingnews]

The creepy thing is that when you go to the website of the podcast, it seems like a total independent setup, complete with a Blogger look and feel to it. I have yet to listen to an episode, but let’s be clear about what’s going on here. This is not what it is being portrayed as. Tom Petty and Johnny Cash are far from being considered “indie”.

Kami Knake, the host for the program is New Media Coordinator for Warner Brothers Records, and the podcast is served up by Warner Bros. […]

We asked Knake whether her podcast, which has a low-budget “indie” quality to it, is in fact an official corporate podcast made on behalf of Warner Brothers Records.

“It’s something I started before I came to WBR,” said Knake. “I do play WBR artists, but that’s by choice. My podcast has nothing to do with WBR. 😉 ”

While Knake’s official word is that her podcast has nothing to do with Warner Brothers, Bands Under the Radar features Warner Brothers artists, is created by a Warner Brothers employee and is delivered from Warner Brothers’ servers. [podcastingnews]

I’ve often said that major labels need to start something different to compete in a vastly changing industry. This, on the other hand, is not what I had in mind. It’s down right sneaky.

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Hacking a MacBook via Wi-Fi

Attention MacBook owners: you might want to pay attention to this.

LAS VEGAS–Flaws in the software that runs wireless-networking hardware could let an attacker break into a PC over Wi-Fi, security researchers warned Wednesday.

An attacker could gain complete control over a laptop by sending malformed network traffic to a vulnerable computer, David Maynor, a senior researcher at security service provider SecureWorks, said in a presentation at the Black Hat security event here.

Maynor, along with researcher Johnny Cache, showed a video of a successful attack on a MacBook, made by Apple Computer. However, the attack is possible also on other computers, both laptops and desktops, and not just MacBooks, the researchers said. [cnet]

Of course, this isn’t just limited to MacBooks, but the idea of Apple products being safe from hackers is not as true as the commercials may lead on. The article continues to go on to say that this isn’t a wide-spread issue, but it is something to be concerned about. The important thing is for developers to take this into consideration and cut it off before these vulnerabilities become easy to exploit.

Still feel uneasy about your machine getting hacked wirelessly? Here’s good advice from the article.

Consumers should be streetwise when using their laptop by not connecting to networks they aren’t sure they can trust and by disabling the wireless radio when it is not needed, Maynor said. “There is no need to run out and rip your wireless card out of your laptop, but you should take precautions,” he said. [cnet]

The other thing to note is that this comes from flaws within drivers. These are easy to remedy through updates. It would be a good idea to be paying attention over the next few months to see if there are warnings and updates issued for the stuff you are using.