Follow up on Ken Perlin

So I went to Ken Perlin's lab with the students from my New Media class and we had a very nice time. Ken was very gracious in inviting us to join him that afternoon. We spent a little over an hour watching him demonstrate some of his inventions. He explained a lot about his desire to simplify things such as human movement or expression and how, by doing so, he is able to create simulations or animations via a computer. It was interesting for me to see his interest in human nature and the basic functions that allow us to live our daily lives.

Perhaps the most interesting thing that he mentioned was his Games for Learning Institute. Having developed a really close relationship with a young autistic boy named Liam, my heart lies very close to causes near and dear to him and his overall development. Part of what makes life a struggle for him is his inability to communicate effectively with others. The Games for Learning Institute seeks to develop gaming platforms that promote even the most basic elements of child development and education such as elementary communication skills. Initial feedback regarding the program from individuals related to special needs children has been extremely positive. I can only imagine what games like this can do for people like my buddy Liam. I look forward to following the growth of this institute in the future. The link to this website is: http://g4li.org/

Another topic mentioned during Ken's presentation was a novel contest...

November is apparently novel month. In honor of this, people are being challenged to write a 50,000 word novel between midnight November 1st and 11:59pm November 30th. Ken is participating in this challenge alongside a younger friend of his who has also expressed creative interest in the project. While I have absolutely no desire to write a novel within the next four weeks, I certainly appreciate their attempts to do so. More power to you, Ken.

That's all for now. I'll update soon.

LMAO

Here is a really funny video. It's obvi inspired by that Party in the Fire Island Pines video...

CMJ Week

So, as many of you probably know I am an entertainment business student who may want to work in the music industry come graduation. Anyways, for the past few years NYU has provided me with free passes to the CMJ festival, which is always a total blast. This past week has been insane because I literally go to work, go to class, then go to shows. Jam-packed days! I can't complain, though. Here is who I have seen or will get to see this week (among others):

Reni Lane
Little Fish
Atlas Sound
Midnight Juggernauts
Busta Rhymes
Stephen Marley
Katie Costello
The Clipse
A Million Years
Nada Surf
Ted Leo + The Pharmacists

If I get a chance I will definitely post some reviews of things I have seen or will see. I will probably write a little bit about Atlas Sound (which kind of had an Animal Collective vibe just minus the crazy energy) and the Midnight Juggernauts (one of my favorite bands).


I'm having an awesome week so far, though. If I don't update my blog as much its probably because I am having fun with the festival and am too preoccupied to do work! Any suggestions of shows I should go to please let me know. I'm always up for new music and good times.

Leaked Music

I enjoy leaked music, even if its not finished. I like seeing where artists are in various stages of their creative process. I think its really interesting to compare demos with the finished versions of a track. There is so much you can learn about an artist in doing so. Lets take for example... Lady GaGa.



A few weeks ago a version of her latest single "Bad Romance" leaked all over the internet. Immediately she became embarrassed about it and was tweeting all over the place about how she didn't want the leaked version to serve as a representation of her artistic style. Well, I understand where she is coming from but I don't at all think that there was any reason to be embarrassed. Here is why...

The way that the internet works these days, especially in regards to pop music and the world's biggest stars, is that shit leaks. It is going to happen whether you like it or not. Some stupid intern or dumb client is going to do it, always. There is such a market for it - everyone is so hungry to hear new and "exciting" material from their favorite artists. People are in fact so hungry for new material that they will take anything that they can get and deem it a masterpiece (I am referring to Britney Spears fans who love demos that in reality make her voice sound like poo poo). Typically, the ones downloading the leaked versions of tracks are the die hard fans, the ones that will stand by an artist even if they put out sucky material. If someone doesn't like Lady GaGa, for example, he or she is not going to bother wasting time trying to download a rough track. And those are the people artists should be weary about.

The point I am trying to make is LET THE LEAKED TRACKS LIVE. The people who listen to them are only doing so in order to stay sane in the absence of new material. Most of these fans are also aware that the version that leaked is probably not the version the artist wants people to hear - thus they take it with a grain of salt. Furthermore, demos provide insight into the general direction an artist is taking. Demos are by no means legendary - they serve as a foreshadow of what is to come. No one judges the quality of an artist based on a rough version of a track, but people do definitely judge its creativity. (But... does GaGa need to worry about speculation she isn't creative? Probably not. She's nuttier than a pile of squirrel turds.)

Meet: Ken Perlin

I will be meeting this gentleman Thursday evening and taking a field trip to his lab with a class on mine in order to become better acquainted with his visionary work and inspiring inventions.

My first reaction when researching him was that the guy is actually really funny! I was totally expecting to browse through nauseatingly boring and geeky explanations of his work - things that I probably would not understand. And I must admit there was some venturing into the field of algorithms (which I absolutely despise.) But, for the most part, my expectations were totally exceeded. His website is extremely interactive and does a really good job of showing the viewer not only examples of his work but HOW they work. I tried out a few of the links he has on there to test his inventions. There is stuff involving animation, charts, music, etc. What I thought was most entertaining however was his explanation of each invention. Half of the time it seemed like he developed projects on a whim. Other times, he was bored and looking for something to do. Each circumstance was different.

He also has a link to his blog. I took a brief look at it. It's quite sparse in terms of design. The focus of it is mainly his writings and/or other things he has to say regarding various topics. It's a pretty wordy blog - there aren't many (if any) graphics so approach it with caution. If you are in the mood for a smart read I would recommend it though.

'Digital dirt' can haunt your job search. DUH!

This is no secret. It is imperative these days to keep things you post on social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter) PRIVATE. It is extremely easy for a future employer to dig up dirt on your private life if you don't. And those pictures of you blacked out on Friday night? Hide them or at least only allow access to those that you trust. Personally I don't understand HOW someone could make their Facebook page public. Its just stupid. Anyways, that's my ramble. Here is the link to an interesting article about it, though.

PS: Stains always brightens my day hence the pic posted above...

Cool ways to listen to music.

Some of these are free and some aren't. Here is a list of reputable ones you can look into further if you so desire.

eMusic

KaZaA

Rhapsody

Napster

Pandora

MySpace Music

Blip.fm

imeem

The Hype Machine

The Pirate Bay

Personally, I have been downloading music through this forum I belong to that has a media section. The platform I usually use is zshare, rapidshare, etc. There are tons of p2p upload/download sites out there. It is so easy to get music these days for free just Google a song or artist and something will come up. On one hand this bothers me because I work in the music industry (which is notoriously suffering right now), but on the other hand the future of music is that it will eventually only be available for free. When our generation is the one that is in charge, who the hell is going to pay for music? Some food for thought.

On another note, my favorite streaming radio is definitely Pandora. I recommend the Yeah Yeah Yeah's radio station or the Midnight Juggernauts. Last.fm is also great especially if you want to link it to your iTunes - I know a lot of people who do that in order to keep track of play counts and such. I also have friends who swear by imeem. Honestly, just explore all of them and see what you like. I personally like to own music, but I don't have much of a problem streaming it either.

Various things shown to me this past week...

Create your own font.

I think that this is a really cool invention. Basically it works by filling out a printable form and then scanning your handwriting into a computer. A software program then transfers your handwriting into actual text you can use by just typing with your keyboard! I haven't had time to do this but I'm sure I will some day. One question though, aside from being cool or whatever, what is its purpose? Is it really a practical tool? Unfortunately, I doubt it will catch on.

Photosketch.

Once again: SUPER COOL. I don't think I even have enough room to type how this program works but basically you can create your own unique photographs by using others existent on the internet. The software program (which is online and free) filters results to create a truly impeccable photograph. Basically, you can tell the program you want a picture of man throwing a ball to a dog and it will compile photos and combine them to create one merged photograph of two completely separate frames in time. As is the case with the font program though, what is the purpose? Also, doesn't this completely take away the point of photography as an outlet of expression and technique? I think if this program were to take off it could potentially harm the legacy of photography as we know it today.

Augmented Earth.

CREEPY. CREEPY. CREEPY. This program uses public cameras across the world to show action at any point in time at any place in the world. Think Big Brother. They are tracking us. My mother can go online and watch the door to my apartment building to keep dibs on where I am. The sky is the limit in terms of how this is an invasion of privacy. And, at the same time, this idea isn't even that groundbreaking. All the creators did was add upon the Google Earth model by including actual video footage. From what I hear it probably wasn't even that hard to do. Thoughts?

History of the Internet.

So for those of you readers not in my New Media class, we are often assigned articles written by pioneers in the new media field which largely involves the internet. In this documentary I was able to see, watch, and listen to the people I read about all the time. It was really cool to connect words on a page with an actual face - for me it adds a personal touch and makes the article easier to read/understand. I enjoyed learning about how the internet came to be and how it has evolved over the past few decades. When you think about it, the internet is THE invention of the 21st century and has the greatest impact on our lives out of any technological advancement I can really think of. I appreciate all the work that those people in the documentary did because without them I wouldn't even be able to blog about it right now!!

I'm bored.

So here are some of my favorite things:



I. die.

And of course the classic:



But maybe a new one for you newbies...

More viral videos (for when you are bored in Bobst)

Brain Scan

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Miracle. I can’t even begin to express the changes that this will cause in the world. Think of all the paralyzed people that will once again be able to move. Words cannot express how cool I think this is.

Project Natal


STUPID. Just go outside and play some actual sports. Fresh air is good for everyone once in a while. There is no substitute for reality.

Augmented Reality


Tech-geeks unite. Another tremendously convenient tool. I feel like this portrays a machine that has a mind of its own. How is it possible to recognize so many things??

Want. These. Now.

Allen Edmonds "Strand" Shoe.

Timeless Classic.

I should start a penny jar for these babies but it may take a while.

I have to say lately I have been obsessing over truly classic, conservative brown shoes. They seem to be everywhere - the Sartorialist, fashion mags, Nico Marquez, fashionistas in Soho, etc. My dad has been wearing these shoes for years but I used to always think that they were too old and outdated. Now I think with the right jeans and shirt they could really look rather youthfull and mature. The other pair that I have been looking at are:


I think the tassle look is awesome. Thoughts?

Introducing...

Steel Panther.



Hailing from the Sunset Strip circa 1988, Steel Panther has emerged from the mists of history and a cloud of hairspray for their epic return to the stage and scene. Originally just high school pals whose existence was defined by music, girls, and drugs, Steel Panther performed hundreds of fabled live shows in the 1980’s that were nothing short of legend. Rockers came from as far as New Jersey and the San Fernando Valley to see them. But, at the peak of their domination Steel Panther ditched a career defining showcase and fell off the map. Rumors spiraled as heavy metal’s finest minds pondered the whereabouts of the Steel Panther and the great “lost” album they supposedly recorded. Luckily, years later Monte Lipman, CEO of Universal Republic Records, stumbled across a tape he knew could only be from Steel Panther and instantly brought these metal gods out from the depths and into reality.

Now that they are back, legend has spurred an unparalleled response to Steel Panther’s world tour with some dates selling out within 90 minutes or even months in advance. Their weekly show at the Sunset Strip’s Key Club is considered the longest–running Monday night heavy metal show in the world. Fans are eager to see Stix Zadinia, Lexxi Foxxx, Satchel, and Michael Starr back in action in what will only come to be described as the most epic glam tour of all time. The band’s focus track “Community Property” was the #1 most added at Active Rock radio as fans can finally once again experience the “lost” band that they came to worship.

www.myspace.com/steelpantherkicksass

The Garden of Forking Paths

In a nutshell: pretty awesome.

Highlights:
• The concept described in the story is that of a novel that can be read in multiple ways, a hypertext novel. Although Borges never wrote one of these himself, he alludes to the idea before anybody else ever does.
• “I felt myself to be, for an unknown period of time, an abstract perceiver of the world.”
• “I am withdrawing to write a book. And another time: I am withdrawing to construct a labyrinth. Everyone imagined two works; to no one did it occur that a book and a maze were one and the same thing.”
• “He creates, in this way, diverse futures, diverse times which themselves also proliferate and form.”
• “The garden of forking paths was the chaotic novel; the phrase of various futures (not to all) suggested to me the forking of time, not in space.”

Although I don't really fully understand the idea of Quantum Mechanics (who does anyways?) I think the ideas touched upon in this short story are miraculous given the fact that they were brought to the forefront in 1941. Borges must have been quite the creative soul if he was able to dream up and try to make sense of paralell universes that may or may not exist. I think reading about the first conceptualization of the hypertext truly helped to put into perspective the idea, thoughts, rationales, etc. that developed in order to (eventually) create the internet.

Also, take note: BORGES DID NOT INVENT THE INTERNET, HE JUST CONCEPTUALIZED, BEFORE ANYONE ELSE, PLATORMS THAT CREATE THE INTERNET AND ALLOW IT TO EXIST AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.