Overheard Conversations #2

Daddy, my brain hurts...

Stealing Beauty and Favorite 80's Brit Pop

I really like Antonioni and Bertolucci flicks. Some of my favorites, such as the Passenger (great hotels!) and Sheltering Sky (incomprehensable plot, but gorgeous cinematography). So I'm watching cable the other night and Stealing Beauty comes on, a Bertolucci that I missed along the way. Wonderful movie, with Jeremy Irons just delicious as the dirty old man at death's door. The scene of him and Liv Tyler sharing a joint is a treat. And typical sweeping shots of the Tuscan landscape. I love this movie!

Anyway, during the end credits, a song plays by Roland Gift, former singer of the Fine Young Cannibals. I've always enjoyed this group, so I pulled out my old CDs and gave 'em a listen. The best of the 80's. I also grabbed my best of the English Beat, my other favorite group from this era. Pleasantly surprised to find David Steele and Andy Cox as the instrumental mainstays of both groups. I wonder what these guys are doing now? They sure had great musical heads 20 years ago (holy hell! it's now classic rock!).

New Year

My god! More than a month since posting... what a slacker! But it's a new year, and I promise to do better (maybe...)

Of course, the year starts out in total collapse, but, then, that's what this blog attends to... watching it all go down, hopefully not drowning in the death and destruction. But Messiah Obama will save us, right?

Personally, I prefer lynching, and there's a bunch of corporate and investment types that are at the top of my list. Storm their palaces! Drag 'em out into the streets! String 'em up! The French did it, now's our time!

Sugarman Three

So I' m wondering around Rasputin Records on Powell St. when I hear this great "old school" r&b over the store sound system. Turns out it's a group called Sugarman Three, sax, hammond B-3, and drums... and added guitar on most cuts. R&b from the late 50's, early 60's, as well as classic Blue Note soul jazz (Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Smith, etc.). These guys are very good, much better than Soul Live and even better than New Mastersounds, both groups into this retro music. So check 'em out, highly recommended... or is it just that I'm over the hill and appreciate the great old music... or is "old school" genres making a comeback... 20 somethings tired of rap and current rock crap and looking for something with, well, soul?

Overheard Conversations #1

"It's hard to do an audit when there are no records..."

San Francisco

So sick and tired of work, and, with a few bucks in the travel budget, decided to put in for a conference in Frisco. The trip was approved, and here I am. Pleasant weather, great restaurants, a fun wine tasting last night, and, yes, even some conference time (actually quite a bit; my perspective on modern communications is undergoing a major paradigm shift).

Met with Matt and Molly, Becka and Wahid, the other night. They are the progeny and related spouses of my long time, and unfortunately deceased, friends Val and Teri Ness. Good to get caught up and close another chapter in the sad end of a great relationship with V & T. Thankfully, I suspect I'll always have some contact with the kids, so memories and connections will continue. Generations...

I'm having many generational issues. Young managers, youthful Internet driven communications (social networking methods), and all sorts of cultural change issues. Trying to sort it out. Yes, I'm older than dirt, and generally thankful to retreat into my own world, which is rich enough to satisfy me. But I'm also interested in the new. I want to keep at least a toe dipping into the present/future, keep up with things as well as I can. After all, I'm blogging, now, right! (blogging is sooooo 5 minutes ago!). I guess I should be twittering, or whatever. Anyway, at least a toe...

Actually had (3) IM sessions going simultaneously on my MBP the other day. Figured out how to get Jabber (XMLPP?) going in iChat. Then ran Gizmo for a SIP connection to Lacey in France. Now how to get SIP in iChat... Damn Apple, the more they innovate, the more they leave behind. iChat is cool, but needs more extensions. Wish there were a single standard for IM, but there isn't. AIM, Jabber, SIP... guess Novell has something as well (don't know what protocol). Adium is supposed to unify IM sessions, need to update and try it out (but I do like iChat as a client).

OK, so some of you reading this may think I've got this geek thing down. Believe me, I'm so far behind it's rediculous. But hopefully my toe dipping can keep me relevant at work so I can make some significant contributions before getting put out to pasture.

Color, Bluetooth, and GigE... requirements for the 20 something (milleniums?) workforce. Also, of course, all those social networking tools (Facebook, MySpace, Linked In, etc.). Some new world we are entering (the pool is already full!).

Season's Over

Baseball ended last night. A World Series winner, and a loser. Considering the weather the teams had to play in, I guess it's best the baseball season is finished. Hey, it's a summer sport, hate it when the game is played in cold, rain, and even snow. That's not the way it should be. But, the powers that be want extended seasons, more games, more money, to pay even more exorbitant salaries to superstar players... greed... the free market, capitalist mantra.

But beyond the business of baseball, it's sad when the season ends. No other sport compares. OK, I like football, sort of, basketball not much, hockey no longer interests... Baseball connects with my brain waves, matches my mental processes, like no other sport. Sure the games can be slow, even boring, but I like the spaces. Time to think in between the action. Most other sports require instant concentration for the constant action. Baseball lets one relax, ponder the game, or even ponder other things. More meditative, poetic even.

So, now with winter, shorter days, and no baseball, the depression begins. I have a hard time dealing with the next four months or so. I'm a creature of light, of sun, of lazy days and activities. Can't wait for the spring solstice and spring training...