Author: Carl Setzer

A blogger blogging from just north of Seattle.

Bail Outs And Other Fun

Carl Setzer4 Comments

Watching the capitol hill antics this week gave me pause. First, I was simply stunned at the auto execs un-preparedness for those hearings (though they're much better this past session…with room yet for improvement). I have not heard a single question posed to them that should have been unexpected. Glad they chose to finally do some homework this past week. However, it does make me wonder if they are the right people to lead this "reformation". If they are so disconnected to have missed all the signals for a tough questioning, why should I believe that they are in any position to read the desires of the American public? And be able to bring desired cars to market? Gads, lord help us!

With all this, I've thinking about all this mess at a macro level. Is the best public investment in the companies? Or would it be better to invest the public money in a safety net? Providing solid unemployment benefits, as well as career transition assistance for the displaced seems to me to be the better investment. It would be more likely to instill confidence and recharge spending.

In addition, it would make me feel better to hear policy-makers talking about how to best serve those now unemployed. I think this will last for quite some time, and we would do well to consider the long term recovery process. These half-million new unemployed, and those who follow soon, will probably take some time to get re-absorbed into the economy. Tough times ahead, indeed.

Via BlackBerry

My Beloved Apple

Carl Setzer

There are so many things I love about the Apple and the Mac platform. However, the whole dotMac/Mobileme thing has been a resounding disappointment. Besides being sluggish, the whole interface is, well, clunky and blah. I also think iWeb, and the way it works with Mobileme sucks terribly. Why am I still using it, you might ask? Just one thing, actually: backups. Ok, that and coveting an iPhone.

Seriously, though, with the exception of the automated backups (and the integration with such programs as Quicken), all the other pieces are better done by others; much better done. Picasa and Flikr do better with photo sharing. Blogger and WordPress are much better at person websites/blogging. The Mobileme calendar is quite lame.

In many respects, I think I should simply stick with Google for most of my online needs. Picasa, Blogger, etc; though I still love my Macs. I’m sure that I’ll be swayed to check out the next offerings they have. I deeply hope they keep working.

At Night

Carl Setzer

I love clouds at night.
White bounded by dark, flattened
texture, flowing through trees.
Calm, wakefullness wanes,
embraced by peace.
Via BlackBerry

Porn and the Media

Carl Setzer
elvis presley digital wallpaper

I stumbled upon this, “What the journalism industry can learn from porn”. Perhaps the post’s most compelling idea is that journalism should get on the ball and embrace the mobile platform. Porn’s already there. Journalism; not so much. Here is a huge opportunity that MSM is just sitting on. “The journalism industry is often reactive instead of proactive when it comes to new technology platforms” sums this problem well. I do understand the reluctance to invest in these channels. Incurring costs can be terrifying, especially untested ones. Yet, failure to innovate also brings a cost. Adopting the hottest technology is always quite expensive (supply and demand).

Also, “very few online news sites are providing large amounts of video content produced exclusively for the web that is not derivative of a print or broadcast story.” Journalism has the potential to greatly expand their offerings via digital content. The column inches limitations are non-existant. Thus, the web offers some incredible opportunities to flesh a story out deeper, offer different levels of content based on interest, link related articles to build a larger idea of “story”, and interact with their readers to build a story’s depth. Little of which is being executed.

However, there are some key differences that will make porn a poor model for journalism to emulate. First, the power of sex. Arousal brings a certain urgency that is beyond rational. As journalism interacts with a different part of the brain, this power to draw cash is greatly minimized.

There is, also, the issue of talent. I’m sure finding someone adept at ”performing“ adult content in a video shoot presents some challenges, but finding a talented journalist is more challenging. Somehow I doubt porn actors demand high level benefits packages! And I expect that porn has a lower labor cost (though I have little interest in exploring 10k’s to try and quantify this). And finding new ideas isn’t generally a concern of adult entertainment. For media trying to maintain a daily/weekly print edition, this gets even more stretched. Combine that with the additional costs of print, and the challenge gets greater.

Porn may offer some compelling ideas, and have charted some key new directions and technologies. I truly hope journalism doesn’t go too far in adopting the porn model, though. I would love to see the journalism industry become the cutting edge driver of technology. That would be a true delight.

HOW TO: NY ~ HURDY GURDY IS BEAUTIFUL

Carl Setzer

What’s a hurdy-gurdy you might ask? Well, Wikipedia has your answer.

The artist is Melissa the Loud, and can you read more about her here.

Meat must be rationed to four portions a week, says report

Carl Setzer2 Comments

Interesting idea. Probably good for our arteries, not just our planet.

read more | digg story

The many variations of flute

Carl Setzer2 Comments

One of my fellow Backwashers, Uncouth Heathen, posted this fun piece about one of my favorite bands, Jethro Tull. This is their piece, “My God”, which combines flute (how many rock-n-roll flautists can YOU name) with 70’s Acid Rock. Yep, it’s as weird as you think. As a juxtaposition, I’ve included the video of another well known flautist.

Welcome to the “surreal life”.

Speeding

Carl Setzer

My mind, being what it is, loves to race. I try to consume Snyder’s work, but this over-active mind hurries, much like gulping down a 5 star meal. It is a crime, truly, to cram this down my mind’s “gullet”, like a ravenous seagull, obsessed, racing to consume the “next“. There is always some new nonsense demanding my limited focus.

Perfection demands attention! True perfection, that is, not the abused notion of over accomplishment nor the doom of overwork. For this mindset, time is god. Measuring one’s worth in the length of a to-do list. How much have I done? Quality? No time for that.

Noticing the leaves move, a gentle, wandering dance; lost. Is it any wonder, then, that we are engorged? We can not consume enough. Our bellies expand, trying to capture that empty place where our souls should be. As our legs give out from our engorged bulk, we have forgotten everything. We have, and are, lost.

Now, a glimpse of a moment. These leaves move; myriad trees, maples, fir, pine, cedar, together. Maples faster, but all of them together, each leaf at the same speed as the others; firs and pines also, but slower. Enslaving myself to the modern mindset sacrifices this moment. Thus, for this moment at least, I resist.