The Wall Street Journal had a short article today describing how several Asian firms are looking to create a Windows replacement in light of the recent worms and viruses that have plagued the Microsoft staple. They want to create something with open-source code (uh, Linux?) It also claimed that back in the late 80’s, Japan had a good start on an OS but was asked (told) to kill it. Apparently, the then infantile US tech market was worried about growing pains.

I can’t confirm or deny any of this info, but it’s definitely worth some research. I’d like to see the Asian tech market give ol’ Billy a run for his money.

And just for grins, this is what happens when you’re caught speeding in your Ferrari without a license. Cheap shot, I know.

It turns out I share my birthday with Leon Trotsky, a famous Russian Socialist who was Lenin’s right hand man. I’ve read a lot of books by 19th century Russian authors, but I am very uneducated when it comes to the politics of that era and the one that followed. To wit: I don’t know jack about Trotsky. I know a little about the Romanov dynasty from the books I’ve read and a few facts about the Bolshevik revolution from various history classes, but overall, I’m pretty far behind where I should be.

Worse yet, I have two Russian history books sitting on my bookshelf. One deals with the genesis of Russian Radicalism in the 1860s and the other provides a survey of Russian history from as far back as is possible.

I’ve had these books for at least one year and have read no more than 20 pages from each. Oops.

Today’s WSJ featured a front-page article in the Marketplace section that described how Universal is taking a bold step to cut cd prices. Instead of the usual 14$-18$, they’ll be 9$-12$. The industry is understandably pissed. Universal has a 30% market share of the US’s recorded music industry. With such a huge chunk of the pie, they could effect change throughout the system, forcing the other behemoth record companies to follow like lemmings. (Remember lemmings?)

Funny thing is, how can the RIAA complain? Universal is making it easier to buy cds instead of downloading them for free. I say bravo to Universal. I still might not buy their artists’ music, but at least they’re taking steps in the right direction.

The question is how this price cut will affect independent record stores. Prices may be falling, but record stores won’t see an increase in margins because they will adjust prices accordingly. They might, however, see an increase in volume, but this assumes they move a lot of Universal music. Given the average independent record store mostly carries music released by independent record labels, I don’t see how the price cut will help them. It looks like the chains will see most of the benefit.

Regardless, it will stimulate the music industry and aggravate the RIAA (doesn’t everything?) so I think it’s a good move.

I ordered a Dell laptop last week and it’s here. It’s running smoothly but only after a considerable amount of drama. Note to self: do not install software that is not labeled as XP compatible on a computer running XP. One would think that as a former MIS major with a fair amount of experience with Windows and whatnot, that I’d be able to avoid installing incompatible pieces of software. Alas, no dice. My college education has proven overrated.

I installed my Win 2000-friendly Logitech mouse software and got an equally friendly blue screen upon restarting. Yes folks, I had the computer for two hours and already hit the jackpot with a blue screen. I’m that good. So I called Dell Tech Support and futzed around with removing programs and restarting until the tech decided I was an imbecile and ought to just perform a ‘system restore’. Three cheers for system restores, however Dell got them to work. I restored the computer back to its original state and downloaded a fresh mouse driver from the Logitech website.

Stats are as follows: Inspiron 1100, 2GHz Celeron, 30 GB, 265 MB, CD-RW/DVD combo, 15" screen, XP Home, no floppy, no MS office, and none of that useless (*ahem*) extended warranty stuff. Perhaps it might have been a good idea to opt for a three-year plan. Oh well, I suppose the thrifty one-year plan will motivate me to learn more about the ins and outs my spiffy new laptop.

I was listening to NPR on the way home and a general science teacher (junior high, I’d assume) was relating an anecdote about something that happened in her class. She was discussing the difference between fact and theory with the students. She explained that while it is a fact that the galaxies are moving away from each other (Edwin Hubble’s discovery), it is only a theory that there are black holes. Why? We can see the galaxies’ motion but we cannot see black holes and therefore can not claim them as factual.

She couldn’t have been further from the truth. The Hubble site (also linked on right) documents the analysis of numerous images of phenomena none other than black holes. Below are three links:

Ancient Black Hole Speeds Through Sun's Galactic Neighborhood, Devouring Companion Star
Black Holes Shed Light on Galaxy Formation
Hubble Discovers Black Holes in Unexpected Places

I don’t know what she’s teaching, but it ain’t science. Maybe weird science.

How low will the RIAA go? Low enough to publicly humiliate a 12-year-old for downloading some music. Worse yet, the suit is getting even more free publicity by reactions you're reading right now. And if all they wanted was to get the word out that they'll be chasing pre-teens and fining parents nation-wide, then they got what they wanted. But did they have to slap the family with a $2000 fine? For all the millions and millions they pull in, why add insult to injury? Do they hope to recoup whatever 'loss' they've incurred from file sharing? The RIAA has set a new standard for scummy industry practices.

I doubt this will increase sales of music or decrease download rates. And with Universal's new price cut revealing much fine print and loopholes, this is the last thing the music industry needed.

What’s the deal with this week? It’s brought nothing but badness. First that poor girl got sued by the RIAA, then the 2nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks rolled around, and now we have the deaths of Johnny Cash and John Ritter to mourn.

I don’t know what to say about either of those guys. Cash was one of the best American musicians, ever. Ritter was the funny man from Three’s Company, falling over himself to make people laugh. Both were very ‘down-home’ kind of guys. They will be missed.

Just ask Rick. He turns 24 today. It sucks so much that I thought his birthday was actually the 24th of this month. But he let kindly let me know I had mistakenly moved his birthday 10 days (without prior notice). So we moved it back to the 14th and I treated him to some Rudy's BBQ. Hopefully the weight of the food in his stomach caused his memory to malfunction and all he remembers is the fabulous BBQ.

Happy birthday buddy! We'll always have Rudy's... and that kikckass Tetris-meets-Street Fighter Playstation game. And next month, I fully entitle you get to forget about my 24th birthday too. As long as you let me win a game of the Super Puzzle Street Fighting game.

I sent an email to John D. of The Deathray Davies and asked if they could perhaps play a San Antonio show. He said that it’s a possibility, but would have to happen after their current tour ends in November. Cross yer fingers. It would be nice to see some music in the middle of the week and not have to drive to and from Austin.

I also asked about posting a song from the new album, Midnight at the Black Nail Polish Factory, and he said it was fine with him. So in my ‘currently’ box in the right-hand navigation menu, there is a link to How To Win At Roulette. It’s one of my favorites on the new album. It’s short and loud and has very few lyrics:

How much do I have now?
How much do we need?

So download away and be sure to show the Davies your love by ordering the cd.

Austin City Limits Festival is this weekend. Three days of music in Zilker Park ought to give me the shot of music I’ve been craving for the past 7 months. REM is headlining, and other bands I’m psyched to see include David Garza, The Gourds, Liz Phair, The Dandy Warhols, and G Love and the Special Sauce. My friend Erin is coming in from NYC to see the show and hang with her sister, so it will be good to see her again.

ACL was awesome. I ‘discovered’ some new bands and was thoroughly converted. Ween, Ben Kweller, and Yo La Tengo were all very impressive. Special mention goes to Ween for innovative lyrics, vocals, kick ass drumming, and killer guitar solos. David Garza was a pleasure to watch. Liz Phair, however, was considerably less energetic than I was hoping. Then again, I don't know her music very well.

REM was phenomenal, as always. This was my third REM show and likely my favorite so far. They played songs that were released when I was a toddler as well songs that are so new they have not yet been released. Some gems were Fall On Me, Begin The Begin, Drive, Man On The Moon, Finest Worksong, Don’t Go Back To Rockville, Losing My Religion, and The One I Love. They closed with a charming version of Nightswimming and It’s The End Of The World As We Know It. For a full setlist, go here.

I saw an old friend I hadn't seen in ages and finally met her sister and boyfriend. A bunch of old college buddies were also in attendance, so I spent a lot of time with them (and bummed rides – thanks much). I also ran into a gaggle of random people, including my Management professor from senior year.

Overall, it was a great weekend despite the crummy weather. Oh yeah, and Will Wynn (the mayor of Austin) and senator Lloyd Doggett introduced Lance Armstrong, who introduced REM.

Instructions for food preparations have, as of yesterday, become ridiculously absurd. I stopped by the store last night for an Uncle Ben’s Rice Bowl. The instructions told me to microwave it with the plastic on for so-and-so minutes. Then, I was to peel off the plastic, stir the food, and heat for a little longer. But before that, it told me to be careful because, oh, by the way, steam is hot.

If food warns us about steam, maybe alcohol should go beyond the usual ‘may impair driving abilities’ shpiel and warn, “This beverage may result in disorientation, vomiting, and regretful behavior. Serve chilled.”