I’m a member of some of those all-you-can-eat all-you-can-listen-to online music services and I’m constantly amazed at the fun and beautiful music I stumble across.  Once, on a goofy whim, I did a search for the string “Chicken” and found a shockingly cool selection of funk, pop, and jazz songs.  More recently, I did a search on “waltz” since I’ve grown increasingly enamored with this music and dance form.

One of the beautiful songs that cropped up was First Impressions, featured on the album “Appalachia Waltz” with cellist virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma.  You can hear a sample by clicking on the player below and can enjoy other serene and joyful songs and learn more about the album on this Amazon.com page.

This simply-structured and sensitively-performed song packed an emotional punch for me, just as so many other songs have done in the past.  And this got me to thinking:  What is it about the instrumentation and orchestration of songs that moves me… and moves so many millions of others?  I’m not even taking into account lyrics here, which involve a whole different (albeit related) issue.  Just the sounds.

I haven’t had a chance to watch more than the first few minutes of this film, but Waterborne has been generally well-reviewed… and you can watch it for free either below or directly on Google’s site through January 15, 2006.

Rather than spoil even part of the plot, I’ll instead invite you to begin watching it now without preconceptions, with a note that it’s a serious film focusing on characters rather than explosive action.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the final dress rehearsal for Palo Alto's Theatre Works' performance of Into the Woods. It was a thoroughly professional, impressive, and magical performance and if you're in (or can get to) the Bay Area, I urge you to get tickets for it right now.

Lots of you probably know I'm a techno-geek. But did you know I'm a music 'n' theatre-obsessed geek?

Well, I have lots... LOTS... on my mind about theatre stuff, but for now I'll just subject you to some random musings. Hope you don't mind.

After all the serious posts about geek stuff, I figured it was time to throw in a bit of levity again. So here's a sample I've lovingly clipped from The Blender's "Aunt Sue's Ant Soup." Click the little play button below to hear it (Flash and a broadband connection required)

[Did this stream nicely for you? Please let me know in the comments below!]

Here's a bit about this song and the group behind it... plus -- I know you're craving this -- the full lyrics I insanely transcribed in a fit of insomnia last night.

So I just read that the remake'd movie The Fog is #1 at the box office this weekend.

WTF?$#@*#&!!

Look at the reviews.

For those of you too lazy to click, let me quote from a few:
- "The Fog is a bore, laden with unspectacular special effects and dreadful acting..."
- "Wainwright's Fog proves successful only at blowing."
- "...this flick absolutely stinks of half-hearted effort and assembly-line cynicism."

From Rotten Tomatoes, it has an average review score of 2.5 out of 10. This isn't ambiguous. The film doesn't just blow... it sucks!

Why do I care?

Well, because when crap like this (or Gigli, or Catwoman, etc.) brings in money, then the studios are incented to create MORE crap like this. Worse yet, then movie theatres feel compelled to dedicate screens to such drivel instead of showcasing worthwhile (and, dare I say it, oft independent or foreign) films.

I'm not saying that all films should be serious works of art. Hell, I just watched Bubba Ho-tep last night :D.

And it's not that I think less of people going to see a film where there's not really a huge critical consensus (e.g., 40% of critics loved it). But I'd like to slap silly the folks that go see films that have scores like 3% on the Tomatometer. At risk of being a bit overdramatic, in a way they're ruining the theatre for the rest of us.

GoogleTV is coming.

In this role, you will provide leadership on product vision and execution of projects that enable using Google's search and advertising technologies to enhance users� Television viewing experience. [...] You will identify key market trends that are shaping user behavior when watching Television. These include but not limited to the intersection of Internet and Television technologies, Video-On-Demand, Personal Video Recorders and emergence of next generation set-top-boxes with IP connectivity. You will then identify areas where use of Google's search and advertising technology can enhance this user experience and define appropriate products to deliver these user benefits. [...]

- Job posting placed online by Google this morning

UPDATE 9/23/05:
Google has removed the job listing from their site.

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Is Tivo quaking in their boots? And will Hollywood embrace or fear the upcoming empowerment of consumers?

Historically, even when it's been in the entertainment industry's long-term best interests, they've staunchly protested many technological advancements. VCRs, Tivo... despite the reality of occasional ad-skipping, these tools have undoubtedly increased viewership (and with videocassettes / DVDs, sales) by an order of magnitude.

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What will the Google tools offer consumers, advertisers and the entertainment folks? And what will be the response of privacy advocates to the advertisement targeting?

Apparently, according to a recent newspaper article, viewers are getting sick of reality TV shows.

You don't say.

Could it be that people are actually discovering that time spent in front of the tube watching others' (laughably) "real" lives is time that's not spent developing real friendships, pursuing real hobbies, learning real skills, getting real exercise or even real sleep?

Nah.

So I'm listening to Internet radio and, without noticing the current title playing, marveling at a rich and engaging orchestral piece I don't recognize.

Holy smokes... it's from the first Pokemon movie?! Studio execs hired a decent full orchestra AND reasonably talented composer/arranger for THAT???

Just goes to show you that, even in the most seemingly inconsequential of places, there are little and surprising joys to be found.

So I just signed up for a free 30-day trial subscription to XM Radio online. What can I say... I'm a sucker for all the online music stuff (having tried Napster, Rhapsody, Virgin Digital, Wal-Mart, iTunes, and probably a dozen other services...)

Alas, XM Radio is simply not worth your time if you plan on only using the online component. If you're interested in listening to music while away from your computer (like I suppose some non-geeks may actually do :D), it may be better. Here's why it's not an optimum online solution: