Archive for May, 2008

Google don’t do no evil, literally

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Actually got this through Slashdot (where else!):

Hit Pause On The Evil Button: Google Assists In Arrest Of Indian Man

I can see how the companies need to choose to oppose local governments on this, which granted isn’t a small thing to do, but thinking of why this man was arrested and the role google played any understanding has quickly faded away to make place for a combination of disappointment, injustice, all-they-need-is-money and so on.

I suppose google fears being banned from India, a country which obviously has more than a slight interest in keeping google active there.

I wish acts like these would cost a company more than just some bad PR. Then again I’ve been wishing for the music industry to see the light for years now.

Closing words to google : for shame!!

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When does one actually take a decision

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

As I was writing up on my new guitar, it wondered if although (I thought?) I went out yesterday only to get a few guitar related supplies, I had actually already decided I’d get a new guitar?

The question itself is probably a consequence of having watched Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink presentation at SXSW 2005 (mp4) which I got to through the great KnowHR post Top 10 best presentations ever, He asks the question when people actually take a difficult decision when the people themselves think they’re giving it a lot of thought. His research showed that people in that situation very often stick to their first choice, even if a lot of thinking & considering followed after unconsciously making that first choice. By the way don’t take my word for it, the presentation isn’t very long and certainly worth a watch (every presentation listed on the knowhr post in fact).

Since I spent a good amount of money yesterday, the thought of unconsciously going with my first thought is … disconcerting :-)

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Got a new guitar, finally

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

After months of saving up, I finally bought myself a new elektrical guitar,
a Yamaha Pacifica v612 :

Yamaha Pacifica 612v

Since I’d only come to get a Boss Metalzone distortion which I used in combination with the simple reverb, delay, chorus & overdrive (which are available on my Hugh&Kettner transistor amp), I’ve been wanting a decent wah pedal and maybe a compressor and something more rock distortion, I got seduced to buying some of that sweetness too.

Once the person in the music shop started demo’ing the pretty recently release Boss GT-10, I quickly gave up my preference/prejudice towards single elements and bought the only unit they had. An amazing device, with decent audio output capabilities (usb, midi, scart etc). Me happy!

Boss GT-10

It deserves to be added my intention when I left for the musicstore was only to get a new cable, strings and maybe a wah pedal.

On the other hand; before yesterday, my only evolution gearwise since I got my cheap strat knockoff & amp (18yrso back then, 25 now) was the metal distortion pedal, so I figured I owed the investment to myself playing guitar for over 12 yrs.

What a difference a day makes.

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