Internet, Media & Marketing

Getting into video podcasting

I really am enjoying it. Watch these on the bus to work most mornings (or when they’re out):

Sky News headlines
Sky News entertainment
Sky News technology
Rocketboom
The Show with Ze Frank
The Ricky Gervais video podcast (overrated, but entertaining)
TrailerCast.TV

If anyone has recommendations for better general news/tech/entertainment podcasts I’d be grateful, because the Sky ones aren’t great. I need to spend a bit more time with iTunes (v argh.0) working out what else is worth subscribing to. And any other ones I should be watching.

Technology

Favicon enabled

That’s the little image by the URL. New thing – Chris showed me how to do it tonight whilst we were working on our secret project, which is looking very nice indeed but still has no content. That’ll start next week.

Music, Personal, Technology

Psychic iPod

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Ok, ok, so maybe I’m just still a little excited about the iPod. After all, it is all sleek, glossy lines, a drop of shiny black heaven with a light (so bright) that brings warmth to even the darkest soul; it’s filled with glorious, glorious music and, well, the interface works so well. (I know, that last bit didn’t fit with the tone of the rest of my description, but hey, I’ve always valued form and function).

But the music its been playing for me — it’s like its sensed my mood and picked, from 12,000 songs currently on it, exactly what I needed to hear.

Today that was 80s rock ballads — including the ever emotional ‘The Touch’, by Stan Bush, made famous by the Transformers movie. Ah, Optimus: you were too young to die.

’tis funny how the music you need to hear has a way of finding you. I’ve found that. That is to say, I’ve found that music has a way of finding me. Even when I’m not looking.

I’m in a very weird, purposeless mood.

Culture, Current affairs

The bluffer’s guide to football…

I am, to the shock, horror, bemusement and outright disbelief of everyone who knows me, trying to understand a bit more about football this season. I’m not sure why – I guess I did enjoy the world cup (despite England’s mediocre performance) – and to a certain extent have had enough of looking and feeling completely clueless everytime a conversation about the latest premiership transfers kicks off.

So I’m supporting Spurs, am subscribed the the right RSS feeds (as provided by the BBC), and even signed up to the Metro’s fantasy football game, playing in a private league organised by Tom. If you’re up for getting involved, let one of us know and we’ll send you the pin. For those curious, my winning striker combination is Berbatov (who I have high hopes for) and Crouch (the funniest man in football). I’m playing a 4:4:2 and have Paul Robinson in goal.

Why Spurs? Well, I’m not sure who my local club would be by geography, but have taken a policy that I’ll support the team supported by the first person who explained a sport to me. For football, this was Bozza back in my school days and Damo more recently (both Spurs fans, obviously) and Daf explained Rugby to me – so I support Wales in the six nations – and everywhere else. It’s one of the advantages of having no ‘origin’ location to speak of – Malaysia only really figures in international badminton and squash (and sepak takraw, but who’s counting…).

I am enjoying freaking out people who expect me to know nothing, though. I just keep saying “Berbatov’s having a great run,” or “I think Berbatov is going to make his 25 goals this season,” or “We’re doing well in the pre-season friendlies,” and people just stare at me blankly.

The joys of RSS ;).

Current affairs

Damo & Evo

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Damian’s been reporting like crazy for the BBC, for those tracking his Bolivian escapades. Whilst his blog has gone without updates for a while, that’s not because he’s not been busy – check out his most recent outing on the Beeb for Five Live’s Up all night here.

Damo’s on from 2h24 minutes in for about 7 minutes on Tuesday’s show (up for one week only!), providing on-the-ground commentary about Evo Morales, leader of Bolivia, and his recent football match — a celebration of the writing of the nation’s constitution. It sounds like it was a bizarre and hysterical affair, and it seems that DSHK has acquired something of a flair for this brand of broadcast journalism. Chris compared him to [[Alan Green]], which I understand is high praise.

Personal

You gotta be cruel to be kind

I’ve had shin issues ([[compartment syndrome]], apparently) for a while now – ironically caused by too much running/impact sport back from my heyday of squash/gymming a couple of years ago. Today I had the first treatment session – medical massage to loosen the tissue.

Damn, it hurt. And it’s going to cane tomorrow.

Slightly optimistic about the results, though — but was slightly surprised when Bernie (for such is the name of the miracle-working masseuse) pronounced that he was done three quarters of the way through the session and asked if I had any other injuries. I mean, confidence in your abilities is one thing, but ‘curing’ a chronic condition in 40 minutes?

I hope so! My physiotherapist was less convinced, but we’ll see. I have about a month of slow, tedious stretches to do before I can start thinking about any kind of impact activity, but hoping to make it out on the ol’ bike before the weather recedes too far.

Film

Vice

Mullet centraalMiami Vice was distinctly unimpressive. Michael Mann got caught up with that thing he does, taking beautiful shots of beautiful scenery, and along the way… he seem to forget it was an action movie. Of the 132 minute film, only about 12 minutes is taken up with (admittedly quite good) action sequences.

Now, I normally criticise traditional action movies for having too many explosions and not enough character development etc., — am I being a bit of a hypocrite? No. Sadly, Vice doesn’t bother with normal characterisation either, at least not of Rico and Sonny as a pair, which, IIRC, was what was interesting about the original series. This humourless film builds each character up almost completely separately — and apart from moments when one says to the other “I trust you completely,” (or words to that effect) — the two actually barely speak to each other.

So – no explosions, no characterisation… what does the movie have? A few nice cars (and some less nice ones – was that a BMW? C’mon man, apply imagination!), an absurd mullet, brief moments of fantastic brutality… and that’s about it. Not the kind of film you get angry watching and leave, as individual components seem to sit well enough — but I was definitely bored well before the end…

Armand David's personal weblog: dadhood, technology, running, media, food, stuff and nonsense.