RonVitale

Science of Sleep

Last night my wife and I saw the movie "The Science of Sleep." (Really cool website.) I really enjoyed seeing this film as it caused you to feel disjointed from reality (like the main character), but there was also a playfulness about the movie that tugged at my heart.  The film reminded me of my youth and of the creative urges you have in growing up, trying to play, grow up, and have fun in a truly large world. 

I don't like to really tell people what movies are about because if you do that, what's the point?  Isn't it much more interesting to just learn that the film is worth seeing and that you need to have an open mind? I am remember much about the movie today and I am laughing inside at playing out certain scenes in my mind.  The props used in the movie and the handmade animals and toys are just overwhelmingly beautiful.  There isn't anything about this movie that I didn't like.  Surprise yourself with a fresh movie of strangeness and intimacy--go check this film out. Directed by Michel Gondry (who also directed "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"), be prepared to enter a dreamworld like no other.  Kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride. 

Episode 49: Gearing Up

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Total running time: 36 minutes and 09 seconds.

Show Notes:

--Musical Introduction by Beyond the Pale "Sligo."
--Introduction to episode 49: Gearing Up
--Discussion of the special 50th episode next week!
--My wife beat me bad in sealed--with an Akroma, Angel of Fury.
--My Top 5 favorite cards of all time and my favorite card from Planar Chaos.
--Great Feedback.
--Music by The Lascivious Biddies "Neighbor." Music available on the Podshow Music Network at music.podshow.com.

Help Find a Cure for MS: Please make a donation to the Lascivious Biddies' "Team Biddy" as they try to raise $50,000 to find a cure for the disease Multiple Sclerosis. We can make a difference, please help.

Creative Commons License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Contribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

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Free the Music

I came across this open letter from Steve Jobs in which he argues that Apple would wholeheartedly support selling open songs (no DRM) in the iTunes Store. That's pretty interesting news.  Who wouldn't like to be able to go on any online store, purchase a song, and then copy the unprotected mp3 to any mp3 player (not just an ipod)?  Wouldn't that be wonderful?  You see, that's what allofmp3.com has been doing for years now and it's been fighting to stay alive because it's illegally selling the music.  But with Russian law loop holes being what they are, allofmp3.com has been able to get around the issue (though most recently the RIAA has been able to try and force them to shut down).

I think the argument that Steve Jobs makes is pretty sound.  If only a few percent of songs are actually purchased in the iTunes store, the remaining songs are put on there unprotected--meaning users take their own CD collections and rip them to a computer and put the songs onto their iPods.

I do hope that there will be a day when songs are sold without DRM.  Will this day ever come?  I sure hope so as it makes the most sense--open the content, allow people to pay a fair price ($.99 per song is a bit steep) and you'll have millions flocking to your online stories as it'll be easier to buy a good quality song rather than obtain a crappy pirate copy version.

Let's hope that DRM for online music sales goes away soon.  I believe it'll save the music industry.

For posterity's sake...

Yes, I know it's already on the site, but it's now on YouTube and I figured, why not?  Have a great weekend! Quick thought: Just think of what technology I had 26 years ago when my friends and I made this Star Wars video and now think of what a 10 year old can now make today.  Are you blown away by that yet?  No?  How about factoring in that the average 10 year old can work with his parent and broadcast his movie to the entire world instead of showing it on a tiny screen as my friends and I did--with no sound.  We've come a long, long way in 26 years.  I'm still amazed.  In the future, what tools will my son have to produce art and be creative?  Time will tell and I can't wait to see! (Here's an example of what can be done today):