Mangelhaft

New Order should have stopped making records after the Movement...

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:29:00 -0500

New Order should have stopped making records after the Movement era.

I met the proprietor of a record store in New Paltz, New York...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:24:23 -0500

I met the proprietor of a record store in New Paltz, New York who said he once almost wrote a book on Felt. Perfect metaphor for their career.

Love in the Afternoon

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:44:30 -0400

It’s been awhile, so I thought I’d get back into posting with a tribute to my second favorite Eric Rohmer film, Love in the Afternoon (sometimes called Chloe in the Afternoon in the English-speaking world).

I love so many things about Rohmer’s Six Moral Tales series, and it’s fitting that the series ends with this film, because it’s the most fully formed, and flawlessly executed — the cinematography, dialogue, acting, script — everything.

I’ve transcribed the opening monologue below. It might be the highlight of the film.

On the train, I much prefer a book to a newspaper, and not only because it’s less cumbersome. The paper does not absorb my attention enough and, above all, doesn’t take me sufficiently out of the present. The ride allows me the does of uninterrupted reading I like to take in at one time.
I like to read at home at night too, but other things. I like to read several books at once, each with its own time and place, each taking me out of the time and place in which I live. But I could never read all alone in a bare cell. I need a physical presence there with me. As a student, unless I had to study, I couldn’t stay in my room after dinner. Now Helene and I rarely go out.

Why, among all the possible beauties, was it her beauty that struck me? I’m no longer sure of the answer.

Now, when I see a woman, I’m no longer able to classify her as easily among the chosen or the outcasts. I’m not only less sure of my taste, but I can’t recall on what criteria I based my judgment. What was that “something” that a woman had to have to attract me and that I could detect at first glance? Since my marriage, I find all women attractive. In their most mundane tasks, I accord them that mystery I once denied almost all of them. I’m curious about their lives, even if they teach me nothing new. What if I met this young woman three years ago? Would she have caught my eye? Would I have fallen in love with her, wanted to have a child with her?

I love the city. The suburbs and provinces depress me. Despite the crush and the noise, I never tire of plunging into the crowd. I love the crowd as I love the sea. Not to be engulfed or lost in it, but to sail on it like a solitary pirate, content to be carried by the current yet strike out on my own the moment it breaks or dissipates. Like the sea, a crowd is invigorating to my wandering mind. Almost all my ideas come to me in the street, even those related to my work.

Thoughts on Android and Virgin Mobile (Part Two)

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:39:13 -0400

In in the first part of this two-part post, I summed up some of the positive points of the Android-powered LG Optimus V and the Virgin Mobile US voice and data networks. Now on to the criticisms: I wanted to originally write this follow-up post towards the end of the year, giving me a solid 6 months or so to test out the features, but after about 4 months my wife and decided to bail on our devices. As I mentioned in the earlier post, unless you live next to a tower, the Virgin Mobile (Sprint-powered) network is horrendous. Our entire apartment was a huge service dead zone. When we wanted to make or receive calls we’d have to step outside or press our faces and handsets to our dining area window. Didn’t make much sense in terms of productivity or sanity to keep the phones any longer, so a couple of days ago we bailed and went with AT&T… But, before I go any further, I should voice some of my complaints about Android and the LG device:

The auto toggle between Wifi and 3G is flaky. If I was browsing or using an app that required a network connection (practically every app nowadays) using my Wifi, and put the phone down long enough for the screen to shut off to save power, whenever I would resume using it, it would automatically switch to 3G mode (on the off chance I could get a signal in my apartment) and not find my Wifi network to connect to. I often had to go to into settings and disable then re-enable the Wifi for it to scan and then connect to the network. Sometimes this wouldn’t work at all and I’d have to reboot the phone.
The Gmail app could be slicker and more efficient. It took forever to sync and find new mail. You would think the native app would be a finer-tuned version of the Webkit web-app, right?
Built-in email client phantom notifications while using IMAP. Better interface than the Gmail app, but persistent phantom new email notifications.
Certain applications cannot be removed. Twidroyd and Poynt (among others) that could not be removed from the phone for whatever reason. Brought me back to the days of new PCs bogged down by bloatware.
Running-processes related to apps not even running run anyway. This is probably more of a complaint about certain apps, but the inability to properly quit from a running application and thus ending all processes is an annoyance. Can slow down phone performance dramatically.
Difficult to access dialpad mid-call. If you’re not wearing a headset (and thus exposing yourself to all kinds of brain cancer), the screen darkens until you pull the phone back down, and only then will it sometimes turn back on. Gotta have the right touch I guess…
If the battery of this phone were playing multi-player Goldeneye for the Wii it would win the ‘Blink of an Eye’ award for shortest life. Seems to be par for the course though, when compared to other devices.

Overall, I’d place Android third among of the different mobile operating systems I’ve tried (behind iOS and Windows Phone 7, but above Blackberry OS). Granted, compared to other Android devices on the market, the LG Optimus V is considered entry level, but I’m not sure that serves as a good counter to my complaints. Certain functions like the 3G/Wifi toggling shouldn’t be as buggy as they are, and the Google-powered apps appearing on a Google device should be better alternatives to what you’d get in the web browser (at least from a user interface perspective). So, when we decided to ditch Virgin Mobile we went with a pair of Windows Phone 7-powered HTC Surrounds from AT&T. The phone has been out for close to a year now, but the price was right, and AT&T’s pricing plans are a cheaper alternative to Verizon. Why Windows you ask? I’d been doing some research these last few weeks, and based on what I’ve read about the upcoming OS update (Mango), WP seems to be a great alternative to the iPhone. And so far, I like what I’ve tried out. The user interface is slick, and easy to navigate. There aren’t a boatload of app choices, but I’m sure that will change over the next couple of years. If the partnership with Nokia is at all successful, I imagine WP will certainly have a chance at vying for the top spot in the mobile OS realm. Anyway, a full review in a few months time, to be sure.

Twitter as Google Reader Replacement

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:28:36 -0400

Twitter as Google Reader Replacement:

For the past few weeks I had pondered a couple questions that the attached link answers/solves quite nicely: how does one kill (or at the very least cut-down on) the time-suck that is RSS and what’s a good use for Twitter aside from sending the random missive about English soccer?

The Third Reich

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:45:23 -0400

The title of the “lost” Roberto Bolaño novel, now being serialized by the Paris Review (starting with the Spring 2011 issue). I ripped through first two available installments in one or two nights a few weeks ago. I have a copy of 2666 on the shelf that I need to crack open, but aside from that, I haven’t read any of his other work.

That said, if the The Third Reich is any indication of Bolaño style, I see a similarity between both he and Haruki Murakami, especially in some of Murakami’s less surreal work like South of the Border, West of the Sun or Sputnik Sweetheart. Bolaño’s translated prose comes across as a little more complex than Murakami’s (not saying there isn’t a depth to Murakami’s work), but the mysterious plot developments and focus on the banalities of everyday life (what the characters are eating, wearing, etc.) are similar.

Here’s hoping the final two installments hold up.

Thoughts on Android and Virgin Mobile (Part One)

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:13:41 -0400

After several years of holding out, about 4 months ago me and the wife jumped on the smart-phone bandwagon and purchased a couple of Android-powered LG Optimus Vs through the Virgin Mobile network.

Up to that point, we’d been using old fashioned Motorola flip-phones through Verizon and a iPod touch to check email when we were away from home at a hot-spot. Needless to say, if you’ve ever been a Verizon wireless customer you know the service coverage is excellent, but like with most contract providers, the cost to own a smart-phone with a sufficient amount of minutes and bandwidth can be pricey. Hence, we chose Virgin: $25/month for 300 anytime minutes (no unlimited nights or weekends) but unlimited data and texting (NB. They’ve raised the price on this plan to $35/month for new customers).

Virign uses the Sprint network for cell and data coverage. There’s really no sense in sugarcoating it: if you live in an old building with thick walls, or outside a metro region, the service sucks. It doesn’t matter what their coverage map says, it’s at best an approximation. Sure, I might be sitting in my living room, near a window, with no tree coverage to speak of, not a cloud in the sky and still feel the hurt of absolutely no signal whatsoever. Yet, while rifling through Icelandic yogurt containers in the dairy section at the back of the Whole Foods I’m provided with spectacular five bar coverage. How is this possible?

Anyway, when those times arrive, when I’m lingering at some godforsaken Yankee Candle Company and can use my perfect reception to maximize the Virgin Mobile service and Android to fullest, I’ve been met with a mixed bag of pleasures and disappointments.

Android (we’re running 2.2, by the way) is a nice OS. The startup time on my device is faster than on my old Motorola. After booting, the apps I use most (Android’s web browser, Opera Mobile, Gmail, Email, Google Reader) load quickly. The OS is simple to use, and the learning curve was virtually nil (though we had some iOS experience with our iPod touch, and the concepts between the two are virtually the same).

Far and away the coolest Android feature is the Swype-powered keyboard that makes typing with a touch screen much more efficient than with the iPod touch (this may have improved with newer iOS versions, not sure), or any other smart-phone/mobile touch screen I’ve used up to this point.

The voice-to-text feature is also noteworthy, though it requires a network connection to function. The accuracy is quite good, even for somewhat obscure terms or place names. When I first tried it, I thought I’d be using it for everything, but that hasn’t been the case. That’s not to say it’s a novelty, it’s not, but I find it difficult to use when composing a text or email. Maybe users who frequently use voice-to-text programs on their desktops would be more comfortable here.

Criticisms to follow in part two. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.

The Magic Mountain

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:30:41 -0400

A few weeks ago I finished Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain. I’m not sure how to best describe what I felt when reading the novel. Maybe some combination of enjoyment, at times an acute feeling of being overwhelmed, a touch of boredom — a whole gambit of emotions, really. If you know nothing about it, the book is around a young man (Hans Castorp) who visits his cousin at a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Swiss Alps in the years leading up to World War I. What is supposed to be a weeks long visit turns into seven years.

So, being a novel of ideas (and probably the textbook definition of a bildungsroman), not much happens in the way of plot. We’re introduced to a number of allegorical characters, with interesting, sometimes amusing personalities (see the Dionysian Mynheer Peeperkorn — an early 20th century Goldmember; yes, that Goldmember!); all of whom try and shape the mind of young Hans, while he, “plays king” (I feel confident this isn’t a reference to masturbation), dabbling in his new found philosophies, allowing time to work its magic on both his body and soul.

The Magic Mountain is littered with cultural and literary references, which, in spots border on insufferable. Naphta’s monologue on the Freemasons comes to mind, as does most of the late dialogue between Settembrini and Naphta. Yet as painful, as some of these sections were to read, you could infer they were used as a stylistic device — a way of elongating one’s sense of (and a play on the recurring theme of) time; on how quick or slow time moved for Hans up on the mountain, and in turn, how it moves for the reader while absorbed in the narrative. Also, I won’t lie, even the slow parts had their own little pleasures; the prose is sublime, much better than the ramblings of some amateur Tumblr blogger…

Not long after finishing I remember feeling the desire to open the front cover and begin reading again. So, maybe it’s coincidental that Thomas Mann remarked anyone wanting to have a better understanding of the novel should read it twice. Advice worth heeding. Now if I could only find the time.

Pardon the delay. We’ve had a neutering and DNS issues to...

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:01:41 -0400

Pardon the delay. We’ve had a neutering and DNS issues to attend to. Regular blogging should resume shortly (ie. more soccer posts).

A Morning mit Bundesliga

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 12:39:10 -0400

(image via gorriti’s flickr stream)

Hoping for an EPL game to follow this morning, ESPN3 was streaming a Bundesliga match between FC Augusburg (recently promoted to Bundesliga 1) and FC Kaiserslautern at Kaiserslautern. As will probably be the case during much of the season, halftime was spent doing a little wiki research on both the clubs and the Bundesliga in general.

Evidently, Kaiserslautern is home to 50,000 NATO troops, many of them American, with Ramstein AFB located in the vicinity. This brings to question the number of Americans attending these games and how much American interest there is in the European soccer leagues in general. I can assume if the popularity of MLS in this country is any indication, it’s a small, but growing share (more on this in a future post).

Anyway, Augsburg dominated most of the first half until Kaiserslautern turned things around, and put a little more pressure on the offensive end, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Of what I’ve seen of both leagues, the competition and level of play seem to be equal between the EPL and Bundesliga. Of course, this is coming from my rather nascent fandom, so it will be interesting to see how both seasons play out, and how profound my knowledge is come next summer. Ultimately, if I can maintain an icy Bob Bradley-esque stare, gazing into the TV screen, unblinking and undistracted, assimilating an entire match between, say, Wigan and Blackburn, I’ll consider myself successful.

Aston Villa Out of the Running

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:58:21 -0400

This is a bit premature, but I’m drafting a post on my quest to find a EPL team to support this year, as the NBA is probably going to be dead this upcoming season, and I need a fix to get me through the dark days of winter. It’s a shame too, cause I was all ready to see Thad Young win sixth-man of the year, but I digress…

Anyway, I’m streaming the Fulham-Aston Villa match on ESPN3.com, gathering evidence and forming opinions. Ian Darke just mentioned two of Villa’s celebrity fans are British PM David Cameron and Pippa Middleton’s brother in-law, Prince William. I’d say this removes them from contention without further qualification.

At this rate, I’ll be pining after some third tier team like the Preston North End.

Pimm's Cup

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:52:00 -0400

Didn’t think my first post back after a 3 month+ blogging hiatus would be about alcohol, but I can surprise even myself at times. Anyway, Pimm’s. It’s this gin-based liqueur from England. Perhaps you’ve tried it, yes? If you haven’t, go out and get yourself a bottle and a little Canada Dry as a mixer. Heavenly, dangerous stuff. Perfect summer evening refreshment while trying to decide between Carlos the Jackal and Nights in Rodanthe on your Netflix Instant Watch queue.

Tiny, inexpensive computing

Fri, 06 May 2011 17:48:00 -0400

Tiny, inexpensive computing:

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a UK registered charity (Registration Number 1129409) which exists to promote the study of computer science and related topics, especially at school level, and to put the fun back into learning computing.

We plan to develop, manufacture and distribute an ultra-low-cost computer, for use in teaching computer programming to children. We expect this computer to have many other applications both in the developed and the developing world.

Our first product is about the size of a USB key, and is designed to plug into a TV or be combined with a touch screen for a low cost tablet. The expected price is $25 for a fully-configured system.

""

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:06:15 -0400

“”

- That is my memory of all those first punk gigs: excitement mixed with fear. Everything was twice as intense.

You just don’t get that now. Can you imagine going to a gig and being scared? It just wouldn’t happen. Or watching a band come onstage and thinking the singer looked amazing? The first time I went to see Siouxsie and the Banshees, I didn’t know what they looked like. I got to the club early—there was barely anyone there apart from this one guy who looked like he was dressed as a clown. He had this big black fringe and the biggest pair of trousers I’d ever seen. I remember just thinking, “What the fuck is this guy wearing?” because at that point it was all drainpipes. At the end of the night he came onstage. It was John McKay, the Banshees’ guitarist. The whole idea of wearing something like that was so new then that I couldn’t get it into my head. That feeling of looking at someone and thinking “What the fuck?” just isn’t there anymore.

Haruki Murakami (1988)

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:55:35 -0500

Haruki Murakami (1988)