Starting Back Up

It’s been a very long time since I have written a post here and it’s time I get back to work.  The move back to Minnesota eroded some of my creative energies, as has my job search in this economy.  So, by way of easing back into the swing of things I want to bring over a few posts from other blogs I had held.  It’ll also be a good way for me to hang on to posts which I like, while consolidating my work into this archive.

I used to maintain a blog on MOG.com, a music-focused blogging platform.  Similar to Last.fm they track the music you played as well, rank it by popularity and put you in touch with people with similar tastes.  Additionally you can attach a song to each post, and that’s where I would often post my musically-inspired muses.

But I was frustrated with the way I perceived they tracked my music.  As opposed to Last.fm, they would document all the music in your library, not just the songs you played.  I felt this left me less control over who knew what music I had and in this tricky day in age, I wasn’t comfortable with that.  So I deleted their software of my computer and canceled my account, but not before copying down some of my favorite posts.

Favorite Post #1 – A Music Lover’s Song – On Dobie Gray’s version of “Drift Away”

“I just absolutely love this song.  The bluesy lead, the orchestral background, the bridge with only the bass line and hand clapping … and it’s about how medicinal rock and roll can be.  A classic.

“‘Thanks for the joy that you’ve given me.'”

Favorite Post #2

I Thought I Was Supposed To Be Special!

“I was just talking to my roommates about how concert promoters have a way of hyping a show/band that can make you feel duped afterward.

“Back in 1997 I saw the first OzzFest tour. It was billed as the last time Black Sabbath (w/ Mike Bordin filling in for original drummer Bill Ward) would play. The lineup included Pantera and Marilyn Manson. But then the next year they did it again, complete with the full original Black Sabbath lineup. WTF?

“Flash forward to the spring of 2005. Coachella features Daft Punk closing the first night. The duo hadn’t performed in the States in around 10 years and the vibe beforehand definitely told people to see them while they could. Now Daft Punk seems to perform all over the US.

“Not that they weren’t both great shows, and I’m glad to have seen both bands. But in retrospect the hype just wasn’t real.”

Favorite Post #3 – Do Over: Would Madonna Still Be Famous?

“In an article in Fast Company last month, a Columbia researcher disputed a popular sociology/marketing concept known as the Tipping Point. The tipping point says that a social trend becomes popular only if it’s supported by a group of socially plugged-in individuals called Influencers. These influencers connect to a new product or idea or band early and tell other people about it, influencing their interest, and ultimately, the general popularity of the trend. Seems natural enough, right? Everyone has that one friend that’s just a little more plugged in to new bands or sounds than others.

“Using network simulation software (which in another life is used for predicting the spread of diseases) the guy showed that trends gain critical masses with or without the presence of an Influencer. So this got him thinking, would a past hot trend repeat itself? Rewind back to pre-Madonna 1982, would she rise to the popularity and stardom that she did?

“Collecting 48 songs from unsigned bands, he recruited 14,000 people to listen to and rate them. Some of the participants operated independently, and their top choices were spread pretty evenly among all the choices. But another subset was split into 8 groups where everyone could see everyone else’s choices; where a social influence could influence the rankings. “Word of Mouth” would have its stage.

“And sure enough, differences emerged. In the social groups a small set of songs saw great popularity while others sank to obscurity. But the popular songs weren’t the same among the groups. The most popular for one group would be ranked near the bottom for another. If a song got some early nods, it was going to get a good rank from the group. If not, it could easily sink to obscurity.

“So what does this mean to us, music lovers? How do we operate in a world where song popularity is gained randomly and through blatant groupthink?

“Dunno. Listen to those smart, plugged in friends, I guess. Or don’t!”

Moving to Minnesota

After a few months of deliberating, I’ve decided where I’d like to live:  Minneapolis.  I’m going home.
I’ve also thought a move to either San Francisco or San Diego would be good – and they would be – but financial and familial reasons make the Minny Apple the better choice.  I really do like it there and have wanted to live there since I was in high school.  But then I went to college in a small town and traveled throughout my 20s.  When I was 20, I spent 6 months in Germany.  When I was 22, I spent 2 years in Shanghai.  When I was 25, I spent 3 years in California.  (Update: When I was 29 I spent 6 months in Belize.) I’m ready to go home now.

I’ve been mentally preparing for this for a while now, and I’m glad to have been able to take some trips this summer to go abalone diving in Mendecino, beach partying in San Diego, outdoor funning in Tahoe, camping in Big Basin, beer festivalling in Monterey and music concerting in San Fran (coming soon to a weekend near you).  Check out my Flickr collection for some great shots from those excursions.  Many are also on Facebook in case we’re “friends.”

But, like any move, this one will be bittersweet.  First, I will be leaving many friends in California.  It’s always difficult to say goodbye.  It’s the worst part about traveling; the more people you meet and become close with, the more people you have to say goodbye to.  In particular, these last years in Monterey have been the hardest, as it’s a town with a transient population by nature (at least within my circles).  So, goodbye California friends.  That’s the bitter, the sweet is that I’ll have even more reasons to come back and visit San Fran, LA & Tahoe.  Not bad.

There will be some other things I’ll miss in Monterey and California:
•    Coastal weather – never too hot, never too cold
•    Driving back from Tahoe – waking up in the mountains, followed by evening swims in the bay
•    Local beers:  Sierra Nevada, Pyramid, Gordon Biersch, Dragon Slayer, English Ales and all the goodness from Mendocino county
•    The Silicon Valley spirit – innovative, collaborative
•    Biking to work
•    Golfing in January
•    Cali girls
•    Bonfires on the beach
•    The air of superiority we Californians take with us wherever we go
•    Surfing and abalone diving
•    Driving 90+ on the freeway, and being considered “with traffic”
•    The warm sunshine just on the other side of those hills there
•    Rowdy A’s fans – though I’m not sad to leave before they go to Fremont
•    AT&T/SBC/whatever park where the Giants play – badass venue

But there are a lot of things I’m looking forward to in the Midwest again:
•    Storms
•    More golf courses – and those that don’t cost >$200 to play
•    Local beers:  Summit, Leinenkugel’s, Schell, Glueck & Cold Spring
•    Music venues – would’ve found them in SF or San Diego too, so maybe this is just me glad to leave Monterey
•    Not dealing with the fascist cops in the 831
•    Minnie girls
•    Tons and tons of disc golf courses
•    Swimming in lakes, not needing a wetsuit and not sucking down salt water
•    Slightly less traffic than CA.  Slightly.
•    Seasons – yes, cold winters can suck, but they make spring so awesome. Plus, they’re not all that bad. For serious.
•    Having campfires when I go camping
•    The mist that comes off lakes in the late summer/autumn
•    Twins in the division race