Digital Lifestyle

While saving the world, I find it nice to have access to music. Digital music. I have a rather large amount, and once my wife's favorites are integrated, I'll have even more.

I used to have a problem - the music is stored on a computer harddrive and the stereo doesn't talk to it. I know the answer - get some box that interfaces between the two and stream. I'd use a remote which would display info on the TV screen and stream to the TV. There would be the computer, the TV, the stereo and the "box". I knew that the boxes existed - the Playstation 3 is an example (and it can also show images, like nice photographic images, if I had any of those).

Alas, the Playstation 3 doesn't exactly fit into my family's lifestyle - we haven't cracked the video game seal yet.

And then I spoke to a buddy of mine who told me about the
, the iPhone and the Remote application. I already had the iPod Touch (which is just like an iPhone without the telephony and GPS). Remote was easy to install. I just needed the Airport Express. Off to the Apple Store.

 

Wow. I can control my iTunes server (the computer) using my iPod Touch. Stream music, change music, volume control. Very nice. I used it during a little wine party we had on Friday. So very nice.

November 25, 2008 by Brent Schneeman

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What Happened To Rock and Roll?

Every year for the past six years, Austin has hosted the "Austin City Limits Music Festival", or "ACLFest". This year, Kathleen got me a three-day pass to attend for my birthday. I'm not a big fan of live music - I like studio recordings better. Still, I was excited to go and since it was in our backyard, it was easy to get to. With the three-day pass, I had in-and-out access, and kids could attend for free.

On the Sunday, Kathleen scored a one-day pass and we took the whole family down.

They had an "Austin Kiddie Limits" section - a small stage playing kid-friendly music (Ziggy Marley was there for a bit), the Austin School of Rock Petting Zoo (real electric guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, drum sets), and other interactive displays. Jack had a good time with that, but Ben was a little stand-offish (uncharacteristically). Anna was just happy to figure out how to drink from the Camelback bite-valve.

It was eventually time for the kids to go and I was designated Sherpa. With Anna on my back, I loaded Ben and Jack into the stroller and trekked the 2 miles back to our house.

On the way there, the music faded out and Ben asked "What happened to Rock and Roll?" My answer:

"Well Ben, one likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity"

Jack and Ben enjoy music. One of their favorite activities is to head into the computer room and have me crank up (LOUD) David Essex's Rock On. Ben will sing "Blue Jean, Baby queen, prettiest girl I ever seen" as he goes to sleep. If they aren't listening to Rock On, they like to hear the Cars soundtrack, which I find exposes them to a nice variety of music.

And that's good.

October 02, 2007 by Brent Schneeman

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Rock On

Kathleen and I sort of independently decided that the children aren't getting enough music in their lives. Part of it is due to our very slow CD player - it takes forever to load it up. Part of it is due to...well, I don't know what it is due to.

Kathleen is going to sign Jack up for piano lessons in the Fall. We'll use our neighbor's piano to practice. That should really help. Jack is pretty smart and seems to grasp geometric concepts easily. Visual geometry may or may not indicate mathematic ability. And mathematics may or may not correlate to music.

For my part, I'm teaching the boys how to sing David Essex's rock anthem "Rock On". All I have to do is say "Ben, Rock On!" and he'll respond with a "Jimmy Dean" and then, lowering his voice "James Dean".

 Where do we go from here? Three Dog Night?

June 11, 2007 by Brent Schneeman

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