Cafe Bucky

I want to write about the speed of running Second Life on my PowerBook, but I’m also thinking I should be writing a review of the Red Hot Chili Peppers “Stadium Arcadium”. Short one: Good Double Album, better if they had clipped it down to One.

Segue: my computer needs a Red Hot Chili Pepper. Anything to speed it up. It’s not gonna happen though. It’s an old G4 with 1gb RAM. And SL just frikken kills it :-) It’s ok if I crank down the detail … I included a snap of my avatar. Yeah, it’s dorky. I figure it’ll evolve. I’m digging SL though – it’s giving me a bit of the “new” rush I felt when I started using the Web in ‘93.

So, to take the steps from the web world to the more immersive stuff, I’m going to cast my net for cheap fast hardware. I think this is going to mean a Mac Mini …

I discovered Snow Patrol last year by hearing “Ways & Means” on Pandora. “Final Straw” proved to be a power pop album with lots of depth.

The opening cut on the new album is “You’re All I Have”. With its thumping bass and Beach Boy-esque harmonies, it serves notice that this band hasn’t gone soft. It’s pop, but not overly so. “Hands Open” reminds me of The Cars meets Nirvana.

The thing that gives Snow Patrol a lot of its distinctiveness is the lyrics and vocals of Gary Lightbody. I like the imagery of “both of my shoulders are heavy from the weight of us both” and the couplets in Warmer Climate. In a nutshell, the guy can write about pain without sounding like a frikken whiner, and the songs draw you in (such as “Make This Go On Forever”).

I’m looking forward to seeing them at The Warfield next month in San Francisco. Give ‘em a listen!

I didn’t get to the Fifth Avenue Apple Store opening. Something to do with being in California. I’ll get there though!

In the meantime, there are tons of photos on Flickr, Gothamist had a good writeup, there were two marriage proposals, most of the SNL cast showed up, and there’s more detail over at ifostore.

Oh, and a corporate-sanctioned gallery

Check out the time-lapse video. I imagine that link will be temporary, but, of course, you know it’s going to end up on YouTube and everywhere else.

My vivacious new friend M (hey!) was IM’ing to me this week about second life. She meant the general idea of being online, being in chatting mode, and feeling detached from the real world. Face to Face as First Life, online as Second. I had asked her if she had heard of “Second Life”, as in Second Life from Linden Labs

I’ve wrapped up with Friendster, and am about to start a contract doing stuff with Second Life. In other words, my First Life (at least, the work bit) is changing, and I’ll be surrounded by Second Life, the work, and Second Life, the virtual world. Got that?

I’m looking forward to it. Check out the BusinessWeek cover story “My Virtual Life” which gives a good sense of what it’s like to wander in off the web, and into a much more immersive environment. The whole idea of how we ping pong between modes is changing quickly. At this point, many are happy to get the web on their mobile phone, but because of the way that feels, it’s not really convincing “being somewhere else” stuff. What happens in, say, five years when you get realtime photorealistic rendering on an ultra portable wireless device (less than a pound, 8″ screen, insert favorite specs here)? (btw, I am expressing a desire, and don’t know of anyone that’s doing anything that advanced) In other words, will First and Second lives start to blur a bit? Maybe they already have.

It’s going to be fun.

Unapolegetic Rock from hard rockin’ Aussies. It’s about time we had another style breakthrough. The last two I remember are Nirvana and the Ramones. Ok, that’s oversimplified.

Wolfmother is the real deal. No tribute band here. It’s as if they went into some hard rock temple, held a seance, and channelled Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and a bit of Pink Floyd. Add a dollop of Smashing Pumpkins, a little bit of Ian Anderson, turn the amps all the way up, and record song after song of original (but yet familiar) heavy metal goodness. They also do the mellow song bit – think Led Zeppelin 4. “Dimension” announces their intent straight off, and they don’t waver from there (except perhaps “Apple Tree”). Memories flood back of innumerable trips to the beach, blaring FM radios, skate sessions, and parties I won’t talk about :-)

They will inspire copycats. Fro’s will come back. If they only put out this one great album, and then flop on a sophomore effort, I’ll still be pleased. For those of us who were there the first time, no explanation is needed. For those who never got past Britney and all things bubblegum, move along. Wolfmother’s the ultimate garage band, and so much more.

Damn, I have three albums to mention, and no time right now to really get into it. But I will! WolfMother, Snow Patrol (seeing @ the Warfield next month), and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (saw @ the Polo Field oh so long ago!)

Oh, and I have news a ‘comin! My First Life takes a cool turn.