Saturday, November 15, 2003

The University of North Carolina has a wealth of information available on ibiblio, its massive digital library. And it's free. Michelle Delio reports from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. [Wired News] I used the old SUNSite servers to get open source software in the early 90s, but I had not idea of what the old archive had transmuted to. Interesting. I was describing the Ising model to someone yesterday, and I just stumble on a good set of links and demos there. 7:06:03 PM

CBS MarketWatch: RealNetworks Chief Executive Rob Glazer says subscription services could win people over just as consumers eventually paid for cable TV after getting broadcast TV for free. [MacNN] Sounds like whistling in the dark. So, I'm sure (I'd like to believe) I'm not the “typical” music consumer that the industry is fixated on. This November so far I've bought six CDs and two virtual CDs on iTMS. The main obstacle I find in getting more music is finding good work to buy. Like many baby boomers I am more time-limited than budget limited when it comes to small purchases. None of the online outlets help me much. What would subscription do for me? Browsing in my favorite record store is not ideal — I can't listen to most of the music — but it allows for serendipity. Seeing Wes Montgomery's re-issue in the new jazz rack reminded me of checking John Abercrombie, who I hadn't listened to in quite a while. Looking at the names of players on his CD covers, I noticed Kenny Wheeler and Joe Lovano in Open Land. Hum... that seems like a promising combination. Just started listening, and I'm happy so far. Where does Glazer's subscription service come in? 3:15:30 PM

I'm listening to the 20 bit Riverside remaster of Wes Montgomery's Boss Guitar, moving from a precise and understated Days of Wine and Roses to a twirling fast The Trick Bag. I've got into a jazz guitar groove recently. Brad Shepik, Django Reinhardt, Biréli Lagrène, now Wes Montgomery and still to be heard John Abercrombie. Wes now in a fascinatingly inventive alternative take of Besame Mucho. Closing with another take of Fried Pies. 2:40:27 PM