Pitchfork Online Music Channel

Pitchfork TV is launching one week from today. Music videos as TV - what a novel idea. *(think MTV when it actually showed videos) Music videos online *(think YouTube without bad homemade movies) It looks like what Pitchfork wants to do is take the formula that was MTV and VH1 and apply it to independent music. They will show concerts, interviews, documentaries, and music videos. Take note b/c this may change the way we consume music videos and the way advertisers make $ off indie music.

"The 24-hour music network was such a great concept. What happened? Given music's nearly inexhaustible supply of notable artists and genres, there are no limits to how deeply it can be explored. But despite all the footage we've seen of high-profile rock and pop artists hitting their creative strides, similar documents of independent artists are far less accessible, if they exist at all.

In recent years, independent film networks have dedicated themselves to the respectful and intelligent treatment of classic and underground cinema. But independent music has never had a permanent home. So today, we're proud to announce the April 7 beta launch of Pitchfork.tv, the first-ever music video channel dedicated to documenting independent music as it happens. As a visual extension of the music coverage Pitchfork has provided for more than a decade, and a means of updating and advancing the music television format, the online channel will bring you closer to the artists you love, through original mini-documentaries, secret rooftop and basement sessions, full concerts, exclusive interviews, and the most carefully curated selection of music videos online." - from Pitchfork's own review of Pitchfork TV

Google Streetview API now available!

Here is the link to Google Intern James McGill's Blog announcing the API.

West Side Railyard Development panned by NY Times

photo from NY Times

"Like the ground zero and Atlantic Yards fiascos, its overblown scale and reliance on tired urban planning formulas should force a serious reappraisal of the public-private partnerships that shape development in the city today. And in many ways the West Side railyards is the most disturbing of the three. Because of its size and location — 12.4 million square feet on 26 acres in Midtown — it will have the most impact on the city’s identity. Yet unlike the other two developments, it lacks even the pretense of architectural ambition." quoted from the NY Times article

Google Spreadsheet Gadgets: work & favorite guitar shop

Now Google is making it even easier to map multiple objects using gadgets. (Pretty soon we'll all be out of jobs!!!!) All you need is an address field and a tooltip field for simple maps. Then copy the iFrame html and paste into your website. Any more data would require using Google Spreadsheets.

Wilco's "Impossible Germany" playing on radio at Au Bon Pain - pretty random

Walked into Au Bon Pain the other day to pick up a quick overpriced sandwich and was astonished to hear Wilco's "Impossible Germany" over the loudspeakers. People were rocking out to it w/out even knowing who Wilco is.

Beer Mapping & some more on Google Spreadsheet Mapper 2.0

Beer Mapping Site and Map
http://beermapping.com/maps/citymaps.php?m=newyork#lat=40.75818026660039&lng=-73.96476745605469&z=4

Another Google Spreadsheet Mapper article

Beer Mapping embeded

New Raconteurs Album

The Raconteurs are releasing a new Album. Their last album had a few really good songs and some filler. They just announced the release which is next week. They managed to keep the album under wraps for reasons they explained in a press release (pitchfork).

No Impact Man: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

(Images from No Impact Man Website)

No Impact Man has used these images to show the "evolution" (de-volution) of Park Ave. in New York City. The image at the bottom looks much more 'in tune' with nature. Many New Yorkers would probably appreciate the old Park Ave. Perhaps it could even have a nice trolley or light rail so it could continue to be utilized for transit.

New ArcGIS Service Pack, Google Pages & Yeasayer video on La blogotheque

There's a new ArcGIS service pack coming out. ArcGIS 9.2 SP 5 is planned to be released in late March 2008. I haven't gone through the list of changes and corrections but will likely install it a month or two after its released.

Google Pages lets you create and host a free webpage in less than two minutes. They also offer free gadgets & templates to add to your page for increased functionality. I added the hemisphere layout of a world sunlight map. Pages is about as advanced as .mac web development but less functionality than iLife '08's iWeb application. Will Google force the price of .mac subscriptions down with this service???
Also, the Yeasayer video of "No Need To Worry/Redcave" on La blogotheque is of them performing these songs on a subway in France I believe. For anyone unfamiliar with La blogotheque it is a French music video website that has renowned performers playing in varied places, sometimes public sometimes private but always interesting.

Spitzer Irony & Levon Helm on FIRE!

The New York Times website reports that Gov. Elliot Spitzer was involved in a prostitution scandal in Washington, D.C. This is very disappointing news considering Spitzer's election & work as DA was based on taking the high road.

On a more positive note Levon Helm on Friday night at the Beacon was amazing. All-in-all, some interesting situations; heard frat dudes booing, seen old dude with blood gushing from his head after an alcohol-induced fall, was bought a beer from some random stranger, and lost my ticket on the subway ride up to the show. Amy Helm, Levon's Daughter and band member, couldn't make the show as she was giving birth to Levon's grandson! Larry Campbell was fantastic on guitar and fiddle. The horn section, including Steve Bernstein ripped during the rockers. They played some new songs from Dirt Farmer, some old Band songs, Rag Mama Rag, The Weight etc. and some great covers I Shall Be Released (The Band used to cover this as well) and Into the Mystic.

Band Members
Levon Helm, Larry Campbell, Jimmy Vivino, Mike Merritt, Teresa Williams, Amy Helm,
Brian Mitchell, Steven Bernstein, Erik Lawrence, Howard Johnson, Clark Gayton, Jay Collins and
Little Sammy Davis

Taking the Subway Again

After my 7.5 month hiatus from Subway commuting I am getting a monthly metrocard. I signed up for my employer's pretax transportation benefit plan and will receive my VISA transportation card to use at the MTA vending machines. Coincidently, monthly fairs went up from $76 to 81 so I'll be paying a few extra bucks. I'll still walk and/or ride my bike to work but will utilize mass transit when stressed for time. Additionally, paying $2 per trip ($4 for round) has hurt my wallet and kept me from doing some social activities in other boroughs (BK esp.) or Uptown (read Canada).

The Green as a Thistle Blogger has finished her year-long adventure in green-living (similar to No Impact Man). I didn't read her blog much but will probably check out some of the backlog as No Impact Man gets more theoretical and less practical in tips for day-to-day green-living.

Been web programming all day - please shoot me.

Levon Helm at the Beacon this weekend

Levon Helm w/ Ollabelle opening

Ollabelle (the band Levon's daughter Amy is in) will be opening for Levon Helm at the Beacon Theatre in New York City this weekend. Levon has been hosting Saturday night rambles at his barn in Woodstock, NY since his recovery from illness. What is rumored to have began as old-fashioned rent parties to help pay medical bills turned into insane shows where the likes of Emmylou Harris and Medeski, Martin & Wood stop by and jam. The tickets to the rambles run at $150 but the shows at the Beacon are from $49-100. Can't wait...

Green Brooklyn

Everyone should check out Green Brooklyn.com for some great ideas for green activities. The latest article is about green maps in BK and refers to the good folks at greenmaps.org.

There is also a link to a cool site called Ork Posters City Neighborhood Posters.

MARCH IS HERE! and We Can Now Map Everything Article & Wilco pics from Pitchfork

Welcome to March folks. Two months down in 2008. Ten to go. Hit up Hoboken this Sat. for some Fake St. Patty's Day fun. Check out a cool article from Alternet and some Wilco pic's.

Jessica Clark's 'We Can Now Map Everything - From Illness to Endangered Species' is a great article on neogeography and web mapping applications

Wilco playing SNL and some pics on Pitchfork