by Donald B. MacGowan

Kilauea Lava Stream at Night: Photo courtesy of Big Island Air

Whether you visit the Big Island for a few days, a couple weeks or a few months, you want to make the most of your time in Paradise. With such a wide variety of natural and commercial attractions, it is natural for the visitor to get a little overwhelmed in the “Option Overload” and not be able to make a balanced and informed decision on what they want to do and how best to spend their time.

Amanda Maus at Thurston Lava Tube, Hawaiii Volcaoes National Park: Photo by Uncle Donnie MacGowan

Even choosing which beach you want to spend time on, or where you want to hike can be an exercise in confusion and conflicting advice.  Clearly, visitors to Hawaii could use help making quality decisions about how best to spend their time.

The Pacific Ocean and Waikupanaha Ocean Entry Explosion Plume at the End of Chain of Craters Road, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donnie MacGowan

Tour Guide Hawaii is excited and proud to announce the release of their new GPS/WiFi enabled App for iPhone and iPod that helps you navigate your trip to Hawaii with hours of informative, location-aware video and information. Although our video guide will lead you to dozens of unusual, untamed and unspoiled spots, let’s look at a scenic drive through one of Hawaii’s most popular attractions, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and highlight just a bit of the information you might not be able to find from maps and guidebooks that could otherwise cause you to miss some very interesting places and amazing sights if you did not have Tour Guide Hawaii’s new App.

Dusk at the Waikupanaha Lava Ocean Entry, Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

A Scenic Drive Through Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Introduction

La'epuki Lava Ocean Entry, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a magical, spiritual, wondrous, strange and beautiful place comprised of great contrasts and contradictions: dry as dust desert to teeming tropical jungle; frigid sub-arctic wasteland to steaming black sand beaches to rivers of flowing lava.

Kilauea Crater and Eruption of Halema'uma'u, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The star attractions in the Park are a pair of active volcanoes; Mauna Loa is the largest mountain on earth and Kilauea is most active volcano on earth. However, there are numerous other wonders from lava tubes to crawl down, black sand beaches with sea turtles to watch, mysterious petroglyph fields to explore, tropical jungles to hike through, endangered bird species to find, happy-face spiders to amuse and an otherworldly volcanic landscape so fresh it’s still steaming.

Hikers warily approach a stagnant lava flow whose surface is still glowig gently, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During daylight hours, an access fee is charged. The Visitor Center has a 24-hour information line at 808.985.6000 and there is a 24-hour eruption hotline at 808.987.8862. Within the Park tune to A.M. radio 530 for continuous information broadcast. There are tourist items available for sale, and one restaurant and in the park; however, generally, shopping, restaurants and gasoline are mainly only available in the nearby village of Volcano.

There are four main roads which access most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: the Mauna Loa Scenic road, which lies above the visitor’s center and winds up the slopes of Mauna Loa; Crater Rim Drive which circumnavigates the summit crater of Kilauea Volcano; Chain of Craters Road which runs down the southeast rift zone along a series of volcanoes and pit craters to the ocean and Hinlina Pali Road, which cuts across Kilauea Volcano to the cliffs along the sea.

Mauna Loa Scenic Road

This gateway to the southern flank of the world’s largest mountain, Mauna Loa, lies about 2 ½ miles west of the main entrance to the park. The road traverses lava desert, ohi’a scrub savannah, fern forest and ends at the start of the hiking trail to the icy heights of Mauna Loa’s summit.

A small fork road heading east just after the start of Mauna Loa Road leads to a series of tree molds that formed when lava poured through the deep tropical forest. The trees were too wet to burn and the lava simply cooled around the trunks. Later, as the trees rotted, these unusual, deep pit molds were left behind. Definitely worth a visit, there are even pit toilets available at the Tree Molds.

About 1 ½ miles further along Mauna Loa Road is Bird Park, or Kipuka Puaulu. A forested island in a giant lava flow, this micro-ecosystem preserves forest plants and animals and is a haven to many bird members of Hawai’i’s endangered species. Cool, quiet, restful and inviting, there is a one-mile nature trail around this tropical forest oasis.

Mauna Loa Road is closed at various elevations at various times due to fire hazard. If one has the time and an adventurous heart, it is well worth the trip to drive to the end of the road and perhaps even hike a ways up it. The start of the Mauna Loa summit trail is here, but for even hardy hikers, that goal is at least two days hard hiking distant. The world’s largest active volcano is a LOT bigger than it looks!

Crater Rim Drive

A fine introduction to the wonders of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Crater Rim Drive circles the summit crater of Kilauea Volcano, including Halema’uma’u Crater, the home of Madame Pele. The drive runs 11 fabulous and amazing miles through arid, barren volcanic desert, ohi’a forest and grassland and lush fern jungle. The most interesting sites along the drive are the Visitor’s Center, Jagger Museum, Halema’uma’u Crater, Kilauea Iki Crater, Devastation Trail and Thurston Lava Tube. Although the circuit can be made in under 40 minutes, one should allow at least three hours even to begin to explore this fantastic place; if you have never been here before, you certainly have never seen anything like it. Many people who plan to rush through the Park find themselves utterly engrossed, wind up spending much more time than they planned here and extemporaneously changing their plans, cutting time from some other attraction. Best plan to spend sufficient time here in the first place.

Experience has shown that the impact of the landscape is much greater if the drive is done anti-clockwise

Below are some suggested highlights along Crater Rim Drive. The road currently is closed between Jagger Museum and the intersection with Chain of Craters Road due to the eruption in Halema’uma’u Crater. Also, bear in mind that there are no services available along Crater Rim Drive, except for restrooms, drinking water and the book shop at Jagger Museum..

Kilauea Visitor Center: Newly remodeled and updated, the Kilauea Visitor’s Center is an outstanding resource of information on Hawaii’s volcanoes and the National Park; the not-to-be-missed first stop in the park you must make. The Center is run by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff that has the most up-to-date information on viewing the eruption, hiking and camping, bird watching, stargazing and just about any other topic of interest to Park visitors. Available for sale in the Center are maps, guidebooks, books and videos about the volcanoes, Hawai’iana, history, plants and every topic you can imagine pertinent to the Park, even souvenirs. There are free brochures and pamphlets on various trails, attractions, hiking safety and lava viewing hazards and precautions.

The Visitor Center is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.; there are public restrooms, water and pay phones available. Starting at 9 a.m. and showing every hour on the hour is a 20 minute informative movie about the Park; the film changes from time to time, but always contains spectacular footage of eruptions, information on volcanology and the natural and human history of the Park. For information, please call their Info Hot line at 808.985.6000.

Jagger Museum and Hawai’i Volcano Observatory: Famed for its fabulous views of Mauna Loa and Kilauea as much as for its interesting exhibits, The Jagger Museum (named for geologist Thomas A. Jagger) is open daily from 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. Exhibits include murals by Herb Kawainui Kane, seismograph charts of eruptions and earthquakes, geological displays and displays about the natural and human history of the Park.

When entering the parking lot of the Museum/Observatory, be especially careful of the Federally-protected Hawaii Goose, the Nene, who seem to congregate here. The Nene is the State Bird of Hawai’i, and this parking lot and its surrounding area constitute one of the best places for viewing them.

Thurston Lava Tube: Nahuku, the Thurston Lava Tube, gives the visitor an opportunity for a close-at-hand inspection of the inner plumbing of a volcano. It also makes for an interesting and unique way to escape the noonday heat or afternoon shower, briefly. Lava tubes form when the outer crust of a flowing river of lava begins to cool and crust over, but the lava continues to flow beneath it; as the margins of the flow begin to cool and form walls growing towards the middle, the nascent tube is formed. When the flow has completely drained away, the lava tube is left behind.

Thurston lava tube is a remarkably large, well-preserved and accessible example of a lava tube-type cave. An easy, 0.3 mile trail (about a 15 minute hike) winds through lush fern forest alive with singing birds and buzzing insects, down into a collapse crater entering the lava tube and slipping about 300 feet through the well-lighted, floored cave, popping up through a skylight in the tube and returning to the parking lot. A very easy walk and certainly a “must see” for any visitor to the park.

When Lorrin Thurston, founder of the Honolulu Advertiser, found the cave in 1913, the roof reportedly was covered with stalactites, now there are none—it is said that rapacious tourists removed every one in the intervening years.

Chain of Craters Road

Following along Kilauea’s East Rift Zone, Chain of Craters Road passes through an amazing array of rift volcanoes, pit craters, lava trenches and flow fields. This road traverses and opens-up some of the most wild and beautiful landscapes seen anywhere, terminating near the active lava flows from Kilauea Volcano. Perhaps nowhere else on earth are the elements high mountains, wild seascapes and active volcanoes and their lava flows more dramatically displayed. Altogether, Chain of Craters Road is a singular and essential addition to any visit to the Island of Hawai’i. Crazily switching-back repeatedly down the Holei Pali, Chain of Craters Road finally reaches the untamed and scenically wild coastline, where giant waves spray and spume over sea cliffs dozens of feet high. Towering steam plumes in the distance at the end of the road mark where unimaginably hot liquid rock pours into the wild, wild sea. A place of mystery, a place of power, a place of wonder

Once connecting Volcano Village through the Park to Puna and State Routes 130 and 137 at Kalapana, Chain of Craters Road has repeatedly been badly damaged by earthquake, buried in lava, re-routed and re-built and broken up and buried again. The current eruption, which began in 1983, has buried a significant portion of the currently-closed nine miles of road between its temporary end inside the Park and the eastern closure at the town of Kalapana, outside the eastern edge of the Park. The road is now closed at the 19-mile marker, right at Holei Sea Arch.

Collapse features, such as the numerous “pit craters” found along the Chain of Craters Road, form when lava drains out of subterranean chambers, causing the surface to collapse. Notice how all the debris seems to point downward into the bottom of the crater; there is no material around the rim of the crater that is suggestive of eruptive or explosive events. On the walls of the crater, one can see numerous, inter-layered, pre-collapse lava flows and airfall beds that were truncated by the collapse and exposed.

If a car ride back up the pali can be arranged, riding bicycles round Crater Rim Drive and down Chain of Craters road can be a momentous and fun excursion. Starting slightly above 4200 feet in elevation and ending at virtually sea level, this 22 mile drop from misty mountain cloud forest, running through tropical rain forest and into tropical desert is invigorating physically, stunning visually and makes a wonderfully memorable addition to any visit to the Island of Hawai’i. However, if you decide to pedal the 4200 feet elevation and 22 miles back up Chain of Craters Road to Kilauea Summit in the heat of day, this will also ensure a quite memorable, though far less pleasant, addition to your visit.

There are no services, water, food or gasoline available along the length of Chain of Craters Road. Do not underestimate the draw of this area on your imagination and your spirit; you WILL spend more time here than you think. Plan ahead, get food, water and gas before venturing down the road. Remember, after dark on the South side of Hawai’i Island, it is virtually impossible to find gasoline or food for sale along the highway between Volcano VIllage west to Kona or north to Kea’au.

Hilina Pali Road

At 2.2 mile down Chain of Craters Road is the turn off to the Hilina Pali Road. This road is 9 miles of some of the most spectacular, lonely and striking scenery in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Spectatcular coastal views, strangely-colored rock and twisted trees under weird skies make this an fantastic side trip for exploration and photography. Be especially careful when driving this road, it is mostly only one lane and there are more people enjoying this trip through the backcountry than you might think.

About halfway to Hilina Pali Overlook is the Kulanaokuaiki Campground. Set amongst rifts, collapse features and flows, this desert campground is secluded and spectacular. Driving further across the broad lava flows, past panoramic vistas of Mauna Loa, along the spectacular drop-off of the Hilina Pali (literally “cliff of faith”), one comes to the Hilina Pali Overlook, a great place for a picnic or short hike.

Connecting with several longer trails across the Ka’u Desert, Kilauea Crater, or down the Pali to such abandoned coastal villages as Halape and Keauhou, the Hilina Pali Overlook is the central cross-roads of back-packing trails which crisscross the park

Hilina Pali Road, due to its remoteness and lack of bus traffic, is a great place for a mountain bike ride, birding, or just getting away from crowds and tours. There are magnificent views, heart-stopping sunsets and pit toilets at the Campground and Overlook,. There is no water or other services available. Hilina Pali is a nesting place for the endangered Nene, the Hawai’i State bird, which is related to the Canada Goose. Hilina Pali Road may be closed during Nene nesting season.

Less than 1/10 of a mile from Hilina Pali road is the unmarked Devil’s Throat collapse crater…an excitingly vertically-sided pit that is worth the visit just for the “okole squeezing” peering down the throat will give you.

End of Chain of Craters Road

The end of Chain of Craters Road is currently at the 19 mile marker near the Holei Sea Arch. This is where the road was cut off by flowing lava which also destroyed the 2 million dollar Visitor Center. When the lava is flowing near the road, one can walk right up to it. There are displays about the volcano and natural history of the area, as well as a wealth of information on hiking to, and viewing, the lava, available here.

Hiking all the way out to the active flows is one of the most spiritually rewarding, awe-inspiring, curiosity quenching and amazing things one can do anywhere in the world—but it is neither for the physically unfit nor the meek of spirit. It is a long, hot hike (currently seven miles) over broken ground and glass-sharp rocks; the heat from the volcano is savage; the weather, if clear, is sweltering…frequent squalls blow in off the ocean and the rain and wind can get pretty wild out on the lava plain where there is absolutely no cover or shelter to protect you. No water or shade is available anywhere along the hike. Plan assiduously before you go, make sure you have TWO working flashlights per person for the long hike back in the dark.

Lava Viewing Near Kalapana

At this time, there is nowhere else can you see lava flowing from a volcano into the sea; no Big Island visit is complete without seeing this awe-inspiring show. Currently lava is only flowing into the sea outside the Park. From the belt Highway, turn south at Kea’au on Highway 130, continuing through Pahoa to the 20 mile marker; take the exit clearly marked “Lava Viewing”, a right branch about, for two miles to the parking area. Port-a-potties are available here. The road is open from 2 p.m. until 10; no cars allowed in after 8. Lava viewing information is available from Hawaii County at 808.961.8093; check conditions before you go. The easy trail, a 20 minute stroll to the viewing area, is well-marked.

The quality of viewing varies as lava flows nearer or farther from the trail. Viewing is best at dusk so bring flashlights for the hike out. Take close-toed walking shoes and a hat, long pants and long-sleeved shirt, at least 2 liters of water, sun block and a rain jacket and camera. It’s a good idea to bring a tripod for your camera, or your shots will be blurred. Remember food and gas are not available anywhere nearby after dark, so fill up BEFORE you park, bring snacks and drinks. There are port-a-potties available at the parking lot.

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here. For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

Copyright 2009 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

I got to shoot with Mark Salling (aka “Puck” from Glee) this past week. Can’t show you the end result just yet, but for now this little behind the scenes teaser image of Mark being styled by the great Jessie from House of Infinite Radness.

You can buy Mark’s CD on his website: MarkSallingMusic.com and on iTunes as well

MarkSallingMusic.com

There once was a library, portable and sound
That wherever I went, I carried around
But then came the crash
A red blooded slash
And now back to square one, my music un-found.

Just received this invite from Night at the Chelsea on FB . . .

GOING DOWN… TO THE UNDERGROUND!
It gets really HOT down here….
Host: NIGHT AT THE CHELSEA
Type: Party – Night of Mayhem
Start Time:  Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:00pm
End Time:  Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 2:00am
Location:  THE UNDERGROUND
Street:  #733, 10th Ave. SW Calgary, AB

Description
The Underground is the lower floor of The Warehouse and operates at times as its own club and at other times as a second room to the main floor. The Undergroud is legendary for the cheapest beer in the city (jugs for as low as $5.25!!) and for its high quality live band shows every Friday and Saturday. The music caters towards punk rockers with the occasional metal and hard core shows to spice things up. Whether you are enjoying the live music, the cheap drinks, the arcade games or the pool tables, The Underground never leaves you dissatisfied. And neither does NIGHT AT THE CHELSEA!!!

Dean

Always support your local music – where ever you are and where ever they are!

Abbiamo già scritto, in questo Blog di SSRN, Social science research network, una risorsa che permette di accedere in modalità prevalentemente gratuita a piu’ di 250.000 papers accademici di scienze umane e sociali. Apprendo oggi dalla mailing list DIG_REF (che cita un post del blog Mobile libraries) che attraverso iTunes è possibile scaricare una applicazione per navigare la base dati e leggere i documenti attraverso iPhone o iPod.
La notizia è pubblicata il 19 novembre nel blog di SSRN.
Attualemente la E-library SSRN consiste di due parti: un database degli abstract che contiene più di 260.000 documenti ed una vera e propria collezione di documenti in full text (pdf) che contiene più di 213.000 testi.
La forza di SSRN consiste nei partenariati attivati con molte istituzioni accademiche, editori, associazioni professionali che permettono la disseminazione di abstract e paper.

iTunes permette di scaricare l'applicazione SSRN per iPhone/iPod

Ohai. Here is this week’s Brainypics contest: THANKSGIVING!

Here are some examples I made to get you into the turkey (eating) spirit. :]

Consummate (v) - To bring to completion

Delegate (v) - To hand over responsibility for something

Start making Brainypics at Brainyflix.

The Queen in 3D: Channel 4 (Recorded 16th Nov Watched 16th Nov)

I wouldn’t usually watch anything about the ‘royals’ if you paid me but this was an opportunity to use my Chuck 3D glasses again.

I started off being quite enthusiastic about the programme; it’s always interesting to see colour footage of life in the 1950s and earlier so it’s quite remarkable to see it in 3D.  Some of the scenes were incredibly effective and the ‘royal’ stuff wasn’t as interesting as the footage of ordinary people.

The problem was that the novelty wore off after about 10 minutes and then you’re just sat there watching boring clips.  It certainly made me question the current trend for 3D films in the cinema.

Top Gear: BBC HD (R 15th Nov W 17th Nov)

It’s the return of Top Gear (now in HD), the programme that evokes more conflicting emotions than any other programme that I watch.  On the negative side, the presenters are annoying, it’s too pleased with itself, there’s too much fakery and most of Clarkson’s views are reprehensible.  On the other hand it has a sense of adventure and wonder that you really don’t find anywhere else and it’s more beautifully shot than any Hollywood film.  Annoying but watchable.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: iTunes (Downloaded 17th Nov W 17th Nov)

I was distraught, last week, when I missed episode 5 of Curb but I decided to take Jed Unpopcult’s advice and download it from iTunes (as much as it hurt for me to pay for it).  And boy, was I ever glad that I did.  After last week’s somewhat disappointing episode Larry & co were right back on top form.  There really were too many funny bits to mention – but if I told you that the plot revolved around Larry dating a woman in a wheelchair, you might start to get the idea.  Highlights included: asking about a Chinese child’s proficiency with chopsticks, Larry attempting to kiss Denise in her wheelchair, Leon asking if Larry “brought it”, hiding the blackberry under the towel and Rosie O’Donnell being as pig-headed as Larry.

There haven’t been many programmes ever that have made me laugh so much.  If you’re not watching it then I want a written note from your mother as to why not.

Misfits: E4 (R 12th Nov W 19th Nov)

Misfits has, inevitably, been described as ‘Skins meets Heroes’ and this made me question whether I was actually going to bother watching it.  As much as the description put me off, there was no was that I was going to miss a British superhero programme.

Five, typically annoying, teens are struck by lightning while on community service and find that they have gained superpowers.  I have quite a low threshold for watching anything featuring ‘realistic’ teens, so the first ten minutes or so were a bit of a chore.  Things picked up, though, as the story gained momentum and it was really successfully done.  It’s rare that we get these high-concept sci-fi shows in the UK but when we do they often have a unique flavour.

Having the powers relate to the characters’ personalities wasn’t the subtlest touch (the shy one turns invisible etc) but by the end of the episode we did start to see them as real human beings.  I’ll definitely be tuning in for the second episode.

Stargate Universe: Sky One (R 17th Nov W 21st Nov)

I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by this series from the start but I stuck with it because it seemed like something might happen.  Well, it only took about 5 minutes of this episode before I decided that nothing was ever going to happen.  It felt like a relief to finally give up on it.

Kamikaze Girls: Film4 (R 13th Nov W 21st Nov)

I’ve got a habit of recording any foreign-language film that I spot because I’m a bit of a snob and they don’t tend to repeat them; you’ve got to watch them when you can.  The problem is that I’ve really got to be in the mood to watch a movie and when they’re sub-titled you really have to concentrate, so I’ve ended up with lots of unwatched films.  I’ve found myself deleting a few recently but I made an effort to watch this.

Kamikaze Girls could be described as a Japanese Amelie; it’s a quirky film that features an attractive female stuck in her own magical realism world.  This being a Japanese film, though, means that it has its own strangeness that makes it nothing like Amelie.  The plot, such as it is, revolves around two teenage girls who form an unlikely friendship – Momoko, who like to wear frilly ‘lolita’ dresses and Ichigo, a slightly psychotic biker chick.  In some ways nothing much else happens, but that would be really selling it short, and it kept my interest to the end.  There is a great scene towards the end when Momoko finally flips when trying to defend Ichigo against a biker gang that’s actually very funny.

I’d like to add that the reason that I liked the film had nothing to do with the main character being gorgeous and prancing round in ‘lolita’ outfits.  Honest.

Podcast #63 is here! New music from 50 Cent, Wale, N-Dubz, Beanie Sigel and Dirty Money plus as always I got busy in the mix for 20 minutes. Its a BIG show!

Tracklisting:
50 Cent – Get It Hot
Consequence Ft. Kanye West & John Legend – Whatever You Want
Consequence Ft. Kanye West, Common, KiD CuDi, Big Sean & John Legend – Whatever You Want (Remix)
Wale Ft. Jazmine Sullivan – World Tour
N-Dubz Ft. Wiley – Na Na
Rihanna – Rude Boy
Timbaland Ft. Keri Hilson & Jay-Z – Rumours
Busta Rhymes Ft. Will.I.Am & Kelis – I Love My Chick
Jay Z – Venus Vs Mars
Mclean – Broken
Beanie Sigel Ft. 50 Cent – I Go Off
Ludacris Ft. T-Pain – One More Drink
Wale – Mama Told Me
N-Dubz Ft. Mr Hudson – Playing With Fire
Effie – Into Yellow
Dirty Money Ft. Drake – Hurt
Theophilus London – Humdrum Town
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool – Dance The Way I Feel

To download/ listen please subscribe for free to the Podcast on iTunes, just search for DJ WM.

nun im neuen jahr wir dir völlig überarbeitete itunes 10 (oder itunes x) version erwartet. 64-bit unterstützung gilt als muss. genauso wie syncing over the air, wies der zune bereits vorgezeigt hat. auch ist, nicht zuletzt weil itunes mittlerweile ordentlich überladen ist, ist eine ganze itunes suite im gespräch.

für eine toll ausgearbeitete liste an funktionen und änderungen klicke auf unten befindlichen link:

http://macapper.com/2009/10/08/rdy-itunes-x-wish-list-10-things-we-want-in-the-next-upgrade/comment-page-1/

bereits seit jahren geistern mögliche apple tablet entwürfe oder mockups im netz herum. klar ist folgendes. apple arbeitet bereits seit 2002 an einem portablem multimedia gerät. möglicherweise parallel zum iphone, oder mit der basis der iphone entwicklung als weiterentwicklung. sogar steve jobs selbst soll die arbeiten daran leiten, überwachen und immer wieder einschneidend korrigieren. so ist im jänner vorigen jahres eine präsentation des gerätes noch kurz vor knapp abgeblaßen worden, da herr jobs die akkuleistung des geräts als zu schlecht abgestempelt hat.
indizien auf die entwicklung finden sich zu hauf:
*) apple kaufte vor kurzem einen chip hersteller samt werk auf um selbst mobile prozessoren zu entwickeln (iphone, itablet,…).
*) samsung erhielt einen millionen dollar auftrag zur fertigung und weiterenticklung von farb-oled displays.

vorteile eines tablets stehen ausser frage: apple könnte ein direktes konkurrenzprodukt (der premiumklasse) zu den mobilen netbooks oder ebook readern bringen. ein großer, erweiterbarer funktionsumfang, sowie eine ordentliche (unibody?) verarbeitung, würde einen höheren preis rechtfertigen.
laut techcrunch, engadget und crunchgear könnte es 2 verschiedene versionen des tablets geben. beide zwischen 7-11″.
1) die kleinere version mit einem led display wie es in den netbooks üblich, oder mit multitouch wie beim iphone bekannt, ist. sie soll ab 800$ erhältlich sein.
2) die große ausgabe des tablets wird mit einem farb-touch-oled display ausgestattet sein dafür aber preislich ordentlich höher geschraubt sein. 1500-2000$, je nach marktentwicklung im
oled bereich. das oled display soll ja nicht 1/3 der restlichen hardwarekosten übersteigen (+ ein kleiner preisaufschlag von apple selbst um den preis aufzurunden, ach ja und die 1:1 übersetzung der preise nach europa seien hier auch mal kritisch erwähnt. ;-D ).

hier noch eines der vielen design mockups, sieht ja schon ganz hübsch aus! aber eine anlehnung an das iphone design ist durchaus realistisch!

Who doesn’t like free stuff? When I saw a Pearl Jam video up for $0.00 I was excited, to say the least (the video is not great, but it’s Pearl Jam and you really can’t go wrong with Eddie Vedder). When I went back to see what else was up, I was sorely disappointed. We get a ridiculous, Christian-y country ballad sung by someone who clearly has never heard her own voice and then a country music video that is called, I am not kidding, “Rockin’ the Beer Gut.” I am not sure whether the Trailer Choir (Yes that is their name) and their ode to budding alcoholics is an elaborate joke, but I can proudly say that this video could only be made in America. Fuck yeah. I have no idea what would possess someone to make or download this video except as some sort of secret code for rednecks to meet up and watch NASCAR. Kind of like the bat signal. The last song is a Spanish one, which encourages millions of bottom feeders to post “THIS IS AMERICA SPEAK ENGLISH.” I don’t really have anything to say about it, except that it sounds like it should be in a commercial.

The top 100 songs are just as disappointing. Number 1 is, shocker Miley Cyrus.That’s just sad and what’s worse is that she has three songs in the top 100. I think that’s a record for most hit singles in one week by an untalented “musician” who is daughter to another untalented “musician.” And I was even more embarrassed to learn that people actually listen to Owl City, which I thought was a joke or something, and is just about the blandest indie-pop-electronic to ever roam the ninth level of hell we call pop radio. It isn’t bad, because there isn’t enough of anything to be bad. It’s just there, sounding more like Death Cab for Cutie than DCC itself. I’m sorry, but if you are going embarrass your fans by making them confess they enjoy a band called “Owl City” you really should be a whole lot more original.

This is the band’s sole member. Come on, this picture even looks genericly Postal Service.

There’s also waaay more country music than there should be a whole lot of Alternative music, that is, surprise!, not really alternative at all. Come on, Coldplay? Kings of Leon? Green Day? Do the people who classify the music even try or do they just click whatever word they think is the prettiest?

There’s only ONE Nickelback song and it’s number 51, which is pretty good because they always seem to take a few spots in the top ten. I don’t know if I’ve heard it before, and even if I listened to it I probably couldn’t tell because every single one of their songs sounds exactly the same. I don’t know why people bother listening to several, you can just listen to the same one over and over again and get the same result: intense vomiting. Then again, I don’t understand why people listen to shitty music like Nickelback or Creed. Wait what the hell is Creed doing on the list? Didn’t they break up a thousand years ago when Scott whateverthefuckhislastnameis was arrested for being a bible-thumping douchebag?

And if you “Rocking the Beer Gut” fans just can’t get enough of shitty song names, check out this equally retarded names, “Big Green Tractor,” “Ice Cream Paint Job,” “Hoedown Throwdown,” and “It’s a Business Doing Pleasure With You” (oh country music. Will you ever stop using horrifically lame puns as songtitles? I’m guessing that last one is about prostitution)

Why do you think people listen to shitty music? Do they want to punish themselves or do they just not have any standards at all?

“Before I Self Destruct” is now available EVERYWHERE!!!

I’ve been asked several questions about the Droid so I think its time to post what I know about the device. I have yet to get my hands on the Droid and plan on visiting Verizon this week, so I’ll add more detail if I find something significant to post.

Like many of you, I am on the Verison network and do not have a cool smartphone yet. I’ve been very patiently watching how the iPone has slowly been taking over the market. Being a big Mac fan, it may be a surprise to some of you that I do not have an iPhone. Well….until Verizon starts carrying the iPone, I will go on being patient, but my contract is due in May 2010, so I am shopping around right now.

There are many rumors about the iPhone coming to Verizon next year, but nothing is concrete as of yet. Regardless, it would be on a different network (hardware speaking) than AT&T and would require some changes internally, so why not look at an Android, which claims to be better. Well….let’s look at some of the features.

First, the Good Stuff: Andorid Operating System – Key to the device. This open source software is very fast and efficient. In tests against the iPhone it handles pretty much the same and developers are making applications for the Droid daily, but one report I read said this fad will wear out due to the overwhelming market share the iPhone currently has. Developers go where the money is and the Droid is just not there yet. It has a 5 Megapixel camera….very cool and better than the iPhone’s 3 MP camera. It has Google Navigation, which is free! This is one of the coolest features on the phone. Real time mapping, traffic, and SATELLITE IMAGERY…just like Google Maps on your computer. The Street view could come in very handy down the road. It has a slide-out keyboard and a touch keyboard (landscape and portrait), larger display, removable battery, and SD card slot.  These are all pluses in my book.

Now for the down side: No iTunes compatibility!!! If you have most of your worldly possessions wrapped up in iTunes, this may not be the phone for you! Applications are few compared to the thousands that can be found on the iPhone. It is a bit faster and internet seems to run smoother on the iPhone, but it really depends on the network and wi-fi you happen to be using. The biggest downside to the Droid….it’ll never catch up to the popularity and proliferation of the iPone. It seems many smartphone developers are just going to be playing catch-up. The Droid will cost you more in the end: First….you pay for a minutes plan, then you shell out $30 for data, if you want Microsoft Exchange support it will cost you another $15 a month, tethering will cost you an additional $60 a month and has a 5Gb limit. It seems you keep paying and paying to have a Droid. Why can’t there just be one fee for having a smartphone like Blackberry!

So, if you can live without iTune syncing (you can always add your music through the Droid’s native syncing) and don’t mind shelling out a bit more over the life of the phone, you may want to check out the Droid. It is a beautiful device and I do like the open source Operating System, but I’m willing to be patient and see how if Verizon starts carrying the iPhone. I have the time to wait, so why not let the newness of the Droid wear out a bit and see how this battle unfolds.

Heathaplex Vision

I’ve always wondered which artist I’ve listened to the most. Well, it is arguable if the singers I’ve been listening to can be considered artists, but nevertheless, my hunt for useless MacBook apps has led me to find iTunes Statistician– an iTunes plug-in that basically tallies useless information from total time listened to most common words in song titles.

Shamelessly, here’s the ranking for my iTunes Top Artists.

I cannot believe how many times I’ve actually played David Archuleta songs. Also, Britney Spears in the top 20?! Leona beats Beyonce & Katy Perry!?

Mainstream much?

But hey, this is me

end – The time at which something is concluded.
regulation – A principle, rule, or law designed to control or govern conduct.

End of Regulation is 17 original tracks filled with enough lyricism and classic production to make any hip hop head have a cardiac. Dominique Larue does nothing but exude her passion for music in each song with her raw delivery and cunning storytelling. She is on a mission to let the world know that female emcees still exist and are alive and well. With production from Focus, Rashid Hadee, D Will, T.Dragonette, Antman Wonder and more, along with features from the likes of Wordsmith, Prefyx, Junclassic, Cyrano Sinatra and Savant.

If you feel like hip hop has been lacking a touch from a woman then this tape will bring all hope back in a special way. Dominique showcases her ability to rock any given track with her trademark raw elegance. End of Regulation is meant to show the world how she is putting in overtime to end mediocrity in music, this most definitely raises the bar. The new album From Ohio With Love is available on iTunes and Amazon right now. Also lookout for Dub MD and Illmind as they return with Volume 4 of the Blaps, Rhymes and Life compilation series this December.

01. Epic Intro Produced By Antman Wonder
02. The Best Produced By Boonie Mayfield
03. Fall 96 Produced By Ghost Rydah
04. Kill That Sh Produced By Antman Wonder
05. Indian Movements featuring Junclassic Produced By drielb
06. Where Are All The Female Emcees Produced By Tye Hill
07. I am In Love Produced By Rashid Hadee
08. Take It Uh Over featuring Prefyx Produced By Antman Wonder
09. Off It Produced By Focus
10. Pose Produced By Antman Wonder
11. Nothin To Me featuring Wordsmith and D Will Produced By Severe
12. He Got Me Like Produced By T.Dragonette
13. Dope Sh Produced By drielb
14. Longtime featuring Cyrano Sinatra Produced By D Will
15. Sassy Produced By Rashid Hadee
16. You Are A Star Produced By Antman Wonder
17. We Keep It Moving featuring Savant Produced By drielb

Download Album Here

Hi-yo! Here are 5 tough vocab words to help you on the SAT, taught by our hilarious winners from last week’s “Brainypics About Brainypics” contest. As always, choosing them was very tough cause you guys are funnaaaay.

Avenge (v) - to seek revenge

Pathos (n) - Quality of being able to evoke pity or sympathy

Renown (n) - Honor, acclaim

Clemency (n) - Mercy

Indolent (adj) - Habitually inactive or idle

You can thank Elgringoalex, Insomniacmushroom, Ipopstar, Ez Mac + Rice + Anna, and Jberestovoy for the lols.  Well done, well done.  :]

* * * * *

Are you feeling “emoticon sadface” because your Brainypic was not picked?  Do you want to win iTunes and compete for our $200 grand Prize?

We still have 2 more weeks of competition left!  This week’s contest: Thanksgiving (what else).  Give us your funniest Brainypics with a Turkey Day theme.

Get gobblin’ at Brainyflix.com.

SWEETIES

On Friday, November 20 I had the esteemed pleasure of stumbling upon yet again another amazing free concert at APPLE. My eyes thought they were playing tricks on me as I did my daily strut down Prince Street to find a sign in the APPLE store that read “TONIGHT: LIVE RAKIM“.

Say Whaaaat?

I fell in LOVE with hip-hop when I first heard “Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em”. My friend Cora and I would watch videos while we talked on the phone for hours. We used to go NUTS over that video. Rakim had swagger before that word was ever in existence. He hands down is one of the best MC’s to ever bless the microphone.

DJ Technical did a great job of hyping up the crowd with classic hip-hop tracks from Tribe Called Quest, MOB DEEP, EPMD, and a host of others. RAKIM illuminated as he walked on the stage.  He was adorned in all white and lit the room up before he even spit out one lyric.

RAKIM was illuminating LIGHT even before he took the MIC

I hold such high regard for Rakim as a LEGEND of hip-hop  but as a critic I had to hold a sliver of skepticism before I heard anything because “The Seventh Seal” is a technically a comeback album. It has been ten years since Rakim has released an album to the public so I was on the edge of my seat awaiting to hear if the GOD MC still had the juice.

It was apparent from the MINUTE the vibrations of his voice hit the MIC that he was as fresh and fly as he was the 80s. It literally sounded as if time had stood still as far as the mind-blowing affects of his flow. He started off with a retrospective of his earlier hits. I believe all of SOHO heard the crowd go BANANAS when he performed Juice.

Rakim did give the audience a few snippets from the new album. The lyrical content is even stronger than his earlier music. The level of maturity on the tracks on “The Seventh Seal” are an indication of the philosophical and spiritual depth that RAKIM is at in his life.

In 2009 Billboard Magazine asked Rakim about the significance behind the title of the album. Rakim responded :

“The seals are from the Bible—Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity—all have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to recreate the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them. When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I’ve always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times”

On Friday night I had the chance to speak one on one with the GOD MC. RAKIM is gracious, humble, humorous, in addition to being a rare and amazing talent. A lot of artist have egos the size of the NYC and will speak to the press after concerts through their management only. RAKIMS’ manager Matthew Kemp gave me full access to him and told me that no question was off-limits.

RAKIM and I touched on many topics that included  hip-hop music: the past vs. today, where the passion to record “The Seventh Seal” originated from, and his children.

The most poignant answer from Rakim came when I asked him

Nightly Candy: “Is there one song on the album that is close to your heart that you want the readers to know about?”

RAKIM: “Message in a Song featuring Destiny Griffin (Track # 10) is a song that I feel is for the hood and for the streets. It’s for the people who may need that option where they can make that choice. It’s for the youth that’s going through what they are going through and might need someone to tell them that they ‘aint gotta do it that way. The track is also dear to me because my daughter is on it. I feel like with my daughter on the track that it is another link to the youth. It’s a good song and it was good vibes doing it so I hope that when people listen to it they get what we felt when we made the song.”

It was an honor to interview Rakim. I hope to have a chat with him again when he drops his next album.

Nightly Candy chats it up with the GOD MC RAKIM

The hip-hop world needs RAKIM to keep turning out stellar beats and thought-provoking lyrics because unfortunately these days those elements are hard to come by .