Jim Willis

Posted

Some thoughts on the Apple Tablet.

I've been thinking a little bit about the Apple Tablet. Which is not to say that I've spent more than a few minutes thinking about this. But anyway. I'm trying to figure out what it would be useful for and I'm also thinking about all the reasons why I have not bought a kindle (lame screen, no video, etc.).

And then I think about the type of print media that I'd actually want to consume on a portable device: magazines. I want to read Outside and Esquire and The Atlantic on a device that feels like reading the physical magazine.

You could argue, "well, that's why those magazines have websites." But reading a "web" version of a magazine is very different from reading a magazine. There needs to be something between a Kindle screen and a web browser and then I remembered the last version of iTunes featured something called "iTunes LP." There's a SDK for the iTunes LP presentation that would probably help magazines land on a sweetspot between the kindle and a webified version of the magazine. It would be useful for me to have a portable device that allowed me to browse a magazine as if it were a magazine (instead of a website showing magazine content) and also have that magazine feature rich media (audio/video).

I wouldn't buy a tablet just to read magazines but I definitely see magazine subscriptions being a large component on the tablet announcement at the end of the month.

Posted

John Adams

Kel and I have been watching the John Adams HBO miniseries for the past few nights. Really excellent. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. I wish I had seen it in high school but not quite sure it would have resonated as deeply as it does watching it now.

Posted

Walking through Huber Woods during a thaw in December.

Click here to download:

Walking_through_Huber_Woods_du.zip (3836 KB)

Posted

Rise up singing. FOUND!!!!!!

I lost this amazing book of songs somewhere in our move from Cincinnati to Providence more than 8 years ago. This morning, while cleaning out a box of junk, I found it and I am psyched. If you're ever stuck with a guitar and want to sing with other people (especially kids) this book is a total must-have.

Looks like there's a new edition out but I'll be keeping this beat up copy for now.

Posted from Red Bank, NJ

Posted

Oistrakh plays Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor [Part 1/4]

I've listened to this piece performed by different violinists several times over the past month and each time I enjoy it more than the last. I couldn't find any of the versions I've been listening to online but this one is very nice:

Posted

Damn, I wish we hadn't of settled on a $50 limit for Secret Santas this year

because I'd really like to get this $799 desk that allows you to sit or stand.

Posted

Red Bank PTO gets a website.

I put this together this AM, so please go ahead and kick the tires:

http://www.redbankpto.org/

Also, and perhaps more importantly, while you're there, please subscribe to the Red Bank PTO email list.

Thanks.

Posted

Feds more agile than local government. Are fears of Big Government's inefficiency based on reality?

One of our neighborhood volunteers was looking to attend tonight's Red Bank council meeting. The boro has a useful new website but still, with less than 12 hours to go until the meeting starts there is no agenda posted.
This, on the same day that the White House issues its new Open Government Directive that mandates transparency via technology from all Federal agencies. How is it that a massive machine like the Federal government can set such lofty expectations as - -

d. Within 45 days, each agency shall identify and publish online in an open format at least three high-value data sets (see attachment section 3.a.i) and register those data sets via Data.gov. These must be data sets not previously available online or in a downloadable format.

e. Within 60 days, each agency shall create an Open Government Webpage located at http://www.[agency].gov/open to serve as the gateway for agency activities related to the Open Government Directive and shall maintain and update that webpage in a timely fashion.

- - but here in a town of 15k people with a website that is costing ~$25k per year we don't have council meeting agendas posted online before the council meeting?

Read the directive here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/12/08/promoting-transparency-government