Tech in the Trenches

Carl T. Holscher fights for the customers.

Month: June 2015 Page 1 of 2

Trent Reznor on Apple Music: Other Services ‘Left Me Feeling Lacking’ | Rolling Stone

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On June 30, 2015

In Links and Quotes

Nine Inch Nails singer on Taylor Swift, creating Beats 1 and reviving the value of music

I want that feeling of walking into an independent record shop, if there are still any that exist, like Amoeba [Records], and being delighted by the choices and the way music is presented to you with love and care. It’s exciting. And you leave with stuff you wouldn’t have dreamed you wanted and you’re excited to listen and share it and experience it.”

I am curious about Apple’s Radio experiment. I’ve not used any of the streaming services more than the occasional background music.

I’m not lining up to tune into Apple Music or Beats 1 either. I am excited to see what artists will do with their Connect pages. Reznor mentioned something very cool he’s doing once the service launches.

Rolling Stone: How soon will you, as an artist, be putting new music up on Apple Music’s “Connect” or on Beats?

Reznor: When the service goes live, the first thing I’ve put up is something I couldn’t have done or wouldn’t have done anywhere else, which is the entire album The Fragile as an instrumental-outtakes compilation that plays like a regular album but sounds very different without my voice in the way. And there’s different arrangements to certain songs and oddly that makes for a different, complementary music experience. So that’ll be there as soon as you download the app, you’ll see that in, on my Connect page.

I’ve always been excited with what Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor) has done with music. It’s not just putting music out or putting it out free years after the records were released. It’s not just offering remix albums but there are interesting things like this.

I will get my hands on it as soon as I can, because I love that album and want to hear it in a new way.

Crate of Penguins — What The Church Can Learn From Apple

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On June 30, 2015

In Links and Quotes

I will never tire of reading Sid’s writing. He’s a smart guy with a view completely opposite of my own on many topics. He’s a great communicator and thinker. I love to debate with him because he comes from a place of love. I know we’re not going to see eye-to-eye and that’s not the goal.

The goal is to put our beliefs into words which both helps us reaffirm and refine them. But it also allows us to see where each other are coming from. I respect his views, even if I don’t agree with him.

In his latest piece, he writes about The Church (Catholic in this case) and Apple. There are similar communities around both and they’re both selling a product, an experience, and in many ways, an entire life style.

The Church, I believe, has some great products. The best, in fact.

WHAT ARE WE SELLING?

What are those products? Truth is one. Community is another. Depending on your tradition, Sacraments might also be available. Love is the flagship. It’s a rock solid lineup.

Even I have to agree, that’s a hard lineup to beat. But as he goes on to say, the message is often fractured and translated through many others.

Imagine how much you’d want to buy an iPhone if the only things you read about it were written by Samsung employees! This is precisely how the majority of the Western world hears the Christian viewpoint. So it’s not really surprising that in a lot of people’s minds the words “Christian” are synonymous with the words “hatred and intolerance”.

I won’t spoil his entire post, and it’s a good one. He’s looking for other writers to share ideas and write about their experiences. Authentic voices. Real people writing from their own place of love.

A sort of Read & Trust for The Church.

 

Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage front pages | Newseum

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On June 29, 2015

In Links and Quotes

#LoveWins. The Newseum is hosting a collection of 822 newspaper front pages from around the world. Check out the full collection from Saturday and Sunday.

The next time you’re in DC, you really need to visit. It’s worth a couple of hours of your time. There is a display in front of the building with the day’s newspapers displayed as well.

The Virginian-Pilot always does something special and they did not disappoint.
Virginian-Pilot front page after Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling

We’re all human

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On June 29, 2015

In Observations

We are all human.

I remember the first time I got to see a professional basketball game in person. We were way up in the nosebleed section. We watched the players race across the floor and it felt surreal.

These giants of athleticism smashing into each other. The speed they moved and the fluids movements were like a dance.

A finely choreographed ballet of baskets unfolded. It was a blast.

Later, I saw another game. This time I was closer. I could see the players better. They were closer and it was more real. And they were human.

From afar, these people were a mysterious persona a mile high standing billboard tall. Up close, they were human. Big, bulky humans but humans.

That’s why I’ve never had a sense of celebrity worship. They’re just people. They do a job. They do it well. But they still get up in the morning feeling sick. They still have to put gas in their car and shop for groceries.

They still eat and sleep. They’re flesh and blood.

I started thinking about this during the follow-up with Marc Maron after his interview with President Obama.

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast: 614 – The President Was Here

When I listened to his interview I was struck by the humanity. This was a carefully orchestrated press appearance. This was two guys sitting in a garage talking about their lives.

Marc Maron and President Obama pose for a photo.

In the follow-up Maron talked about how human Obama was when he was there. He said, here I am sitting there looking at his mouth. Looking at his eyes. His face. He sat right across a desk from The President.

He is human.

When they took pictures afterward, they shook hands and wrapped their arms around each other. Just like you would with a friend or family member.

It’s worth your time to listen to the interview with President Obama. It’s a humanizing look at a man we often see and hear from in our best and worst times. But he’s an imperfect man full of fear and courage.

Photos are from MarcMeetsObama.com.

American Flag From Unsplash by Anthony Delanoix

Marriage

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On June 26, 2015

In Observations

I’m happy about today’s ruling. I’m happy friends of mine can not only be married, but can enjoy the legal and tax benefits of marriage. I’m happy they’ll be able to visit each other in hospital if they’re sick or injured.

I’m happy their marriage which may have been valid in DC is now valid in their home state.

But what about churches?

Churches should be able to act in their own belief. They should not be forced to carry out marriage they don’t recognize. If they choose to perform a ceremony, that’s great for the couple. If they refuse, that’s not something the church should be held accountable for. It’s their religion and their beliefs. I would not force something on the church that runs contrary to their views.

But think of the children?

Think about them. How many kids have expressed their concerns about marriage? Yours? Theirs? Anyones? If they’re too young to understand, leave it be. There’s time for that. If your kids ask and its something you don’t believe in, I leave it to you, the parent, how to handle that situation. It’s your right to pass your beliefs and values on to your kids.

Christians?

No one is changing your beliefs. No one is attacking your beliefs. You’re still welcome to live by the word of God and quote scripture. You may still attend church. You may still disagree with this ruling. This doesn’t affect your negatively. You’re still able to go about your life like nothing happened.

That’s why I intend to do. This doesn’t positively change my life at all. I’m a straight white man married to a wonderful woman. This changes nothing. And that’s the point. It changes nothing. The only thing that could get tougher is finding a non-church venue for a wedding this summer. Competition is about to get a lot more fierce!

Comments about pedophiles / marrying trees / bestiality /polygamy?

Pedophiles. Still bad. That doesn’t change.
Marrying livestock. Still not legal. If that’s your thing, move to a farm in Texas and do what you like. Nobody messes with Texas.
Marrying trees. The best you can do is tie yourself to one in the name of the environment.
Polygamy. It’s not had a great track record. But if you want it bad enough, start a movement. The door is open.

I am moving to Canada!

Sorry. You’re about a decade late. Canada legalized same-sex marriage in 2004.

But don’t worry, there are still plenty of countries you can move to. Mexico isn’t looking good for you either. You’re safest moving across an ocean.

What could have been…

The ruling was 5-4. This was not a clear-cut decision. It could have just as easily gone the other way. We are a country divided and it’s how to work and live with each other that makes or breaks us. I am happy the ruling went in the way I had hoped it would. But I’m also aware it was very close.

Congratulations! You all know who you are. I’m ecstatic for you. Enjoy it!

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