The "banned" Peta ad

I am sure Peta is delighted that NBC "banned" their ad. I like Peta just as I like the SWP as they stir things up with their absolutist positions. Historically, however, vegetarianism has been linked more closely with chastity than with licentiousness.

The Burma Chronicles by Guy Delisle

The author is married to a Doctors Without Borders physician who is working in Burma. He describes the joys and pains of living there in a low key way. It is funny and moving. I am going to look for his other books where (I hope) he does the same thing in China and North Korea.

The Damned United (Trailer)

Michael Sheen may not look like Brian Clough but he can do the voice perfectly. And Timothy Spall? What's not to like? The second tune in the trailer is Glasvegas, but what's the first?

Edited to use a working version of the video...

Taking delight in other's misfortune

Running CHDK on the Canon SD1100IS

Last year I got a Canon SD1100IS camera. In Europe this is the IXUS 80 IS. I really like this camera. It is small, it starts up quickly and there isn’t much lag between when you press the button and when it takes a photograph. The main limiting factor is power, on holiday in France and England last summer I went through two batteries.

The designers of the software for the camera have been careful not to overload the camera with features. If you keep it in automatic mode then only some features are available; when you are in manual mode there are more options. There aren’t however many of the complex options you get on one of those expensive DSLR cameras. It isn’t that the hardware can’t do these things, Canon just doesn’t want to confuse us poor customers who just want to just point and shoot.

The actual CPU inside the SD1100IS is Canon‘s proprietary DIGIC. This is an ASIC which does signal processing and includes an embedded ARM core. There is an open source software project called CHDK (Canon Hackers Development Kit) which adds additional features to Canon cameras that use the DIGIC chips. Hackers write C code which is cross-compiled for the ARM and loaded onto the camera. Then the extra software runs as an addition to the Canon software.

So what does all this get you? There is a good list of features here. Of course it is cool to show people that you can play reversi on your camera. But how many of these features will you actually use? Amy keeps pointing out to me that I should learn to use all the existing features before I start adding new ones. The main thing I have turned on at the moment is for the camera to save raw images alongside the jpegs that it normally uses. When you zoom in on an image to the pixel level you can see some jpeg artifacts which are absent in the raw image. There is more information in the raw image. So it is nice to know that if I ever take a perfect photo I will have every possible bit. But actually most of the time I am viewing photos on the computer and never need to see this much detail. In addition working with the raw CRW images is a pain as not every piece of software can read it.

But CHDK is free, and once you have it loaded onto your flash card(s) you don’t have to use it unless you want to. The SDHC cards have a little locking tag on the side. If you set the card to locked then the CHDK software will be loaded: you see the CHDK splash screen. If you set the card to unlocked (this is how it was when you got it) then CHDK doesn’t load. In either case you still have the usual Canon menus available.

To access the CHDK features you press the alt button. Which button this is depends on your camera. On the SD1100IS it is the otherwise useless (to me) printer button. This is a toggle, that is to press alt-menu (which access the CHDK menu) you press and release alt, then you press and release menu.

The hardest thing about CHD is installing it. There’s nothing complex, it is just fiddly, and the online descriptions are confusing, especially when thy are trying to be general and talk about all the different Canon models at once. Here’s what I did to install CHDK on the SD1100IS. Note that this is the distilled version which makes it sound like I am clever.

First I had to get my flash card reader to work. It turned out that my 2.5 year old computer can’t read 4GB SDHC cards so I had to buy a 2GB card. These are slightly hard to get now but I got one for $7.

Second the card has to use the FAT16 filesystem, so I used the camera to format the card. It is possible this step was unnecessary.

I determined the version of the firmware in the camera as described here. I have 1.01A. I downloaded the correct version of CHDK from here. I unzipped CHDK. In the distribution is a Windows program called bootable.exe. I ran this against my SDHC card

$ ./bootable.exe g:
Are you sure ?: y
done

I copied the DISKBOOT.BIN file to the card. I set the read lock on the card to 'locked' and put it in the camera and tuned the camera on. And for that I got lots of possibly useless extra features.

British Design Classics Stamps

Glasvegas / Carl Barat @Popscene, 8 January 2009

Photo of Glasvegas at Manchester Academy 2 by Danny North.

Popscene is a smallish club near the ballpark. That area is pretty quiet after dark and it was easy to park by the big new Borders, which was nearly empty. I had to wait in line for 45 minutes although there seemed no reason for this delay. Only rock audiences will put with this sort of crap. I also had to wait in front of someone who was bragging about having just seen a band called “Echo” in New York. Eventually I got inside to find a load of youngsters, some of whom looked like they were pressing the 18+ age limit. Some were trying to dance. The DJ played Teenage Kicks to no big reaction. The DJ played the Strokes and they started to move. The sound system was played too loud: enough to be distorted. There were two soundless video projectors displaying 80’s kitsch on the walls. For some reason they disrespectfully kept these running when the bands are playing. There was an enormous pillar in the middle of the room which blocked my view.

Carl Barat plays several songs by his old band the Libertines. Without a band to watch I struggle to pay attention. Barat seems to have had enough of the mythology of rock. He just wants to play his songs. Occasionally he gets animated and there are flashes of energy. He mumbles to the crowd. He really needs a strong partner to fight against.

Glasvegas embrace rock. They wear black. The singer wears sunglasses. They sound a bit the Jesus and Mary Chain crossed with the Ronettes. When they’re not providing a wall of sound they make some atmospheric noises. Their songs are interesting, several seem ready for the crowd to sing along with, but this doesn’t happen until near the end.

So one performer rejects the rock image while one embraces it. It is a function of the artist to sift originality from clichés. By engaging with history Glasbegas have a chance of creating something new. By playing "Be my Baby" they make this engagement explicit. Hopefully Carl Barat will similarly regain his muse.

La Bohème @ San Francisco Opera, 22 November 2008

We went to see the San Francisco Opera do La Bohème. For once I could see where all the money goes: there were great stage sets and massive set pieces with loads of people on stage with snow falling. Famous singer Angela Gheorghiu was quiet, but up and coming baritone Quinn Kelsey was brilliant. He also looks like an opera singer should too (he is not thin).

This opera is not long but for some reason SF Opera decided to have two intervals. The first act was great but the first interval removed all the momentum. I would have preferred a straight shot all the way through but then they wouldn't have made money at the bar.

Steve Jobs has made a pact with the Devil

Each year Steve Jobs gets to make a better, thinner iPod. But each year the Devil gets to take ten pounds of his flesh.

Most played old songs of 2007

To complete the set, here are the oldies I played most in 2007. Yes I know this is a year late, but I know you have neen waiting...

Rank	Title	Artist	Album
1	Obsessions	Suede	Singles
2	Surrender	Cheap Trick	Cheap Trick: The Greatest Hits
3	Unwritten	Natasha Bedingfield	The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Music from the Motion Picture)
4	Release, Release	Yes	Tormato (Original Recording Remastered)
5	The Sodom and Gomorrah Show	Pet Shop Boys	Fundamental
6	Sheila	Jamie T	Sheila single
7	Christian Dior	Morrissey	In the Future When All's Well - EP
8	Baby, I'm Yours	Barbara Lewis	Hello Stranger: The Best of Barbara Lewis
9	UFO title sequnce music	Barry Gray Orchestra
10	Ko-Ko	Charlie Parker	Ken Burns Jazz
11	The Man Who Sold the World	Lulu	Man Who Sold the World
12	These Words (I Love You, I Love You)	Natasha Bedingfield	These Words (I Love You, I Love You) - Single
13	Sound Chaser	Yes	Relayer (Remastered)
14	Gonna Be a Big Thing	The Yum Yums	A Treasury Of Northern Soul
15	Beg, Steal or Borrow	Babyshambles	The Blinding - EP
16	Sukie In The Graveyard	Belle & Sebastian	The Life Pursuit
17	Watch That Man	Lulu	Man Who Sold the World
18	At Giza	Om	Conference Of The Birds
19	Flight Of The Eagle	Om	Conference Of The Birds
20	UMO	OOIOO	Taiga
21	Gimme Shelter	The Rolling Stones	Brussels Affair Definitive Edition
22	Tumbling Dice	The Rolling Stones	Brussels Affair Definitive Edition
23	Angie	The Rolling Stones	Brussels Affair Definitive Edition
24	Beautiful Ones	Suede	Singles
25	Crawl	The Wedding Present	Seamonsters

Most played new songs of 2007

For historical purposes here are my most played new songs of 2007. Last year I gathered the statistics but I never converted to html. So, better late than never...

Rank	Title	Artist	Album
1	Harder Than You Think	Public Enemy	How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?
2	Stuck Between Stations	The Hold Steady	Boys And Girls In America
3	Chips Ahoy!	The Hold Steady	Boys And Girls In America
4	Party Pit	The Hold Steady	Boys And Girls In America
5	You Can Make Him Like You	The Hold Steady	Boys And Girls In America
6	Valerie (Ft. Amy Winehouse)	Mark Ronson	Version
7	(I Wanna Have Your) Babies	Natasha Bedingfield	(I Wanna Have Your) Babies - CDS
8	The Magic Position	Patrick Wolf	The Magic Position
9	D Is For Dangerous	Arctic Monkeys	Favourite Worst Nightmare
10	Fluorescent Adolescent	Arctic Monkeys	Favourite Worst Nightmare
11	The Bad Thing	Arctic Monkeys	Favourite Worst Nightmare
12	Augustine	Patrick Wolf	The Magic Position
13	(Let's Go) Get Lost	Patrick Wolf	The Magic Position
14	My Body Is A Cage	The Arcade Fire	Neon Bible
15	Only Ones Who Know	Arctic Monkeys	Favourite Worst Nightmare
16	So Soon (Aretha Arrives Outtake)	Aretha Franklin	Rare & Unreleased Recordings
17	You're Taking Up Another Man's Place (Spirit In The Dark Outtake)*	Aretha Franklin	Rare & Unreleased Recordings
18	My Cup Runneth Over (Young, Gifted And Black Outtake)	Aretha Franklin	Rare & Unreleased Recordings
19	Rafflesia	Boris With Michio Kurihara	Rainbow
20	Rainbow	Boris With Michio Kurihara	Rainbow
21	My Rain	Boris With Michio Kurihara	Rainbow
22	Shine	Boris With Michio Kurihara	Rainbow
23	Untitled	Burial	Burial
24	Broken Home	Burial	Burial
25	Prayer	Burial	Burial
26	Pirates	Burial	Burial
27	First Night	The Hold Steady	Boys And Girls In America
28	Accident & Emergency	Patrick Wolf	The Magic Position
29	Don't Stop Believin'	Petra Haden	Guilt By Association

Most played new songs of 2008

These were my most played songs in iTunes that were released in 2008

Rank	Title	Artist	Album
1	Mr. Carter Feat.Jay-Z	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
2	Let The Beat Build	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
3	Lollipop Feat.Static Major	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
4	Mrs. Officer Feat.Bobby Valentino	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
5	I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You	Black Kids	Partie Traumatic
6	Sequestered In Memphis	The Hold Steady	Stay Positive
7	Ghosts	Laura Marling	Alas, I Cannot Swim
8	A Milli	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
9	Comfortable Feat.BabyFace	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
10	Dr. Carter	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
11	La La Feat.Brisco And Busta Rhymes	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
12	Playing With Fire Feat.Betty Wright	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
13	Momentary Lapse (No. 1)	Mary Halvorson Trio	Dragon's Head
14	My Apocalypse	Metallica	Death Magnetic
15	Navy Sheets	The Hold Steady	Stay Positive
16	Stay Positive	The Hold Steady	Stay Positive
17	Magazines	The Hold Steady	Stay Positive
18	Joke About Jamaica	The Hold Steady	Stay Positive
19	Slapped Actress	The Hold Steady	Stay Positive
20	Ask Her For Adderall / Cheyenne Sunrise / Two Handed Handshake	The Hold Steady	Stay Positive
21	3 Peat	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
22	Got Money Feat.T-Pain	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
23	Phone Home	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
24	You Ain't Got Nuthin Feat.Juelz Santana And Fabolous	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
25	Suicide & Redemption	Metallica	Death Magnetic
26	Halfway Home	TV On The Radio	Dear Science

Lou Reed's Berlin (DVD)

I hate Lou Reed. He broke up the World's Greatest Ever Band. He is rude to interviewers. For years he was a prat. Then he reformed the World's Greatest Ever Band for a stadium tour. Now he looks like someone who used to smoke a lot. I once saw him and Laurie Anderson buying coffee in a Peets in Berkeley. He is not tall.

But this is an ideal concert DVD. The band is hot, but they know how to play quietly. There's a kid's choir, and a jazzy band, and strings, and Sharon Jones. Old Lou's voice is not in great shape. He almost speaks a lot of lines like in those late Johnny Cash recordings. It's all in a small theatre in Brooklyn. The direction by Julian Schnabel is stylized without being obtrusive. It looks like it was done with only a few cameras, and they wander around slowly looking at the band. Basically you get to hear the songs while some arty film is projected on the performers. When Antony steals the show with his vocal on Candy Says Lou even smiles. A bit.

Most played old songs of 2008

These are my most played songs in iTunes that were not released in 2008.

Rank	Title	Artist	Album
1	It will be a good day	Yes	Lunar Park, Buenos Aires 09/12/1999
2	The Revolutionary Spirit	The Wild Swans	Mojo: Beloved
3	Homeworld (The Ladder)	Yes	The Ladder
4	New Language	Yes	The Ladder
5	Do It	Aphrodite's Child	666
6	Stay Free	Black Mountain	In The Future
7	Mother Liza	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
8	Black I Am	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
9	She's Mine	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
10	(A Case of) Too Much Lovemakin'	Gloria Scott	What am I Gonna Do
11	It Will Be A Good Day (The River)	Yes	The Ladder
12	Atlas	Battles	Mirrored
13	Angels	Black Mountain	In The Future
14	Evil Ways	Black Mountain	In The Future
15	Hold Out Your Hand	Chris Squire	Fish Out Of Water
16	School Day (Ring Ring Goes The Bell) (Single Version)	Chuck Berry	After School Session
17	Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)	The Delfonics	Love Train • The Sound Of Philadelphia
18	Crumble	Dinosaur Jr	Beyond
19	Jolene	Dolly Parton	The RCA Years: 1967-1986
20	Cinderella	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
21	The Best Big Youth Version	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
22	This Child Of Mine Version	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
23	Micron Way	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
24	Awn Yah!	Fe Me Time All Stars	Dub I
25	I Don't Know For Sure	Husker Du	Candy Apple Grey
26	Isn't It A Shame	LaBelle	Lady Marmalade: The Best Of Patti & LaBelle
27	Down By The Riverside	Sister Rosetta Tharpe	The Gospel Of The Blues
28	The Day Will Come Between Sunday and Monday	The Supremes	The Supremes
29	Sarah	Thin Lizzy	Greatest Hits [Thin Lizzy]