Michael's Place

Michael's Place http://michaelg.multiply.com/ I've got tons of stuff here that I've set to only be available to my friends and family so if you know me, and you're not on Multiply yet, sign up now so you can see it. Tue, 1 May 2012 18:38:26 -0000 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:07:58 -0000 Michael's Place http://multiply.com/mu/michaelg/logo http://michaelg.multiply.com/ 100 100 Brandi (age 13ish) http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/196/Brandi_age_13ish Since Charlie came along Brandi has not been the subject of as many photos as she deserves to be. Here are some random recent http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/196/Brandi_age_13ish Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:07:58 -0000 Famous photos recreated w/ LEGOs. http://bit.ly/EcQcu http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/282 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/282 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:38:15 -0000 Google+, the best Multiply.com clone ever « writegeek http://michaelg.multiply.com/links/item/22/22 http://michaelg.multiply.com/links/item/22/22 Tue, 5 Jul 2011 15:02:39 -0000 Charlie's second ski trip - Shawnee Mountain http://michaelg.multiply.com/video/item/76/Charlies_second_ski_trip_-_Shawnee_Mountain After <a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/183/Charlies_First_Ski_Trip">Charlie's first ski trip</a> everybody said I need to get him back on skis soon so I wanted to go one more time before the season is over. Last week I called up a more local mountain asking when the season ended and their last day open was this past weekend. Conditions were not great for serious skiers. Most trails were closed. Those open were very narrow and riddled with dirt spots. By the afternoon, with temps in the 50s, things were pretty slushy. But for newbies it was great because it was empty. We were the only people in the rental area. We were first, literally, up the lift and Charlie and I exclusively owned "Little Chief" (see lower-right of trail map) for 3 or 4 runs. No lines for food, bathrooms, nor lifts. <img src="http://multiply.com/mu/michaelg/image/3/photos/5/1200x1200/43/trail-map-20102011.jpg?et=IRWa79mab8UNYlaWuKebxg&nmid=15493011" width="600" height="400"> Charlie was bored after going down Little Chief 7 or 8 times and wanted to move on. I was hesitant since he still prefers to go straight on as fast as he can until he needs to do "pizzas" (called "snow plowing" when I was kid) and not gracefully ski in control s... http://michaelg.multiply.com/video/item/76/Charlies_second_ski_trip_-_Shawnee_Mountain Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:47:50 -0000 Icicles http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/181/Icicles http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/181/Icicles Wed, 2 Feb 2011 15:57:01 -0000 170 x 13 / 170 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/281 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/281 Wed, 2 Feb 2011 15:55:14 -0000 Charlie Rock Climbing http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/174/Charlie_Rock_Climbing A few weeks ago took Charlie to my rock-climbing gym. Supposed to be at least 5 years-old but they didn't say anything so we didn't. He loved http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/174/Charlie_Rock_Climbing Tue, 3 Aug 2010 16:45:20 -0000 175 x 10 / 174.5 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/280 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/280 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:20:25 -0000 175 x 7 / 173.5 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/279 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/279 Tue, 1 Jun 2010 14:06:31 -0000 Long Branch, NJ http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/165/Long_Branch_NJ http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/165/Long_Branch_NJ Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:42:01 -0000 175 x 6 / 176.5 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/278 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/278 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:24:22 -0000 Will people pay for digitally distributed news? http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/133/Will_people_pay_for_digitally_distributed_news I was recently asked via email if I felt there was potential "for a [pay] subscription model for on-line news since apparently print is dying."  While composing reply figured I just post it as a blog entry so others can chime in. Print isn't "apparently" dying in my opinion. It is unequivocally dying. iPad like devices will be the final nails in the coffin. Not saying iPad is end all. But that type of technology will continue to evolve. There are OLED digital displays that you can bend and roll-up. Check out image of a digital display that rolls into a pen. <a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/4831"><img border="0" class="alignright" src="http://images.michaelg.multiply.com/image/zZHJCWdd8Ly1a3P2j+6L3w/photos/1M/300x300/4831/oled-pen.jpg?et=cwGlOPQPHz8%2BF1q4AQ2lLg&nmid=0"></a>Large format (size of magazine, not cell-phone) feather-weight hand-held digital screens will be ubiquitous as is internet access. Why would anyone... -kill trees-make paper-print on paper-ship paper ... when each of the above has both economic and environmental costs and the ultimate solution is less convenient.  Print is dead. But to answer the question I believe there will be successful pay models for content previousl... http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/133/Will_people_pay_for_digitally_distributed_news Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:09:00 -0000 Downloads Coming to Next Version of Rhapsody iPhone App http://michaelg.multiply.com/links/item/20/Downloads_Coming_to_Next_Version_of_Rhapsody_iPhone_App Excellent. If only iPhone supported multi-tasking, I could ditch the iPod app. http://michaelg.multiply.com/links/item/20/Downloads_Coming_to_Next_Version_of_Rhapsody_iPhone_App Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:46:27 -0000 Weekly Rhap: Them Crooked Vultures http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/132/Weekly_Rhap_Them_Crooked_Vultures <img class="alignright" src="http://images.michaelg.multiply.com/image/je8d60Kbpon2w06BS0oNrw/photos/1M/300x300/4480/vultures.jpg?et=Sl47JF7tu50fNLUJI3DoDw&nmid=0" border="0"> Why I <strike>downloaded</strike> streamed it: While my decade long endeavor to be a bass player has become a mockery, one thing I can credit to the (hopefully someday) hobby is that it changed the way I listen to music. For example, I'll pay more attention to isolating the different instruments (especially the bass), and often try (and fail) to discern chord progressions. Over this time period Led Zeppelin, previously to me just one of many great classic rock groups, has become one of my favorites largely due to the bass of John Paul Jones. Next time you have the occasion, try focusing in on the bass of a whole Zeppelin album and you'll see why. Of course I was intrigued by the March 2010 Bass Player magazine cover featuring Jones and his new band Them Crooked Vultures. The magazine features a full interview with Jones and from the interview pre-amble: A collaboration between Jones, ex-Nirvana drummer and current Foo Fighters frontman David Grohl, and Queens of the Stone Age principal Josh Homme, The... http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/132/Weekly_Rhap_Them_Crooked_Vultures Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:50:00 -0000 Weekly Rhap: LL Cool J, Radio http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/128/Weekly_Rhap_LL_Cool_J_Radio <img class="alignright" src="http://images.michaelg.multiply.com/image/6ZTCDM9TnZNhuVmkAbCNQA/photos/1M/300x300/4431/radio.jpg?et=gldtT7DPzPYZYsGSFppS%2Bg&nmid=0" border="0"> Why I <strike>downloaded </strike>streamed it: I was pumping some iron the other day and in a workout-to-rap mood, but I was a little tired of everything relatively new. Eminem, 50 Cent, Kanye, et. al. Yawn. I briefly entertained some sort of internet radio (Rhapsody hip-hop-station or Pandora) but I've found for working out I'm most motivated (or distracted) with music I know. So I decided to go old…as old as I can remember. A quick search on the Rhapsody app on my phone brought me right back to 1984. Rhapsody's review: With his classic debut album, (and the first full-length released by Def Jam), hip-hop pioneer LL Cool J became a full-blown rap superstar. Backed by chunky '80s beats courtesy of ultra-producer Rick Rubin, Uncle L comes through with timeless mega-hits such as "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock The Bells." My take: It was over 25 years ago and I remember it like it was, well, 25 years ago. I walked down into the basement of my friend Mel's home and there on the... http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/128/Weekly_Rhap_LL_Cool_J_Radio Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:30:00 -0000 11 | The Beautiful Game - Foosball table http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/126/11_The_Beautiful_Game_-_Foosball_table <a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/4249"></a><a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/4250"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.michaelg.multiply.com/image/TlfRPASF2ard3MgJPmcJ2g/photos/1M/300x300/4250/Picture-5.jpg?et=rRkB2eqSGLtX9MGCbpWTxQ&nmid=0" border="0"></a><a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/4249"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.michaelg.multiply.com/image/q3pXOd0GOAg8gT9AB8FvGg/photos/1M/300x300/4249/Picture-4.jpg?et=qlISue3xTdi05Vziz%2BJDtA&nmid=0" border="0"></a>According to <a href="http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_wishlist9#85">Wired Magazine's holiday gift guide</a> this chrome beauty goes for $55,782. Unfortunately I was unable to order one at their web-site, <a href="http://www.eleventhegame.com/index.html">http://www.eleventhegame.com</a>, because they are not yet available. ------------------ 11 | THE BEAUTIFUL GAME 11 is a luxury football table for discerning lovers of the world’s favourite game. After a full year of careful planning and development it has now gone into limited production. 11’s sweeping curves reflect the beauty and grandeur of today’s modern stadiums, while its atmospheric lighting and chromed metal players capture the excitement and drama of a classic sporting encounter. Each individually numbered table is meticulously hand-finished to the very highest standards by skilled European craftsmen. This award-winning design was first showcased at the Milan Furniture Fair in 2008. After attracting much critical and public acclaim, it has now been developed for limited production. http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/126/11_The_Beautiful_Game_-_Foosball_table Tue, 8 Dec 2009 21:36:00 -0000 Lux Gold Foosball http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/125/Lux_Gold_Foosball <a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/1M/4246"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.michaelg.multiply.com/image/KJkDVL48GI9FK0cUmuJyOg/photos/1M/300x300/4246/foosluxgold-ad.jpg?et=SBhe8YsKHwsueFbB7zfv%2BQ&nmid=0" border="0"></a>Over the years I've shared <a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/tag/foosball">a few foosball tables</a>, my favorite still being the <a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/27/73000_Foosball_Table">$73K table</a> where you can have the faces of the dudes (or dude-ettes) customized by sending in photos of your friends and family. This one, at a mere $30K, takes the cake in terms of gaudiness. Perhaps it would be must have if I were pimping out my home for an episode of Mtv Cribs. If by chance you were thinking of picking one of these up for me for the holidays, I don't want to seem ungrateful, but perhaps you can save the money and get me the $73K table next year? The wood would go better in my basement than the gold. More pictures, including a less gaudy white and aluminum version, <a href="http://pooltableportfolio.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=280&products_id=720">on their web-site</a>. (Thanks for the link Peter.) http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/125/Lux_Gold_Foosball Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:39:00 -0000 Fun contest on Multiply. Win a free photobook. http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/120/Fun_contest_on_Multiply._Win_a_free_photobook._ Just vote on which (Multiply user) designed theme you like best and you'll be entered. More information is at: <a href="http://multiply.multiply.com/photos/album/46/Multiply_Theme_Design_Contest_Vote_Now">http://multiply.multiply.com/photos/album/46/Multiply_Theme_Design_Contest_Vote_Now</a> http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/120/Fun_contest_on_Multiply._Win_a_free_photobook._ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:49:00 -0000 Nice Multiply review http://www.potamusprefers.com/2009/07/multiplycom-review-and-giveaway-all.html http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/277 http://michaelg.multiply.com/notes/item/277 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:25:26 -0000 Weekly Rhap: Beastie Boys, The Mix Up http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/91/Weekly_Rhap_Beastie_Boys_The_Mix_Up Why I downloaded it: One day when rounding up my library with some old school hip-hop - specifically looking for Licensed to Ill - I noticed an album from the Beastie Boys that I had never heard of. The review (next paragraph) piqued my interest. Rhapsody's review: Playing The In Sound From Way Out! to unsuspecting Beasties haters has been a popular parlor game since its release in 1996. Now comes an excellent and similarly groovy sequel, and it's just as likely to wrong-foot those few friends you still have who continue to disparage the Boys' talents. As jazz funk albums go, this probably isn't going to excite or offend serious jazzheads too much, but for the less educated among us it's a fun diversion from the Beasties' normal canon, and you can never have enough Hammond organ in your life. My take: Ever been dragged by Hersh and Matar to a slightly off the beaten path - say west of Gramercy Park in NYC- lounge? That's the vibe given off by this  instrumental and non-stereotypica... http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/91/Weekly_Rhap_Beastie_Boys_The_Mix_Up Fri, 9 Nov 2007 21:57:00 -0000 Difficult Work Assignment - DigitalLife http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/74/Difficult_Work_Assignment_-_DigitalLife For the last few years the fine folks at Ziff Davis have been suggesting to me that their annual DigitalLife expo would be a great place to show off Multiply. The event takes place at the Javitz Center and there's a wide array of companies showing off their digital (or digital-related) goods...everything including PCs, video-games, bluetooth car kits, mp3 players, cell-phones. You name it. Multiply did not have a booth but I was offered a "VIP" pass to check out the show. Reluctantly I spent a couple hours checking out all these things that bore me. I was most surprised at the the presence of video games. About 1/2 the floor space (and 75% of the wattage) was probably for video games. Besides lots of gaming companies, even companies like Dell and Microsoft had large gaming venues in addition to their regular venues. I did acquire lots of good swag although I didn't embarrass myself for it. (At one point I saw a huge crowd gathering around one booth with loud hip-hop emanating.... http://michaelg.multiply.com/photos/album/74/Difficult_Work_Assignment_-_DigitalLife Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:12:56 -0000 Ironing Out the Wrinkles http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/85/Ironing_Out_the_Wrinkles In the past I've used my personal blog for discussions about Multiply. My latest, <a href="http://multiply.multiply.com/journal/item/187/Ironing_Out_the_Wrinkles">Ironing out the Wrinkles</a>, was posted on our staff blog. Please check it out. Thanks. http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/85/Ironing_Out_the_Wrinkles Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:41:00 -0000 Baseball and Philosophy http://michaelg.multiply.com/reviews/item/45 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812695569?ie=UTF8&tag=multiply-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812695569"><img align=right src="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/14950000/14955594.JPG"></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=multiply-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0812695569" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> The title of the book caught my eye when perusing the Philosophy section at Barnes and Noble one day. Based on the flap I thought it would be a fun light read combining an avid interest of mine (baseball) with a more cursory interest (philosophy). The book was actually a little deeper than expected, although the format of the book - a series of independent essays - made it fairly digestible. The essays, in most cases grouped in pairs with each taking an opposing view of a philosophical argument, were all by different writers, and the 4-star rating is an average. Some of the essays were more though-provoking or interesting than others. Overall, it's a great escape for the serious fan from the <a href=http://pez.multiply.com/journal/item/189/Far_more_better>idiocy of Baseball Tonight</a>. I figure the best way to more specifically highlight the subject matter would be to just list the table of contents: Inning 1 Hometown Heroes Top of the First 1. "There's No Place Like Home!" Bottom of the First 2. Minnesota's "Homer Hanky Jurisprud... http://michaelg.multiply.com/reviews/item/45 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:03:20 -0000 1 New Item on My Amazon Wish-list http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/82/1_New_Item_on_My_Amazon_Wish-list (This blog entry was automatically generated by Multiply's Wish-list Cross-posting feature.) Below are items recently added to my Amazon wish-list. If you are familiar with anything below and have any comments or alternate suggestions, please leave a reply. <a href=http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html/?ie=UTF8&tag=multiply-20&type=wishlist&id=3O5JLDN1NURQG>Click here</a> to see my full and current wish-list. <hr style='display: none; width: 400px;'><a href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=B000QU8J8E%26tag=multiply-20%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/B000QU8J8E%253FSubscriptionId=1J3HCRRRA7MPKB447482%2526coliid=I1K8YLICRZC992%2526colid=3O5JLDN1NURQG'><img style='padding-right: 8px;' src='http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/117kWq9mi3L.jpg' height='60' width='120' border=0></a><big><a href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=B000QU8J8E%26tag=multiply-20%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/B000QU8J8E%253FSubscriptionId=1J3HCRRRA7MPKB447482%2526coliid=I1K8YLICRZC992%2526colid=3O5JLDN1NURQG'>Sonos BU130 Digital Music System Bundle</a></big> Manufacturer: Sonos Price: $934.99 <a class=select href=http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=B000QU8J8E%26tag=multiply-20%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/B000QU8J8E%253FSubscriptionId=1J3HCRRRA7MPKB447482%2526coliid=I1K8YLICRZC992%2526colid=3O5JLDN1NURQG>Learn More</a> http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/82/1_New_Item_on_My_Amazon_Wish-list Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:16:34 -0000 Weekly Rhap: Reggatta Mondatta http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/79/Weekly_Rhap_Reggatta_Mondatta Why I downloaded it: It was <a href="http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/59">170 days ago</a> that I purchased Police tickets for tonight. Can't believe it's here. Anyway, figured I should dedicate this weekly rhap to The Police but since I've owned all their music for years (LP, cassettes, and CDs) there's no reason for me to download any of it. So I downloaded something related. Rhapsody's review: [None] My take: Reggatta Mondatta - A Reggae Tribute to the Police. This is the type of stuff Rhapsody is great for. I'd never buy something so obscure, at least not at the album level and probably not at the individual song level. But reggae covers of classic Police songs by the likes Ziggy Marley, Shinehead, and Steel Pulse are certainly fun diversions (as are most covers of great songs in alternate musical styles than the originals). The Police's music, especially their early stuff, was very reggae influenced so many of the covers work well. Many don't though, and a few border on painful. Check it out if you're a Police fan, a reggae fan, or i... http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/79/Weekly_Rhap_Reggatta_Mondatta Fri, 3 Aug 2007 21:42:00 -0000 Weekly Rhap: Velvet Revolver, Libertad http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/78/Weekly_Rhap_Velvet_Revolver_Libertad Why I downloaded it: Rhapsody promotes new releases on their home page. It was a no-brainer to check out this album from (most of) the group that created the best rock album of the late 80's - Appetite For Destruction. Rhapsody's review: We know they're experienced -- between the five members and uber-producer Brendan O'Brien, Velvet Revolver have logged over a century in the biz. Thus, it's overcoming the STP meets GnR tag that is VR's greatest challenge, and they do a fine job with Libertad. Although each member gets his time to show off, the group sounds more comfortable binding together. Tightly composed, upbeat, carnal and suave with the huge riffs you'd expect, songs like "She Mine" and "Mary Mary" are fitting for a cruise down the Sunset Strip -- or at least for a quality session of air guitar. My take: Guns N' Roses minus Axl Rose plus Scott Weiland (ex-lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots) times second album together equals Good Rock Album. But not quite a great rock album. It's bet... http://michaelg.multiply.com/journal/item/78/Weekly_Rhap_Velvet_Revolver_Libertad Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:16:00 -0000