Rhythm Sections

This is something I actually know a little bit about - I am a bass player and have played on and off with the same drummer for 20+ years. People make comments about how 'tight' we are together and wonder what the 'secret' is. The secret is we played together 6+ hours a week for over 20 years. That's literally it. In other words, it isn't about a song, or a performance. It is a journey where you can rely on the other person to lead when you don't know the way, with the understanding that you will do the same at another time. It is the respect for the other's ideas and the ability to play towards and emphasize each others ideas rather than having a creative tug of war. The best rhythm sections have all had this - Ashton and Carleton Barrett (The Wailers), John Paul Jones and John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), and many others.

My Analysis of the Newest Blackberry Pearl Commercial

Deconstruction of the day: I couldn't find this on You Tube or anywhere, but there is a BlackBerry Pearl commercial on the airwaves now where a guy is at a diner and his phone rings - its his daughter (or maybe he calls her). You see the phone and it is this bejeweled pink monstrosity. He starts talking to his daughter about how maybe it isn't the right phone for him - he can't even access email. Besides the fun factor of juxtaposing a teenage girl's cellphone with that of a traveling businessman, this also is a pretty transparent marketing squirm to transition perceptions about buying a product named "Pearl". In fact, it is a fairly feminine name due to the jewelry implications and this is an attempt to make it clear that it is a pearl in its singular perfection (jeez, I should write marketing copy for Blackberry or Verizon or whoever did this ad) and not like jewelry or a hot pink bejeweled phone.

New Google Analytics Tracking Code

If you hadn't heard, Google is offering new/revised code for Google Analytic tracking. Your existing embedded code will continue to function, however it seems that new functionality and features will be only fully available in the future using the new code. Seems to be a good idea to update your code when you get a chance. Here's what Google has to say about it:

This will allow you to take advantage of the most up-to-date tracking functionality as it is added to Google Analytics. An immediate benefit you'll notice is that the ga.js tags allow you to track ecommerce transactions in a more readable way. And, we've created a special resource on the ga.js javascript for power users who want more control over Google Analytics tracking. If you do choose to update your site to ga.js, please note that the old tracking code (which uses urchin.js) and the new tracking code (which uses ga.js) will not work if placed on the same page together.

Read more in Google's post on the topic

Social Bookmarking Made Easy

Confused by the whole Web 2.0 "social" this and "social" that? Confused or just scared to death your email address will end up on some Facebook page and your 15 minutes of fame will be in Keith Oberman's Worst Person in the World segment on MSNBC?

Well, there's hope that the world actually has some nice people who are willing to cooperate and actually add value and order to help you find and remember sites you find valuable.

Here's an excellent video from CommonCraft that explains social bookmarking and the use of del.icio.us in an easy to understand, fun way.