Even Without File Trading, CD Business Model is Dead

Lossless compression for music is the way to go -- then can get rid of CDs with confidence nothing is left behind -- if want to later, can recreate the CD perfectly. But in 5 years nobody will be using CDs, except maybe nostalgic people like those that still use vinyl claiming they can hear a difference (a brief side commentary for these people: even if you can hear a difference, which you probably can't do under controlled circumstances, the difference isn't so great as to justify spending the $ you do -- you just want something to talk about at cocktail parties).


I use Monkey's Audio. Aside from the stupid name, and the proprietary nature of the format, I use this one b/c I don't care much about the proprietary nature -- it converts out to a neutral format, and from there it's GUI allows you to call any compression program against the WAV. So could convert to another lossless format when it comes time to do so. And as MP3 formats become better, it is a matter minutes to program the GUI to recompress everything.


But that's not the reason for this post. The point I wanted to make is that what little loss there may be, we're loosing it with things like iTunes, which is why I'm still buying CDs. But I really like like file trading sites b/c I can buy a used, but basically new (I only need one good rip) from Amazon or ebay. So the price per song or album still comes down dramatically. I just ordered a bunch of used CDs from Amazon.

Movie Review: Garden State (2004): 80 out of 100

Pretty good for an Indy. A lot of people getting really excited about it -- it does have a certain breakneck appeal. The counteract is really good, in fact I just ordered it from Amazon. I'm trying a purchase from Used for the first time -- who cares anymore when all we do is move it to digital.


Follows protagonist home for break b/c his mother died. Immediately sense something is wrong. Family is disbanding (of course), b/c kid broke mother's back when he was 9. OK this is ridiculous. The whole dispensation family undertow's are pretty silly. This is what doesn't work for the film.


What does work, kind of, is how protagonist changes through film. Early on, we learn and see, he deals with feeling via heavy medication. It is only through falling in love that he stops taking "should be lethal" doses of lithium, because he wants to feel. Stop me before I puke. Protagonist plays a really good version of an emotionally disconnected person, a role he was made for.


Film's end has group yelling into an never-ending abyss, which is apparently the meaningless-ness of life. Protagonist yelled into it, significantly, at first alone, and then together with person from past (highschool buddy) and person in future (Natalie Portman). He yells alone, then he calls them to yell with him. This is a micro summary of the message of the film: only through the bonds of togetherness can we overcome the abyss. Remember, though, Nietzsche said, you look into the abyss and the abyss looks into you. If you want meaning in your life, stop looking for it for the abyss will pierce you when it gazes back, and just live, Royal Caribbean cruise style, GET OUT THERE.


If you want to see basically the same plot (guy coming to home town, disfunctional family, school buddies from high school, learning about life, etc.), go see Beautiful Girls, which was in like 1996. It even has Natalie Portman in exactly the same role. It also has Uma Thurman, and the guy who is now on Broadway doing Avenue Q (which incidentally is a 95). Beautiful Girls is a 95 -- because it doesn't have to be so esoteric with its message. It is a strait forward message about life and growth and acceptance. And you learn something about desire and contentment. With Garden State, you really don't learn anything worth anything, except that feeling emotions = good... Life is sometimes good, sometimes bad. Most people already know this, but it is entertaining to be reminded from time to time, especially when set to such a great soundtrack.


Here's plot info and other reviews