My wish...for an iPhone

Yes, it's true, I have a wish for an iPhone, however, it's not to own one, it's to school the owners of them that they don't make you cooler. They're like drop-top Ferraris. You can drive that shit with the roof up all day long and no one will think any differently of you, but you put the top down, and you look a doos (this joke is courtesy of Mr Jeremy Clarkson, I'm not that good). This is a fact. No one wants to sit in their i10 at the traffic lights and to the left see a 30-something in their brand new convertible Ferrari. You know what the irony is? Most people who drive Ferraris, especially the drop tops, drive them alone.

I've found a lot of iPhone users to be kind of "hey, look at what my phone can do!" So I will indulge you, blow my mind, and they show me apps. Really, you think your phone's capabilities are determined and best illustrated by the apps you download from your closed source, source? 

I may only have a humble HTC Desire, which is rooted, running the very latest version of Android, underclocked and other geeky things that aren't important right now, but the point I'm trying to make is that it's about personalisation, no matter how big or small. 

After all, isn't that what a phone is all about, they do tend to act as extensions of our personalities, so luddites, they're mostly Blackberry fans, geeks are Android fanboys and the trendies, well, we all know you want something that looks fabulous, darling. 

And the iPhone does, it looks exactly the way Steve Jobs wanted it to look, but I want my phone to look like mine, not like everyone else's. I want it to make my life easier, not bend my usage habits to play by its rules, and if the urge grabs me, I would like to be able to see how its guts work, this is called open source. 

If you don't know what open source means, here's a breakdown, in simple English, it's free software that you can do with whatever you want to. Modify it, share it with your friends, read it, it doesn't matter, because it's free and that's the way information should be, free for you to do with as YOU choose, not as you're told.

Android runs on a number of devices (many better than the iPhone, any iPhone), so you have choice, you can decide what works for you, instead of being spoon-fed what Apple deems acceptable. So when you're upgrading next time, don't listen to your friend behind his Instagram camera about how "cool" it is, test some other devices, HTC, Samsung, Motorola all have fantastic handsets, see what fits your needs, and remember, you can find an open source version for Android of pretty much any Apple app imaginable. Fact. (Quick Android tip. Vignette is one of the best camera apps available, for any platform. check it out in the Market.)

The choice is yours, do you want to be part of the iPhone or the future? Decide wisely.

rick.

out.

The Modern Geek

Gone are the days when Rick Moranis was the shiny embodiment of the word "geek", or "nerd", because as insulting as those titles were while growing up, today, we're all nerd and communicating online is our revenge. These include our lashings out at society's occasional stupidity, the world's issues and of course, personal preference.

I can see you shaking your head right now, "I'm not a nerd" I can hear you think, but I hate to break this to you, you are. Well, that's not strictly true I guess. If you found this post via Facebook, chances are that you're safe, however, if you stumbled upon this post via Twitter, then I'm afraid you may have to face the facts and embrace your inner Urkel.

We're all constantly online, browsing, surfing, chatting, learning, smutting, whatever floats your boat, and growing up, that kind of thing was reserved for the uber-geeks and superhackers. Those guys that hit puberty and moved into their parents' basement to hack the planet. However, technology has moved on, and has given every single person in the world the opportunity to share his or her views on the world, all the time, and to me, that signifies what I am going to start referring to as the "Dawn of the Modern Geek."

You're still not convinced? How many pirated films have you watched? How many albums have you listened to that were downloaded? How many people that you've never met do you talk to on a daily basis? All of these things have contributed to our technology driven society, whether here in Africa or in the "First World."

The stereotypical "nerd" or "geek" wears thick glasses, can barely see and has the high score on "Frogger" or "Pac-Man" at the local arcade, but no more. Now, to be a true nerd, you need to be a luddite, a technophobe, someone who does not dabble online, the tables have turned and the reluctant will be left behind if they do not embrace the tools at their disposal. In a nutshell, you need to be an ignorant fool.

I am very proud of being a geek, I embrace it, now the question is, can you shatter that bubble around you and embrace your fate? It's evolution, our natural progression, we need to adapt to the times and utilise the tools and gadgets at our disposal to the best of our abilities or risk being left behind, alone in a dark corner somewhere on MySpace.

Here's the kicker, if you told me in high school (which ended 11 years ago) that the geeks and nerds would be taking over in South Africa, I would've laughed my ass off, however I think it's true.

It's 2011, and every day we're online, every time we share some of ourselves with the great online information superhighway, we contribute to the revenge of the nerds, we're contributing to the toppling of the "old way" of doing things. We're ushering in a new era, we're spearheading it in fact, and I, for one, think that there has never been a better time to be a geek, nerd or which ever term you prefer, because this is our time, and if you're reading this, welcome to your evolution.

Rick.
Out.

Ashtray Electric - Measured in Falls album launch

Ashtray Electric launched their brand new album, Measured in Falls on Saturday night at The Assembly and I'm glad to report, it rocked. Now I've seen the four piece a few times and between RAMfest, Assembly's birthday bash and Saturday night, I struggle to pick a favourite performance.

Saturday night started off reasonably slowly, but by the time the band took to the stage, it was packed. I grabbed a seat at the back with a "Twitter BFF", to gain some perspective you see. Our vantage point was perfect for eye gazing and observing, which is why I was there.

The band was as well rehearsed as I've seen them, and it carried the show effortlessly. The familiar, older songs invoked some sort of safety net for the unsuspecting onlookers before the new tracks transformed them to drones in an instant. But then, the inevitable appreciative nods from Cape Town's indie appreciation society. You see in Cape Town that's how it's done, apparently.

I've noticed this weird trend in Cape Town recently. Music fans tend not to get to involved at a show when an artist performs new material. This could be for any number of reasons, but because this is a good review, I will focus on the positive. Because that's exactly how I feel about what Ashtray Electric are doing and because it's true, they were fantastic.

I also think it's because a lot of fans here really watch and digest what bands are doing. Almost like we're all professional critics.

The new songs sound bigger, more bold and, dare I say, more mature? The boys have found their groove on this record and I hope local fans echo that sentiment. The songs are well crafted and Andre's vocals just keep improving.

They are, as with all bands, not for everyone, however, this new album could sway your opinion. So give it a go, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. If you like any kind of indie bands, you owe it to yourself to listen to this album

I had a great night watching them and I'm sure everyone else in attendance did. It is a cliché, but if you weren't there, you missed out, you really did.

The album isn't in stores just yet, but keep an eye out for it, it's going to be one to keep you warm this winter.

Rick.
Over.

I tweet because I'm unhappy and I'm unhappy because I tweet.

It's very strange how my blog has become a barren wasteland in recent times, but as usual after a slight spurt of posts, none about music mind you, we're back baby! This brings me to the topic of today's discussion, do we tweet because we're unhappy and unfulfilled in our real lives? User patterns lead me to believe so.

It's weird, when I worked in an office full time, I thought about different things I guess. Now that I work from home, for myself, the whole social media-sphere isn't irrelevant, but real life just takes priority and I find it much easier to take a backseat.

What I've noticed is that Twitter's peak times are office hours, when everyone is working. This I have no problem with, my ex-employers were very good about letting us use social media during office hours and I am sure most companies have adopted the same attitude, it's a part of society now, how could they not, right?

It just fascinates me to see people posting around 6 - 10 posts per hour during the week (they are quickly unfollowed btw) during work hours. Now I realise that it takes seconds to post a tweet, but one every ten minutes, that leaves VERY little space for productivity and opens a wide door of annoyance to me, inconvenient. Not that I've become anti-Twitter, completely the opposite, but I've just noticed the patterns and thought the proper thing to do was to share it with you.

What I don't like is how real life somehow plays second fiddle to our online personas, as a good friend always introduces me, "This is RickBosch from the internet." And the fact that people respond to that tells me that social media is the perfect tool for expanding and developing our personal networks, but what about people who broadcast their comings and goings as if they're a news provider?

I am pretty bad when it comes to playing on my phone, however, telling me that you're at the Old BIscuit Mill five times in an hour is just stupid. You're not adding value to anyone's life, not even your own, even though you may think you are. Put down your phone and enjoy a coffee with your friends you anti-social bastard.

I wish I could make huge generalisations regarding this matter, oh wait, it's my blog and I can do whatever the  hell I want. I think that people who tweet EXCESSIVELY from work are either stuck in jobs they hate or in professions that are as stimulating as finding parking in Long Street or Hell.

Secondly, if you post EXCESSIVELY during your own time, maybe you should do more exciting things with your time, things that will entertain you long enough to forget about the "e-verse" that is our social networking landscape. It's just a suggestion.

No one really cares that you've just eaten a pie, unless it was off the back of a migrating wildebeest.

Rick
Over.

What your tools say about you…

As a writer by trade, and passion (fortunately), I find myself thinking about the strangest things at the most bizarre hours. Like last night, I was all tucked up in bed and it struck me like the fright I get every single day when the Noon Gun goes off. (I am not new to the Noon Gun; I’ve just moved a LOT closer to it, gets me every. single. day.) So I was thinking last night, what do the tools you use for your technological fix say about you?

Actually, that’s not exactly what I thought, I thought this. (patience please)

There are two kinds of writers. Those with laptops and those who prefer desktop machines. This is where my dilemma struck, because I have both, and I use both. I thought to myself, “pick one, pick a favourite, get off the fence.” Alas, I could not.

Off the top of my head I can think of a few laptop kind of writers that I’ve seen on the telly. That girl who looks like a horse uses a laptop to do her writing on Sex and the City and I believe the bastard responsible for “XOXO” becoming a socially acceptable phrase also uses one. I can’t think of any others right now, but as you can see, we’re not off to a good start.

Now for the desktop, the old school I believe. Ugh, not much better here to be honest, the one glimmering light is Jerry’s first generation personal computer, which I don’t recall seeing any of the characters use in any of the series, wait, maybe once, vaguely. Ray from Everybody Loves Raymond (kakkest title for a show EVER, for obvious reasons) uses one too, and in an instant all of Jerry's progressive thinking is erased. 

Bummer.

So it seems I only have a horse-face, an uppity schmuck, Ray “I have the weirdest voice ever” Romano or Jerry Seinfeld to relate to television characters, pretty damn wild, but help me out can you think of any others?

Speaking of strange, no idea where this post came from, but it seemed important.

Rick

Over.

On rainy days

On rainy days I like staying inside, I like listening to good music while sipping on endless cups of coffee, something I can now do at home. I can't fully express how much I enjoy it, but none the less, there have been some new releases recently that I have to talk about.

TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

If you've read my blog before, you'd know all about my fascination with the New York outfit. They constantly surprise me and can't seem to put a foot wrong, ever. I am already tipping this as my album of the year and if you keep reading, you will understand just how incredible that is, because the competition is pretty stiff.

The album is well sculpted, and Kyp Malone seems to have been given a little more freedom on Nine Types of Light, and the results are ear splitting falsettos, driving guitars and grooves smoother than a 12 year old Jameson.

The Decemberists - The King is Dead

For the past few years, The Decemberists have become more adventurous when it comes to making albums. Colin Meloy has led the band, from Picaresque's fantastic storytelling, to The Crane Wife's unbelievable melodies and of course The Hazard's of Love's complexity, full circle with their latest release.

The King is Dead is a stripped down, Americana singer/songwriter album and the band delivers, like only my favourite tweed sporting ensemble can.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

I liked the first album, I enjoyed the EP more, then I was given Gayngs' album, Relayted. It changed everything. A band that I liked has crept under my skin and it makes me happy. Vernon's latest album's production is phenomenal, it sounds incredible and the melodies make for an easy listening, yet satisfying experience. I really love this album and I am sure that it will be very popular in the coming months.

The Cave Singers - No Witch


I only discovered this band recently and I must admit that there hasn't been a band which has sunk its teeth in quite as quickly in some time. Most of the music I listen to demands repetition to be fully appreciated, so do The Cave Singers, but the repetitions are significantly less than normal.

Find their music, it'll take to you to brink of breaking out, before crawling back into its hole. It'll tempt you with melody and retract its invitation just to keep you interested. All in all, I am stoked that I found them, they've become a staple. And their new album No Witch is no exception.

Those are my favourite albums of the year so far, although there are a few more deserving of a mention:

The Boxer Rebellion's The Cold Still
Black Pistol Fire's self titled debut
Cake's Showroom of Compassion


Those are my favourites so far in 2011, what are yours?

Rick.
Out

Has the whole world gone crazy?

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO GIVES A SHIT ABOUT THE RULES ANYMORE? Sorry about the screaming, but I'm afraid the world has done it again. Not that annoying me is difficult, or even complicated, but I am on the verge of dishing out backhands faster than that guy on Kloof Street cycles down the road, backwards.

(Non Cape Town residents, apologies, let me explain. There's this guy and for kicks, he does headstands on his bicycle's seat and rides down Kloof Street. Sometimes backwards, sometimes the right way round, but always at high speed.)

Anyway, since I last blogged, Osama Bin Laden was killed, again, we've been told that Coldplay is coming to SA and I have changed my mind about seeing the Kings of Leon (because I want to support ANY album that has a song as fantastic as Pyro on it, even if it means cringing through the Only By The Night kak). However, none of these things have inspired this post, none of them can hold a candle to how much Twitter is fucking annoying me at the moment.

I love Twitter, I love the Internet and I love networking - socially or electronically. Twitter has gone from being an informative resource to just flat out face-palming in record time. I interact with a small group of people regularly, some whom I've shared beers and good times with, and some who have become e-quaintances, and who I will still share beers and real time with in the future. However, I am convinced that at least 75% of Twitter users are bona fide idiots.

I can't handle the constant brand humping to try and get something free from someone, or the constant self-love/pity parties that my timeline seems to host. I hear what you are saying "Why not just unfollow said annoyances?" and I have, many of them, however, occasionally these idiots will say something that makes me chuckle, encouraging my bad habits of following them for the sake of mocking them. Twitter really brings out my dark passenger.

Which brings me to what annoys me the most about Twitter, which I believe to be the biggest South African cultural phenomenon since Fokofpolisiekar. The guidelines say that you can follow and unfollow whomever you want, to tailor your experience, but how can I unfollow people who's survival in modern society amazes me on a daily basis? How do I look away? How can such narrow-minded, self-centred schmucks not realise how they are the complete opposite of what they claim to be? When did it all go so wrong? So here are my rules for Twitter. Feel free to add some of your own in the comments.

Here they are:

• You shall not constantly toot your own horn and claim to be humble. 
• You shall not badger your followers with you terrible taste in delicacies.
• You shall not pretend that being a Playboy Playmate is prestigious, it's still just smut.
• You shall not steal other people's tweets (or Facebook statuses) and claim them as your own. 
• You shall not add your location to your tweets and then complain about privacy.
• You shall not post to Twitter from FourSquare, Gowalla or any other location based services while I follow you.

I am no authority, but I felt like I needed a little vent.

My mom always said, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. So I wrote it down instead.

Rick.
Over.

It's certainly been a while...

Damn, I've been terribly slack at posting recently, but it's been a strange time in my life. But good strange, as you may have guessed, like a Coen brothers movie without the wicked twist.

Here's the low down...

I've become self-employed and am loving it. Definitely the way forward, although I sometimes miss the office banter, but then I simply go outside and do whatever the hell I want and the moment passes.

I've watched a Super15 rugby match in a bar in Kleinmond, it was special. Thanks for making my dreams cone true lads, really, it was emotional and smelt like cheap deo and some broken dreams.

I had another birthday and to celebrate the Alkaline Trio decided to come and play for me at Ramfest. It was awesome.

I am not supposed to have it yet, but the new TV on the Radio, Nine Types of Light and it's a more subdued kind of aural assault. It's fantastic.

I have more time now and have finally arranged my life into some sort of order. Look out for a redesign of my blog and more regular posts.

Hello there Mr Internet, fuck, I've missed you.

Rick
Over.

Don't you just love technology?

So as you may or may not know, I've finally become part of the smartphone revolution. And no, I didn't get a Blackberry or an iPhone, which are inexplicably the brands of choice when I look around me, I opted for Android and let me tell you, it's even better than I expected.

I'm an unashamed lover of technology and I've never been afraid to admit it. However, my new HTC Desire has already brought out the ubër nerd in me.

I can feel myself becoming one of those people who sit in conversations tapping away at their miniature keypads, because "EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE THIS INSTANT!" I will try my best to avoid this grim, lonely, socially connected, humanly impersonal, technologically inspired brain drain.

I fear I may already have failed though, considering that I'm writing this post from my Desire. I've seen and known about the technology, but being able to experience it first-hand is something that excites me, a lot.
I highly recommend Android and the Desire, so much in fact that I'm actually paying for mine - a labour if love, if you will.

Rick
Over



Posted from my HTC Desire.

Watch this space...

If you read my blog, follow me on Twitter or have shared some braai space with me then you will know that I think Jack White is the tits. But now the Stripes are no more, but here is the band I think could replace them. They're a mix of Black Keys, White Stripes and early Kings of Leon and yes, they're also only a duo.

Ladies and germs, I give you Black Pistol Fire.





Taste this sweetness and go listen to their stuff.

I think these guys are going to be big.

Here's a really great interview with the band...

Rick.
Over.