Jake Davis

Looking back on the blog posts from over the semester the five that really stuck out to me were (In no particular order) :

1)     One that I really liked was Bill’s post about camera’s. I really liked the writing of his post and how he makes it seem the camera is telling the story instead of him. It adds a refreshing view on the history of the camera as well as a new view on writing blog posts.

2)     Another post I enjoyed reading was Nate’s list of song covers. The main reason I liked his post was that I had no idea so many classic songs have been covered by other artists, and that some came out pretty decent. Also David Bowie can cover any song, mans a god.

3)     Matt’s photo essay on the village was one I enjoyed for the simple sake of knowledge. Up until viewing his post I had no idea what the inside of the place looked like, and wanting to live there next year, his post helped me get a greater understanding of it. Plus the kids got some funny photos in other posts.

4)    Snuggies. Scott’s product review of them really cracked me up. I always used to pick on people for using them, but now I kinda want one.

5)    I just started eating Dominoes recently after seeing them advertise that they had a new recipe. I used to hate ordering their pizzas but then I gave it a try. I liked Rachels post about Dominoes for the simple fact I love pizza and anything to do with pizza. Especiallywhen its pizza I like to eat.

While taking the test I felt the setup was clean and precise, yet the test itself was not. I found the games, after completing them, would not record the results and I would have to skip the games. Due to the fact the test had to go off my multiple choice answers only I dont really trust the animal/behavior I was given at the end because of the information the test went off of. If I was able to complete the tests successfully and have the information from them put into the system I would be more confident in the results I was given.

This interview was between the rapper Master Shortie and a reporter, named  Aleks Krotoski. They talk about piracy of music over the internet via electronic websites. Master Shortie defends those who download illegally and actually states how it helps some musicians gain momentum and money in the end. I really enjoyed this clip because I felt I could relate with what Master Shortie was saying. My generation is growing up and living on the frontier of the internet and new media age so we are used to just downloading music when we want instead of having to go to a store and buy a cd or record. The interview can be found here

The reason I chose Steve Wozniak is because….. well….. its the Woz himself. I’ve been a fan of his since I had watched a video about the beginning of the Mac computers and about when Bill Gates and The two Steves were starting out. I really enjoyed the interview when he was discussing the Home Brew Computer company. I feel that what he is talking about is really kind of the beginning of what our generations really become known for, technology and the internet. I just found alot of what he had to say interesting and that he did everything he accomplished because it was something he enjoyed doing. He just happened to change the world at the same time. This article can be found here.

I was feeling a little camera shy. Watch it here.

The weather is about to turn, no more sunny days and reasonable temperatures. Its going to be dark at four and cold all day which is why I’ve decided to get one last walk in before these changes come around and share the beautiful day with everyone. While I could have put each photo up individually and written captions for them I have chosen not too. I feel that approach works well for photos that have a story behind them or need to be explained. These photos are taken along the walk so you see the same things that we have along the same path we walked. Just like the woods we walked somethings are better if they are allowed to speak for themselves.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Sirius Satellite radio has been up and broadcasting since July 1, 2002 and has over a hundred stations streaming daily from satellites to subscribers all over the world. When I first came to SUNY Oswego I had to take a public speaking class with Steve Granelli and remember him saying he had a show with a friend on Sirius for a little. Satellite radio has always fascinated me so I decided to ask Steve a few questions regarding his time there and about some advice he has regarding someone going into this field.

(Me)    What satellite station were you working for at the time?
(Steve) Sirius 108 XM 142, the channel was called Sirius Stars Too

(Me)     What time did your day start and end?

(Steve) The show was only on Saturday nights, but on Saturdays my day started at 8am and ended at 4am.

(Me)     How do you start your day at the station and how does a typical day go?

(Steve)  I was in a special situation being a weekly show as well as me being out of town. I’d have to wake up at 8am in Syracuse, drive to Jersey to pick up my co-host, take a 80 minute train ride into NYC, and head right to the Sirius studios. Except for a dinner break we’d prep there from 3pm until 11pm, then do a run through, then the show would be live from 12am-3am. Then an hour of making CDs and reading feedback before bailing.

(Me)    What types of equipment did you use on a daily basis for creating the show?

(Steve) I didn’t use much, my responsibility wasn’t on the board. I just used the mic and headphones.

(Me)    What is the production process like for you at this station?

(Steve) Tedious. Lot of layers of producers and management that need to approve process before anything gets done. From a talent perspective, it’s appreciated but also very involved.

(Me)    Are there any classes you would recommend to take that would help with satellite radio?

(Steve) BRC 220 is a good starting place, but I also urge anyone to get involved at WNYO.

While creating my account I was shocked by how easy the set up and registration was. Also when I hit the suggest a price button it suggested $3 per 200 word post. That was a shocker, $3 for 200 words? Seems too good to be true. The site allows you to register as a blogger or as someone who will use the bloggers as a way to advertise. I also did some research to find a blog about one of my favorite companies goodies which is called the pop tart. Located at this site is a blog about pop tarts. When you read the blog all of the posts are mostly product reviews about the pop tarts and what new ones they are coming out with. Finding this blog made my day, I mean who doesnt enjoy a good pop tart?

For my review I chose a Vlog from mevio.com. The vlog is called Common Man Cocktails and can be found here. I found the vlog to be very easy natured and laid back. He had a few mistakes while speaking, I dont know if its from him testing the drink so many times or if its just his voice, but he kept going on with his show. This to me showed a good amount of confidence in himself and self control to keep going. Another interesting part was that his camera woman also talked and added to the show. It was the comforatable and confident atmosphere of the vlog that made me think others would like it as well. Also the drink recipe he featured on the show didnt look  to bad and the way he explained the recipe was clear and concise. This video has made me want to take a look at the other vlogs associated with it.

Hey click here to download Podcast #2

Commercials and some of the popular music in them.

When you turn on the radio what exactly are you hearing? Your hearing the most popular songs in America. These songs are chosen based on profitability and popularity, which means the ability to hear many different genre’s is limited. I would like to introduce to you two artists/groups that I feel fly under the radar. The first artist,Atmosphere, falls into rap/hip hop genre. The next group is Devendra Banhart, which is named after the lead singer, and is a very indie/folk rock group.

Anthony Davis right, Sean Daley left

Atmosphere is a two person hip hop group based in Minneapolis Minnesota. Currently it is comprised of Sean Daley (Rapper)  and Anthony Davis (Dj/Producer). Unlike many groups that are commercially successful Atmosphere has been around since 1993 and now operate under their own record label called Rhymesayers which was founded by Sean Daley (Aka Slug). The musical sound of Atmosphere is continually growing and has broken down some norms for most hip hop groups. The lyrics often tell a story that often describes the realities we face on a daily basis often given from different view points. The interesting part that comes next is that Anthony often makes beats that fit to what the lyrics are, and often includes bits from classic songs or other Atmosphere songs that he then mixes into a new piece. If you like rap and want to hear some that has more meaningful lyrics instead of guns, girls and drugs then atmosphere might be the group for you.

Now this next artist is a real favorite of mine and as mentioned above goes by the name Devendra Banhart. His music has a very

Devendra Banhart

wide range and can often be hard to pin down into one specific genre. I would descibe him as a mix between Jim Morrison and Shannon Hoon from the band Blind Melon. One interesting aspect that Banhart puts into his music is his Venezuelan ancestry and the Hindu religion that was practiced by his mother and father. One song “Carmensita” is in his native tongue and features many Hindu religious icons in the songs video. Devendra Banhart started out as a art student in San Francisco but dropped out to pursue a career in music, which is a very good thing for those that appreciate and listen to his music.

Next time you listen to music on the radio try and feel the music. Is it just a catchy hook or decent rhythm that catches your attention? Or is it a song you’ve never heard before and is a completely nnew experience for you? If you would prefer hearing the new check out Atmosphere and Devendra Banhart, two very different genre’s and artists but two very good musical masters.

Click here to download my podcast

Reading can be found at this site.