 |
|
we x e g e s i s |
|
|
 |
(noun) An explanation or critical interpretation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wThursday, January 31, 2002 |
|
|
|
You know, if they really wanted to convince people to give music subscription services a chance, you'd think that they would give more care to ensuring the quality of the music they're providing instead of the quantity. Didn't anyone learn from AOL's mistakes? I had thought that pressplay was my dream (log on, search, stream/download) come true. But then I discovered that about 10% of the tracks that I've downloaded from them had a little glitch somewhere. Most of them I was able to correct using a non-linear digital audio editor to delete the extra data, but there were a precious few that skipped because there weren't any data where there should've been. I've called the Customer Support hotline where a live operator (at least they're one step ahead of AOL) told me that most people complain about the limited selection and not the quality and how every single day people are working to add more tracks to their library. (By the way, I blame NYU for making my ears so sensitive to these things that I wouldn't have cared too much about a few years ago.) I was then told to make a list of the tracks that contained errors and send them to their tech department.
Another thing that was kind of irritating was how they would try to make up for their limited selections by directing you to an artist who they think is in the same style. For example, when I searched for "Craig David", I got the track listings for Maxwell. How Craig David's two-step can be likened to Maxwell's neo-soul/R&B is beyond me.
I was, however, impressed with how willing they were to correct their mistakes. I had called to cancel my subscription a few weeks ago because I got so frustrated with the glitches and I was told that I would still be able to use the service until the end of my payment period. When I found myself unable to log on before the end of my payment period, I called them again and they assured me that they would work out whatever the problem was and compensate me for my inconvenience. The very next day, I got an e-mail from the operator I had spoken to telling me that my account had been re-activated and they are giving me an extra 3 weeks before my account would be terminated as requested. Everything was said with a great attitude. Not bad for a start-up.
At the end of the day, it is a legal alternative to Napster-like services and that's all the music industry has been asking for when you get right down to it. I've been considering re-subscribing just because it's the only thing that has come close to fulfilling my desire to have any track at my fingertips. I guess it will depend on what they do with my list after I send it to them. It would be great if other people gave them a chance too, just to show the world that people are decent enough to pay for art. That technology hasn't turned us all into crooks. They even have a 14 day free trial if you sign up now!
posted by
Angie at 11:51 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wTuesday, January 22, 2002 |
|
|
|
=) Back to school today! It's hard to believe that I might never have another warm, fuzzy back-to-school feeling. Then again, with the music industry not showing me a friendly face, I'm beginning to seriously consider grad school. A mere 6 months ago, I couldn't wait to work full-time. Don't get me wrong, I love going to class and learning me some good stuff. But I wanted (and still do, actually) to completely dedicate myself to a job where I could do something to help create music. But now that I keep running into closed doors and (on the brighter side of things) realize how much there is still for me to learn about so many things, grad school sounds mighty tempting. True, I could learn what I needed to know on the job, but school would provide more ideal (read: safer) conditions. What would be perfect is if I could do both. But that scenario isn't all that tangible at the moment so we'll just have to wait and see where the Lord leads.
posted by
Angie at 9:14 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSunday, January 20, 2002 |
|
|
|
Saw Black Hawk Down yesterday and it might be the first good movie I've seen this year. Granted, we're only 20 days into the new year, but given the trash that Hollywood has been turning out these past few years, it's still saying something. Josh Hartnett as the strong silent type--I'd go for that any day! But seriously, the movie made a strong case for the idea that a hero isn't someone who picks up a gun and or dies for a "greater" cause. A hero is someone who confronts and overcomes personal difficulties and walks into the next challenge with their chin up and shoulders back.
In another gesture to "hang in there because it's worth it" I've been blessed to be given the opportunity to see Aida again! As always, Adam Pascal was great as the male lead, Radames (except for the one time he couldn't quite reach his high note). The new princess Idina Menzel was quite responsive to the audience and gave them the extra touch of humor when she saw fit. I didn't get to see the new Aida, Maya Days, but her standby left me begging for Heather Headley!
Books I was supposed to finish during winter break:
The Lord of the Rings
The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway
Behind The Glass
I was also supposed to finish watching Ken Burn's documentary, Jazz, but I only got through 4 out of the 10 episodes so far. I'm going to finish everything before Spring Break. No, really.
posted by
Angie at 11:32 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wMonday, January 14, 2002 |
|
|
|
How did that song go? Something like, "I'm blue, da-ba-dee, da-ba-da..." That pretty much sums me up. Don't worry, I'm not about to drag on and on about how the world is so cruel and all that self-pity nonsense. I'm just in a tough spot right now when it comes to a couple major areas and given my past experiences, I think things are going to get a lot worse before they get any better. After all, that's how we grow, right? By overcoming trials and hard times. And so in order to grow spiritually stronger we have to take on more intense challenges. Yes, it seems so unfair that it means harsher trials if you continue to mature as a Christian. However, if you sit and think about it, it's the only way that it will work. What kind of "faith" would it be if we believed only in return for a guarantee of an easy life? As Job's Song goes,
Lord, I know this world isn't easy,
And I know that You never promised no pain.
Trials will come, and trials will test me.
But help me, Lord--it's hard to see them as gain. At the end of the day, I know that God has his hand in it all somehow, somewhere. But that doesn't mean that I don't feel the strain of these hard times. I'm also terrified to acknowledge how painfully crushed I have to get before I'm restored.
posted by
Angie at 3:04 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFriday, January 11, 2002 |
|
|
|
Did you know that today is the 4-month anniversary of the largest terrorist attacks on America? In my search for even the tiniest mention of this fact, it became apparent that the major news organizations have ceased coverage of the occasion. I guess in some ways, it's a positive sign since it shows that we're not dwelling in an unhealthy way on the events and that we've moved on to dealing with the consequences.
Boy, I'm really hurting from not having a (working) computer at home. First I had to deal with no internet connection, then once I got hooked up with cable internet, Explorer starts quitting on me when I tried to install FireWire ports. Good thing I spend so much time at work or I'd be completely lost. It's kind of sad how attached I am to the dumb machine. But understand that without it, my craving for information and 21st Century functionality (i.e.: e-mail, online banking, online fact-checking, digital archives of newspapers and magazines, not to mention the myriad of a/v-related tasks that I do on the computer) leaves me feeling very unproductive and plenty frustrated.
posted by
Angie at 3:45 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wWednesday, January 09, 2002 |
|
|
|
Why is it that management always waits until a person makes it known that she is leaving the company soon before offering proper financial compensation? I mean, if you really think that the work that I do is worth that much, then why didn't you offer to pay me that amount before today? It's happened to me twice in a row already. It makes me feel cheated, like the company has been holding out on me because they think that since I'm a fool that's willing to work for a certain base amount, there's no need to give me my fair share of profits even after I've proven to be an asset over and over again. Then when I mention that I'm seeking other opportunities elsewhere, all of a sudden they're willing to talk about a raise. Even if I was the kind of person who went to work largely for the sake of money, then it still would have been better for the company to give me my due starting from the day they decided they were going to retain my services so I wouldn't even think about leaving. Once a thought like finding employment elsewhere enters one's mind, it's difficult to just dismiss it.
I never got in this business to get rich. I just want to be able to pay my bills and treat myself to a CD or show every once in a while. To everyone that runs their business by holding out as much money from their employees for as long as they can, being so incredibly petrified of the bottom line: bite me. I resent the insinuation that I'm just another money-hungry employee and I'm especially disturbed to realize that such practices are so widespread, that so many think that it's okay to screw the people who help keep their company functioning. You can take your cost-effectiveness of preventing turnovers and throw it out. Treat people like people and things like things. I don't care which journals or studies you read. You can't calculate people!!
posted by
Angie at 4:54 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
