Steven Joniak – the Blog

Ok so I’m a little late in the game on this one – I don’t even own an iPod simply because they’re just too expensive for me to justify (though the new iPod Shuffle caught my interest). The idea of creating your own radio station (so to speak) with a world wide reach – hmmm, this is something with potential – I can hear the hamster waking up already…

Read the Wired.com article…

This is a really unique idea and approach that caught my curiosity. Jonathan Harris built a site “takes the most common words from major news outlets like BBC World Edition and New York Times International and couples them with pictures. The site lets users interactively search for the top stories by scrolling over pictures and the words associated with them.” … Full story is on Wired.com.

To see the site follow the link – Clickie!

Ok, I am a web designer/developer and do understand the idea of popups generating revenue, but is this kind of response necessary? This is an email clip that was posted on MacFixIt.com today:

MacFixIt reader David xxxxx had an interesting exchange with a representative from “Popuptraffic.com”, as follows:

David xxxxx wrote: “I am writing to complain about the fact that you are intentionally trying to subvert web users desire not to view pop-under ads. This is a very poor business practice, and I consider any impression from an unwanted advertisement to be an inducement to boycott that advertiser.”

Popuptraffic.com’s response: “How dare you? Let me teach you a little something that you obviously never were able to grasp. If you go to a website and in exchange for taking what that website is providing, you are shown a popup ad, you allow the owner of the site the to recoup some of the very real costs involved with keeping a site online. By using a popup blocker, you are essentially stealing their work. You’re nothing more than a common thief. Sincerely, Ron xxxxx.”

So then in essence if I am watching TV and change the channel during a commercial I would be committing the same type of crime? Imagine if you were trying to watch your favourite television program and a commercial kept on popping up on top of your program, preventing you from watching the show in question? Is that not what a popup is doing to a webpage – covering up and taking away from the content?

C’mon now! Do you seriously think this is a logical argument? There are many less intrusive ways ads have been embedded within a site article – ie Wired.com or News.com – that don’t require this kind of nuisance. An ad should not be the focus of a site and I for one do boycott sites that insist on using annoying popup technology needlessly – since when did annoying the consumer make good business sense?

There are just so many better ways to advertise online these days that do much less to tick off your consumers. If as a site publisher you are concerned about losing revenue well then do what other sites have and begin charging for content – now there’s a crazy concept, eh?

For all those nay-sayers out there – its a scientific FACT! This is scary & serious stuff! We need to stop being dependent on fossil fuels and other non-renewable habits and start addressing this now before its too late … your air-conditioned SUV or Hummer won’t save you then…

Gary Braasch is a photographer who put together an excellent website documenting images of the effects of Global Warming from around the globe. Also, he’s added some tips for everyone to employ, especially us North Americans who seem content in thinking ‘its not us’ – well guess what – if the planet goes to hell, NO ONE is going to safe.

Last night we saw Michael Bublé (pronounced boo-blay although I jokingly like to say ‘bubbly’ instead). The BC based singer was in town at the Chum/MuchMusic building for a ‘private’ radio show that was broadcast live on ChumFM. My finacée had won us spots to be part of the live audience experience and I decided it may be fun to check out though admittedly I’m not a huge fan but do like his music. My finacée is a big fan – that’s her with him above, although the camera took so long to focus she moved before it snapped the picture! (Nothing a little Photoshop couldn’t fix later…). Although the evening began with us waiting in line outside the studio in -15 C weather for nearly 30 minutes, things got better once we finally were inside – a free copy of his new CD – It’s Time – along with complimentary champagne awaiting in the studio which more then warmed us up…

I’ve always felt live performances are a benchmark of a truly talented singer and Michael definitely did not disappoint. He belted out a few songs during the show with his trademark smooth, velvety voice that puts him in the same class as Harry Connick & Frank Sinatra. Overall he also seemed genuinely charismatic and passionate of his craft along with a great sense of humour. Being part of a radio audience as opposed to a television audience seemed to benefit us in seeing more of his natural expressions and quick wit during the voiceovers and commercial breaks. He even went out of his way to try and meet all 130 of us which a number of other celebrities seem to care less about. Definitely a great experience!

My hats off to Michael and congratulations on his recent engagement to Debbie who was also in attendance (along with her little dog in a gym bag!). I’m looking forward to hearing much more from Michael Bublé in the future.

Sounds like an interesting book about Corporations abusing copyright rules to stem off competition. Though its more US based, Canada doesn’t always fall to far behind…

Could be cool – looks like CBC.ca just added a new Arts section today. May have some good stuff in there and will need to check it out later-

Wow this is amazing – Maria Schnieder won a grammy award last night, and was nominated for 3 others – WITHOUT SELLING A SINGLE CD IN ANY STORE! She didn’t even use a record company. She used a concept called Artist Share where she was able to allow her best assest – her fans – support to pay for the album.
 
I love it – one more thing for the record company to worry about, actually talented people putting out good music – Congratulations Maria!

A great article from Wired Magazine – “Logical and precise, left-brain thinking gave us the Information Age. Now comes the Conceptual Age – ruled by artistry, empathy, and emotion.”
- Yeah! There’s hope for me yet =P