November 2011
1 post
2 tags
March 2010
6 posts
Short Musical Rant #1: Bright Eyes, Lifted
I’m just going to go out on a limb and say it:
“Lifted” is the best thing that Connor Oberst has ever released under any name. Somehow I’ve recently found myself humming or singing random parts of the album recently and today I decided to throw it on for the first time in a year or so.
It marks the high point in Oberst’s ambition as well as his excess, and it pays...
colonelshaun asked: Becker, in your music wisdom, what are your thoughts on OkGo's 3rd album?
WatchMy friend is working on putting together a pilot episode for his sitcom, Josh Jennings for Congress. Read about it and consider making a donation here.
February 2010
6 posts
Becker's Banter
For the last three academic years, I have had a column in my school’s newspaper, The Torch, entitled “Becker’s Banter.” I write about whatever I want, and sometimes people read it and find it entertaining.
Recently, I realized that I don’t actually have all of these articles on my own computer. Many have been written in The Torch Office. Some have been written on...
January 2010
22 posts
About the iPad.
A little more enthusiastic about the product than I am, but it’s worth a read. I’m not willing to make any bold predictions, but it will be interesting to see how this thing goes.
cameronbanga:
I’ll put this plainly. You’re missing the point behind the iPad.
It’s been only 36 hours, but I feel a bit behind the eight ball in posting or giving my thoughts on the iPad. The last...
Other iPad reactions
So here’s a fairly balanced look at different technology sites’ reactions to the iPad:
John Gruber at Daring Fireball.
A post which focuses on the importance of Apple’s own A4 processor. Gruber has had a hands on with the device and seems to be pretty impressed by it.
Wilson Rothman at Gizmodo
Wilson addresses the potential markets of the iPad, and generally how he thinks...
The iPad: What were you expecting?
Yep, it’s “just a big iPod touch”. What were you expecting people? First off, the phrase “just a big iPod touch,” fundamentally underestimates the impact that the iPhone OS has had on the landscape of mobile computing. If people are going to use a mobile browser, there’s a 65% chance they are going to be using Mobile Safari on an iPod Touch or iPhone....
What does your Magic Mouse setup look like?
Well, after nearly a month of use, I think I have finally settled on my preferences for my Magic Mouse.
Using the truly wonderful customization software, MagicPrefs (link) and the regular system preferences panel, I have come up with gestures and clicks that work for me.
In System Preferences:
I frequently use secondary click, scroll, occasionally use two finger swipes to navigate back and...
Well reasoned "apple tablet" UI discussion &... →
(via gizmodo)
My latest Sporcle Quiz: Indie Rock Album Covers,... →
So, that was a 4 day weekend.
Another thrilling narrative courtesy of J. Becker & Co:
Friday
3:00am: Begin drive to O’Hare Airport after finishing my section of The Torch
4:30am: Arrive at O’Hare Airport. Still have to wait in security line, despite the absurd hour. Attempt to sleep. Fail. Listen to stupid people talk. Record my reaction to this conversation here.
7:30am: Board plane
8:05am: Flight leaves....
Snap-on diagnostics
The three men across from me at Ohare Terminal 3, Gate G7, work for a company called “Snap-On” in the diagnostics department.
Curious, I dutifully hopped on Google from my phone and attempted to figure out what they do. I’m not quite sure, because I didn’t spend that much time looking, but I’m pretty sure it involved diagnostics of certain types of tools, perhaps...
New Blog →
For Blogging & Web Design class. This play was directed by the class and written by the class. Follow to see what shenanigans ensue.
Good work Google. →
It’s stories like this that make me believe that Google has at least some dedication to it’s internal motto, “Don’t Be Evil”
knowledge is power and i am stupid
(This is taken from a lovely post written by a friend studying in Cambridge. I am jealous in ways that I can’t put into words.)
jackiekenyon:
…
After that we had History with Professor Murphy. He is bluntly opinionated, but I like him. We are going to be discussing- and by discussing I mean we sit and listen to him as he asks us questions we don’t know the answers to- the history...
scootymcscoots asked: Becker-san: should I shave my nasty beard? or let it get longer and nastier?
Things I've done today:
11:45 Wake up
12:00 Formal Chapter
1:30 Join a band
2:00 Ice Football
3:00 Go to Walmart to buy hot chocolate powder and marshmellows
3:15 Arrive back at the house and find out we already had hot chocolate
4:00 Attempt to go to first band practice.
4:05 Discovers that my driver-side rear tire is completely flat. I had these tires changed less than two weeks ago. There is an attempt to...
scootymcscoots asked: Why don't you respond to your emails? Is that form of communication too archaic for you? I just spent the last half-hour signing up for a blogging facilitator that I will probably never use just to get in touch with you while I wait for a response from an email I sent you over 24 hours ago. I'm not sayin'... I'm just sayin'. (You may count this as one question)
colonelshaun asked: Jon, in your infinite wisdom, where do you see the future of music going? Everything changed when we could start listening to albums in cars (via 8-track and cassette tapes). Now we have it on credit card sized devices, our phones, and computers. What's next? Where is music in 6 years?
Lady Gaga named Polaroid creative director →
win! (via engadget)
Lil Wayne Voices Cartoon Jesus →
Ask me! Ask me! →
So, at the encouragement of Tumblr, I’ve enabled the “ask” section of my Tumblog. Feel free to ask me anything, and unless things get overbearing, I promise to provide an answer of at least 100 words.
Epiphany Card? (The Becker Family says, yes!)
(What follows is an unedited transcript of my submission to the 2009 Becker Family Christmas Card, which has been much delayed and anticipated with a hype comparable to the Apple Tablet. Much like the Tablet, I know very little about this Christmas Card. I don’t know who gets it, I don’t know when the actual thing is coming out and I don’t know how much of the below content will...
December 2009
13 posts
“I didn’t trip or fall. I’m hugging the earth.”
– Written on a piece of paper by a girl, age ~10, in the pew in front of me at church this morning. There was an accompanying diagram, but I couldn’t get a picture of it.
Jon's Top 10 of 2009
I’ll keep the intro short. This thing already reads like a novel. Here it is in bullet point form:
I didn’t listen to enough music in 2009. Based on my colleagues list, I clearly have a lot of catching up to do.
This is a pretty safe list for me, with only 3 bands that I hadn’t heard of before the year started.
Canada’s back: 4 spots in the top 10.
The battle for the #1...
Come on AT&T... →
A set of charts basically explaining why AT&T is horrible.
colonelshaun:
A relic from the days of LNNG.
Goals for tonight:
1) Have a completed graphic design portfolio for the semester that I am happy with.
2) Hang out with girlfriend
3) Design SigEp Spring 2010 Recruitment shirts
4) Get a star ranking or better on Mario Kart Wii, Star Cup 150 cc (Maybe Special cup if I’m lucky) without throwing Wii Remote through the TV.
5) Begin working on my Top 10 Albums of 2009 list. While I understand that this may...
Google StreetView Car
The Google StreetView Car is the ice cream truck of our generation. How can I figure out when it is coming to Valparaiso?
Published a Blurb book for Digital Photography.... →
"Top 5 Assclowns Laughing at the iPhone Back in... →
…whoops?
Steve Balmer BSOD photo-mosaic [link] →
November 2009
20 posts
Christmas Music 2009: My Strategy Guide
It’s past thanksgiving now, and tomorrow is December. I think even the most cynical early-Christmas haters can agree that it is an acceptable time to start celebrating. Trees can be bought and decorated. Lights may be put up. It is now acceptable for radio stations, and more importantly you, to start listening to Christmas music.
Christmas music poses several problems for a person with...
Only 11,999,232 off! →
I guess I’ve been following this whole saga more closely than most, but this chart is just too funny to me.