Comments for digital optimism http://www.lizgiel.com web, tech, and communications - according to a digital native. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:22:49 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by Lon http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-429 Lon Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:22:49 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-429 I personally buy most of my music on CD. Mainly for technical reasons: Uncompressed, Not subject to electro-magnetic radiation, no copy-protection. Of course, I just rip them to my media server. :) But for the high-impact music gift: Concert Tickets. Expensive, difficult to schedule and obtain, and impractical. The perfect gift! I personally buy most of my music on CD. Mainly for technical reasons: Uncompressed, Not subject to electro-magnetic radiation, no copy-protection.

Of course, I just rip them to my media server. :)

But for the high-impact music gift: Concert Tickets. Expensive, difficult to schedule and obtain, and impractical. The perfect gift!

]]> Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by Liz http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-323 Liz Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:49:52 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-323 That's a cool idea too Dez. I like that a lot. Some of the comments here hit on what I was thinking too, that it's more than just the songs. It's being able to hold a record in your hand, even smell it (like Giania said above) and have that visual, tangible element to the gift. And I think it's cool that vinyl is making a comeback, but of course not everyone has a record player anymore. So I really love the thought of adding a note to let the person know you are thinking of them, yet they can still take or leave your advice and make their own use of the gift. Thanks for the comment :) That’s a cool idea too Dez. I like that a lot.

Some of the comments here hit on what I was thinking too, that it’s more than just the songs. It’s being able to hold a record in your hand, even smell it (like Giania said above) and have that visual, tangible element to the gift. And I think it’s cool that vinyl is making a comeback, but of course not everyone has a record player anymore. So I really love the thought of adding a note to let the person know you are thinking of them, yet they can still take or leave your advice and make their own use of the gift.

Thanks for the comment :)

]]> Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by Dez http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-324 Dez Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:12:55 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-324 Liz, What would it be like to give an iTunes gift card along with a note about something specific you had in mind for them? That way they'd know you were thinking about being personal as well as getting them something they like. Liz,
What would it be like to give an iTunes gift card along with a note about something specific you had in mind for them? That way they’d know you were thinking about being personal as well as getting them something they like.

]]> Comment on Someone get me Ryan from Paranormal State on the phone. by Liz http://www.lizgiel.com/someone-get-me-ryan-from-paranormal-state-on-the-phone/comment-page-1#comment-314 Liz Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:47:17 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/someone-get-me-ryan-from-paranormal-state-on-the-phone/#comment-314 Thanks, Paul. it's good to know I'm not the only one. :) But a couple dozen times? Wow, that seems like a lot. I did notice that it happens only when I fall asleep on my back. I will remember to try and move my fingers if it happens again. It's happened a few times since I wrote this, but not lately, since I've been falling asleep on my stomach. Thanks, Paul. it’s good to know I’m not the only one. :) But a couple dozen times? Wow, that seems like a lot. I did notice that it happens only when I fall asleep on my back. I will remember to try and move my fingers if it happens again. It’s happened a few times since I wrote this, but not lately, since I’ve been falling asleep on my stomach.

]]> Comment on Someone get me Ryan from Paranormal State on the phone. by taulpaul http://www.lizgiel.com/someone-get-me-ryan-from-paranormal-state-on-the-phone/comment-page-1#comment-313 taulpaul Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:22:48 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/someone-get-me-ryan-from-paranormal-state-on-the-phone/#comment-313 Yeah, it's a text book case of sleep paralysis. I've had a couple dozen episodes throughout my early to mid twenties. They can be very scary, even if you recognize what it is. I learned to snap out of them by focusing on moving my fingers. You can avoid going into these episodes by sleeping on your side, as they typically don't happen while you're in that position. You're definitely not going crazy. They can manifest strange visual and auditory senses. Lots of people hear bells, and see things when in this state. A small percentage will experience something akin to an Out of Body experience. Hope this helps. Yeah, it’s a text book case of sleep paralysis. I’ve had a couple dozen episodes throughout my early to mid twenties. They can be very scary, even if you recognize what it is. I learned to snap out of them by focusing on moving my fingers. You can avoid going into these episodes by sleeping on your side, as they typically don’t happen while you’re in that position.

You’re definitely not going crazy. They can manifest strange visual and auditory senses. Lots of people hear bells, and see things when in this state. A small percentage will experience something akin to an Out of Body experience.

Hope this helps.

]]> Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by Giania http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-316 Giania Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:29:26 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-316 Actually I've taken to picking up vinyl of albums I really love. I grew up around a robust vinyl collection, and even when our record players were out of order, I would still find myself flipping through the albums, reading the lyrics, soaking up the art. Vinyl is, I feel, the best possible format in which music can really be "gifted", since it's more than just the songs, it's the whole package. (Also, I LOVE the smell of old records. Something about the packaging or something just gives them a autumnal scent that I just adore.) Some modern vinyl samplings come with digital download codes too so you can "legitimize" your download collection and still have the collector's item that has a more tangible value. There's also something to be said for the "mix disc" or "mix tape" if the giftee has a tape deck still. Hand-picked, sentimental by nature, and prone to being covered with scribbly hand-drawn art, these approaches also encapsulate music as a viable gift. The hand-picked mix has the distinction of being a sampling of music that is totally unique on the part of the giver. Is it easy to just tell someone about your favorite band and let them go download it? Yeah it totally is, and it CAN take away from opportunities to gift someone with an album you love, and relish in the fact that they might ponder over the cover while standing by their stereo to listen to it for the first time. It's a hit-or-miss situation these days I agree, but the joy of giving music isn't ~totally~ lost. Actually I’ve taken to picking up vinyl of albums I really love. I grew up around a robust vinyl collection, and even when our record players were out of order, I would still find myself flipping through the albums, reading the lyrics, soaking up the art. Vinyl is, I feel, the best possible format in which music can really be “gifted”, since it’s more than just the songs, it’s the whole package. (Also, I LOVE the smell of old records. Something about the packaging or something just gives them a autumnal scent that I just adore.) Some modern vinyl samplings come with digital download codes too so you can “legitimize” your download collection and still have the collector’s item that has a more tangible value.

There’s also something to be said for the “mix disc” or “mix tape” if the giftee has a tape deck still. Hand-picked, sentimental by nature, and prone to being covered with scribbly hand-drawn art, these approaches also encapsulate music as a viable gift. The hand-picked mix has the distinction of being a sampling of music that is totally unique on the part of the giver.

Is it easy to just tell someone about your favorite band and let them go download it? Yeah it totally is, and it CAN take away from opportunities to gift someone with an album you love, and relish in the fact that they might ponder over the cover while standing by their stereo to listen to it for the first time. It’s a hit-or-miss situation these days I agree, but the joy of giving music isn’t ~totally~ lost.

]]> Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by james http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-320 james Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:07:10 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-320 i think a lot of people feel this way and that is why vinyl is making a huge comeback (sales up 50% in the past year). any "tangible qualities" buying a CD gives you are only amplified when purchasing vinyl. plus a nice record player is a "totally legit" decoration. i think a lot of people feel this way and that is why vinyl is making a huge comeback (sales up 50% in the past year). any “tangible qualities” buying a CD gives you are only amplified when purchasing vinyl. plus a nice record player is a “totally legit” decoration.

]]> Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by Mike Keliher http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-325 Mike Keliher Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:22:32 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-325 Picky giftees but still want to give physical music? Give an Amazon or a Best Buy gift card or something. Or even better, I'd be a lot of local music stores would be more than happy to sell you some sort of gift certificate. If not, they deserve to be out of business. Picky giftees but still want to give physical music? Give an Amazon or a Best Buy gift card or something. Or even better, I’d be a lot of local music stores would be more than happy to sell you some sort of gift certificate. If not, they deserve to be out of business.

]]> Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by Liz http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-318 Liz Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:03:27 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-318 Right on Chris. I appreciate those suggestions. I've generally bought gift cards since that's what others have said they wanted. Another friend told me he's too picky about his music to want someone else choosing his albums for him. Maybe that's turned me away from it as well. Who knows. But I think it's possible to purchase iTunes albums for other people, something I didn't know before I wrote this obviously. Thanks for the comment! Right on Chris. I appreciate those suggestions. I’ve generally bought gift cards since that’s what others have said they wanted.

Another friend told me he’s too picky about his music to want someone else choosing his albums for him. Maybe that’s turned me away from it as well. Who knows. But I think it’s possible to purchase iTunes albums for other people, something I didn’t know before I wrote this obviously.

Thanks for the comment!

]]> Comment on Has the Internet destroyed the gift of music? by Chris http://www.lizgiel.com/has-the-internet-destroyed-the-gift-of-music/comment-page-1#comment-317 Chris Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:00:54 +0000 http://www.lizgiel.com/?p=528#comment-317 "How can one restore giving the gift of music in this digital age?" Stop buying iTunes gift cards for people and start putting thought into music gifts like your uncle and husband did when they gave you Revolver and Mamma Mia. With Facebook/Twitter, it's easy to find what bands your friends like or what concerts they are attending. You can then use a tool like Pandora to find similar bands. Once you find something you like, go buy that album for your friend. I subscribe to Rhapsody's service, so I don't buy a whole lot of CDs for myself anymore. But I love buying CDs for my friends and family as gifts. “How can one restore giving the gift of music in this digital age?”

Stop buying iTunes gift cards for people and start putting thought into music gifts like your uncle and husband did when they gave you Revolver and Mamma Mia. With Facebook/Twitter, it’s easy to find what bands your friends like or what concerts they are attending. You can then use a tool like Pandora to find similar bands. Once you find something you like, go buy that album for your friend.

I subscribe to Rhapsody’s service, so I don’t buy a whole lot of CDs for myself anymore. But I love buying CDs for my friends and family as gifts.

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