Solo music MySpace site launched
Well, it was only a matter of time. I have joined the MySpace revolution and set up [myspace.com/jonobacon](https://www.myspace.com/jonobacon) for my solo music project housed at [Recreant View](https://www.recreantview.org/).
This year I have set myself the goal of growing awareness of Recreant View, and MySpace seems like one piece of the puzzle. We already have a [Seraphidian MySpace](https://www.myspace.com/seraphidian) site, and it has really helped in spreading the band, so I am sure the new MySpace site for my solo work will also help spread the word.
I plan on using the MySpace site for a few things:
* Growing a network of listeners and friends
* Showcasing my best tunes via the MySpace music player on the page
* Using the blog to keep people updated
* Get to know other musicians and bands that are all drinking the MySpace loopy juice
* Get an impression of how well Recreant View is growing, in conjunction with my Google Analytics data
One question for the geek army – does anyone know if there is an easy way to automatically update my MySpace blog with the content from my WordPress blog over on Recreant View? Would be nice to publish in my Recreant View blog and it automatically update my MySpace blog.
If you MySpace, add me as a friend, and as ever, keep your peelers on [Recreant View](https://www.recreantview.org/) for the latest updates on the rollercoaster of adventure that is my solo music project.
Annoyed, really annoyed
I am astonishingly pissed off. Really, really pissed off. Ten minutes ago I discovered that [Decapitated](https://www.decapitatedband.net/) (my second fave death metal band) and [Hammerfall](https://www.hammerfall.net/) (second fave power metal band) played 12 miles away from me this week and I never even knew about it. How incredibly frustrating.
N800 shazaa
Like many others, my N800 has arrived after I was also one of the lucky few who got recommended for the get-an-N800-on-the-cheap developer programme.
Nice device, and a big improvement on the 770. It feels more sturdy, is much faster, and the UI feels more mature. It is nice to see that Nokia commissioned a second device – I assume the 770 sold reasonably well. I really do think Maemo is an awesome platform, and it is great to see it on another device. 🙂
Others have summarised the N800 pretty well, so I won’t bore you with that here, I just wanted to give my thumbs up to Nokia with it. 🙂
Usability and GNOME video from LCA
On the Monday at LCA, there was a GNOME Love session as part of gnome.conf.au. In this session a bunch of us shouted out things to discuss, and I shouted out ‘application design and usability’. What I didn’t realise was that shouting out a suggestion mean’t volunteering to talk about it. Oof!
So, I got up and discussed my views on usability, good design and making better applications. There was some interesting banter with the other folks in the room, and I think the (completely unprepared, unexpected) session raised some interesting issues that would be of use for most application authors.
As with the rest of LCA, this was videoed for your online viewing kicks, so go and [download the video](https://mirror.linux.org.au/pub/linux.conf.au/2007/video/monday/monday_1650_GNOME.ogg) – my bit kicks in at around 12 minutes.
OpenXML sneaks up behind ODF – lets make it stop
OpenDocument Format. Everyone seems to love it. It is a guiding light in a heavily locked down world, in which it can secure the freedoms of document interoperability and prevent against the often unknown risks of vendor lock-in. With ODF, you can make the decision about what you do with your data by using an open and extensible document format that any software can implement. With the playing field levelled, *you* take control of your information. This is what freedom in software and freedom in document formats is all about.
And lets face it, we are all beginning to feel the ODF love. Not only is OpenOffice.org growing, but companies such as IBM and Sun have thrown their weight behind it, the ODF Alliance which represents over 210 organisations in 30 countries are behind it, and importantly, in May 2006 ODF became a ratified ECMA standard. So, ECMA determine a standard, and the world is a happy place right. Well, nearly.
It seems that Microsoft are working to “fast track” their OpenXML format to become a new European ISO/IEC standard. This standard has been submitted to ECMA, and the deadline is a bit tight to say the least. Graham Taylor from OpenForum Europe hits the nail on the head about the problem:
> “There are major difficulties with ECMA’s standard, which if accepted will affect future formats of all documents on which all office and word processing software depends, and ultimately convenience and cost. It will reinforce the current supplier monopoly position, limit customer
choice and increase costs for European business and consumers.”
I was under the impression that there could not be competing standards as part of ECMA, so this move is a little unusual. Not only that, but OpenXML proves to be a far more complex standard, weighing in at around 6000 pages – are Open Source applications authors really likely to inflict such eyeball glazing misery to implement such a ridiculously large standard?
So what do we do? Well, we have until 5th Feb 2007 to make complaints. Write to your local standards organisation, contact ECMA, blog about it or otherwise raise the issue that a 30 day fast track process is not exactly reasonable for a standard that weighs in at 6000 pages. We have worked so hard to make OpenDocument Format come as far as it has, lets not let it fall at the last hurdle.
Metal drummer required, enquire within
As some of you may know, I am in a metal band called [Seraphidian](https://myspace.com/seraphidian). We play thick, chugging metal that is fat, rhythmic and groovy. We inspire from bands such as Nevermore, Overkill, Pantera, Messhuga, Fear Factory etc. We have recorded two EPs and a full length album called Caged which you are welcome to [download here](https://www.recreantview.org/seraphidian-caged.tgz). We have also toured extensively around the UK, supporting acts including Anthrax, Raging Speedhorn, Kill 2 This, Skindred, Knuckledust, Defenestration, Area 54 and more.
Anyway, our drummer has recently departed the band, and we are looking for a replacement. Candidates should have the following criteria:
* Technically proficient with strong double-bass drumming abilities
* Good timed, tight player
* Equipment and travel
* Ability to attend a weekly rehearsals in Wolverhampton as well as performing live shows around the country
* Fun sense of humour and easy going – Seraphidian is a loose and social band
* Commitment to the band
We are based in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands in the UK,and this is where we rehearse. If you or someone you know may be interested, [mail me](mailto:jono AT jonobacon DOT org). 🙂
LCA Jokosher talk video online
My first talk at [linux.conf.au](https://linux.conf.au/) which was about Jokosher has gone online in video form. The LCA A/V bods did a great job of recording this, and the video includes my main talk about the history and direction of Jokosher, a demo and a Q+A session.
Thanks to some of you for mirroring this.
Download:
* [Master](https://mirror.linux.org.au/pub/linux.conf.au/2007/video/tuesday/Tuesday_1100_GNOME.ogg)
* [Xalior’s mirror](https://elizabeth.xalior.com/lca_jokosher_talk.ogg)
* [pickle’s mirror](https://c-nic.org/mirrors/lca_jokosher_talk.ogg)
* [neuro’s mirror](https://mirrors.zensoft.net/files/lca_jokosher_talk.ogg)
* [Soren’s mirror](https://warma.dk/lca_jokosher_talk.ogg)
Or use [this bittorrent link](https://torrents.lugradio.org/lca_jokosher_talk.ogg.torrent).
As more mirrors are added, I will update this entry. [Mail me](mailto:jono AT jonobacon DOT org) with your mirror URLs.
Misinformation: The Enemy Of Community
Building and running communities is hard work. What is seen by some as simply a means of providing enough hands on deck to get things done is actually a much larger and more complex web of relationships, politics, resources and diplomacy. There are various factors that help community, and various factors that inhibit it – one key inhibitor being *misinformation*.
Since I have been working with community, I have discovered that misinformation and incorrect communication are the source of 95% of conflict and disputes. But what do I mean by the terms *misinformation* and *incorrect communication*? Put simply, any information communicated that is not known to be accurate, but communicated or inferred as accurate is *misinformation*. An example:
> Jane talks to James about some problems with a community member called Dave:
> Jane: “Well, Dave just went ahead and just switched the server off…”
> James: “That is terrible!”
> (Jane does not actually know this fact is accurate, but heard from Sandra that Dave switched the server off, who in turn heard it from someone else who assumed it)
The problem in situations such as this is that an assumed fact is communicated to another community member with a veil of authority, and the nature of the assumption is not clearly expressed. If the assumption was clearly communicated, this is fine. Imagine this scenario instead:
> Jane: “Well, I heard a rumour that Dave just went ahead and just switched the server off, but I am not 100% sure it is accurate”
> James: “If that did happen, that is terrible!”
Its only a few extra words, but the clarification is utterly essential. When assumptions and rumour start getting spread around a community as fact, bad things happen.
What makes these kind of situations even more difficult is when personal relationships or conflict cloud the issue. In the above examples, imagine that Dave and Jane have already had a rocky relationship and don’t get on all that well. If Jane feels Dave has already compromised the community in the past, it is extremely tempting to assume that Dave has just switched off the server, despite the actual facts being unknown.
This can also occur in instances of celebrity. We have lots of rockstars in the Open Source and Ubuntu world, and in some scenarios an accurate communication is overshadowed by showing off that the person spoke to a celebrity. An example:
> James is talking to Jane about how Dave acted like an idiot:
> James: “Yeah, I was talking with Linus the other day when Dave started accusing Sandra of these problems”.
> Jane: “Wow you spoke to Linus?”
> (Dave never accused Sandra of anything)
In this scenario, James is merely bragging about talking to Linus, and the secondary communication of Dave is deemed less important and therefore the accuracy is sacrificed in the light of fanboying Linus.
Unfortunately these kind of incorrect communications and misinformation happen all over our community, and I would like to encourage everyone to think twice when it comes to these kinds of situations. There is nothing wrong we making clear that something is an assumption or second hand knowledge that may not be 100% correct. Little improvements like this can have hugely positive impacts on our community.
So the rule of thumb is is “**to assume makes an ASS out of U and ME – clarity is key**”. 🙂
Open Carrier
Checklist for a song?:
* Drum ‘n bass drums
* 70’s cop show chunky wakka wakka guitar
* Repetitive vocals
* Creative Commons licensed
If you ticked all of the above, check out my new song – [Open Carrier](https://www.recreantview.org/blog/?page_id=79). Quite a departure from the norm…
N800 en-route
Tonight I got an invitation code to buy a discounted [Nokia N800](https://europe.nokia.com/phones/n800) under the developer programme. Thanks to whoever recommended me! Order has been placed and it gets here later this week. I am quite looking forward to poking around with it – looks like a nice chunk of hardware and an awesome platform with all that free software goodness ploughed into it, particularly GStreamer. 🙂