Good bye Wong Jim

The legendary Hong Kong lyricist James Wong (Wong Jim in Chinese) died from lung cancer today at 64.

Wong is arguably the most prolific and best known lyric writer for "modern" HK music. His collaboration with composer Koo Kar-Fai has produced many many classics in the 70's and 80's.

There's really no equivalent of Wong Jim in Western music. Lyricist is pretty much a HK music specific job as Western music has been dominated by singer-songwriters or bands.
I believe his best works will be remembered for many many years.

DualDisc DOA?

DualDisc gotta be considered as one of the most disastrous product launch. For those not familiar with this latest audio/video technology, DualDisc is a new media format that combines CD and DVD, i.e., including one of each on two sides of a disc.

It is being pushed by the four major record companies and was first released to retailers earlier this month. However, one of the first DualDiscs, the latest album from the all-girl band Donnas, was pulled due to production issues.

That would have been bad enough but it got worse! Major audio/video manufacturers, including Toshiba, Pioneer and Sony, have issued customer advisory that recommends against using DualDisc on their products! (See the one from Pioneer) Well, I guess the only players that are OK to play DualDisc are those $40 no-name-brand players from China.

I think the major record companies are too busy suing file downloaders. Making products that actually work is the least of their concerns.

Microsoft's patent application

Check this out: Microsoft is applying for patent for its invention of the ISNOT operator in BASIC

I think it is time for me to patent my invention of using more than 1 piece of kleenex to wipe my face.

Money talks

This is a follow-up to the KSJO article. I did more search on the topic and once again people are pointing to Clear Channel for ruining the good old KSJO.

For those not familiar with the background, the government deregulated the radio business several years ago, allowing big corporations like Clear Channel owning multiple stations in a market and across the country. That started a wave of consolidation in the radio business. Now only 2 conglomerates left: Clear Channel and Infinity. (BTW, Clear Channel is also in the business of selling concert tickets. They have been accused of using its influence in radio on pressuring acts)

Since then, a familiar pattern appears:
- Clear Channel bought a popular station.
- Fire some DJs, cancel some shows and replaced them with non-local syndicated shows (which are broadcasted to multiple channels over the country) to cut cost.
- Also, the station will be playing songs from a common playlist shared by other Clear Channel stations in the country.
- Local listeners lose interest due to lack of local focus. Rating plummets.
- Clear Channel changes the format to chase the current fastest growing market, which is Spanish.

Read more details: Inside Clear Channel [Rolling Stones] It also mentions the tie between Clear Channel and George W. Bush. Now you see why there are rumors about Clear Channel stations censoring liberal musicians.

So, the radio is one more thing that goes to the list of things ruined by too much emphasis on $ and bottom line by conglomerates.

No more "triple-Metallica" every hour!

You will hear less Metallica and other hard rockers on the air in Bay Area (until they are old enough to become a regular on classic rock stations) KSJO has been playing rock for 37 years but it has been converted to a Spanish music station. (See Oldest S.J. rock station goes to Spanish format [Mercury News])

Man, this certainly belongs to my list of things happened while I was gone for 2 weeks Whoever says "Metal is dead" must be nodding their heads. :((

Clear Channel, owner of KSJO (and many many other stations in this country), has striked again: I guess they're tired of providing bland programming, so they simply kill off the station.

This is so sad! Now I need to find another station to replace #2 on my preset (#1 is of course KCSM, always.)

[Update: just found out KLOL in Houston and KWID in Las Vegas all went Spanish recently. So this is a national trend. I wonder when CRHK2 will go Mandarin >:) ]

Conservatives strike again

Singing a Bob Dylan song draws attentions from secret service today. (Read ABC News for more details) What's wrong with this country?

RIP Iris Chang

Iris Chang, the author of the book "The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II", was found dead in South Bay. This is a really sad news. Salute to her work on preserving a piece of horrible history that the Japanese society is trying to deny.

No escape from discrimination for Hong Kong people

HK people are not treated fairly even in their own territory. That's very sad. Check out this news (in Chinese) about 7 mainland China visitors beating up repairmen in HK after being rescued by them from a malfunctioning elevator. They were fined less than US$100 each.

Another proposal

Here is a followup to The alternative


Credit: http://house.style.net/usa.jpg

The alternative

Now we all have to accept the fact that USA is a very conservative nation.
Could this be an alternative?

What could happen in 2 weeks?

The answer is: a whole lot.

During my 2 weeks away from US, these had happened:
- Jerry Rice joined Seattle Seahawks. Another sports legend has left the Bay Area.
- Red Sox won its first world series title since 1918.
- All 3 Florida college football team (Miami, Florida and Florida State) lost in the same weekend for the 1st time since 1978.

In addition, the following products are announced:
- a portable XM radio
- new iPods (the photo version and the U2 edition) Well, I'm not too crazy about U2 (now if they make a "Kind of Blue" version with signatures from Miles, Coltrane and Bill Evans...)

Doesn't it sound like I have left for a few decades?