Gism Butter

For those of you not in the know, the Web has recently taken over the duties previously performed by Napster, Kazaa and Bit Torrent. In days past, TV and movie buffs would pirate their wares with the help of powerful peer-to-peer technologies, much to the chagrin of ISPs and IT guys everywhere.

These days, thanks to sites like www.surfthechannel.com and www.alluc.org, users can find and watch most movies and TV shows in their browsers. And with www.seeqpod.com, they can even find and listen to music the same way.

These Web sites represent the digital tipping point: the act of finding and watching this content is now, finally, easy enough for anyone to figure out. And, as with any transition period in digital entertainment, there are already winners and losers in this new fight for online dominance.

Perhaps the biggest loser, thus far, is a small San Diego company called Divx. Originally known for its free video codecs, Divx opened up its own variation on YouTube known as Stage6. Stage6 is, quite frankly, a marvel of software engineering. Users can upload videos of almost any length, and can build channels around related content, complete with logos, banners and members.

Today, (Thursday, Feb 28) Divx is pulling the plug on Stage6. The company has been unable to find a way to monetize the site, and as its popularity has grown, the bandwidth costs for the company have spiraled out of control. A victim of its own success.

What can be learned from all of this? Well, first of all, we’re going to need bigger pipes to China. The defacto heir to the Divx throne isn’t a single site, but rather a host of sites, all stationed inside the great firewall.

But more importantly, we should learn that the Intarweb is always going to latch onto well implemented software. Stage6 offered higher resolution video and a simpler interface than other underground video sites, like the French Daily Motion, or the California-based (And ultra shitty) Veoh. Stage6 became a host for all manner of desirable content, such as Star Trek episodes, entire seasons of Doctor Who, and oodles of independent documentaries that were offered on completely legal terms.

The days of Stage6 may be remembered fondle for a time, but it seems that the world’s media producers are slowly but surely figuring out how to replace it. Hulu.com is NBC and Fox’s combined effort to make their video libraries available for free. CBS.com now offers every episode of the original Star Trek series online, as well.

No matter how we watch our video or access our music in the future, there is one certainty that can be predicted: the software behind accessing this media will almost certainly be innovative and well designed. There are too many options out there right now for the good ones not to win out. After all, even though Napster was considered to be the bane of all music companies, it was still a wildly original idea in software.

Though short-lived, it is these ideas and underground movements that influence the future of software development.

CBS just made its best decision ever. The TV station has put all of the episodes of the original Star Trek online for free streaming viewing Pleasuring Beaming Excitement. I’m watching Spock’s Brain right now. Go over and take a gander.

At GDC all week for parties and schmoozing. Above is Allan Alcorn and Ralph Baer. ‘Nuff said! Go look at the Flickr feed.

V and I came up with a name for the art scene folk in Oakland.  For those not in the know (As I so often say) there is an underground art movement in Oakland, centered around 23rd and Telegraph. There are a couple of galleries in this area, like 21 Grand, Rock Paper Scissors, Esteban Sabar and the one that really sparked the scene, Mama Buzz.

This movement is also marked by a distinct favoratism for reuse and recycled materials. The art in garbage, as it were.  There’s a certain type of person that moves in this circle, that revels in it, as the Emo revels in his or her gloom, or the punk revels in his or her anarchy.

The only thing the movement needs is a catchy name, like Yuppies, or Hippies or Tree Huggers or some such.

And I propose: Buzzards.

An apt title, as they consume and reuse the leftovers of a massively over-stimulated populous. The Yerba Buena did an exhibit of Oakland artists, and it was almost all made from things found in the street. What wasn’t, looked a bit like childrens’ art,

mama Buzz really is the center of this movement, despite the numerous amazing outfits and groups that are a part of the Oakland Art Murmur.

When all is said and done, Mama Buzz is the only place these hip Buzzards can sit and hang out. They create at Rock Paper Scissors. They sip and surf at Mama Buzz.

Thanks to katerw for the image above. I have some shots of Buzzards too, but this was better than mine.

Not to be uncouth about it, but my ancestors most likely owned the above person’s, and also this guy’s ancestors. Last night, after coming home from the Oakland Art Murmur, V dove headlong into the Maryland Sex Offenders Database. Along the way she found some very creep characters. And one fellow, shown below with the cock-eyed stare, is also wanted in Florida for the same thing!

Anyway, Here are a few pictures to show you what we were laughing at.

Martin Webb is a British artist, and a charming fellow, who’s lived in the US off and on for the last 5 years. He’s worked in a  number of mediums, and has even taught art before. But he recently got a day job spreading concrete patios and flooring. He took a liking to the material.

last night, we saw his new show at Esteban Sabar gallery in Oakland at Telegraph and 23rd. It’s striking stuff, though understated. You really have to see the works in person to appreciate them. it’s all about texture. Head over to Esteban’s and take a gander before the end of the month.