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June 07, 2005
One-button mice
Apple has long maintained that there is indeed a second mouse button on the Apple: it's on the keyboard.
Here's a very typical interaction explaining why this is a smart design choice (from Gear Live):
Me: Right click on “My Computer”
Caller: Right?
Me: The right mouse button
Caller: Oh, okay...Now there’s a menu.
Me: Select “Manage”
Caller: okay
Me: Double click on ‘Device Manager’
Caller: Left or right click?
I like seeing this dialog in written form, as I have had the same experience over and over again volunteer-teaching the web in the Tenderloin.
Posted by bengel at 07:00 PM | Comments (2)
June 06, 2005
The Bad Plus
Tonight I went to the Herbst Theater to hear The Bad Plus perform. This was the first concert in ages I have attended where the audience isn't standing. It was good to step out of the indie rock world.
In fact, it was so good that I think The Bad Plus are one of the best performing artists I have seen in a long, long time.
From their website:
"Not exactly a bull in a china shop, more a like a rhino in an outlet mall, The Bad Plus have spent the last few years busting up any and all preconceived notions of what an acoustic jazz trio ought to be."
They have a brilliant visual performing style. David King on drums is so addictive to watch -- he is constantly leaning in and out of his set, and sometimes looks like he's about to strike something with his bald head. Reid Anderson is likewise alternatingly hunched over his bass and provides an intense rhythm. And Ethan Iverson seems so at home on his piano. But one of the best parts of their performance are Ethan's short monologues. Here's one quotation:
"You know, it's remarkable... [long, dry pause]... with the lights of the chandeliers in here... [dry pause again]... how much this place looks like... [one more]... the inside of a spaceship." [Pause in which everyone thinks he's going to say something to justify such a silly statement. The comes no such explanation. Everyone looks at their neighbor and collectively thinks, "what?!"
David King (drummer) is easiest to gush about, so I'm going to do that for a second. He takes his discipline to the next level, and uses every surface of his set to make music. He scratches his cymbals with the blunt end of his drumstick. He taps the sides, bottoms, and edges of his snares. He brings out walkie-talkies and creates feedback between them. He lighly rolls childrens' toys across his snares. This was percussionism of a new type.
Opening for the Bad Plus was Christopher O'Riley, one of the most phenomenal pianists I have ever witnessed. His repertoire consists entirely of Radiohead covers. He did all the big ones: Paranoid Android, Everything in its Right Place, Hail to the Thief, etc. Probably the best part of his performance was how obvious it was how meticulously he reproduced the sounds and tones of the originals. I could tell how hard he tried to imitate Thom Yorke's voice with the piano. He somehow was able to fit in all the amazing layers of Radiohead's music using only the piano.
Thanks to Jackie and Tony for inviting me to the show. Y'all rock.
Posted by bengel at 12:39 AM | Comments (3)