KG blog

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2007-06-17T17:19:00.001-07:00

One Red Paper Clip guy now has a year in Phoenix

2006-04-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

This blog chronicles one man's journey trying to barter and trade from one red paperclip all the way to a house...

He is currently at one year free rent in phoenix.

read more | digg story

HOLY! Riya searches your photos and recognizes who is in it

2005-10-28T01:23:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, you have a ton of unnamed, undescribed, photos from many many years.
There seems to be alot of hype around a technology that might just help us recognize all the faces in those pics semi-automatically. Its called Riya.

Riya states its goal as enabling us to "find every digital photo in the world."

Riya uses face recognition and search technologies to
1) grab all your photos from ur computer or online sources like flickr
2) allow you to identify people in ur photos
3) identify those people in all your other photos (and in everyone else's photos for that matter).

So if I am reading correctly,
1) every photo in the world will be shared and
2) the software will be able to recognize all people and objects in the photos
3) anyone in your network will be able to search for anything or anyone in the whole network's photos

HOLY CRAP!! potentially one of the niftiest things I've ever heard of.
Right now, its only in alpha testing. And only like 10 people have seen it work outside the company. So the jury is out on how well it works still.

What if this can now help you identify those random people in the background of your photos!! What if you find that someone you just met is randomly in one of your childhood pictures! The possible scenarios could be freaky!! Could you upload your yearbook photos and names and find where all your classmates have gone? What about incriminating evidence??? hmmm there better be a bachelor party tag.

Collage from Picasa2

2005-10-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

This is the output of a neat little feature in Picasa2 (a google picture organization software). It creates a collage (like seen above) of a selection of pictures. This is a collection of my pics from Vietnam.

I highly recommend Picassa to organize your pics. Its very simple and the interface is amazing. It makes viewing and browing a large number of image folders really fast and easy.

Preview Yahoo Mail with Firefox extension

2005-09-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

For all you firefox lovers...
I found this neat little extension that lets you preview a Yahoo email with out navigating away from the message list. Download it here.

This is spose to be a big feature for the new Yahoo Mail Beta thats coming out. But you can get it right now :)

Here is a screenshot.

Flikr For Videos... YouTube!

2005-09-23T04:01:00.000-07:00

Not much more I need to say here... Definitely check it out.
www.youtube.com

The Long Tail

2005-09-23T01:54:00.000-07:00

I've been seeing the buzz phrase "the Long tail" alot lately, so I decided to try to figure out what the heck it was...

Its best explained by examples.
The long tail is the yellow portion of the graph to the left...

The concept says that the demand for "niche" items, not found in traditional brick and mortar stores due to their low volume of sales, is as big or greater than the demand for "hit" items. If inventory and distribution costs can be substantially reduced, then the total profits will be greater for these niche items.
Online retailes like Itunes/Apple, Netflix, Amazon are beneficiaries, since their inventory are stored centrally and/or distributing the items can be done digitally, minimizing costs.

I also think alot of people use this phrase to refer to the niche group of consumers (or products they buy) that are going to be loyal repeat customers due to the selection of products that can't be found elsewhere. Finding this business "sweet spot" is seen as one of the keys to long term success of a new company.

Here is the Long Tail article from Wired Magazine that started it all... well worth the 5 page read. It offers a bunch of interesting examples and ideas.

Here is Chris Anderson's (the author) blog on Long tail. Offers a good aggregation of links on the left of other smart people's ruminations about applying this concept to industry.

Great way to share large files

2005-09-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for a good way to share videos taken from my digital camera.
The files end up being like 10 to 20 mb... too large to email.
But I found this site called www.YouSendIt.com while looking for a job.
(How come I find so many cool sites while "looking for jobs?")

It is so super awesome! I'm so giddy :) And of course its free.

This site has one simple form (only 3 required fields to fill out)
No sign up or registration required for anyone
You can send files up to 1GB
Once you submit the form the file is uploaded to their servers and a link to the file is generated. An email is sent to the people you request with the link and a message you write. The link stays active for 7 days. You can even just IM the link to someone.

Whats the catch?

So far there is NONE! I have no idea how they make any money other than a small ad on the page confirming your file was uploaded.

If you can figure out how they make money, please tell me. Also feel free to send me good music or movies to check out (of course only the legal ones ehhem ;))

Alot of time on my hands

2005-09-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

I've been doing alot of surfing the internet lately due to my new found unemployed and bored status. So I've decided to do something a bit constructive with my findings and blog em for the rest of yall... enjoy.

Been thinking about starting a business lately...
This site (SpringWise) is a monthly newsletter that profiles new interesting business ideas from around the world. Goes into reasons why these ideas might be striking. Def gets your mind going.

Finding NEW music you might like...
Tired of the same 5 songs on the radio? this site (Pandora.com) suggests songs you might like by creating a radio station for you based on 1) a song or artist you like and 2) the Music genome project (a project to analyze 10,000 artists and what makes their music tick).

Cost:10 hrs of free play then 36$ per year. $36 is kind of steep IMO I'd pay around 20$,
This thing is cool, has an awesome interface. Suggestions are pretty good. Lets you say "like it" "Dont like it" and then updates the station list.
Typed in Kanye West > got "Get By" by Talib Kweli. > Created a station for that song and got

Remind My Soul by Akrobatic
Robbin Hood Theory by Gang Starr
But also got some Ja Rule Ashanti shit too

Limitations:

Wish you could preview the songs coming in the suggestion list.
Can only forward a certain number of songs every hour (due to some licensing crap)
Have to buy songs from ITunes or amazon still.

2005-03-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

Chocolate hills

2005-03-01T18:13:00.001-08:00

rafting in cagayan de oro

2005-03-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

relaxing on the white island off of Camiguin

2005-03-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

Jetskiing in Cebu beach club

2005-03-01T18:10:00.000-08:00

Tarsiers in Bohol! so cute

The Thrillah in Manila

2004-11-08T03:04:00.000-08:00

So to everyone I haven't talked to in a while...
I'm in Manila, Philippines. I'm on a project out here until Christmas.
I arrived late last night and have been fighting my sleepiness for the last couple hours. I'll still be on AIM and you can still email me at kennethjgo@yahoo.com

sleeeepy...

climbing

2004-09-14T01:58:00.000-07:00

Went climbing this passed weekend...
Went up to Stinson Beach in Marin. It was gorgeous out. the views were spectacular (especially of the naked old dudes... bleghhch!) besides the naked old dudes, it was a great day. It was perfect weather, great day for climbing rocks right on the ocean.

Also met this guy who called him self the "Traveler." His real name was Brad.
He claimed to have walked through 38 states and plans to hit all 48 continguous by the end of his journey... which is reaching its 5th year.

My favorite song right now

2004-08-30T02:45:00.000-07:00

My favorite song of the moment:
Kanye West's "The Good, the bad, the ugly." Check it out

http://www.geocities.com/kennethjgo/goodbadandugly.wma

"Kanye you a genius!"

Infernal Affairs - amazing hong kong film!

2004-08-23T02:07:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of or seen "Infernal Affairs " go check it out now...
The story, acting, and cinematography just kick major bootie.
Here is a good write up: http://metrolife.chinadaily.com.cn/2003/1222/lmovie.html

There are 3 parts to this hong kong gangster flick. Although most will say that the first one is the only one worth watching. I've seen the 1st and 3rd now, I'd recommend seeing both.

So the gist of the plot line is that a triad boss implants young guys put into the police academy. Years and years after police academy they have all risen to various ranks in the force and give the mob boss information to help his businesses. That is, except for one young man (Yan, Tony Leung) who is kicked out of the academy and returns to the triad eventually becoming a high ranking henchman as well. But the triad is unaware that Yan is actually a mole for the police force as well. Many years into the undercover assignments the respective moles' character/morality is blurred. You are unsure who is really a good guy and who is the bad guy.
Drama and action ensues... but the main draw for me to this movie is the quality of the story-line, character development, and themes of blurring the lines between good and evil.

Tony Leung gives another awe-inspiring performance (just as in Hero). He plays the gritty dark likeable anti-hero better than anyone could imagine. Andy Lau plays, Ming, the corresponding player on the other side... pretty boy teacher's pet villain.

Check out this movie if you can find it on dvd or vcd somewhere. The dvd has the director's intended ending as well as the watered-down theatrical version. If you didn't get to see the directors ending, you are missing out.

Oh yeah, rumor has it that Martin Scorcese is signing on to do an american version with Brad Pitts production company... I guess i could see brad or johnny depp as the Tony Leung character. I'd vote for ed norton or Guy Pearce from momento to play the Andy Lau character.

Rants on iTunes and the Music industry

2004-08-16T01:57:00.000-07:00

RIAA is suing its customers...
Kazaa sells your computer's extra processing power
and Apple!?!
Don't get me wrong u apple zombie's...
The itunes software is incredible and the ipod is a work of art...
BUT...
Apple had (i guess still has) the opportunity to do something great... a chance to re-invent the entire music industry. The chance to create a system where an artist is rewarded for his creativity/talent instead of his marketability/promotability.

Apple has failed the artists. Apple has always been artist-friendly, from the graphic designer to the painter-glassblower. But, Out of the $1 you spend to download a song, only 11 cents goes to the artist. Goodness... There are no distribution costs and for the independent artist there are no promotion costs.

Apple is in the driver's seat here. Sure, the record industry owns the rights to all the songs. But even without the rights to the songs, Apple and the ipod would still be extremely popular. People would still find their favorite songs somewhere and would look to itunes for fresh new artists they really WANT to support. The Record industry on the other hand would be left with continuosly decreasing cd sales and its most promising cash cow of litigating its customers.

Instead Apple has given an extra crutch to the RIAA and the music industry to remain in the status quo.

If Apple wasn't in such a corporate-mode it could support the garage band. Take a bigger piece of the pie for itself and give more of it to the artists and consumers.
1) Allow only artist owned material on itunes (until RIAA agrees to take less)
2) lower prices to download - would you really spend the time looking for places to pirate a song if it only cost 50 cents?

3) Empower people to become creative entreprenuers --
a) artists promote themselves and each other
b) enable easier licensing of songs and samples for dj's and mixologists.
c) enable licensed re-selling for areas lacking internet and computers

Eventually the RIAA becomes unnecessary. All those folks in their offices would lose their jobs, hopefully they could start bands to support themselves.

A more eloquent version (http://www.downhillbattle.org/itunes/)

Until this all happens (don't) use these sites to find mp3s:
http://fionasforum.com/Stairway/

MP3 SEARCH SITES
Exploseek
Google
Alltheweb
Zoekmp3
Italia Online Search
Sharetraxx
Audiofind
SingingFish Media Search
Altavista Search

Yoshitomo Nara

2004-08-16T01:21:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this artist while in japantown this weekend. I did some research and this is what I found... Apparently Nara is one of the most famous japanese artists today. He, along with Takashi Murakami, are at the fore-front of an influential Japanese pop art movement.

"Using a style combining the effect of Japanese prints and Pop Art cartoons, he paints solitary, doll-like children to comment upon the decline of society, East and West. To Nara, children symbolize a world marked by confusion and anxiety about an unknown future. " -- AskArt.com

I dunno about all that commenting on the decline of society stuff... but damn his stuff looks hott.

Read more here:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/archive/2004/07/30/nara.DTL&type=entertainment
http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/itoi/itoi10-22-01.asp

Oh yeah there's a free exhibit currently running at the san jose musuem of art (til end of oct)
http://www.sanjosemuseumofart.org/

blog beginning

2004-08-16T01:17:00.000-07:00

My first post to my new blog. I will use this blog as a way to share some of my thoughts and some fun stuff with all the peoples.

I'll try to be interesting, but I wont promise anything.