A real reason to buy

I'm a huge fan of Techdirt's CwF + RtB (Connect with fans and give them a reason to buy). To sum it up simply, if you give your fans a reason to actually buy something instead of pirating it, and show you care - ie connect with them - then they will happily pay money for something they might otherwise be able to find for free.

I'm also a big fan of the ebook movement. I personally think that ebooks, especially read on an easy-on-the-eyes ereader, are not only the wave of the future, but also the only real way to go with books. Yes, there will always be a place for physical books, but the vast majority of what we read we read once and that's it. Whether it be news and magazine articles we consume daily, novels, or even academic papers, most people (IMO) rarely feel the need to pull out old books and peruse them again, much less feel the need to pull out an old tomb and stroke the leather cover (though it is nice with a favorite book).

That being said, even for storage as long as you don't have DRM that kills you when you switch to a new reader, ebooks are still easier to store than the same volume of paper books.

The problem comes when the RtB approaches zero because of outside influences. A publisher charges too much for a certain ebook. Another one forces the retailer to push back an ebook long after the hardback version comes out in an artificial sales window. These and other practices may seem to be a nice way to pump up faltering physical book sales, but I think things will go differently.

If you already have an ebook reader, you want to get the ebook version of most things you buy. You have already committed to the format (by shelling out $250+ for your ereader), so for you, the artificial price inflation feels like you're being gouged. You bought the ereader with the idea you'd eventually get what you paid upfront back in individual book discounts. For this person, each $1 increase in ebook price (beyond a reasonable amount) decreases the odds you'll buy the book by 50% or more. For the case of the delayed sales window, in most cases this person will simply forget about the book completely and never bother to buy it.

In neither case, however, will those tactics tempt the ebook owner to then go ahead and buy the hardcover. Either tactic just feels like a dicky way to screw fans, and it's hard to click the "buy me" button when you're choking down bile.

For the person without an ereader, either tactic just proves to them that there's no reason to go electronic. They'll continue to buy books like they did before - sometimes going for the new hardcover, other times waiting till they can find the book used.

Does this equate to more money for the publisher than if this person had gone e? I don't know. My gut says no. Personally, I've become a more voracious reader since I went electronic, and the ability to shop online and get book in hand (so to speak), instantly, even for rare books, has prompted me to get a lot of books I would've never bothered to get had I not got my Kindle. But I'm not everyone.

Anyway, when you take away the reason to buy in one way, that doesn't necessarily mean you add a reason to buy the old way. Music companies are still fighting this idea; I just hope the book industry pulls its head out of its ass a little quicker.

Immigration the Key

There's a nice article at the Japan Times about how Japan can stay relevant/succeed in the coming years, in spite of a declining birthrate. In the article Takamitsu Sawa gives some good advice, including opening up Japan to more immigration.

Good idea and I agree with him 100%. Unfortunately I doubt most Japanese would agree. Just like in the US, in Japan most people view immigration with great suspicion, fearing unskilled foreigners would bring more crime, take away jobs and would be a burden on taxparers, even though the actual data doesn't really support any of these points.

なれるもんか?! or On Hardheadedness and Not Listening

I can't learn to get used to that!!

There's one thing I can't eat: hijiki. Not because I don't like it, but because I physically. Can't. Eat it.

Hijiki is a kind of seaweed, like Japanese nori but way more bland. It tastes like almost nothing, and is often used as a filler in salads and soups for its calcium content.

Ever since I had surgery for gallstones I can't eat hijiki, along with a few other foods. This is a fairly common phenomenon I hear. A lot of people who have gallbladder surgery pick up a few eating quirks. I know a girl who can no longer digest dark meats like liver. For me hard to digest vegetables and greasy foods are what does me in, especially hijiki but also some dark salads have the same effect, as do large amounts of fatty chicken or oily soups. Yeah, no more ramen for me.

Anyway, hijiki is often served in school lunches in Japan. Most schools I go to, if I see they're having hijiki on the menu I politely refuse, and when asked why I explain my reason and they understand.

A few people, however, are less than reasonable. Of course sometimes I get the "ah, you don't like hijiki because you're a foreigner, blah blah blah" line of racist BS, but not too often. The other odd response I get is a denial of my physical condition. Even after I explain how I physically can't eat it (sometimes more than once) they still assume I'm just being picky.

Then it hit me. It's partially that they don't understand my explanation and/or can't understand how someone not allergic to something might not be able to digest it. But the other part is they just don't listen. And I think that's at the root of most hardheadedness.

It's not that they're obstinate and refuse to grasp something; they never really heard my explanation in the first place. I pass on hijiki at lunch ergo I must be picky and refusing to try something new.

I think this happens in a lot of instances, but for me the hijiki issue is annoying because of how many times I've explained why I can't eat it to the same people. But the same idea is behind a lot of political debates that go nowhere or arguments between couples.

So Global Warming is a Myth? So what?

So I've been hearing lately from a lot of conservative sources in the news and some friends and family about how either global warming might not be true, or might not be caused by humans.

First of all, the last 2 decades were the 2 warmest decades on record, worldwide. So the planet IS getting warmer. Whether it's caused specifically by humans is another matter. It may also just be a current trend that may reverse some time.

But all I have to say to global warming doubters is - So what?

There are 3 reasons why we should assume global warming is caused by people and continue to fight it, even if it all turns out to be caused by volcanic activity or whatever.

1: Fighting global warming makes better tech. Do you think the Prius or other low-impact / low gas usage cars would've come out so soon without the fear of global warming? This looming spectre of stifling summers was just the kick in the ass car makers needed. Not to mention other tech which improves lives and reduces dependence on foreign oil sources.

2: Furthermore, fighting global warming makes for less pollution in cities. Anyone who has ever been to a big city in the US can see and sometimes taste how shitty the air is. But if you go to some areas in China or other major polluted cities it's unbelievable. Can you say lung cancer for everyone? Even if global warming isn't caused by people, we still need to reduce pollution to reduce risks of cancer, asthma, and other ailments caused or worsened by breathing in bad air.

3: What if global warming is completely caused by people? It might not be caused by us at all, but what if it is? Do you really want to end up in a Roland Emmerich frozen nightmare (hopefully unlikely)? Or to end up sitting in a pool of sweat every summer shelling out buckets of cash to pay for your AC so your fat ass doesn't die of a heat stroke (more likely)?

Think about it.

Oh, the pic I posted? Nothing to do with the topic at hand... I just like the picture.

Wow, some people just don't get the point

As reported by Engadget, Rupert Murdoch is planning on renegotiating prices for ebooks sold on Amazon. They also report that all the "big six" publishers will probably be trying to push Amazon for higher prices.

They don't get the big picture at all. It's just like ridiculous notions of getting random web viewers to pony up to pay for news. Amazon didn't just pull the $9.99 price for new books out of their ass. It's a price point that feels right. Let's just face it - an ebook isn't as good as the real thing. You can't resell it, you can't (readily) loan it to a friend, and you could easily lose it when a company stops supporting DRM on your books or whatever. So Amazon gives you a bit of a discount.

If that discount shrinks, however, there's less and less reason to buy. And just because you don't buy the ebook version doesn't necessarily mean you're going to then get the hardcover edition. I'd say about a third of the books I've got for my Kindle I only bought because they were cheap enough and interesting enough that I hit the "buy" button on a whim.

For $10 I might risk an unknown author if the book seems interesting enough. When the hardcover lists for $20, however, and the ebook goes for $15, it only feels like the publisher is trying to screw me. It feels like they're making more of a profit on the e-version, considering it requires no printing or shipping, and no risk of overstocking.

Hell, I'll just say it right now. At $9.99 I know I'm going to spend a lot of money buying books for my Kindle. If everyone goes to $12.99 I'll be a lot more choosy. At the $14.99 price point, IMO they've gone over the top into the realm of unreasonable. I'll just settle on catching up on classics like the Jungle that can be found for free.

A Strudel for an Oscar Anyone?

So Christoph Waltz is going to get the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. How do I know this? Because he had the 1 scene in Inglourious Basterds that was a guaranteed Oscar scene - the one with the strudel.

Here's my theory. Sometimes people get Oscars for an honestly great performance, like Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs or Geoffrey Rush in Shine. Their performance stands out as a shining beacon of acting for that year, whether they be so evil you get nightmares after watching the movie simply because of them, or they're so perfect for the role you not only can't imagine anyone else doing it, you for a time forget they're even an actor and associate them as that person afterwards.

But sometimes the Oscars judges - and often the general viewing public - get duped by That One Oscar Scene. This is a moment in a movie that feels so much like Oscar Material that they have to win... even if they aren't really doing a good acting job.

I can think of a few examples: Tommy Lee Jones' in the Fugitive ("I don't care!"). I mean come on, his acting consisted of talking fast and abrasive all the time. That's it. It was a good movie but he didn't really DO anything.

Or Denzel Washington in Training Day ("King Kong ain't got nothing on me!"). I'm the biggest Denzel Washington fan, and he was totally robbed in Malcom X, but in Training Day his direction must've been "act like you've got a mouth full of cereal and just saw someone bad mouthing your wife on TV." He's pissed off and belligerent, but that's it.

Or (my favorite) Tom Hanks in Philadelphia. Come on. Let's have a major actor who's already been robbed by the academy play a gay guy with AIDS. The day the movie was announced he'd already won the Oscar. I guess in this case there wasn't the One Scene, it was more the whole movie. He could've just stood there in dying makeup and got the award... Oh wait, that's basically what he did.


Now back to Christoph Waltz... Wait, he was awesome as the evil Nazi dude in this movie. But he still had That One Scene. Tarantino basically must've said to him, "OK eat that strudel as obnoxiously as possible." He's good and all, but that didn't matter. I guarantee after watching that scene the Oscar judges were sitting happily in piles of their own filth, reaching for a tissue. They had found it, the one scene that would let them decide instantly without having to think anymore, or even bother to watch the other nominees' performances.

Macs Everywhere... if you are or are fighting terrorists

Season 2 of the Japanese sci-fi thriller/24 ripoff Bloody Monday started this weekend. It's actually a good show, with interesting plotlines and good acting overall.

But I always wondered why so many people in shows like this use Macs. Just like Chloe in 24, the lead computer expert for the good guys in Bloody Monday also uses a Mac. And everyone around her. And many terrorists.

What does this mean? In Japan if you're planning on fighting/joining a terrorist organization you have to familiarize yourself with OS X or you're screwed?

Except the main character who always uses a PC. Nope, that was just in season 1. In season 2 you see in his pad a line of Mac monitors with a MacBook Pro on the side. The circle is now complete.

Sweet Linux Action, Baby

I'm writing as we speak on my Kohjinsha SC3 tablet PC now, set to boot either in Windows 7 or Jolicloud. Haven't heard of Jolicloud? It's a free, fast-booting version of Linux that's shockingly easy to use and easy to install. I'm guessing my Windows days on this tablet are coming to an end, too, because recently Win7 is giving me tons of errors and won't even go online, but Jolicloud works just fine.

Thinking of giving MS the boot but don't want to go for a Mac? Try out Jolicloud, especially as a way to boost the usability of your netbook.

Not exactly...

There's an intertesting post up at Techdirt about hidden costs of DRM on ebooks. Techdirt is big time against copy-protection and usage limitations that come from DRM, and often write about the negative impact absurd restrictions on legally purchased content has on the market. I agree with most things they talk about but with books I don't think the issue is so serious.

Yes, every time you get something with DRM there's a chance you get screwed, but IMO copy-protection on ebooks isn't nearly as big of a deal as DRM in music and movies for 1 major reason: with music and movies replayability is one of the key factors in deciding to make a purchase, but not for most books.

Think about it for a minute. Most people I know don't buy a movie sight unseen - they watch it first, either at the movies, on TV or online. Most people I know also don't buy music without hearing at least a few clips of it first. Deciding to buy the movie or music album means you think you're gonna watch/listen to it, and not just once but several times. You intend it to be a part of your permanent collection. So for the movie/music buyer, being sure you'll be able to use it for years and years and maybe on different machines is very important.

But books are different. With few exceptions the first time you read a book will be after you already made the decision to buy it. And also with few exceptions the first time you read it will also be the last. How many times do people reread books?

Yes, buying a DRMed, non-transferrable ebook limits your ability to share a great book with friends, but it doesn't really hurt that much in the long run.

iDontNeedYourSympathy!

So now rumors are coming out that the iPhone 4G will have an OLED screen (cool), a 5 megapixel camera (nice), and possibly a new touch-sensitive casing...

Um, so now they can make cool apps like iPet that turns your phone into a hamster and iMouse that turns it into a functioning mouse (or a pet mouse)...

And then sleazier ones like iFondle and iStroke (not to be confused with iHadAStroke).

Sorry, the last one was in poor taste, but seriously, is there really any need to have touch on the whole phone? I'd be a lot happier with a way to shoe weather, my notes, and mail on the lock screen without jailbreaking.

At least try to look at my face when you're talking to me

I just got done watching Avatar. Was it the best movie ever - despite ticket sales so far I'd have to say no. Was it the best save-the-planet / cool-mecha / Starship Troopers-copy / preachy-yet-not-bleeding-heart-liberal / side-boobs extravaganza ever? I think so.

It was an honestly good action movie with a real message. It was also a nice place to run into my old pal Wes Studi, but this time without the tomahawk. If you haven't seen it yet, go see it in the theaters. It's worth the ticket price.

The 3D, tho, IMO is still more of a gimmick than a real feature, but at least Avatar incorporates the idea, rather than slamming its 3D effects at you like an old 80s horror flick.

Panic Attack!

Have you seen the clip of Ataque de Panico! yet? It's a 4 minute clip of an alien invasion, kind of done in a Cloverfield style, except with less jiggliness. Anyway, it's really good, and if the rumors that he made it on a budget of $300 are true, then I say when can we see the full-length version?

Yeah, that's right, er... What the hell are you talking about?!

I had the weirdest conversation the other day, and something that shows just a little how ingrained some silly racist ideas can be.

I was at a bar talking with a cute bartender and a few other drunk losers all trying to hit on her (unsuccessfully of course). The dude to my left, a Japanese guy about my age who was dressed like any hipster you might find in any ironically retro bar in the world, was asking me about my hometown in the US.

When the subject of local foods comes up, I happen to mention that we have a ton of places to get good Mexican food in Illinois, and he follows this with a sympathetic comment about how life is rough all over... At first I question my Japanese comprehension and ask him what he means.

He responds with a line like, "Yeah, you guys get all the Mexicans coming in, taking away jobs, becoming bums, and stealing shit. Just like the Koreans here in Japan." I don't remember exactly what he said word for word, but that's the gist of his ideas.

Um... right. I've heard that line of garbage on right-wing TV in Japan, from politicians, and older people, but it's always surprising to hear it coming from the mouth of someone so young and so seemingly with it. There's this old racist idea in Japan that foreigners, especially from other Asian countries, cause all the crime here and are a burden on society.

So I casually made my escape from that conversation and switched to talking to the cool old guy smoking a pipe.

Rage

Here's an interesting bit of wisdom. It comes from Chuck Klosterman's Killing Yourself to Live. He's quoting an old guy he meets in a bar near the Montana border. It goes:

"People never show you what they're truly like until you see them go ape-shit," he says. "That's the only time people say the things they really feel. Anger makes people honest."

I agree 100%, and I would add that the easiest way to get a friend or (especially) a girlfriend to tell you exactly what they feel about you is to piss them off.

Rain, the beginning and the end

It's raining today. I've always liked dreary rainy days in late fall in Japan. It reminds me of my first year here. That year I swear it seemed like every month it rained the last day of school and the first day of school I had to work.

Which was significant because I changed schools every month. So the last day I worked somewhere was always a rainy goodbye, and my first day everywhere was also a rainy hello. In Japan they have an expression - ame otoko - which means "rain man" but signifies a person who brings rain with them wherever they go (and not a guy who bangs his head against the wall if he misses the People's Court).

For me, because of that, when there's an isolated rain on a fairly cold day, it always feels like the beginning of something. There's a freshness in the air, and it's not just because the smog is being washed away.

I guess that makes me an optimist, because I could've easily learned to associate this kind of day with endings and goodbyes.