Katrina

Hurricane Katrina completely devastated parts of Louisiana and left at least 55 people dead.
Hundreds of thousands of people are left with no homes and no hope for the future.

The best way to help is to give your support and donate to the American Red Cross.
Anything you can offer will make a difference, be it five dollars or five hundred dollars.

For more information or a donation go to www.redcross.org.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of hurricane Katrina.

Kind to our kin

In one of the comments at BlackMylar Europe Meroll put a post saying

My China has been hairlipped because I see no link to meroll.com/portal? Ain't I kin? Don't family count for shit anymore?

Well, we at BlackMylar Europe want to show that we care about our kin, so here's a link to the portal of Meroll. You'll also find it on the right hand side of BlackMylar Europe under Links.

And if you don't like it, well we don't give a damn if it hairlips the Pope.

To enclose or not to enclose

Here's an update on the feed and the enclosure-tags of Feedburner. The problem of the BlackMylar Europe feed has been solved. Problem was that Feedburner didn't recognize the mp3-file in the post and therefore didn't ad the enclosure-tags in the feed. Now this problem is solved.

The server on which the file was published seemed to be the problem. At first we published the audio file at garageband.com. But Garageband.com doesn't provide a link directly to the file. Instead the link it is using returns HTML that then launch a player in them that point to the actual audio file... And thus Feedburner didn't see it as an mp3 but just as another link to a HTML file.

So now we finally succeeded in uploading the file to the free service of ourmedia.org which we talked about yesterday at BlackMylar Europe. Ourmedia.org stores the file and provides a direct link to the audio file. And now Feedburner does recognize it and does add the enclosure-tag in the feed.

Also we can now be found and heard on the Podsafe Music Network. Next step will be adding the BlackMylar EuroCast to iTunes, so y'all can subscribe to the podcast.

Now, all the technical stuff is out of the way, we can concentrate on making the first actual BlackMylar Eurocast number 001. The trial podcast we made earlier this week was solely intended to test all the technical issues.

Now the fun can begin....

Short update today

Today a short post, telling you what we are working on.

As you might have noticed, we have added the XML button so y'all can subscribe to the feed of BlackMylar Europe. Now, this feed was also intended to generate enclosure-tags when the podcast is published. That way, you can subscribe to the podcast and automatically get the latest podcast without manually have to look for it and download it.

To make the RSS feed, we use Feedburner. Feedburner says that whenever they find a link to a audio file in a post, they will ad the enclosure-tag in the feed. But for some reason, this is not working yet.

We think it has something to do with the server were the podcast file is uploaded to. So we are currently looking for a different server to upload the files to. We are now testing ourmedia.org, which provides

"free storage and free bandwidth for your videos, audio files, photos, text or software. Forever. No catches."

as they put it themselves.
Ourmedia.org is open source.

Now this sounds cool, so we made an account and managed to upload the file. We hope that the generated link to the file will be good enough for feedburner to recognize it and generate those enclosure-tags we need. But in the process, we have been kicked out of ourmedia.org for several times. So we couldn't check if the file was uploaded correctly.

That was a slight disappointment. We thought we found a good service where you could upload all your media files and store them for free. But if the service is that unstable that you are kicked out every hour, then the fact that it's free isn't that big of an issue anymore. It then becomes a pain in the ass and we will be glad to pay $ 50,- for an account at audioblog.com.

Anyway, we'll give them one more change tomorrow. Ourmedia.org that is. If it's still not working properly, we'll move on.

Oh and by the way: we lied. It wasn't a short post after all....

Talk is cheap

End July Croll66 at BlackMylar.com posted a review on free internet voice chat apps. It covered Yahoo! Instant Messenger, Teamspeak 2, Skype and Gizmo.

Now a new member can be added to the family. Google launched the beta version of Google Talk. With Google Talk you can talk and instant message (IM) with ... well.... anybody. Google Talk will work closely with all the other Google gadgets you might have, including your Gmail account. In fact, Google Talk requires a Gmail username and password.

Now, I hear you thinking. Another IM program. Another voice chat app. Well, yeah. Adding to the row. I really am curious how this program will stand up against all the others. So, let's go ahead and download it. But wait...... Mmm, only Google Talk available for... for..... (can't get it out of my throat)... for...Windows!?@#? No, can't be. Let's look closer.

Ah, here we go. ' Mac and Linux users can connect too Google Talk using other IM clients', is what Google says. And they did think about that. They made the Google Talk service to support industry standards. And that's what we like at BlackMylar Europe: people who support industry standards (you here that, Bill Gates?)!

And there you have it, a list of clients we can choose from depending which OS we are using. For OSX we can choose from Adium, GAIM, iChat (of course our favorite) and Psi. Linux users can choose between GAIM and Psi.

So, it looks like it's worth giving it a try. I will hook up with Croll66 to try it out and he'll post a review on BlackMylar.com and compare Google Talk with the other apps.

And if he doesn't? Well, we don't give a damn if it harelips China.

BlackMylar EuroCast 000

The trial podcast of BlackMylar Europe is finally here: the BlackMylar EuroCast 000.

Remember, this is only a trial podcast. We are still looking into the various programs to find out which one is the best to use. Also we are still playing around with all the settings and pre-settings to get the best possible result for you, the listener.

Also we are looking for the right place to host our podcasts. Right now, this is done at garageband.com, cause it was the fastest way to put the podcast live.

There will be more trial versions to follow before we actually start with the serious podcasting. But until then, this is it.

The King is alive: thousands pay homage to Elvis

Like every year thousands of fans from all over the world gathered at the Elvis Presley's Graceland estate in Memphis to pay homage to Elvis his life and legacy on the 28th anniversary of his death.

The truly impressive Candlelight Vigil turned Elvis Presley Boulevard in a sea of candlelight as thousands and thousands of fans participated in the Candlelight Vigil. I never knew so many people could be so quiet. And even more impressive is that a singer that has been gone for so long still draws a crowd like this, not for a concert, but for remembering his life and legacy.

I sure can tell you that everytime I see something impressive like this, I still get choked up, even after all these years of being a fan. Having visited Graceland many times, I still get that strange, special feeling everytime I walk through the gates of Graceland. It's like time has stood still and you can still feel the presence of Elvis...

My dear friend Don from Memphis used to work at Graceland. He just sent me an e-mail where he tries to capture that feeling. I'll just share that with you:

... I was watching the Candlelight Vigil at Graceland tonight. The weather is very hot and muggy but also there's a clear sky with a beautiful moon. I was thinking of when I worked at Graceland and how quiet and lonely the mansion would be after the last guest left and we turned out the lights. Do you believe in ghosts?

We did have some good times through the years and I hope there are many more to follow. The spirit of Elvis is alive tonight in Memphis. You can feel it. When I sign off, I am going to drive to Whitehaven, past the mansion and who knows -- maybe I'll catch a glimpse of the King on the lawn.....

It's amazing that Elvis still can move so many people around the world. Even people who worked for a long time with Elvis and are coming back to Graceland to remember the anniversary of his death are having trouble keeping their eyes dry.

I guess that says a lot on the impression Elvis made to a lot of people.

And it still goes on: Elvis Lives!

Thankyouverymuch!

Wiretapping, Privacy Law and groceries...

The US Government wants to be able to do wiretapping (or should we say webtapping :-)) on internet telephony just as it can on the conventional land line phones. The US Government is supporting the development of a new technology which can be used to wiretap internet telephony.

Researchers of the George Mason University have collected a quarter of a million euros subsidized funding to perfect this technology, which already exists. In fact, it has been successfully tested on one of the most famous internet telephony programs used today, Skype. According to the US government, the technology will be deployed in the battle against terrorism and crime.

I don't know how it is in the US, but I know in Europe and especially in The Netherlands there is a complicated Privacy Law which protects the privacy of the civilian. That way, the government or companies can not give privacy information to a third party and there are rules to which the government and companies have to comply if they want to store information on a citizen or a client. This law protects the citizen or the client to a great extend.

But how far can you go with this protection? Do you keep this law intact for the sake of the protection of people who are really doing nothing wrong and therefore have nothing to hide, while people who do not have such good intentions can abuse this law and communicate and plan all kinds of horrific things, like a terrorist attack?

Which part is weighing heavier in the community, protecting your identity and your personal information, and thus also terrorist, or the ability to track down terrorist and prevent attacks because you know about them on forehand through the wiretapping?

It's hard. Cause when you ask somebody in a country which has not experienced any hostility and hasn't had any attacks on their soil, it's probably hard for them to understand that giving up some privacy is necessary in order to keep the country more safe.

But would you ask somebody in say New York or London, they'll probably be glad to give up some parts of their privacy in order to be able to get on the subway to go to work in the morning without breaking out in a sweat and wondering on every backpack that gets carried on if it contains a bom or just today's groceries.....

Leopard ready to take on Tiger

While Jimmie Vaughan is taking over my iTunes and asks me ' Do you get the blues?', I think that Tiger (or MacOs 10.4) may very well get the blues in say about a year. Although Apple just released Tiger it is already building on the new version, MacOs 10.5. Codename for this baby to be: Leopard (I guess Apple just wants to work down the whole cat family). Leopard is scheduled to be released end of 2006 or beginning 2007.

So, the 150 euro I had to pay for Tiger, and then the 79 euro I had to pay for the iLife '05 package, will be down the drain and again I will have to spend a lot of money to upgrade a system that will by then be only a year to a year and a half old.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a huge Apple fan, but Apple is smelling the money a little bit to much lately. So how long before Steve Jobs turns into a clone of Bill Gates and just want to sell and to sell, paying no more attention to the users (=buyers) and the quality of the product?

I don't think it will go that far, but I find it rather fast wanting to put out a new MacOs version already while the ink on your MacOs 10.4 bill is not even dry.

At the same time Apple will release Leopard it will say it's goodbye to the PowerPC processor of IBM it is currently using in the Apple computers. Apple is shifting to Intel processors, stating that the PowerPC G5 processor isn't fast enough and is using to much power.

And of course Apple has to make sure it feeds it's new Leopard well......

Singer Ibrahim Ferrer past away

And again said news here at BlackMylar Europe. Did we earlier report that legendary bluesman Little Milton Campbell has passed away, now the very said news came to us that famous Cuban singer Ibrahim Ferrer has passed away last Saturday, August 6th.

Ferrer became world famous with the Buena Vista Social Club, a project of Ry Cooder. Buena Vista Social Club put Cuban music back on the map and the band toured around the world and became one of the most famous Cuban groups ever.

Ferrer started his singing carreer at age 14. In the fifties he worked with the great band leader Pacho Alonso. His whole life he kept singing intriguing and emotional Cuban songs. But it was not long after his retirement that in the nineties he had his international breakthrough when guitarist Ry Cooder put together a band that would exist off older Cuban musicians and became known as the Buena Vista Social Club.

Last month Ibrahim Ferrer attended the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival. During his following European tour he went back home cause he was feeling ill. Several days later he was admitted to the hospital of Havana with stomach pains. The actual cause of death is not know at this point.

Ibrahim Ferrer died at age 78. The funeral will be held coming Monday, August 8th.

Our thought and prayers are with his family and close friends.

Elvis guitarist John Wilkinson in Belgium August 16th

John Wilkinson will be a special guest in the Belgian Elvis-shop in Turnhout coming August 16th. Wilkinson was playing rhythm guitar with Elvis and later on became his close friend.

John Wilkinson will appear between 2 and 6 pm and will talk about his time with Elvis. You'll be able to meet with this famous guitar player and listen to his stories. And here's the best part: all day there will be free entrance!

Now that's showing your Elvis fans you care.

For anybody that wants to attend, the address is 98 Otterstraat, Turnhout, Belgium.

Little Milton Campbell

A sad day at BlackMylar Europe.

We have received a message of the staff of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, based in Memphis, that former Stax Records artist, legendary bluesman, and great friend of Soulsville Little Milton Campbell has passed away after suffering a massive stroke.

Here you'll find the content of that e-mail:

Dear Stax Fans,

We are sad to let you know that former Stax Records artist, legendary bluesman, and great friend of Soulsville has passed away after suffering a massive stroke on July 27th.

We have lost one of the greatest musical treasures in the world, and one of the most beloved members of the Stax family.

Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. We do not have details yet on memorial services, etc., but will let you know as soon as we do.

Our Last Mondays in Studio A concert with Little Milton, which was scheduled for September 26th, will take place with an artist(s) yet to be determined. It will be dedicated to Little Milton and will be a celebration of his life.

Please check www.staxmuseum.com for updates.

For more information on Little Milton Campbell, including his biography, visit www.littlemilton.com.

Thank You,

The Staff of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music

Our thought and prayers are with his family and close friends.

Mighty Mouse for a big cat

And once again Apple is introducing a new toy: a single-button looking mouse with multibutton functionality. And we call her: Mighty Mouse!

The new scroll ball on MM let's you scroll in every direction without lifting a finger. It gives you 360 degree scrolling, not just up and down. And this all without the need of lifting your hand or finger from the mouse.

And if that's not enough, there's build in touch sensitive technology, which detects where you are clicking. With this technology, the single button mouse transforms into a multi button..., well..., Mighty Mouse ;-)

On the sides of the mouse you'll find force sensing buttons, which will work closely with your Mac Os Tiger allowing you to open Dashboard for example. Better yet, program them yourself. Cause Mighty Mouse is build to work in sync with your Mac.

So basically, it's a mouse with the attitude of a Tiger. But for a retail price of $ 49 or € 55 I'll hope for the mouse's sake that there's no cat around! But that money will buy you a mouse with Apple's famous design and functional features.

Like Big Mamma

A quick post today, cause I'm running late and it's already past midnight.

While listening to the latest Daily Source Code, which by the way was packed with great podsave music, I was putting some final touches to BlackMylar Europe.

The Google Search bar has been added for example, like y'all are used to at the Big Mamma site of BlackMylar Europe: BlackMylar.com.

Anything to make you feel at home. And why? Well, because we can! Ain't that great? You gotta love these digital times ;-)

If all goes well, we'll have are first podcast very soon at BlackMylar, so I was told by croll66 last Sunday. And furthermore we are looking forward to your stories, comments and reviews here at BlackMylar Europe. You can send it to blackmylar.eu@gmail.com.

That's all for today folks.

The Way To Amarillo

It looks like it's gonna be a long summer! Cause everywhere there are videos popping up. Well now, there's nothing wrong with a video. But when CEO's of big companies starting hopping around in a video that plays the song 'The Way To Amarillo', you might start wondering.

It all started with the very popular video made by British soldiers stationed in Iraq. In the video, the Brits dance around to the music of 'Is This The Way To Amarillo'.

Not to long ago the same trick was done by some Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan, dancing around in a video on the same music.

Now the virus has spread to the corporate life. The Dutch news site Nu.nl is calling upon companies to make there own version of 'The Way To Amarillo'. They figure that in these summer months there won't be a lot to do in all those offices. Most people are on vacation and business is slow. So why not make a video?

To set an example, the employees of Nu.nl have made their video dancing through the office buildings. And apparently, now it's up to the rest to do the same.

I must admit, you do get kind of a happy feeling when the music wells up and you see even the executives hopping around while a dark brown voice is singing Is This The Way To Amarillo!

For a few moments you forget what the world is like today......

Welcome to BlackMylar Europe

Welcome to the European section of BlackMylar. We hope we can make this a place for all European related topics and for all European readers of the BlackMylar website.
This will not replace the original BlackMylar site and you will of course be able, and in fact be invited, to keep posting your thoughts and comments to BlackMylar.com. See this really as a section of BlackMylar.com: the European Section!

After talking to Casey, my friend and member of the editorial staff of BlackMylar.com, about an European contribution to BlackMylar.com we just went ahead and put our money where our mouth is. And see there, while we were talking with each other through Skype for a couple of hours, me in Amsterdam and Casey back in Alabama, US, we just made this European section :-)

Now it will be a matter of time to get started and get some interesting stories and discussions going on. Also keep an eye out on the first BlackMylar Podcast, which will be coming soon. Also BlackMylar Europe will be bringing you a podcast in the future.

So if you have something interesting to say, let us know. We are interested in your story, being your personal view on a political matter, a review of the greatest movie you've ever seen or if you are the next Stephen King and want to send in your story: let us know, send it in and be a part of BlackMylar!

Thankyouverymuch!

Pasquinel
BlackMylar Europe