Medialoper

Jim is finally back from Maui, and so we’re finally back with a podcast! This week, we wonder if Axl Rose is right to refuse entry into a Hall of Fame that would induct someone like Axl Rose. (07:51 – 19:13) Then, in 2012, should anybody be watching shows like Mad Men or Breaking Bad in anything but HD? Of course not, so we discuss the fact that DirecTV customers still have to suffer with AMC in Standard Definition. This also leads into a discussion on David Simon’s comments about people not watching The Wire properly. (19:14 – 29:55) Then, we follow up on the DOJ’s eBooks anti-trust lawsuit. (29:56 – 37:46) Finally, what’s in Jim’s mix: the latest records from Wussy, The Men, Nada Surf and Imperial Teen. (37:47 – 43:16) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – American Idiot onstage. (43:20 – 44:35) Kirk – Mirage by Matt Ruff (44:36 – 46:53) Jim – How you know you’re in Los Angeles (46:54 – 49:10) Medialoper Bebop Episode 34: Welcomed to the Jungle was recorded on at 7:00PM PDT on Thursday, April 12 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing theme of Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. No Axl Roses were harmed in the making of this podcast.

This week, Tim, Kirk & Jim start off by banging their heads against the LA Times paywall. (4:40 – 10:35) Next up, what’s worse than taking a drug test to get a job? Having a prospective employer login to Facebook as you. (10:36 – 18:30) Then, we all plan to go see The Hunger Games, after convincing Kirk that it’s a sequel to Moneyball. (18:31 – 22:21) Also, we look at how the new iPad’s Retina Display doesn’t play nicely with app developers who took shortcuts or tried to control the experience too tightly. (22:22 – 32:20) All that, and what’s in Tim’s mix: Bruce Springsteen, Esvbjorn Svensson Trio and The Shins. (32:21 – 42:59) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Kirk – There’s a new sensation in the publishing world: potlit! (43:09 – 44:54) Tim – Really is going to see The Hunger Games. (44:55 – 47:12) Jim – Declares Archer to be the funniest show on TV. (47:13 – 49:40) Medialoper Bebop Episode 33: Drug Test was recorded at 9:20PST on Thursday, March 22, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing music for the Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by The Miss Alans. No drugs were tested in the making of this podcast.

And we’re back! Kirk, Tim & Jim start off by discussing Daylight Saving Time and the logistics of attending SxSW in a wheelchair, and wonder Kirk didn’t do just that following his knee surgery. (4:28 – 10:00) You wonder why e-book prices have gone up in the past couple of years? And they’re all pretty much the same wherever you happen to shop? It’s because of a thing called “agency pricing,” and the U.S. Department of Justice are considering suing Apple and the major book-publishers over colluding to fix prices. (10:01 – 26:33) Then: we discuss artists asking Rush Limbaugh not use their songs on his show. (26:34 – 33:40) Finally, it’s Kirk’s turn for In The Mix. This week, it’s Ben Kweller, Chuck Prophet and The Died Pretty. (33:41 – 39:52) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – It’s William Shatner’s World, and we’re just living in it. (39:56 – 41:45) Kirk – MLB.TV has done the right thing this year. (41:46 – 45:20) Jim – Have you heard the new Van Halen album? (45:22 – 46:30) Medialoper Bebop Episode 32: Rehab Rehab was recorded at 2:00PM PDT on Sunday, March 11, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The theme music for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans, who not only don’t ask us for promotional consideration to mention our use of their song every time out, they don’t even know we have a podcast.

Jim, Kirk and Tim start this week by taking a look at the little-known cult show called The Simpsons, which celebrated its 500th episode this week. (08:30 – 25:53) After that, we look at a technology that was all but left for dead but is making a comeback: over-the-air TV antennas. (26:04 – 32:53) Finally, it’s the latest inductee into the Medialoper Bebop Great Albums Hall of Fame: The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Psychocandy (32:54 – 44:53) All that, and in honor of Kirk’s upcoming ACL surgery and Jean becoming a U.S. citizen, the Pledge of Allegiance! Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Senna, the documentary about the Brazilian race car driver. (45:55 – 49:40) Jim – Words With Friends. (49:45 – 49:48) Kirk – League of Evil 2, perfect for playing if you’re laid up following knee surgery. (49:49 – 53:59) Medialoper Bebop Episode 31: Worst. Episode. Ever. was recorded at 9:00PST on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music to Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. Good luck with the knee surgery, Kirk!

This week, Kirk, Tim & Jim start with a discussion of the awesome smart thermostat, Nest, — by the fathers of the iPod — which has become the target of a patent lawsuit by Honeywell. (04:10 – 14:04) Then, we talk about the new Neflix original series, Lillyhammer, (aka Silvio Goes to Norway and what it might portend for the future of programming. Oh, and of course, Steve Van Zant’s amazing acting chops. (14:05 – 19:25) After that, it’s a quick look at Madonna at the Super Bowl, and that time an A&R rep tried to convince Kirk to play her on our college radio station. (19:26 – 23:23) Then, it’s the return of the Coco Crisp Afro Watch! And Kirk has some absolutely stunning news. (23:24 – 27:25) Finally, Jim reveals what’s in his mix: Cloud Nothings, Craig Finn & The War on Drugs. (27:26 – 30:25) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim recommends Fred Stoller’s My Seinfeld Year (30:26 – 31:42) Kirk wonders if Google Glasses are a bit ahead of their time. (32:42 – 33:33) Jim discusses his long-time love for David Letterman, and that time he got thrown out of the Ed Sullivan Theater. (33:34 – 42:16) Medialoper Bebop Episode 30: All The Great Swedes was recorded on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over the increasingly squirrelly iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music of Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by the Miss Alans. This is only an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering.

This week, Tim, Jim & Kirk start by discussing the implications of Google’s new privacy policies. (3:40 – 15:10) Then, we’re all going to be Moon People. All we have to do is elect Newt Gingrich! (15:11 – 22:46). After that, it’s the latest installment of our “You’re An Idiot” segment. This time, the idiot is Tim, who defends his unholy love for American Idol. (22:47 – 33:45) Finally, Tim shares what’s in his mix: the new album from Mogwai, that live video of the Flaming Lips with Nels Cline and tUnE-yArDs. (33:46 – 41:00) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Kirk – Forget Moneyball, now the A’s are going to be playing Mannyball! (41:01 – 42:24) Tim – The Oscars are coming! (42:25 – 43:49) Jim – 21st Century technology makes a major lifestyle change more bearable. (43:50 – 46:15) Medialoper Bebop Episode 29: Into Outer Space With Newt Gingrich was recorded on Thursday, January 26, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was cobbled together by Jim using Audacity. The theme song for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by The Miss Alans, who feature Manny on guitar. Manny Diez. Always remember: when you’re happy, you’re healthy. And when you’re healthy, you are happy!

Kirk, Tim & Jim have all seen Moneyball, so we figured we’d talk about both the film and the concept. (05:30 – 15:20) After that, we look at the SOPA protests, including the one on this site. And explain why Lamar Smith, the author (or “author”) of SOPA, is exactly like Snooki. (15:22 – 20:55) Then, we look at SPIN’s plan to tweet the vast majority of their record reviews. (20:56 – 32:53) Finally, it’s Kirk’s turn to explain what is in his mix, which has been utterly transformed by iTunes Match: Elmore James, Sharon Jones and Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs. (32:54 – 40:53) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – thought that the Golden Globes were tame. (40:54 – 43:34) Kirk – starting the Medialoper Bebop Book Club. First book How to Fix Copyright by William Patry. (43:35 – 46:52) Jim – How about those 49ers!?!? (46:53 – 48:40) Medialoper Bebop Episode 28: [REDACTED] was recorded at 9:00PM on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music of Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans.

In their first podcast of 2012, Jim & Tim wonder if you’ve heard that new Van Halen song. Kirk could care less. But it does lead to a discussion about various band reunions as well as the various incarnations of Van Halen. (4:37 – 11:04) Then, there is general worry at a British study that says brain decline starts in the mid-40s, not the early 60s. (11:05 – 19:55) Also, speaking of decline, has any retailer had a swifter decline than Best Buy? Probably, but who can remember? Kirk traces it back to when they got into a public spat with the DuroSport Electronics Corporation. (19:56 – 29:18) Finally, the latest inductee into the Medialoper Bebop Great Albums Hall of Fame, Horses by Patti Smith. Even though it’s Kirk’s choice, Jim is going to use this opportunity to link to his article about seeing Patti live in 1996, as well as Kassia’s article about her love for Patti Smith. (29:19 – 47:10) All that, and the new Van Halen song! On Medialoper Bebop Episode 27: Brain Decline. Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Thinks that The Onion is 47% less funny than it used to be. (47:11 – 49:03) Kirk – Is positive that, after this offseason, the Oakland Athletics are 47% less good than they used to be. (49:04 – 52:02) Jim – Thinks that Colson Whitehead’s most recent novel, Zone One is 47% better than the average novel. (52:04 – 53:18) Medialoper Bebop Episode 27: Brain Decline was recorded at 9:00PM PST on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music of Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. Hey, have you heard that new Van Halen song?

The week, Kirk, Jim & Tim take a look at the Stop Online Piracy Act, and how its destroy-the-net-to-save-it approach towards internet piracy (or “piracy,”) threatens pretty much the entire internet as we know it. Thank the gods that the United States House of Representatives is on the case!! (05:19 – 13:29) Meanwhile, Louis CK (whose name I inexplicably mispronounce) shows exactly how stupid the screams of “piracy is killing our business” are by releasing a DRM-free, consumer-friendly concert. (13:31 – 24:22) Then, it’s my latest Barry Bonds theory: he’s the Gaius Baltar of MLB! (24:23 – 27:06) Finally, what’s in my mix? Real Estate, Wild Flag and a great single by Yuck. (27:07 – 30:36) All that, and pot-smoking raccoons! Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Christopher Hitchens, R.I.P. (30:40 – 33:58) Kirk – The Humble Indie Bundle: Pay what you want software. (34:00 – 37:02) Jim – The Extra Hot Great podcast mentions the Prism DuroSport. (37:03 – 38:55) Medialoper Bebop Episode 26: Washing Your Mouth Out With SOPA was recorded at 9:00PM PST on Monday, December 19, 2011 over iChat via Audio Hijack Pro. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing music of Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by the Miss Alans, whom — sadly — are not doing another reunion show this year. No pot-smoking raccoons were harmed during the recording of this podcast.

This week, Kirk tells Tim & Jim his story about losing his power due to last week’s hurricane-force winds in SoCal, and how he hopped in his jeep and toured the devastation in Pasadena while searching for coffee and the internet. (6:00 – 13:28) Then, Albert Puljos is going to Disneyland! We take a look at whether or not this is a good deal for the Angels, and have a heated discussion about whether it makes any difference that he didn’t stay with the Cardinals. (14:05 – 23:04) Can you believe that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are going to be inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Jim can’t. (23:06 – 30:20) Finally, Tim shares what’s in his mix: The Roots, Kate Bush and The Smashing Pumpkins, which leads to a discussion about the eternal awesomeness of Siamese Dream as well as well as stories about seeing the Pumpkins at Lollapalooza & the Reading Festival. (30:21 – 40:55) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Kirk – Tivo finally comes to Netflix, but is it too little, too late? (41:04 – 44:16) Tim – The books of Frank McCourt. (44:17 – 46:51) Jim – Terriers is now on the Netflix instant! (46:52 – 48:15) ( Here’s the story I wrote about Lollapalooza 1994, still one of my most favorite things I’ve ever written. ) Medialoper Bebop Episode 21: Don’t Give it Away was recorded on Thursday, December 8, 2012 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music of Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. Really? The Red Hot Chili Peppers? Really?!?

This week, Tim, Kirk, & Jim discuss the the following Rolling Stones-permeated topics. First off, you’d think that a newly-released Rolling Stones live album from the early 70s would be a cause for celebration, but as it is confined to Google’s Android platform, it’s as cause for consternation and the spur for a long, serious discussion about how music exclusivity — whether via artificially high prices or artifically enforced platforms — encourages piracy. Not only do artists like U2, Nirvana & Bob Dylan end up burying musical treasures in “Super Deluxe” box sets with exorbitant prices, it’s gotten so bad the Elvis Costello wrote a blog post encouraging his fans not to purchase his recent live album until next year. (2:20 – 23:20) Then, on the heels of a report that she might be pro-life, we do an interview with the iPhone’s built-in personal assistant, Siri, to try and determine what her politics are once and for all. (23:30 – 30:15) Finally, even though Kirk’s mix is a bit of a mess, he still has time to talk about the new album from Tom Waits, reissues from the Rolling Stones and the entire Linton Kwesi Johnson catalog. (30:16 – 40:30) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – An intern for NPR takes his first listen to Patti Smith’s Horses. (40:40 – 41:25) Kirk – What happens when a flight attendant asks you to turn off your Kindle? (41:26 – 44:15) Jim – Is reminded just how much he loves Some Girls. (44:16 – 47:55) Medialoper Bebop Episode 24: Steal This Podcast was recorded at 9:05PM on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music of the Medialoper Bebop podcast is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. May The Rolling Stones rest in peace.

This week, Tim, & Jim and a very yelly Kirk tackle the following subjects: First, in a brand-new segment entitled “Explain it to Kirk,” Tim & Jim explain the Twilight phenomenon to Kirk. (3:35 – 8:50) Then, it’s reported death of the Compact Disc, which — according to some reports — is going to be abandoned by the major labels as soon as the end of this year. (08:53 – 18:00) Here’s the chart we’re talking about in the podcast: Also, iTunes Match has been launched, and we debate whether or not it’s worth shelling out $25.00 a year for. The answer may surprise you, though probably not if you’ve ever listened to our podcast. (18:13 – 26:10) Once again, Medialoper Bebop Commissioner Gordon Loper harasses us with a phone message. And to spite him, you should probably follow us on Facebook. (26:11 – 28:07) Finally, it’s a very deep look at a very deep album, Hüsker Dü’s landmark Zen Arcade, as it is inducted into the Medialoper Bebop Great Albums Hall of Fame. (27:22 – 47:58) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Kirk is cranky over the censorship on Breaking Bad on the Netflix streaming. (48:02 – 51:30) Tim loves the new Childish Gambino album (51:31 – 53:10) Jim isn’t freaking out over NBC’s shelving of Community (53:11 – 54:07) Medialoper Bebop Episode 23: Zen Arcane was recorded at 9:00PM PST on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing theme for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by The Miss Alans.

This week, Kirk, Tim and Jim are reeling from the ramifications of the reversion back to Pacific Standard Time, so there are fewer topics, but more digressions! First, a look at Amazon’s Kindle Owners Lending Library, and what it might mean for the Publishing industry, and you, the Consumer. Yes, you!! (07:20 – 21:00) A voicemail from Commissioner Loper leads to a plot to capture Jay Fung, who still doesn’t know that he’s been mentioned on nearly every single podcast for the past couple of months. (21:02 – 23:00) Then, a Musical Moment to Die For: The Dream Syndicate – Then She Remembers. (23:02 – 25:02) Finally, Jim reveals his amazingly simple 21st Century plan to fix the problem of Daylight Saving Time, something that has been publicly affecting our lives since at least 1983. (25:03 – 33:32) Here’s what’s in Jim’s mix this week: John Doe, Deer Tick and some rare Smiths. (33:33 – 37:54) All that, and commentary from our special guest, Siri!! Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Evernote (37:55 – 39:30) Kirk – 20,000 books on a tiny server (39:31 – 44:28) Jim – The 49ers are 7-1 (44:29 – 46:22) Medialoper Bebop Episode 22: Time Change was recorded on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 9:00 PST via Audio Hijack over iChat. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing theme is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans, who don’t even know that we plan on kidnapping half of their band in order to keep Commissioner Loper from replacing us with them. No virtual assistants were harmed in the making of this podcast.

This week, Jim, Kirk & Tim are not quite as organized as in previous weeks, which is really saying something (really saying something) (bop bop shoobie do wah). First off, Kirk’s impending trip to San Francisco sparks a discussion about what having the San Francisco Giants being the MLB champions for a year meant to Tim & Jim, and how the Rapture could have kept the Giants champions forever. (3:45 – 7:10) Then, we discuss the decision by Warner Bros to put the Harry Potter DVDs on moratorium at the end of the year, and wonder what it might mean for the future of digital media vs. physical media. (7:14 – 19:56) We look at the first world problem of how iPads are affecting bandwidth in hotel rooms, and Kirk’s PROTIP for solving the problem. (19:57 – 25:45) After that, another voicemail from Medialoper Bebop Commissioner Gordon Loper. Yep, we’re still in trouble over that whole “Hitler” thing. (25:46 – 28:10) This week, it was Tim’s turn to do “In The Mix,” however, he’d had a busy week, and tried to discuss albums he hadn’t even heard, and we had to bring in the Commissioner to find out if he could even do that. Tim’s controversial and theoretical mix might include Tom Waits, Noel Gallagher and Coldplay. And Peter Gabriel. (28:12 – 33:50) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! ONE MORE THING Kirk is outraged at how TV advertisers are using Howling Wolf’s classic “Smokestack Lightning” (33:52 – 36:57) Tim really like the app for “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones.” Yes, app. (36:58 – 39:14) Jim declares the “Roderick on the Line” podcast his new favorite thing in the universe (39:15 – 42:15) Medialoper Bebop Episode 21: Harry Potter and the Naked Grab For Cash was recorded at 7:15PM PDT, Tuesday October 25, 2011 via Audio Hijack over iChat. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing music for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. If it takes you longer than four hours to listen to this podcast, please consult a doctor.

This week, Tim, & Jim and Kirk discuss whether or not the fact that everybody is experiencing pop culture at their own pace detracts from the communal enjoyment of — and ultimate enjoyment of — that pop culture. This was brought on because it seems like loads of people are reading the Song of Ice and Fire Books but nobody is discussing them. (6:31 – 16:27) Then, we discuss our problems with the Medialoper Promo Department, and how you can like us on Facebook . (16:28 -18:59) Then, we look at the World Series, the ratings for smaller market teams and wonder how much longer it will be on FOX. (19:00 – 28:29) Welcome to all of our post-Rapture listeners. How is the weather in heaven? (28:30 – 33:19) All that, and what’s in Kirk’s mix: Wilco, Miles Davis, Best Coast and Beruit (33:20 – 40:10) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Jay Mohr’s Mohr Stories podcast (40:15 – 43:02) Kirk – Phoenix Jones is free!!! (43:03 – 44:46) Jim – The Fake Tim McCarver account on Twitter (43:04 – 45:04) Medialoper Bebop Episode 20: A Podcast to be Named Later was recorded at 9:00pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011 via Audio Hijack over iChat. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing music is “Big Hand on the Seven,” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. No cats or dogs were harmed during the making of this podcast.

This week, Jim, Tim & Kirk look at Netflix’s “never mind” about Qwikster and call back to in the infamous “lost” podcast, where the prediction was made that Qwikster wouldn’t make it through October. (03:22 – 14:10) Next, we deal with previous podcast business involving Hitler and R.E.M. (14:14 – 19:40) Then, instead of discussing Facebook for the iPad, we parse the saga of Phoenix Jones, superhero and the rest of the Rain City Superhero Movement, and determine that one of the things a superhero needs is multiple copies of his costume. (19:45 – 30:30) – Finally, it’s Jim’s favorite album of the 21st century – The Hold Steady’s Boys and Girls in America, – the latest inductee into the Medialoper Bebop Great Albums Hall of Fame. (30:30 – 43:13) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Facebook on the iPad (43:20 – 44:15) Kirk – Free Phoenix Jones! (44:16 – 44:30) Jim – Al Davis, innovator & badass (44:31 – 46:24) Medialoper Bebop Episode 19: Walk Around and Drink was recorded at 9:06PM PDT on Tuesday, October 7, 2011 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music is “Big Hand on the Seven,” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. Related: The Lies of the Hold Steady and the Drive-by Truckers Hey! Like us on the Facebook! Free Phoenix Jones!

Like every other blog, podcast and media outlet in the entire multiverse, Tim, Jim & Kirk discuss the life of Steve Jobs, the products that he championed and the legacy that he left. (02:17 – 12:28) After that, we debate the possible return of Arrested Development, and whether or not it even come back in the first place. (14:01 – 22:31) Then, we talk about how whether or not we listen to albums as albums anymore. (22:32 – 32:07) Finally, it’s a look at the music in Jim’s mix: Wilco, Kurt Vile and Girls. (32:08 – 35:18) All that, and a plethora of Hitler jokes, on Medialoper Bebop Episode 18: A Huge Mistake! Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! ONE MORE THING Tim – The “Shephard Tone” on “Born Alone” from the new Wilco album (35:34 – 37:04) Kirk – The death of the iPod Classic. The Zune also died, but apparently the universe didn’t care enough to make our discussion about it properly recorded. Tough luck, Zune. (37:05 – 38:03) Jim – The MLB playoffs are back! And the question is asked: are the Yankees worse than Hitler? (38:04 – 40:10) Medialoper Bebop Episode 18: A Huge Mistake was recorded at 9:07PM PDT on Wednesday, October 6, 2011 via Audio Hijack Pro over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music is “Big Hand on the Seven,” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. Jim apologizes for his huge mistake: the mispronunciation of “Gob.”

After last week’s technical difficulties, Kirk, Tim & Jim are back! This week, we look at the new Facebook ticker, the Facebook Timeline and discuss the implications of “frictionless sharing.” (3:35 – 12:17) Then, we’re really looking forward to the new Kindles. (14:10 – 19:30) Also, a long long long look at and celebration of R.E.M. (21:03 – 46:04) Finally, a look at what’s in Tim’s mix: Ryan Adams, The Vaccines, The Jayhawks, and Pearl Jam. (46:07 – 50:48) All that and a Musical Moment at the end of the world, on Medialoper Bebop Episode 17: Time as an Abstract! Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! ONE MORE THING Kirk – the problems with the eBook of Neal Stephenson’s Reamde (50:50 – 56:20) Tim – Happyplace.com (56:21 – 56:53) Jim – The latest ESPN 30 for 30: Catching Hell (56:54 – 59:15) Medialoper Bebop Episode 17: Time as an Abstract was recorded at 9:00PM on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 on Audio Hijack Pro via iChat. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The theme music is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans, who were hugely influenced by R.E.M.

This week, we’re working out some technical bugs as we’re recording the podcast via iChat instead of Skype. There’s a damn good reason for this, and Kirk explains why. (2:07 – 16:00) Then, we take a look at the hype surrounding Windows 8, and Tim admits that there is nothing that Microsoft can ever ever do to make him appreciate them. Just like certain people with Obama. (16:00 – 23:04) Finally, it’s the third inductee to the Medialoper Great Albums Hall of Fame: Brian Eno’s 1974 masterpiece Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (24:00 – 35:45) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! ONE MORE THING Tim – Howtobearetronaut.com (35:52 – 38:16) Kirk – The story behind the Tazmanian Devil and the fake plastic kangaroo in this picture: (38:17 – 44:42) Jim – Winning the iPad from New York Mag’s Polite Godfather contest. (44:42 – 46:48) Medialoper Bebop Episode 15: Skype Hunting was recorded at 9:51PM PDT on Wednesday, Sept 14, 2011 via Audio Hijack over iChat. It was edited in Audacity. The theme music is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. No Tazmanian Devils or fake plastic kangaroos were harmed in the making of this podcast.

Kirk, Tim & Jim are back after an unexplained hiatus, and here’s what they’re talking about this week: Spoilers. That UCSD study that supposedly said that spoilers actually enhance people’s enjoyment of stories. The latest battle between musicians and the major labels: how the copyright law might allow artists to control their old recordings. And in the latest installment of our “You’re an Idiot” segment: Jim is a Windows guy. Kirk & Tim, not so much. In Jim’s mix: Gil Scott-Heron, tUnE-yArDs, Low and an old R.E.M. bootleg favorite finally gets officially released. All that, and a Musical Moment with The Who, on Medialoper Bebop Episode 14: Cant Stop Spoilng, brought to you by the DuroSport Electronics Company, where they’ve revolutionized the music player with their new DuroCloud Player. Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! ONE MORE THING Kirk – How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe: A Novel by Charles Yu Tim – The riots in London. Jim – The Kindle in the Cloud Hey, did you know that Medialoper is on Facebook? Medialoper Bebop Episode 14: Cant Stop Spolng was recorded at 1:00PM via CallGraph for Skype on Saturday, August 20, 2011. Jim edited it in Audacity. The opening and closing music for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. No spoilers were given out during the making of this podcast. Have you seen Kirk?

MTV turned 30 this week, and Jim, Tim & Kirk discuss its influence and the time that Kirk said “I Want My MTV” for a cable tv contest. (03:45 – 15:25) Then, it’s a Musical Moment to Die For with “Duel” by Swervedriver (15:30 – 17:33) Game of Thrones is totally blowing up right now, so we get into a spoiler-free discussion about how we all got into it and why we like it. (17:35 – 29:10) Medialoper Bebop has a sponsor now: DuroSport Electronics. We’re not happy about it at all. (29:30 – 31:50) After that, we look at why the London Tourism Bureau is using “London Calling” to try and bring people to London for the 2012 Olympics. (29:35 – 37:16) Finally, Tim shares the music in his mix: Portugal.The Man; Arctic Monkeys; Fountains of Wayne. And tosses in an extra plug for the new Jane’s Addiction song. (37:18 – 41:05) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Skype for the iPad (41:10 – 43:10) Kirk – The new Errol Morris film: Tabloid (43:11 – 46:25) Jim – Reissues of Wish You Were Here & Quadrophenia, but maybe not so much The Smiths box set. (46:26 – 50:00) Medialoper Bebop Episode 13: Phony Clashmania was recorded at 7:00PM PDT on August 3, 2011 via Call Graph for Skype. The opening and closing music for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. No zombie Joe Strummers were harmed during the making of this podcast

This week, Kirk, Tim & Jim start off by discussing Spotify, the new (to the U.S.) cloud music service. (4:43 – 13:11) Next, if you can picture it, a storytelling Musical Moment with Rod Stewart! (13:12 – 14:30) After that, they’re on to how media publishers like Amazon are avoiding Apple’s 30% cut of in-App sales on their mobile devices by removing the ability to make those sales. Also, how Apple is a country AND a religion. (14:31 – 26:34) Then, it’s a freewheeling discussion on Amy Winehouse, drug addiction and That Stupid Club she joined. (26:35 – 37:20) Finally, Kirk shares the internationally-flavored music in his mix: Shonen Knife, Seun Kuti & Mulatu Astatke. (37:52 – 44:18) Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – The Franchise with your San Francisco Giants. (44:30 – 47:03) Kirk – Wins in terms of spending money on an in-App purchase. (47:04 – 49:40) Jim – Has a theory about Breaking Bad. (49:41 – 50:45) Medialoper Bebop Episode 12: Out, Damned Spotify! was recorded at 7:00PM PDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 via Call Graph for Skype. Jim edited it in Audacity. The opening and closing music for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven,” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans.

This week, Tim, Kirk & Jim hang out and discuss whether or not Google Plus is necessary, and if it’s going to last. After that, it’s on to the Netflix price increase, the reasons behind it, and whether or not it will hurt Netflix in the long run. Finally, last week, Tim proposed The Who By Numbers for the Medialoper Great Albums Hall of Fame and was shot down by Jim & Kirk. This week, the three of us discuss why. All of that, and a celebratory Musical Moment with Hüsker Dü. Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim – Colin Hanks’ documentary on Tower Records Kirk – The Tim Burton exhibit at the LACMA Jim – Carmageddon!!! Medialoper Bebop Episode 11: Carmagideon Time was recorded at 7:00 PDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011 via Call Graph for Skype. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing music for Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven,” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. There was no mention of Steve Perry in this podcast.

We’re concentrating on misanthropes this week: Larry David, Rupert Murdoch & Ray Davies, and on top of that, a dash of Anglophilia. First off, it’s the return of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which leads to a deconstruction of the comedy of discomfort and a comparison of Larry David to Rickey Gervais, and of course, a look at the concept of Larry David Moments. Next up, we look at the sudden death of Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World, and what it might mean for Murdoch’s empire, and the British Press as a whole. Finally, our second inductee to the Medialoper Great Albums Hall of Fame: The Kinks – Arthur. Just one of many Ray Davies-penned masterpieces from which we could have chosen. All that, and a Musical Moment to Die For by Kanye West. Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing Tim’s looking forward to the final Harry Potter film. Kirk explains why there’s $1,000,000,000 that nobody wants. Jim bids a fond farewell to Friday Night Lights Medialoper Bebop Episode 10: Shangri-La was recorded at 7:00pm PDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011 via Call Graph for Skype. Jim edited it in Audacity. The opening and closing music is from “Big Hand on the Seven,” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. No other podcasts were harmed in the making of this podcast.

This week, a mellower Kirk is just back from Hawaii — where he has learned how to believe — and he, Jim and Tim discuss the veracity of reports of celebrity death over social media. In the middle of the discussion, Tim dies, so we tweet that. But it turns out this his death was just a bad Skype connection. After that, Jim’s Musical Moment to Die For is “Ceremony” by New Order, which naturally leads into a discussion over the concept of Fair Use, and how that concept is useless if you don’t have the money to defend yourself in court. Which sucked for entrepreneur Andy Baio, who was sued for a pixel art version of the cover of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue album. In a brand-new segment — entitled “You’re An Idiot!” — Jim and Tim take Kirk to school for his ongoing hatred of one of their favorite bands, The Smiths. As always, is comes down to one word: Morrissey. And finally, Jim shares what’s in his mix: the latest from Fucked Up, TV on the Radio and Fleet Foxes. Also, Tim dies yet again! Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing — Tim is not impressed by Santa Ynez wineries. — Kirk is not impressed by Coco Crisp shaving his head. — Jim is impressed by New York’s legalization of Gay Marriage. Medialoper Bebop Episode 9: Kirk’s New Aloha Spirt was recorded at 3:00PM PDT on June 27, 2011 via Call Graph over Skype. It was edited in Audacity. The opening and closing music of Medialoper Bebop is “Big Hand on the Seven” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans, whom Kirk managed in the days when they were very influenced by The Smiths. Links Abe Vigoda Kind of Screwed Kind of Bloop

This week, Jim, Tim & Kirk’s discussion of Jim’s crazy theory about popular music becoming critically acclaimed gets derailed by a mutual lifelong hatred of Journey, including origin stories of that hatred. After that, there’s a look at Amazon’s announcement that Electronic Books are outselling Acoustic Books, and what that might portend for the future of books and the publishing industry. Though this podcast was recorded prior to the death of Clarence Clemons, prior to posting it, Jim put together a Musical Moment to Die for in honor of the Big Man: that part in those late 70s versions of “Rosalita” where Bruce would introduce Clarence. After that, a quick take on MLB’s possible realignment, and Tim shares what’s in his mix: new albums from Neil Young, My Morning Jacket and Lucinda Williams. Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! One More Thing: Kirk – 1Password will help you with your password security. Tim – Becoming the new leader of Al-Quaeda is perhaps not conducive to job security, or life security, for that matter. Jim – Wishes that security would come and haul Gloria Allred away. Medialoper Bebop Episode 8: Please Stop Believin’ was recorded at 9:00PM PST on Thursday, June 16, 2011 via CallGraph over Skype. The opening and closing music for Medialoper Bebop is from “Big Hand on the 7” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans.

It’s technology at the front, and music at the end as this week, Kirk, Tim & Jim start off discussing some of the things that they’re looking forward to from Apple: the new Lion upgrade to OS X, the iOS5 for mobile devices, and the iCloud. Turns out that there is some skepticism as to how well the iMatch service will actually work for any of them, and Kirk challenges Jim to a Metadata Throwdown. After that, Jim has the first of his Musical Moments to Die For: The Hold Steady – “The Swish,” and the MediaLoper Disclaimer is read, in hopes that the newly discovered Moldovan rip-off of Medialoper Bebop ceases and desists. Also, Kirk shares a few of the artists that are currently in his musical mix: Charles Bradley, Dexter Gordon & The Sky Drops. Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! Oh, and One More Thing: Tim likes to spy on himself using Splashtop, Kirk is amused by Bitcoin, and Jim is really enjoying the (now over) NBA Playoffs. Medialoper Bebop Episode 7: Lions and iClouds and Beers was recorded on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 4:00PM PDT via CallGraph over Skype. It was edited by Jim in Audacity. The opening and closing music is “Big Hand on the 7” by our close personal friends, The Miss Alans. No lions were harmed in the recording of this podcast. At least one beer was.

Tim & Kirk came over to Jim’s house for BBQ and beer, and afterwards, a podcast broke out. This week, we discuss AT&T’s epically crappy service, their “hey, we’re trying to get better” commercials, and discuss over whether their upcoming takeover of T-Mobile is a good thing or a bad thing. Also, Jann Wenner thinks that magazines are panicking when they put themselves on the iPad. We think he’s wrong, of course, but differ on how to pronounce “Jann Wenner.” Just for the hell of it: “The Real Spirit of Radio” a KFSR promo from 1983, and a bit of behind-the-scenes on how it was put together. Finally, The Onion’s “Abortionplex” article gets topped by the hive mind, proving not only that nobody is smarter than everybody, nobody is funnier, either. Somehow, this leads the secret origin of Sarah Palin, and, inevitably, two bloody awful impressions. Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! Oh, and One More Thing: Kirk mourns the loss of Gil Scott-Heron’s unique voice and perspective; Tim is over the Comic Book Movie; and Jim thinks that Yuck is anything but yucky. Medialoper Bebop Episode 6: Band Meeting was recorded at 8:00PM PDT on June 3, 2011 in Jim’s dining room. It was recorded in Garageband and was edited in Audacity. Three guys, two mics, which is why it sounds like it does. Just think of it as our White Light / White Heat. Links: Jann Wenner: Magazines’ Rush to iPad Is ‘Sheer Insanity and Insecurity and Fear Planned Parenthood Opens $8 Billion Abortionplex Abortionplex Reviews on Yelp

This week on Medialoper Bebop, Jim, Tim & Kirk discuss the three Bs: Baseball, Bandwidth & Bob Dylan. For Baseball, it’s all about the Year of the Pitcher 2.0, and whether or not the shift towards pitching is as a result of the cleaning up of the game or a natural cycle. For Bandwidth, it’s about whether or not the ISPs are justified in invoking companies like Netflix in their new caps. Hint: not so much. For Bob Dylan, it’s about our lifelong love of all things Bob. Duh. Oh, and the song from Self-Portrait: “Days of 49.” Subscribe to us in the iTunes, yo! Medialoper Bebop Episode 5: Thin Wild Mercury was recorded on May 24, 2011 at 7:00PM PDT via Skype. Happy birthday, Bob! Not that you give a shit what we think. Which is part of the point, of course.

On this week’s Medialoper Bebop, Jim, Tim & Kirk discuss the following: The new album and video by the Beastie Boys, and how they survived their youth to finally be able to make fun of it. The new cloud storage services by Amazon & Google, and why the record companies are freaking out yet again. The rapture is Saturday!! Are you ready? We are. And so might be Steve Jobs, for all the good it will do him. Community and whether or not a piece of art can ever be too meta. The answer might surprise you. But probably not. All this, and Coco Crisp! On an all-new Medialoper Bebop! Subscribe to us in the iTunes! Medialoper Bebop Episode 4: Fight For Your Right to Rapture was recorded via CallGraph on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 7:15 PDT. It was edited in Audacity.

On this week’s Medialoper Bebop, Jim, Tim & Kirk discuss the following: Whether or not the huge popularity of Netflix Instant is making a dent in video piracy, and why Hollywood continues to drive people to, er, other methods of getting content, despite evidence that people want to pay for stuff. Why fewer and fewer people are using browsers to access the internet, as Kirk & Tim have seen their digital lives reconfigure with the advent of the iPad. And finally, we induct our very first album into the Medialoper Great Albums Hall of Fame — R.E.M. – Murmur. Of course. What else could it be? All of this, and Coco Crisp! On an all-new Medialoper Bebop. Subscribe via the iTunes! Medialoper Bebop Episode 3: Conversation Fear was recorded by Call Graph via Skype at 7:30pm PDT on May 9, 2011. It was edited in Audacity. All opinions expressed on Medialoper Bebop fully represent the opinions of Medialoper, except for the ones that don’t.

Welcome, once again, to the Medialoper Bebop podcast. This, right here, is Episode 2: Buried in a Sea of Coverage. As always, your hosts are Jim Connelly, Tim Gaskill & Kirk Biglione, holding forth on a wide variety of topics. There are 8 million podcasts on the naked internet, and we can guarantee you that no other podcast this week will focus on both Osama Bin Laden and Coco Crisp. Which is weird, because when we originally conceived the podcast over the weekend, we weren’t going to focus on either one. But then, head-related things happened to each man, and we were compelled to discuss them. For those of you keeping score at home, here is today’s starting lineup: The Death of Osama Bin Laden, brought to you by Twitter! The Royal Wedding, because Tim used to live in London. Steve Carell and the legacy of The Office. Our very first recurring segment: The Coco Crisp Afro Watch! Also, One More Thing Tim is looking forward to Peter Jackson’s Hobbit. Kirk finds that the HBO Go app is a reason to keep HBO. Jim is in a film about The Replacements. Medialoper Bebop was recorded on Monday, May 2, 2011 at 7:05 PM PST somewhere just north of Los Angeles, California. Medialoper Bebop was recorded using Call Graph over Skype and edited in Audacity. All of the opinions expressed on this podcast reflect the opinions of Medialoper, except, of course, those opinions that don’t. If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also want to check out: Medialoper Bebop: Episode 1 – The End of The World

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Medialoper Bebop Podcast: The End of The World. Join your hosts — Jim Connelly, Tim Gaskill and Kirk Biglione — each week as we dissect the worlds of popular culture and technology with love and skepticism. And it will only take about a half-hour of your life! This week, we’re discussing the following topics: The End of the World According to this billboard popping up in various cities, the World is going to end on May 21. Tim wonders how various media outlets are going to cover it. Perhaps we should have stared this podcast sooner. Coco Crisp’s hair Last week, Oakland Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp went for the full-on Oscar Gamble, and apparently it caused a bit of controversy. In a day and age where NFL teams are required to have at least one Dreadlock Guy, can crazy hair still be controversial, or are those days long gone? Kirk leads the investigation. Too Much Culture, Too Little Time Last week, NPR’s Monkey See blog published a lovely essay about the simple fact that we’re never going to have a enough time to experience all of the awesome things we want to experience. As men approaching (not “of,” goddammit!) a certain age, time has become more and more of a factor. Jim wonders how we deal with it. Oh, and One More Thing: Tim recommends Tina Fey’s new book, Bossypants, especially on his new iPad 2. Kirk is really enjoying David Thorne’s 27/b6 website and his book The Internet is a Playground. Jim is totally into this years Harmonic Convergence of Great TV. This is a First Edition of our podcast, and as such, we are sending it directly to the Library of Congress, whether they want it or not. Here’s your chance to download this signed First Edition of our podcast, and in thirty years, make your fortune by auctioning it off on eBay! Unless, of course, the world ends on May 21. This podcast was recorded at 7:00pm PDT, Monday April 25, 2011 via Call Graph over Skype. It was edited on Audacity. Intro & outro music: The Miss Alans – “Big Hand on The Seven”

When Newt Gingrich strolled up to the podium on the steps of the virtual Capitol Hill last week, it was almost like any other Washington press event. The differences were subtle but noticeable to the trained eye: Gingrich looked 30 pounds lighter, protesters were levitating fifty feet above the ground, and the audience was just a tad bit furrier than the typical beltway insider. Such is the nature of politics in Second Life. Political activists here have had difficulty bringing real-world politicians into the virtual world. Only Mike Gravel has authorized a campaign headquarters here of the current crop of presidential candidates. The other candidates have focused almost exclusively on more traditional social networks. Meanwhile, the mainstream media has begun to pull back on its Second Life hype. Recently, glowing accounts of virtual real estate millionaires have been replaced by sensational stories of illicit gambling, deviant sex, and, worst of all, a questionable virtual economy. If Second Life has any hope of becoming a legitimate platform for real-world politics, it’s up to the true believers to take action and make something happen. As luck would have it, Newt Gingrich is a true believer. Gingrich was in Second Life as part of a series of workshops sponsored by his American Solutions organization. Based on a recent Gingrich blog post, as well as comments made during his speech, it’s apparent that he was given the Second Life Grand Tour by someone at IBM. He has all of IBM’s Virtual World talking points down pat. Still, it should come as no surprise that Gingrich’s enthusiasm for virtual worlds is authentic. Over the years, he’s developed a reputation as something of a techno-geek. And unlike some other celebrity avatars, Gingrich is actually using Second Life. That is to say; he’s sitting at his own computer and driving his avatar around this bizarre world. Not only that, he’s been in-world on several occasions over the last couple of weeks. According to SLNN, there have been Newt sightings around the grid. The thought boggles the mind. Picture, if you will, the former Speaker of the House and conservative icon, locked in his study, at his computer, aimlessly roaming the Metaverse. Imagine the reactions the virtual Newt must have elicited as he stumbled around the grid in his Gingrich avatar, complete with blue oxford shirt and tie, and the name “Newt Gingrich” floating over his head. I’m sorry to disappoint you; that avatar is not being ironic. He really is Newt Gingrich! We can laugh about all of the scenarios Newt might find himself in as he explores Second Life without a handler, but the truth is that he is dead serious about this technology. Gingrich told the audience that American Solutions is planning on creating a sub-division of Second Life called “Legislative Life,” a virtual world that will be accessible to 7,200 lawmakers nationwide. “Imagine that every legislative committee that wanted to work on the environment could get together in Second Life with their peers … They could all get together by just going into their computer without having to travel…” As strange as Second Life can be, I’m not sure we’re ready for a virtual world overrun by flying politicians. On the other hand, the Legislative Life initiative could cut down on DUIs and other unseemly Washingtonian behavior (although it could create a whole new problem with virtual call girls, so really, it might not be an improvement). Legislative Life is just one small part of a much larger vision. Gingrich thinks virtual worlds might be the solution to overcoming rampant partisan politics. During the Q&A session, Gingrich told the audience: “I’m personally very concerned that we not overdo the partisanship. With these two year long campaigns we spend the first year and a half having all of the Republicans go of to one room where they attack Democrats, and having all of the Democrats go off to another room to attack Republicans. I think you maximize all of the red vs. blue bitterness and you make it harder to get things done. I would much rather have a dialogue in Second Life with Senator Clinton on her health plan, or a dialogue in Second Life with Barack Obama about national security, or a dialogue in Second Life with John Edwards about how to deal with poverty. That would be a much richer and more interesting thing than to have the kind of inside-the-party partisan debating we’ve seen so far.” It’s almost as if he doesn’t remember being in the room the day bitter and polarizing partisan politics was invented. Some might suggest that he actually signed off on the technical specifications. These days, Newt sounds like an elder statesman. That might have something to do with seven years of Bush and Cheney. The startling truth of the matter is that the political spectrum in the United States has swung so far to the right that Newt Gingrich now qualifies as a moderate. Newt, to his credit, stuck around after his speech and answered every question posed. At one point, he promised to return to Second Life to meet with the SL Republicans. So, it looks like we’ll be seeing more of Newt in the future. When the hour was complete, Gingrich vanished, leaving the audience and protesters behind. And that’s when Newt’s dream of using Second Life as a platform for a constructive bi-partisan debate was put to the test. Here’s a brief sample of the dialogue that ensued when one of the more conservative members of the audience approached one of the protesters after the event: Summer Seale: Ana, i have to say something to you: I support bombing Iran. I’m a feminist. I will support the bombing of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and all other countries which suppress my sisters and force them into slavery. I don’t care what your humanitarian excuses are, I will not rest until all those mysoginistic pigs who make those rules are dead, dead, dead. I hate them, I hate those rules, I hate those who enforce it. I don’t think you should *ever* comment about war or freedom until *YOUR* neck is around [sic] a noose and about to hang from a crane in the “Republic” of Iran. And until the day that this stops, I will support death, destruction, mayhem, and total fucking obliteration of this law in the world. I don’t care what your stance is and I don’t care to *ever* debate on this point. Ana Herzog: corporatist Summer Seale: thank you, and good day. At least Summer said, “thank you.” Maybe there is hope for a more reasonable political dialogue in Second Life. I can hardly wait until those 7,200 legislators arrive.