So I'm playing around with yet another video social networking site Stickam. I do like the live video chat and IMHO it has promise, although there are still quite a few bugs to work out.

Here is a quick video I uploaded for testing, it's just me playing some guitar and improvising, so please don't be too harsh

So, the time is here, America's political history is about to change dramatically; historic events are about to unfold before our very eyes, I for one am excited. I intend to research each canditates' position thouroughly and choose the individual who I feel will make more positive impacts in our country's future.

Tonight I plan to participate in Hillary's Web Cast
(http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/conversation/conversation.aspx?sc=8)
which is a good use of technology, hence the question that I pose:

My question to Hillary is two-fold: What is your opinion of the growing trend of web sites that are forming communities of online citizens who are aligned towards similar goals in regards to social reforms?
What is your technology stance; how do you feel technology will shape and color your campaign and possible term in office?

UPDATE: Jan. 16th 2007

They seemed to have corrected their error, so I would not recommend entering email addresses in as they are probably selling them, slimy bastards!

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So I came across this ad for National Lampoon (Spy Cam (NSFW) it looked like a scene out of one the movies), in order to continue, it asks for an email address, as usual, I am not one to use my real email address, so I just pulled a name of thin air and attached '@aol.com' to it. Lo and behold, the next screen I was an address input screen, already filled in!

I could not believe this! This had to be a fluke!

No, after several very common first names, each and every on returned a real persons first and last name, their full address, phone number, and sometimes their date of birth! I quickly skimmed through my contacts searching for AOL addresses, each and every one returned correct information!

Now at first I thought this might just be AOL email addresses, but then I found that it did return information on emails from other domains, like Hotmail, Mac, etc. More than 60% of the valid email addresses I used brought back VALID information on individuals, including myself!

This is a prime example of irresponsible handling of data. Who is responsible for this?

This is what a quick WHOIS of the domain name returned:

  Funny Free Clips
   Customer Service (pr@companywebmaster.net)
   954-337-9221
   Fax:
   13900 Jog Road Suite 203-251
   Delray Beach, FL 33446
   US

I've contacted "Customer Service" in regards to removing my personal information, I recommend you check to see if any of your email addresses show up as well.

These songs we're actually written, produced, and recorded one balmy Florida night, fueled by 32's of OE (Yeah, Florida sucks, no 40's!).

Okay, I must warn you, if you intend to listen to the following tracks, do not do so at work or around anyone that would get offended by "Questionable" lyrics. Yes, this music is definately NSFW!

BiggityB***s.MP3

S.M.D.MP3

FRIGID LIKE AN ESKIMO.MP3

On a chilly March afternoon last year, Que and I sat down and decided to record one of our improv sessions, I miss those days.

bAdmArk_Cant_breathe.mp4 (2.2 MB)

bAdmArk_Cheese-e_Many_beers_in.mp4 (1.8 MB) 

bAdmArk_Demons_Spawn.mp4 (1.71 MB) 

bAdmArk_Desesperado.mp4 (1.28 MB) 

bAdmArk_Dying_Day.mp4 (1.26 MB) 

bAdmArk_Empty_Resolve.mp4 (1.7 MB) 

bAdmArk_Eternally.mp4 (1.37 MB) 

bAdmArk_Father_mercy.mp4 (1.56 MB) 

bAdmArk_Green_sky.mp4 (1.82 MB) 

bAdmArk_Hide.mp4 (1.52 MB) 

bAdmArk_hollow_footsteps.mp4 (1.88 MB) 

bAdmArk_In_the_grave.mp4 (1.54 MB) 

bAdmArk_Junk_one.mp4 (1.65 MB) 

bAdmArk_Noun_two.mp4 (1.34 MB)

bAdmArk circa 2005

So, a certain somebody has been bugging me to get some of my music online. The following 5 tracks were recorded sometime back in 2003.

Background: This was the second time I had met Rick (the drummer), an expatriate who invited me to bring my "Axe and Amp" next time I came his way. Thing is, his way was half way up the Poas Volcano, not somewhere I ventured all that often, even though I had been in Costa Rica for over a year this time.

After calling me several times, I was convinced that a jam was indeed the trick I needed to get me out of this rut.

When I got to his house, it was still in the early afternoon, around 4:20pm, so it was still nice and bright. The first time I came up to this house, had been a week prior, it was late and I already had a buzz before I got there, so I was never able to truly appreciate the spot.

Rick's house, a two story, large bay windows, and both east and west facing upper decks, sat on a hill, on this mountain, that was a volcano, the view was amazing, you could practically see from Puntarenas to Limon!

Upstairs was his "Studio", his drumset a table, a laptop, a couch. I plugged in, tuned up, and this is what we produced (this is all improvisational).

CR_Jam_Track_1.mp4 (1.9 MB)

CR_Jam_Track_2.mp4 (1.12 MB)

CR_Jam_Track_3.mp4 (1.49 MB)

CR_Jam_Track_4.mp4 (1010.47 KB)

Yesterday PlateWire was #6 on Yahoo! Buzz and today we are number 3 on Dogpile's "Favorite Fetches", too cool!

"Wow". That is about all I was able to say for several hours after witnessing myself on CNN; The news that I grew up watching, is now watching me!

First off I'd like to give a huge thanks to each and everyone of you that continues to participate in PlateWire. The response has been wonderful and we are glad that we are able to develop something that people find useful, something that is producing positive results!

Please note, that currently it is just myself (That will be changing in the very near future!), and I know there are some minor bugs here and there; I am working day and night to upgrade the site to handle all of the demand. Please keep the feedback coming, I make it a point to read each and every comment, and respond to as many as humanly possible.

To answer a few common questions:

• How do you plan to moderate PlateWire? -  I am developing a community driven system which will allow registered users to "Flag" other users behavior, such as offensive or rude comments or wires. If said user receives X "Flags" from the community, their account will be suspended, and all of their input will be made invisible.
• Some users complain about the registration process -The steps are outlined in the registration page, but we do agree it can be a little confusing for some. We are developing template based registration procedures, which will be geared toward novice or advanced web surfers, which should clarify this.
• Do I have to register my Plate to use PlateWire? - No, you can choose to register as a pedestrian or a cyclist, which does not require that you register your plate. Plate registration serves mainly for the purposes of notification if your plate has received a wire.

To one and all, Happy Holidays, may they be safe and merry!

Mark Buckman