Mikael Fernstrom

>Skål! It’s the longest day of 2007. After spending most of the day at TSSG in Waterford on the HEA Site-visit, I made it back home to Limerick. After dinner, we browsed the video shelf and picked Erik the Viking. Good topic for a day like this.

>Yesterday, we picked up the news that Povel Ramel had passed away. It’s a sad day. Povel was the most amazing show-man. I saw him and his KnäppUpp-team several times when I was a kid. So many of the best performing and comedy artists in Scandinavia today owe him everything. Apart from the great music and musicianship, his way to deal with text and lyrics was just amazing. What really surprised me was that Swedish Television didn’t include comments from Robert Broberg!

>On my way to Iceland, stop-over at Copenhagen Airport. I could not resist a “dansk smørrebrød” and a pint…

>Tonight, I’ll be sleeping with this contraption on my hand.

It’s a wrist-worn device from Nonin.
The reason for this is to check how well my CPAP therapy works, and if my parameters needs to be adjusted.

>Ian sent a very interesting link today about Microsoft Windows Vista and their DRM stuff.
If you’re a CREATIVE professional, Microsoft will more or less make sure that you can’t work. If you’re a sound artist or scientist using things like S/PDIF or optical audio i/o, Vista will disable your subsystems. Just think – you’ve invested thousands of euro in your studio, you get Vista, and nothing will ever work again.
So, apparently Microsoft does not want you to be creative. They only want you to be a consumer…

>Mon-Wed was used for going to Brussels to participate in launching the new COST action on Sonic Interaction Design.
Apart from work, we had the opportunity to re-explore food in Brussels. I would strongly recommend:
MANGETSU
(owners Kzutomi & Kyoko Watanabe)
13 Rue de la Fourche
1000 Bruxells
Phone: 02-5118367

>Yesterday, I heard a tune on radio. I had a vague idea about the band. Immediatly searched iTunes shop – about 150 hits. I was then forced by a traditional list-based interface to double-click, listen for two seconds, double-click on next, etc. With a Sonic Browser, I would have found the tune in no time and Apple would have made money faster!

>This Friday night, the famous Bootleggin Band played at Charco’s Pub in Castleconnell. Mr Shortt made an extensive and fantastic guest performance on saxophone. More gigs during summer….