How to Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Internet

Although I consider my parents to be pretty hip when it comes to technology (see my mom quoted in Wired for evidence), I must confess that I do think conversations with them about the internet and particularly about social technologies often reveal generational gaps in our understanding and use of technology.

Using the internet, or better yet, living the internet as so many of us here on Indaba do is in fact just the normal state of being for us – we meet people, we interact, we make music, we make friends. And we do it online – not at the expense (I hope) of what we do offline, but definitely in addition to it. A lot of this activity is conceptually difficult for older generations, and even if it isn’t, for the un-initiated it’s almost always difficult to handle from a technical perspective – using the internet, making digital music, and even using a computer requires a whole new frame of reference and skills that can be difficult to master when one was not raised in this environment. I’ve recently been helping my grandmother learn to use a computer, and I was faced with an interesting problem: how do you explain the difference between a single click and a double click to someone who has never used a mouse before? It isn’t as simple as I’d thought, even though I myself know intuitively when to do one or the other.

What I find most interesting about all this is that the Indaba community is in fact good evidence that the generational boundary is an illusion – musicians over 30 are in full force there, and other sites show the same trend – 40-and-ups are the fastest growing demographic on Facebook (someone please check that stat for me – I know I saw it in a credible place but I can’t remember where). So, rather than try to bridge the divide and make peace between the generations all by myself, I wanted to share this article that my brother introduced me to. It’s from one of my favorite authors, Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, among others), and I think it’s a really interesting read. Enjoy!

Some of my perspective on Indaba, where music is going

Dan and I recently did the following interview with NextNYers…luckily they edited out our mistakes and made us look pretty good I think. Take a peek for some of our thoughts on Indaba Music’s past growth, its members, and its future (and please don’t make fun of us if you don’t like it

Wii Watch ‘08

I’m not sure anyone outside the Indaba office cares, but wii’re getting a Wii. The team has been working very hard the past few weeks (months/years), and we finally decided it was time to get a Wii. Actually, I am getting a Wii, but it will be used for Indaba purposes (i.e. breaks from coding, breaks from recording, Guitar Hero, Mario Party drinking games). I had to buy one on eBay because every store in Manhattan seems to be sold out (still), and although Chris said I should stand outside Gamestop and wait for the next delivery, I opted not to. I’d much rather be here in the office working on Indaba…

If you’re in the NY area and want to come play with us (play Wii that is) we’ll let you know when it gets here. We need more distractions at Indaba Music

Yes We Can!

I’ve always felt that music has the power to inspire like no other medium – when Will.I.Am combines his music with Obama’s words and rhetorical style, the result is, well, inspiring. Watch as Common, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Scarlet Johansen, Herbie Hancock and countless others join Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas…

Revisting My Youth

I don’t think many Indabans are aware of this fact, but I was a child actor. Not a child actor like Gary Coleman or anything, but I did some small things when I was really young and then I had a major role in a series called Brooklyn Bridge (the part of Nathaniel Silver) that aired on CBS for 2 years when I was 8 (ok, still pretty young).

I don’t talk about this much, but I bring it up today because of an event I attended at the Paley Center for Media last night. Gary David Goldberg, the creator of Brooklyn Bridge (and Family Ties, Spin City, and many other notable shows and films) just wrote a book titled Sit Ubu Sit, and the event celebrated Gary and his latest artistic creation. In addition to all the usual components of an event like this, there was a really interesting panel featuring many stars from Gary’s various shows, including Michael J. Fox, Marion Ross, Richard Kind, Michael Boatman, Meredith Baxter, and Michael Gross. Much of the discussion focused on the changing nature of TV programming, and the departure from entertainment that once spoke to family values and thoughtful commentary. I found it particularly moving when Gary spoke about TV having been a “national campfire” – certainly something that is hard to argue in today’s world of reality shows and shallow sitcoms.Although the evening was thought-provoking, I really decided to write about it today because of what it meant to me personally. As I said I don’t often talk about my experience on Brooklyn Bridge – it was a long ways away – both in time (I was and in geography (L.A. is very different from N.Y.). However, rare events like this bring me back into contact with people who were so central to one of the most formative experiences of my life, and I cherish the opportunity to reconnect with people like Marion, Gary, and Sam Weisman (the director of Brooklyn Bridge, and a long-time collaborator of Gary’s). I signed my first autographs in about 14 years, and was even asked to take photos with some fans of the show. Not a big deal to some of the other famous folks that were in attendance, but hey, I haven’t been “that guy” in a long time.Since the event was a celebration of Gary, much of the discussion focused on his ability to create familes – both on and off screen. The on-screen families he created on shows like Family Ties and Brooklyn Bridge were mirrored in the behind-the-scences worlds of TV production he developed to creates these show – everyone universally agreed that in a difficult, often negative business Gary created the most positive, comfortable, and meaningful environments to work in one could hope for. My perspective now is obviously very different than it was when I was 10 (when BB was cancelled), and last night reminded me that I wouldn’t be the person I am today had I not been afforded the opportunity to live and work within the world Gary created so many years ago.Anyway, I wanted to share this trip down memory lane. Also, for all you Indabans, you’ll be interested to know that one of the characters on Brooklyn Bridge was played by Jenny Lewis – yes, that’s right, Rilo Kiley and Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins Jenny Lewis. And check out Gary’s book!

Insight of the Day

As I struggle to deal with health insurance (fun, I know), something occurs to me: we American’s live in a country that requires car insurance if you’re a driver, but doesn’t require health insurance if you’re alive. I always get deep right before the weekend.