Night Shift for iOS

As a longtime user of f.lux I was ecstatic to see Apple address the issue of screen temperature. It's one of those things you don't realize how badly you need until you use it for awhile. To make a long story short, f.lux changes the color of your Mac's screen based on your location. Full brightness during daylight and gradually changing to a darker and orangish tint as the sun goes down. Use it for a week and then turn it off. It's like getting stabbed in the eye with a fork.

I downloaded the iOS 9.3 beta earlier this week and immediately turned on Night Shift, Apple's own version of f.lux for iOS. After a few days of testing it's exactly what I'd hoped it would be. The difference is amazing.

There's plenty of research on the effects of using screens before bed, and any little bit to help is worth it.

Another Tequila Sunrise

I won't lie and say Glenn Frey's death has impacted me as much as some of the other recent passings. I've always been a bigger fan of Motorhead than I was The Eagles, and Bowie is on a whole other level.

All that said, it's sad that we've reached a point where the death of musicians I grew up loving is going to become more and more common. Time waits for no one, and all the talent in the world can't outrun it.

Here's to you Glenn. You made some beautiful records, had an amazing mustache and when I was 11 your guest spot on Miami Vice was epic.

This Week's UK Album Charts

There seems to be a theme:

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10 of the top 40 albums are Bowie, and 19 charted in total.

A beautiful tribute.

My favorite part is how every phase of his career is represented, though I do wonder how many of the people who managed to get 'Low' to #31 were left terribly confused after listening.

The Moonage Daydream Is Over

I've been going over in my head all day what I would write here, and no matter what I came up with it never seemed to be enough. How can you memorialize someone who meant so much not only to your own life but to the entire world?

David Bowie transcended music. He was one of a handful who have impacted culture as a whole. This can't be overstated. Never one to follow trends he decided to set them himself. He kept everyone guessing on what he would do next, always up to the challenge of complete reinvention. From Ziggy Stardust to his flirting with Philadelphia soul through his Thin White Duke phase to his role in Labyrinth all the way to his new album released just 3 days ago, he never repeated himself and was always miles ahead of everyone else. We were all just lucky to be along for the ride.

Music is music, but Bowie made art. And it has to be appreciated as such. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes abstract, but never boring.

The world is a sadder, colder, darker and way less interesting place than it was 24 hours ago.

RIP. We'll never have another one like you.

Link: Why privacy is important, and having "nothing to hide" is irrelevant →

As usual, another writer sums up what I've been wanting to say far better than I could.

The argument that "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about" is not only irrelevant, it's dangerous.

Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.

– Edward Snowden

Let's Make History

There's a wonderful movement going on right now to get Motörhead's classic "Ace Of Spades" to #1 on the UK singles chart.

I can't think of a worthier cause.

To reach the top spot on a chart dominated by reality TV winners and bubblegum pop would be not only an amazing tribute to Lemmy, it'd be the ultimate fuck you to a music industry obsessed with sales figures and lowest common denominator music for the masses.

I spent all afternoon figuring out a way to buy UK iTunes store credit and setup a VPN to do my part. If anyone reading this is in Great Britain, please use the below links to help make this happen:

Buy "Ace Of Spades" on iTunes
Buy "Ace Of Spades" on Google Play
Buy "Ace Of Spades" on Amazon

What could be better than a 13 year old girl tuning in for the latest single by Justin Bieber to hear "That's the way I like it baby I don't wanna live forever" thundering out of her speakers?

Another New Year

A year ago I made a promise to be happier and healthier by the time I turn 40 than any time during my 30's. I achieved it.

I've never been one to make specific new year's resolutions as they usually do nothing but set you up to fail and give you more reason to feel shitty about yourself when they don't happen. Armed with the confidence of last year though, I'm changing that in 2016.

I won't share them here, I'll just say most of them are gonna take a lot of hard work and dedication. Maybe even more than what I've done over the last 12 months.

And that's perfectly ok with me. I've learned there's nothing you can't do once you set your mind to it.

2016 is gonna be my bitch.

The Force Awakens

No spoilers here (let everyone have chance to see it first), but I can do a quick review:

Wow.

I've already seen it twice in 2 days and am honestly thinking about going again this week.

As someone who now has the original trilogy intertwined in their DNA, I never expected it to be this good. Disney acquiring the rights from George Lucas was the best thing that could've happened to this universe I've loved so much for 36+ years. It was epic, funny and entertaining but most of all it felt like Star Wars, something that all the prequels and animated series have sadly missed. It had to be more than good, more than great even - it had to give me that same feeling the original movies did all those years ago. This one more than delivered.

Not to get too political or rail against the various 'isms in the film industry, but the fact that the 2 main protagonists are an African American and a woman shows how far we've come in the last 32 years. No more Slave Leia or Lando, these were fully formed integral characters. Rey in particular. No damsels in distress or helpless women that need saving. She's a 100% badass that will be more than capable of carrying future movies without having to wheel out 70 year old cast members to invoke nostalgia for the old folks like me.

More than anything JJ Abrams has given us new characters that stand on their own. Characters you quickly become invested in and want to see their growth and development. The future of Star Wars is in good hands.

I can't wait for Episode VIII. Let's hope it doesn't take another 30 years.

Reflections On My 40th Year

Damn, 2015 is already ending? The year I turned 40. The year I've been dreading since 1993. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but this year I've learned enough to prove that completely false:

First and foremost I've learned you're never too old that with a whole lot of hard work you can get closer to being the person you want to be. Still a ways to go, but I've accomplished more in the last 365 days than I ever imagined.

I've learned 40 isn't the age you suddenly wake up and become a right wing asshole.

I've learned you're never too old to geek out and be a fanboy over your new favorite band...or be sad about another one ending.

I've learned a $400 gadget strapped to your wrist can have life changing effects.

I've learned you're never too old to have your heart completely broken when you least expect it.

I've learned that sometimes a lifetime of dreams can come true.

I've learned life without Facebook is actually a lot happier.

Most of all I've learned that life isn't always perfect, but it's not nearly as shitty as I'd convinced myself a couple of years ago. When I look back on the last 40 years (or at least the 37 or so I can remember) I realize while things maybe haven't turned out exactly like I'd hoped, all things considered it's been a pretty good ride.

Here's to 40 more.