Ed₃

In praise of great coffee July 30, 2010

I love a good coffee, there’s nothing quite like a shot of the black gold to embolden the mind and invigorate the senses. While espresso is a fine way to enjoy coffee in its own right, it’s rarely served in pre-heated cups and is too short to be a particularly social choice.

Enter the cappuccino. Often the first thing to come to mind for many coffee drinkers, the classic cappuccino comprises a strict recipe of one third espresso, one third steamed milk and one third microfoam.

This recipe is one often flouted by high street coffee chains such as Starbucks (who do however produce coffee enjoyable in its own way) and this is often to the detriment of many an individual’s appreciation of this classic coffee.

Sparking a completely different trend in Belfast at the minute is Sinnamon. A relatively young Belfast coffee franchise, Sinnamon stands apart by adhering to the proper recipe for each coffee on their menu boards. Their cappuccinos while small, are served in appropriately wide yet short cups (to preserve the milk texture) and prepared in the precise 1:1:1 ratio found in Milan coffee houses. Order a large and that ratio will remain true, albeit in a slightly larger mug.

This has the effect of bringing the bold, nutty characteristics of the espresso to the fore (as should be the case with cappuccinos) and rather than being drowned with foam, or dilute with tepid milk, Sinnamon’s creations hold that velvety texture and characteristic kick.

With smaller chains it would often be expected to see differences in quality between branches, however in Sinnamon’s case only two shops currently operate, one in Botanic and one in Stranmillis. Thus far quality is comparable in each and I would readily recommend either for a quick catch up with friends and an experience in what quality coffee should be.

Time will tell if Sinnamon falls victim to the pitfalls that plague many other establishments, however for now, it comes with my highest recommendation.

Five Career Mistakes To Avoid June 23, 2010

Job hunting can be a hugely personal matter, in essence what you are doing is selling yourself, or rather the skills and abilities you have to offer and the selection process involves scrutiny of every fascet of yourself in both a professional and personal capacity.
It comes as no surprise then that few of us realise how many bad habits we constantly employ throughout our career which harm both our professional development and chances of selection success. Here are a few I have become aware of myself personally, with no basis other than personal reflection:

1 – Tunnel vision

Everyone has their own idea of their ideal job or where they’d like to be, however that is often all this is, an idea. A nebulous, ill-defined notion of that perfect role. A common mistake is to rule out certain roles or areas of employment before even applying in light of these notions. The selection process is often protracted for a reason, it takes time to get to know a candidate and their suitability. Similarly, it takes time to get to know what a company or a role has to offer you as an employee. Cast the net a little wider next time you consider a new role, if you find something’s not for you, at least it has been considered, you may just find that job you never knew you might have wanted.

2 – It’s not me, it’s you

Criticism is often a bitter pill to swallow. No matter how constructive, objective and professional the criticism, ego often gets in the way of taking it onboard. HR departments are trained in objectively seeking out suitable candidates without personal bias or discrimination, chances are if you get turned down, the employer’s reasons are worth thinking about and improving upon. Resist the urge to blame the employer with lines such as "They had their mind made up" or "They’re looking for the wrong kind of guy". Find out what you did wrong and fix it for next time, your ego might take a little bruising, but in the long run you’ll be glad.

3 – Dissing the ex

So things didn’t go so well with your previous employer and your prospective employer wants to know why. While it’s always prudent to provide a reason for leaving your last post, keep it factual, professional and emotion free. No matter what your reasons, resentment for your previous employer shows an embittered nature and a lack of professionalism. Remember your previous employer was once a prospective employer interviewing you as well. A prospective employer will not be impressed with the notion of hiring someone prone to becoming resentful and petty.

4 – Not having questions

Despite how unidirectional it may feel sometimes, recruitment is a two way process. Employers don’t want employees who don’t feel the organisation is right for them so take every available opportunity to get to know the firm better and assess it’s culture, values and working environment, in addition to the particulars of your role. Find out how you can contribute and what possibilities there are for attaining new skills and advancing yourself. This shows an interest and confidence and definitely leaves a good impression.

5 – It’s all about the Benjamins

It’s a fact that were it not for money, most of us wouldn’t be in our jobs. Salary is a very real element of choosing a position, however it shouldn’t be seen as your primary motivation during the assessment process. While negotiations regarding salary are welcome, be sure to also show an interest in the role, advancement of skills and responsibility and the organisation as a whole.

These are but a few of the bad habits which could potentially undermine career potential. A positive attitude and a willingness to improve every aspect of your employability is the first step in avoiding these and others.

Comments are welcome as are suggestions for other "mistakes" to avoid from your own experience.

Bring back quality music April 14, 2009

More often than not when you hear someone complain about the quality of music these days you’re hearing exactly that, a complaint regarding the quality of the music. Much rarely voiced, yet important to many are concerns regarding the quality of the sound itself – not the lyrics or qualitative observations regarding the performance, but quantitative, measurable observations about the quality of the mixing and mastering of the music. These factors may be often overlooked, yet have a profound effect on what you hear when you give your newly purchased CD a spin.

Once upon a time the mastering process for CDs was a subtle affair, adding a few finishing touches to improve the sound, without interfering with the qualities and nuances of the music itself. As Bob Dylan aptly put it however the times are a changin’ and for quite some time now this has not been the case. Since the early 90s, when it was discovered that louder music more readily seizes listener attention, the decision was made to “amplify” recordings at the mastering phase, effectively increasing the perceived loudness of the recording, even at a similar volume level on the equipment itself. This practice has continued, not unlike an escalating “arms race” and has compounded into what has become known as the “loudness war” where more and more artists are releasing artificially compressed recordings in order to sound louder than the competition.

The problem with this lies in the loss of what is known as “dynamic range”. For a good representation of what dynamic range is, just listen to some good classical, I would personally recommend Berlioz – Vallon Sonore from Les Troyens. With characteristic flamboyance this wonderful piece soars from a whisper to a thundering roar in an instant. This conveys passion, emotion, it imparts an ability to move the listener and that is the gift of music. However when a recording is increased in amplitude as a part of the mastering process, the difference between these quieter sounds and the louder ones are reduced (hence the use of the term compression) in order to achieve the overall increase in amplitude. The greater the increase in amplitude, the greater the loss in dynamic range and the more the music you love is robbed of its punch and it’s ability to move the listener.

This escalating and dangerous trend can even lead to “clipping” of the audio signal, which results in a harsh, distorted sound not unlike what you hear when turning the volume too high on a cheap integrated midi audio system. Not only does this sound unpleasant but can harm proper loudspeaker equipment due to the vastly increased heat in the tweeter and voice coils, due to the flattened sine wave! If listening to poorer quality music (and paying for it) is disappointing, damaging your equipment as a result is certainly unacceptable. A rather high profile example of this taking place is Metallica’s recently released album “Death Magnetic” which has been so mercilessly butchered during the post production phase that it sounds better in Guitar Hero than on the CD release of the album itself!

This raises the question, “Why continue with the loudness war?” What is needed now is for record companies to stop mutilating the efforts of their artists and release music unmolested with it’s original dynamic range and punch intact. Even if the CD sounds a little quieter, we have a volume knob on our hi-fis for a reason!

In a time when the RIAA is suing downloaders left right and center, one would assume the record companies would be keen to add value to music, selling quality recordings which are a pleasure to listen to. Instead however, they seem intent on throwing themselves on their swords by releasing over-compressed, flat sounding CDs which are every bit as awful as the lossy pirate files which flood the internet. I have always paid for my music, however I can see why many have lost the incentive, as music simply as no value anymore, it is over-compressed and has lost its passion.

Not to be overly melancholy, credit needs to be given where it is due. Some artists refuse to abide by this trend, continuing to release dynamic, well recorded music that is a joy to listen to. Bob Dylan for example released Modern Times with it’s dynamics and nuance intact (turn the volume up a little, that’s what it’s there for) and I daresay the same will be said about Together through life once it is released. Dylan’s music has always been well recorded, Blood on the tracks is one of the most open, dynamic and beautifully moving albums in my collection. Norah Jones thankfully also refuses to give in to the loudness war and releases albums which retain their warm, bluesy feel and warmth, music I will happily pay for as it is simply a joy to listen to.

If you own two copies of an older album (one original, one remastered) you can have a listen for yourself, the Joshua Tree by U2 is a fine example of remastering ruining a fine album. Not only do many new artists (Ting Tings, Lady GaGa anyone?)  lack originality and talent (a debate for another day) but the recording and objective sound quality of the music itself is under threat. We don’t need, or want excessive loudness at the line level, we have volume controls and know how to use them!

Thankfully, people are gathering together to voice their opposition to the “loudness war” and the attendant reduction in the listening pleasure in our music. If you would like to get involved, please join the Facebook groups “Bring Dynamic Range Back To Recorded Music.” and “Turn Me Up!”.

For further information you might also wish to visit the following:

Pleasurize Music Foundation: http://www.dynamicrange.de/
Turn me up!: http://www.turnmeup.org/
Wikipedia: Loudness War: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war

A wii bit of exercise March 28, 2007

Chances are if you havent at least heard of the Nintendo Wii at all, whichever rock is providing you with shelter is very comfortable indeed. After having got one myself I do see the merit in others’ comments about novelty, however refuse to see them as being a major downside to the console.

Anything which can convince non gamers to casually make use of a console is a good thing, it brings new consumers into the market and more money to make the good ideas happen. I rarely bother with “proper” hardcore games these days as I find them very demanding of time and attention, you need to get “involved” or become “drawn in” by the game’s plot or story line. Wii sports on the other hand provides a bit of a distraction in the lounge while having a carry out with your mates. I’m sure there are plenty of games coming for the wii like Zelda which appeal to those who are into gaming, but a bit of flippant impromptu fun is not a bad thing at all.

Just one thing though – it isn’t exercise! (Join a gym!)

Robert Crais’ The Last Detective July 7, 2006

Just thought I’d throw a little post of recommendation in here for a book I’m reading at the moment which I am finding absolutely gripping. An ex marine, Elvis Cole is faced with the task of not only finding the kidnapper of his step son, but to face an adversary of his past who remains a distant memory, one he must recall in order to ensure the boy’s safe return.

While the novel is written with a candid bluntness not uncommon for American action novels, this is by means justifies derision as the fast paced nature of the novel not only precludes extended high brow metaphor but lends a sharpness and sense of adrenaline which can make a refreshing break from the inevitable tranquillity found in the deeper classics.

An intensely gripping read, a page turner to the point of paper cuts. I could not recommend it more.