Last.fm and a book

Last.fm.  What is it?  I don't really know yet, but I do know what it has done or me, and that is something very positive.

It is about 'loving' and 'scrobbling'.  [JOOI, 'scrobbling about a bit' was something that I remember seeing on the "How" telly programme about 20 years ago - and it was about trout I seem to remember.  I forget who the protagonist was - but I can see him in my mind's eye].  

There is a Last.fm client, and yes, there is a Mac client, and all you really seem to be able to do on the client is to enter a musical artist or music genre and then metaphorically say 'go and do it'...  And then what happens is utterly incredible.  Mesmerising.  Eye opening.  Free.  Joyous.  

How do 'they' do it?

Why do 'they' do it?

What happens?

Ok, and example.  I typed in, as an artist. 'Paddy McAloon'.  And what it gives me back is a 'radio' station basically called 'Paddy McAloon's similar artists'.  What does that mean?  Well, it means that you have a streaming set of music, free, from (strange but true) artists that have been tagged as being similar.  Simple.  

Music from all eras, ages, genres, artists...  Free. 

It is like listening to the radio (obviously) knowing that you are likely to like what is played but without fearing any sense of sameness. There is no sameness.  Instead you find yourself saying, yes, they are similar. Or, wow, there's a new fab song I'd never have heard through any other channel.  Learning is everything.  In this example, I heard long lost faves bt Kevin Ayers, Blue Nile, St Etienne, Lambchop...... 

I've a feeling that 'loving' something does something.  Dunno what that is yet though.  And somewhere I'll be able to tag and add to the experience of others.  Not sure if the (simple) client makes that happen though.  Maybe 'scrobbling' is all.

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The last time I read a book in a day was back in 1985 ish when I read The Bridge by Iain Banks on the balcony of the flat that I shared in Maida Vale.  Today I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.  Easy read and entertaining and a huge learning.  A lot of common sense but a signpost down an important road that I was just about on anyway: buy assets; get rid of liabilities.  Know the difference between the two.