- Homer Simpson"So they have the internet on computers now?"

Welcome to the weird world of Greg Sabia. This is where you will find some of my funny, musical, nerdy, and sometimes inspirational ponderings. I'm a web developer based in San Diego and San Francisco. My intelligence^{[citation needed]}, quirkyness, nerdiness, creativeness and jedi abilities combine to make one hell of a developer. I am also the conspirator of several web-based projects, you can find them here.

Help Haiti now!

0 commentsOn January 13th 2010 at 10:38 pm, Greg said:

Please help Haiti! Consider donating to the American Red Cross, text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10.

Third annual Blue Beanie Day

0 commentsOn November 30th 2009 at 9:10 am, Greg said:

Thousands of Standardistas (people who support web standards) will wear a Blue Beanie to show their support for accessible, semantic web content.

It’s easy to show your support for web design done right. Beg, borrow, or buy a Blue Beanie (or Blue Toque in Canada) and snap a photo of your mug wearing the blue. (Or get creative with Photoshop). Then on November 30, switch your profile picture in Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, (and any other social network) and post your photo to the Blue Beanie Day group at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/bluebeanieday2009/ .

The End of the Internet

0 commentsOn October 28th 2009 at 3:28 pm, Greg said:

When we log onto the Internet, we take a lot for granted. We assume we'll be able to access any website we want, whenever we want, at the fastest speed, whether it's a corporate website or a personal blogger's website. We assume that we can use any aspect of the Internet we like -- watching video, listening to music, sharing your opinions, blogging, opening an online business, social networking -- anytime we choose. What makes all these assumptions possible is Net Neutrality.

Net Neutrality is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet. Net Neutrality simply means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet Service Providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down web content based on its source, ownership or destination, to maximize their profits.

All of the major the Internet Service Providers are in the process of removing Net Neutrality. This means that they will all control which content we get to see and which websites we will be allowed to visit. Here's an image that may illustrate what this would look like.

Net Neutrality is not a new regulation that needs to be imposed. Net Neutrality has been a part of the Internet since its inception. However, lobbyists for the biggest ISPs like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Time Warner, etc., spend hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbyists to lobby Congress and the FCC to get rid of Net Neutrality. The most recent example of this is a bill introduced on October 22nd, 2009 by Senator John McCain, called the Internet Freedom Act of 2009. Don't let the name confuse you, because that's exactly what it's supposed to do.

The consequences of a world without Net Neutrality would be devastating. Innovation would be stifled, competition limited, and access to information would be restricted. Consumer choice and the free market would be sacrificed to the interests of a few corporations. On the Internet, consumers are in ultimate control -- deciding which website, content, video, application or service they would like to view -- anywhere, no matter who owns the network. But without Net Neutrality, the ISPs will become the middleman, and the Internet will look more like cable TV. Internet Service Providers will decide which channels, content and applications are available; consumers will have to choose from their menu.

The free and open Internet brings with it the revolutionary idea that every website and every person on the Internet is within reach. The loss of Net Neutrality would end this unparalleled opportunity for freedom of expression.

The Internet has always been driven by innovation. Web sites and services succeed or fail on their own merits. Without Net Neutrality, decisions now made collectively by millions of users will be made in corporate boardrooms.

This is not fiction, or a faint possibility -- this is a reality.

Go to http://savetheinternet.com and learn more about Net Neutrality.

Thanks for your time,

Greg Sabia
Sabia Creative Design
http://sabiadesign.com
415.935.4309

The new Thrice album is amazing!

0 commentsOn October 5th 2009 at 7:06 pm, Greg said:

My favorite post-hardcore-turned-experimental band, Thrice, came out with a new album called Beggars back in September. It's quite a departure from one of my favorites, The Artist in the Ambulance, but it also has a much more grown-up sound. This album shows Thrice's extensive musical capabilities.

All of my close friends and family know what a music nut I am. I can listen to something alternative and laid back, only to have it punctuated by some hardcore screaming music. So as you could imagine, Thrice's new album is definitely enough to satisfy my tasty music palette.

Listen to "In Exile" by Thrice"


Check out this album on iTunes...

Feeder.fm

0 commentsOn August 26th 2009 at 3:15 pm, Greg said:

Over the past few days I've been a little sick. Somehow, I still found time to work on a project that I've been meaning to get live. Feeder.fm is the easiest way to post music directly to your Facebook and Twitter feed, just enter a search term, it's that simple!

Soon I will finish the project by adding the other half of the website, Twitter. So check it out and let me know what you think so far, http://feeder.fm

Third version of Sabia Design is finally done!

2 commentsOn July 16th 2009 at 7:02 pm, Greg said:

Yes, I've had an excess amount of free time on the past two days. Finally giving me enough time to finish my mysql cities database, and the third version of my company's website – http://sabiadesign.com!

So far I've counted four scrapped designs before I decided on this one. I really love the way this design came out. Let me know what you think!

PHP / MySQL City Data for Google Maps Mash-Ups

0 commentsOn July 15th 2009 at 3:46 pm, Greg said:

I've finally completed my second compiled database of all Zip Codes and Cities in the United States. It's taken a while, but it's finally available for all you web developers out there that need a quick MySQL table of cities, states, zip codes and latitude/longitude of parent zip codes. Works great for Google Maps mash-ups!

I am also developing an open API for your disposal; awesomeness ensues.

Check out the demo: http://mysqlcities.com

Playing For Change: Bob Marley's War/No More Trouble

0 commentsOn May 12th 2009 at 5:51 pm, Greg said:

I am finding myself on this website on a daily basis. I need to order the DVD already.

As we made our way around the world we encountered love, hate, rich and poor, black and white, and many different religious groups and ideologies. It became very clear that as a human race we need to transcend from the darkness to the light and music is our weapon of the future. This song around the world features musicians who have seen and overcome conflict and hatred with love and perseverance. “We don’t need more trouble, what we need is love”. The spirit of Bob Marley always lives on.

New Find: Scotty Don't

0 commentsOn May 10th 2009 at 9:15 am, Greg said:

This is a band that I found a little while ago called Scotty Don't. I first noticed them in the Ska/Reggae scene opening for Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime, but then I realized that they are the same band!

Anyways, here's a little taste of their music. This song is called "And With It, Rain" and I think it's pretty awesome.

RE: Manny Ramirez

0 commentsOn May 8th 2009 at 10:20 am, Greg said:

Wow, talk about Manny being Manny. He was just suspended for 50 games for using PEDs.

Dodger fans are among the least knowledgeable and most stuck-up in baseball. Every time I go to a game at Dodger Stadium, I cringe a little bit. Especially when I have to listen to the inane mumbles of the fans at the stadium. Not to mention the un-creative chants — "Giants Suck! Giants Suck!" — even though the Giants just scored three runs. It sickens me.

So now the only player's name that most Dodger fans can remember is gone for the next 50 games. I predict that the Dodgers will lose 60% of the next 50 games. Suck it Dodger fans!

Playing For Change: Peace Through Music

0 commentsOn April 27th 2009 at 1:18 pm, Greg said:

I recently discovered this website, and It really took my by surprise.

Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.

This one is epic. It bridges the physical distance between the many musicians and cultures of this planet.
Stand By Me:


This Song Around The World is a folk tune from Chennai, India. We started the track in New Orleans and added musicians from the across the globe before finally delivering it the people of it’s origin. We ended up in Chennai recording and filming the vocals from the Oneness Choir. The track has a feeling of perseverance and joy and features vocalists from four continents.
I'd also like to add that I'm totally in love with Tal Ben Ari "Tula"!
Chanda Mama:

Song of the Month [Alexisonfire - Rough Hands]

1 commentsOn March 18th 2009 at 12:24 pm, Greg said:

This one is epic – Turn your speakers up loud!



Wouldn't this song be great for the ending credits in a superhero movie? Or is it just me?