Copyfighter

The next Heidi Slimane?

2009-07-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

...or maybe I just have a crush on him.

This boy was caught on cam by fashion blogger Diane Pernet and then posted and favorited on Fader's blog. He may seem apropos of nothing when it comes to marketing, but to me his well adjusted, self confident demeanor suggests a lot about what it means to be edgy and young today. Are kids now comfortable with being less mainstream?

I mean I was a freaky little girl growing up in the 80's and 90's. Lots of time alone, wearing black, listening to The Smiths. But I wasn't all confident about being weird like this kid is. His blond 'do and wedge booties are DOs indeed. Maybe this means we can stop talking down to tweens and teens so much in ads and entertainment.

Watch and enjoy. *Sigh*

Will real time search turn marketing into customer service?

2009-05-22T16:25:00.001-07:00

With the popularity of Twitter's real time search, and some Very Large companies like @Comcastcares, @Jetblue, @Wholefoods and @Ford being very vocal about the importance of maintaining a two-way dialogue with their consumers, it follows that the next stage of marketing may feature company reps reaching out via Twitter Search to real consumers and offering product deals, offers, or advice.

This has already happened in some instances, but it hasn't happened on a grand scale...yet. Marketing as customer service seems the obvious next step in online marketing to me. But I haven't really heard many tech pundits kicking it around in convo or posts much. There was this post by my fave search expert, John Battelle, that sticks out in my mind. It was posted last year.

The main idea of the post is that Google may feel to us like it's immediate, but it's really an archival system. Battelle writes, "Google represents a remarkable achievement: the ability to query the static web." What Google hasn't done yet is show us what query searches in real time.

But guess who has done that? Twitter. Ahhhh...Twitter. The darling of the community sites just can't do anything wrong it seems. But it may have some competition lurking in Sunnyvale.

In a more recent post by Battelle, the omnipresence of real time search appears inevitable when Battelle quotes Google co-founder Larry Page as admitting that "People really want to do stuff in real time and they [Twitter] have done a great job about it...we will do a good job of things now that we have these examples."

So have we reached the moment when your search coughs up what people are saying about your query that very second? And if so, what does that mean to marketing?

This is what's really interesting to me. And you better believe corporations and CMOs everywhere are similarly salivating over the idea of direct, one-to-one sales and marketing via real time queries. I mean, it's the ultimate opt-in, right? The consumer is actually requesting information and is probably near the end of the buying cycle. Plus, the corporation rep can snag that lead and convert it into a sale, immediately.

I can even visualize what the day-to-day job would require: some kind of marketing/customer service/account person hybrid, sitting in front of a multi-panel listening platform, where they monitor certain key word mentions online and entice influencers with micro blog outreach moments. Do you see it too? What do you see?

My pal smarts off on Ideas Project

2009-05-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

A quick shout out to my friend Roland Smart, who is featured today on the intriguing video-based tech and influencers blog site, Ideas Project. True to its name, Ideas Project features thought leaders giving an encapsulated (read: BRIEF!) description of a Big Idea. I've posted one video of Roland above, in which he describes how Marketing 2.0 is all about bi-directional conversations with community, and how companies grow out of a community need. For more Roland, read the full posting.

Check it out. He makes a killer point in no time. What can I say, his last name ain't Smart for nothin'.

Radian6 SM monitoring and Dell's Social Media Strategy

2009-04-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

I always fancied myself kind of a tough chick, but now that I moved from the centrally located Tendernob (Where the Loin meets Nob Hill) to the Outer Mission I'm realizing how much I've been relying on taxi cabs and how very little I've been utilizing my bike/public transit.

I'm so freaked out about figuring HOW to get somewhere that I've basically bordering on being an agoraphobe at this point. I mean, I like to have certain things easily accessible to me--I need a grocery that is a step above a bodega, a pharmacy, a gym and maybe one decent thai take-out place.

Right now, I have to bike a mile and a half to get outside of the residential area. This is definitely going to put a cramp in how late I go out and how much alcohol I imbibe. Navigating a bike while tipsy = BAD IDEA JEANS.

Anyway, in between learning the in's and out's of MUNI, BART and biking the crazy SF terrain, I've also been drawn to PowerShift, the blog at the Radian6 website. If you don't know much about Radian6, then take a look at what they're up to. They provide amazing social media monitoring and analysis platforms to corporations and businesses. You may be familiar with Dell's smart use of social media. Well, Dell is one of Radian6's biggest clients. If you aren't familiar with Ideastorm or other Dell SM tactics, check out this post's video, above.

Because I see Radian6 as a kind of Great Oz behind the SM curtain, I decided to contact Radian6 via @AmberCadabra, the uber on-top-of-it Director of Community for R6. I asked her for a demo of their product, and she got me in touch with one of their account managers (@CoryHartlen) who then walked me through a real time demo of the tricked-out platform. The Radian6 product can track search terms and influencers via a social media profile river, trending charts, and clouds. To me, it felt a little like what being omnipotent must feel like. If you're repping a brand that needs to become a part of the conversation, I highly recommend poking around the R6 site.

Where have I been all your life?!

2009-04-10T14:40:00.001-07:00

I've been running around town lately doing Biz Dev for flavorpill, and therefore am neglecting you poor sweet readers. I'm sure you're all in a deep state of confusion about this and may have neglect issues creeping in. So let me just say hello to all. Hope the economy isn't breaking you, as it is downsizing me tremendously.

Maybe that's the point. Maybe as Americans it's time to actually PAY ATTENTION to what and how you're spending and get a little bit more realistic about budgets and the value of a dollar.

Personally, I'm looking at this time period (for about 3 months now, and prob for about another 7) as an opportunity for self improvement. If you have downtime too, think about what skills you want to learn and maybe even pick up a hobby.

You could turn the economy's crap-tastic state into a personal development period. Maybe even start right now. A friend forward me the link to birdhive.net, a twitter like site just for posting and sharing creative projects. Got something to share? Put yourself out there. You never know what cool connection you may make just by posting a link.

Web 2.0 expo at the Moscone West

2009-04-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

I went to the Web 2.0 expo today with a friend of mine. It kicked off on Wednesday the 31st, and will continue through tomorrow, April 2nd. The co-sponsors are O'Reilly Media and Techweb. I wasn't really sure what to expect from the conference, but it was in my hood and I really wanted to hear a few of the Keynote Speakers. So I decided to stop into today to hear Douglas Rushkoff speak on "How the Web Ate the Economy, and Why This is Good for Everyone" and listen in on a sponsored session on Social Media given by a Senior Marketer at Vignette, an integrated web content management provider.

Both presos were fairly edifying, although Rushkoff only talked for 20 minutes or so, which sucked since I dragged my sleepy arse out of bed and to Moscone West at the crack of dawn this morning SOLELY because he was speaking so early. And yet I do worship his brain and will probably go and buy Life, Inc. as soon as possible. Yes, I'm a loyalist when it comes to brainiacs.

The Social Media preso from the Vignette peeps was a decent high level overview of what's happening in Social Media, and how to create a kind of sustainable, consistent brand presence by syndicating original content and engaging in the conversations around the content and brand. Yes, we've all heard this before. But no, this didn't annoy me--mainly because with the media industry changing on a daily basis these days, it's comforting to feel that there's at least a one recent media development that may actually endure for a substantial length of time.

The picture accompanying this post was taken in the the Expo Booth area during the Booth Crawl Happy Hour. Exhibitors pulled out crates of stouts and ales while they passed out their company literature and talked shop. The most popular booths at the expo seemed to be representing either enterprise-class social media community experience providers or cloud and utility computing services. I was pretty stoked to FINALLY have a clear understanding of what cloud computing is, and the value it brings to corporations.

A happy ending for me, and a day well spent.

Blellow: A new microblog for freelancers and creatives

2009-03-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

A new site called Blellow just launched at SXSW, and got many people digging on its Twitter-like micro networking functionality. I am one of the peeps digging. Blellows members answer the question "What are you working on?" and in doing so they organically engage in potential creative collaborations with groups or other members. Check out this video below for a good overview:

Twitter phenom based on simplicity

2009-03-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

In this insighful article, Mashable! makes the argument that it's Twitter's micro-sized feature set + good API that makes it such a word of mouth phenom. I completely agree. Think about it: If Twitter had more fixed, robust features, there would be less impetus for developers to write applications, and for these developers/users to blog about it. Ultimately, the simplicity of Twitter is the basis for all its free PR and advertising.

Taking this thought even one step further, I love how a social platform like Twitter actually helped prove the point that conversational and SM is the "it" form of marketing right now. I mean, there are a ton of other web services and micro platforms, but the conversation about Twitter (and it's good API) is really what make it stand out from the crowd.

Oh, and in case you haven't really been engaging with Twitter much because you don't feel like dealing with what all the hash symbols are all about, check out this wiki.

Zeroing in on your brand

2009-03-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

I've had a lull in my postings lately because I've been in rebrand mode, for myself that is. After becoming a 24-hour expert of just about any capability in the online marketing world, I finally just realized last week with the help of a friend (thanks Boni!) where my real interests lie. I'm a brand communications expert, in every platform.

You may be wondering HOW this applies to you. If at all...

I'm calling this out because I've noticed many people tweaking their titles to social media expert, and I'm just realizing that getting too far up in one platform may not be a good idea. I mean, if that's really what you do--if you actually ARE Chris Brogan or are implementing social campaigns with Federated Media's social tool kit or something, then you should claim expertise in SM. But personally, when I actually sat down to define my skillset, I realized that I had more than one niche capability. I've got experience in pitching traditional (print, TV, CRM) and new media (internet, social, mobile) communication campaigns. The overall goal across all these mediums is brand building. Hence, my new blog tagline: Brand Building by all Means Possible.

So I found this little personal rebrand moment interesting because there is value in sitting down and rethinking your elevator pitch every now and then. If you need help in this process, check out Dan Schawbel's Personal Branding site.

Also, on a sales and business dev level, this point is huge because in this new world of brand conversations, it doesn't make sense to initiate a conversation without a very clear understanding of the brand tenets. So in order to market a brand in the current ecosystem, you have to put the company/product before the customer. It will pay off in the long run when the conversations have a basis in a fundamental truth.

Obsolete Model? The debate about the future of marketing rages on.

2009-02-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

"I am an obsolete model..." T-101 (aka: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 3, Rise of the Machines)

Since I've been unemployed I've been able to see how new technologies (and let's be honest, the crap economy) are relegating some positions virtually obsolete. Historically this kind of displacement leads to a counter-effect of completely new positions opening up that relate specifically to the new innovation. I wonder: what will post digital agency be made of? Not sure, but here are some changes I've noticed.

Social media and conversational marketing are rendering more mainstream advertising less relevant (at least within the social network ecosystem). Mainly because clients and agencies have jumped on the user generated content bandwagon. For the most part, however, this creates some very insipid advertising in the end. But the impact on creative jobs is huge. This impacts me personally as a writer in that Copy/Content skills aren't as in demand right now within agencies/corporations.

Another change in the overall structure of marketing agencies is born from tech innovations in how/where content is served. Right now, platform is more important than ever. But does the emphasis on platform necessitate tearing the focus away from content? By that I mean, if clients are clamoring for Detach and Distribute tools (platform), their focus is less wrapped up in creative headlines or new design assets. In fact, maybe they don't need the assets at all, they just need to be partners with a content company of some sort who will allow video or text to be imported into a site/SMS/aggregator. That means more jobs opening up in media buying, search optimization, and development and very few jobs opening up for copy/content/design/creative production.

For the most part, content is still coming from Mainstream sources like broadcast TV and news video. Indie blogger vids are gaining momentum, but generally only if the videographer is also the blogger or developer. I saw that BoingBoing.net got a video featured on Kanye's blog that they produced other day, and from the tweets by Xeni Jardin I read, the BoingBoingers were freakin STOKED that the vid got picked up. So my question is: if the BoingBoing people have such a tough time getting content distributed, where does that leave the rest of us indie bloggers? (Speaking of Kanye, if you haven't seen this viddy for "Pro Nails" by Kid Sister f. Kanye, you must watch now. It is for real.)

So I'm really hoping that once businesses adapt to the new conversational climate and the latest tech changes there will be new Next Gen marketing jobs available. Creative jobs that take strategy, search, and platform into consideration when creating a new media experience.

How about you? Where do you see creative marketing jobs popping up in the current ecosystem?

What's next in a Post-Advertising World

2009-02-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

As a writer in advertising for 12 years now, there have been countless times that I've had to ask myself the question: What story is this brand telling? Unfortunately, even when a writer does identify a killer brand story, by the time most ads are consumer-facing that story has been watered down to a few incoherent tags mocked up in font that abides by a pat style guide and some predictable product shots. The end result leaves consumers (and truthfully, the client too) wondering what happened to the meat of the story.

Where's the disconnect? Well, my opinion is that much of the problem lies in the traditional ad agency model and inherently dysfunctional agency/client dynamics. But I won't go too far with this topic, because that particular battle just isn't sexy to me right now. Instead, I offer hope for the future of ads in alternate business models and companies like Story Worldwide.

Story WorldWide is all about this post-advertising moment that we're currently in. They see that the brands with the best stories right now are the brands that are winning, because people want to hear those stories. So by creating content and media that captivates audiences, Story Worldwide is bringing consumers and brands together by choice, instead of force.

That sounds so utopian to me, I'm in love. *Sigh* So Story WorldWide is one fresh business model for sure. They have the branded content thing down pat. But don't just take my word for it. Check out their blog called Post Advertising for more of their kick ass ethos and insights.

I'm also into Federated Media and just John Battelle (FM's founder) in general. He's pretty much a genius. If you're in media, content, or marketing you need to subscribe to Battelle's blog if you haven't yet. You will not be disappointed.

FM helps advertisers connect with a posse of the some of the best and most popular bloggers on the net (BoingBoing, Behance, and Ask a ninja are FM properties). So while it's not a content marketing agency like Story Worldwide is, it's similar in that FM is also bringing consumers together with content they like, to the benefit of both the advertiser and the blog author.

Send me some of your favorite new ad/marketing/media models too. I would love to see what your getting into.

And don't forget to check out my pal Matt Brand's latest joint, Relationship Retard. I'll be contributing to that site too.

un-PC tweet gets dude in hot water

2009-01-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

So many of you may have read this article about how James Andrews, a Ketchum PR employee, wrote a tweet that got into the hands of his FedEx client and eventually lost him and Ketchum some business. Here's what happened: James arrives in Memphis and tweets: "True confession but I'm in one of those towns where I scratch my head and say 'I would die if I had to live here!'"
Meanwhile, one of the biggest clients at Ketchum is straight outta Mempis, and did not find the tweet complimentary.

In fact, he was pissy. You can read the full response Andrews' slip up elicited from the FedEx client in a posting by Jeremiah Owyang, but suffice to say it wasn't pretty. The FedEx client had hometown pride, and just didn't see the need to use Andrews' services anymore.

When I've heard people talk about this incident, it seems that most feel that the moral of this story is BOLDFACED--Watch your words when you're tweeting. Someone might not like what you're about to say.

But I can't be fully comfortable with that take-away. I agree that it's never good to hurt someone's feelings (in-person or online); but is it actually purposely hurting someone's feelings to tweet about your lack of love for a particular city? I'm not sure.

I mean, maybe I'm being too subjective. I've only just recently come into my own enough as a grown-up and a writer to be open about my opinions. I remember when I was younger and would write lyrics or articles; they were just devoid of the rawness that I was attempting to convey with my words because I was so damn hyper-aware of my (eventual) audience. Now that I'm older and more experienced, I feel it would be false for me to hold back my true thoughts and feelings. And on a loftier note, I believe that living consciously means living truthfully.

I mean, I'm not saying that due to these personal beliefs I will use Twitter as my own personal Hater Portal. I'm just saying that if we're acting as the PC police, we have to be VERY CAREFUL to avoid fostering a world of disingenuous and fear-based posts/tweets. That's all...

2009-01-19T20:16:00.001-08:00

Sharing Playlists Experiment (v01)

2009-01-18T12:18:00.001-08:00

I've been checking out 8tracks.com to try to share playlists conveniently via this here blog.
Problem is: it's kind of a bitch really. Yeah...
I mean, the search functionality is jacked because when I search by artist it barely ever retrieves (even if the artist may pop up later in a "by track name" search). I'm guessing the tagging was done poorly.
But the good news is that the tracks on this site are way underground. Lots of electronica, across all genres, across all continents.

Here's a very blip-y, speedy mix I'm so digging right now. Check it out and maybe share your own playlist with me if you get the inspiration.

After all, music is truth. Truth is music. *sigh*

Good example of a Social Media slideshow

2009-01-17T11:46:00.001-08:00

Whether it's for inspiration or information, check out this social media slideshow from pcmcreative. Very helpful in getting me prepared for talking to businesses about the best way to make social media work for them.

Equity@Edinburgh - Social Media for Theatre

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: eae08 pcmcreative)

Social Media Mafia

2009-01-17T08:25:00.001-08:00

Get "protection" online from the family that knows it best, the Social Media Mafia. Could possibly kick the Corleone fam's arse. They are good peeps and by signing up you'll get their newsletter that will help keep your ear to the ground on new social media news. Click here for Newsletter.

Posted using ShareThis

ePR....The NEXT frontier

2009-01-15T12:36:00.001-08:00

So you know I've been OVER straight-ahead marketing for a while now. Doesn't mean I won't do it for the right company (Venables...you listening?! I know you just got Intel!!!) But I like the new frontier of PR, forged by insightful people like Chris Abraham. It's all about going beyond the usual PR methods. Blogger outreach and fearless social networking are just the beginning when it comes to Next Gen PR and marketing. Getting a the word out for a brand can come quicker in the package of a 2-sentence tweet as it can from old school PR techniques. More on this to come from me. For now, click read more to get a little background info.

read more | digg story

2009-01-14T12:15:00.001-08:00

Eno speaks out against Israeli oppression

2009-01-14T11:36:00.001-08:00

Love that Brian Eno has the balls to point out the irony of Israel in this YouTube viddy, so long oppressed themselves, acting as the oppressor in Gaza. The man is strong. And i love his jams. Just listening to his Here Come the Warm Jets album. Especially love the song called "The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch". I guess I can forgive him for his Coldplay producing moment. (Still, wtf??)

read more | digg story

Nit-picky updates to BitTorrent post

2009-01-07T14:26:00.001-08:00

So in an earlier post I gave tips for downloading TV shows online. A brilliant and and anal-retentive friend of mine wrote me today with some edits. I'm indulging him here with the updates. So the basic essence of the whole process is the same. But here goes the remix, major updates are bolded:

If you ARE interested in downloading from the BitTorrent network, here are a few tips for mac users. First you'll need a cross-platform client like Transmission (for macs.). You can download Transmission here.

Then you can get a BitTorrent account and start searching for what you feel like watching. I just downloaded some of 30 Rock, for instance. As an aside, I also highly recommend Dexter and, of course, The Wire.

You can also search tracker sites to find torrents to download. Two good ones are mininova.org and thepiratebay.org. When you've found what you want, download to your desktop or downloads folder or whatevs, but remember to trash your old icons and folders because they'll take up a lot of space. The torrents can come in any kind of package. Mine came as a rar file, which was odd. So I had to get unrar to decompress those files. You may have to take similar steps, but for the most part they will be avi files. You'll also need the open-source codecs to watch the viddys with. This is easy, you can get them all by downloading Perian. And that's it really. At that point, you should have everything you need to start watching for free. I don't even have a TV anymore. I just watch everything on my computer.

NOTE: I wish there were a "Redo" button on life sometimes.

The End.

Get drunk for digital rights tonight at DNA Lounge

2009-01-07T13:57:00.001-08:00

EFF is celebrating 18th years defending digital rights tonight. DJs include: DJ Spooky, mashup party pioneers Bootie, copyfighter and Surya Dub DJ Kid Kameleon, and EFF's Tones and Qubitsu. (Apparently there's ANOTHER copyfighter?) Time to rumble, mofos!

Bring it. Tonight at 8. DNA Lounge in SF.

read more | digg story

Net neutrality (and getting shit for free PART II)

2009-01-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

So my last post inspired some peeps to comment and remind me that some music - GOOD music - shouldn't be downloaded for free. The argument being: Truly good music is so hard to find that we need to respect and support artists who are bringing the real. I see that point and agree...to some extent. I mean, I'll continue to swap music with friends and I will probably keep scouring the net for good free new music indexes to swipe in one large download. But....I'll keep this post to just getting TV shows for free if that keeps my reputation as a non-jackass secure.
In any case, my morals have been considered questionable by quite a few (thousand?) people before. Ain't no thang. (I was also a total klepto while in my teens and early twenties, but we all know that adolescence comes packed with delinquent behavior, right?!)

No? Hmmm....well, I'll save that for another posting. I used to be obsessed with risk-taking behavior in teenage girls. But I digress....

Anyway, if you ARE interested in downloading from BitTorrent or Btjunkie here are a few tips for mac users. You need to be able to connect to the bittorrent network, so you'll need an app like Transmission. You can get it here.

Then you can check out the options for what you feel like watching. I just downloaded some of 30 Rock, for instance. As an aside, I also highly recommend Dexter and, of course, The Wire. Make your choice, and download to your desktop or downloads folder or whatevs, but remember to trash your old icons and folders because they'll take up a lot of space. The torrents can come in any kind of package. Mine came as a rar file, which was odd. So I had to get unrar to decompress those files. You may have to take similar steps, but for the most part they will be avi files. You'll also need the open-source codecs to watch the viddys with. This is easy, you can get them all by downloading Perian. And that's it really. At that point, you should have everything you need to start watching for free. I don't even have a TV anymore. I just watch everything on my computer.

Which brings me to the video I posted (above). You may be wondering why the hell I uploaded a net neutrality viddy to a post about getting shit for free. Well, the answer is: We may NOT be getting shit for free in the future if we don't keep our eyes and ears open to guard against "Internet Bundles". No, this doesn't exist yet. But I can see it in my minds eye. A two-fer package including all of Google's and Yahoo's networks for only $25/month.

You're probably pretty well informed about maintaining the internet as an open platform already; Obama spoke about his stance on this topic right here at Mountain View. Check out that video here. But if you haven't done due diligence yet in getting up to speed on this issue check out Savetheinternet.com or another site dedicated to net neutrality news and updates.

In the meantime, I'll keep using my right to my own site online. Right here, right now.

Getting shit for free. And EFF's night of righteousness and mayhem.

2009-01-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

I still think Pitchfork is full of pretentious, privileged white kids and uninspired writers who are stuck in 90s indie rock, but they do have the best albums of 2008 article and (even better!) their picks for the best tracks of 2008 up and running on the site, complete with streaming mp3s. I recommend checking it out, even if this requires momentary self-loathing.

Anyway, I've seriously been buying BUNK music lately due to the fact that I'm not properly giving the tracks a trial run in my life. I'll just play a tiny sample, find that 10 second snippet somewhat interesting, and then download. It's just dumb. You need the entire track to really test its chops.

Even dumber is the fact that I'm BUYING anything at all. As an unemployed self-proclaimed copyfighter, I should be supplying you all with the tools to maneuver around superfluous marketing obstacles like $0.99 cent iTunes tracks, no???

Hence my upcoming post with tips on how to download from BitTorrent. You may have already been doing this for a while. But if you were just LAZY like I was, it's time to discipline yourself and evolve into a lean, mean, downloadin' machine.

Grrrr! We don't need no stinkin' corporation to charge us for our music and Dexter episodes, right?! Repeat after me: I am in control of what media I choose to listen/watch/play with, and I can access said media on the cheap. F mainstream media marketing! Regain your freedom!

Yes, I'm sounding like a spaz, but this is serious biz, friends. Just look at what happened to our government and realize that the same fuckers who are running the nation could also try to take over the online space. If you're in the SF Bay area and horrified at this thought, please join me and like-minded peeps in supporting digital rights at the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF) 18th Birthday Party. EFF is the leading civil liberties group promoting freedom in the digital world, and they pretty much rule. Check them out. If you're interested in supporting them, come to the party on Wednesday, January 7th at the DNA Lounge. DJ Spooky and residents from the Bootie mash-up crew will be spinning. You can find all the party info and purchase tix online by clicking here.

I'll be there. Come play.

Coming Clean, Going Legit, etc.

2008-12-31T11:29:00.000-08:00

This is an addendum to my "All I got for Christmas" blog. I was surprised by how many people have actually expressed concern for me.

Wow. You really do like me! (Yeah, I did a Sally Field thing there....ha ha)

But I should tell you that I thrive in the face of chaos. So I'm really kind of pumped. Plus, I exaggerated the knee thing. Went to the doc this AM, it's a dislocated patella. Which, if you've ever met me, you know ain't no thang to me. I've done this like 5 times before. It's a breeze. Just a couple of weeks away from clowning chumps on the dance floor, and voila! I'll be all mobile again.

I also should say that I am ACTIVELY looking for a job now. My plan is to network like mad. Please let me know of ANY networking meetups, job openings, or pathetic saps you know of that could help me (or that I could entrap and suck the life/money out of.)

The personal life hoo-ha I'm keeping on the DL for now until something noteworthy happens. In the meantime know this: I BELIEVE IN LOVE, PEOPLE. Clap your hands if you believe too!!! You too, Tinkerbell.

LOVE will rule in 09. If we let it....

Happy New Year.

Refinery29: Sound Waves -- music, new, releases, playlist

2008-12-30T17:57:00.001-08:00

The top 20 tracks of 08, by style-phile site Refinery 29. Check it like old-school listening lab style:)

read more | digg story

All I got for Christmas was broken up with

2008-12-30T10:15:00.000-08:00

NOTE:
I should be blogging about technology and whatnot considering I'm totally unemployed and verging on poverty, but screw it. Just call me rebel. I'm going for transparency--it feels so fresh right now. (And apparently I like to indulge in feeling sorry for myself in front of a quasi-audience. Maybe you should call me exhibitionist.)

Round 1:
Decided to go to Tahoe with the boyfriend this Christmas. He loves to snowboard, and a really good girlfriend of mine has a house near Squaw with a guest room--So there it was.

Just prior to leaving however I started to realize this may not be the best idea ever. It was revealed that many other guests with much alcohol and mischief were also planning to come up to the same house, and I could foresee this chilled out snowboarding trip turning into a tequila-fueled bacchanalia. Not that I'm generally opposed to such events--just not during the holidays. Feels a little creepy.

Round 2:
Despite my better judgment, boyfriend and I get on the road and head towards Tahoe. I brought champagne along for the road. Also probably not the best idea ever.

Two hours in, I was picking on boyfriend's driving chops. He was trying to remain silent. I was getting more boozy by the minute.

The snow is falling heavier now, and the fact that we're in a rear wheel drive BMW is just now dawning on me. Drunkenly, I sulk.

Round 3:
Boyfriend and I pick up another friend of ours on the way to Tahoe. The snow is falling really heavily now, and I'm drunk enough to attempt becoming BFF with my friend's tipsy mother. We pose for pictures and pronounce eachother as undying allies. I slip and fall on the way back to the car.

Round 4:
In the mountains of North Tahoe, the three of us are pulled over by a Chain Check police blockade. "Crazy night for driving. You got chains?"

Boyfriend pulls out his chains and I sit becoming bitchier with worry by the second. Boyfriend tries to put chains on, to no avail. Thirty minutes pass and finally the other friend has joined in on the boyfriend's efforts to put the chains on the tires.

Round 5:
With the chains attached and my head in the clouds, the three of us head off toward the house. At this point I'm too drunk to remember where I've put the address, but I don't let the boys know this yet.

The chains fall off the tires and I begin calling boyfriend a "useless fuck."

No, I'm not a happy drunk.

Round 9:
I'll save you the hellishness of hearing every detail, but suffice it to say that by the time we arrived at the house - (by the hair of our chinny chin chins, considering I'd lost the address,) I had unleashed such a torrent of rage and hatred onto my boyfriend that he was utterly destoyed.

The finale to my grand Christmas moment was when I fell on the ice in front of my friend's house and blew out my knee. Again. ACL. Torn.

Still would all be okay except that the boyfriend wants to break up. That makes me an unemployed, gimpy, broken-up with girl.

2009?! Save me?!

All my friends are nerds. And this is a good thing.

2008-12-16T15:05:00.001-08:00

Here's some cool nerd gifts if you are actually buying holiday presents this year, (unlike myself, who is planning on evangelizing the out-ness of Christmas and holiday gifts. So last year. So last century. L-A-M-E.

Not to be a total scrooge. But yeah, gifting feels inherently passive aggressive to me--Even bordering on preachy, guilt-inducing and just overall a recipe for disaster, since you probably won't even like the gifts you do receive, and others will likewise be disappointed in what you give them.

At least that's what I'm telling my unemployed ass this year. But no, I'm not a hater.

Do yourself a favor and join me in my manta: Holiday gifting is so last year. Feels the opposite of modern, like buying unsustainable cheap furniture from Ikea or something. At the very least, you'll save some scratch this season.

Still, if you have HOT nerd friends that you can't resist giving gifts to, check out the link here and just give the gift to them on the 26th or something. Not a holiday gift then. Just a show of appreciation.

I got the boot

2008-12-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

And it's not the lace-up chunky heeled ones I've been coveting. I got laid off from my job yesterday. I totally saw it coming. The agency had lost clients and work many times over since I'd been there, and there had already been a few rounds of lay-offs prior to mine that had left the office space barren and stirred up my suspicions.

So now I'm doing the unemployment thing. It's my first time. I'm an unemployment virgin. If you are too, let me share some tips. I'll give you some personal ones, and then post a link to another site that's all about unemployment. Unemploymentality 24/7.

What I've learned is that being unemployed is very similar to being employed in that you make it what it is. For instance, my attitude towards getting the ax has been very positive. It was a needed change. Advertising has lost a lot of the sexiness and ability to inspire. I could go on in haterade fashion, but that would probably be fairly retarded of me, so 'nuff said. The point is: I was able to see getting laid off as a potential opportunity, etc. This is a good attitude to take when you (perhaps) get the ax too.

Next thing that is helpful to know as an unemployed person is to remember that NOBODY WANTS TO DOLE OUT MONEY TO YOU. You'll find that making your unemployment claim isn't quite as simple as your HR exit interviewer might have made it sound. When I called the number listed on the brouchure of the Cali Unemployment Insurance office, I got a recorded message that told me to log on to the website to make a claim. Then it hung up on me.

Of course (you can probably see this coming) when I went online to file the claim, the error message advised me to call the number that had the useless recorded message.

Annoying. Yes.

But just like at your normal workplace, you're gonna have to extend yourself a little. Find the closest unemployment office and show up in person. This can be harder than expected too. In my case, the phone representative I eventually got through to told me that I wouldn't be able to file the claim in person. It was only possible by dialing the useless recorded message number or by logging on to the site that only gives error messages. And no, she can not file the claim. Not her job. She lied like a rug.

I didn't believe the the hype, and instead took to the streets. I live in the Tendernob directly across the street from Cup-a-Joe cafe, where many unemployed looking types hang out and steal free wifi all day. I figured I'd give the cafe a shot. Jackpot. I simply walked into the cafe, and announced: "I just got laid off. Anybody know where the unemployment office is?"

Ten people raised their hands. It was like they were expecting it. One dude said he'd even escort me there. And when we arrived to the office, the line was quick, and I got the whole thing completed in under an hour.

Plus I made a friend.
Check out more tips at:
http://unemploymentality.com/2008/12/unemploymentality-blows-up-like-lil-wayne/

I'm too old for this shit

2008-12-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

So I went to a Tribal Funk party at Mezzanine on Saturday and stayed out really freakin late....(or should I say early:) And was so hammered I was tuning in and out of the sound of the music, the definition in people's faces, and any conversation that lasted more than one or two sentences.

Ugh.

I'm pretty sure that my tendencies to be a total bitch cunt when wasted have toned themselves down now that I'm older, but I can't be sure; and whenever I feel like I'm ready to piece together the separate moments of the night into a single, detailed memory I cringe a little somewhere deep inside and force my brain to look away.

Not healthy behavior, really.

But I can't deny this urge to destroy myself sometimes. Day-to-day living can make me feel like I'm holding my breath for something to meaningful to happen, and if I go too long not breathing I need to destroy.

Anyway, like I said I'm fairly certain that my aggro tendencies have mellowed over the years, but I have some horror stories of picking fights with cherished friends, heckling DJs that didn't impress me, even kicking some dude that was mean to me in the face. The sad thing? The face-kicking moment was like the HIGHLIGHT of that boring ass party for everyone. They finally had something to talk about, rally around, bitch about.

Sigh.

I'm not unhappy, I'm just sayin.....
I guess I'll go to yoga tomorrow. I've got to let my breath out somehow.

KILL YOUR IDOLS put words in my mouth

2008-11-28T19:07:00.001-08:00

Let me set-up my thoughts for you....

Today I watched a movie called Kill Your Idols. It spans 30 years of music, 13 bands, and 1 city--New York. The music is solely art-punk, which has been the rhythm of my heart essence since I was very young. It's funny because now that I'm in SF and have been immersing myself deep in mysticism, I find fewer and fewer people who understand my love for such aggressive music. Blame it on my Detroit/NY roots. I mean I love a good kirtan, but when a scream that could curdle my blood combines with a transcendent chord progression, I feel light and free and cathartic.

The movie shows live footage and interviews with bands like Suicide, Lydia Lunch, Sonic Youth, The Swans, Liars and Gogol Bordello. All of whom are refreshingly chill answering their questions, and all of whom seem to be fairly pissy about the co-opting of underground music. (And fashion, literature, language, haircuts.....you get the point.)

In any case as I was watching this and getting more and more angst-ridden, (as this subject is one I obsess over as well,) I realized something. Maybe Millennials don't suck per se, maybe their just freakin CONFUSED as to what to rebel against.

If that's the case, then there's still hope in a new kind of nihilism. One that is a joyful nihilism. One that can see emptiness as potential. One that isn't afraid of nothingness.

It's interesting then, that I've been so intuitively drawn to Tantric dharma lately. If emptiness is form as our teacher shows us, than the bark of old school nihilism loses its bite. I would love to know how other people cope with this current state of zero integrity.

Do tell....

Click the "read more" link here to watch the trailer for Kill Your Idols.

read more | digg story

Pluto says peace out to Sag, Moves to Capricorn

2008-11-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

I've always had a strong sensitivity to changing energies, and will adjust my behavior and attitudes to be more in sync with an emerging zeitgeist before most people even realize that there is transformation in the air.

It seems that there must be some changes afoot, because I lately I feel the need to get as self-sufficient as possible in order to maintain control over myself in the face of these changes. I'm compelled to do this mainly out of survival skills. It just feels necessary. Many habits I see in myself and others seemed repulsive suddenly, and I'm not sure why. Although my intuition tells me this "batten down the hatches" moment is based a lot on financial crises and the current state of the economy.

Here's an interesting astrological blurb addressing this time period. It was written last year by Vivian Weaver, as a prediction on how Pluto's move into Capricorn will affect us. Pluto left Sagittarius for Capicorn yesterday, where it will stay until 2023. I feel like my recent desires to prepare for a new more serious and efficient way of living may have something to do with it. You decide. Here's the prediction from Vivian Weaver:

"It is a habit of Pluto to exaggerate the negative until we are forced beyond our lethargy to resolve issues. In these first few years (of Pluto in Capricorn) Big Business will become the ruler of the globe and governments merely puppets. General economic fear will likely create an atmosphere in which we, the people, will voluntarily give up our personal rights to achieve order. The process is one of erosion..." "We need to do what we can to stem the tide of Big Business tyranny over the next decade. Get out of debt. Change your lifestyle and take good care of your health. Become as independent as reasonably possible from institutions and corporations. Take any steps, however small they seem, to preserve your independence and self-sufficiency. None of us is immune to the zeitgeist of the time in which we live, but we can stay awake and adopt behavior that reinforces our personal freedom."

http://gentrify.r08.railsrumble.com/

2008-10-30T11:44:00.001-07:00

Gentrify is a new app that helps rich people find good apartments, because rich people need help.

read more | digg story

TED | Talks | Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight (video

2008-10-21T11:53:00.001-07:00

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define

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Check Your Head: Yakkay's Cap Bicycle Helmets

2008-10-17T11:20:00.001-07:00

Apparently, it's POSSIBLE to ride your bike wearing a helmet and not look a little bit retarded. Get rid of the bike shorts though. Not cute. Never will be.

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Interview - Naomi Wolf - Give Me Liberty

2008-10-09T11:02:00.001-07:00

Interview with Naomi Wolf author of "Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries" given October 4, 2008 on Mind Over Matters, KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle.

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fashion week: Preen 08 RTW

2008-10-09T10:49:00.001-07:00

The "it" label of the moment is actually something I'm digging, for once. Still, feeling London's looks over NYC/Paris.

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Bailout Doesn't Pass

2008-09-29T14:52:00.001-07:00

Stocks plunged after the House of Representatives failed to pass a bailout proposal aimed at shoring up America's financial services industry.

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Jesus is My friend! Just in case you were wondering....

2008-09-09T11:31:00.001-07:00

Even atheists want to run down the aisle and testify after this irresistible diddy! It's got some hard core ska legs, actually. Plus I want the organist's dress.

read more | digg story

Guidelines for Online Success

2008-09-08T12:38:00.001-07:00

Taschen plus FWA dude = kick ass book.http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/design/all/05204/facts.guidelines_for_online_success.htm

read more | digg story

Jon Stewart Annihilates Sarah Palin's Media Surrogates

2008-09-04T16:13:00.001-07:00

Jon Stewart at his absolute best running circles around cable news douchebags. I realize this isn't totally original since everyone I know has blogged this...but I gotta go group think and regulate those RNC bastards one more time.

read more | digg story

Shamanism, Anarchy, and the End of the World

2008-08-25T15:02:00.001-07:00

So I may be getting all neo primitive b/c I'm off to Burning Man today. But whatever the reason, I'm going with the vibe. So here it tis:

The jist:
The teaching we need will not come from priests, gurus, shamans, or scientists. We must find our way without the individuals and organizations that duplicate the power and alienation of capitalistic culture.

read more | digg story

SHAZAM is rad

2008-08-19T16:22:00.001-07:00

When you catch a moment in between using your iphone as a lightsaber, automated dice roller, eatery slot machine, anything BUT a phone, let Shazam into your life. Any song that you can hear and hold your phone towards, Shazam will let you know track’s title, artist, and album. It will let you buy it from itunes. http://www.shazam.com/

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Airbed & Breakfast

2008-08-15T08:47:00.001-07:00

When traveling, crashing with a friend is great because it's cheap and offers many of the comforts of home, but crashing at a hotel's also great because no one has to actually like you. If you're broke and unpopular, use Airbed & Breakfast.

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R/GA Expands Into Branding Biz, Taking on Traditional Player

2008-08-12T11:57:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- As more brands connect to consumers digitally, can traditional branding practices keep up? R/GA Brand Design will attempt to fill the gap between theory and practice of creating a brand in Web 2.0.

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Samsung Mobile Moment Locates Lost Hotness » Adrants

2008-08-11T17:26:00.001-07:00

Last week, Toronto residents looking for some love had some help from Samsung and Koodo Mobile's Mobile Moment campaign. The promotion launched Friday August 1 with street teams blanketing the city asking mobile users to text their 'missed connection' to MobileMoment.ca.

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Judge on Rove’s citizen arrest: ‘It’s about time.’

2008-08-06T16:30:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, police in Des Moines, Iowa arrested four people who attempted to make a citizens’ arrest of former top White House aide Karl Rove. A retired minister and three members of the Des Moines Catholic Workers community were cited for trespassing. However, according to a press release, the judge praised their efforts.

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Facebook Redesign To Go Live Tomorrow

2008-08-05T17:32:00.001-07:00

Five months later and it looks like Facebook is ready to release their new profile redesign. Initially Facebook announced they were working on a redesign earlier this year. In May, a glimpse of the redesigned was released to developers in the developers sandbox. Tomorrow evening the redesign will be open to the public.

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Optical storage goes deep: 1TB stored in three dimensions

2008-08-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Researchers in California report on the creation of a standard sized optical disc (120mm x 1.2mm) that is capable of holding up to 1 Terabyte of data. The added storage comes from using all three dimensions instead of encoding data on the surface of the disc.

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Vanishd.com

2008-07-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

yes, it's true, that sinister freak that sits in the cube next to you may actually be surfing porn. Hence the drool. Ew. Check it:

Make your co-workers, bosses, friends, and family think you're working. Surf the web in privacy. Cover any web page with a fake work document or another web page and PEEK THROUGH A HOLE to surf without anyone seeing.

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Pirate Bay Wants Total Network Encryption, But Who Else?

2008-07-28T10:53:00.001-07:00

The Pirate Bay has ambitious plans to bring end-to-end encryption to all network activity, essentially blacking out a user's traffic from deep packet inspection gear and other prying eyes. Interesting project, sure, and definitely ambitious, but will it work? We doubt it, at least in the near term, and here's why.

read more | digg story

Song Kow-tow #2

2008-07-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

Link to Trapeze Swinger on imeem

why i kow-tow:
This song was featured in a fairly lame movie called "In Good Company". The movie starred the skinny dude from "That 70's show" (Topher Grace), Scarlett Johansson, and Dennis Quaid as a middle-aged ad exec faced with a new boss who's nearly half his age (Topher) and who also happens to be sleeping with his daughter (Scarlett).

The song is so deep who gives a shit about the movie cheese. It starts out with one of Sam Beam strumming softly. Lyrics are:
Please, remember me
Happily
By the rosebush laughing
With bruises on my chin

So right away you're transported to a childlike, unrequited moment. It was the moment that kept you anguished for an entire summer. It was the moment that you can still taste when you think back now. When you hear this song. That helps.

Check it out.
Love.

Mars oppostion Uranus. Or why I tore my bikram teacher a new one.

2008-07-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

So I've been exploring my chart lately for personal reasons. Mainly, just trying to identify and consciously try to work on problem areas in my daily behaviors.

One aspect in my chart that really jumped out at me was Mars opposition Uranus. The way it was described was kind of terrifying. And I didn't completely acknowledge this energy within me. Here's an excerpt:

"The revolutionary tendency is very strong, and you will have a natural antipathy towards traditions and static patterns of acceptable social lifestyles.

Your attitude will be anti-authoritarian, and you will be iconoclastic in your questioning of the status quo, and critical of those who are in positions of social responsibility and power. Hypocrisy from 'leaders especially upsets you, and you can be scathing in denouncing it. In fact, you probably have developed a fairly demanding set of personal principles and ideals from which you perceive the world.

Your personality can be very assertive, even aggressive and combative. You have an image of yourself 'at war' with whatever you disagree with, whether this is just a war that you fight in your own head, or it is one that you externalise by opposing social establishments that you dislike. There is a stimulation for you in conflict; and whilst it may not always be openly displayed, you enjoy competition and intend to win and dominate. This is reminiscent of the Scorpio characteristics, which are reflected through this aspect, with the Mars-Scorpio link and Uranus exalted in Scorpio. The quality of assertiveness could be extrovertedly expressed, stridently and powerfully, or quietly through the power of a strong personal presence. "

After I read this I headed out to yoga. I bought a month of bikram recently, mainly b/c it's in my nabe and I really want to get into psychotically good shape just for a short while. I've done hot yoga previously for years, but avoided bikram b/c I think the people are weirdly cultish.

Anyway, I get into class and everything is rubbing me the wrong way. The teacher was shouting through her weird little Janet Jackson headset thingee, reprimanding people for taking sips of water at rests and tearing the character of a little Indian woman to shreds b/c she had to bounce to make it to work on time. WORK! wtf?

So I'm already not loving this woman and then I hear her voice break in again, "Maroon shirt! Hey Maroon girl!" I looked up from my child's pose, realizing I was maroon shirt girl.

"Why are you in child's pose? We don't do child's pose here. Get up."

I couldn't believe it. I was used to years of practice where I was the one to determine my own limitations and due to my knees being just five months out of surgery, I was modifying my moves to avoid putting too much stress on them.

But I didn't protest, I got up as the psychotic bikram monster requested, and wiped the sweat off my face with my towel, preparing for my next move. Next thing I know, the teacher is standing right next to me, practically foaming at the mouth.

"Why do you do that? You don't need to do that. Conserve your energy!" I realized she was upset with me for using my hand towel.

"I'm resting until we're done with this pose because I have bad knees." I say.

"They can't be that bad. Do the pose. You just think you can't do it." She replies. Through her creepy Janet Jackson microphone.

Finally, I've had enough. I start laughing at her. I pull up my the hem of my workout bottoms to show her my scars. "They're pretty bad. Take a look. According to western medicine, I shouldn't even be doing this at all. And since your version of yoga is so obviously westernized, you should probably chill the fuck out."

oh snap! Mars oppostion Uranus. It's like I was speaking in tongues people. I had no control.

This is my next personal goal: Stop Uranus from it's lightning power over me in stressful situations.

I mean, the teacher deserved it. It's the other students that I feel bad about. I pulled a huge layer of bad energy over their workout moment.

sigh.

Song Kow-tow #1

2008-07-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

it opens:
"I felt you in my legs before I even met you
And when I laid beside you for the first time I told you
I feel you in my heart and I don't even know you
And now we're saying bye, bye, bye
Now we're saying bye, bye, bye
I was nineteen"

I mean I love the jangled heat, need, urgency that is this song.
And the kind of journal-like way she talks about it. Writing if off to being 19, but realizing that the urgency may never be that strong again.

Listen to it and remember your first love.
And then remember to love yourself as you were at that time.
You are still that person.

Link to song on Youtube

My latest quest for truth

2008-07-07T14:08:00.000-07:00

Tantric Yoga in the Buddhist tradition is the newest place for me to find an escape from the insanity and dissatisfaction that is a lot of life right now. I'm not UNhappy. I'm actually having a pretty fun go at it. It's just that I'm not really feeling a point. To life, that is.

Yeah, I've felt this before. In the past I went all Existential. Nihilism turned into punk rock turned into drugs turned into TRUE pointlessness. Dang. Not pretty.

This time around chemicals aren't calling to me. This time, I'm interested in the true nature of mind, peacefulness, being alive. And hopefully avoiding all the creepy detours that can happen while on the path. You know, I'm not trying to be too touchy-feely God realm. Like the person who just "loves everything. It's just all so beautiful man. I just love it...."

Nor do I want to be someone with a monomania of sorts. Meaning, someone who ONLY talks about teachings. I want to be able to bob and weave and move towards whatever is of interest to me at the moment intellectually while maintaining an understanding in empty awareness.

Neither do I want to have be an ascetic. I think it's important to stay tuned into family, friends, my own dark side.

And I kind of have a crush on a bright eyed tantric yogi.
Shit. that better not be the reason why I'm doing this.

to be continued.

Rjd2 spotted giving the drummer some

2008-01-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

Cuz the drummer hasn't had any for a LOOONG time.

this guy needs to be my new boyfriend. Seriously. Check this video out. It makes me heart happy.

Meanwhile, Rjd2 is underground enough where he may think me lame for going off on a video that was release a while ago, and is therefore now officially OLD. but whatever. After looking at other vids of his, I saw a trend toward him opting for truly boundary pushing effects and intelligent messages. So i fell more in love with him cuz it's tough to find a hip-hop type that has a brain for more than bitches and money these days.

Rjd2's body of work up until recently, was the kind of hip-hop that creates an image in your head of past moments in history and pulled from various genres. That stuff was put out while he was on Definitive Jux. Now, apparently, he's gone off into some CRAZY ass direction with his new label, XL Recordings, and is singing and playing instruments.

I love this fucker more. He's insane. He's a mad scientist. And Pitchfork panned the shit out of it. Which makes me definitely want to go out and sing it's praises.

The underdog needs love. Listen and holla.

st-st-stu-stuttering and the future of music in ads

2008-01-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

so i gotta admit that I actually fell in love with a song (a freaking pop song no less) that I heard on a TV commercial recently. Yeah you know it. There's a tripped out animated frog and the lyrics are, "it's been, it's been, such a, such a long time since anybody's touched me, the way that you touch me....so kiss me again. cuz only you can stop this st-st-stu-stutterin..."

yeah that one. If you don't know it, Watch it now.

I'm not stoked about it, but it's true. The product = Dentyne Ice. The song is caled "Stuttering" and the artist is called Ben's Brother. I downloaded the song because i liked it on the commerical. This is freakish for me. I'm a music snob in a huge way. I mean, I'd never go and introduce myself as such cuz it's pretentious and annoying to actually identify as a music snob. But the truth is I obsess about music fanatically, have a music collection that's better than yours (oh SNAP!) and really despise all the mainstream shit they shove down our throats. Even indie music is sucking large matzo balls lately. but this little sentimental pop song played over an ad made we want to buy the whole song. You can check it for your own damn self, and feel free to start ripping on me immediately. Note to all: the whole song is so not as snappy as the :30.

Anyway, this is supposed to just be an opening for me to wax philosophic about the future on music for ads. cuz it's gonna get crazy kiddies. Music Houses and the use of Big Name artists for ads will (hopefully?) probably become obsolete as bedroom composers and nerdy elecro homies kick out the jamz for companies/collectives offering tasty profit-sharing deals on product sales or click through rates for online ads.

Let me go off and research this more and see you on the flip, yo.

http://www.honeyshed.com/

2008-01-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

this is the newest version of branded entertainment for the kiddies. Little skits are written to sell the product (a fairly bland bunch of "hip" fashion, music, tech stuffs). You can get a little demo before buying, send to friends and chat with other like-minded shoppers. I guess it's got transparency going for it --it's def not trying to hide the fact that it's selling something. But not much else yet. It's still Beta. Needs to fix a lot before it goes launch for realz.

The most disturbing thing?

I didn't even bat an eye when i came upon it. Reminds me of VBS which is also blatant about ripping off subculture to sell shit.

argh. we are pretty gross. i mean, as a population. let's all groan aloud: "ugh, we SUCK!"

what makes a scene pure and vibrant?

2008-01-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

this is a question b/c I'm truly unsure and would love to get someone to answer this question. Growing up in Detroit, when people went dancing, they fucking danced. They got sweaty and gross and into the groove and weren't looking at eachother to see what they were wearing. And it was a scene. Another authentic and pure scene i kicked it with was punk/post-punk and these peeps were just as in the moment and disinterested in pretense as the electronic mofos. Now all I see are people standing on the wall. That is not helping the spirit of celebration and letting go, kiddies. Get into it. So this leads me to wonder if the decrease in letting loose is a generational thing or a drug thing? I'd be lying if I didn't point out the rampant drug use in the electro and punk (these kids weren't straight-edging to say the least), but they were definitely tres cathartic as well. What does it take? I'm trying to figure it out. I'd love to create a safe environment for people to let loose in. I'll post pics from supposedly "happening" joints in the near future. Don't snore while you check em out. UGH!