« October 2006 | Main | December 2006 »
November 30, 2006
People News. Online vs. Offline Video
People News. Online vs. Offline Video: Times are changing. Digital transfer is changing how people interact with video and audio media. BBC News recently posted an article about the erosion of TV viewing. Granted, this article discusses a study done in the UK, but it still presents interesting commentary on how our viewing habits are shifting with the likes of iTunes, SlingBox and Youtube being ever-present.
As reported, "The online video boom is starting to eat into TV viewing time, an ICM survey of 2,070 people for the BBC suggests. Some 43% of Britons who watch video from the internet or on a mobile device at least once a week said they watched less normal TV as a result. And online and mobile viewing is rising - three quarters of users said they now watched more than they did a year ago."
Read more about the eroding viewership of TV [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:49 PM
Art & Design. Banksy Videos
Art & Design. Banksy Videos: Banksy creates and shows you how he did it. Dork recently came across a collection of Banksy videos that demonstrate the process behind his genius. Determined to make a statement, Banksy's artistic wit never ceases to make us think.
Many of you may know him for his spoof on Paris Hilton, during the debut of her latest album. But for those who are not familiar, here is a brief background from wiki, "Banksy started as a freehand graffiti artist then discovered the art of stenciling, and soon became noticed for his art. His stencils feature striking and humorous images occasionally combined with slogans. The message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment or pro-freedom. Subjects include animals such as monkeys and rats, policemen, soldiers, children and the elderly. He also makes stickers (the Neighbourhood Watch subvert) and sculpture (the murdered phonebox), and was responsible for the cover art of Blur's 2003 album Think Tank."
View a few of Banksy's films [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:18 PM
November 29, 2006
Gadgets. Holiday Time and Nike +
Gadgets. Holiday Time and Nike+ Amp Bracelet: It's so fresh. We love this quarter. Although part of dork's agenda takes residence in socialistic ways, consumerism can feel so good. We're eating up some holiday capitalism right now. So in the spirit of buying, have you seen the news about Apple and Nike's latest collabo, the Amp bracelet?
iLounge* reports, "The Men’s Health 2007 Tech Guide has revealed another new Nike product made just for iPods. The Nike Amp+ is a wrist strap for runners that integrates a wireless remote for controlling an iPod and the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. The magazine prices the Nike Amp+ at $80." If it hits shelves in time for the holidays this will be the perfect compliment to the Nike+ Original Run by LCD Soundsystem.
Artist & Audio Mix Details: 45:33: Nike+ Original Run is a unique album written specifically for runners, but its allure extends to all music fans. Murphy explains, “This appealed to me because it was so anathematic to what you’re typically asked to do as an artist: make easily digestible lumps of music for albums, or the radio, or whatever. I’d been thinking of the records I love in which people made one “song” that took up the entire LP and realizing that releasing something like this would otherwise be a virtually impossibility for me, I became excited when the Nike+ project came along.”
Driven to create something outside of the limitations imposed by commercial releases, Murphy’s own interest in running and his experiences in fight training and jiujitsu informed the conceptual framework of the album: "In testing, I found that 'hard, fast, propulsive' music was NOT the best running music for me… Sometimes the best way to keep running is to find the parts of the run that are actually rests – that while you’re still running, you’re viewing some of the run as soothing and recuperative, rather than constantly feeling like you’re running for your life." The result is a fresh perspective that takes its audience—music and sports enthusiast alike—through a dynamic range of tempos, rhythms and the unmistakable sound of LCD Soundsystem. Not just for runners, fans of Murphy and his multifarious identities (LCD Soundsystem, producer/engineer, DFA label-head and international DJ) will find this a must-have recording for their collections.
Posted by taj at 11:19 PM
Habitat. Prefab Homes & Studio 804
Habitat. Prefab Homes & Studio 804: Prefab homes are taking the market by storm. As we mentioned in the Design e2 post, eco-friendly modern design is playing an increasing role in architecture today. Recently the University of Kansas and Studio 804 made a significant contribution to the cause with their latest project.
Inhabitat reports: "Since the last time we touted Studio 804’s design/build prefab projects, the University of Kansas studio group has completed construction and landed the prestigious Home Of The Year Award, given annually by Architecture magazine. Their prefab Modular 3 home, which was conceptualized, designed, and built all within a twenty-week long semester, earned the award with its modular framework, environmentally-friendly materials, and gorgeously modern aesthetic."
Read more about UK and Studio 804's Prefab Project [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:11 AM
Pause for Photography. Tishon
Pause for Photography. Tishon: Tishon is a sick artist. Some folks do art for fame, some do it for expression and others do it because it's a piece of them. Tishon's art is so fresh and consistent that it has to be a piece of him.
So today, we pause for Tishon's photography. In his Flickr you'll find great snaps of Brooklyn. He captures the city in all its raw beauty - whether it's some old tires, whose color composition speaks far more than than their current use, or a street sign's application of typography. Tishon captures the city's respiration (queue common, mos def and kweli). Not to mention, he's also a fantastic graphic designer.
Check out Tishon's website and flickr page [Here & Here]
Posted by taj at 09:45 AM
Art & Design. Boost Mobile & MadSteez
Art & Design. Boost Mobile & MadSteez: Art and marketing are colliding at tremendous pace. At the Tokion Conference there was significant mention of these collaborations. Some companies are doing it well and others aren't. Boost Mobile is an example of a company doing it well. We've always been fans of their eye for collaboration. At any given time, you could stop by the Dork Offices and hear the extended version of Kanye, Game and Luda's Boost Mobile song. Classic!
This time around, Boost is partnering with artist, Madsteez. Growing up on the outskirts of Washington DC, artist Madsteez (AKA Mr. Ween) was peculiarly sculpted into what he is today. Born blind in his left eye with three first names – Mark Paul Deren – Madsteez, 26, took a turn in his life after an unfortunate loss in the 1985 Racquetball Championships. An ill sense of humor materialized through frequent games of Biscuit and developing nicknames for himself and friends. Madsteez became a ferocious kite walking, Nerds Rope eating, Dolorean loving, Zebra pin-striped fluorescent navy blue wearing young gentleman. His immeasurable abundance of creativity and electromagnetism has led to an extensive art collaboration list. Starting in Decemeber, folks can download his work on Boost Mobile Phones.
Support Madsteez and check out his work for Boost [Here]
Posted by taj at 09:13 AM
November 28, 2006
Film. An Unreasonable Man
Film. An Unreasonable Man: In 1966, General Motors launched a secret smear campaign against Ralph Nader, an obscure public interest lawyer who’d written a book critical of one of their cars, the Corvair. After G.M.’s campaign was revealed, the scandal launched Nader into national prominence and established him as the leader of the modern Consumer Movement. Over the next thirty years and without ever holding public office, Nader built a legislative record that rivals any contemporary president: seat belts, airbags, product labeling, nuclear safety – all largely due to the efforts of Nader and his citizen groups. Yet today, when most people hear his name, they think of the man who cost the Democrats the 2000 Presidential election.
Through rare archival footage and over forty on-camera interviews with supporters, critics, former employees and Ralph Nader himself, first-time filmmakers Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan tell a fascinating and complex story of America’s most passionate and polarizing private citizen. As the country faces an uncertain future, ever caught between ideals and compromises, An Unreasonable Man is a revealing glimpse – through the prism of one man’s political life – at the conflicted character of a nation.
You can find more info on An Unreasonable Man [Here]
Posted by james at 04:05 PM
Contest. Beck x Mimobot
Contest. Beck x Mimobot: Yow! Dork has a serious contest for you. Just in case you missed our Beck review, this is what we said about his album, "Artistic freedom has become a cliché. Who has that (besides Prince)? In today's big business and even bigger greed, artistic integrity is a forgotten desire. Suddenly everyone's adopting this pessimism and giving up the fight. At the Dork offices we're seeing a wave of sub par efforts delivered daily. BUT, then there's Beck. He's an outlier. He's careless. He's himself, and it works. As he continues to be a Dork favorite, his latest effort has kicked a hole in the envelope of categorization. It's nice to hear some music that appears to be made without a business plan or any other inhibiting forms of constraint."
If you're as big a fan of Beck as we are, you'll be supa-jazzed about this contest. All you have to do is answer the following question: "What is the name of the comedic artist who came on stage with Beck during his Letterman performance of Nausea?" Please note, only one will win. We'll randomly draw a name from the group of folks who send us the right answer. The winner will receive an autographed Beck poster and a 1 Gig Mimobot! View the mimobot below and a Googletube video of the Letterman performance (it's easy).
Email the correct answer & win a signed Beck poster and a Mimobot [Email]
Visit Mimobot - the designer flashdrives [Here]
Beck Information:
+ Official Site [Here]
+ Beck's Myspace Page [Here]
+ Audio Stream for Nausea [Here]
+ Video clip for Nausea [Here]
[This contest will run until December 12]
Posted by taj at 09:31 AM
November 27, 2006
People News. Beware of the Sample Troll
People News. Beware of the Sample Troll: Sample Trolls are companies that hold portfolios of old rights (sometimes accumulated in dubious fashion) and use lawsuits to extort money from successful music artists for routine sampling, no matter how minimal or unnoticeable. Recently, one of the most notorious sample trolls, Bridgeport Music, sued Jay-Z for copyright infringement for his 2003 song Justify My Thug. Tim Wu has an interesting piece in Slate about the sample troll and their impact on hip hop music.
As reported by Slate: "If the benefits are abstract, the costs imposed are obvious. Sample trolls have already changed the face of hip-hop. Early rap, like Public Enemy, combined and mixed thousands of sounds in a single album. That makes sense musically, but it doesn't make sense legally. Thousands or even hundreds of samples, under the Bridgeport theory, mean thousands of copyright clearances and licenses. Today, Public Enemy's breakout album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, would cost millions to produce or, more likely, would never have been made at all."
Listen to Jay-Z Versus the Sample Troll [Here]
Posted by james at 08:37 PM
People. Rickey Kim
People. Rickey Kim: This week, dork presents a new art conversation. This time it's with Rickey Kim of Evil Monito, MrKimSays, Riottt and The Social Trust. If you recall, way back, Rickey was Dork of the Week and he continues to inspire us with his movements.
Back then we said: "Rickey sparked a cross-genre movement far and wide with his social products. His online magazine Evil Monito urges people to think critically and act postively. His designs in fashion are innovative and fresh. And, his store brings accessibility to the rarest of items. This cat has an abundance of self-motivation. His desire to untangle the mess pop culture presents makes him a serious dork in our book. It's refreshing to know that in the world of media, we're not alone." So check out what he's been up to recently. Catzie caught up with him in LA for a brief conversation. We have some outake photos for you below.
Read the latest Art Conversation with Rickey Kim [Here]
Posted by taj at 08:44 AM
November 22, 2006
Habitat. DIY PhotoWall
Habitat. DIY PhotoWall: Moments of inspiration begin when we open our eyes in the morning. If we existed in a boring, non-reflective place, our ideas would be dead at the door. That's why it's critical that our homes and office spaces are decorated with tools of creativity. For example, photos serve as a good start for any inspiring living space.
Recently, Curbly posted a great DIY piece on assembling a photo wall. Here's a clip, "A couple years ago I attended a play at The Theater in the Round in Minneapolis (really bad site) and in the lobby they had this cool system for hanging cast bios and other info that consisted of wire, pulled taut across a span, in this case from floor to ceiling, with small hardware holding some photos and glass in place. I inspected it and it seemed like something I could do at home. So next time I was at the hardware store I picked up some very basic hardware for just a few bucks."
Read more about the DIY PhotoWall project [Here]
Posted by taj at 02:14 AM
Art & Design. Design e2
Art & Design. Design e2: The semi-delay of environmental change causes many to be apathetic. But, newsflash, the corroding of our planet is real and it's now! Recently, we've noticed a rising tide of design and art trying to combat this apathy with pointed pieces informing the public about the dangers of harming the planet.
One of the best is Design e2 (The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious). With a series of downloadable episodes the site explores the complex social, political, cultural, environmental and economic issues of sustainable architecture. Traversing the globe, the series chronicles important stories of green architecture as they exist in New York, Chicago, China and into the future. [Thanks Vaughn!]
Check out Design e2 The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:19 AM
November 21, 2006
People. Interview with Count Bass D!
People. Interview with Count Bass D: Count Bass D is a musician, a writer and a family man. I remember talking to a friend that knows him and he said, "Not only is D talented and all those other things, he's deeply caring." You don't have to know him to understand this. His music resonates with care. The sonic fabric of his style drives the audience to believe he's not your average musician.
Hailing all the way from Nashville, Count Bass D is moving things. As we've said before, "Act Your Waist Size is a brilliantly moody album, worth every moment you spend listening to it." Dork caught up with Count for a brief conversation. [Interview by Catzie!]
Dork: Your name is a play on the great jazz musician Count Basie. Were you a big fan?
CB: Yes, but actually I was more of a fan of Bassie's attitude and the way he treated his musicians. The fact that after he was gone and passed in ‘84, his musicians, the Count Basie Orchestra still have the ability to tour to this very day because of their relationship and the type of guy that he was. I wanna be remembered as a good guy like he was remembered as a good guy. I wasn’t as familiar with the big band early, it was more of the spirit. I love the arrangements, and I love the music, you know, it was obviously a little before my time and I’m not really like a retro artist like that, but it’s more of like the spirit of the musicianship. That’s what I love about the jazz musicians and jazz music in general, is the spirit of the musicianship.
Dork: You also play live instruments, which some people may regard as an essential talent for a producer to possess. Do you agree with that? Are there things that you feel are essential talents that an MC should possess as well?
CB: I believe an MC should study a lot of different things outside of MCing. I believe that when you bring that to your MCing table, it makes you who you are. I believe that people should concentrate on who they are as people. And if they concentrate on who they are as people, and when they bring that back to whatever discipline it is, be that it’s DJing, be that it’s MCing, BBoying, be that it’s producing, that’s how they become most original and stick out in the sea of people out there. A lot of people are studying DJ Premier, studying Pete Rock, studying Dilla, and that’s great but you have to study yourself and find yourself in what they’re teaching you and learn how to incorporate that and then you’ll see much more originality just pop out of you. Everybody as an individual has their own story so you have to bring that to the table.
Dork: I read somewhere that on a typical day that you come home from your day job, and then spend time with your family and then you make beats. How is it that a self professed “best producer in the game” still has a day job and time for the family?
CB: Uh, God makes that possible (laughs). As far as the ideas and the music that comes to me, luckily I don’t have to labor over it too long but luckily God completely translates those ideas directly and I’m able to put those into the type the machines I’m working with. With my family, I think it’s the same thing, where God hooked me up with a family this large so that I would be able to keep doing this thing. [Before] I didn’t want to be alive for many many years. I wanted to stop doing music for a living and all my day jobs weren't cutting it. It was a situation where after I started having a family I started having a reason to live. That’s the reason why I think God got me stuck in the music business, because I have to do it. That’s the only way I can feed four children, one on the way and my wife. It's all of us on tour. All of us everywhere. It’s not even a joke. It’s so real, it’s so real.
Dork: There was a time when you said you didn’t like rapping so you stopped, that was until your friend, MF Doom made Operation Doomsday and you liked it again. And then there was another time when you said you that you didn’t like producing so you stopped altogether and went to go work at a dry cleaner. Do you feel that it’s an advantage that you have the ability to stop just because you weren’t feeling it, as opposed to having some expectations you have to meet?
CB: Yes I think that’s a blessing, because instead of giving someone half my best, luckily I have a discipline where if I’m into playing music more then that’s a phase, at the same time I try to play my position and do the phase I’m in so that people get the best of me. And that’s the reason why people have been saying about me “The thing with Count is that he doesn’t disappoint”. And that’s because I’m not trying to be somebody else. I’m only doing exactly what I’m good at, at that time and if I’m not good at it at that time, then I’m not going to do it. The thing about the lyrics, I have always been into extensive vocabulary and being on a different range of subjects. At the time that I was doing it, nobody else was doing it. So I stopped doing it, I didn’t think that people would really feel it that way. You know Slick Rick always had the nice vocabulary and all that, [but] it wasn’t until Doom came out with the Doomsday, until that was the format. We had been affiliated for many many years, but I hooked back up with him in the early 2006 and he just took me under his wing. He basically gave me like a Hip Hop PhD. I’ve come through the ranks and I’ve had some good teachers, the Mighty BIC. Alot of people showed me how to work these machines, [but] it wasn't until I got with Doom. He completely broke me off with a bit of knowledge, that I’ll be able to take to my grave and I’m forever grateful about that.
Dork: Do you ever listen to yourself for leisure or is it mostly for the work like during the creative process? You have a favorite song you play or perform all the time?
CB: The only album I listen to every once and a while is Begborrowsteal. It’s like one big piece. It’s almost like a short film. The rest of my records, I don’t listen to that much, you know, I just don’t. The music comes and then it goes out. Because I’m the one doing it, and I’m the one involved, I don’t get an opportunity to sit back, enjoy and take in my catalog like everyone else. I’m just trying to keep going and keep going. But Begborrowsteal is a special record but the rest of them, obviously they are all, those are my adopted children. Prelife Crisis and Act Your Waist Size, I gave up for adoption.
Dork: I was reading up on you and you’ve some interesting things so I’m gonna quote you on them. You’ve said before “I don’t believe that my music is for everybody. As a certain artist if there’s a person I don’t like, I would… discourage from buying my shit. As far as my music is concerned, I’m not as much of a capitalist… I’m perfectly fine. As long as me and the other five people that got my last name got something to eat…”. But what if only say, only 5 people in the whole wide world liked your music then, you wouldn’t be able to feed to your family. Would that affect your creative process in terms of style or would you jut keep doing everything the same way and hope the world is more receptive?
CB: Not at all, not one ounce. This is to death right here. It’s like a Jean Michele Basquiat painting. There’s only one person who has it and if that person’s willing to pay 6 million dollars for it, then that’s gonna feed his family. So if 5 people are willing to ante up and chip in an say “Yo Count, we’re willing [to have] you to just personally come here and make us some artwork, blasé blah...” I would completely perfectly happy with that. I have no goal of being larger than I am and not [having] one more person know who I am. There are so many people across the world who know me. I’m completely satisfied. I don’t see how these guys can have three hundred, five hundred million dollars and still charge $15.99. I think that’s bullshit and I don’t see how fans put up with that shit. You know what I mean? I don’t see how that’s fair.
Dork: You’ve been around the country alot, from Boston to Tampa and now you’re settled in Nashville which seems like a very unlikely place for a Hip Hop artist. How did you end up there, and did you feel that not being in the limelight of the big city with other artist is helping you creatively?
CB: Without a doubt. Its just a situation where Nashville, I ended up there, because I was in boarding school in Pennsylvania and I had visions of going Northeastern or Julliard to study more music but the streets kinds got into me a little bit. I still had the project mentality, you know. I was doing some drugs and some things like that in my room and because I was there on a scholarship, I almost got kicked out. I had to come down to a regular state school in Nashville to make my way. It was divine order, let’s say it that way. Because in Nashville I’m my own guy, I don’t have any pressure from anybody to sound like anybody or to compete with anybody for anything. Artists don’t even come down here to perform, I barely run into these dudes. So I feel like I can conduct myself in anyway. And I’m in Nashville because it’s the cheapest place for me to raise my family- nah seriously, it’s the cheapest place for me to raise my family and do my thing. That’s the only thing I’m here for, see what I’m saying? If I make enough money to handle my family, after that I'm trying to help the other people around me that I know are struggling, I’m not trying to get rich off of this in any type of way. The only thing I’m trying to do is seeing and taking care of my responsibility. That’s it.
Dork: Japan seems to see many of your projects first and it also seems like Japan is one of those countries that give a lot of respect to American artists who rarely get any play at home. Why do you believe so?
CB: I think it’s a situation with Japan, they're still music fans, they’re still music lovers. And what I mean by music lovers is that they still listen to music for music’s sake. In America I find alot of people buy records because they buy the first big record on Tuesday and they have to be able to start quoting lines with their friends on Wednesday. Its like certain people watch television shows not because they like them but because they’re so popular and they feel like at the water cooler the next day they're not gonna have anything to discuss with anyone. Japan is not like that. They listen to whatever the hell they wanna hear. And it’s not a matter of if the new big record comes out and if they don't know any of the words, then [they’re] gonna look like an asshole at school. That's why as far as Japan, they’re still music lovers. People don’t like music here, not for the most part, not any more.
Listen, music is product now. Like when you go to the grocery store, there are great detergents there right? And there’s a whole sea of detergents that aren’t, but you only see what’s [there] so you don’t sit there and say “I'm gonna seek out and order my detergent online or such and such”. No, what you see is what you get. So whoever markets it the best and whoever has the best placement is whoever's gonna win. It’s not a matter of who’s the best, period. It all comes down to opinions. It doesn't matter what detergent gets your clothes clean, it’s a matter of what's easiest for you to access. It's that that simple. And I’m fine with that because when I'm dead and gone, then people will have more of a reason to put my records on. That’s what happened with rappers, you get to make music until your dead and then everyone decides that they wanna go head. That’s the only reason why I’m making so much music now, that’s the insurance policy for my family, and that’s the honest to god truth. And I know it sounds corny, it sounds ridiculous but that’s the way it is. I’m trying to make as much music, and put it to the side. And I told Oriana, “If something happens to me, and those muthafuckas start calling and say “You got any other shit?”, then you can start to negotiate.” Seriously that’s the god honest truth. That’s the only way I can live.
Dork: I came across something you said about the parallels between crate-digging and graffiti -"I apply the same rules to it. I believe in getting up on the biggest spot that you possibly can. It’s definitely illegal, that’s the reason why I still sample. I believe in order to make real hip-hop, you have to really be making some sort of parallel to graffiti. So, I applied the same thing to digging for records". Could you explain that more, how that is real Hip Hop?
CB: That is Hip Hop. Hip Hop started with graffiti. That was before everything. That was before people were hooking up, in ‘73 and ’74. The same thing too, when you talk about putting together block parties, you guys were stealing the electricity just to be able to get power. My point is, that’s how Hip Hop starts. It is a renegade type of music, its like punk rock is the only way you can really describe it. It’s not supposed to be any rules, it’s not supposed to be any format. Nobody supposed to follow anything. Or anybody. The location changes every time. The block party wasn’t in the same spot. If the cops come shut it down, well you gotta move it. It’s like the same with graffiti. If you’re getting up in the same spot for a while, and it gets hot you gotta move it. Graffiti is what dictates everything. If you’re not following the model of how those guys just went after it - for the love. None of those guys ever blew up and made millions. But a lot of the guys were able to parlay that into things to make money for themselves. But I don’t understand this whole arts millions and trillions type shit. That’s not me. I got into it for the art of it. I’m not a good business man. I don’t know shit about it really, I spent most of my time learning about the arts. As far as with the graffiti thing, that’s the parallel to Hip Hop. I believe that if you can’t find some sort of a parallel to what somebody’s doing and graffiti, to me that’s not Hip Hop. For me, personally I think Hip Hop is completely dead as a result of nobody having that attitude anymore. It’s like an unspoken rule that’s supposed to be there and it's just not there anymore - not across the board, obviously you find little pockets here and there. But across the board, I think it’s just gone. You know what I'm saying. If Kool Herc doesn’t have a mansion, if Grand Master Flash doesn’t have a mansion, if Bambaatta doesn't have a mansion, then the whole shit is a fraud. And what I tell these guys too, is if you’re an inspiring musician and you talk about Hip Hop this, Hip Hop that, you make sure you study the guys who started this shit, because you see what’s happened to them. Look at what DJ Hollywood’s doing and see if that’s what you wanna do. Look at what Grand Wizard Theodore is doing and see if that’s what you wanna do. Don’t look to Puff and these guys because that’s not what’s going to happen to you if your studying Hip Hop [correctly]. If you're doing the Hip Hop shit correctly then you're not gonna end up with a Bentley and all that other shit. It just doesn’t happen that way. So you have to ask yourself “Do I still wanna do this for a living?” If you doing Hip Hop and you aspire to end up like Kool Herc or Grand Master Flash, cool. Which is a lot of respect, not necessarily doughwise, because I never seen Kool Herc - he may have a Bentley, he may have a mansion… I don’t know. But my point is that I should see him on MTV cribs showing me what the benefits of this Hip Hop thing has done for him. He’s not seeing the residuals, if it's really all supposed to be about Hip Hop, then how come Crazy Legs isn’t ambassador and doing all this crazy shit? I’m not hating on these big dudes now. Don’t get me wrong, but lets call a spade a spade and see it for what it is. Rap music is not music, and you guys are doing a great job, but rap music is pop music. When I see Jay-Z and Puff and them, I see Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. No different. And I don’t hate on these girls for what they’re doing , but at the same time that’s not what I do. I tap machines. And I'm creating a music theory that these guys are gonna have to come back and study. Pete Rock is creating a music theory, Doom is creating lyrics that people are going to have to study forever. That’s it.
Dork: Any exciting projects we can expect from you?
CB: Yes, it’s my wife’s book and its called “Something to Cope”. It’s a collection of her writing. She just had a whole bunch of writings; short essays, prose and poetry. I had an idea and said “You know instead of just putting the book out… I wanted to do an audio CD that comes with it”. There are 48 different writings in there so I did 48 beats, put ‘em up under there and just had her speak it. Its not like spoken word or nothing, its just her speaking the writings as the writer. I’ve been working on it for 5 years now. I put most of my heart and soul into that project and so that’s the most exciting thing I’ve been working on. That will be coming out the top of next year, probably around January or February. It’ll be manufactured in hard cover and everything. It’s my gift to her for everything she’s done for me because she really is everything for me. I wouldn’t even be here, musically or anywise. I didn't really give a crap about doing any of this, but she knew I had to feed the children I gave her, and put me on track and made sure I handled that. So musically I can get it done and she does the rest and that’s how we’re doing it.
--el fin
***
[Listen to Junkies] Here
[Buy Act Your Waist Size] Here
[Photo Credit] Here
Posted by taj at 10:26 PM
Film. Factotum
Film. Factotum: Henry Chinaski is a drunk. He's also a gambler, a womanizer, and a writer. But more than anything, he's a drunk.
Factotum is based on the book by Charles Bukowski. Matt Dillon's brilliant performance captures the intoxicated journey through life and art. Factotum is the story of a man living his art; a writer who risks everything, tries anything, and finds poetry in life's pleasure and pain.
Watch the trailer for Factotum [Here]
Posted by james at 07:50 PM
Habitat. UNIQLO SoHo
Habitat. UNIQLO SoHo: Japan's most popular apparel retailer, UNIQLO, recently opened it's flagship store in SoHo. We got a look at the fall/winter catalog and we were really impressed. UNIQLO offers stylish, high-quality, affordable clothing and accessories and a modern shopping experience.
Here's some more information on the store: "The look and feel of the UNIQLO SoHo NY global flagship can best be described as functional beauty, featuring meticulous organization and streamlined design embodied in the iconic store architecture and fixtures. Designed by the renowned architect Masamichi Katayama, the global flagship authentically recreates the unique and pleasant experience of modern Japanese retail culture, offering an environment that is beautiful, clean, well-lit and organized and in which every customer is greeted with true Japanese hospitality. The look is simple, allowing the products to speak for themselves. However, in keeping with UNIQLO’s appreciation of heritage, this sense of modern simplicity is juxtaposed by the presence of key architectural elements of the original space, such as exposed brick walls and large white columns."
Check out UNIQLO [Here]
Posted by james at 07:22 PM
Art & Design. Anthony Burrill
Art & Design. Anthony Burrill: Anthony Burrill works as a freelance designer producing print, moving image and interactive design based on direct communication that's often humorous.
He's done projects for Bloomberg, TOMORROW, Hans Brinker Budget Hotel, Playstation, Nike, Audi and interactive web based projects for Intairnet and Kraftwerk.
Check out Anthony Burrill's work [Here]
Posted by james at 06:32 PM
People News. Stanley Crouch Speaks
People News. Stanley Crouch Speaks: Conversations are important. That much is obvious. The challenge is being able to deal with the subject matter. Stanley Crouch's piece, Memo to young black men: Please grow up, is provocative. He writes (referencing a conversation he had with a woman about hip hop's influence): "The way she understood it was that these young black men do not see growing up as having any advantages to it. One is either current or old-fashioned and outdated. The only success they think they can believe in is had by either athletes or rappers. Young black men. So they hold on to adolescence and adolescent ways as long as they can."
When it comes to rap and hip hop culture in general, I agree with Chris Rock's view: "I love rap music. I love it! But I'm tired of defending it." I think we expect too much from hip hop. It's not going to save the world and it's not going to destroy it. Longtime critics of the genre and it's impact on youth culture, need to test a new strategy - ignoring it.
Read Memo to young black men: Please grow up [Here]
Posted by james at 05:39 PM
Art & Design. Jan Wilker of karlssonwilker
Art & Design. Jan Wilker of karlssonwilker: If you're anything like us, you probably watch a fair amount of MTV. There have been many times where we've decided to boycott the channel because they weren't playing videos from A Tribe Called Quest on the hour. If they can have a Jam of the Week, they can at least respond to our request for ATCQ on the hour. Perhaps we should start a letter writing campaign! Ah - but we digress (Sorry about letting that ramble in). Anyway, if you watch MTV you'll notice some funky motion graphics floating throughout videos, in the corner or for entire ad spots. PSFK caught up with Wilker, the designer of the current motif for the motion graphics.
As reported: "Five years ago, two friends Hjalti Karlsson and Jan Wilker had the idea to start their own design studio in New York City. In the time since, karlssonwilker has created work for clients including The New York Times Magazine, Mtv, the Guggenheim Museum, and Puma. They also created a book you might have read called 'tellmewhy' which reveals the story behind the first 24 months of their business. PSFK caught up with Jan during a trip around the globe to inquire about inspiration, their creative process, and generally to find out how things were going."
Read PSFK's interview with Jan Wilker of karlssonwilker [Here]
Posted by taj at 01:59 AM
Habitat. The Reimaging of Saint-Denis
Habitat. The Reimaging of Saint-Denis: Changing neighborhoods have a hard time shedding their past. As metropolitans expand, old areas become hip, and economic developments shift - what is happening to the city or suburb that was? BBC takes a look at one suburb's image near Paris.
As reported: "Saint-Denis, a bleak northern suburb of Paris, has been trying for years to advertise itself as a good place to do business. On the face of it, the city faces an uphill battle. It lies in France's poorest district, the Seine-Saint-Denis - home to some of the worst sink estates in the country. How many company heads in their right minds want to relocate to a region best known for its high crime rates and riot-prone, immigrant suburbs?"
Read more about the reimaging of Saint-Denis [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:58 AM
November 20, 2006
Film. Russian Dolls
Film. Russian Dolls: In our age-obsessed culture, turning 30 is a big deal. I used to think that I wouldn't care about the big 3-0. I just thought I'd be immune to the vanity. I mean, age aint nothing but a number and you're only as young as you feel, right?
Xavier is an aspiring novelist. He has recently turned 30. So far his greatest achievement is a co-credit on an over-the-top TV soap. His love life is equally disappointing, consisting of one-night stands and unfinished romances. He can snag beautiful, smart and successful women - but ultimately sabotages even the most promising encounters. A chance meeting could be the answer to his floundering career and romantic life, but Xavier's lack of direction threatens to turn his good fortune into the ultimate heartbreak.
Watch the trailer for Russian Dolls [Here]
Posted by james at 03:55 PM
People News. Jay does what he loves!
People News. Jay does what he loves: The NY Times seems to love Jay. And, Jay does what he loves. This latest article has been bouncing around the dork offices with much discussion. It's nice to see a well written piece on Hova. It's also nice to see something that discusses the multi-dimensional issues he's facing being a CEO, Mogul and Hip Hop artist trying to come out of retirement, all while being on the older end of the hip hop spectrum. Get 'em Jigga man.
As reported in the NY Times: "If you had visited the Def Jam offices on Election Day, you might have noticed a red and blue placard leaning against a potted plant in the lobby. It said, 'Jay-Z: The name you can trust.' Unlike most political slogans, this one is accurate, more or less. For the last decade Jay-Z has been the world’s most reliable rapper, a hitmaker beloved by fans and respected by his peers. (Even, or especially, the ones who envy his career.) Obsessives pore over his intricate early rhymes. Clubgoers rap along with evergreen hits like “Big Pimpin’ ” and “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me).” Gossip lovers gawk at photographs of him with his longtime girlfriend, Beyoncé. Bloggers argue over his place in hip-hop’s pantheon. And if you’re a real Jay-Z fan, you can probably do all those things at once."
Read more about Hova at the Times [Here]
Posted by taj at 12:10 PM
Art & Design. At Broad Nightlight
Art & Design. At Broad Nightlight: The border between light and dark is a special place. Great photography captures that space. BeingHunted has a terrific photo exhibit displaying Berlin, Tokyo and Hong Kong at night. BH never ceases to impress. If you're not a reader of this online publication, be prepared to be addicted.
As reported from the site, "Is it dark at night? In the urban areas - never. Our new feature "At Broad Nightlight" documents the illumination of three major capitals on our planet - Berlin, Tokyo, Hong Kong. Henrik Kürschner took his camera with him on his nightly ventures to capture the lights at, in, and around famous landmarks, from rooftops, from apartments, or in the streets."
View At Broad Nightlight by Henrik Kürschner at BeingHunted [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:56 AM
Art & Design. Kabul Matters & Ping Mag!
Art & Design. Kabul Matters & Ping Mag: Art is everywhere. In fact, some of the most fascinating art exist in the most distressed areas. One of our favorite publications, Ping Magazine, does a fantastic job of mining those hidden art experiences. This time their writers have focused on Kabul, Afghanistan.
As they report: "For all you couch potatoes, this one really sounds adventurous: Luis Berrios Negron, after recently finishing his studies in architecture at the MIT, went to Kabul to do a workshop with art students in Afghanistan. The Puerto Rican ended up doing an architectural performance involving the remains of a huge swimming pool from the Russian occupation and a gigantic green cloth. All on top of a hill right in the center of the city. And he did that where? Yes, in Afghanistan – the place you usually only hear of when it’s in the sad news about bombing attacks and international military presence. What you probably also didn’t know is that Kabul hosts a young and emerging art scene led by Rahraw Omarzad. He founded the Center for Contemporary Art Afghanistan (CCAA) in 2005 that specialises in video performances."
View the interview and art of Kabul @ Ping Magazine [Here]
Posted by taj at 10:59 AM
November 15, 2006
Art & Design. Frank 151
Art & Design. Frank 151: Frank 151 is a powerful indie mag. They've inspired Dork since our grad school days. The other night they hosted a groovy event at their latest endeavor, the Frank Chop Shop. Dork was present for the big occasion. It was a nice evening of good folks, ideas and support for Sir Frank's new line of business.
About the event - from their site: "The Frank Chop Shop is opening! Frank 151 and Kingsize linked up to kick off the opening of Frank's flagship store and barbershop. Come and view our super official collection of 'barber shop' photography featuring Ricky Powell, Jamal Shabazz, Craig Wetherby and many more." Be sure to stop by and enjoy the atmosphere.
Visit Frank 151's flagship store and barbershop at 19 Essex Street NYC
Posted by taj at 10:42 AM
Habitat. Commonwealth in DC
Habitat. Commonwealth in DC: Attention to detail is the difference between good and great. This is true in the service sector and, oddly, true to form in art. Where artists are able to capture the exact expression of their vision, that's when the impact resonates.
Commonwealth boutique has mastered their attention to detail in both previously mentioned areas. The design of the store, the clean lines and creative themes make the shopping experience refreshing. Their service is responsive while being matched with a wide range of hard to find products. And, they're not hiding their enthusiasm for the street wear genre. Fortunately, we don't have to go to VA anymore to see the store. They're opening one in DC! Being a DC resident for 7 years, I'm sure the city will welcome their opening. Definitely check them out this Fall. [Visit]
More details to come about Commonwealth's DC Opening soon.
Posted by taj at 07:48 AM
November 14, 2006
Film. Prime
Film. Prime: Ben Younger is a film writer-director from Brooklyn. We're biased but we think that Brooklynites* make the best films (think: Spike Lee, Woody Allen, Steve Buscemi, Noah Baumbach). "That's why they call it the planet. Not a borough or a province, our style's uncommon (Mos Def)." Anyway, Younger made his feature film debut with Boiler Room, a corporate drama with colorful dialogue and an early 90's hip hop soundtrack. His use of music is up there with Spike and Woody, in my opinion. Younger would use a gritty little song like this in one of his films. [Desire]
Younger's second film, Prime, is a romantic comedy. It's about the odd intersection of three New Yorkers. Rafi, a recently divorced, 37-year-old career woman and David, a talented 23-year-old Jewish painter, meet by chance and fall in love. Rafi shares all her secrets with her therapist Lisa. Unbeknownst to Rafi, Lisa happens to be David's mother. It's the kind bizarre story that only makes sense in New York. The characters have depth, the locales are authentic and the dialogue is natural.
View the trailer for Prime and catch it on HBO [Here]
Posted by james at 11:54 PM
November 13, 2006
People News. Electroland
People News. Electroland: Electroland is a design team that creates public art using tracking technology. Their latest project, EnterActive, is a luminous field of red LED lights embedded into the entry walkway that respond to the moves of visitors.
When the walkway interactivity is triggered the impact is mirrored on a eight-story grid of LED panels on the building facade. When completed, a video camera facing the building will transmit images to a plasma screen in the lobby, so visitors inside can see the effect their footwork is having outside. [via: we make money not art]
You can find more info about Electroland [Here]
Posted by james at 06:37 PM
Artist. John Legend & Stormy
Artist. John Legend & Stormy: John Legend's Save Room is an office fave. It has all the elements of a good love song: a nice melody and sincere, simple lyrics.
Save Room makes great use of Stormy. In my beatdigging days, this was one of my favorite songs to play. It has a killer intro and a melancholy vibe. Enjoy.
Listen to Stormy, the orginal for Save Room & Heaven [Here & Here]
Posted by james at 05:51 PM
Film. Fur
Film. Fur: I really wanted to like this film. It's directed by Steven Shainberg (Secretary), so my expectations were pretty high. Sadly, the movie is pretentious and a bit of a freak show.
Here's the synopsis: "Turning her back on her wealthy, established family, Diane Arbus falls in with Lionel Sweeney, an enigmatic mentor who introduces Arbus to the marginalized people who help her become one of the most revered photographers of the twentieth century."
Watch the trailer for Fur [Here]
Posted by james at 05:40 PM
People News. What's Wrong with Profit?
People News. What's Wrong with Profit: Philanthropy is undergoing renovations. A new breed of billionaires are changing the way people give. As a result, their investments for doing good aren't fitting into the usual corridors of foundations. But, that won't stop them! It's encouraging to see some of the innovative thinking that's been applied to business, now being applied to systemic problems facing the world.
As reported in the NY Times: "This year, as never before, the line between philanthropy and business is blurring. A new generation of philanthropists has stepped forward, for the most part young billionaires who have reaped the benefits of capitalism and believe that it can be applied in the service of charity. They are 'philanthropreneurs,' driven to do good and have their profit, too."
Read more about What's Wrong with Profit? [Here]
Posted by taj at 08:54 AM
November 10, 2006
Film. The Yes Men
Film. The Yes Men: Hijinks are all the rage. There's something inherently entertainting about watching someone getting tricked into thinking that something absurd is actually real. The Yes Men blur the line between reality and absurdity. Or better yet, they expose the absurdity of reality.
Here's the synopsis: "This humorous documentary monitors the exploits of a group of jokester liberals who make names for themselves as they mimic members of the World Trade Organization at various venues across the globe. The absurd facade gets started when two members of The Yes Men create a web site that looks quite similar to the WTO site, resulting in the group being invited to high-level meetings and being mistaken for WTO officials."
View trailer for The Yes Men [Here]
Posted by james at 04:50 PM
November 08, 2006
People. Andre Benjamin
People. Andre Benjamin: Andre Benjamin is an earnest dude. That's enough reason to give him props but he also makes great music and he's a decent actor. Some people knock his style but I say let the eccentrics play. They keep things interesting.
Andre recently talked to Terry Gross about his new project, Class of 3000. He also talks candidly about growing up in Atlanta. Gross' patient interview style made it easy for him to open up and talk about his life. Basically, the conversation connects the dots between Andre Benjamin: the weed smoking, heavy drinking, troubled high school kid and Andre 3000: the sublimely cool artist.
Listen to Andre's chat with Terry Gross [Here]
Posted by james at 07:52 PM
Art & Design. 10 Cool things built with Legos
Art & Design. 10 Cool things built with Legos: Who doesn't love legos? Show me that guy and we'll show you the key to spacial development. Legos are literally and figuratively the building blocks for creativity. Recently OddPeak wrote a piece on the ten coolest things built with Legos. The items range from remote controlled cars to pinball machines.
For example: "Open Interface created a nifty LEGO car that is controlled via a Bluetooth mouse using their patented "BLUEmagic Host Application Programming Interface". The mouse controls the direction of the car. Move the mouse forward and the car moves forward. Move the mouse backward and the car moves backward. Move the mouse left or right and the car turns left or right." Pretty cool stuff. It's a far cry from our Pirate themed lego set, but not too far from the ingenious of Robotechs!
View 10 Cool things built with Legos [Here]
Posted by taj at 05:53 PM
Announcements. Dork, Hova & Current TV
Announcements. Dork, Hova & Current TV: Hello everyone. It's been a great few weeks for Dork and we wanted to take this moment to thank you for all the emails, calls and random meetings. There's no particular reason why all these things are happening at once, but the surge of love has been much appreciated. It's no joke trying to run an independent mag, so every time someone says thanks, we dig, or cares enough to be critical, we love it. It adds more fuel to our jet packs. Thanks.
With that said, we wanted to shout out Current TV* for linking our vid cast of J*Davey's performance. Insane! We'd also like to thank everyone who's helped us tackle the Hova contest. If you haven't already, please vote for us. The Mighty Nah Right (one of our favs) has it in the bag, but we're aiming for a respectable third place ranking. So go click one for the dorksters. Anyway, thanks again everyone. We really appreciate your readership and support.
Watch J*Davey & Vote for Dork and Jay-Z [Here and Here]
Posted by taj at 02:49 PM
November 07, 2006
Habitat. Louis Vuitton Building
Habitat. Louis Vuitton Building: Frank Gehry is a design genius. We were recently watching a special about him on the FL Network. He's committed to his vision and lives to push the architectural boundaries. Throw tradition out the door when you think about Frank. "Gehry is best known for his sculptural approach to building design and for constructing curvaceous structures, often covered with reflective metal. His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions - many museums, companies, and cities seek Gehry's services as a badge of distinction, regardless of the product he delivers."*
Frank's best known work includes attractions like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which is covered in titanium. And now he's working on a new art center for Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. As reported by Business Week: "The $127 million project, to be called the Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation, will be located in the Bois de Boulogne, a large park just to the west of Paris."
Frank Gehry's latest project for Louis Vuitton [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:52 AM
Tech. Xbox Films
Tech. Xbox Films: The Dork office just got an Xbox 360! Yeah! We were holding off for a while. We're all basically Sony fanboys. But, we broke down due to all the swarming rumors about the lackluster PS3. So far we've gotta say that the Xbox has been amazing. Between the new game play of Fifa 2007 and the continual enjoyment launched from Halo 2, we have no complaints. It's unbelievable. But wait, it gets better.
Yesterday, we were pleased to read the following: "This may sound a bit familiar to those paying close attention, but on November 22nd -- the year anniversary for the Xbox 360 -- Microsoft is announcing something fairly momentus, not for the gaming community, but for the CE industry. The Xbox 360, along with Akimbo, will be among the first mass-market devices able to download high def television programs -- and the first we know of in the states able to download HD movies. The service is called Xbox Live Video, and the fall update enables customers to spend their Microsoft points on standard and HD television from CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Turner, and UFC, as well as HD movies from Warner Bros., Paramount, and so on. We're still a little in shock, ourselves, that Microsoft was able to in one fell swoop hit TiVo, Apple, Netflix, and a handful of others, but looking at Live over the last year, the move isn't that massively surprising."
Read more about Xbox Live Video on Engadget [Here]
Posted by taj at 08:50 AM
November 06, 2006
Film. Friends with Money
Film. Friends with Money: Indie flicks rule. With the main stream movie realm taking a dive, there's more and more room for independent filmmakers. Dork caught this one late, but Friends with Money is an even tempered movie with strong conversations and brilliantly placed awkward spaces. Most movies these days don't seem to respect the patience of the audience. Admittedly, a slow movie isn't much fun, but if there's a point, it's worth it.
Friends with Money possesses some strong social commentary in a character driven format. As the Hollywood reporter states, "Nicole Holofcener's third feature, is a pitch-perfect ensemble comedy that burrows deep into the mind-set of white, upper middle-class Angelenos, anxious to strike the right balance among career, family, love life and money but never quite pulling it off."
View trailer for Friends with Money [Here]
Posted by taj at 11:34 AM
People News. Collaborations of all kinds!
People News. Collaborations of all kinds! Before we jump in, we gotta say that we miss Mos Def. We're looking forward to his return. The sentiment is simple - movies are cool - but music is that sweet spot. Anyway, enough with the ramble, back to the point of this post. Collaborations drive innovation. When different musical, artistic or political perspectives come together you're bound to see something new. Some things are cool. Some are not so cool. Either way it's different and most times refreshing.
Ian, from different kitchen*, put us onto this performance which showcases, Maroon 5, Chad, Pharrell and Mos Def on one stage. You gotta love that. Check it out via the mighty googletube below.
Posted by taj at 08:17 AM
November 04, 2006
Link Heavy. Clearification
Link Heavy. Clearification: Nowadays everybody is a funnyman. I'm tired of it. Peter Hyman of Slate has some interesting ideas about this insidious trend. "Being funny is a means of avoiding scrutiny. It's a deeply concealing activity that invites attention while simultaneously failing to offer any detailed account of oneself. The reason humor is so popular today is that it provides the comfort of intimacy without the horror of actually being intimate (quoting Andrew Stott)." His thoughts about the rise of irony are escpecially insightful: "From sneakers to cell-phone ring-tones to rain on your wedding day, everything is ironic. Or, more accurately, everything is sarcastic, the less-literary stepcousin of irony. Unlike irony, sarcasm can be printed on a T-shirt or written into every tenth line of an ESPN newscast with the generic (and easily aped) voice of mocking detachment that is so prevalent today."
No matter how you feel about this issue, you have to agree, most people are not funny. This would seem obvious, like everyone can't be tall, smart or attractive. Yet we see nothing but lame attempts at humor? Luckily, Demetri Martin is funny. You know him from The Daily Show. He has a schweet side-project too, Clearification, a series of bizarre webisodes, aimed at promoting Windows Vista, and his nation-wide tour. Take a look and let's all agree to leave the humor to the pros.
Clearification roolz check it out [Here]
Posted by james at 12:27 AM
November 03, 2006
Announcement. Vote for Dork & Hova!
Announcement. Vote for Dork & Hova! Jay-Z is down with Dork. Why wouldn't he be? I mean, he's quite the verbose chap and we... We are dork. Nuff said. Read this and VOTE DORK. Art cats dust their shoulders off too. [Vote]
As reported by Roc-a-fella: "With the release of JAY-Z's comeback album, KINGDOM COME just a few short weeks away, we're gearing up for all the big parties and events that will be happening during the week of November 21st. Unfortunately, we can't be everywhere at once. So we decided to hit up some of our favorite bloggers and ask them if they would be willing to help us out. We wanted to have all of them come out and help us cover events, but our guest passes are limited, so we need you to help us choose one blogger to help us cover the release week madness for Rocafella.com!" So vote for us everyday.
Vote for the Mighty Dork Magazine at Roc-a-fella [Vote]
Posted by taj at 01:56 AM
Events. CMJ Saul Williams
Events. CMJ Saul Williams: Saul Williams and Cody ChesnuTT on the same bill! Shows like this are rare. I could go on about how dope Cody CHestnuTT and Saul Williams are but you already know about these guys. They rule!
It's happening Saturday night at The Canal Room. Stephanie McKay, Shawn Hewitt and Afropunk director, DJ James Spooner are also performing.
For more info and to read a conversation with Saul [Info & Convo]
This video is fresh:
Posted by james at 12:17 AM
November 02, 2006
People. Spy Magazine's How to be Famous
People. Spy Magazine's How to be Famous: I've often wondered what it would be like to be famous. Would people act sycophantic and weird around me? Could I dial 411 and ask the operator to get me a pastrami sandwich from Katz Deli? Sure, at first she'd refuse but after I explained who I was... voilà! Pastrami sandwich for breakfast.
In the 80s and 90s, Spy magazine did a special about celebrity life. The aptly titled, How to Be Famous, delved into the realm of celebrity, giving us a glimpse into the most important thing in the universe. Its lessons have stood the test of time. Enjoy the clips after the jump (hosted by Jerry Seinfeld).
Donald Trump
Stallone
Ricardo Montalban
Unrelated but a knee-slapper nonetheless.
Posted by james at 11:03 PM
People. Chomsky & Ghostface
People. Chomsky & Ghostface: "Dude, you made me think... and I don't like to think." - Unknown Slacker. I've only been alive for a scant twenty-something years, but this has to be the dumbest era of all time. Everyone seems to be in a haze that's fueled by pop culture and consumerism. Don't get me wrong, I realize that I'm part of the problem. It just seems like the issues facing the world (war, genocide, famine, the environment) are just plain depressing. If I can't change things, why should I care?
Noam Chomsky is a thinker. In his latest book, Failed States, Chomsky writes (quoting John Dewey): "reforms will not suffice, fundamental social change is necessary to bring a meaningful democracy." In order for this to happen, Chomsky believes, "there should be democratic control of economic institutions as well as political institutions." Sounds like a tall order. If things are really going to change, the world is going to need a theme song, something to get the people jazzed up and rip-roaring. May I suggest this Ghostface freestyle? [audio]
Listen to The Chomsky Interview [Here]
Posted by james at 09:26 PM
November 01, 2006
Film. Brothers of the Head
Film. Brothers of the Head: Is pop music fundamentally exploitive? That's kind of a dumb question. Of course pop music is exploitive, that's what we like about it. People like context and good music just isn't enough. We need to know what you had for breakfast, who you are dating, what makes you odd?
Brothers of the Head begins with an interesting quote: "I never exploited anyone... that didn't want to be exploited." It sets the stage for this rock mockumentary about conjoined twins who are groomed by a shady music promoter into a freakish rock act. The twins move beyond their sideshow roots, becoming a credible rock band but they can't evade the darkness that hangs over them.
Watch the trailer for Brothers of the Head [Here]
Posted by james at 12:44 PM
Events. CMJ, Gray Kid & Paxil
Events. CMJ, Gray Kid & Paxil: "Since starting on Paxil, I've been drinking like a fish. For some reason, vitamin P combines incredibly well with alcohol. It's more fun to drink than it was before. I want to be drunk every night. I don't get hung over now, and I remain pretty lucid even when sloshed. Paxil is messing with my livelihood. I'm still not getting any work done. Could it be Paxil's antidepressant effects? Perhaps I'm too content to be motivated. Do I require bile and unhappiness to write? I could clearly go the rest of my life on this stuff and never feel down again." - Seth Stevenson - Slate*
Seth's piece, Extroverted Like Me, came to mind after watching Paxilback, Gray Kid's send-up of Timberlake's Sexyback. The world of prescription, mood-altering drugs is a strange one indeed. If you're in NYC tonight, head over to The Canal Room and watch Gray Kid perform songs from his debut album 5,6,7,8. It's going to be one heck of a hootenanny!
For more info on Gray Kid check [Article & Blog]
Posted by james at 12:10 PM
People News. Dust off those computers
People News. Dust off those Computers: Opportunity is running rampant on the web. Well, sort of. If you have an idea and a few friends (that know code preferrably), now is a good time to try and cash in. We know this over simplifies the process. But, there are many folks waiting in the wings with a few lines of dynamic coding and a fresh idea. What new glossy application can you build?
As reported in Wired: "YouTube may be the king of online video, but if Arik Czerniak has his way, the king won't stay on the throne for long. Czerniak is the CEO and co-founder of Metacafe, one of the web's leading independent video-sharing sites. The company is launching a new service Monday [please note: last Monday] called Producer Rewards which will offer cash payouts to video creators who upload the most interesting and entertaining clips."
People are waiting in the wings for the next big thing [Here]
Posted by taj at 09:17 AM