Wednesday, July 09, 2008
The Britney Effect
Here is an interesting study which looks at how people determine what music is 'popular' and what is not:
http://www.livescience.com/health/060209_hit_songs.html
Interestingly, the findings were that people decide what is popular by looking at what other people think is popular.
I mentioned this in a previous blog post, I'm just glad someone else did the research to back me up.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
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http://www.livescience.com/health/060209_hit_songs.html
Interestingly, the findings were that people decide what is popular by looking at what other people think is popular.
I mentioned this in a previous blog post, I'm just glad someone else did the research to back me up.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
Labels: Cultural Observation, Culture, music
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Loss of Reference
There's a piece missing. That seems to be the problem.
Anyone in the world who can find the "audio in" jack on their soundcard can record, edit, and upload their songs to the internet. Any fool with a video camera and i-movie can make a video. Anyone with a library card has access to a word processor, and the internet.
Welcome to 2008. No flying cars yet, but much of the known world can access the media created by anyone else in the world.
The part that is missing is in-between. Now people have access to all the media in the multiverse, but it seems like a lot of people don't know what to listen to, what to watch, what to read...
...because they don't know what they like...
...because they don't know what other people are watching, reading and listening to.
Stupid, right? Well, there's people who like songs because they like them, and there's people who like songs because other people like them.
You might have heard the term "Pop" before, it's actually short for "Popular", like the cute, blonde girl in your school who is always picked for things: Homecoming Queen, Student Council, 'Most Likely to Succeed', and of course, 'Most Popular'. There's people who like her because they actually know her and think she is a likable person, and there's people who like her because other people like her, because it is the popular and accepted opinion to like her, because it would make you an unpopular minority if you chose Not to like her.
TV shows? Movies? Music? Books? Religion? Politics? Same thing.
The difference is that some people actually have some facts to base their opinion on. There are people who take perceptive observations before coming to a judgement, and there's sheeple who need to check with everyone else before making their decision.
Which brings me back to my point: with all the media in the world a few mouse-clicks away, what do you listen to? What do you watch? What do you read? There used to be a 'man' who was more than happy to decide for you what was popular, in the form of your local papers, radio and TV stations: The Man. The Reference.
But that Reference is gone, and there are far too many sources scrambling to replace it. So do we go by Myspace friends or Facebook? Amazon or Rolling Stone?
There's a piece missing. That seems to be the problem.
Or, is it?
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
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Permalink
Anyone in the world who can find the "audio in" jack on their soundcard can record, edit, and upload their songs to the internet. Any fool with a video camera and i-movie can make a video. Anyone with a library card has access to a word processor, and the internet.
Welcome to 2008. No flying cars yet, but much of the known world can access the media created by anyone else in the world.
The part that is missing is in-between. Now people have access to all the media in the multiverse, but it seems like a lot of people don't know what to listen to, what to watch, what to read...
...because they don't know what they like...
...because they don't know what other people are watching, reading and listening to.
Stupid, right? Well, there's people who like songs because they like them, and there's people who like songs because other people like them.
You might have heard the term "Pop" before, it's actually short for "Popular", like the cute, blonde girl in your school who is always picked for things: Homecoming Queen, Student Council, 'Most Likely to Succeed', and of course, 'Most Popular'. There's people who like her because they actually know her and think she is a likable person, and there's people who like her because other people like her, because it is the popular and accepted opinion to like her, because it would make you an unpopular minority if you chose Not to like her.
TV shows? Movies? Music? Books? Religion? Politics? Same thing.
The difference is that some people actually have some facts to base their opinion on. There are people who take perceptive observations before coming to a judgement, and there's sheeple who need to check with everyone else before making their decision.
Which brings me back to my point: with all the media in the world a few mouse-clicks away, what do you listen to? What do you watch? What do you read? There used to be a 'man' who was more than happy to decide for you what was popular, in the form of your local papers, radio and TV stations: The Man. The Reference.
But that Reference is gone, and there are far too many sources scrambling to replace it. So do we go by Myspace friends or Facebook? Amazon or Rolling Stone?
There's a piece missing. That seems to be the problem.
Or, is it?
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
Labels: Cultural Observation, Culture, Philosophy
Friday, January 18, 2008
A Day In The Life Of First Avenue
Just thought I should point out this article on First Avenue, which appeared in today's Star Tribune, and clear up some possible misconceptions:
-No, it is NOT my ass in the photo.
-Yes, it IS my star on the wall of First Avenue.
-No, none of the Conrads mentioned in the article are me.
No problem, happens all the time.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
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-No, it is NOT my ass in the photo.
-Yes, it IS my star on the wall of First Avenue.
-No, none of the Conrads mentioned in the article are me.
No problem, happens all the time.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
Labels: A Day In The Life, Culture
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Why does Network Television Suck?
Did you know that Hollywood screenwriters are on strike?
I did.
Did you know that they came Off the strike that happened in 1989 (around the time that the first reality show COPS started up)?
I didn't.
Now I will have to come up with a new theory about why Network Television Programming is so bad.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
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I did.
Did you know that they came Off the strike that happened in 1989 (around the time that the first reality show COPS started up)?
I didn't.
Now I will have to come up with a new theory about why Network Television Programming is so bad.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Avast! It's International 'Talk Like A Pirate Day'!
Missed it last year, but thanks to a timely e-mail from the Geek Goddess, I have been informed that today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day!
Cheers, matey! 'N here be some lovely pirate metal music to go with yer grog.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
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Cheers, matey! 'N here be some lovely pirate metal music to go with yer grog.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
NIN and ARG: Alternate Reality Gaming
The latest Escapist Magazine has a short article on the interactivity surrounding Nine Inch Nail's latest masterpiece: Year Zero.
Those who don't know WTF I'm talking about can take a look through these old posts or you can go here for the latest, a sighting of the mysterious force called 'The Presence' this time sighted over Minneapolis: http://www.hourofarrival.net/
Or you can dive headfirst into the maelstrom at ninwiki.com
The excitement surrounding Year Zero has died down since the album's release in April, but it is picking up buzz again with the upcoming release of the Remix album. The second half of the Year Zero album is due out sometime next year, and I predict that the conspiracy will reach new heights around the end of 2007.
The article in the Escapist (aside from calling Year Zero a "Dark and Noisy work"), defines the marketing campaign surrounding Year Zero as an ARG, short for Alternate Reality Game. The 'game' is free to play, and anyone with an Internet connection and some time (*lots* of time) can jump in and play. Clues are left in different formats in different places (e-mail, voice mail, websites, secret meetings in public places, secret codes left in plain sight...) but now-a-days, the internet is the perfect place for ARGs.
In the case of Year Zero, the 'prize' was a secret concert. You can read more about the Year Zero ARG here.
No doubt, the term ARG can be applied to other social events; from serial killers leaving clues for the police, or my sister and I trying to schedule a time to get together for lunch. We leave each other e-mail and voice mail clues as to when a good time and place would be, and try to 'solve the puzzle' as it were.
I'm hoping more artists and entertainers will generate this level of interactivity with their fans.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
0 Comments
Permalink
Those who don't know WTF I'm talking about can take a look through these old posts or you can go here for the latest, a sighting of the mysterious force called 'The Presence' this time sighted over Minneapolis: http://www.hourofarrival.net/
Or you can dive headfirst into the maelstrom at ninwiki.com
The excitement surrounding Year Zero has died down since the album's release in April, but it is picking up buzz again with the upcoming release of the Remix album. The second half of the Year Zero album is due out sometime next year, and I predict that the conspiracy will reach new heights around the end of 2007.
The article in the Escapist (aside from calling Year Zero a "Dark and Noisy work"), defines the marketing campaign surrounding Year Zero as an ARG, short for Alternate Reality Game. The 'game' is free to play, and anyone with an Internet connection and some time (*lots* of time) can jump in and play. Clues are left in different formats in different places (e-mail, voice mail, websites, secret meetings in public places, secret codes left in plain sight...) but now-a-days, the internet is the perfect place for ARGs.
In the case of Year Zero, the 'prize' was a secret concert. You can read more about the Year Zero ARG here.
No doubt, the term ARG can be applied to other social events; from serial killers leaving clues for the police, or my sister and I trying to schedule a time to get together for lunch. We leave each other e-mail and voice mail clues as to when a good time and place would be, and try to 'solve the puzzle' as it were.
I'm hoping more artists and entertainers will generate this level of interactivity with their fans.
Art Is Resistance
-Zero
Labels: Culture, NIN, Viral Marketing
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Crystal Meth for the Soul
Every now and again, there are albums that I have to play. HAVE to. Must. After a while, the pain of Not playing them becomes unbearable. If my spirit was a plant, these recordings would be sunlight and water. If my spirit were an addict, these recordings would be Audio Crystal Meth:
Marillion - Brave (1994)
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (1985)
Marillion - marillion.com (1999)
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (1994)
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar (1996)
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Pink Floyd - Animals (1977)
Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979)
Pink Floyd - The Final Cut (1983)
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms (1985)
Neil Young - Unplugged (just the first half...) (1993)
Robert Plant - Now and Zen (1988)
REM - Document (1987)
Days of the New (1997)
Bob Mould - Bob Mould (1996)
Nixon Pupils - Helldozer (mid 1990s)
Johnny Jones - Small Sacrifices (mid 1990s)
Notice how none of these albums was made after the year 2000? I'm trying to figure out why. With access to damn near every single band in the world available through myspace.com, you would think I would still be finding music that I simply can't live without, but that's not the case.
Is it because newer music is fundamentally different in some way? Looking at Billboard's top 10 I only recognize two of them, one being Korn, and the other (I'm ashamed to say) is Fergie. Yes, I've listened to the entire Dutchess album, and already forgotten what that was like. Is the 'click' gone from current music? Are newer songwriters and bands less talented than they were in the 80s or 90s?
Perhaps the problem is me. Have I fundamentally changed? Most certainly, I'm not remotely the person I was in the 90s. But I still listen to music, and I love music so much I play it all the time. The world just seems empty without it, like watching an epic adventure movie without a soundtrack or score.
Perhaps it is a little of both? Is it because at that point in my life the music clicked with me, and current music doesn't? I don't think so, I have a car-full of CDs that click with me right now, but I can't say I'll be dying to hear Velvet Revolver, Kamelot, or Black Label Society years from now.
Oh well, something for my Inner Philosopher to think about when he gets back from vacation.
Now notice that there isn't a single album in that list with a female lead singer...
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
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Marillion - Brave (1994)
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (1985)
Marillion - marillion.com (1999)
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (1994)
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (1989)
Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar (1996)
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Pink Floyd - Animals (1977)
Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979)
Pink Floyd - The Final Cut (1983)
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms (1985)
Neil Young - Unplugged (just the first half...) (1993)
Robert Plant - Now and Zen (1988)
REM - Document (1987)
Days of the New (1997)
Bob Mould - Bob Mould (1996)
Nixon Pupils - Helldozer (mid 1990s)
Johnny Jones - Small Sacrifices (mid 1990s)
Notice how none of these albums was made after the year 2000? I'm trying to figure out why. With access to damn near every single band in the world available through myspace.com, you would think I would still be finding music that I simply can't live without, but that's not the case.
Is it because newer music is fundamentally different in some way? Looking at Billboard's top 10 I only recognize two of them, one being Korn, and the other (I'm ashamed to say) is Fergie. Yes, I've listened to the entire Dutchess album, and already forgotten what that was like. Is the 'click' gone from current music? Are newer songwriters and bands less talented than they were in the 80s or 90s?
Perhaps the problem is me. Have I fundamentally changed? Most certainly, I'm not remotely the person I was in the 90s. But I still listen to music, and I love music so much I play it all the time. The world just seems empty without it, like watching an epic adventure movie without a soundtrack or score.
Perhaps it is a little of both? Is it because at that point in my life the music clicked with me, and current music doesn't? I don't think so, I have a car-full of CDs that click with me right now, but I can't say I'll be dying to hear Velvet Revolver, Kamelot, or Black Label Society years from now.
Oh well, something for my Inner Philosopher to think about when he gets back from vacation.
Now notice that there isn't a single album in that list with a female lead singer...
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
Labels: Culture, Inner Philosopher, music, Philosophy
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Theatre Review: Spamalot
Yes, it's true.
I saw a musical.
It was actually very good. For fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the musical version called "Spamalot" has plenty of additional laughs to offer. Plenty of the old favorites, including the talk about sparrows and coconuts, the Black Knight, the Killer Bunny, Bring Out Your Dead, the discussion with Dennis about 'Working Classes', the French taunting (I wave my privates at your aunties...)... and on and on. The plot is roughly based on the movie, but bursting into song at every opportunity.
Thankfully, it's not just a cash-in on the movie, Spamalot takes clever deviations from the movie version. The Knights of Ni demand that King Arthur create a musical. One of the knights bursts into an extended skit about how they would never get on Broadway because they had no Jews in the cast. Lancelot embraces his gaydom, and the show bursts into a neon flamenco dance club with colored spotlights and house music thumping. The beautiful and talented Lady of the Lake steals the show with several overly-self-aware songs like "This is the song that goes like this" and "What happened to my part?"
There's even a shot at Andrew Lloyd Webber.
If you didn't like the Holy Grail, then don't waste your time with Spamalot, but if you ever yelled at someone, "Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!" then you owe it to yourself to see Spamalot.
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
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I saw a musical.
It was actually very good. For fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the musical version called "Spamalot" has plenty of additional laughs to offer. Plenty of the old favorites, including the talk about sparrows and coconuts, the Black Knight, the Killer Bunny, Bring Out Your Dead, the discussion with Dennis about 'Working Classes', the French taunting (I wave my privates at your aunties...)... and on and on. The plot is roughly based on the movie, but bursting into song at every opportunity.
Thankfully, it's not just a cash-in on the movie, Spamalot takes clever deviations from the movie version. The Knights of Ni demand that King Arthur create a musical. One of the knights bursts into an extended skit about how they would never get on Broadway because they had no Jews in the cast. Lancelot embraces his gaydom, and the show bursts into a neon flamenco dance club with colored spotlights and house music thumping. The beautiful and talented Lady of the Lake steals the show with several overly-self-aware songs like "This is the song that goes like this" and "What happened to my part?"
There's even a shot at Andrew Lloyd Webber.
If you didn't like the Holy Grail, then don't waste your time with Spamalot, but if you ever yelled at someone, "Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!" then you owe it to yourself to see Spamalot.
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
Labels: Cool Event, Culture
Monday, August 06, 2007
Update on Interstate 35W Bridge Collapse
Um...
IT'S STILL DOWN!
Yep, the bridge is still busted, people are still dead, including my coworker's brother, you still can't cross the river there, and I hear the president wasted a bunch of jet fuel flying over the damage instead of logging onto cnn.com who made the bridge collapse their lead story for five straight days.
Open Letter to the President: Isn't jet fuel expensive? Should you really be so wasteful as to fly Air Force One out to Flyover Land just so you can gawk? Or is it that you've seen the media manipulate tragedies so often that you don't believe it unless you see it for yourself? Yeah, maybe the whole thing was photoshopped! Hell, if you're gonna take personal trips on the taxpayers dime, why don't you also swing by Wisconsin Dells on the way over? Hey, when you are in Minneapolis, stop by and pick up a copy of Jagged Spiral's "Days From Evil" and I'll sign it for you.
Open Letter to CNN: Five Fucking Days? Don't you have Anything Else to report? Aren't we at War someplace? Maybe there's some positive story you could focus on? Here's a story for you, why are people who get their news through CNN less informed than those who get their news through The Onion?
Open Letter to Gawkers: What are you looking for? Lend a hand or get the fuck out of the way.
Open Letter to Fans Of Jagged Spiral: I know this kind of tragedy has followed Jagged Spiral around in the past, but I assure you we had nothing to do with it. We were racking our brains trying to come up with a way to cash in on the tragedy like everyone else, but it looks like everyone's pretty much got it covered. I mean, politicians are using it to get some free press, and some people are even starting to run scams like this. Genius.
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
0 Comments
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IT'S STILL DOWN!
Yep, the bridge is still busted, people are still dead, including my coworker's brother, you still can't cross the river there, and I hear the president wasted a bunch of jet fuel flying over the damage instead of logging onto cnn.com who made the bridge collapse their lead story for five straight days.
Open Letter to the President: Isn't jet fuel expensive? Should you really be so wasteful as to fly Air Force One out to Flyover Land just so you can gawk? Or is it that you've seen the media manipulate tragedies so often that you don't believe it unless you see it for yourself? Yeah, maybe the whole thing was photoshopped! Hell, if you're gonna take personal trips on the taxpayers dime, why don't you also swing by Wisconsin Dells on the way over? Hey, when you are in Minneapolis, stop by and pick up a copy of Jagged Spiral's "Days From Evil" and I'll sign it for you.
Open Letter to CNN: Five Fucking Days? Don't you have Anything Else to report? Aren't we at War someplace? Maybe there's some positive story you could focus on? Here's a story for you, why are people who get their news through CNN less informed than those who get their news through The Onion?
Open Letter to Gawkers: What are you looking for? Lend a hand or get the fuck out of the way.
Open Letter to Fans Of Jagged Spiral: I know this kind of tragedy has followed Jagged Spiral around in the past, but I assure you we had nothing to do with it. We were racking our brains trying to come up with a way to cash in on the tragedy like everyone else, but it looks like everyone's pretty much got it covered. I mean, politicians are using it to get some free press, and some people are even starting to run scams like this. Genius.
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
Labels: anti, Culture, Open Letter, Politics, rant
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Greetings from Germany
My initial perception of Berlin is pretty good. I'm not going through any culture shock, because Berlin is a lot like Minneapolis. I guess aside from the language, here are the few exceptions I've found so far:
=In Berlin, Everyone smokes. Everyone.
=In Berlin, Everyone wears black. Everyone. I'm pretty sure anyone wearing all white would be shot on sight.
=In Berlin, people follow the rules, especially when driving or walking, and there is little tolerance for rulebreakers.
=The beer in Berlin makes the beer in Minneapolis taste like piss
=Berlin has a bunch of Internet Cafe's with fucked up kezböärds
=Lots and Lots and LOTS of art in Berlin. Statues, memorials, museums, you name it.
=Lots and Lots and LOTS of graffiti in Berlin.
=Minneapolis has never been bombed.
But most importantly, Minneapolis has more live music than Berlin. Or perhaps I should say, the live music is easier to find in Minneapolis. Even a cover band would be better than fucking DJs, because we all know DJ's are useless hack wannabes, they can't make music, so they make a living 'spinning' other people's records. For some reason, people think DJ's can be good at this.
I'm in Köln now, and moving south, but it's back to Berlin by the 24th for the Marilyn Manson concert in Citadelle Spandeau...
Tchüss...
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
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=In Berlin, Everyone smokes. Everyone.
=In Berlin, Everyone wears black. Everyone. I'm pretty sure anyone wearing all white would be shot on sight.
=In Berlin, people follow the rules, especially when driving or walking, and there is little tolerance for rulebreakers.
=The beer in Berlin makes the beer in Minneapolis taste like piss
=Berlin has a bunch of Internet Cafe's with fucked up kezböärds
=Lots and Lots and LOTS of art in Berlin. Statues, memorials, museums, you name it.
=Lots and Lots and LOTS of graffiti in Berlin.
=Minneapolis has never been bombed.
But most importantly, Minneapolis has more live music than Berlin. Or perhaps I should say, the live music is easier to find in Minneapolis. Even a cover band would be better than fucking DJs, because we all know DJ's are useless hack wannabes, they can't make music, so they make a living 'spinning' other people's records. For some reason, people think DJ's can be good at this.
I'm in Köln now, and moving south, but it's back to Berlin by the 24th for the Marilyn Manson concert in Citadelle Spandeau...
Tchüss...
KTHXBYE,
-CZ
Labels: A Day In The Life, Culture
Friday, June 01, 2007
Reality Czech
[Editors Note: Well, I'm not sure what happened with Blogger, but I lost some draft posts I was working on. Strangely the titles and labels are still intact, like this, cleverly-named, "Reality Czech". The post was pretty long, and I tend to sit on those, and re-read them when I'm sober (or if I originally wrote the post sober, then I re-read it when I'm drunk. Either way, it manages to get filtered from two perspectives.) Regardless, I will reconstruct as much of this post as I can remember.]
Recently I was talking with Saveau when he mentioned he liked the blog, and especially my book review of Lilith Saintcrow's 'Dead Man Rising' Near as I could tell, he found the review both Negative and Entertaining.
It's strange how frequently I forget that other people read the crap I write here, and how I often treat this blog as simply a journal of thoughts like in the movie Seven, "...his mind just poured out on paper". So I suppose I would expect it to be negative, since I'm the kind of person who sees the glass as not only half-empty, but the half that is left tastes like shit and the service sucks too.
But Entertaining? Remembering back to English Comp I and the "Aims and Modes of the Writing Process" if you aren't writing for Informative, Educational or Persuasive reasons, then you either better be Entertaining, Possessed, or Being Forced To Write at Gunpoint, so I suppose Entertaining is a good thing.
But I wanted to clear up a slight point: I know of lots of writers (especially blog writers) who think that simply being negative is enough to be entertaining, and ranting about how utterly, horrifically bloody-gawd-awful something is is enough to make them entertaining. (Comedians like Rush Limbaugh make entire careers out of it.) I try to be Entertaining AND Negative, not Entertaining BY BEING Negative. The difference is slight, but important, and I try to never say things on this blog that I didn't really believe, or wouldn't say to anyone in person. I want to read this blog fifty years from now and see what the hell I was like 'back then'. So if I rail on things like "Dead Man Rising" or "King Kong" for instance, it's because I really didn't like them - no more, no less.
Blog on,
-Z
2 Comments
Permalink
Recently I was talking with Saveau when he mentioned he liked the blog, and especially my book review of Lilith Saintcrow's 'Dead Man Rising' Near as I could tell, he found the review both Negative and Entertaining.
It's strange how frequently I forget that other people read the crap I write here, and how I often treat this blog as simply a journal of thoughts like in the movie Seven, "...his mind just poured out on paper". So I suppose I would expect it to be negative, since I'm the kind of person who sees the glass as not only half-empty, but the half that is left tastes like shit and the service sucks too.
But Entertaining? Remembering back to English Comp I and the "Aims and Modes of the Writing Process" if you aren't writing for Informative, Educational or Persuasive reasons, then you either better be Entertaining, Possessed, or Being Forced To Write at Gunpoint, so I suppose Entertaining is a good thing.
But I wanted to clear up a slight point: I know of lots of writers (especially blog writers) who think that simply being negative is enough to be entertaining, and ranting about how utterly, horrifically bloody-gawd-awful something is is enough to make them entertaining. (Comedians like Rush Limbaugh make entire careers out of it.) I try to be Entertaining AND Negative, not Entertaining BY BEING Negative. The difference is slight, but important, and I try to never say things on this blog that I didn't really believe, or wouldn't say to anyone in person. I want to read this blog fifty years from now and see what the hell I was like 'back then'. So if I rail on things like "Dead Man Rising" or "King Kong" for instance, it's because I really didn't like them - no more, no less.
Blog on,
-Z
Labels: Blogging, Culture, movie reviews, Writing
Thursday, May 03, 2007
The Internet Revolution
BBC is reporting on the latest (and largest) flare-up of THE CODE, a magical 32-digit Hexadecimal number which can be used to defeat the encoding on every DVD manufactured to date. I won't reprint the number here, but check out
this myspace page for a clue
OF course the AACS was more than just disappointed that some basement hacker defeated their code on his winter break, and tried to get websites like digg.com to delete posts or content containing "THE CODE". Of course, the blogosphere reacted violently, reposting the code as fast as webmasters could delete the posts, and eventually digg.com crashed.
Its too late now, the code is leaked, and for those who know what to do with it, all DVDs manufactured before 3 May 2007 are now unprotected.
It will be interesting to see how this gets resolved, because the question to be answered is "How public should public knowledge be?" Or possibly, "Can or Should some public knowledge be removed from the internet?" For example, if someone figures out the administrator username and password for a government online database, or some local financial institution, and pops the username/password on the internet, there is simply no stopping the spread of information. How can the entire blogosphere and all internet users be held accountable for such actions?
The answer you are looking for is: They can't.
It seems right (to me anyways) that some uber-internet-administrator-person should be able to delete all references to such info in the interest of national security, but as we learned from Spider Man, 'With great power comes great responsibility' and we have also learned, Americans love to abuse power. So those with the power need to be monitored, but "Who watches the watchers?"
It also seems right (to me anyways) that freedom of speech be maintained. Somewhere between these beliefs is a line that has to be drawn, and it's the kind of line that gets drawn in all the touchy topics like abortion and gun control and such. People endlessly bicker about where the line gets drawn, and mistake their opinions as facts.
Like I said; interesting to see how this pans out.
Blog on,
-CZ
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this myspace page for a clue
OF course the AACS was more than just disappointed that some basement hacker defeated their code on his winter break, and tried to get websites like digg.com to delete posts or content containing "THE CODE". Of course, the blogosphere reacted violently, reposting the code as fast as webmasters could delete the posts, and eventually digg.com crashed.
Its too late now, the code is leaked, and for those who know what to do with it, all DVDs manufactured before 3 May 2007 are now unprotected.
It will be interesting to see how this gets resolved, because the question to be answered is "How public should public knowledge be?" Or possibly, "Can or Should some public knowledge be removed from the internet?" For example, if someone figures out the administrator username and password for a government online database, or some local financial institution, and pops the username/password on the internet, there is simply no stopping the spread of information. How can the entire blogosphere and all internet users be held accountable for such actions?
The answer you are looking for is: They can't.
It seems right (to me anyways) that some uber-internet-administrator-person should be able to delete all references to such info in the interest of national security, but as we learned from Spider Man, 'With great power comes great responsibility' and we have also learned, Americans love to abuse power. So those with the power need to be monitored, but "Who watches the watchers?"
It also seems right (to me anyways) that freedom of speech be maintained. Somewhere between these beliefs is a line that has to be drawn, and it's the kind of line that gets drawn in all the touchy topics like abortion and gun control and such. People endlessly bicker about where the line gets drawn, and mistake their opinions as facts.
Like I said; interesting to see how this pans out.
Blog on,
-CZ
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Event Review: Voltage - Fashion Amplified 2007
Local Fashion Maven*, Anna Lee, pulled out the stops again, for another top-notch production of Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2007, and showed the rest of the world what flyover land had to offer in terms of fashion and music.
This year's show was all the sweeter due to its absence last year, and now popular enough to pull the lead story in all the local press, and pack First Ave to the hilt. I mean, I've Never seen it that full up before.
One goal of Voltage is to not just 'present' bands and designers, but to connect them to the audience. To that extent, a well-designed "Look Book" was distributed at the show. People could pull the book out later and visually identify the designer and their designs. There were also short video interviews with the designers and bands, which aired before each segment of the show, and this helped the audience get a glimpse of their personalities. The "look book" and the videos really helped to connect the audience to the artists.
Voltage also helps the artist community in other ways. Proceeds from Voltage go to the Springboad for the Arts which helps artists gain access to healthcare, and Voltage has also birthed MNFashion.org which seeks to help designers access "professional development and resources so designers can establish a sustainable livelihood"
There are a lot of factors that make the Voltage show pretty fucking amazing, not the least of which is that Anna Lee is behind it. While she is quick to point out that it takes many people to make the show happen, it takes someone with the moxie that Anna has to pull it off.
Another amazing fact is that the show was Packed. I'm pretty sure it was sold out, and that really says something. People want to see this, and hopefully, the success (and continued success) of Voltage, Art-A-Whirl and such will pave the way for more showings of art and fashion. Hopefully they can learn from Voltage to set up symbiotic relationships with the community, instead of consumeristic nonsense like the Uptown Art Fair.
Congrats to Anna Lee, her team and all the designers and artists who made Voltage a big success in 2007. Click over to http://www.voltagefashionamplified.com/ and check out the bands and designers, go to their websites, go to their myspace pages and add them as friends, go see their live shows or designer studios, buy their music if you like it, and most importantly, Spread The Word, and support local art like this. It's something we are fortunate to have, and something people on the other two coasts take for granted.
Blog on,
-CZ
*It was in fact, I who first bequeathed Anna Lee the title of Fashion Maven...
...back in Feb of 2007 when Voltage 2007 was first announced...
...and originally way way back in 2005.
0 Comments
Permalink
This year's show was all the sweeter due to its absence last year, and now popular enough to pull the lead story in all the local press, and pack First Ave to the hilt. I mean, I've Never seen it that full up before.
One goal of Voltage is to not just 'present' bands and designers, but to connect them to the audience. To that extent, a well-designed "Look Book" was distributed at the show. People could pull the book out later and visually identify the designer and their designs. There were also short video interviews with the designers and bands, which aired before each segment of the show, and this helped the audience get a glimpse of their personalities. The "look book" and the videos really helped to connect the audience to the artists.
Voltage also helps the artist community in other ways. Proceeds from Voltage go to the Springboad for the Arts which helps artists gain access to healthcare, and Voltage has also birthed MNFashion.org which seeks to help designers access "professional development and resources so designers can establish a sustainable livelihood"
There are a lot of factors that make the Voltage show pretty fucking amazing, not the least of which is that Anna Lee is behind it. While she is quick to point out that it takes many people to make the show happen, it takes someone with the moxie that Anna has to pull it off.
Another amazing fact is that the show was Packed. I'm pretty sure it was sold out, and that really says something. People want to see this, and hopefully, the success (and continued success) of Voltage, Art-A-Whirl and such will pave the way for more showings of art and fashion. Hopefully they can learn from Voltage to set up symbiotic relationships with the community, instead of consumeristic nonsense like the Uptown Art Fair.
Congrats to Anna Lee, her team and all the designers and artists who made Voltage a big success in 2007. Click over to http://www.voltagefashionamplified.com/ and check out the bands and designers, go to their websites, go to their myspace pages and add them as friends, go see their live shows or designer studios, buy their music if you like it, and most importantly, Spread The Word, and support local art like this. It's something we are fortunate to have, and something people on the other two coasts take for granted.
Blog on,
-CZ
*It was in fact, I who first bequeathed Anna Lee the title of Fashion Maven...
...back in Feb of 2007 when Voltage 2007 was first announced...
...and originally way way back in 2005.
Labels: Culture, Fashion, Minneapolis Event, Ubercool
Monday, April 09, 2007
Joshua Bell Begging for Attention
This sad investigative story was devised and reported by the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html?hpid=topnews
I don't tend to hand money out to people simply begging for change, but I do tend to tip street musicians and performers, even if they aren't so good. Hey, at least they are Doing Something.
Blog on,
-CZ
0 Comments
Permalink
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html?hpid=topnews
I don't tend to hand money out to people simply begging for change, but I do tend to tip street musicians and performers, even if they aren't so good. Hey, at least they are Doing Something.
Blog on,
-CZ
Friday, March 23, 2007
24 March 2007 - Shutdown Day
Shut off your damn computer! Tomorrow, Saturday 24 Mar 2007 is Shutdown Day!
You can read more about shutdown day at shutdownday.org.
I would take it a step further, and say take a break from technology altogether! Skip the Cellphone and the TV/DVD/Cable/Sattelite, and Things-That-Plug-Into-The-Wall. If the weather is anything like today, it's time to be thinking spring thoughts!
Read a book, or write one.
Take a drive up to Frisky's in Coon Rapids, I think they still deliver food out to your car. If not, Wagner's off of Hwy81 and Broadway will.
Go see a live band.
Clean your garage.
Go on a bike ride around Lake Calhoun.
And if you have a dirty mind like me, just a look at the shutdown logo and see what other low-tech activities come to mind....
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: A Day In The Life, Culture, Technology
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Get Out the Vote
You don't even have to lift your lazy ass out of the chair, just click the link, and fill in what you can.
It's not just a survey, it's a test of how connected you are with the local area. Of course, the Best Rock Band would be "Jagged Spiral". You knew that already. But "Best R and B Group?" "Best New Restaurant?" Hmm. Some of these things I only find out by reading Last Year's 'Best Of' winners...
You will have to stay alert, because there are some trick questions:
Best TV Weatherperson?
Best Karaoke?
Make sure to vote for Anna Lee as "Best Girl Made Good".
And if you can't think of anyone else, vote for me for Best Villain. You probably don't know me that well, but trust me, I deserve it.
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: Culture, Minneapolis Event, Online Tests
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Kill Your TV and Your Internet
I'm throwing out my TV and moving the computer into the living room.
Let's see, um Grey's Anatomy, or 'My Hands Are Bananas'?
The internet has all the sex (real sex, not regulated fluff), all the violence (real violence, not the watered-down-made-for-TV violence) and all the stupidity of Network Television in a twelfth the time, with no commercials. Internet wins, no contest.
On third thought, perhaps I should give up on video as a medium altogether. Maybe stick with books, music and video games (should video games count as video media? I'm thinking not, but I could be wrong) as a method of connecting to culture.
"Hi, I'm Conrad, and I play Oblivion and F.E.A.R., I like Nirvana, Pink Floyd, NIN, Motörhead, Marillion, and Metallica (pre-Bob Rock, of course) and I enjoy reading Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, Chuang Tzu, and Scott Adams. What's that? Cheers? Nope, never seen it. Friends? Sorry. Seinfeld? You know, I actually did see an episode of Seinfeld... no, not that one, sorry... The Twins? You mean Bambi and Thumper the twins down at Lickety Split? What's that? The Twins Sports team? What sports team would have only two people on it, are they like, horseshoes or tennis?"
Oh well, perhaps my media selections are a method of disconnecting from culture...
Blog on,
-CZ
1 Comments
Permalink
Let's see, um Grey's Anatomy, or 'My Hands Are Bananas'?
The internet has all the sex (real sex, not regulated fluff), all the violence (real violence, not the watered-down-made-for-TV violence) and all the stupidity of Network Television in a twelfth the time, with no commercials. Internet wins, no contest.
On third thought, perhaps I should give up on video as a medium altogether. Maybe stick with books, music and video games (should video games count as video media? I'm thinking not, but I could be wrong) as a method of connecting to culture.
"Hi, I'm Conrad, and I play Oblivion and F.E.A.R., I like Nirvana, Pink Floyd, NIN, Motörhead, Marillion, and Metallica (pre-Bob Rock, of course) and I enjoy reading Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, Chuang Tzu, and Scott Adams. What's that? Cheers? Nope, never seen it. Friends? Sorry. Seinfeld? You know, I actually did see an episode of Seinfeld... no, not that one, sorry... The Twins? You mean Bambi and Thumper the twins down at Lickety Split? What's that? The Twins Sports team? What sports team would have only two people on it, are they like, horseshoes or tennis?"
Oh well, perhaps my media selections are a method of disconnecting from culture...
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: Culture, Technology
Friday, August 25, 2006
Minneapolis Seconded By Milwaukee!
Forbes.com reports that Minneapolis pulled second place in America's Drunkest Cities. I have always said there isn't much to do in Minneapolis besides
-Drink
-Write Progressive Rock Music
(If I missed anything, let me know) In that respect, Minneapolis is a lot like Iceland, except we don't have Bjork.
While Milwaukee placed first on the list, you have to remember that they don't even know what Rock Music is, much less Progressive Rock Music. Since all that leaves is drinking, it only makes sense that they are better at it than we are.
I say leave well enough alone, break out the Didgeridoo and let Milwaukee keep their trophy.
Blog on,
-CZ
3 Comments
Permalink
-Drink
-Write Progressive Rock Music
(If I missed anything, let me know) In that respect, Minneapolis is a lot like Iceland, except we don't have Bjork.
While Milwaukee placed first on the list, you have to remember that they don't even know what Rock Music is, much less Progressive Rock Music. Since all that leaves is drinking, it only makes sense that they are better at it than we are.
I say leave well enough alone, break out the Didgeridoo and let Milwaukee keep their trophy.
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: Culture
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Sound Unseen's Design Fiesta
All you artiste types: Check out this ad for the 411 on getting your art shown at the first annual Design Fiesta, part of the Sound Unseen fest.
Everyone else: set aside Saturday, Aug 19, 2006, from noon till nine at the Soap Factory and bounce on over to get your art-critique on...
Blog on,
-CZ
0 Comments
Permalink
Everyone else: set aside Saturday, Aug 19, 2006, from noon till nine at the Soap Factory and bounce on over to get your art-critique on...
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: Cool Event, Culture, Minneapolis Event
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Talkin' Bout My Generation (X)
Trying to give defining characteristics to generations is really no different than the daily horoscopes: "Wow, I'd better be careful, my Horoscope says that I will be attacked by a drunken skydiver on the way home from work!"
Of course I'm kidding, horoscopes are never that specific. They are more likely to say things like; all Taurans will have "...conditions favorable for romance..." which could mean anything at all, and suddenly hearing David Sanborn while listening to The Current on the way home qualifies, making horoscopes about as accurate as my Magic 8-Ball
Of course applying any specific characteristic to any group is stereotyping, and generally frowned upon. "All Americans Are Fucking Idiots" is not only an easy claim to disarm ("Well, Americans invented TIVO, the light bulb and Family Guy, right?"), it also does not go over well when speaking with Americans.
TIP: A simple adjustment, "Most Americans Are Fucking Idiots" is a pretty solid surface to host an argument, especially if the person you are talking to is American, because we all know they are all fucking idiots.
Anyways,you can probably guess my reaction when someone comes along and tries to tell you what you are like, based on your race, religion, the lines on your palm, or when you were born.
This analysis of Generation X-ers was a surprising read for me, since I immediately tend to shatter any kind of label put on myself. Of course, this 'instinctive rebellion' makes me a great candidate for Reverse Psychology Behaviour Modeling...but I re-digress. I was surprised that I agreed with some of the defining characteristics, and while I could quote the entire article, I put the highlights below.
Despite their generational attitude against collectivism, Generation Xers take some group pride in their generation. In math, "X" stands for 'substitute anything', and Gen X takes some collective pride in their own tolerance, diversity and inability to be labeled.
While Gen X childhood was filled with Brady Bunch/Happy Days/Eight-is-Enough, their teen/college years included "Married With Children", an internally-competitive family yet a unified team/unit if the family was threatened. This is one example of a new Gen X paradigm: individual competitiveness yet loyalty as compatible and healthy societal concepts.
Some have suggested Xer's generational pride translates into active rebellion against what Gen X believed was the shallow, misguided and self-serving (and hypocritical) idealism the Boomers advocated in the 1960s such as escaping the draft. Some would also argue that it is not merely that Generation Xers reject the idealism of the 1960s, but that they bear a deeper cynicism of the fact that such "idealism", inevitably doomed in its gratuitous naïveté, so quickly gave way to an era unequivocally focused on commercial and industrial 'progress'.
And finally my favorite:
It has been said that a "Gen-Xer" differs from a savings bond, in that eventually, a savings bond will mature and earn money.
An interesting read, even if you arent from that generation, there is the entire list of generations at wikipedia, and even if they aren't that accurate, they are certainly entertaining, and make for wonderful 'water cooler conversation starters' For example:
"Hey Spab, how are you today?"
"Oh, I dunno."
"You seem kind of down. Are you sure that you arent bearing a deep cynicism of your parent's self-serving idealism which was inevitably doomed in its gratuitous naïveté, and gave way to an era unequivocally focused on commercial and industrial 'progress'?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, sorry I forgot, you're an American, aren't you?"
Blog on,
-CZ
0 Comments
Permalink
Of course I'm kidding, horoscopes are never that specific. They are more likely to say things like; all Taurans will have "...conditions favorable for romance..." which could mean anything at all, and suddenly hearing David Sanborn while listening to The Current on the way home qualifies, making horoscopes about as accurate as my Magic 8-Ball
Of course applying any specific characteristic to any group is stereotyping, and generally frowned upon. "All Americans Are Fucking Idiots" is not only an easy claim to disarm ("Well, Americans invented TIVO, the light bulb and Family Guy, right?"), it also does not go over well when speaking with Americans.
TIP: A simple adjustment, "Most Americans Are Fucking Idiots" is a pretty solid surface to host an argument, especially if the person you are talking to is American, because we all know they are all fucking idiots.
Anyways,you can probably guess my reaction when someone comes along and tries to tell you what you are like, based on your race, religion, the lines on your palm, or when you were born.
This analysis of Generation X-ers was a surprising read for me, since I immediately tend to shatter any kind of label put on myself. Of course, this 'instinctive rebellion' makes me a great candidate for Reverse Psychology Behaviour Modeling...but I re-digress. I was surprised that I agreed with some of the defining characteristics, and while I could quote the entire article, I put the highlights below.
Despite their generational attitude against collectivism, Generation Xers take some group pride in their generation. In math, "X" stands for 'substitute anything', and Gen X takes some collective pride in their own tolerance, diversity and inability to be labeled.
While Gen X childhood was filled with Brady Bunch/Happy Days/Eight-is-Enough, their teen/college years included "Married With Children", an internally-competitive family yet a unified team/unit if the family was threatened. This is one example of a new Gen X paradigm: individual competitiveness yet loyalty as compatible and healthy societal concepts.
Some have suggested Xer's generational pride translates into active rebellion against what Gen X believed was the shallow, misguided and self-serving (and hypocritical) idealism the Boomers advocated in the 1960s such as escaping the draft. Some would also argue that it is not merely that Generation Xers reject the idealism of the 1960s, but that they bear a deeper cynicism of the fact that such "idealism", inevitably doomed in its gratuitous naïveté, so quickly gave way to an era unequivocally focused on commercial and industrial 'progress'.
And finally my favorite:
It has been said that a "Gen-Xer" differs from a savings bond, in that eventually, a savings bond will mature and earn money.
An interesting read, even if you arent from that generation, there is the entire list of generations at wikipedia, and even if they aren't that accurate, they are certainly entertaining, and make for wonderful 'water cooler conversation starters' For example:
"Hey Spab, how are you today?"
"Oh, I dunno."
"You seem kind of down. Are you sure that you arent bearing a deep cynicism of your parent's self-serving idealism which was inevitably doomed in its gratuitous naïveté, and gave way to an era unequivocally focused on commercial and industrial 'progress'?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, sorry I forgot, you're an American, aren't you?"
Blog on,
-CZ
Monday, January 16, 2006
2005 - The Year of Poop Movies
This post is in response to latest post from Missmollygrue over at blogspot.
I think the primary reason why most movies right now are poop is due to overload. There are more movies available than ever before at any given time. 16-screen mega-theatres? Cable/Dish-On-Demand/Netflix/BitTorrent? DVD players in laptops and cars? This massive mass-distribution causes the industry to kick out product that is cheap-plastic-shiny-on-the-outside-but-not-too-expensive-on-the-inside. They spend more time talking about which special-effects to use than they do working on the script. They go for the marketing-department-approved-R.O.I., which has a rubber stamp of approval for crap like 'The Dukes of Hazzard' or 'Home Alone 8', or Anne Rice [Fill in book title here] or Harry Potter [Fill in version number here].
[Editors Note: Do people ever make movies based off books that Weren’t best sellers?]
Regardless, this business model is the Wal-Mart method of movie production, which stresses Quantity of sure-returns over Quality pieces of artwork. (I suggest we call them Wal-Movies...)
Because of the ridiculous volume of media available, it will take time for the cream of the crop to rise, and all of the overhyped poop to sink to the bottom. My point is - it is difficult to see what will stand the test of time until some time has passed. We know now that The Police were doing good music, because you still hear it today, and we know that Air Supply was garbage, because you don't. We know that Dashboard Confessional is dogpoop squared, but it will take some time before the lustre of overhyped prodution, product placement, and the kickbacks to magazines and radio stations wear off, and the public is left with simply the product.
This does not change the fact that the majority of movies made right now truly are poop, and you won't see a single movie from the year 2005 mentioned in 2010 when they highlight the current decade. My theory is that there are some gems being made (or at least written), but they aren’t being made by the people with the $$$ to get them onto the big screen.
To those who would say that movies suck simply because Americans have nothing to say (Josh), I would say that is not entirely true, but rather that 99 percent of Americans have nothing NEW or INTERESTING to say, and they get a large budget to say it with. Americans have become quite adept at repackaging other people's ideas and selling them, or in more motivated cases, putting a spin on the original idea, but that requires original ideas, and those 1 percent have to come from somewhere, and they are not all imported from foreign countries with subtitles.
I would argue that much of that 1 percent of clever, original, genre-breaking-movie-making is an untapped resource known as Independent artists. The audio industry is discovering this now, and the video industry is sure to follow. As the living-room entertainment center gets more tightly connected to internet distribution methods, and as websites (like video.google.com, youtube.com etc) start doing for independent video what they currently do for audio (garageband.com, mp3tunes.com, magnatune.com etc..) The volume of video media available will increase exponentially.
I predict that at first, this will be video Nirvana. A rennaisance of filmmaking creativity which will make Hollywood shrivel up and die like the testicles of a bull being casterated. Unfortunately, this utopia will not last, as the market floods, and suddenly, video of someone's girlfriend's breast augmentation surgery is deemed 'art', alongside a 12-hour security camera tape of SuperAmerica titled, 'A Day In The Life Of Johnny' in which nothing happens. Toss in some payoffs to websites for a link, which raises their social network ranking, and suddenly, we have the video version of 'Dashboard Confessional' - Dogpoop cubed. Suddenly, that 1 percent becomes .01 percent.
And the cycle Lathers, Rinses, and Repeats.
Hopefully, someone is working on a computer program which can watch a movie for me and tell if I will like it or not before I watch it. What would that be like, to only watch good movies? Weird...
Blog on,
-CZ
0 Comments
Permalink
I think the primary reason why most movies right now are poop is due to overload. There are more movies available than ever before at any given time. 16-screen mega-theatres? Cable/Dish-On-Demand/Netflix/BitTorrent? DVD players in laptops and cars? This massive mass-distribution causes the industry to kick out product that is cheap-plastic-shiny-on-the-outside-but-not-too-expensive-on-the-inside. They spend more time talking about which special-effects to use than they do working on the script. They go for the marketing-department-approved-R.O.I., which has a rubber stamp of approval for crap like 'The Dukes of Hazzard' or 'Home Alone 8', or Anne Rice [Fill in book title here] or Harry Potter [Fill in version number here].
[Editors Note: Do people ever make movies based off books that Weren’t best sellers?]
Regardless, this business model is the Wal-Mart method of movie production, which stresses Quantity of sure-returns over Quality pieces of artwork. (I suggest we call them Wal-Movies...)
Because of the ridiculous volume of media available, it will take time for the cream of the crop to rise, and all of the overhyped poop to sink to the bottom. My point is - it is difficult to see what will stand the test of time until some time has passed. We know now that The Police were doing good music, because you still hear it today, and we know that Air Supply was garbage, because you don't. We know that Dashboard Confessional is dogpoop squared, but it will take some time before the lustre of overhyped prodution, product placement, and the kickbacks to magazines and radio stations wear off, and the public is left with simply the product.
This does not change the fact that the majority of movies made right now truly are poop, and you won't see a single movie from the year 2005 mentioned in 2010 when they highlight the current decade. My theory is that there are some gems being made (or at least written), but they aren’t being made by the people with the $$$ to get them onto the big screen.
To those who would say that movies suck simply because Americans have nothing to say (Josh), I would say that is not entirely true, but rather that 99 percent of Americans have nothing NEW or INTERESTING to say, and they get a large budget to say it with. Americans have become quite adept at repackaging other people's ideas and selling them, or in more motivated cases, putting a spin on the original idea, but that requires original ideas, and those 1 percent have to come from somewhere, and they are not all imported from foreign countries with subtitles.
I would argue that much of that 1 percent of clever, original, genre-breaking-movie-making is an untapped resource known as Independent artists. The audio industry is discovering this now, and the video industry is sure to follow. As the living-room entertainment center gets more tightly connected to internet distribution methods, and as websites (like video.google.com, youtube.com etc) start doing for independent video what they currently do for audio (garageband.com, mp3tunes.com, magnatune.com etc..) The volume of video media available will increase exponentially.
I predict that at first, this will be video Nirvana. A rennaisance of filmmaking creativity which will make Hollywood shrivel up and die like the testicles of a bull being casterated. Unfortunately, this utopia will not last, as the market floods, and suddenly, video of someone's girlfriend's breast augmentation surgery is deemed 'art', alongside a 12-hour security camera tape of SuperAmerica titled, 'A Day In The Life Of Johnny' in which nothing happens. Toss in some payoffs to websites for a link, which raises their social network ranking, and suddenly, we have the video version of 'Dashboard Confessional' - Dogpoop cubed. Suddenly, that 1 percent becomes .01 percent.
And the cycle Lathers, Rinses, and Repeats.
Hopefully, someone is working on a computer program which can watch a movie for me and tell if I will like it or not before I watch it. What would that be like, to only watch good movies? Weird...
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: consumerism, Cultural Observation, Culture, Hollywood, indie movies, Movie News, Predictions
Friday, December 10, 2004
Shut Up Already
Note to Self: Print some of these to hand out at the theatre.
-C
Two designers have made these warning cards for obnoxious cell phone users, available in convenient PDF download-and-cut-out form. It's a good way to make it clear to people they're talking too loudly, and a good way to eventually get into a good, American fist-fight. Then someone can hand you a card that explains why they found your teeth in their soda to be "more than a little annoying."
"Shut Up Already" [DraplinIndustries via MobileWhack]
[Gizmodo]
Labels: americans, anti, Cool Website, Culture, Web Tools
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
CULTURE: Notes on the Death of Liberal Arts
A liberal arts education was once considered the rule at the university. A student entering college could be expected to know something beyond their major—they had to be exposed to history, literature, mathematics, and science. They had to have a basic understanding of rhetoric and be able to communicate what they’ve learned through a variety of methods. Now, as universities have become focused on student's career needs, the model of a liberal arts education has begun to dwindle in the face of undergraduate business schools, specialized trade schools, and the growth of specialized cultural studies departments that supplement the notion of a “life-long scholar.”
Keynote speaker Raimond Gaita, a philosopher at King's College London, kicked off the conference with an anecdote about a gathering of leading philosophers at Leeds early in the Thatcher years, when universities felt under siege from the market-oriented conservative government. If a university eliminated its philosophy department, they told a junior government minister they had invited, it couldn't be called a university. "That's OK," the minister replied. "We'll call it something else."
But for Gaita, it's not just budget-cutting conservatives who must be defended against. He reserves a special scorn for academic leaders who have "debased" the academy by pretending that fields like Hospitality and Gaming Studies have a place at a university. A true liberal education, he says one in which learning is pursued for its own sake, and is based on the idea that broad literacy prepares students to act as educated, enlightened citizens requires a "community of scholars" who are not worried about job-placement rates, or the relevance of their work to government officials, and who view a life of scholarship "as a vocation," not simply a career. "We couldn't well imagine Socrates taking early retirement," Gaita said.[…]
A university's job, said [technologist Nicholas Negroponte, founder and chairman of the Media Lab at MIT], is to "promote creativity." Traditional academics delude themselves when they say that they must be cut off from practical fields like engineering and the business world to do the best work. Corporations come to places like MIT's Media Lab to encourage "high risk" work, and that's where universities have the potential to make real breakthroughs. Negroponte argued that all universities should abolish traditional departments, group scholars together, and require industry collaboration.
But not all scientists at the meeting were as blithely unconcerned. Vernon Rosario, who teaches psychiatry at the University of California at Los Angeles, said he worries that the next generation in his field is far too narrow, interested only in neuroscience and not the many other factors that go into psychiatry. He now assumes, he said, that his new residents in psychiatry have never read Freud.Indeed, while an undergraduate degree in business can get you a job in middle management, it is almost impossible to enter into a M.B.A. program with a Bachelor of Business degree: most of the respected M.B.A. programs consider you “ruined.”
(Written by: christopher)
[SuicideGirls: News Wire]
Labels: Culture, Philosophy
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Big Brother Driving Monitor
Stuff like this has been under construction for a long time now. I'm surprised we haven't seen it yet. But it won't be long till all motor vehicles will be equipped with 'black boxes' to record position, speed, etc. Is this a good thing?
I would say it's not quite enough. The 'black box' under consideration would only record data, much like aircraft. I think it should transmit live data to sattelite for instant Big Brother monitoring.
You know those S.O.B.s in S.U.V.s driving as though possessed by the ghost of Dale Earnhardt who swing back and forth on the highway as though the other vehicles on the road were pylons? Wouldn't it be great if Big Brother Computer In The Sky could instantly shut down their vehicle, cell phone and checking account, while dispatching a robot to kick their ass? And then, do the exact same thing to the morons who slow down to watch! One step closer to paradise if you ask me.
Speed on (while you can),
-C
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I would say it's not quite enough. The 'black box' under consideration would only record data, much like aircraft. I think it should transmit live data to sattelite for instant Big Brother monitoring.
You know those S.O.B.s in S.U.V.s driving as though possessed by the ghost of Dale Earnhardt who swing back and forth on the highway as though the other vehicles on the road were pylons? Wouldn't it be great if Big Brother Computer In The Sky could instantly shut down their vehicle, cell phone and checking account, while dispatching a robot to kick their ass? And then, do the exact same thing to the morons who slow down to watch! One step closer to paradise if you ask me.
Speed on (while you can),
-C
Labels: Cool Product, Culture, Technology
Monday, June 28, 2004
Solresol
The language of music. Looks like their marketing department could use a couple bucks, but it is an interesting idea.
Blog On,
-C
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Blog On,
-C
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