« October 2001 | Main | December 2001 »
November 30, 2001
Hey, Tom! Ginger news!
Supposedly, the product will be unveiled on Good Morning America on December 3. At least according to these geeks.
Posted by mccreath at 07:30 PM
Healthy Work Anarchy
Smuggled in 6 pack of Shiner Bock, $6.50. Old CD of Locust Abortion Technician playing at painfully loud volume, $7.50. Noise that $2500.00 legacy dot matrix printer makes as I jump on it from a desk, priceless. Man, wish y'all were here...
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 05:15 PM
Statistically speaking ...
"David" has been in the top ten names for boys since 1935. It dropped off in 1993. "Michael" has been in the top ten since 1941, and usually placed higher than "David". So it seems like out of seven guys, we should have at least one more "Michael" if we're going to have three "David"s.
So who's going to change his name?
[ Source ]
Posted by mccreath at 02:42 PM
Pong
Just kinda struck me as funny....
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 01:24 PM
what, no'one's talking about george harrison
?
Posted by Lang Squal at 09:18 AM
November 29, 2001
pixelvision
Hey, Phil, I can't remember if you still own a PXL 2000. Do you?
Posted by mccreath at 09:08 PM
I completely forgot about these ...
Space Food Sticks. And now I can't get the taste out of my memory.
From this cool section of this cool site. Be sure to check the characters in the Imaginary World Project.
Posted by mccreath at 12:53 PM
November 28, 2001
Time Killer
Trailervision - Trailers for movies that don't exist and spoof movie trailers.
(Note: I've had the best luck with their QuickTime versions, not the Windows Media or Real Video versions.)
Posted by mccreath at 05:12 PM
This is it
Sorry to upload such a big picture, but if I have to live with it, so should everyone else.
Posted by David L at 02:56 PM
I've got...
...conjuctivitis, and it sucks. I'm going to an acupuncturist today...no antibiotics for me. Funky herbs please.
Posted by David L at 02:37 PM
Phone call for Mr. Wilson. Mr. Robert Anton Wilson, you have a phone call.
Somebody needs to smoke a fattie. Or something.
Posted by mccreath at 12:49 PM
today
it's cold* n rainy here, i'm listenin to spinner:bluegrass channel, drinkin jolt! cola, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww!
*mcfreeze, yeah dude i know, it's colder there, texas cold is alaskan summer, etc..JUST LET ME ENJOY SOME COLD WEATHER WILL YA PLEASE?!
Posted by Lang Squal at 09:35 AM
November 27, 2001
Woo Hoo!!!
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 11:08 AM
I'll Take
any of these items for Christmas.
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 11:02 AM
November 26, 2001
From Negativland...
Quite the interesting essay.
So, why is that new "Oasis" CD so expensive?
In the early eighties, sales of vinyl, cassettes, turntables and cassette players were "flat". This means that sales were stable, not rising or falling. For the makers of all this hardware and software, that wasn't quite good enough. They needed a new angle. A new way to sell music and the stuff you play it on. Luckily, someone at the Phillips Corporation (owner of PolyGram Music and Island Records and one of the worlds top defense contractors) had the bright idea that it would be good for their stockholders and investors if they could get the music consuming public excited about buying music again by introducing a new format and a new machine to play it on (i.e. how can you convince that aging baby boomer to buy yetanother copy of DEJA VU by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young when they already have one?)
Thus was born THE COMPACT DISC in all it's shiny, aluminum, plastic and digital glory. It's maximum playing time, about 75 minutes, was chosen because the president of the company wanted something that could play his favorite piece of music, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, all the way through without stopping.
Well, compact discs weren't as successful as they had hoped. For one thing, their price was too high. The higher price was blamed both on the fact that they were mostly being made in Japan and that they had a high defect rate, with approximately one out of every three discs being tossed out before even leaving the CD factory. Early on, the economics of this led to an industry wide decision to continue paying recording artists a royalty rate based on the sale price of vinyl instead of the higher sale price of compact discs. And nobody was buying those new CD players either, because they were just too darned expensive.
But then, in the spring of 1989, something wonderful happened for the music industry. Everything changed! Almost overnight, CD's were everywhere! Suddenly they were a huge success and suddenly it became almost impossible to get anything on vinyl at all..
This change must have occurred because it was what the consumer wanted.....right? We live in a market-driven economy and the market was demanding more compact discs.....right?
Wrong. What actually happened was this - a flexible return policy had always existed between record stores and the seven major distributors, i.e. stores could "buy" something from a distributor, and if it didn't sell, they could return it. This allowed stores to take more chances on new releases or on things they were not so familiar with, because if it didn't sell, they could always send it back. Well, in the spring of 1989 all seven major label distributors announced that they would no longer accept "returns" on vinyl and they also began deleting much of the vinyl versions of their back catalog. These actions literally forced record stores to stop carrying vinyl. They could not afford the financial risk of carrying those releases that were on vinyl because if they didn't sell they would be stuck with them. Very quickly almost all record stores had to convert to CD's. The net effect of this was that the consumer no longer had a choice because the choice had been made for us. High priced compact discs were being shoved down our throats, whether we knew it or liked it or not.
As we mentioned earlier, record labels were paying artists a royalty rate on sales of CD's based upon the $8.98 or $9.98 list price of vinyl (or achieved the same end result by using contractual tricks like "packaging deductions"). As CD's took over and the majors all acquired their own domestic CD pressing plants and the defect rate dropped to almost zero, the cost of manufacturing compact discs dropped dramatically as well. One would have expected the price of CD's to also drop and for the profits to now be split evenly and fairly with the musicians who were making all the music.
This, of course, never happened. CD prices have continued to rise to a now unbelievable $16.98 list price (soon to be $17.98!) while manufacturing costs have now dropped to less than it costs to manufacture a $9.98 vinyl release. A CD, with its plastic jewel box, printed booklet and tray card now costs a major label about 80 cents each to make (or less) and a small independent label between $1.50 and $2.50. Meaning that CD's should now cost the consumer less than their original prices over a decade ago, not more. But the music business got consumers used to the idea of paying the higher price and the labels got used to the idea of their higher profit margin, and record labels continue to this day to pay almost all artists a royalty rate as if they're selling CD's for the list price of vinyl. That extra 4 or 5 or 6 bucks goes right into the pockets of the record labels. It is not shared with musicians. And of course, we all had to go out and buy a CD player (which had mysteriously dropped to a more reasonable price) if we wanted to hear any of the music on this "popular" new format. So, all in all, it's no wonder that the record industry and stereo manufacturers loved the compact disc. In fact the following year (when our economy was in a recession) the music industry had its biggest profits, ever!
If any of this bothers you as much as it does us, then you might be wondering why you've never heard about any of this or why no anti-trust action was ever taken against major labels and distributors. The answer to this is quite simple. Most of the reporting on the inner workings of the record business comes from the music press and the music press is almost totally reliant on the advertising dollars and good will of the business that they're writing about. So, in the interest of not wanting to "rock the boat" or anger the folks who essentially bankroll their publishing ventures, this story would, and will continue to remain, unreported. And with the coming "popularity" of DVD, the music industry looks like it is ready to try the same tricks all over again.
-Negativland
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 04:17 PM
Genius at Work
America grapples with the difficult issue of human cloning, hilariously!
"A second company quickly claimed Sunday it had also cloned human embryos, but in unpublished research. That company, Clonaid, hopes eventually to clone human beings. ``I'm very pleased that I'm not alone,'' said company Director Brigitte Boisselier. ``We're doing embryos every day.'' "
This story just gets better and better...
http://www.clonaid.com/
Posted by Lang Squal at 02:26 PM
One final question:
If Morrisey and Michael Stipe got in a fight, who would win?
Posted by Lang Squal at 01:28 PM
RIP Kesey, Karoli
I didn't find out til this weekend that Ken Kesey had died. Here are two links: the first one is a somewhat "official" website, it's a nice tribute:
http://www.pranksterweb.org/
the second is just a page of news links:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/Entertainment/Ken_Kesey
I've only ever read OFOtCN, but what a novel it is, especially a first novel, quite amazing. I just have a real fondness for his place in american beat history.
Also, I just learned yesterday that Michael Karoli, guitarist of CAN, died this month. He was younger than the other CAN guys by nearly 20 years, he died of cancer. Can't find much of anything in english about him, mtvnews.com of course didn't have squat. Bummer
Posted by Lang Squal at 09:48 AM
Start Off The Day
with beer.
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 08:06 AM
November 22, 2001
Happy Thanksgiving, folks
Wish I could see all my friends. I hope your days are going well.
Posted by mccreath at 02:51 PM
November 21, 2001
I miss all the good conferences
Not so much the picture, as the idea.
Posted by mccreath at 11:54 AM
Next Thanksgiving,
God as my witness, I'm ordering one of these, dammit! Y'all are invited for dinner!
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 11:52 AM
November 20, 2001
Dude.
Posted by mccreath at 09:41 PM
I Pray For You All
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 03:12 PM
screw it, i can't seem to load anything right!
and i cant delete anything either!!!!!!!
Posted by Lang Squal at 09:44 AM
November 19, 2001
I got it right down the street at "Clichés R Us"!
Posted by mccreath at 07:35 PM
November 17, 2001
RIP, Mr. Kitty
Punkin, Katie's 14-year-old cat died suddenly yesterday. Some sort of intestinal tumor that burst. He died quickly. We're kinda sad right now.
Posted by mccreath at 07:07 PM
November 16, 2001
tho i hated scooby doo
i loved courageous cat and minute mouse.
does anyone else remember them? does this jog your memory? how about this?
what about gigantor ?
maybe i'm just old.
Posted by tom at 01:33 PM
heh
Posted by tom at 01:03 PM
Hey, McDave,
does this look familiar? (Cheapo's are the unlucky bastards that moved into the old Whole Foods building). 10th and Lamar is still closed this morning, last afternoon/night was a real clusterfuck!
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 09:40 AM
November 15, 2001
If Only....
http://bbspot.com/News/2001/11/steve.html
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 03:45 PM
Cool.
I have nothing else to say.
Posted by David L at 03:21 PM
Looks like
the Whole Foods in New Orleans was robbed last night.
Apparently at this point, it was the $6.00/hr. security guards that did it, the robbers wore security uniforms, knew where everything was, etc. I guess I'm a little upset just because I know what a lack of concern WFM (up to this point) has had regarding employee security safety at night. I'm thankful no one died, and hoping this will open their eyes to the fact that they need to invest in real security for their night crews.
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 11:31 AM
November 14, 2001
Oh, this is a Good Thing.
These Guys Are From England and Who Gives a Shit is a re-release of Negativland's most infamous record.
And while we're talking about Negativland, this just showed up on File Pile. Them Negativland fellers is a buncha smarties.
Posted by mccreath at 02:03 PM
whatever happened to dean kamen and 'it'/ginger
huh?
Posted by tom at 12:35 PM
Book Recommendations
Incredibly Strange Music Vols 1 & 2
Ok I know these have both been out for awhile, but I just got into reading the second one this week, especially the LONG "interview with" (more a rant from) Jello Biafra, and this is some great stuff! (Vol 1 has the Cramps, also great) The only frustrating thing is knowing there's no way you'll ever hear all the stuff they talk about that interests you!
Here's the link to Re/Search: http://www.vsearchmedia.com/books/ismprod.shtml
But check your local Half-Price books because they've both been remaindered.
Ok this brings up a related topic that I've tried to generate interest here before, sharing WANT LISTS, so we can all scour our regions for things not found locally (does that sentence even make sense?).
Top on my want/search list now are any "belly dancing" records, which I have found scan anywhere from the 50s to the 70s. These sometimes have hot chicks in belly-dancing garb on them, or sometimes are "instrustional" la "how to belly dance for your husband" etc. But the music is often really good, with neo-traditional big bands from Asia, Turkey, Isreal, even Greece (Greek belly dancing?). So if you see some of these, and they're in decent condition, buy them, I'll pay yall back. (These types of records are usually in the miscallaneous or "instructional" bins and are cheap!)
POST YOUR WANT LISTS!, I go used record/book shopping about once a week...
Posted by Lang Squal at 09:25 AM
November 13, 2001
GET YOUR WAR ON continued
http://www.mnftiu.cc/mnftiu.cc/war.html
two more pages!
Posted by Lang Squal at 06:03 PM
Here's a little video clip
Here's a little video clip that Phil shared with me this morning. It's some Japanese advertising, and it does have an audio track, so if you're in the office turn down your volume!
Other countries have better ads than we do.
Posted by mccreath at 11:21 AM
November 12, 2001
Find The Lord
in a pack of gum!
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 03:41 PM
Heh
my little relatively traffic free site is seeing a few visitors apparently seeking the OLD dylar.com, an Argentine real estate development company.
Posted by tom at 12:36 PM
Now That's
some manly art!
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 08:01 AM
November 09, 2001
anybody wants to get me a late bday gift...
dylar.com is now available! i wish i weren't unemployed.
ttk
Posted by tom at 05:58 PM
The Tick
Anyone catch it last night? It was nice to see, but I still miss the AM cartoon on Saturdays....
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 01:29 PM
Happy Friday!!!!
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 12:24 PM
November 08, 2001
Tokyo Shock Boys
Has anyone ever heard of these guys? It looks like a cross between performance art, arena rock, the Three Stooges, and Devo. Or something.
Me want see!
Posted by mccreath at 04:44 PM
Two Unrelated Items
1] http://people.smu.edu/ssnider/Movies.html
2] http://www.dallasnews.com/metro/stories/STORY.ea0a2a796e.b0.af.0.a4.caaac.html
The first is a link to a short film clip from one of the guys in SMU's Digital Commons, the brilliant* guys who do all the high-tech stuff for the campus. I am thinking mainly that y'all will like the one called GAY HORROR FILM, the others are just commercials etc. (The rest of his site is good looking too, you MAC geeks will love it!)
<*not sarcasm, those guys are all braniacs>
The second is a link from the Dallas Morning News, a story from yesterday that apparently got some nat'l coverage, so ya'll may have seen it. I didn't just, heard about it. (If this link makes you log into the DMN site, let me know.)
But this article makes me want to open a MADD-like group called People Against Cop Chases, and force the police NOT to CHASE dangerous drivers. It seems to me that the police cause more potential danger by giving chase than the chased. This article indicates that they wanted to KILL the driver of a flaming 18 wheeler...please tell me what sense that makes?
Posted by Lang Squal at 09:29 AM
November 07, 2001
This
is an improvement on meetings? How about working on pointlessness and the boss's masturbatory verboseness? I really could do without a 3D image of my boss catching me sleeping, or shooting the finger at the speakerphone.
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 01:52 PM
The Way
of the Exploding Stick!
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 10:36 AM
November 06, 2001
pretty pretty
The Northern Lights were visible briefly this morning while we walked the dogs.
Posted by mccreath at 12:07 PM
I can't believe somebody got away with this...
This is the text to a lecture given by Hank Hardy Unruh. Mr. Unruh is a member of the Yes Men who maintain a website (www.gatt.org) that parodies the WTO's website. He was invited to give a lecture at a textiles conference at Tampere University of Technology in Finland (they thought he was really a representative of the WTO, and did not realize the gatt.org site was a parody.) The speech was recieved by aplause from the audience, and praised throughout the day by the master of ceremonies.
It really is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. I bow in reverance to the humongous gonads of the Yes Men.
Posted by David L at 01:54 AM
November 05, 2001
A New Way
to spank your monkey....
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 05:02 PM
"I'm Too Busy To Play!"
so sayeth Phil. he asked that I share the message.
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 02:21 PM
cough.
sniffle.
Posted by David L at 11:21 AM
November 02, 2001
More Important than Anything Ever!
Ok friends-in-Simpsons, one last-ditch effort to get the whole set. Remember this freak out from just a few weeks ago:
http://www.burgerking.com/bkbigkids/BKSimpsons/flash.html (they've removed the links but the url still works)
I need two more Apus, and three each of Mr Burns and Ned-with-a-hook. (for myself, my friend, and my brother) If the BK in your area is still selling these this weekend, PLEASE purchase for me, I will pay you back in cash, reach-around, what ever!
I humbly bow to you all in gratitude.........................
Posted by Lang Squal at 03:55 PM
In A Similar Vein...
https://zetes.safe-order.net/cgi-mjvar/photo.cgi?i=11165&n=Michael%20Jackson%20%20Little%20Boys%20Belt
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 10:28 AM
Update
Tinkerbell found! Yes, there appears to be more than one ...
Posted by mccreath at 09:47 AM
November 01, 2001
Er, Here's The Photo (I'm a Freakin' Moron)
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 03:48 PM
Dave, Mike,
just in case you were wondering how Chuck and Bethany are doing....
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 03:44 PM
scary.
Posted by tom at 03:02 PM
If We're All Going To Be This Quiet....
then we have to take a test.
Posted by Krayon Scribbel at 02:41 PM