by David Burn | Oct 5, 2004 | Digital culture, Politics
NYC blogger and frelance copywriter Paul Ford of F-Train fame describes the inherent logic in getting the far Christian right to vote for Kerry. From his blog:
“Maybe the rapture is coming, and all of those who have taken Jesus into their heart will be pulled to heaven soon. Which is why I’m asking you to vote for the godless devil-candidate, the abortion-loving, bible-hating John Kerry. Because if you vote for George W. Bush, and the rapture comes, his entire administration could vanish at any moment, plunging our government into chaos.”
by David Burn | Oct 3, 2004 | Art, Media
Once more, I have world traveler, photographer, DJ, and collector, Evil Vince, a.k.a. No Evil Mon to thank for turning me on to interesting undercurrents in art. Today, during a less than inspired performance from our Bears, he handed me a small book showcasing the poster art of Shepard Fairey, the creator of Obey Giant. The project’s tag line is Manufacturing Quality Dissent Since 1989. Here’s a sample:
Describing his work and punk rock approach to placing it wherever he deems fit in the greater urbanscape, often under cover of night, Fairey writes, “The Obey campaign can be explained as an experiment in Phenomenology*. The first aim of Phenomenology is to reawaken a sense of wonder about one’s environment. Because people are not used to seeing advertising or propaganda for which the motive is not obvious, frequent and novel encounters with Obey propaganda provoke thought and possible frustration, nevertheless revitalizing the viewer’s perception and attention to detail.”
*Phenomenology studies conscious experience as experienced from the subjective or first person point of view. This field of philosophy is then to be distinguished from, and related to, the other main fields of philosophy: ontology (the study of being or what is), epistemology (the study of knowledge), logic (the study of valid reasoning), ethics (the study of right and wrong action), etc. Famous phenomenologists from the first half of the 20th century include Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Jean-Paul Sartre, et al. from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
by David Burn | Oct 1, 2004 | Literature, Media
A great writer has the power to sway people. William Rivers Pitt, Managing Editor of Truth Out and author of two best-selling political books, is such a writer. In addition to his books, Pitt has penned many articles of value, but one that really begins to make things clearer for me is “Introducing John Kerry”, which appeared yesterday, prior to the first Presidential debate. In this piece, Pitt describes Kerry’s childhood and family background, helping the reader understand what makes Kerry the man he is today. I must admit, I’m impressed.
From Pitt’s article: “A life of service and study crafted a man of depth, of intelligence, who can see all the sides of any issue and incorporates all available data before making a decision. The opponents he has faced and defeated throughout his career have enjoyed painting him as vacillating, as indecisive, as a man who holds several positions at once in order to cover his political backside. In truth, these incomplete views on John Kerry are born from a modern political landscape that cannot fathom a man who is judicious, contemplative and thorough, because such attributes have been all too absent from our political discourse.”
William Rivers Pitt on a cold New England day
by David Burn | Oct 1, 2004 | Politics
Tonight George Bush–possibly for the first time since becoming President–had to stand still and listen to criticism. And it’s quite evident he didn’t take it well. Each time his opponent, Senator John Kerry, attacked him for his failed policies in Iraq, Bush winced as if he’d never heard such nonsense. Given that Bush refuses to read newspapers or hold regular press conferences, it’s possible that he never has considered how many American people are truly upset by his reckless and arrogant behavior. While readers of this blog certainly know I’m no fan of the Democratic Party, I am pleased with Kerry’s willingness and ability to bring Dubya down a notch.
by David Burn | Sep 30, 2004 | Digital culture
“Supposedly cosmopolitan, San Francisco is in fact a collection of separatist ghettos. Mexicans live in the Mission, Gays live in the Castro, Chinese out in Sunset, and transient yuppies in the Marina; and they avoid each other as much as possible. The city is entirely lacking in glamour. The old money is inbred, and the new money is too geeky. The pretty people are in Los Angeles or Miami; the intellectuals are in New York; and the carpetbaggers left as quickly as they came.” -Nick Denton
Outspoken Oxford grad, Nick Denton, is a former journalist and currently king of his very own nanopublishing empire. In short, he’s the man responsible for Gawker, Wonkette, Fleshbot, Defamer, and Kinja. That is, he is the publisher, not the writer. He hires writers. Notably, Choire Sicha and Ana Marie Cox*, of Gawker and Wonkette fame respectively. Elizabeth Spiers was the first Gawker writer, until traditional media swooped in. Now she works for New York Magazine.
Denton appeared on my radar last spring when this Wired article arrived in my mailbox. The timing was especially interesting, as I had recently advised CenterStage, Chicago’s indie-owned entertainment site, on the need for a blog. I contributed to this effort for a time, but stopped shortly thereafter, realizing that I was the wrong blogger for the job.
Now, there’s another opportunity to be a paid blogger. Denton’s chief rival, Jason Calacanis, founder of Weblogs, Inc. is looking for a blogger to take on the advertising beat. Basically, what Denton and Calacanis are up to is carving out, and then capitalizing on, a highly defined niche for each blog they create. Which is smart, especially when the objective is ad revenue. The blog you are reading now is not laser-like. I write here about several topics. Should I ever devote myself to one topic, my traffic would surely increase. But, I do not blog for more traffic. I blog because I have something to say. Of course, should Calacanis bring me onboard, I will focus on the ad world with laser-like intensity. Sounds like fun.
*Cox, a native Nebraskan (like me), reportedly just inked a deal for a book, film, and TV show. This according to Calacanis. You go girl.
by David Burn | Sep 30, 2004 | Digital culture, Politics
Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, a.k.a. Kos (rhymes with rose) is one of the world’s most popular bloggers. Thankfully, he’s also a smart guy and good writer. Actually if his traffic is any indication, he may be much better than good. His blog DailyKos receives 350,000 to 400,000 visits a day or over 8 million a month. That’s twice the traffic of FoxNews dot com, and a readership that equals many of the world’s leading print publications.
Now, Kos has a new gig. He’s writing a column for The Guardian. In his first effort for this venerable news organization, Kos pontificates on the rise of a true liberal media online. He also wisely points out that liberals are just starting to shape the story–something conservatives in this country have been successfully doing for over 30 years now.
From his Guardian column: “It would be really sexy and dramatic to claim that a few brave blogger souls set out to build an alternative media structure, but that’s not really true. We set out to write for ourselves, to provide an outlet for the angst we felt in a politically hostile environment – where criticising the president on domestic policy was somehow unpatriotic. And we weren’t alone: there was a huge audience out there hungry for this content. And suddenly, the seeds of a liberal media blossomed online.”
by David Burn | Sep 28, 2004 | Food & Beverage, The Environment
Founded in 1986, in direct response to the opening of a McDonald’s restaurant in Rome’s famous Piazza di Spagna, the Slow Food movement–dedicated to supporting traditional ways of growing, producing and preparing food–is today gaining traction with people around the world. According to this excellent article in The Nation, Slow Food offers a kind of pleasure-loving environmentalism that does not reject consumption per se but the homogenization and high-speed frenzy of chain-store, fast-food life.
by David Burn | Sep 28, 2004 | Go Big Red
I’m experiencing my own little backlash against the pervasiveness of technology in our lives. Two areas I find particularly bothersome: 1) Plastic surgery and 2) Cell phones. I understand that both technologies have a place in society. Plastic surgery’s place is helping to reconstruct one’s body after a terrible accident. Cell phones, on the other hand, prove convenient when one’s car breaks down.
Since moving to Chicago last year, I’ve noticed several people talking to themselves on the city’s sidewalks. The odd thing is these ladies and gentlemen don’t look to be insane. In fact, these fast talkers are usually well dressed and often appear to be rather hurried. Then, I’ll see the earpiece and realize what it is I’ve been witness to–a cell phone conversation, masked by the smallness of the device itself.
the offending device
An even worse environment for cell phone use (of any type) is on the train. The train is a public venue. Thus, most people respectfully keep to themselves. Until their cell phone rings. Then all within earshot get to learn all about the formulating plans, relationship troubles or business dealings of an imperfect stranger.
Regarding the medical enhancement of physical features, all I can say is I feel sick when I see a person who’s volunteered to go under the knife. Michael Jackson, Cher and Joan Rivers (most notably) are humans willingly transforming themselves into something less than human. I see these celebs, or others likewise transfigured, and I see no beauty whatsoever, only disease. Some may argue that plastic surgery can help improve one’s self-esteem. I’m sorry, but that’s a crock of shit. All “enhancement” does is reveal one’s suffering soul.
by David Burn | Sep 25, 2004 | Advertising, Chicago
“In retrospect, the real beginning of Lands’ End probably lies interred with the bones of some distant ancestor of mine, who passed along those genes compelling me toward total independence. The idea for the company though, appeared the winter of my discontent, bumming in the Swiss Alps around Davos. I read The Magic Mountain and contemplated whether there would be life after 33, and what it might consist of. One thing, I did not want to go back to the job I left (but I did go back to Young & Rubicam for a year) and I wanted to start a business, something to do with my hobby, sailboat racing.” – Gary Comer, former Y&R copywriter
I’ve been pondering what some of the Forbes 400 richest did to achieve their great wealth. Often, when I see a mansion that’s simply too big or some other ostentatious display, I’ll point and say, “Arms dealer.” I’m only too pleased to report my speculation is off kilter. In Chicago, the richest people got that way by building great companies–Lands’ End (now operating out of Dodgeville, WI), CDW, Oprah, Hyatt, Wrigley, and Motorola to name a few.
In a twisted insight into consumer buying habits, the richest Chicagoan (at five billion in net worth) is H. Ty Warner, the man behind the Beanie Babies phenomenon.
by David Burn | Sep 24, 2004 | Chicago, Music, Politics
The Chicago Tribune reported today that local gay rights activists protested last night’s concert at Chicago’s House of Blues by Jamaican dancehall star, Capleton. This is the latest in an ongoing struggle by gay activists to bring international attention to the hate-filled lyrics of several Reggae artists, including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Sizzla and most notably Buju Banton, an artist Amnesty International claims took part in a June beating of six gay men in Jamaica. Banton’s own performances have been recently cancelled in England, and his contract with Puma–despite his recent Olympics performance–is under intense scrutiny by the hip lifestyle brand.
Capleton’s show at HOB went on as planned, solidifying HOB’s position as one the most corporate venues in popular music today. According to The Trib report, Jack Gannon, a spokesman for the Los Angeles-based entertainment company, said performers deserve the same freedom of expression on stage that the protesters have in the street.
