r h i z o m i c o n

newmusicmonday #101::The Darcy's AJA

2012-01-24T00:31:00.000-05:00

The title might seem familiar—if not, maybe some of these tracks will ring a bell::

Tracklist

	Black Cow

	Aja

	Deacon Blues

	Peg

	Home At Last

	I Got The News

	Josie

The Darcys of Toronto and on Toronto's Arts & Crafts Records offer this homage to Fagen & Becker that's free for download. Lending their avant garde atmospherics to the wryness of Steely Dan works quite well. They will embarking on a North American tour [see CBCr3] starting this week and going through March, including dates in LA, SF, Vancouver -BC, Chicago, Toronto, Brooklyn, & NYC-Bowery.

Twitterversion:: [blog] #newmusicmonday featuring @itsthedarcys. Free download of AJA from @artsandcrafts {via @StickyMagazine} @Prof_K

San Francisco 1955 in 'Cinemascope'

2012-01-21T04:59:00.001-05:00

This was posted on Thursday on The Atlantic via BoingBoing.

"It's the work of accomplished amateur filmmaker (and expert tinkerer) Tullio Pellegrini, who combined a 16mm Bell & Howell Cinemascope lens with the wonders of Kodachrome and made this homage to the city of San Francisco. You'll see Playland, our oceanside amusement park which was closed in 1972, very rare footage of the SkyTram (an extinct ride over Seal Rocks and Sutro Baths), and a brakescreeching ride down the Crookedest Street in the World."—Rick Prelinger

The Meta Ad:: Family Guy & Wheat Thins

2012-01-16T06:23:00.000-05:00

I was watching both Downton Abbey and Family Guy, but the above ad on Fox caught my eye. Adweek made it an ad of the day on Thursday. It's a seamless integration of pitch and content, playing on a joke from the series from a few years back::

Music & the Ad:: Toyota Prius V & Eliza Doolittle

2012-01-15T02:58:00.002-05:00

I saw this Prius V commercial for the first time, as I slowly get accustomed to having TV again here in Eastbay—I've been watching broadcast digital signals with a converted attached to a very low-fi set. Anyway. This quirky ad continues the Toyota trend for Prius spots and the firm is wise to letting people in on information on the ad and music used. Here's a link to the 411 on last year's ads, including the 'Harmony' spot. The agency is Saatchi & Saatchi LA and is selling the concept of a hybrid hybrid, a hybrid car that is SUV like.

The artist on the Prius V commercial is Eliza Doolittle {Eliza Sophie Caird} and the song is "Rollerblades"::

Rollerblades by Eliza Doolittle on Grooveshark

and I had a vision of Steven Morrissey unironically hosting a UK show called "Pretty Songs Pretty Girls Make", featuring catchy songs and the theme song would be an updated cover of this. Anyway. Here's a video for Eliza Doolittle's "Rollerblades". Enjoy.

Whose Panopticon Is It Anyway?

2012-01-13T03:06:00.001-05:00

In Ontario, Canada last year there was a story of the OPP using digital cameras to scan license plates on highways. While law enforcement touts public safety, it cannot be ignored that an expired tag fine for the Jetta mentioned in the article is $110. Questions arose regarding privacy have come up in Ontario, as well as how long data is kept and for what purposes.

Now, in California, law enforcement is using the same ALPR, Automated Licence Plate Recognition, technology to scan plates for alleged criminals. In addition, a private firm, Vigilant Video, is collecting data in its National Vehicle Location Service. Contributions are made by law enforcement, as well as private citizens. Again, questions of privacy are cropping up, as it remains a question who will have access to this data and for what purposes and Vigilant isn't talking. In an era when employers are using credit histories as screening criteria, I think we need to question the use and potential misuse of such data. The EFF agrees. Given that cybersecurity is hardly secure, as shown by "anonymous", illegal access to this information is also a concern. The simplistic aphorism of "don't be evil" and you have nothing to fear has scant weight when there's no transparency with respect to what's in the database and its quality.

Twitterversion:: [video] Whose Panopticon Is It Anyway? CBS-5 story on the collection of license plate data & privacy issues in Calif. http://vox.rhizomicon.com/2012/01/whose-panopticon-is-it-anyway.html @Prof_K

Silicon Valley Vs. Alley

2012-01-12T23:58:00.001-05:00

I've been busy, so I'm a bit behind in following startup developments. This is somewhat interesting and is a good overview. I'd be interested in how regional advantages are manifested in both à la Saxenian, but those questions are better left to those out of the trenches in towers, ivory and otherwise.

Via MBA@UNC: Online MBA

Twitterversion:: [infographic] Silicon Alley Vs. Silicon Valley via UNC @Prof_K

"Moonrise Kingdom" Trailer-Wes Anderson

2012-01-12T17:18:00.001-05:00

Wes Anderson's forthcoming Moonrise Kingdom looks like a return to all things darling and twee. Anderson's earlier work {Bottlerocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic} create a strong sense of place and typically managed to immerse the viewer into constructed worlds in a way that the characters' quirkiness doesn't grate on one's nerves. I'm quite interested in seeing this film—just the diversity of the cast alone piques my interest. Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, and Bruce Willis are sharing the screen in Altmasesque glory. Also, the fact that Roman Coppola co-wrote this seals the deal, as I have a huge soft spot for his CQ. This could be one of the ensemble greats and it appears that Wes is returning to his familiar theme of love amidst quirksterdom and dysfunction.

Twitterversion:: [video] Trailer for #WesAnderson's moonrise Kingdom evokes his earlier films of quirkster sensibilities.

Lux-"The Window"

2012-01-09T17:02:00.002-05:00

Lux has new music and it's a Monday, but they were featured already as newmusicmonday #73. The Seattle fuzzgaze band had a successful Kickstarter campaign and these are the initial fruits of those labors. I love how the melodious vocals juxtapose the and complement the catchy noisepop.

Lux - The Window by fanaticpro

Twitterversion:: [♫] New music on a Monday from @luxkidsmusic from Seattle. Melodious vocals +catchy noisepop. @Prof_K

Let Them Eat Veggies

2012-01-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

A photo of a "buff" Michelle Obama as Marie Antoinette is making the rounds again, due to an upcoming iCarly appearance. On the Nickelodeon sitcom, Michelle is referred to as "your excellency" and "sort of likes it". The right wing is having a field day and the left wing is calling foul, saying it's racist and evokes the "uppity negro" stereotype. The 'Shopped version of Gautier-Dagoty's iconic painting {below right} dates back to the summer of 2010.

The deconstruction of the tropes of leveling Michelle Obama seems to be a part of a theme in the way she's serving as a lightning rod for pundits and journos. Hillary Clinton faces the same battles and Condi Rice was targeted with a mid-2000s spoof site that was something like CondiRiceIsAngry.com, so this isn't a clear cut left/right issue. In all instances, there seems to be a theme of defeminizing them by making them mannish, angry, or otherwise unattractive. It's not enough to have the Marie Antoinette Michelle be a symbol of being out of touch, but the burly arm reinforces the point that she's threatening to a set of ideals.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

2011-12-08T20:59:00.000-05:00

It's been a while, but heard this again on 93XRT a few days ago—a fine chunk of hipsterana. If you simply can't get enough of Jade Castrinos, this Tumblr just might get you though the day.

Twitterversion:: [video +link] Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros doing "Home"-KCRW & FuckYeahJadeCastrinos Tumblr. @Prof_K

Friday Night Video on Saturday Morning:: Andrew Bird

2011-10-22T05:20:00.001-04:00

Last night, I saw Andrew Bird at the Tarrytown Music Hall. He mentioned he was there 3 years ago and found the above video of "Self Torture." I'm really busy in the next few days, but I'll try to post a review. He has a song, "Hospital" available for download on his site, from the film, Norman. The trailer::

Twitterversion:: [video] #FridayNightVideo on Saturday Morning:: Andrew Bird @Prof_K

Friday Night Video/Music & the Ad:: M. Ward's "Here Comes the Sun Again"

2011-10-14T22:36:00.000-04:00

Above is M. Ward performing "Here Comes the Sun Again" last month at the End of the Road Festival, Dorset UK, Sept. 3, 2011. I was reminded of him when I saw the song in the Subaru "Honeymoon" spot from last year during last night's airing of The Office on NBC.

The hipster honeymoon commercial uses M. Ward's song well. Known for being half of She & Him, the M. Ward song speaks to the hipster psychographic. The spot serves as a touchstone for aging hipsters that are turning in their Metrocards and taking over red county towns with kids, quinoa, and Converse—and need a vehicle now.

Twitterversion:: [videos] #FridayNightVideos M. Ward {of She & Him} at End of the Road festival & Subaru's 2010 'Hipster Honeymoon' spot @Prof_K

Thoughts on Beavis & Butthead Redux

2011-10-14T06:26:00.001-04:00

The Twittersphere was buzzing with talk of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butthead 2011 redux. I always thought the brilliance of the show was in the commentary on the music videos, which, unfortunately weren't included in the tapes. It appears that reality TV is the new comedic fodder. New episodes are slated for 27 October on MTV.

Personally, I'd like to see Mike Judge and the boys get more political. Sure, there's low hanging fruit like Julian ASSange, but Occupy Wall Street, Obama, the Tea Partiers, etc., could be hilarious and subversive in the hands of deft writers. The format is perfect for sharp cultural critique and its intertextuality can go further than other animated shows that hold up a societal mirror, such as Family Guy and South Park, as well as the character satire of Stephen Colbert. Airing on MTV may preclude an overly political bent, but it would be interesting to see the show land some blows in a way that's more subtle than the all-too-common shock and awe approach to comedy. Seeing the world through the lens of "idiots" offers more subtle humor than characters that derive comedy from pushing the envelope like so much Sarah Silverman.

Twitterversion:: [blog+video] Thoughts on the Beavis and Butthead redux set for 27 Oct.

The Joy Formidable on Letterman

2011-10-07T06:15:00.001-04:00

It's nice to see bands I've blogged about begin to break out. The Joy Formidable was featured on newmusicmonday #32. The Welsh band was in good form with "Whirring".

Twitterversion:: [video] The Joy Formidable on Letterman {6 October show} @Prof_K

Friday Night Video:: Jill Sobule-"Cinnamon Park"

2011-09-30T20:36:00.002-04:00

I was coming back to the States after crossing at Pt. Vincent, NY, a seasonal entry point, on 24 August. I thought it would be pretty chill and would surely beat a major crossing with long wait times. Wrong. The experience was like a colonoscopy, which is fodder for another blog post. Driving through the southern edge of the Catskills past Binghampton en route to Tarrytown/NYC, WJFF-Radio Catskill came in. After hearing about Hurricane Irene taking aim at NY and Steve Jobs' resignation as CEO of Apple, this Jill Sobule song seemed to make a dreary day not so bad. I think part of why this song made such an impact was it reminded me of a very friendly, vibrantly red carpet at the CNE. Only 10 people will know what I'm talking about and that's about right.

Yes, you are hearing a sample of Chicago's "Saturday in the Park", which is more evident in this partial music video::

Me and Betty Shelly were at Cinnamon Park
Waiting for the battle of the bands
Betty's older brother had a bad reputation
And a waterbed in his van
He said hey Jilly Sue I've got something for you
Something that will blow your mind
We hopped into his van
And he opened his hand
And said it's only mother nature
*CHORUS*
Cinnamon park in a cinnamon daze
We were so freaked out
But in a really good way
In a really good way
Yeah those were the days
I wish I could go back again
Billy had a talk box and a Peavey bass
Started feeling funny when they hit the stage
Betty was getting so shitfaced
And I could not stop laughing
As I spun all around and I laid on the ground
I was amazed at how the clouds just kept moving
And they played the same song
And they played the chords wrong
But I never heard it better
*CHORUS*
Betty's now in counseling
And she's using again
Her brother's unemployed but with a brand new van
Billy came in second in the battle of the bands
Wish we could go back again
*CHORUS X2*]

Twitterversion:: [video] #FridayNightVideo Jill Sobule's Cinnamon Park

Occupy Wall Street LiveStream

2011-09-28T03:39:00.001-04:00

Watch live streaming video from globalrevolution at livestream.com

{h/t:: Chuck Raymond} I think these protests will be interesting to watch. My interest is on the social media angle, particularly as it pertains to ongoing social movements. An overview can be read here in The Observer, which refers to this wearethe99percent Tumblr that is serving as an outlet to crowdsourced rage. Keen observers will note that this is a protest borne of the middle class and rather than scoff at the use of Macbooks and the vegetarian chili consumed by some, it just might be time to re-examine The Battle of Algiers and May 1968 in France for insights.

—Chicago/Waukegan, IL US

Twitterversion:: [blog+link] Occupy Wall Street LiveStream feed. Seeds of a middle-class fueled class war? @Prof_K

A Few Words on Jack Layton

2011-08-23T13:04:00.003-04:00

It seems fitting that I have to leave Canada for a spell. This will mark the end of an era for me—a chapter bookended by Dion's green shift and this very sad moment of Layton's passing. Over the past few years since I started visiting Canada regularly, I grew fond of Jack Layton. Covering the 2011 federal election I witnessed the rise of Jack Layton's NDP and the energy he brought to the political scene. Its infectiousness was palpable in Canada as the pundits and pollsters tried to figure out why his star was on its meteoric rise. Perhaps it was the hope for a new Canada that could forge a new path in this globalized era. Maybe it was his way of resonating with a wide array of constituencies, from Surrey North to northern Ontario to urban and rural Québec.

I was in Québec two weeks after the federal election. There were still plenty of NPD signs up like this one I spotted in Jeanne—Le Ber.

My colleague in Estrie {Missisquoi—Brome}, Louis McComber, said Jack had the ability to speak colloquial French in a way that connected to the people.

I wish I had a Jack Layton story like Impolitical, but such is life. I was planning on doing an art project with the stencil above. I never even gotten around to contacting skek for permission. This serves as a reminder of how time is finite.

:: A few words about @JackLayton. @Prof_K

Anne Hathaway Rap-p-p-p-p

2011-08-18T04:59:00.001-04:00

Surprisingly, it's not that cringeworthy.

Twitterversion:: Anne Hathaway paparazzi rap from Conan http://vox.rhizomicon.com/2011/08/anne-hathaway-rap-p-p-p-p.html @Prof_K

Friday Night Videos:: Craig Ferguson, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, & Typhoon

2011-08-06T05:39:00.001-04:00

Craig Ferguson camping it up with his cast doing Plastic Bertrand's "Ça Plane Pour Moi".

This is Portland's Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside with their network TV début on Letterman {3 August}::

Here's the music video for "I Swear"::

Watch the full video at Baeblemusic.com

Finally, another Portland band, Typhoon, with their network TV début on Letterman {4 August}::

The song is "The Honest Truth"::

Twitterversion:: [videos] #FridayNightVideos Craig Ferguson-'Ça Plane Pour Moi' & 2 #PDX bands on Letterman: Sallie Ford...& Typhoon @Prof_K

Music & the Ad:: Ingrid Michaelson, Ritz Crackers, & Travelers Insurance

2011-08-05T10:05:00.000-04:00

Ingrid Michaelson's "Be OK" has been making the rounds in advertising. The latest is a Ritz spot featuring her catchy "Be OK" {2008}. The ad is a clever execution featuring a woman blissed out and feeling "at home" on a public bus while having a Ritz Cracker snack.

The Travelers ad doesn't resonate as much. First, I'm annoyed by most insurance ads, as I'm annoyed with the industry. That said, the use of the song doesn't quite fit in my opinion, but there are worse stretches, for sure.

In our postmodern mashup world, it's natural that the ads don't feature the chorus::

"Open me up and you will see
I'm a gallery of broken hearts
I'm beyond repair, let me be
And give me back my broken parts"

Here's the Stand Up to Cancer version of the 'Be OK" video::

and the "photage" version::

Ingrid is very social media savvy and I started following her tweets early on, circa "Winter Song" {2008} w/Sara Bareilles, on an earlier account. Here's a good one::

Twitterversion:: [blog+videos] #MusicAndTheAd feat. Ingrid Michaelson's "Be OK" @Prof_K

Politicians' Medical Records:: Jack Layton's Cancer & the Limits of Transparency

2011-08-03T04:21:00.003-04:00

Vidcap of Jack Layton's "#hashtag fail" statement during the 2011 Anglophone debate

Last week, Canada's New Democrat leader, Jack Layton, announced that he was taking a medical leave until September 19th. to undergo treatment for cancer. Last February, Layton announced he had prostate cancer and he announced his current bout is unrelated. The big "news" was his appearance during his recent announcement, which some described as "frail" and "gaunt". This set the speculative wheels in motion, scrutinizing his recent public appearances and some commenters linking his hip surgery to a possible metastasis of his prostate cancer.

The Winnipeg Free Press offered this editorial {see also Jordan Press Postmedia piece} that states Layton should have some privacy and the details of his health condition need not be divulged until of if it becomes relevant to his performance. Andre Picard in the Globe & Mail claims that the public has a right to know politicians' health status and accuses the NDP of not being forthcoming, while engaging in rampant speculation of what might be really happening. Reaching quite a bit, Picard uses this alleged health secrecy to undermine Layton's criticism of Stephen Harper's government::

"The NDP Leader has been an outspoken, eloquent critic of the culture of secrecy that has enveloped federal politics under Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, as exemplified by everything from the refusal to release records on Afghan detainees to the reluctance to disclose that the Prime Minister required emergency-room treatment for a flare-up of his asthma."

Picard points to how things are different in the US::

"In the United States, full disclosure of politicians’ health records is now the norm. The days when presidents could hide something as inescapable as a crippling case of polio, as Franklin Roosevelt did, are long gone. The details of President Barack Obama’s annual check-up are made public; his HDL (good cholesterol) is 62, LDL (bad cholesterol) is 138 and his PSA is 0.7. John McCain, when he was running for president, released 1,200 pages of medical records to demonstrate he was fit for office."

but failed to disclose how this information is released, which I'll get to later.

Picard equating his speculation of a NDP "coverup" with Layton's concerns about a pattern of a lack of transparency with Stephen Harper is quite a stretch. I couldn't find evidence of Jack Layton criticizing Stephen Harper for his transparency on his asthma, which doesn't mean it didn't happen, but Harper's people initially stated he went to the ER for a cold and later it was determined as an asthma-related visit. I think the point for many regarding Harper is the strong need for control over public perceptions.

The real issue though is that US-style transparency isn't all that transparent. First off, it's voluntary and not under any force of law. Larry Altman, a MD who covers the beltway health beat, cleared the air a few years ago. It's good to keep in mind that it isn't a carte blanche situation with a searchable public database. The information is often released under tight control regarding who is invited to see the information, along with strict time limits and not allowing copies to be made. Releases can be vague and undated. So, access may be granted to over a thousand pages of records, which was the case with John McCain, but only three hours to review them. In the end, it's often a balance between PR and transparency, as opposed to full disclosure.

A general theme with Layton's current cancer is whether or not the "orange crush" in Québec in the May election would have occurred if Layton's health status had an ominous prognosis. My take is that calls for transparency in this area is misguided. Mandatory full health disclosure won't happen and shouldn't happen, unless there's a clear linkage to job performance. Layton isn't Prime Minister and there won't be an election for 4 years, so his health isn't a pressing issue, politically, but easy fodder for punditry and editorials on the fate of the NDP. Moreover, a big problem with medical records is that they are subject to interpretation. Diseases like cancer are complex and scenarios are often ambiguous, which would add to more speculation.

I think what much of this speaks to is the cult of leadership {often fostered by the media and MBA programmes}, raising the status of leaders to mythical levels, instilling beliefs such as "Steve Jobs = Apple Computers" and implying that without him, the firm is sunk. Jack Layton is a charismatic figure and the NDP has unprecedented popularity. The party has branded themselves in the cloak of their newfound status, "the official opposition". The problem I have with how many journalists are approaching the issue is framing Layton's illness as potential doom for the party or how this might create a political power vacuum with infighting around the corner. Speculation trumps real journalism. A more interesting and richer approach would be to examine the nuanced dynamics of the current NDP that's fact-driven, one that examines the NDP as an organization, its breadth, its depth, etc., in an attempt to determine its resilience. Nope, instead, the big debate is over how the interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel was a member of the "Canada-destroying" Bloc Québécois::

Twitterversion:: [blog] Politicians' Medical Records:: Jack Layton's Cancer & the Limits of Transparency @Prof_K

The Social Life of Trees

2011-07-29T10:06:00.000-04:00

mycorrhizal networks in forests

Suzanne Simard at UBC is heading up research examining fungi networks in forests. The fungi have a symbiotic relationship with the trees, connecting their roots and facilitate the sharing of resources. The trees supply carbohydrates and the fungi supply water and nutrients from the soil. The networks enhance survival under stress, e.g., drought or climate change, growth, and resilience.

Twitterversion:: [blog+graphic] The Social Life of Trees @Prof_K

Redistricting California Style

2011-07-28T22:29:00.000-04:00

CA-9, held by Barbara Lee [D], has only minor changes in its boundaries

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission has released its final draft of the Congressional district map [type in address & select map at top]. I found the address finder on the map to be intermittently buggy, so it might be better to click on a location. The shapefiles and databases are located here. According to the LATimes the Commission is charged with::

"It is charged with keeping together neighborhoods, ethnic groups, socioeconomic groups and other 'communities of interest' without regard to their party registration or any risk to current officeholders."

The last round of maps was roundly criticized. The commission is the result of 2010's referendum, Prop 20, which sought to depoliticize the drawing of boundaries for the state senate, state assembly, board of equalization, and federal congressional districts. There was a "poison pill" opponent, Prop 27, that lost. The NY Times had an article on the man behind the initiative, Charles Munger, Jr.

The more gerrymandered congressional districts appear to have lost their appendages and tails when compared to the current lines. Three of California's congressional districts {11th., 18th., & 38th.} made it on Slate's top 20 list in 2009.

Twitterversion:: [blog+link] Final draughts of California citizen-driven redistricting maps & shapefiles published. Whither gerrymandering? @Prof_K

Separated at Birth:: Assy McGee & Canadian Mr. Mini-Wheats

2011-07-26T19:53:00.003-04:00

Mini-Wheats "Walking" vidcap

Assy McGee vidcap

I saw the recent Kellogg's Mini-Wheats ad for Canada, "Walking", featuring a rewrite of the disco anthem, "In the Navy", by The Village People.

MINI-WHEATS Walking from Pascal Blais Animation Studio on Vimeo.

The Mr. Mini Wheats character with its disembodied hands and feet reminded me of Assy McGee, a 2006 12 minute animated show that aired on [adult swim] and had difficulty getting sponsors, initially. More on Assy and Clambake Animation on this link. Upon closer inspection, Assy has legs and feet, but doesn't have visible hands. Nevertheless, he can shoot a gun and drink hard liquor as if he did.

The Canadian spots are done by the Pascal Blais Studio in Montréal and I noticed with the 2009 blueberry muffin spot [Fr] that there was a Disney vibe going on, which is pretty far removed from Assy McGee. Assy does/did have an action figure {left} and I'm not sure if Mr. Mini-Wheats does, but he should in this era of brand communities. It appears that the Mini-Wheat character dates back to at least 1988, evident in this Canadian ad for the Québec market.

The trend with these Mini-Wheat ads is to adapt existing songs, which I think can be hard to do and still be "on code" symbolically and seamless executionally. The blueberry muffin spot used "Galop Infernal". The jingle in the first ad I saw for Vanilla Mini Wheats has an earworm quality, based on Black Lace's "Agadoo"::

MINI-WHEATS Vanilla from Pascal Blais Animation Studio on Vimeo.

newmusicmonday #100:: Louise Burns

2011-07-04T16:14:00.001-04:00

Louise Burns from her Lillix days, happycow.net


Genre	indie pop
Members	Louise Burns
Base	Vancouver
Label	Light Organ Records; Recent Release:: 5 April 'Mellow Drama' [CD], iTunes Canada
Tour Dates	Jul 05 The Fez Saskatoon Jul 07 The Club Regina Jul 08 The Rock Bar Winnipeg Jul 15 The Waldorf Vancouver [listing]

web	CBCr3	MySpace	Facebook	Twitter	Soundcloud	LastFM

The Polaris always vexed me, as I never understood the logic of giving established bands cash prizes. I'm not sure how much of a shot Louise has, but she's on the long list and I'm hoping she at least makes the short list due out on 6 July. Louise was the bassist in the ill-fated teen pop group Lillix, which was fodder for the music industry machinery after being signed by Madonna's Maverick Records. The Globe & Mail provides a history lesson of Louise's earlier days, but listening to her recent material {she has a recent release 'Mellow Drama'} it's clear that her pop sensibilities, retro 50s-60s leanings, and time spent in the Vancouver rock and punk scene are gelling. The songs from 'Mellow Drama' {streamed on Soundcloud & avail for purchase on link above} are based on the Maverick days and her CBC Radio 3 bio explained what that experience did to her::

“Basically we were trained to write for radio, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it can really fuck with your ideals and what you think is good and what you think you should be writing. That tremendous pressure just ruins it for you. I hated music for so long after that, and I hated the idea of writing. But at the same time I’m really grateful for the perseverance that I developed. Now I have a really high standard, before I even show anybody a song. I am grateful for that part of it.”

There a hint of darkness in the vein of Mazzy Star {as opposed to Fiona Apple dark, which has more of a quirky factor}, but her music remains accessible in the best of ways. Her cover of Cohen's "Gypsy's Wife" is a good example of this::

11 Gypsy's Wife by Louise Burns

She has a knack for interesting arrangements and her often sultry vocals are a draw and she doesn't fall prey to overproduction. "Ocean Grey" is a slower track that draws the listener in with catchy hooks::

12 Ocean Grey by Louise Burns

I'll leave you with the single "What Do You Want to Do?" that's a catchy homage to pop eras gone by::

04 What Do You Wanna Do by Louise Burns

Twitterversion:: [blog] #newmusicmonday {Nº 100} feat. folksy/bluesy indie pop of Louise Burns ex of Lillix @Prof_K

Truth or Fail:: Internet Vigilanteism

2011-06-22T17:22:00.001-04:00

Two recent social media episodes erupted in users taking to their keyboards to mete out some justice or lash out at perceived wrongs. Last week's Vancouver Canucks riot prompted a social media backlash, with users posting photos, vidcaps, and videos of those caught in flagrante delicto. Although, according to CBC, some fingers were pointed at the innocent, allegedly as a result of setups and 'Shopped images. While this is nothing new, there is concern that the use of social media to target those subject to moral or other outrage is getting out of hand and needs to be addressed.

So, is social media now the release valve for outrage or a possible flashpoint for lawless activity? The use of the Internet as an {albeit imperfect} surveillance tool double underscores how there is no privacy in the era of social media. There are at least two problem issues with mob surveillance when people are seeking justice::

Mistaken identity
Vigilanteism

I think the issue with both is how far do people take it. Calling someone a douche and contacting law enforcement with misinformation is where the vast majority of online vigilanteism is going to lie. The real issue is where are the boundaries and how are they to be determined. So, on the other end of the spectrum is an Internet lynch mob seeking brutal street justice or disinformation being spread about someone who is innocent with a call to action, but what about all the grey area in-between where most behaviour is going to be?

I think in the US and Canada it would be very difficult to craft good policy that would balance free speech and vigilanteism in this era of social media. While it might seem like a good idea to prosecute those overstepping their bounds in the public shaming of alleged rioters or those spreading disinformation, what should the yardstick be in terms of true individual or societal harm?

Two Tribes

This week, Roger Ebert flippantly tweeted what I feel was an unfortunate response to the early reports of the death of Ryan Dunn::

"Friends don't let jackasses drink and drive"

I say unfortunate, as I don't see a big anti-drunk driving payoff offsetting the haterade he unleashed. While some may think less of Ebert, I doubt if it will have any lingering impact on his brand, limiting his personal #fail. Nevertheless, his wag of the finger take on Dunn's death elicited the ire of Jackass fans, as well as Dunn's friend and fellow Jackass cast member, Bam Margera::

"I just lost my best friend, I have been crying hysterical for a full day and piece of shit roger ebert has the gall to put in his 2 cents"

"About a jackass drunk driving and his is one, fuck you! Millions of people are crying right now, shut your fat fucking mouth!"

What was curious was how people on social media took sides hurling insults at one another. The pro-Ebert crowd supporting the film critic for keeping it real, dawg and telling the "truth". Jackass fans embraced the call of the vigilante for their fallen hero and called a red card on Ebert for his insensitive remark, often in a {mean} spirited manner evocative of Anonymous on 4chan's /b/. I'm sure it shocked the sensibilities of many who aren't accustomed to such bald wishes of ill-will and illness {cancer}, as well as vague threats. Earlier today, on Ebert's Facebook wall, Jackass fans and Ebert fans were going back and forth and at one point Ebert fans were finding their personal information being posted online as retaliation to tangling with a particular Jackass fan, claiming to work for an Internet security firm and had the results to back it up. I question the logic of arguing with a Jackass fan over Ryan Dunn's death on several levels, but it highlights even more how privacy is nonexistent. More interesting is how social interactions between the two factions easily degenerates into an all-out battle for winning.

I'm not in Ebert's head, but he clearly feels strongly about alcohol use and abuse and during the maelstrom he cited his own struggles with his own alcoholism. Anecdotally, I've seen online that people in recovery can be extremely vocal about their judgments regarding substances and substance abuse. What I saw unfold with the Ryan Dunn tweet aftermath was Ebert setting up a dividing line along defined by the immorality of drunk driving and setting the tone that Dunn's death should be marked by shame in the name of "truth", i.e., an opinion and/or agenda. It may be easy for many to see the "Jackass guy" as a reckless arrested adolescent putting the lives of himself and others at risk, which would explain why many, including Ebert, gave themselves an internal green light to say "I told you so" in the name of telling the "truth". This is speculation on my part, but I've also caught a whiff of cultural elitism with respect to Ebert's take on the Jackass neo-Vaudevillean antics, which would make it easy for him to target and marginalize Dunn in his own mind. Ebert has chosen not to review any of the Jackass movies, despite the fact that they say quite a bit about the current state of pop culture and film, and freely admitted to not getting the whole Jackass thing, in discussing "Reel Paradise" {2005}::

"If I had seen 'Jackass' in John Pierson's theater with those 300 uproariously happy kids, I might have liked it. I certainly would have understood it better."

When Ebert made his tweet, there was only speculation on Dunn being under the influence of alcohol. So, yesterday, Ebert made a non-apology apology::

"I don't know what happened in this case, and I was probably too quick to tweet. That was unseemly. I do know that nobody has any business driving on a public highway at 110 mph, as some estimated -- or fast enough, anyway, to leave a highway and fly through 40 yards of trees before crashing. That is especially true if the driver has had three shots and three beers. Two people were killed. What if the car had crashed into another car?"

and was a bit overzealous in justifying his actions in social media::

"Perez Hilton's readers agree with me and not with Perez about my tweet on Ryan Dunn. He drank, he drove, 2 people died.http://bit.ly/k6Uh9Y"

Given today's police report of Dunn's BAL, I'd imagine Ebert feels even more vindicated for his original tweet.

I don't find the content of what Ebert said or the backlash to be particularly interesting. Clearly, Dunn's death touched a nerve and it's a thing for him. What is interesting is how the divisiveness channelled so much sentiment and emotion. While social media can of course foster dialogue, it can also fuel the instantaneous adoption of causes and/or the taking up of sides. I think this is an emerging part of everyday online social life and it's probably far too early to think of it as problematic, but rather where we are today with the current technology and social order.

Twitterversion:: [blog] Internet vigilanteism in social media: New part of everyday social life? #vancouverriots & Ebert v. Margera @Prof_K

Newmusicmonday #99:: Cloud Nothings

2011-06-20T19:57:00.000-04:00

Band	Cloud Nothings
Genre	indie pop
Members	Dylan Baldi, TJ Duke, Jayson Gerycz, Joe Boyer
Base	Cleveland, OH
Label	Carpark
Tour Dates	N/A

MySpace	Facebook	LastFM

If you need a review of the Cleveland band, look here. It's youthful low-fi indie pop ranging from the hyperkinetic "Understand at All" rife with catchy pop hooks to the more melancholy "Turning On" from last years EP compilation of the same name.

Twitterversion:: [blog+videos] #newmusicmonday featuring Cloud Nothings. @Prof_K

You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby:: Canadian Foreign Affairs Under Harper

2011-06-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Stephen Harper makes an unsuccessful plea for Canada to be on the UN Security Council

Lysiane Gagnon had a piece in the Globe & Mail on Stephen Harper's lack of cosmopolitanism and how it affects Canada's foreign policy {h/t LinnyQat}. A big black eye was received last fall when Canada lost its bid to be on the UN Security Council to Germany and Portugal. Gagnon

"Canada’s defeat was mostly due to the massive support of European countries and Latin America for Portugal, and to the Harper government’s enduring lack of sophistication in international affairs.

If Mr. Harper had developed a wider network of allies abroad, and if he had encouraged Canadian diplomats to do so at their own level, perhaps Canada would have gained more votes at the UN. At least, it could have tried to turn the tide that favoured Portugal."

Gagnon brings up Harper's affinity for military deployments and questions them, but back in 2009, Nicholas Hirst has an interesting quote of Joe Clark's take on Harper in the foreign arena::

"The Harper government has increased military spending, but reduced spending on foreign affairs and aid. 'Why the double standard?' asked former Progressive Conservative prime minister Joe Clark. 'Why are we prepared to accept more of our share of the military burden than we are of the diplomatic and development burdens?'"

Save for Arctic sovereignty and Afghanistan, there is a perception that Canada has turned increasingly inwards and environmentalists are quick to point out the lack of leadership Canada has taken regarding Kyoto.

Why is this so? Politics. While it would be in Canada's best long-term interests to have more of a positive presence in world affairs and better ties with other nations, the political payoffs of better diplomacy are often unclear. In the logical calculus of elections in Canada, Harper knows he needs to speak to a specific 40-45% of the population that isn't necessarily going to see better diplomacy {versus military} as a win.

What's interesting is how the Republican hopefuls are moving away from military action, much to the ire of Senator John McCain, who is accusing them of isolationism. Again, I think this is more politics on the part of presidential candidates. They are differentiating themselves from Obama by ceding foreign policy to him. Currently, Barack is hard to undermine on the diplomacy, terrorism, or military fronts.

Without strong diplomatic relations {I think particularly with respect to BRIC}, Harper has few cards to play in the global arena, but probably more to the point is what does he really hope to accomplish, given the steep domestic challenges. Gagnon cites he's ill at ease playing the diplomacy game and I'm not sure Baird is up to the challenge as Minister of Foreign Affairs, given he has some growing up to do. I don't expect much movement towards diplomacy because of the political payoffs angle—even with respect to increased trade liberalization. An increasingly cosmopolitan Conservative Party would serve to undermine the NDP and appeal to the newly Conservative suburban ridings {districts} in the 905, but the thorny question and limiting factor is regional support for isolationism. In the end...how would cosmopolitanism play in the West?

Twitterversion:: [blog] Will Stephen Harper & #CPC foreign policy embrace cosmopolitanism & more diplomacy over the military? #cdnpoli @Prof_K

What Canadian Housing Bubble? Oh, That One...

2011-06-16T14:02:00.001-04:00

Jim Flaherty-Canadian Finance Minister, MP Oshawa—Whitby

Last November, Jim Flaherty told the House of Commons there was no housing bubble, only to reverse himself this week by tabling a budget implementation bill::

"Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled a budget implementation bill Tuesday he says will formalize his powers to intervene in Canada's hot housing market to restrain borrowing."

It doesn't give me a great deal of confidence in Flaherty and the Conservative government's ability to manage the economy, given that the statistics have shown a very different story that's been emerging over time::

Household debt, including mortgages, are taking up an increasing percentage of Canadian GDP. Canadian debt as a percentage of disposable income is outstripping the US::

but the kicker is how housing prices have been increasing at a rate far greater than incomes::

These statistics are particularly telling, i.e., the housing price to median income ratio::

So, generally speaking, in Toronto with a median family income of $66,560 {2007}, the average {unadjusted for inflation} housing price was 5.7 times the median, i.e., $379K in 2007 and over $457K in 2011 {using 2008 incomes} [these numbers reinforce this analysis]. This forces homebuyers to commit more disposable income to housing and a rise in interest rates can be disastrous to those with adjustable rates, if the historically rock bottom rates go up. Beware of those fibbing with the numbers by comparing percentage increases of the ratios. In Toronto, the ratio went from 5.7 to 6.7 for a seemingly modest 18% jump between 2007 and 2011. The reality is an extra $78K+ pricetag that increases the amount being financed, the monthly mortgage cost, and the interest payments to Bay Street. Just looking at the Vancouver ratio of 11.2 makes my head hurt.

I don't know if Flaherty is a liar or not too bright, or a combination of both, but in light of these numbers and his previous statements, as I've said already, I don't have much confidence in his ability to manage the economy. Plus, this week he went to the US to admonish lawmakers to address the deficit, which in my opinion is more deficit feedback loop that's more politics than economics.

I understand why Flaherty would try to downplay a housing bubble. Housing has been driving GDP, accounting for 20% of it and employment has been bolstered by consumption in construction. While Flaherty's bill seeks to give him authority to cool off the now-acknowledged bubble by tightening lending requirements, the government took an active hand is building this bubble by creating tax incentives and has a history of economic liberalizing and retreating when the "bad idea" handwriting is on the wall.

Analysts expect business investment to pick up and growth to follow, which the Conservatives are praying for. The problem as I see it is that the economic environment is too uncertain {the strong dollar is throwing a monkey wrench into exports} and I wouldn't bet on Canadian businesses expanding, particularly if the housing bubble starts to deflate causing ripples in the economy. I also think that the blind faith in deficit reduction in this era of ultra cheap capital and low interest rates is odd and makes little sense. The Conservatives appear to be cherrypicking their definition of small government, almost as if they're using the deficit to re-engineer government that cuts spending in some areas, while holding on to rather hungry sacred cows like defense spending.

Twitterversion:: [blog] "What Canadian Housing Bubble? Oh, That One..." Jim Flaherty's most recent flip-flop. #cdnpoli @Prof_K

Vancouver Canucks Riots:: Critical Mass & Social Contagion in "No-Fun City"

2011-06-16T09:29:00.006-04:00

Vidcap of Saltspring Island teacher Kristi Kallip attempting to keep the crowds at bay,
sitting atop a police car being smashed while holding out peace signs.

I'm not sure why, but I just had a feeling the Canucks were going to lose Game 7 of the Stanley Cup. It may well be from my experience in the 2002 World Series when San Francisco went up 3-2, only to lose two straight and series. So, when I was flipping around in the wee hours of EDT to catch the score, the Canucks loss was overshadowed by the riots following the loss. The Province has an interesting article on how Vancouver hasn't progressed since 1994 [see 1994 footage of 40-50,000 rioters taking to the streets], when the Canucks experienced a heartbreaking game 7 Stanley Cup loss. A Vancouver constable summed things up::

“People complain that this is a ‘No Fun City,’” said Const. Colin Naismith, lifting up his riot-protection mask. “Well, they had their chance. This is what happens when you let the floodgates open.”

Rioter wielding a hockey stick takes out some frustrations on a Bank of Montréal branch.

I think the Vancouver Police made the right call in how they handled things, given that there were estimates of 100,000 people watching the game on Georgia St. on bigscreens in downtown. The scale of people out on the streets was immense and giving the crowd a reason to escalate the violence would have been a bad move. Imagine the use of coralling with 100,000 people on the streets. In contrast, during last year's G20 protests in Toronto, there were only 10,000 protestors and allegedly a splinter group of 2,000 black bloc was responsible for damage caused through vandalism. While it may be disturbing to see vandalism and property damage, it's a delicate balance between ensuring public safety and not pouring gasoline on the fire, given the huge crowd, and ensuring civil liberties. Moreover, a heavy-handed approach, a characterization levied at the Toronto Police for their handling of G20, can result in a PR fail and a sense that free speech rights within the Canadian Charter of Freedoms are being undermined, in the name of public safety. The Vancouver riot had nothing to do with public safety, but with a brutish Hobbesean state fueled by social contagion—as rioters sense a lack of consequences for acting out given the sheer scale of the mob, it gave more people the courage to act out. The best thing for law enforcement to do would be to focus on stopping any assaults and getting out videocameras to add to the panopticon of visual surveillance in the city consisting of about 1,000 cameras. Let the rioting crowd simmer down and document the vandalism and sort it all out later—criminally and civilly. Imperfect? Sure. Some scofflaws might get away with their vandalism or worse, but as evident in this case of a Toronto officer accused of assaulting a bystander during G20, the panopticon can catch up with you long after the emotion of the moment and the criminal deeds were done.

Here's some video footage from The Province, showing vandals, along with some concerned citizens trying to stop the violence::

Well, it makes one wonder what would have happened if Canada lost the hockey gold last February in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver {although the crowds on the street were in the tens of thousands, not 100,000} and also what would happen if election results were big screen televised public spectacles with large gatherings.

Finally, all of this reminds me of Paul Thomas Anderson's video for Fiona Apple's cover of "Across the Universe", on the soundtrack for Pleasantville {1998}::

Twitterversion:: [blog] #Vancouver Riots-Critical Mass & Contagion:powder keg w/ safety, property, civ liberties, & exacerbation at stake @Prof_K

Music & the Ad:: Heineken & The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

2011-06-14T05:18:00.001-04:00

The above is a 60" spot for Heineken that uses "The Golden Age" by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, a Danish band that got their real start opening for Amy Winehouse. Here's a 90" version of "The Entrance" and a 3m5s music video version::

The song came out in 2009 and here's the original music video. The part with Mette Lindberg's head on a vinyl record made me think of Rob Wells {best known as Ricky, from the Trailer Park Boys} in Hobo with a Shotgun.

A little after "the Golden age" was released, the band's "Around the Bend" was used by Chiat Day in Apple's iPod Touch ad demoing its gaming capabilities that take advantage of the device's accelerometer::

Twitterversion:: [videos] #MusicAndTheAd Heineken & The Asteroids Galaxy Tour's "Golden Age" @Prof_K

newmusicmonday #98:: Mise en Scene

2011-06-13T12:49:00.005-04:00

Band	Mise en Scene
Genre	indie pop
Members	Stefanie Blondal Johnson - Writer, Vocals,Guitar Jodi Dunlop - Drums Kena Olson – Keyboard Marco Fiore - Bass Plus various guest musicians
Base	Winnipeg/Gimli, MB
Label	none
Tour Date	NXNE, 15 June 2011 The Painted Lady, 9h

ManitobaMusic	YouTube	CBCr3	MySpace	Facebook	Twitter	ReverbNation

Part of a double shot of newmusicmonday {see #97-Careers in Science}, Mise en Scene serves up its brand of arty pop with folksy overtones. The band has a forthcoming show at NXNE this Wednesday and the band is known for its cinematic leanings with its use of projections during its sets. Their sound is evolving, going from a slower jazzy folk to a faster tempo pop/rock/folk. They recorded an EP, 'Late Night Triple Feature', and are recording a follow-up EP.

Twitterversion:: [blog+videos] #newmusicmonday feat. folksy pop of #Winnipeg's Mise en Scene. 15Jun #NXNE show at The Painted Lady 9pm http://goo.gl/SnFDe @Prof_K

newmusicmonday #97:: Careers in Science

2011-06-13T10:31:00.002-04:00

Band	Careers in Science
Genre	post punk/new wave
Members	Dave Proctor - SING-MAN Callum McPhee - STRING-MAN Matthew Winkler - THICKERSTRING-MAN Jedi Eric - HIT-MAN
Base	Toronto
Label	none; 'Whateverwolf' EP on Bandcamp
Tour Dates	15 June 2011 NXNE-Rancho Relaxo, Toronto, ON 16 July 2011 The Atria Oshawa, ON 24 July 2011 Gus’ Pub Halifax, Nova Scotia

web	MySpace	Facebook	LastFM

Call it nerdpunk, but Careers in Science fuses the geekiness of The Venture Brothers and old school punk & 80s new wave. They have an upcoming show at NXNE on late night Wednesday at Rancho Relaxo. Their lyrics are laden with satire, along with plenty of pop culture references of geekdom and suburban paranoia {e.g., "ROCKETS!"}. Perhaps the "Careers in Science National Anthem" best sums up their Weltanschauung::

"we're not here to save rock and roll, we're here to save tokyo from the 70 foot monsters outside the show. we're not fighting for the common man, we're not a working man's band, we are a band of working men. we're not living on borrowed time, we're punching in 9 to 5, and I think we're doing fine. and if we lose tonight, we'll change sides... if our weapons don't work, we'll wear the monsters shirts. whatever happens, we're not free men."

Twitterversion:: #newmusicminday feat. old school punk of #Toronto based Careers in Science. Upcoming #NXNE show 15Jun at Rancho Relaxo @Prof_K

Friday Night Videos:: The Style Council & The Jam

2011-06-11T00:35:00.000-04:00

This is rare footage I've seen around taken from a videotape from Dutch television. It was from early 1983, which is early days of The Style Council, fronted by Paul Weller ex of The Jam. The video is an odd performance of "Speak Like a Child" where the vocals were sung over a tape and Paul Weller's mother, Anne Weller, brings in a tray of tea in the middle. It features the early lineup of Paul and Mick Talbot, along with vocalist Tracie Young and then 17 year old Dutch bass player Claudia Konijin. A commenter on YouTube mentioned that Claudia was in a Dutch band, Dance Stance, originated from the town of Hoorn, 40 km north of Amsterdam.

Here's the video from a year before, the last few days of The Jam with "A Town Called Malice"::

Finally, here's Tony Wilson {yes, of Factory Records and The Haçienda fame} introducing The Jam doing "In the City" on So It Goes::

The last mid-sized {or larger} venue show I went to was a Paul Weller show way back in 2005. I recall the set had a very rock oriented sound, which was a pleasant surprise. At the time, I wanted to, but I never did wind up buying the album, 'As Is Now'. Here's a blurry photo below and another one on Tumblr.

Blurry photo from 17 September 2005 Paul Weller show at
The Warfield in San Francisco

Twitterversion:: [videos] Rare/odd video of early StyleCouncil fr DutchTV+ TheJam "Town Called Malice" & "In the City" #FridayNightVideos @Prof_K

Mapping 12 Minutes:: How Far Can You Go in Toronto?

2011-06-08T10:41:00.000-04:00

WikiTORONTO tweeted the link to Mapnificent where you can generate maps like the above, not only for Toronto, but many other cities. You can also specify time {experimental} and whether of not you have a bike. I chose 12 minutes, as opposed to 15, in order to map several points together on one may without overlap. I'm not sure if the algorithm factors in wait time, but it looks like it's assuming minimal waits.

I wanted to test the hypothesis that being in the centre of the centre of the universe {after all, the riding here is Toronto Centre} yields greater proximity to amenities and things to do. It feels like a lot is within walking or walking+TTC distance. I used the map mashup to compare Yonge/Bloor, the Beach, and Queen West. It looks like being in close proximity to both the Yonge and Bloor subway lines increases reach in two dimensions, while in Queen West and the Beach, the Queen car is the main determining factor of how far you can get in 12 minutes. LinnyQat once showed me how to catch the bus to the Main St. TTC station, which pushes the coverage radius north on the map. I found it interesting that from fairly close proximity to Yonge/Bloor, 12 minutes includes Union Station, Davisville station, the stations in Greektown, Cabbagetown, and Christie Pitts Park.

Twitterversion:: [blog+link] via @WikiTORONTO, how far can you go in 12 minutes in #Toronto? @Prof_K

You WILL Worry About the Deficit:: The Beltway Deficit Feedback Loop

2011-06-06T19:53:00.000-04:00

US Unemployment & Interest Rates

Originally blogged on ThickCulture, 6 June 2011, 7:39PM EDT

Today, the Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled a budget with plenty of emphasis on reducing the deficit, much like what's going on in the US. This, despite the fact that the interest rates are telling a story where financial markets are not that concerned about the deficit. This pattern is evident in both Canada and the US. Interest rates are showing there's no crowding out—government spending taking up capital and resources that businesses can use. The reality of the situation is uncertainty and a dearth of good prospects is causing the business community to sit on huge stocks of capital.

Nevertheless, for various political reasons the deficit is touted as a menace that must be dealt with, not just in North America, but globally. The media is contributing to the Jedi mind trickery, dubbed the "Beltway Deficit Feedback Loop". The WaPo blog by Greg Sargent states::

"The relentless bipartisan focus on the deficit convinces voters to be worried about it, which in turn leads lawmakers to spend still more time talking about it and less time talking about the economy,"

while linking to a National Journal study examining the gap between mentions of "unemployment" versus "deficit"::

"the broadening gap demonstrates just how effective conservatives have been at changing the narrative of economic policy from one dominated by talk of fiscal stimulus to one now in lockstep with notions of fiscal austerity."

In Canada, the opposition parties aren't on the same page with the Finance Minister and the Conservative Party, but don't have the votes to stop the budget. While ink is being spilled about how fast the deficit will be reduced in Canada and whether of not the Conservative projections are wide of the mark and overly rosy, the elephant in the living room is the lingering high unemployment rate::

Canadian unemployment rate, 2008-11

The problem with the deficit discourse is it fails to address the issue of unemployment and real economic problems, with the only way the issue goes away is if the economy grows. In fact, I feel being a deficit hawk in this economic climate is playing with political dynamite. The economic indicators do not support deficit reduction, given that the business community is loathe to expand. So, if the deficit hawks are wrong and unemployment and economic stagnation persists, they are opening themselves up to criticism. I think the hope is that a business cycle upswing will render the deficit issue moot, so the perception is that it's "riskless" to jump on the deficit reduction bandwagon.

In the US, both Democrats and Republicans are viewing the deficit as the evil menace that must be thwarted at all costs with ample help of the media. While a Republican presidential candidate would differentiate themselves by embracing a populist and expansionary economic approach, it would be political suicide. Any politician advocating increases in government spending would face an uphill battle and be forced to educate the public on matters many don't have the time and the patience for.

The jury is still out on how the New Democrats and Liberals play the deficit card in Canada in the future, but it may be an easy one to play if unemployment remains relatively high, businesses remain tentative, and the economy continues to stagnate.

Twitterversion:: [blog] #ThickCulture post:: "You WILL Worry About the Deficit:: The Beltway Deficit Feedback Loop" @Prof_K

newmusicmonday #96:: Beekeepers Society

2011-06-06T01:49:00.004-04:00

image:: Facebook

Genre	indie pop
Members	Darcy McMann vocals, train whistle Fred Yurichuk bass, guitar, keys Sean Krause keyboards, guitar Jessica Fisher vocals, glockenspiel, recorder Brendan Black guitar, bass, mandolin Sarah Burton vocals, keys, guitar Danah McCollum vocals and rain stick David Mueses M.I.A
Base & upcoming show	Toronto, ON, Canada NXNE C'est What Friday, June 17 @ 9PM


Songkick	MySp	facebook	cbcr3	Twitter	LastFM	iLike

NXNE is coming up and I'll be featuring a few of the bands playing. I do have a soft spot for indie pop in the vein of Beekeeper Society. They've gotten a rap for dreary melancholy pop, evident in songs like "Family Ties"::

I'm also a fan of low-fi girl-meets-alien videos that evoke Ed Wood. "House of Frost" isn't so dour and has a campy video echoing the same::

The song "Douglas Coupland" {streamed on CBCr3 and MySp} is definitely worth a listen. It took me a second listen to piece together that this unlisted video was a live version of the song from last fall, recorded in Toronto at El Mocambo::

Twitterversion:: [blog+videos] #newmusicmonday featuring Beekeepers Society fr. #Toronto. Upcoming NXNE show on 17 Jun. @Prof_K

Tony Wilson, 24 Hour Party People

2011-06-05T04:42:00.000-04:00

Tonight, TVO was airing 24 Hour Party People {2002}, a fictionalized comedic biopic of socialist impresario and diehard Mancunian Tony Wilson, and the rise and fall of Factory Records. I remember the film airing in Toronto almost 4 years ago, the night Tony Wilson's death was reported. I've always been a fan of Peter Saville, the Factory designer, who designed Tony Wilson's headstone {above} with Ben Kelly.

Twitterversion:: [blog] Tony Wilson, 24 Hour Party People @Prof_K

Friday Night Videos:: Five from Lloyd Cole

2011-06-03T22:13:00.001-04:00

The above video is of a track from Lloyd's latest, 'Broken Record'.

It took me a while to warm up to this track, from the last Lloyd Cole & the Commotions album, 'Mainstream' {1987}::

Here's the video that got me interested in Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, way back around this time of year in 1985::

Here's a great live version of "A Long Way Down" with orchestra accompaniment from 'An Eye on Music' {1991}::

Here's a 1985 "live version of "Perfect Blue" from 'Whistle Test' & here's a link to the interview::

Finally, a bit of a bonus. Here's Jools Holland as host of "Juke Box Jury" in 1989, which featured Lloyd as a guest::

Twitterversion:: [videos] Five #FridayNightVideos from Lloyd Cole + 1989 appearance on Jools Holland's 'Juke Box Jury' http://goo.gl/Yz3bY @Prof_K

The Non-Story of the Might Be Social Media Fail:: Rep. Anthony Weiner

2011-06-03T17:17:00.000-04:00

The fingerwaggers and failhounds are out in force ready to pounce on Congressman Anthony Weiner's social media debacle, be it a hacking or an intentional wooing gone awry. It's one thing to be the butt of the joke, but the fact that this is a news story is perplexing. Even if it's true, so what. It's between him and his wife—and not something that should force a resignation or an investigating of {a} whether he sent it or {b} lied about not sending it. End of story. Call me overly modern, but this and the Chris Lee incident seem to stretch the idea that a politician's "morals" reflect her/his ability to do their job. After all, how many people would be out of a job if browser caches on home and work computers could be used in personnel reviews.

I think it may take some time, but how the Internet serves as a nice warm medium for oversharing and instant transmission of content will eventually cause people to get over such scandals. I'm hoping this whole non-story gets put to bed. Now, a better story would be how Weiner's second grade bully, Brooklyn lawyer and churlish assclown, Alex Grossman {plenty of joke fodder there} becomes targeted himself after coming out of the woodwork to rehash his glory days of douchery::

"As the representative’s most vocal heckler, Mr. Grossman has reappeared periodically throughout Mr. Weiner’s life in order to make fun of his name. When Mr. Weiner dirtied his baseball uniform at Brooklyn Technical High School, Grossman yelled, 'That’s one filthy Weiner.' When Mr. Weiner gained 20 pounds at State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Grossman bellowed, 'That’s one big Weiner.' When Mr. Weiner became the youngest person to serve on the New York City Council, Mr. Grossman was there to holler, 'Now, that’s one serious Weiner.'”

I think Alex needs a drubbing of his own. Take it away /b/...or any of the dark forces of the Internet out there.

Twitterversion:: [blog] The non-story of Weiner's wiener. How long will it take us to turn the corner on fingerpointing moralizing? @Prof_K

Music & the Ad:: Nestea & Cass Elliot

2011-06-03T14:52:00.001-04:00

A version of this ad has been getting airplay diring the French Open coverage, featuring Cass Elliot's sunshine pop song, "It's Getting Better." It got me thinking that some indie pop band must have covered this bit of summery treacle. A bit of research showed that the Popinjays did just that in the early 90s {1992}::

I think I have "Vote Elvis" {1990} somewhere in a storage box in California, but I never kept track of the band::

Twitterversion:: [video+blog] #MusicAndTheAd Nestea commercial & the sunshine pop of Cass Elliot's "It's Getting Better" http://goo.gl/NhH2f @Prof_K

Unrestricted Trailer for "Bad Teacher"

2011-06-03T14:31:00.000-04:00

I have to admit that on paper, this film looked as interesting as an updated version of Summer School {1987}. The above trailer is also on the film's website, which loses a bit in the all-ages translation::

While this might not be a "mark the calendars" type of film {seriously, what is these days}, Jake Kasdan may have a sleeper comedy on his hands. While there's virtually no plot, solid performances from Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Phyllis {Smith, from NBC's The Office}, and Lucy Punch {of Hot Fuzz fame} may build enough buzz to get people into the theatre and, ideally, realize that by comparison The Hangover II really sucked.

Twitterversion:: [blog+video] Restricted trailer for Sony's "Bad Teacher" feat Diaz & Timberlake. Makings of a possible sleeper raunch comedy hit. @Prof_K

New "Blacktag" Twitter Meme:: #ghettospellingbee

2011-06-03T04:39:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday, I tweeted about a Pew Internet report on the US demographics of Twitter users. Just now {h/t:: LinnyQat}, I was informed of a new trending topic meme, #ghettospellingbee. There's plenty of funny to be had, but the interesting thing I've noticed over the years is how memes cross cultural boundaries. First off, there's a school of thought explained in this Slate article that says that blacks use Twitter differently::

"Black people—specifically, young black people—do seem to use Twitter differently from everyone else on the service. They form tighter clusters on the network—they follow one another more readily, they retweet each other more often, and more of their posts are @-replies—posts directed at other users. It's this behavior, intentional or not, that gives black people—and in particular, black teenagers—the means to dominate the conversation on Twitter."

So, these "blacktags" {perhaps made famous by #ifsantawasblack} are more prone to go viral. According to Baratunde Thurston, the Web editor of the Onion::

"Twitter works very naturally with that call-and-response tradition—it's so short, so economical, and you get an instant signal validating the quality of your contribution. (If people like what you say, they retweet it.)"

Where things get fuzzy is who can participate in the joke. I think things are more nuanced than being in stark terms of participants being "in-group" {black} versus "out-group" {non-black}, but more in terms of an ironic post-racial poking fun of cultural usage of language versus a poking fun of others for being out of the norms.

A few years back on NBC's "The Office" {'Diversity Day', s01e02}, Michael Scott {Steve Carell} did a Chris Rock impression about blacks being racist against other blacks. This impression caused complaints, necessitating the staff to engage in diversity training under orders from corporate::

Mainstream culture is still figuring out where the lines are with respect to being racist, since one person's context isn't the same as another's. This fuzzy area makes it easy for people to get slammed for what they don't see as being as offensive—a more nuanced version of the "who can say the N-word" debate.

Twitterversion:: [blog] Explanation of how blacktags like #ghettospellingbee go viral. Demographics? Likely cause: usage & follow patterns. @Prof_K

Retro Advertising:: Vintage Banquet Frozen Meals

2011-06-01T19:50:00.000-04:00

I was doing a search for vintage frozen retail cases and stumbled on this from a freezerburns.com post. The camp factor's on overload in the 60sec spot, in an era before trademark infringement became its own industry. Note the use of the Oscar statue and part of the 20th. Century Fox logo.

Twitterversion:: [video] #RetroAdvertising feat. 60sec spot for Banquet's frozen meals. Camp factor = 11. @Prof_K

newmusicmonday #95:: Oh No! Yoko

2011-05-30T17:15:00.001-04:00

Genre	indie pop
Members	Everett Morris: Keyboards,guitar,vox Liam Hamilton: Drums Nic Denis: Bass, synth, yelling
Base	Vancouver, BC, Canada
Forthcoming EP, summer 2011
website


bandcamp	MySp	facebook	cbcr3	Twitter	LastFM	Tumblr

Here's another recommendation from @Jackkn1fe, Oh No! Yoko from Vancouver, a band whose members are still in high school. The music may sound like it would be more at home on a game console but I like the spirit of this is DIY alt pop—and I like it a hell of a lot more than the overly precious Vampire Weekend.

Twitterversion:: [blog+streams] #newmusicmonday feat. Oh No! Yoko, high schoolers fr. BC.Music for Playstations, in a good way. @jackkn1fe . @Prof_K

newmusicmonday #94:: Henry & the Nightcrawlers

2011-05-23T19:03:00.001-04:00

image:: MySpaceMusic

Genre	art indie rock
Members	Henry Alcock-White Peter Carruthers Tony Marriott Zachary Gray Tom Dobrzanski
Base	Vancouver, BC, Canada
Upcoming Tour Dates	May 6 – The Duncan Garage, Duncan, BC (w/The Autumn Portrait, Handsome Distraction, Go For The Eyes) May 7 – The Fort Street Cafe, Victoria, BC (guests TBA) June 24 – The Campbell Bay Music Fest, Mayne Island, BC (w/with lots great bands)


web	MySp	facebook	cbcr3	Twitter	LastFM	YouTube

Jackkn1fe gave me the heads-up on this Vancouver band, along with a slew of others. There's a melancholy streak through their music and lyrics that evoke the incessant greyness of the Pacific Northwest from October through May with fine layers of pop pulling it all together. One of the LastFM features I like to check out is super similar bands, which include The Zolas {NewMusicMonday #9}, We Are the City, a Kelowna band that also got a nod from Jackkn1fe, and Aidan Knight. "100 Blows" with its video homage to Truffaut's Quatre Cents Coups, offers a good intro to what the band's about::

Here's a live version of "Daytime Friend"::

Henry and the Nightcrawlers • Daytime Friend from Green Couch on Vimeo.

Well, I'm under the weather this Victoria Day, which is fitting since I hear Queen Victoria isn't doing so hot either. So, I think I'll go back to bed. I hope your VD a good one

Twitterversion:: [blog+videos] Victoria Day #newmusicmonday featuring Henry & the Nightcrawlers from Vancouver. Upcoming BC shows. @Prof_K

When Ads Attack:: Newfoundland/Labrador Birds Offering Commentary?

2011-05-22T11:29:00.000-04:00

Last week, Impolitical linked to this Reg Whitaker opinion piece in the G&M offering more pontification on the demise of the Liberal Party of Canada. While it may be hard to see, the birds from the Newfoundland/Labrador Tourism ad could not be confined and proceeded to fly over Whitaker's piece. In my mind, it was fitting for it to have such guano-wielding visitors.

Twitterversion:: [image] When ads attack! Newfoundland/Labrador birds offering colour commentary on G&M piece on the demise of #LPC? @Prof_K

Friday Night Videos:: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Ted Leo, Patti Smith

2011-05-20T19:19:00.001-04:00

Twitterversion:: [videos] Two covers of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Ted Leo, Patti Smith #FridayNightVideos @Prof_K

Friday Night Videos:: Girls "Lust for Life" & "Hellhole Ratrace"

2011-05-20T19:13:00.001-04:00

Regular::

NSFW::

Girls. Acclaim. Habits. The most recent.

Twitterversion:: [videos] #FridayNightVideos Girls-"Lust for Life" 2009 regular & NSFW vers. + "Hellhole Ratrace" #SanFranciscoIndie @Prof_K

newmusicmonday #93:: Little Girls

2011-05-17T02:34:00.000-04:00

Josh McIntyre, circa 2009, CBCr3

Genre	gothic punk
Members	Josh McIntyre
City	Toronto, ON, Canada
Upcoming Tour Date	18 May, Discotheque Tropicale Montréal, QC


website	MySpace		CBCr3		Wikipedia	last.fm

I've now got a backlog of newmusicmonday posts since Officer M. has clued me into some BC/Vancouver-area bands, which I asked him to do since I've been neglecting the West coast. I'm currently in the Eastern Townships in Québec and saw on IndieMontréal that Josh McIntyre's Little Girls is having a show on Wednesday night at Discotheque Tropicale in Outremont. The show is part of the God Save the Queen tour with Rituals, Rattail, and Mausoleum.

Little Girls might take you back to the 80s when a branch of post punk went dark and sinister, yet dance floor friendly. Here's an early 2009 performance, which was Josh's first show::

Little Girls - Youth Tunes - Live At Sonic Boom Records In Toronto from Graeme Phillips on Vimeo.

From the same era is "Last Call" performed live at the Horseshoe in TO::

I'll leave you with excerpts of a set from Baeble's Guest Apartment::

Watch the full video at Baeblemusic.com

Twitterversion:: [blog] #newmusicmonday feat. Little Girls. Ultra lo-fi goth punk. 18May show in #Montreal @ Discotheque Tropicale @Prof_K

Friday Night Videos:: Hooverphonic Live feat. Noémie Wolfs

2011-05-13T20:46:00.000-04:00

live at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels - 29/01/2011:: "2wicky"

live at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels - 29/01/2011:: "Eden", "Vinegar & Salt" and "Renaissance Affair"

Twitterversion:: [videos] #Fridaynightvideos Hooverphonic live at Ancienne Belgique feat. new singer Noémie Wolfs @Prof_K

newmusicmonday #92:: Pony Up

2011-05-09T14:52:00.001-04:00

image:: Pony Up BBC6, MySpace

Genre	alt pop
Members	Sarah Moundroukas guitar, vocals Lindsay Wills drums, vocals Laura Wills keyboard, vocals Lisa J. Smith bass, vocals
Base	Montréal, QC, Canada
Label	Laughing Outlaw {AU}. Download:: Villa Villa Nola; website


web	MySpace	Facebook	CBCr3	iLike		last.fm

Pony Up could easily be confused with a slacker retread of 90s grrrl-centric indie pop, but I think there's more going on than that. I think the tipping point for featuring them were lukewarm reviews on Pitchfork. Sure, the confessional lyrics, often tinged with some smirk, edge, and pain, might seem like familiar territory, but {duh} this is pop and it goes with the territory. While the songs from their début EP and two albums {'Make Love to the Judges with Your Eyes'; 'Stay Gold'} are often Plathian keepsakes, which isn't a bad thing. I'm not a fan of every song, but the band is at its best with songs that have an effortless feel to them. Almost as if they're a product of a DIY ethos and minimal fuss, without sounding minimalist. Moreover, the lyrics on songs like "Charles" with references to Manson create imagery that goes far beyond confessional tales of twentysomething angst::

In fact, in an interview below {Dans ton Salon}, the bandmembers discuss how the lyrics are personal and there's a contradiction of lyrics about talking about things and music for dancing that comprises their sound. The right mix can be pop perfection. They tend to fuse the darker themes with a poppy veneer, evident in "The Truth About Cats and Dogs {Is That They Die}" with a video that matches the style::

The band is current on maternity leave according to a Facebook update, but I'm looking forward to their next release and further evolution of their sound. I'll leave you with a 'Dans ton Salon' interview of the band done by P45 {partially in French, but the interview with the band is in English} from 2008::

Twitterversion:: [blog+videos] #newmusicmonday feat. indie pop of Pony Up from #Montreal http://vox.rhizomicon.com/2011/05/newmusicmonday-92-pony-up.html @Prof_K

Friday Night Video:: Blonde Redhead feat. Miranda July

2011-05-06T20:32:00.000-04:00

Twitterversion:: [video] #FridayNightVideo feat. Miranda July in Blonde Redhead's "Top Ranking". @Prof_K

AV in the UK:: Electoral Reform Going Down in Referendum

2011-05-06T15:07:00.000-04:00

It looks like the Alternative Vote referendum is going to be defeated in the UK. There's talk of electoral reform in Canada in the wake of Monday's election, but I'm not holding my breath.

The AV system proposed was pretty straightforward. The BC-STV and Ontario's MMP were defeated in 2009 and 2007, respectively. I think it's pretty hard to get the electorate behind changing electoral mechanisms. It might be a communication issue, but I think voters get comfortable with a heuristic of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," not realizing that FPTP is flawed in a multi-party system. Without reform, there's Duverger's Law...first-past-the-post leads to a two-party system over time.

This video explains the UK AV proposal::

I think that electoral reform will be more likely in Canada if the Conservative Party of Canada fragments back into Progressive Conservative and Reform factions. While some are saying that Layton's new Québec faction will test the NDP, I think Stephen Harper's majority government will put him to the test with social conservatives. Before, he had the crutch of having a minority government as a limiting factor on what he could do. He's stating he wants the Conservatives to be the natural governing party of Canada, replacing the Liberals. I think that's a stretch, which I'll blog about in the future.

Twitterversion:: [blog] AV in the UK? Election reform referendum en route to defeat in the UK. @Prof_K