When we first heard the debut album from Bristol-based singer/songwriter Andreya Triana we were immediately hooked. So naturally, we jumped at the chance to sit down and… Read More »Video Interview: Andreya Triana (Original Video)
Karl Frankowski photographed Fox News approximately once per minute over the course of 24 hours.
From Aza Raskin’s lecture at the #MozNewsLab on Monday, we learned that
“The real problem is that we don’t understand the problem.”
This sent me into a tizzy – a mental topspin of wondering which problem I’m really seeking to address for the scope of this 4-week class. I felt like Woody Allen, paranoid and self-conscious, attempting to figure out which problem was in fact the real one.
First I asked myself: “Is the topic of this post the right question I need to be asking? What does it mean to make news cool?”
I took a long, slow, sip of my coffee and decided to break it down into baby steps.
Firstly, I thought about what I know.
1. People care about the issues that most closely affect them.
2. They like to share their revelations.
3. There’s never been more news content available to us.
Then I let it simmer.
Yet after banging my head against the wall for a few days, I still didn’t have an idea of where to go.
But what I did have was more questions.
This post is syndicated from Indie Shuffle.
What’s so good?
I saw avant-pop duo The Fiery Furnaces perform an acoustic set a few months back at the Largo in L.A. and was immediately captivated. The first thing I thought about was the remarkable result of the brother and sisters’ stripped-down set paired to their signature poetic lyrics.
“The cool affectation of Matt and Eleanor is gripping – they’re clearly favoring their art over any commercial notion of entertaining that coerces objectification.”
The second thing I thought was: ”God I’m starving! What’s for dinner?”
I had listened to albums by The Fiery Furnaces in the past. And like many artists, it took going to a live performance before I really understood what they’re all about. I expressed interest on Twitter that night for a book of their lyrics to read. Like a changing green light at just the right moment before pause, I was thrilled to learn that there was in fact such a book.
Arty? Refreshingly so. Entertaining? You betcha. Spoken word tends to validate itself well, particularly so on paper.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson One definition of… Read More »The #Trust30 Day Challenge [Post 30]
“Self-censorship is not just self-betrayal and self-abandonment (which would be bad enough), but soul-betrayal and betrayal of our Muse, out inner voice, our highest self.”
Too often we censor ourselves, our actions, and our work in hope or fear of what might happen if we otherwise don’t. What words would you write today, and what actions would you take, if you had nothing to fear, nothing to lose?
(Author: Tanner Christensen)
This is an interesting challenge and I’d love to read others’ remarks on the topic. In a way, we’re bringing to the forefront what it is that we really care about. What makes us annoyed deep down inside? Which public official is being a pain in the ass? Where do we need to see change? And why the hell isn’t the A/C on in here?!
I’m always ticked off about various issues in technology policy and the lack of our progress in furthering the arts on both a national and international level.
The political machines and subsequent organizations that dictate policy are decades behind where we need to be — and seem to stifle innovation.
Photo: Gogo colour wheel by ant.photos on Flickr
One of the great features the internet gives us is the ability to create and participate in custom-tailored groups. Groups are programmed yet unique, standard yet empowering, and virtual yet oh-so real. The functionality of groups allow us to share info, plan trips, provide feedback, and collaborate to make things happen in the real world.
We can offer up news, media, and commentary while designing action items for rallying around the issues that matter to us. Groups are long-tail and egalitarian – everyone has a voice and similar to the early days of chat rooms, there’s usually something for everyone.
The groups you connect to may be public like niche interest groups on Facebook, or they may be private like an intranet you use for work. Maybe you’re working from a collaborative project management site like At Task or one of the dozens of others out there.
What is your #1 passion in life? Now, imagine what would happen if you incorporated that passion into your life daily. Write down your passion… Read More »The #Trust30 Day Challenge [Post 28]
“The world belongs to the energetic.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s easy to blame our failure to meet our goals or to live our dream lives on a lack of energy, and we don’t always stop to think about the quality of energy in our lives. Yet we can choose to create and manage our own energy flow.
Think of an instance when you’ve been so involved in an activity that you’ve lost track of time, and then identity the passions and energies you were feeding. Who was there with you? What were you doing? What will you do to make time for moments like that one more often?
(Author: Julia E)
This is a great prompt because I feel this way all the time! Our energy levels often dictate how much we can accomplish in any day, week, month, or season. Sometimes our resources allow us to do less and we must work with what’s given to us, even if that means cutting out things like social time (d’oh!) to do so.
A DJ friend from college used to lament that he didn’t have enough money to put together the dream production studio he always wanted. He also believed that once he got a job and was able to fund this studio, he then wouldn’t have the time or energy to use it.
So why do it? Why should he fight for the resources to build his dream studio if he won’t be able to use it? Was this reasoning merely a cover up for his fear, or a legitimate circumstance to create a workaround for? Maybe a little bit of both.
This post is syndicated from Indie Shuffle.
Sounds like: James Blake, Jaime xx, Burial
What’s so good?
There’s something to be said about the anonymous producer, the artist who chooses to hide behind a mask and forgo all marks of physical identity. Greats like MF Doom, Deadmau5, and the gents from Daft Punk all perform in disguise. Why do they present themselves this way? In a culture where the creator can play the part of celebrity, is it a noble effort to force the hand of the art itself? Is it an attempt to retain personal privacy while in the public eye? Or is the artist simply… shy? What’s going on behind the mask?
Whatever the reason, SBTRKT is a producer who clearly puts his musicianship first by eschewing all norms and expectations for a mostly — in the traditional sense of the genre — electronic record. That’s not to say it’s not an innovative album. In fact, the opposite is true. SBTRKT incorporates the wobbly, arrhythmic sensibilities of fellow electronic and R&B line-toers like James Blake, Com Truise, and Jaime xx while infusing his own point of view.
We hear hints of dubstep paired with a similarly clean production sound, developed with the finessed ear of maybe a daylight-driven Burial or simplified Clubroot. The silent upbeats we hear are filled with meaning, just as the vowels omitted from his name.
Think about the type of person you’d NEVER want to be 5 years from now. Write out your own personal recipe to prevent this from happening and commit to following it. “Thought is the seed of action.”
(Author: Harley Schreiber)
I’ve come dangerously close to becoming someone I’d rather not be. There’s a slippery slope when it comes to determining our identity, particularly as we get older and tend to try on different shades of personality in the quest to discover our true selves.
In this process, there seems to be a youthful inclination driven by the desire to please everyone. The modus operandi is to be a completely agreeable person, for the fear of limiting our connections and opportunities by getting in our own way. In actuality, we can be completely authentic, free as can be – so long as we dip the criticism in a bit of sugar.
This post is syndicated from Yahoo! Music “Make It Stop (September’s Children)” is the latest video from rockers Rise Against, and comes loaded with a powerful… Read More »New Video: Rise Against Encourages Gay Youth That ‘It Gets Better’
A few months back I had the opportunity to interview Dirty Vegas when they came to town. Check out the video we produced thanks to… Read More »Video Interview: Dirty Vegas (Original Video)
Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong… Read More »The #Trust30 Day Challenge [Post 24]
The secret of fortune is joy in our hands. – Ralph Waldo Emerson If you could picture your intuition as a person, what would he… Read More »The #Trust30 Day Challenge [Post 23]
Men imagine that they communicate their virtue or vice only by overt actions, and do not see that virtue or vice emit a breath every moment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Who is one person that you’ve been dying to connect with, but just haven’t had the courage to reach out to? First, reflect on why you want to get in touch with them. Then, reach out and set up a meeting.
(Author: David Spinks)
Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” is a great line from Emerson. If there’s no enthusiasm in what you do, it won’t be remarkable and certainly won’t connect with people on an emotional basis. But, if you put that magic energy into all of your work, you can create something that touches people on a deeper level. How can you bring MORE enthusiasm into your work? What do you have to think or believe about your work to be totally excited about it? Answer it now.
(Author: Mars Dorian)
We live in a society of advice columns, experts and make-over shows. Without even knowing it, you can begin to believe someone knows better than you how to live your life. Someone might know a particular something better – like how to bake a three-layer molten coconut chocolate cake or how to build a website – but nobody else on the planet knows how to live your life better than you. (Although one or two people may think they do.) For today, trying asking yourself often, especially before you make a choice, “What do I know about this?”
(Author: Jen Louden)
I walked down Pickney St. with a bottle of Perrier in one hand and my cell phone in the other. I always find myself scrolling… Read More »From the Archives: Friendships
Trusting intuition and making decisions based on it is the most important activity of the creative artist and entrepreneur. If you are facing (and fearing) a difficult life decision, ask yourself these three questions:
1) “What are the costs of inaction?” I find it can be helpful to fight fear with fear. Fears of acting are easily and immediately articulated by our “lizard brains” (thanks Seth) e.g. what if I fail? what if I look stupid? If you systematically and clearly list the main costs of inaction, they will generally overshadow your immediate fears.
2) “What kind of person do I want to be?” I’ve found this question to be extremely useful. I admire people who act bravely and decisively. I know the only way to join their ranks is to face decisions that scare me. By seeing my actions as a path to becoming something I admire, I am more likely to act and make the tough calls.
3) “In the event of failure, could I generate an alternative positive outcome?” Imagine yourself failing to an extreme. What could you learn or do in that situation to make it a positive experience? We are generally so committed to the results we seek at the outset of a task or project that we forget about all the incredible value and experience that comes from engaging the world proactively, learning, and improving our circumstances as we go along.
(Author: Dan Andrews)
Abide in the simple and noble regions of thy life, obey thy heart. – Ralph Waldo Emerson Write down your top three dreams. Now write… Read More »The #Trust30 Day Challenge [Post 18]