I'm The Only Gay Eskimo

Actually, I think the impressions of other artists at the end is what really makes this song so hilarious. Like The Proclaimers would do it!

Pandas Must Die!

Corky & The Juice Pigs...just hilarious. Another of my favorites to follow...

The Real Dragonforce.

I am Jack's complete feeling of inadequacy. Me, small. They, big. My fingers hurt just watching this thing...

It's Every Cuss Word We Know!

These dudes are basically right on my wavelength. And probably every other man with a heartbeat and a pair of testicles. Ahhhh, the infantile...does it ever get old?
(get it? ahhh, I kill me....)

Video Game Violence Laws as Pure BS

That’s pretty much what I take away from it. Great article about the consistency with which these laws are being found unconstitutional.

Two really great quotes:

 

“Violence has always been and remains a central interest of humankind and a recurrent, even obsessive theme of culture both high and low,” he wrote. “It engages the interest of children from an early age, as anyone familiar with the classic fairy tales collected by Grimm, Andersen, and Perrault are aware. To shield children right up to the age of 18 from exposure to violent descriptions and images would not only be quixotic, but deforming; it would leave them unequipped to cope with the world as we know it.”

 

And

 

“Video games are a new medium, and while people are used to scary stuff in the movies, they aren’t as used to having scary stuff in interactive media, so there is political value in passing these laws even if they are ultimately rejected by the courts…I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people who passed these laws knew they were unconstitutional, and they did it anyway.”

 

Shout it, brother.

 

Although the outcomes of these cases are the right ones, I think, there are other subtexts to be considered here. Especially the first quote, which touches on the question of whether this approach is applicable to sexual suggestion and content. Does it make sense to shelter someone in their formative years from sexual topics? They’re going to learn from their friends anyway, right? I’m not advocating legalizing porno sales to 10 year olds (not that they can’t get a hold of it anyway, but whatever), but simply that they’re exposed to plenty of suggestive imaging through commercials, TV shows, and music; allowing them to see the bubbly and pop-culture smiley version of sexual concourse while ignoring the darker and more dramatic aspects of the sexual interactions seems to be exactly the opposite scenario from what these advocates are saying. I would think you would want to provide a more balanced view, or no view at all. Since we do live in the real world (where you simply cannot shut of that faucet), your only hope is to balance the various images with a spectrum of experiences such that our children are adequately prepared to deal with the real world as they get thrust out in it.

Hippity Hop Violin

All the Grooviest Online Video in One Place, GroovyGrooves.com

Jesus Records

Hah, classic. Gotta love the mockery videos...I'll forgive it the transgression of being produced by that pop-crazed miasma of teeny-bopper trash, because it's pretty damn funny. You know what? I'll even put two of them down. Because they amuse me.

Aquabats! Pudding Dispenser Belt!

These guys are one of my favorite ska/punk bands, due in large part to their masterful execution of completely tongue-in-cheek tomfoolery through everything they do. There is a certain integrity in the ability to shamelessly embrace childish amusement in what you do. Great stuff...and you should definitely check out the band's site and some of their music. (shameless plug)

Internet Radio Bleeding to Death

I love shoutcast. I love my indie broadcast sources. Most of all, I like the *idea* of the sort of rogue internet broadcaster, injecting his rebel yell into the ether of “penis enhancement” email and vast capitalist and propagandistic morass.

 

But it seems that with the appeal denied, and the IREA looking doomed, that these stations will soon be on their way out. Wired is running the story, but hopefully you and I can create enough noise to nudge our elected idiots into action…

 

The thing that worries me even more is what happens when the greed takes another step, and then things like myspace music and private podcasts are attacked? It seems ridiculous and unlikely, but I wouldn’t have thought that simple, niche-market broadcasters on the internet would have such hefty fees levied against them, either…

Elevator Music

Another of the little amusements provided by the YouTube revolution...mini-episodes. They seem to be the next evolution of TV, following the transition from the hour-long radio show to 30-min sitcom, and now the 1-3 min video clip. Say what you will about the degradation of the fabric of society...lots of these clips are really pretty funny...

Music Industry Bullying

Yup. More of the same, stupid music industry BS, trying to squeeze $ out of the small guys...

Artist Formerly Known as [your clever quip here]

More stupid music industry bullshit coming to the front. It infuriates me when someone doing something a little different gets the big backhand by the industry. Especially when the artist in question made that industry’s leads some serious bank, back in the day…ridiculous.

It is sort of fascinating to see the tactics and strategy in use by those businesses who see their livelihood slipping away into ever more convoluted and unfamiliar business models.

I mean, in a way I actually feel for them. But I’m too entrenched in music for my own personal interests to dote on this abhorrently greedy industry and its pathetic leaders who bitch and moan and complain about losing out on *another* million $.

(I’m thinking of Lars Ulrich, here. That bitch-assed little cockfarmer)

How to be a Successful Overlord

Actually to be fair, if I was an evil overlord, I would be even more extreme than the suggestions in this list. He seems to forget that movie overlords also seem to have a weakness for something benign, like lovely assistants, classical music, fine art, exotic fish...I wouldn't have any hobbies, apart from world domination.
Predicate.

Sex, Drugs, and Posting to your Blog

Haha, yeah yeah. This is a blog, and the title of this post has the word “blog.” But the article in question is really a pretty fascinating (although lengthy) read. Brings up a lot of interesting points about the shift in music business models and an interaction.

 

French iTunes Law Passed

Could the passage of this law really change the face of online music for France or anywhere else? With the loophole allowing artists to sign their own deals, I don't think so. Add into this the panel/commission that decides when the law applies... I am very curious to see whether the energetic passing of the law translates into real action on the part of the courts. I don't think it will create the "state-sponsored piracy" that Apple is decrying, but it will perhaps make the digital music distributors rethink their constantly shifting online models.