Social Studies
Trend Analysis: The Lace Economy»
New networks are being amassed through a mix of web-based tools (Facebooks, LinkedIn) and traditional channels (networking, associations). These form into a tangled, limitless, and underproductive web. Though there is an intoxicating excitement in the chaos of tangled relationships, the ever-increasing girth of networks makes these connections fragile and meaningless. In the Lace Economy, networks will be filtered, gathered and sewn into manageable, identifiable, and productive patterns.
#Tweetsgiving; What I am Thankful For»
I am thankful for the hidden brilliances in our daily lives, things we can all share, but are unfortunately more difficult to come by within the “developing world.” I’m thankful for these things, which I take for granted each day: roads, heat & hot water, food, clothes…
Analyzing Trends: The Pendulum»
Trends swing like a pendulum, creating waves of fashion, art, culture, business, you name it…there is a cycle to trends (if not everything). In order to find, uncover and act on burgeoning innovations I visualize this cycle (as the following slides will display) and play with this visualization as a “game.” You can use almost any trend, idea, history, business for this game and see what you uncover.
Social Media Delusions of the McBiz Era»
I was chatting with blogger Francine McKenna on social media messaging/communications and its relationship to ROI and I had a revelation! Social media is playing out (with virtual currency i.e. “social capital”) many of the business strategies of the last four decades in response to the “breakdown of the Bretton Woods agreements” (1). Basically, people [...]
The YouTube Tea Leaves: Stock Imagery, as a Business, is Not Sustainable»
Analysis: The YouTube Tea Leaves: Stock Imagery, as a Business, is Not Sustainable
The recent analysis of YouTube’s earning potential by Credit Suisse (reported here and here) points to a big red blot of ink, YouTube is losing lots of money, remains totally subsidized by Google earnings, and might always be. In short only a handful [...]
Music Reviews
I’m all confused about the Pixies show (Chicago, Aragon Ballroom)»
The Pixies owe us nothing. The elder siblings of our alt-rock post-punk revolution, we look to them, yearning for the brilliance of the late-80s surge of misfits, outcasts, and town criers who led us away from stadium rock and tight pants and towards the emotional sleeves of wheat paste, second-hand duds, and endless cigarette monologues. Their mix of mind-opening lyrics and whine-high instrumentation was the minstrel music, the bang anthems, for a few generations of college-smarty-pants who sought a less than hardcore way to be edgier than the mainstream lives they would soon live themselves.
Concert Review: The Breeders, The Vogue, Indianapolis (August 6, 2009)»
Kim Deal can see the world in a cold clarity that would make most mad; a ramble pile, a mess, a happenstance, and thrives amidst the foibles by generating her own upward forward lift thrust. Bulldozing through the trials there’s no BS…
Concert Review: PJ Harvey, John Parish & Band, June 11th, Vogue Theater, Indianapolis»
The pre-roll of blues music, meant to set a tone, could’ve been the foreboding instruct, a tell, of the bare-essential instrumentation of the PJ Harvey/John Parish set and band.
Images
Posts and Ladders»
This detail from an late 90’s painting mixes two strong memories, posts from docks (Sheepshead Bay + Fire Island) with the ladders from “chutes and ladders” which we’d play on rainy days. This imagery is my comfort food.
Josh»
My former roommate and schoolmate Josh Minor was often a model for paintings. I worked from photographs mostly, but it helped to know the people I referenced as it added a tone to working on imagery of them.
Interviews
Tim Steele: Chief Operating Officer»
Tim Steele is not a fiery manager, nor is he steely, he’s “ready.” I think of kung-fu fighters who pay little attention to the flare, but once called upon, they can kick-it where it needs to go. Tim is no fighter, but there’s no getting past him, the problem will be solved, now, if not sooner.
Suzanne Sease: Creative Consultant»
Positive, forward-thinking ideas, uplifting style, true professionalism = Suzanne Sease. It’s always hard to define what is “good”. It takes an open mind, a skill for listening and identifying the milestones, and a willingness to be truthful even when it hurts.
Adria Petty: Filmmaker»
Adria Petty’s works (music videos, commercials, films, docs) are time machines; within them time modulates between soothingly smooth and hurriedly intricate. Her techniques, the contrast and color of her lighting, and the snazzy immediacy that pushes the momentum is akin to watching time-lapse projector films of stars exploding.
Music Interviews 2000-2001
Linc + Finn of The White Octave»
JM: How would you define the music your band makes? Linc: A passerby to our practice once stopped to tell us we play what his brother describes as “strength music.” Finn: Over the top Rock.
Red Animal War: Justin Wilson, Brian Pho & James (the band’s merch guy)»
JM: How much of an influence is J. Robbins (jawbox, burning airlines) and the greater D.C. scene on your music? justin: The first time I saw Jawbox was on Conan O’Brian. They blew me away. I’ve been a huge fan ever since.
John Davis of the band Superdrag: September 21-22, 2000»
This interview of John Davis of the band Superdrag was conducted via a correspondence of emails from September 21-22, 2000.
JM- Generally what do you think about the prevalence of mp3s and the whole Napster Phenomenon?
JD- To be quite honest, I’ve never downloaded a note of music off of Napster or any other file-swapping service, so [...]
Purms
Color-commentary: Calling the thunder storm»
The skies are starting to show the thunderstorm line is soon to arrive. High wispy clouds pull thinner, fail. Low, there, a mass of gray stone seep slow from behind tall oaks. 8:26
The low thunder rolls. Deep rumbles muted by the distance, growing bolder. 8:29
First lightening. Slight thread taught, pinned from cloud bellies, then cut free. 8:31
Twitter poem: Etched»
Day etched lines, marks, pins, float.
Dusk lit alphabets, numerals, tones.
If I lift my lids to see you,
they’ll glare,
burst
and be lost.
Twitter poem: I’ll take yours back»
This is where you sat, you ate.
Your lips on this glass, the chair dimpled from your warmth.
All the lights in heaven,
I’ll take yours back.
Cleft Heart Back (’99)»
I’ve sewn my cleft heart back
from two pieces to one
too many times along the same cut track…
Twitter Poem: Earth, Flat»
Earth, flat slides featherblown across the milkyway.
My dayfeet press flip inches from your nightslippers.
Pliant, we’re all tossed echoes.
Sketchbook
Exit Queen Storyboards»
I mock-up storyboards either for short-films or animations, usually taking the texts from poems or short stories I’ve written. This is one page of many from my first draft. Like many of my poems this one is about relationships, often with incongruent partners. Having been a teenager/young-adult growing up in the AIDS era many of [...]
