Project Samo

Talk to Us, Petey

2007-07-13T06:25:00.000-04:00

"Talk to Me" is the biopic about DC radio's Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr.

It appears to not only be a good movie, but takes us back to a time before the current era of talk radio formulas and the brand-building, marketing, or ideology-driven "personalities."

Here's the Salon review.

Opus! My Penguin!

2007-06-03T19:10:00.000-04:00

O Glorious Day. Berkeley Breathed's Opus the Penguin now appears as the official Sunday comic of Salon.com.

All Hail Helvetica

2007-05-29T19:29:00.000-04:00

It’s the font Helvetica’s 50 birthday. MOMA has mounted an exhibit featuring posters and graphics proving the font is, well, everywhere. Here is a very good web essay from Slate on the origins and lasting popularity of Helvetica. It even includes the subtle differences between Helvetica and the interloper Arial. What? You didn’t know there was a difference? Now you do. Designer Mark Simonson explains everything .

I love using Helvetica because it looks clean and modern and is legible at any size. It really reads well on a web page although writers seem to lean more toward a serif type.

Can’t get enough? There’s a new documentary entitled – what else – Helvetica.

THX, M1Live.com

2007-05-28T17:18:00.000-04:00

According to Shoutcast me and about 1200 other people are listening to the waining hours of M1live.com, at least in it's current incarnation. I know that number will rise as we approach midnite of what founder Rich Cowell has entitled "The Last Dance."

And that's too bad. M1live.com presents a mix of dance that no other dance-oriented internet radio station does right now. It's New York club with a definite European feel. M1live certainly provided a music home for me at home and at work, especially after the demise of Party 93.1 in Miami, one of the few commercial broadcast stations playing dance music in the US.

Although Party 93.1 was certainly limited in playlist, it's mere existence, along with a handful of stations like Energy 92.7 in San Francisco at least kept the dance flag planted on the broadcast map.

Dance music lives well on the internet, which makes M1live all the more valuable. As the current battle over licensing fees throws the US based portion of the internet radio world into limbo this lovely little niche of the web has become most vulnerable.

So thank you, Rich. Here's to you working out what it will take to bring back m1live.com in it's next form.

And in the meantime, click on the link below to learn more about American Net Radio's imperilled future:

If the US manages to kill of its internet radio, there are lots of great European and Australian based internet stations with a dance/trance/house formats. I already have some bookmarked ...

Obama's MySpace Storylet

2007-05-03T19:04:00.000-04:00

Obama Campaign Asks: Is It MySpace or Yours?
Thursday, May 3, 2007; Page A04
The Washington Post

In the first MySpace skirmish of the 2008 presidential race, no one's come out looking good. Not MySpace, the popular social networking site. Not Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who until earlier this week had more "friends" on the site -- about 160,000 -- than almost all the other candidates combined. Not Joe Anthony, the 29-year-old paralegal who created a MySpace fan page that carried Obama's name.

In November 2004, after hearing Obama's keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, Anthony began adding friends to his Obama page. By the time Obama announced his candidacy earlier this year, he had about 30,000 friends. When MySpace started its Impact Channel as the central hub of its candidate profiles two months ago, Obama's camp used Anthony's page as its official MySpace page. For weeks, Anthony worked with Obama's online team as the senator continued to attract more friends.

Read the full Washington Post story here

Only the participants know for sure, but it seems this could have been worked out before it became a storylet with 368 news stories linking from Google News.

Whoever is at fault, the Obama Team should have formalized their deal earlier on with Mr. Anthony. They could have employed him or negotiated a buyout to compensate him for his work. Although MySpace isn’t exactly a traditional direct mail mailing list there was the potential of 160,000 “good names” there. That’s tough to rebuild.

However I do have a problem with Mr. Anthony building the MySpace page as a voluntary effort and then asking to be compensated to show “he wouldn’t be bullied.” And if 130,000 “friends” signed on after Senator Obama announced, how much did Mr. Anthony contribute?

“We wanted to work with Joe. But at the end of the day, this page is bigger than him," said campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

I cringed a little at that one. No, the page is not bigger than the volunteer even if he is being uncooperative. Work it out, avoid the story, keep the 160,000 contacts.

Of course, the name belongs to and should be the property of the candidate. I just can’t help but think they could have gotten to a resolution a little more elegantly.

PS If the primary were held today, Sen. Obama would most likely have my vote.

My Fave Podcast

2007-04-21T10:40:00.000-04:00

Holland radio station Radio 538 has announced that one of my favorite DJs (and a lot of other people on earth) Tiësto will host a new weekly show titled ‘Club Nouveau’. The show will broadcast every Friday evening, beginning April 6th, from 10 pm to Midnight and even better, you can download it from iTiunes.

http://www.radio538.nl/clubnouveau

A Disaster Movie I Would Watch

2007-03-07T15:10:00.000-05:00

From the v. talented people at Chocolate Cake City:

Book Marketing Evolution

2007-03-06T18:59:00.000-05:00

When you walk into Barnes & Noble or any other big chain bookstore, you stop and look at all those tables first, don’t you? I know I do. "New in Paperback" "New and Notable" or "Bestsellers" placards on tables stacked high with books.

Those aren’t placed by bookstore managers who love books or college age clerks majoring in literature.

The space is paid for by publishers and it works. So much so that venerable book sections of leading newspapers are losing so much revenue they are planning to merge book reviews with other sections if they keep them at all.

You can read about that along with a really good overview of current and future marketing trends within book publishing here.

Media as Omnivore

2007-02-21T19:43:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it just seems like anything that moves in the American culture is a reason for some sort of media magnet to that event. Today, topics ranging from a girl with the hiccups to a pop star in rehab create the frenzy.

Good Morning America called contacted Jennifer Mee 57 times while helicopters buzzed Britney Spears' rehab facility of choice.

Menino Ready for A New "Hoax?"

2007-02-19T18:03:00.000-05:00

"Hmm. How should I answer that question? I knew this question was coming today. And I was preparing some optional answers for this particular question. Should I say, 'I have that ball'? Or I could say, 'Which particular ball are you referring to?' Or 'Which ball are you calling a gyroball?' Overall, if I have the chance, I will pitch that ball."

- Daisuke Matsuzaka, when asked about the mysterious gyroball

If new Red Sox pitcher and auto-sensation Dice-K doesn't throw a "gyroball" will Boston Mayor Tom Menino call it a “hoax” and demand retribution and remuneration?

After all, the precedent has been set to demand payment for being made to look silly, and nobody has seen the gyroball yet.

Mayor Tommy could declare that Boston had been duped. We're well down that road since a dozen strategically placed lite-brites brought down the head of the Cartoon Network. And the two guys who installed them for CN's ad agency are still legally on the hook.

So, if the gyroball turns out to be a mythological bargaining chip to up the financial ante to the unfathomable US$52-million, six-year contract “Dice-K” landed, doesn’t that qualify as a similar hoax, the mayor might say?

Menino could say that Boston had already invested a great deal of unconditional fan love and breathless media time on the celebrity status of new pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and that the city needed to be compensated for once again being ~~made to look silly~~ hoaxed.

Right. I think the answer from Matsuzaka’s agent, former CN head Jim Samples and yours truly would be …

So, you wanna a hit show?

2007-01-16T18:17:00.000-05:00

Outstanding insight and perspective from Marc Cherry from Desperate Housewives, Shonda Rhimes from Grey's Anatomy, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof from Lost, Silvio Horta from Ugly Betty, Jenny Bicks from Men In Trees and Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti from Brothers & Sisters.

Keep it out of the blender ...

Full Story Here.

Poor Tom, Poor Peyton

2007-01-16T18:06:00.000-05:00

The two most successful quarterbacks in the NFL in modern times don't appear to be happy.

Peyton Manning, arguably the face of the NFL in a way that is only comparable to Michael Jordan said, "It seems like for so long it's been 'Colts win', but then 'Peyton Manning loses," ... "Either give me all the credit when we win or give the team the blame when we lose. The way it should be is Colts win or Colts lose. That's the way I always thought it was."

Poor Peyton. All the money, all the recognition, all the records. Not to mention his mug showing up on about every fourth ad during any NFL game on TV.

And then there is Tom Brady. All he is doing is living out the dream of any high school football player in America. He wins all the games, and he gets all the girls. But then he goes on 60 Minutes and is contemplative if not sad about how hard it all is.

So my question is, after this weekend's AFC championship game, who will be more sad ... the winning quarterback or the losing quarterback?

IFC Fills A Gap

2007-01-15T14:09:00.000-05:00

Three cheers for the Independent Film Channel.

We need these outlets to not only get beyond multiplex-think but to reach people sitting in front of their big-ass TVs.

Full Washington Post story here.

"Street Meat" Brings Cable News Heat

2006-10-22T15:27:00.000-04:00

Doing their bit to add to the digital Tower of Babel are all those jabbering experts on every cable TV channel. Here's some insight from the Wall Street Journal on who they are and what they are willing to do to achieve the current version of American Dream: get on camera and give opinion.

It's all about creating heat. But any old time pro wrestler could tell you that ...

At least he likes Scorsese ...

2006-10-22T15:07:00.000-04:00

"I look at movies and they're all so f@&^ing terrible. People ask, 'Why aren't movies more successful?' It's really a simple answer: It's because they stink. Three simple words: Because they f@&^ing stink. That's four words, but you can't write the f@&^ing word. They stink, they stink, they stink, what's wrong with you? They stink. Do better movies ... Finally, I saw a good movie -- 'The Departed.' And look what it took: It took Marty Scorsese, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, [screenwriter] Bill Monahan -- and it's based on another movie."
- James Woods
( from Salon via Inside SoCal via Defamer)

In addition to "The Departed" I read that Helen Mirren is good in "The Queen," although I think Scott Thompson could have made a go of it.

Watching You Watching Me

2006-10-20T10:48:00.000-04:00

While watching Euronews I saw a story about this great exhibit devoted to Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velázquez now at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.

One of the paintings is "Venus at Her Mirror." We see Venus' face in reflection. But we also see that she knows we are looking at her as Cupid faithfully holds a mirror.

After Nuit Blanche

2006-10-02T19:01:00.000-04:00

The Toronto Star provides a wrap up. All in all quite the success in spite of weather that didn't befit the end of September. This new accessibility in the atmosphere of night created a unique venue for art that I should hope will be extended.

But before getting to wrapped up in the value of Art, I couldn't help but laugh at the quote from the Star story, "It's all for art. Dance, child, dance! Daddy needs a grant. Daddy needs a grant." That's true, too.

Thanks to Romana for her perspective on engagement with more here.

Earl v. Betty = Unfair

2006-09-28T12:31:00.000-04:00

It is a real shame if ABC has gone and thrown a promising show like "Ugly Betty" to the wolves by putting it up against the outstanding "My Name is Earl." I grew up on quality funny shows and have been yearning for a few good scripted comedies.

I loved America Ferrera in "Real Women Have Curves." I know she is doing more film and starring on a network show will bring in a regular paycheck!

My worst nightmare would have been if the CW had kept "Everybody Hates Chris" in its original Thursday night position.

Tom Shales gives an effusive review of "Betty" in today's Washington Post, and that's usually good enough for me.

Nuit Blanche? Tres bien!

2006-09-28T06:34:00.001-04:00

It's hard to describe how cool this event is. The impact is truly visual. And I would think an appreciation of art and an urban enviornment are prerequisites.

I had heard of this Parisian invention and saw a news story about the Madrid version. That was when I was taken by the way a city can be literally cast in a different light. Too many downtowns are deserted not long after the workday ends. This abandons and ignores the opportunities for presenting a city in an arts framework.

Toronto takes it's turn at presenting Nuit Blanche ("white night" or "sleepless night") this Saturday. Here's the background from The Toronto Star. And the official site is here. Attendees won't say "bon nuit" until 7:15AM Sunday morning.

Tribute In Light

2006-09-13T05:28:00.000-04:00

From the World Trade Center Tribute in Light on Flickr. It struck me that the lights bow in toward each other the way the buildings did when you looked up at them.

Finally! Recognizing Michael Knight

2006-08-30T19:16:00.000-04:00

Nice to see an online presence from my favorite Project Runway Season Three designer: Michael Knight, now on Myspace.

He's emerged as a favorite of fans (and thankfully the judges) once he finally got some face time around episode, what, four? Why did that take so long? Long stretches of episode after episode had him completely absent. Maybe we will find out in the end and maybe it's a producers and editors secret.

Anyways, he had me at the coffee filter dress. If innovation means anything, that was a highlight of the season.

I loved Project Runway from the very first episode because of it's emphasis on displaying the creative process. Many times it was inspiring to anyone who works in creative or artsy endeavors. I also liked, and still enjoy, the friendships built among designers.

But I felt like this season had in some ways devolved back toward stale reality show devices like controversy and conflict. That made Michael Knight stand out even more as he stayed out of the stuff while consistently producing good products in each and every episode.

The September Atlanta Magazine has a feature on Mr. Michael. You can read it here at the all-inclusive all-knowing Blogging Project Runway.

Never Forget New Orleans

2006-08-29T06:31:00.000-04:00

Listen to Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans via Rhapsody performed by:

Rosemary Clooney
Earl "Fatha" Hines And His Band
Pete Fountain
Billie Holiday
N'Awlins Gumbo Kings
Louis Armstrong

The New New Orleans?

2006-08-25T20:49:00.000-04:00

I was reading a story from the fine series Black America Web has put together about the continuing impact of Katrina one year later when I saw this ad in the middle of the story:

I clicked and it took me here.

Is this the beginning of the new New Orleans?

Survivor Brings Back Segregation

2006-08-24T06:52:00.000-04:00

The PR ploy has worked because I've never watched an episode of Survivor and here I am taking the time to think about it.

So the daddy of American reality shows has revived segregation to get the buzz back and get the ratings back. The only story I've read all the way through is Lisa de Moraes' on washingtonpost.com and it does a good job getting to the point of big dumb labels that would put say, a person of Mexican descent and a person of Cuban descent on a "Hispanic" team. But it also neatly describes CBS's "The Early Show's" transparent and limp attempt to get some network buzz going.

I don't know, how about a show where "different" families try to move in to an all-white gated community. Too real? Or too close to ABC's never aired "Welcome to The Neighborhood."

All Growds Up

2006-08-22T19:48:00.000-04:00

As "T" said in Swingers, "Our little baby's all growds up." Rich Juzwiak, better know as the purveyor of the fourfour blog is getting paid now to do this stuff for VH1's Celibreality.

Rich sits in Brooklyn and provides such an acerbic wit and keen perspective on everything from pop music to America's Next Top Model. But carrying it all is a love for -- if not an obsession with -- pop culture. We can all roll with that can't we?

Congrats to Rich on getting paid to do something he enjoys. That should be everyone's goal, shouldn't it?