The Entertainment Shack

Hood Internet: Mixtape Volume 4

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:44:02 -0600

Hood Internet: Mixtape Volume 4 - One of the best mashup mixtapes to come out this year. (Comment...)

The Golden Age of Video

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:33:53 -0600

The Golden Age of Video -

A song made up entirely of clips from famous movies and TV shows:

(Comment...)

An even simpler Google?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:28:10 -0600

An even simpler Google? - Just when you thought Google's website couldn't get any simpler, I came across this a couple days ago. Cookie monster, a box, and the words "Press Enter to Search". I actually kind of like it. (Comment...)

Goodbye GeoCities

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:46:03 -0600

Today marks a sad day. Yahoo is shutting GeoCities down for good. This website began on Geocities on February 22nd, 1998. I was in the "TimesSquare/Stadium" neighborhood at address 3423.

As much as people joked about GeoCities, it was a great place to create your first website. There was a vibrant community of volunteers (called "Community Leaders", which I was apart of), and a real sense of community between those that had websites there.

It was true social networking, almost 10 years before the concept really took off, and as many experts in the field agree, had Yahoo! managed it correctly, it could have been as popular and profitable as MySpace and Facebook, while as community-driven as Wikipedia.

I still have the email that was sent on January 28th, 1999:

Dear Homesteader,
Boy, do we have some exciting news for you! This morning, we
officially announced that Yahoo! has acquired GeoCities to
form a partnership that combines two unique things: the
powerful community you've created, and the powerful services
and features of Yahoo!

What does this mean to you as a GeoCities Homesteader? Well,
first of all, GeoCities will remain better than ever. Much
better than ever! You'll have lots more cool tools to use.
You'll have a larger variety of great features and
services at your disposal. And most importantly, you'll
have instantaneous access to more people on the Web - people
who share your interests and want to participate in the
community you've helped us create here at GeoCities.

The terms of the deal won't be finalized for about four more
months, but we can tell you that GeoCities and Yahoo! are both
thrilled about the partnership. It's a perfect match. We're two
of the most innovative, influential and popular companies on
the Web today. Our cultures, our values, our beliefs are in sync.
We share a common vision.

For GeoCities, the best news is that Yahoo! recognizes in us something
that only we can provide - a strong and committed sense of community.
And for that, we have you to thank. We've built this together.
And together we're shaping the future of the Internet.

...

Sincerely,

Tom Evans
President & Chief Executive Officer
GeoCities

Ha. Well, fuck you, Tom Evans, and fuck you Yahoo. You ruined a great thing.

My next question is: Is Flickr next? Or has Yahoo learned their lesson?

State Street Halloween in 1979

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:26:54 -0600

State Street Halloween in 1979 -

And speaking of freakfest... some video footage of State Street in the good 'ol days. No tickets, long hair, open intoxicants, and bonfires in the middle of the street.

HALLOWEEN STATE STREET 1979 from Joel Fletcher on Vimeo.

(Comment...)

Hitler Finds Out Who's Playing at Freakfest

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:11:55 -0600

Hitler Finds Out Who's Playing at Freakfest -

Next best parody of Downfall to What would Hitler do if Twitter went down?. But seriously, Third Eye Blind? (thx Kennis!)

(Comment...)

The Coastie Song

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:13:35 -0600

The Coastie Song -

Anyone from Madison who understands the Coastie/Sconnie divide will find this song hilarious. (thx Luke!)

"Always walkin Langdon with a strut lookin haawwt
Talkin on her celly like, "girl ohh gawwwd!"
Coach bag, Gucci shades that they daddy bought
Muggin' wearin v-neck tees with they iPaawwd
Always up in Van Vleck, "I have a question"
Baby sit back, let me explain this lesson"

(Comment...)

Pharcyde - Otha Fish

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:32:10 -0600

Pharcyde - Otha Fish - I got this sick old-school hip-hop song stuck in my head. Thought I'd share:
(Comment...)

Storefronts Revamped

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:20:13 -0600

Storefronts Revamped - Jeremy Novy is an artist which paints over boarded up buildings and houses to improve aesthetics in neighborhoods, including the State Street Theater in Milwaukee (pictured). (Comment...)

Obama to the Rescue

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:11:28 -0600

Obama to the Rescue - A well-illustrated t-shirt I saw in a comic book store which really captured his attitude during the campaign. (Comment...)

One in Eight Million

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:06:15 -0600

One in Eight Million - A cool project by the New York Times with stories of ordinary New Yorkians, narrated and put to photographs. (Comment...)

WTF Wisconsin (Logo Fail)

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:28:01 -0600

WTF Wisconsin (Logo Fail) - They have since changed their logo. (Comment...)

Chicago 2016

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:42:00 -0600

Chicago 2016 - The bidding starts in a little over a day now! Although I'm afraid the Olympics will go to Rio de Janeiro because South America has never hosted the summer olympic games before and they have a well put together bid, I'm rooting for Chicago! I think the games will generate a lot of income for the region, and force the local governments to make infrastructure improvements, including transportation. I'm also excited how the Lakeshore Residential Hall Area at UW-Madison (pictured on the right... that's the Nat wrapped in Olympic swag) will be transformed for the Chicago 2016 Road and Mountain Bike starting place. (Comment...)

Mad Art VIII

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:34:07 -0600

A couple creative uses of the pedestrian crossing sign in Madison, WI:

Red bull gives you wiiiiiiings!

'Drunk Student Crossing' at Ian's Pizza (arguably the best pizza place... ever)

Sufjan Stevens at The Majestic in Madison, WI

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:09:17 -0600

Last night I had the privilege of seeing Sufjan Stevens at a sold out concert of 600 people at The Majestic in Madison, WI. I knew it was going to be a great show the moment he stepped on stage in a blue "WISCONSIN" t-shirt, camouflage hat, and said: "Sup 'yall, I'm Suff-jan Stevens", making fun of a common mispronunciation of his name, and went right into playing my favorite song, Seven Swans.

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