I’m caving in to a blogging bad habit, the Summary Post.  June 2008 is an absolute blur…in a good way.  I’ve been all over the place, literally and figuratively, and I almost feel like I should write about it just to help myself remember it all.

So I’m going to put it into a few different pieces, covering music, travel, golf/fitness/health, dining/drinking.  Or maybe I won’t.  Wherever it ends up is fine.  Then, I’ll get back to talking about Web sites and retail chains and electronics and crap.

So, music….

I’ve known for a while that May/June 2008 would be an interesting time because several bands I pay close attention to were to release new recordings.  I still haven’t been to a live show in a while, but that will soon change.

• I pre-ordered A Skin, a Night & The Virginia Ep by The National (on my short list of favorite artists) and received it in late May.  The EP is pretty good, nothing groundbreaking, but a must for a diehard National fan.  Seriously, The National might be the most “solid” band of my favorites.  They do no wrong in my eyes.  Embarrassingly, we haven’t even watched the DVD yet, just haven’t had time.
  LIVE: I’ll see them at Lollapalooza 2008 in Chicago on Sunday, August 3rd.  This will be my 3rd National show.
• Nels Cline is best known these days as lead guitarist for Wilco, another of my favorite bands.  What’s not as well known about Nels is that he’s a renowned avant garde jazz musician.  Or maybe he should just be called an experimental musician.  Doesn’t matter, dude is lights-out talented.  Odds are most folks wouldn’t like him a bit if they heard him.  I saw him in early June at Indy’s own Jazz Kitchen, a terrific little venue, and I’ll admit there were a few brief moments when I wasn’t so sure I was into what he was doing either.  But 90% of the time I sat with my jaw hanging open, enraptured by the beautiful noise this guy makes with The Nels Cline Singers.  I sat maybe 8 feet away from Nels, his guitar, and his little noise boxes, amps, pedal boards, effects boxes.  Oh, and his Obama stickers.
  See, Nels is a true geek about his musical gadgets, and that’s what made his show truly memorable.  This guitar genius is standing right in front of me, blowing my mind with his instrumental tricks.  This isn’t the type of music I can appreciate as well outside of a live show, but it’s a live show I’ll never forget. 
  I’m not disregarding Nels’ fellow bandmembers (Devin Hoff on contra bass, Scott Amendola on drums, percussion, other electronics), they were terrific.  But this was The Nels Show.  Oh, and he’s a super nice guy too.  He stayed around after the show chatting with fans.
• Another of my favorites is Wilco, and I’m happy to say I’ve seen them a couple times before, and I still get in the mood for Sky Blue Sky rather regularly.  But I’ll miss a shot at seeing them in Indy again because I’ll just be returning home from Lollapalooza, and I’ll need a break.  Two days before that I will have missed another chance to see them at Lollapalooza because they’re playing opposite Rage Against the Machine.
  You say, “You like both Wilco and Rage Against the Machine?  Does that make any sense?”
  I say, “It does to me.”
  Rage just came back together last year.  I like Rage because I still have a soft spot for hard music done right.  That means I like about 3 “hard” bands.  I really love Rage’s passion.  They’re probably more into their social activism causes than their music, and that’s really saying something if you’ve ever seen how into their music they are.
  But I WILL see Wilco in Brooklyn, New York on August 13th.  And for this I feel very fortunate.  It’s always a blast to venture away from home to see a great live act.  Besides, Sherry doesn’t like Wilco.
• Let’s get the jokes out of the way up front.  I like Coldplay’s new album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.  Go ahead, toss out the “You know how I know you’re….” jokes, I can take it.
  But here are some ingredients that make Viva La Vida a damn good listen: Producers Brian Eno (David Bowie, Talking Heads, U2, James) and Markus Dravs (Bjork, Arcade Fire), Persian santur instrumentals, lyrics about war & religion & death, and loads of experimentation.  Well, loads by Coldplay’s standards.  If you like Coldplay for the same reasons most of Coldplay’s fans like Coldplay (the song Yellow, singalongs, radio-friendly riffs, etc.), you won’t like this new release so much.  If you like new sounds by a terrific group of musicians, this is your album.
  LIVE: Coldplay is not currently scheduled to play in my immediate area.  Conversely, I’m not currently scheduled to travel anywhere just to go see Coldplay.  It’s a mutual agreement, of sorts.  After this album, however, I would pay to see them if they came to town.
• I still feel strongly that Portishead’s Third could end up my album of the year.  I didn’t have much experience with Portishead, but who did?  They hadn’t put out a recording in 14 years.  That seminal recording, Dummy, set some new standards.  I find it so intriguing that they wouldn’t release another for so long.  I absolutely love Third.  It gets my highest recommendation.  It’s an absolute trip, and I can’t stay away from it. 
  LIVE: No chances to see Portishead live in the near future, sadly.
• There may not be a band I like more than My Morning Jacket, and I pre-ordered Evil Urges.  It arrived in early June.  I had heard a few leaked tracks and live performances of songs from this album.  What to say about this one?  I’ve had this happen before: Initially I’m terribly disappointed, because I love a band’s music so damn much and want more of it.  I whined and complained and asked questions of my music-loving friends about Evil Urges for a few days.  I said things like, “Why does he have to use that falsetto voice in so many songs?” and “Where are all the guitars and winding solos?” and “Why do some of these songs sound like ’50s R&B or something?”  I said these things.  Out loud.  A lot.
  See, MMJ’s previous album Z was/is one of my favorites ever.  I still think it’s phenomenal, and I still go back to it frequently.  And lead man Jim James is one of my favorite people in music, period.
  Then it happened….Evil Urges started growing on me.  I’m still not addicted to it like I am to Z, not even close yet.  But I’m totally OK with it now, and I know I’ll keep liking it more and more.  And the really cool thing about anything from MMJ is that I’ll like it much more after I heard them play it live.  You can’t top MMJ Live.  (Or can you? Keep reading…)
  LIVE: Living in the Naptown area, I don’t often have the opportunity to see shows that become the stuff of legends.  Sure, most of the artists I want to see come through here at some point (MOST.), but not often enough, and not to put on their best show.  Is this making sense?  Let’s say Bruce Springsteen comes through Indianapolis on tour.  Great, whatever, I’m still not going.  I like Bruce as a guy and all, but his music isn’t my thing.  So on this tour he’s going to, what, 60 other cities?  Do you think Indy is getting one of the highlight shows of that tour?  No.  It’s not.
  I might get a highlight show on August 16th though.  On that night we’re heading to Louisville, the city that gave us MMJ, for An Evening with My Morning Jacket at Louisville Waterfront Park.
  Top-notch live band? Check. Hometown show? Check. Potentially inspiring concert setting? Check.  This could be good.
• What can I possibly say about Radiohead that hasn’t already been said?  How about if I just say this?: There’s not a better band on the planet.
  In Rainbows probably wins as my favorite recording for 2008, even though it came out in late 2007.  Yes, I was one of those who paid whatever I wanted to download it.  I paid about $5.  It’s worth so much more.
  I can’t keep away from In Rainbows.  I feel like this is their recording which best embraces their experimental side while still providing accessible songs.  I love every other Radiohead CD from the last 15 years too.  But this one just seems to stay in my rotation longer than any of the others have, even if it’s fighting for a share of my time along with these other great releases.
  Kid A was revolutionary.  Years before, OK Computer was too.  In Rainbows is to me though like watching an athlete in his/her prime: They’re totally in the zone, performance after performance (song after song).
  LIVE: So finally it will happen, I’ll get to see Radiohead live, at Lollapalooza, opening night.  In a harsh coincidence, I WON’T see Radiohead right here in Naptown, 5 miles from my house.  I’ll still be at Lollapalooza.  As is the case with these big festivals, bands book shows right before and after in the cities nearby.  Why else would Indianapolis get Radiohead and Wilco on back-to-back nights?  A nice byproduct of Lollapalooza for Indy.
  This will be mind-blowing.

So I guess that’s about it for now.  I’m looking forward to the next Kings of Leon release in late September.  I can’t wait to see the Raconteurs at Lollapalooza.  I like their newest release, but I know they will be far better live than recorded.  You can’t fully capture the greatness of Jack White in recorded form.  And it’s been a fun ride watching Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails work towards revolutionizing the music industry.

First it was Kinko’s, which is quirky and catchy, and was the name used to build the business into an empire. Then Federal Express became FedEx, and then they bought Kinko’s, and then they changed the name of Kinko’s to FedEx Kinko’s. That in itself was a risky move, in that they faced the risk of falling into the trap that banks are in. Namely, what’s the name of my bank? With all the mergers, buy-outs, and name changes, it’s hard to keep track.

So now FedEx is dropping the name Kinko’s altogether? I don’t like it. The new name is FedEx Office, which would be fine for a new endeavor. But this isn’t a new endeavor.

People will still call these stores Kinko’s because that’s what the business and education world grew with, right?
“I’m going to Kinko’s, anyone need to go make copies?” I remember that from college.
“I don’t have time to print this in color before I hit the road, so I’ll just stop at Kinko’s,” says my boss.

Maybe we’ll all zombie our way through the front door, completely unaware of the change on the sign above our heads, completely willing to drop a couple bucks a page for color printing. Bottom line, it doesn’t matter if you think the new name fits your future goals for the company, you already had a good name.

PC World recently released their 100 Best Products of 2008.  Always a great topic for debate, these “Top/Best” lists, no?

Doesn’t matter, what appeals to me is the navigation capabilities of the list.  Look at it in ranked order, ABC order, category order, most anticipated (in pictures), or by readers’ top choices. 

Jason’s highlights and lowlights:

#1 Hulu: Can’t wait to check this out.  I’m getting rave reviews from trusted friends and colleagues already. The top site seems like quite a stretch, so we’ll wait a year and see what happens.
#2 iPhone: Zzzzzzz.  Tired of the hype. 
#4 Windows XP: Hilarious!  Windows products get dogged relentlessly, but now it’s the #4 best product of 2008?  CONFUSED.
#9 Rock Band: Personally tested by yours truly. Love it, need it, not buying it because I’ll waste too much time on it.
#11 Netflix: We converted in 2008, can’t believe we did without it before.  I’m watching movies months earlier than I did before because we rarely make it to the theater.  It’s just such a terrific service.  (Oh, and Juno was brilliant, watched it last night.)
#12 Xbox Live: A certain pre-teen in my house loves it.
#16 Nintendo Wii: This will be top 10 next year, I believe.  I’ve never experienced positive feedback on a tech product from such a diverse audience…young, old, active, inactive.  On my shortlist for things to buy.
#19 Twitter: Still not sold, sorry JH, EG, CW.  There’s multitasking, and then there’s nanotasking.  I’m not going there.
#27 Google Docs & Spreadsheets: Can you imagine if Google gave this the push that Microsoft gives Office?  I’ll bet 1% of the U.S. population realizes they could create, utilize, and share their documents, spreadsheets, and presentations for FREE.
#36 Pandora: Still a big fan.
#41 Gmail: I never stop asking people to switch away from AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, Comcast, etc. 
Just Goo it. (Sorry)
#48 The Consumerist: Groundbreaking and important, always standing for the rights of consumers and keeping rogue companies in check.
#59 RIM Blackberry Curve 8300 Series: Another Naptown Jams conversion this year, from the clunky old Treo.  Initially I missed some of the touch-screen capabilities.  And by initially I meant for about 1.5 days.  Love the curve, I’m here to stay.
#61 SideStep: Travel much? Give this a try, it works.
#64 Amazon MP3: Should be higher!  As soon as they worked out some technical glitches and expanded their catalog, I was sold.  Half my music download dollars have moved from iTunes to Amazon.
#81 YouTube: I’m surprised this one is so low, and I think it’s just because it’s here to stay.  It’s not necessarily new or fresh, but it’s never going away.  I’ll never be one to spend hours sifting through YouTube for entertainment purposes, but I know I can rely on it.  Kinda like how I feel about Wikipedia now.
#99 Lifehacker: I’m just happy to see Wiley author Gina Trapani’s site on the list!

In what might be the first of my blog requests to actually come true, Starbucks has set its Wi-Fi free.

All you have to do is buy a reloadable Starbucks card and register it at Starbucks.com.  Voila…you get up to two hours of consecutive free Wi-Fi daily at Starbucks stores, via AT&T.  No catch (that I can see so far). 
Plus, you also get these fine gifts:

• Select complimentary syrup and milk options
• Hot and iced brewed coffee refills on the house during your visit
• Complimentary tall beverage of your choice with the purchase of one pound of whole bean coffee.
• One free complimentary beverage

I’m in.

Take a trip down mobile phone memory lane via this rad video.  How many of your old phones do you spot?  I think I came up with 4 or 5, and I didn't even see my last two.  I had completely forgotten I even had some of these old models, and I've only had a cell phone since about '97 or '98.  It's surreal to realize how ubiquitous mobile phones have become, and how much they've evolved.

If other companies pick up on the moves recently made by Macy’s, they might just make the world a slightly better place while they sell people stuff.  Macy’s made a serious commitment, with business practices instituted to help “protect and preserve” the environment:  

1. They began carrying 100% natural cotton reusable tote bags.
2. They replaced their laminated paper bag, which was not recyclable nor from recycled content, with a 100% recyclable bag made from 30% recycled material.
3. Macy’s and Macys.com will continue using recyclable folding gift boxes (48 million/year) and wrapping tissue (255 million sheets/year) made from 100% recycled material, and Bloomingdale’s wrapping tissue (75 million sheets/year) will be converted to 100% recycled material in spring 2008, and Bloomingdale’s will offer a 100% recycled paper and ribbon gift-wrapping option for holiday 2008.
4. The more groundbreaking move:  “The company’s direct-to-consumer businesses - macys.com, bloomingdales.com and Bloomingdale’s By Mail - will begin using loosefill in-the-box packing material that is 100 percent biodegradable, compostable and recyclable… Previously, the company used “packing peanuts” (synthetic, non-biodegradable material) for this purpose. The new material is made from raw ingredients including pure corn and potato starch. It breaks down in water in nine minutes and will not harm the environment.”  Macy’s uses over 3 million cubic feet of packing material annually.
5. And in a separate move, they’re discontinuing their mail catalog by early 2009 to focus on their Web site.

If Macy’s, Inc. alone uses this much material just to sell and ship consumers their purchased product, think how much is used by all the other retailers out there.  Boxes, gift boxes, catalogs, shopping bags, shipping cartons, wrapping paper, packing peanuts….it’s a lot of waste, it’s been a lot of waste for a long time.  Did we think it would just dissolve into thin air?  Wonderful move by Macy’s.  Let’s hope others soon follow suit.

I’m no news outlet, but based on some of the search results that send people to my blog, people want more information about reports like this.  So go here or here for more on news that Barnes & Noble might try to buy Borders.  Don’t go to WSJ.com for the original story because they will want you to pay them for that information.  You shouldn’t have to pay for news.

Tidbits:

• Barnes & Noble has assembled a team of executives and advisers to study Borders.
• Wall Street Journal reports that 30 people have signed, or will sign, confidentiality agreements involving a possible purchase of Borders.
• Multiple strategic buyers and possible private equity investors are involved.

Good luck to all involved.  Lots of great people’s futures at stake here.

Another unusual pairing of companies has hit the rumor mill.  This time it’s Best Buy purchasing Netflix.  Totally a rumor at this point.  But if it’s being explored whatsoever, it’s interesting how some of these companies are starting to think.  Why wouldn’t Best Buy want a piece of Netflix, right? (Especially if Blockbuster acquires Circuit City.)

We might be seeing some new synergies created.  Don’t forget, there’s still a chance we’ll see Netflix partner with Microsoft via the XBox 360, too.

It sounds like a bad gag straight out of a magician’s act, but disappearing ink suddenly has a future.  Xerox is experimenting with a type of paper on which ink disappears after a while, making the paper re-usable.  This of course would cut down on paper waste, ink, and the energy needed to print documents.  I would imagine office supply stores are quaking a bit at the prospect.  And I’m sure the paper will come at a premium.  But it sure would be nice to re-use all paper people waste on meeting documents, map printouts, and so on.

This piece of paper is blank, but about eight hours ago it said, ‘Reusable Paper. Xerox Parc Inside Innovation at Xerox’ in block purple letters. (Credit: Michael Kanellos/CNET Networks)

Wal-Mart’s PC buyer blogs that they’re updating their merchandising and branding for computers beginning May 19th in 3,800 stores.  Obviously Wal-Mart sells lots of computers.  But this appears to be a serious effort to make that process easier and more informative for customers.

Here for more, direct from the source.

This whole economic stimulus check thing still baffles me.  I’m happy to get the money, but I still see it as a last-second Hail Mary pass by our Mr. Lame Duck Worst American President Ever.  This guy comes in and obliterates a world power’s bank account (see U.S. National Debt Clock), and American’s are supposed to just aw-shucks it away?

Not this guy.

Anyway, retailers are wisely offering bonuses and incentives if you spend your stimulus money in their stores.  Good idea. 

I keep seeing a particular “bonus” that I just can’t get over: Free check cashing.
You’ll cash my check for free??  REALLY??!!  You mean I have this piece of paper worth money, and for no cost whatsoever you will give me the money due to me???  Eureka.

I understand that our grand country is made up of people of so many economic classes.  It’s not 3 anymore, it’s like 300.  And I’m no financial advisor, that’s for sure.  But how do you, consumer, NOT have free check cashing?  If you have to choose where to spend your money based simply on who won’t charge you money to give you YOUR MONEY, then this stimulus check won’t even begin to solve your financial troubles.  My non-professional advice: Do some research and find a decent bank and open an account there.  One with free check cashing.

And shame on retailers for trying to promote this free check cashing thing as some type of bonus or incentive.  10% off your purchases, free gift cards, free annual membership…sure, those are bonuses.  But telling someone - in this time of economic strife - that you’re giving them a bonus by not charging them money to give them their money?  That’s just tacky.

Go here for a roundup of stores offering “deals” for your stimulus check:
http://dealnews.com/features/Make-the-most-of-your-stimulus-check-Stores-that-offer-stimulus-check-bonuses/228063.html

http://consumerist.com/5008708/apple-escorts-you-from-the-store-for-trying-to-purchase-an-iphone-with-cash

UPDATE: I changed the title of this post from something about the No A$$hole Rule. I’m definitely NOT saying that the customer was being an a$$hole.  The guy wanted to buy an iPhone with cash, big deal!Thanks for the catch, Jenny.

Today is my son’s 3rd birthday, and I couldn’t be any prouder. 

Happy birthday, Manton Oslo Marcuson.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

I broke some of the most important rules of blogging recently.  Namely, I didn’t blog.  That’s just the way it will always be for me.  My busy-ness level is cyclical.  I have kids.  I have interests outside of work and blogging.  It’s ALMOST Spring here in Indiana, even though it’s mid May.  Do NOT get me started on that one.  I don’t get paid to blog.  It’s not a function of my job, really, though I can’t stand rules like that.  And I’m not even an acknowledged blogger within my own company (the kickoff meeting of our annual sales conference last week gave me a specific reminder of that).  I think I’m OK at blogging, nothing special.  It’s all good, so they say.

So when I received an email last week telling me I’d made the Junta42 Top 42 Content Marketing Blogs, I wasn’t biting.  Now I feel bad, because they named me to their list.  Apparently I’m Mr. Irrelevant, to borrow an NFL draft term.  I came in at #42.  But that was good enough to make their “top” list, which has its own press release and everything.

Not only that, but I ranked well in my category, publishing. I’m 2nd only to my friend and esteemed colleague, Joe Wikert.  (HE made our company’s list last week though.)

Seeing that “content strength, depth, regularity and, to a very small extent, popularity” are what it takes to make the list, I must have some solid content strength and depth.  Regularity and popularity?  Eh.

I may need to dig around a little more to find out what all this means.  Movie deals?  Licensing revenue?  Speaking engagements? 

Thanks, Junta42!  I feel legitimized.

“About the Junta42 Top 42 Content Marketing Blogs
The Top 42 Content Marketing Blogs list was designed to organize and feature the best blogs on the internet that discuss some aspect of content marketing. This page is a must bookmark for anybody interested in creating content to attract and retain customers.

Each blog on the list has been rated by our expert staff in terms of content strength, depth, regularity and, to a very small extent, popularity. Junta42 members are also able rate each blog by Hitching (or voting) on the blogs they like the best, creating an independent user rank in the process. The list shows more than 42 blogs as the “up and coming” to the Top 42 list. The Top 42 list will be updated periodically as new blogs are reviewed for the list.”

Without hesitation, follow this link.  Just trust me, it’s really cool and lots of fun.  Here, I’ll provide it again:

New York Times: All of Inflation’s Little Parts

This type of graph is a Vonoroi Treemap.  It’s full of rich data, and though it might take you a minute to figure out what you’re looking at, it will be worth your time.

Now, I’m going to talk about books and how Americans spend money on them.

See the section labeled “Recreation” on the far left, at about 10 o’clock?  Within that section, hover your cursor over the point-of-a-knife shaped chunk on the far right.  That, friends, is our book world!  Kinda makes you feel like we’re on the head of a needle stuck in an enormous pincushion, doesn’t it?

Books make up 0.1% of American’s recreational spending.  We tie with newspapers and magazines.  We’re sextupled by club memberships.  We’re doubled up by TVs. 
The other statistic given is the Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation.  Books went up a bit in 2008.  Technology products went down a lot.  So did toys, because we found out that putting lead in them is apparently a bad thing.  We’re getting so smart!

Now books are a sophisticated, complex things, so we actually fall into two categories.  The other is Education/Communication (makes sense). 

This category also makes up 6% of American consumer spending, and we make up 0.2% share of spending.  In this measurement we inflated by 6.3%.  But we are lumped in with supplies so we do still have the option of blaming it on them.  (Damn compasses and protractors!)
Technology again gets cheaper: Internet, phones, software, and computers all went down in cost.

Play around with this treemap a while, you’ll have fun.  I’m left to ponder with where we go from here.  Our costs go up with rising fuel costs, like many other products and services.  Yet we’re only teetering on the edge of an inflation problem (unlike many foods and plane tickets).  We’ll see what happens next, because this economic ride is not yet over.

One of the most clever things a store can do is uncover a way to simply get more customers walking in the doors.  Everything else (sales) tends to fall into place once you figure out how to do that.  And these days no idea is left unturned, so it’s news when someone figures out how to get more people in the door.

Wal-Mart will do it by cutting costs on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications.  Maybe this seems like no big deal, but it is, because all they’ve done is find another way to convince shoppers to shop Wal-Mart first for staple items.  And yes, drugs and meds are absolutely staple items in the U.S. in 2008.

Details:

• Over 1,000 over-the-counter products sell for $4 or less.
• Some 90-day prescriptions are only $10.
• $4 prescriptions already account for 40% of prescription business at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. (Can you IMAGINE how much money 40% of their script biz is?)

Other retailers have tried to compete with Wal-Mart in this arena, and Wal-Mart has even made some of these efforts in response to the competion.  But who do you think will end up winning?  It’s tough to bring down the giant.
(Now if only we could create a book to merchandise in the pharmacy…)

They’re considering bankruptcy, right?  So how did they fail while Bed Bath & Beyond has not?  I mean that with all sincerity.  I really want to learn something from this: What does BB&B do right that Linens -N-Things does not?  Because I think they are very similar.

LnT posted $2.79 billion in sales last year, but a net loss of $242 million.  And we know that they also have stiff competition from Wal-Mart, Target, Ikea, Williams-Sonoma, Amazon.com, etc.  But Bed Bath & Beyond isn’t in the same situation.  So what gives?  Where’s the big difference that keeps one large (800 stores) retail home goods chain afloat and sinks another (600 stores)?

MUST.
LEARN.

I think books are pretty.  Well, many books are pretty, and many are ugly.  What I’m saying is that of all the millions of books ever published, it’s pretty easy to find some pretty ones.

Plus, from what I can tell, you can actually learn a lot from books.  No, seriously!

But, it turns out walls of full book shelves have another great purpose: Insulation!

So, you should line your walls with shelf after shelf of books.  Telegraph UK and guru Cory Doctorow recommend it, and now I do too.

If short on space opt for bookshelves
lining the walls in a sitting room or
playroom, which also act as an insulator.
(Jan Baldwin, Telegraph UK)

I’m pretty thrilled with my switch from Sprint to T-Mobile, for many reasons so far.  I’m paying less money, I understand my monthly bill, and the people in the stores and the CSRs on the phone are super nice.

And finally, because they will be planting a tree for me.  And yes, I might hug it.