There's nothing I can say about this comic except that it is brilliant.
http://www.achewood.com/index.php?date=04082003
7/27/07
7/15/07
Record Decline Sociology
The June 28th issue of Rolling Stone magazine had a brief feature on the continuing decline of the recording industry. They published a list of the top ten best selling albums of 2000 compared to 2006. The 10th most popular album of 2000 (Destiny's Child) outsold last year's number 1 best selling album (High School Musical: Soundtrack) by almost 100,000 units. Shit is not looking good for record companies.
In looking at what used to sell and what sells now, I am beginning to put together a theory. My theory is based on a several posits:
1) Increased use of downloading services has negatively affected record sales
2) The music industry has not experienced a significant stylist paradigm shift in the last decade
3) People's tastes have not improved
Facts: In 2000, the year's best selling records included significant pop releases (N'Sync, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and the aforementioned Destiny's Child), crossover hip-hop albums (Eminem, Dre, and Nelly) and safe "dad-rock" (Creed, Santana's Supernatural, the Beatles "1" compilation)
In 2006 however, the top selling records were much different. Two 'tween soundtracks (HS Musical and Hannah Montana), three country albums (Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, and Dixie Chicks) and some "red-state rock" (Nickleback, Hinder). There are the usual pop crossovers, such as Beyonce, Justin, and James Blunt, but if we agree on my posits then it isn't that different kinds of music are being made or have become popular but instead that people are simply stealing the records they once bought.
Cable-internet penetration is slimmest in the midwest and south where the concentration of Nickleback and Rascal Flatts fans is the greatest.
If we are to accept the troubling suggestion that people with more modern tastes are also the sorts of people who are technologically inclinced (toward piracy?!?) then we must accept that eventually the biggest selling albums in America will be only sountracks appealing to kids too young to use file-sharing ("Mom, why can't I use the computer?" Because of pedophiles, Virginia) and country/dumb rock which appeals to the computer illiterate.
In looking at what used to sell and what sells now, I am beginning to put together a theory. My theory is based on a several posits:
1) Increased use of downloading services has negatively affected record sales
2) The music industry has not experienced a significant stylist paradigm shift in the last decade
3) People's tastes have not improved
Facts: In 2000, the year's best selling records included significant pop releases (N'Sync, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and the aforementioned Destiny's Child), crossover hip-hop albums (Eminem, Dre, and Nelly) and safe "dad-rock" (Creed, Santana's Supernatural, the Beatles "1" compilation)
In 2006 however, the top selling records were much different. Two 'tween soundtracks (HS Musical and Hannah Montana), three country albums (Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, and Dixie Chicks) and some "red-state rock" (Nickleback, Hinder). There are the usual pop crossovers, such as Beyonce, Justin, and James Blunt, but if we agree on my posits then it isn't that different kinds of music are being made or have become popular but instead that people are simply stealing the records they once bought.
Cable-internet penetration is slimmest in the midwest and south where the concentration of Nickleback and Rascal Flatts fans is the greatest.
If we are to accept the troubling suggestion that people with more modern tastes are also the sorts of people who are technologically inclinced (toward piracy?!?) then we must accept that eventually the biggest selling albums in America will be only sountracks appealing to kids too young to use file-sharing ("Mom, why can't I use the computer?" Because of pedophiles, Virginia) and country/dumb rock which appeals to the computer illiterate.
7/14/07
You know a war has gone on too long when...
From this article:
"UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: 'We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.'"
"UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: 'We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.'"
7/6/07
The Fourth of July is Broken
Out of all the holidays we celebrate, the Fourth of July may be the most troubling. It is a holiday of great significance which we celebrate in a most insignificant way. Like, the complete opposite of Halloween.
On this most recent of manifestations, I was driving home around 9pm and beautiful Walla Walla was lit up like a war zone as pyromaniacs and fetishists got their kicks out hard on the streets. I was reminded of that scene in Apocalypse Now where Martin Sheen is like "Who's in charge here?" and the guy shrugs and launches another rocket propelled grenade.
Fireworks are simulated weapons. We encourage kids to play with these danger toys, which approximate the "rockets' red glare" which freed our infant nation from English Tyranny. The irony is, every year English Tyranny continues to claim our infant fingers and eyeballs.
We put a Walmart gloss over the holiday in order to market it. We sing songs and undercook meat. Which is awesome, but shouldn't be confused with patriotism.
I have a recommendation. If you have an inclination to make the holiday real, go ask Grandad or uncle Pauly Hole about the war. Bask in their story telling and consider the significance of a gang of rich white men in the 18th century who chose to create a democracy instead of installing themselves as monarchs.
Or if you just like blowing things up, enlist and do it legally.
This post has been brought to you by Transformers, a film by Michael Bay and the US Army.
On this most recent of manifestations, I was driving home around 9pm and beautiful Walla Walla was lit up like a war zone as pyromaniacs and fetishists got their kicks out hard on the streets. I was reminded of that scene in Apocalypse Now where Martin Sheen is like "Who's in charge here?" and the guy shrugs and launches another rocket propelled grenade.
Fireworks are simulated weapons. We encourage kids to play with these danger toys, which approximate the "rockets' red glare" which freed our infant nation from English Tyranny. The irony is, every year English Tyranny continues to claim our infant fingers and eyeballs.
We put a Walmart gloss over the holiday in order to market it. We sing songs and undercook meat. Which is awesome, but shouldn't be confused with patriotism.
I have a recommendation. If you have an inclination to make the holiday real, go ask Grandad or uncle Pauly Hole about the war. Bask in their story telling and consider the significance of a gang of rich white men in the 18th century who chose to create a democracy instead of installing themselves as monarchs.
Or if you just like blowing things up, enlist and do it legally.
This post has been brought to you by Transformers, a film by Michael Bay and the US Army.
7/1/07
Transmission from the King of the Cosmos
Na-na, na na na na na na-na, Katamari Damacy.
Earth People, from New York to California, we have important news. Our latest videogame will be released on the Nintendo Wii and will be entitled "Beautiful Katamari". What was that? A silly entitlement? We have no idea what you are talking about.
Roll up this link for more wonder, joy, dreams, paintbrushes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Katamari
Earth People, from New York to California, we have important news. Our latest videogame will be released on the Nintendo Wii and will be entitled "Beautiful Katamari". What was that? A silly entitlement? We have no idea what you are talking about.
Roll up this link for more wonder, joy, dreams, paintbrushes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Katamari
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