Needs. Lies. Money.

Really interesting thread at Ask Metafilter. The subject of marketing diamonds turns to several examples of industries creating needs, desires and fright around myths.

Here's my favourite comment: "People are being told that every little thing that is in the slightest way imperfect is something that should be treated with medicine. Because, of course, medicine is a highly profitable product.

So, for example, kids are no longer simply energetic, they are hyperactive or they have some damned syndrome. Adults, too, suddenly have syndromes rather than, for example, plain old crappy concentration. You take pills to sleep properly and pills to eat properly and pills to shit properly. And if there is no real medicine to cure the complaint for which they want to sell you a product, they put a label on a bottle of water and vitamins and sell it as "homeopathic" medicine."

Back in Time

Interesting set of photos from the 1970's Fort Walton Beach, Florida bar and entertainment scene. Can't help but wonder where these people are now. They must have some great stories to tell.

Broadcasting from a Basement in San Francisco

SomaFM - the great free streaming music provider, just got even better. They've added another station to the lineup - Space Station Soma (spaced-out ambient and mid-tempo electronica). If you're even vaguely interested in electronic music (of any kind) you really should give Soma a spin, if you haven't already.

Direct links to all the other streams:

Groove Salad A nicely chilled plate of ambient beats and grooves.
Secret Agent The soundtrack for your stylish, mysterious, dangerous life. For Spies and PIs too!
Drone Zone Served best chilled, safe with most medications. Atmospheric textures with minimal beats.
Indie Pop Rocks New and your favorite classic indie pop tracks.
Cliqhop IDM Blips'n'beeps backed mostly w/beats. Intelligent Dance Music.
Beat Blender A late night blend of deep-house and downtempo chill.
Tag's Trance Trip Progressive house / trance. Tip top tunes.

3 into 1

Currently obsessing over the "Discipline / Beat / Three of a Perfect Pair" trio of King Crimson recordings. Have these ever been packaged as a box set? Seems like a great idea, considering the musical aesthetic they all share.

The Ephemeral City

For a design class taught by Stefan Sagmeister, Amanda Spielman created a travel brochure for "New Ephemera" - a beautiful, culturally rich but fictitious city. Here's the brochure.

This kinda makes me think of Nick Bantock.

Nostalgia by Liam

Very nice Flickr photo set I stumbled upon today. This guy is talented (and a Boards of Canada fan). Check out the rest of his photo sets - great texture and color.

ReGenesis

According to fan chatter at Peter Gabriel's website, a reunited Genesis (with Gabriel and Phil Collins) are set to announce plans for a new album and tour. LA's House of Blues is apparently the site of the press conference, slated for Tues. Mar 14.

This tour will be a HUGE moneymaker. Break out the weed, boomers.

Related: The upcoming reunion tour by The Cars (with Todd Rundgren replacing Ocasek) seems supremely dumb to me.

The Web is Red Hot (Again)

The big media giants are throwing vast amounts of money at community-based web startups. A major generational shift is underway. Globe and Mail article here.

That Man Just Yawned!

Arctic Monkeys have my attention. Great performance of "A Certain Romance" from last night's SNL.

More Energy. Less Friction.

Excellent article every small business owner with a website should read. Briefly - make the user want to do something, then make it happen easily.

In Search of Memory

Interesting show today on NPR's "On Point" - Nobel prize-winning neurobiologist Eric Kandel explains the science of memory and the possibilities of enhanced preservation. Imagine never forgetting where the keys are.

Listen to the archived show here.

Also compliments of NPR - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, live from Washington DC. Don't forget to listen.

Television Splendor

Harvey Pekar on Letterman - August 1988. Watch and squirm. Dave's anger is palpable.

I'm beginning to think YouTube is the greatest thing ever invented.

Diamanda Galas

Enthusiastic review of Diamanda Galas' Valentines Day performance at The Knitting Factory.

diamandagalas.com

Interview from WNYC's "Soundcheck" program (mp3) - Despite her intense performance persona and vocal style, she's quite pleasant and soft spoken.

My Evening with Elvis

While working on a website late last night, I listened to Elvis Costello's "When I Was Cruel" album. Later, I had a dream I was at an Elvis concert, but as his guest. I watched the performance from the side of the stage. After the show, I was invited to his home, which was a very cool loft-like space in an old converted brick building (it felt like a small factory). He had the whole place designed and decorated to look like some Italian courtyard, complete with vines, strings of small lights and iron benches. There were a bunch of people hanging out, talking and drinking wine. I was quite impressed by the whole scene and complimented Elvis on the decor. The entire visit was very friendly and relaxed.

Later, I woke up and wasn't a friend of Elvis anymore.

Industrial Symphony No.1

I'd forgotten about this. From 1990, David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti's surreal performance at The Brooklyn Academy of Music. I've never seen it, but this excerpt has got me interested all over again.