tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48429491164264089072024-03-13T19:48:03.999-05:00True To My NatureA reactive translation of the world as I (want to) know it.Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-32770252427970852122011-10-12T13:15:00.001-05:002011-10-12T13:15:04.688-05:00Kickstarter Surpasses $100 Million in Pledges<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Popular crowd funding platform <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/kickstarter">Kickstarter</a> has announced that more than 1 million people have backed at least one project, resulting in more than $100 million dollars in pledges.</p> <p><a href="http://kickstarter.com/" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> allows users to post their projects and find funding for them from the Kickstarter community. Everything from <a href="http://mashable.com/2010/12/17/kickstarter-ipod-nano/">the iPod nano watch</a> to <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/01/17/sundance-kickstarter/">indie films</a> have gotten their start on the crowd funding website.</p> <p>It took Kickstarter just under two-and-a-half years to reach the 1 million backers milestone, according to a plethora of stats the company <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/10/11/kickstarter-pledges/www.kickstarter.com/blog/one-million-backers" target="_blank">published</a> on its blog. Growth has accelerated in recent months — in the last five months alone, Kickstarter has gained 400,000 backers. The company defines a backer as somebody who has put down his or her credit card and pledged money to a project.</p> <p>Out of those 1 million backers, approximately 16% (166,823 people) have backed more than one project. 66,676 have backed three or more projects, and 23,601 have backed five projects or more.</p> <p>The result is 1.4 million total pledges on Kickstarter, with 90% of those pledges amounting to $100 or less (615 pledges have been for $5,000 or more). In total, Kickstarter users have pledged a total of $100.7 million. Of that, $84 million of that has gone to successful projects. $2 million is pledged every week on Kickstarter.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-10-12/lvcIwrzfEtBbCdHbsmFsHqiIqIursiFrtAuoBprpwqrGlyehwFAJoBdxBdky/kickstarter-bargraph.png.scaled1000.png"><img alt="Kickstarter-bargraph" height="483" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-10-12/lvcIwrzfEtBbCdHbsmFsHqiIqIursiFrtAuoBprpwqrGlyehwFAJoBdxBdky/kickstarter-bargraph.png.scaled1000.png" width="700" /></a> </div> If you would like to a part of this fantastic site and support amazing artists; start here:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/859143778/where-the-yellowstone-goes">Where the Yellowstone goes</a></p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-3989772698258756102011-07-31T02:07:00.001-05:002011-07-31T02:07:56.735-05:00Untitled<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><div class='p_embed p_audio_embed'> <a href="http://kholm.posterous.com/63220421"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/images/filetypes/mp3.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <span class='p_id3'>Sympathy_For_The_Devil.mp3</span> <a href="http://kholm.posterous.com/63220421">Listen on Posterous</a> </div> </div> </p></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-27270598973336980452011-07-23T11:34:00.001-05:002011-07-23T11:34:52.446-05:00The Most Raunchy Skittles Commercial. Ever. (NSFW)<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <p>(This is a spec ad—it is not approved by the Skittles brand.)</p> <p><a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/relive-rainbow-18-great-skittles-ads-tbwa-132312">You take TBWA\Chiat\Day off the Skittles account,</a> and look what you get—pure, unadulterated filth! Spec work by L.A. directing team <a href="http://stepcousins.com/commercials/" target="_blank">Cousins.</a> Well done, but extremely NSFW. Via <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dabitch" target="_blank">@dabitch.</a></p> <p class="media"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26753142?portrait=0&color=ef40ff" frameborder="0" height="272" width="484"></iframe></p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/most-raunchy-skittles-commercial-you-will-ever-see-nsfw-133630">adweek.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-55361156318219712072011-07-23T02:22:00.001-05:002011-07-23T02:22:31.631-05:00Chris Kluwe Responds: Can I Kick It? (Yes, I Can)<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote">I love this:</blockquote> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"><br /></blockquote> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"><img class="image_0 v10_medium" title="Chris Kluwe Responds: Can I Kick It? (Yes, I Can)" src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2011/07/medium_chriskluwe_01.jpg" alt="Chris Kluwe Responds: Can I Kick It? (Yes, I Can)" style="display: none;" width="300" />Dear Nate Jackson,</blockquote> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div class="post-body"> <p>It was with some dismay that I read <a href="http://deadspin.com/5823549/dear-chris-kluwe-when-we-want-the-punters-opinion-well-ask-for-it-we-wont">your piece in Deadspin</a> and immediately tried to wrap my head around why a player with a reasonable grasp of the English language who made no measurable impact upon the game (i.e. you) would stoop so low as to berate a National Football League player who has actually completed a full 16-game season (multiple times!), has broken every team record at his position, and above all has contributed to his team winning games (and occasionally losing them [i.e. myself (I love parenthetical asides)]).</p> <p>Raise your hand if you got lost at the end of that last sentence.</p> <p>Let's be honest here. Yes, I am a punter. Yes, I don't run routes, or zone block, or cover receivers. Apparently, though, neither did you, which is the only explanation for your total lack of statistics. You, more than anyone else, should know what goes on during special teams, and yet your description of a special teams practice, while venomously hilarious, is quite inaccurate (or maybe you guys had a really crappy punter and you're spot on, in which case, my condolences).</p> <p>You talk about me like I'm some kind of disease, like punters are some kind of infection that should be excised for the good of the game and how dare we raise our voices when our betters are talking. According to you, punters should be happy to sit in the corner and be treated like shit because we do something different, something that the other 54 members of the team can't do.</p> <p>Wait, let's parse that last clause for just a second — "something that the other 54 members of the team can't do." Huh. Would you look at that. Tell me, Nate, how well can <em>you</em> punt a football? What's that you say? You CAN'T punt a football?</p> <p>Then why in fuck would you think that, just because I can punt, my opinion is somehow less valid?</p> <p>I freely admit I'm not a receiver, or a lineman, or a DB, or a quarterback, but why should it matter what position I play? Have I not spent 16 years of my life honing my craft (just like you)? Have I not spent countless hours running sprints, lifting weights, trying to stay awake during boring-ass special teams meetings (just like you)? Have I not suited up for a game, gotten my clock cleaned by a blindside block on a punt return, tried and failed to tackle Devin Hester (just like a lot of people)? Tell me, when it comes to breaking down who gets to talk, what's the order? Should linebackers not be able to talk before safeties, or are they allowed to talk after the centers? When does the longsnapper get to chime in? Does the X go before the Z or after?</p> <p>Please, enlighten me with your wisdom, because the next time I have something to say I'd like to make sure it's OK with you that I say it and that I say it at the proper time.</p> <p>Oh, wait a minute.</p> <p>I don't really care what you or anyone else thinks about what I say or when I say it. If I see something greedy, hypocritical, or just plain stupid, I'm going to call out whoever the offending party happens to be. I've done it to the owners; I've done it to the NFL front office; and I'll certainly do it if I see it happen with the players. And make no mistake: trying to hold up the settlement of a CBA affecting almost 1,900 players just so four <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2011/07/brees_manning_r.html">can get special treatment</a> is pretty much the definition of greed. Whether it was instigated by their attorneys, agents, or whoever, it's still a <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ChrisWarcraft/status/93372491627642880">douchebag move</a> to make.</p> <p>And you know why it's a douchebag move to make? Because it makes ALL OF US look bad. It makes ALL OF US look like grasping, blackmailing, money-grubbing jerks whose only care is how much blood we can squeeze from the rock that is the fans — you know, the people who ultimately pay all of our wages. And I'm not a fan of that. (Owners, make sure you pay attention, too. Charging outrageous sums for drinks, seats, and seat licenses, while a great moneymaker now, is definitely counterproductive in the long run, especially with the advent of high-def TVs). You know how you grow the football pie? It's definitely not by shitting on the people who spend money on you. Maybe this is a small thing, but small things add up over time.</p> <p>I'll grant you that Mankins and Jackson got screwed by the CBA situation last year. They're entering the prime of their career and were counting on entering free agency. But at the same time, the franchise tag and restricted free agent tag aren't exactly the kiss of death. One year under the RFA offer would be as much money as a doctor earns in his/her ENTIRE LIFE. What. The. Fuck. You're telling me that having to go one year making "only" as much money as most people will earn their entire lives is such a hardship that you need an extra $10 million payout for putting your name on a lawsuit? I honestly don't know how to respond to that.</p> <p>Oh wait, yes I do. It's a douchebag move.</p> <p>Speaking of which, my favorite part of your entire rant is the following: "If it is his goal to slide into a post-punter career as a presumptuous and accusatory football analyst, then he has set himself up quite nicely. ..." Let's replace "punter" with "tight end" and see how that reads. Ooooh, it reads quite nicely. I like it. At least I had the grace to do it in 140 characters or less, not this meandering shitstorm that you felt compelled to vomit out at someone you've never met, don't know the first thing about, and likely might enjoy talking to if we ever met at a bar (someone who has written a meandering shitstorm of his own in rebuttal).</p> <p>So, Nate Jackson, while I respect your right to free speech (as apparently you don't respect mine), I also respect my right to tell you to go jam a tackling dummy up your ass sideways for being a snake-tongued, shit-talking Internet tough guy asshole who is so far out of touch with reality that you have no idea just how privileged we are to play this game for ridiculous amounts of money.</p> <p>You're not the only one who can craft a sentence, my friend.</p> <p>Sincerely,<br /> Chris Kluwe<br /> Punter</p> <p>P.S. I respect all four of the people I called douchebags (Manning, Brees, Mankins, and Jackson). That's why I used the word "douchebag" instead of "asshole" or "fuckwit." Someone acting like a douchebag can still be redeemed; generally it's a momentary lapse of judgment. There's no hope for asshole fuckwits.</p> <p>P.P.S. tl;dr — U mad bro?</p> </div> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://deadspin.com/5823788/chris-kluwe-responds-can-i-kick-it-yes-i-can">deadspin.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-17869683852338210572011-07-22T12:53:00.001-05:002011-07-22T12:53:59.994-05:004th Amendment T-Shirt<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Genius.</p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"><img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/67190/799609/C%20SCAN%20T-SHIRT.gif" border="0" height="354" align="left" alt="" width="670" /></blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://cargocollective.com/4thamendment">cargocollective.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-24645252277437162342011-07-22T12:21:00.003-05:002011-07-22T12:21:33.694-05:00Playboy: "Bunnies at Home"<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>"I liked this for the technology." I really did. Seemless way to pull-off the interaction. In a world of free internet porn, this seems engaging and almost innocent.</p> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div class="body"> <div class="inner"> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/isjPpbmnaYo" frameborder="0" height="349" width="500"></iframe></p> <p>Metal-Potential? Shortlist. </p> </div> </div> <p> </p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://metalpotential.posterous.com/">metalpotential.posterous.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-59190674281637011722011-07-22T12:21:00.001-05:002011-07-22T12:21:15.041-05:00LG: For More Realistic Pictures<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div class="frame">Ahh, the French. You never disappoint. Wait, I mean just this time...</div> <div class="frame"><a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/lg_breast?size=_original"><img class="image image-preview " title="LG: Breast" src="http://adsoftheworld.com/files/images/lg-breast-hi.preview.jpg" height="590" alt="LG: Breast" width="443" /></a></div> <div class="frame"><form class="fivestar-widget" method="post" action="/media/print/lg_breast" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <div> <div class="fivestar-form-vote-113733 clear-block"><input name="content_type" type="hidden" value="node" /> <input name="content_id" type="hidden" value="113733" /> <input name="destination" type="hidden" value="node/113733" /> <input name="op" class="form-submit fivestar-submit" type="submit" value="Rate" style="display: none;" /> <input name="form_build_id" type="hidden" value="form-1a29f7dbabfd8cbd00ea913bb11af24e" /> <input name="form_id" type="hidden" value="fivestar_form_node_113733" /></div> </div> </form> <strong class="bl"> </strong> <strong class="br"> </strong></div> <div class="details"> <blockquote class="posterous_short_quote"> <p>LG Optimus 3D Smartphone. For more realistic pictures.</p> </blockquote> <p>Advertising Agency: <a href="http://www.yr.com">Y&R Paris, France</a><br /> Creative Director: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/laurent_bodson">Laurent Bodson</a><br /> Art Director: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/antoine_mathon">Antoine Mathon</a><br /> Copywriter: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/francois_faure">François Faure</a><br /> Photographer: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/iilario_magali">IIlario & Magali</a><br /> Retouching: La Souris sur le Gateau<br /> Published: July 2011</p> </div> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/lg_breast">adsoftheworld.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-43823482860339920972011-07-07T11:05:00.001-05:002011-07-07T11:05:04.589-05:00DMB Caravan Chicago Lineup - Daily Schedule<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <p><a href="http://davematthewsblog.com/dmb-caravan-chicago-lineup-daily-schedule/dave-matthews-band-caravan-chicago-dmb-caravan-lakeside-map/" rel="attachment wp-att-2474"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2474" title="dave-matthews-band-caravan-chicago-dmb-caravan-lakeside-map" src="http://davematthewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/dave-matthews-band-caravan-chicago-dmb-caravan-lakeside-map-300x200.jpg" height="200" alt="dave-matthews-band-caravan-chicago-dmb-caravan-lakeside-map" width="300" /></a></p> <p>The DMB Caravan Chicago lineup and daily schedule have been announced. Dave Matthews Band Caravan in Chicago will be headlined by DMB each night with the same showtimes as the atlantic city shows (including a 7:05pm Sunday showtime). Be sure to save the images (with scheduling info) included in this post to your smart phones for easy access from the Dave Matthews Band Caravan Lakeside grounds!<br /> <span> </span><br /> <a href="http://davematthewsblog.com/dmb-caravan-chicago-lineup-daily-schedule/ac_friday_schedule_web_final/" rel="attachment wp-att-2469"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2469" title="Dave Matthews Band Caravan Chicago Lakeside Friday" src="http://davematthewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/dave-matthews-band-caravan-chicago-lakeside-friday.jpg" height="792" alt="Dave Matthews Band Caravan Chicago Lakeside Friday" width="612" /></a><br /> <a href="http://davematthewsblog.com/dmb-caravan-chicago-lineup-daily-schedule/ac_saturday_schedule3b_web/" rel="attachment wp-att-2468"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2468" title="Dave Matthews Band Caravan Chicago Lakeside Saturday" src="http://davematthewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/dave-matthews-band-caravan-chicago-lakeside-saturday.jpg" height="792" alt="Dave Matthews Band Caravan Chicago Lakeside Saturday" width="612" /></a><br /> <a href="http://davematthewsblog.com/dmb-caravan-chicago-lineup-daily-schedule/ac_friday_schedule2/" rel="attachment wp-att-2467"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2467" title="Dave Matthews Band Caravan Chicago Lakeside Sunday" src="http://davematthewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/dave-matthews-band-caravan-chicago-lakeside-sunday.jpg" height="792" alt="Dave Matthews Band Caravan Chicago Lakeside Sunday" width="612" /></a></p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://davematthewsblog.com/dmb-caravan-chicago-lineup-daily-schedule/">davematthewsblog.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-59378278675691066672011-07-02T12:12:00.001-05:002011-07-02T12:12:47.302-05:00Powderhorn Ski Resort Goes Up For Auction<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote> <div> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Powderhorn" height="118" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-02/EfmzuwqpsJGFriFromABFkBncFgzggmppAGClCIAcEyIckxEuuAqbmavpzaj/Powderhorn.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="427" /> </div> Powderhorn Ski Resort may have a new owner, or owners, in fewer than five weeks.</p> <p>The rumor mill is churning out speculation about who may show up to bid at the 1 p.m. auction Aug. 4 at the resort, which hasn’t shown positive net income since 2007.</p> <p>Home Loan Chief Executive Officer and President Jamie Hamilton said he has been contacted about going in on a bid, but he’s not interested. Dave Kearsley, a local financial adviser who lives near Powderhorn, said he heard Crested Butte Mountain Resort or Steamboat Ski & Resort may be interested in bidding.</p> <p>“At the moment, I don’t think that’s true,” Crested Butte Communications Manager Erica Reiter said, a sentiment echoed by Steamboat Public Relations Manager Loryn Kasten.</p> <p>A local ski instructor who works at the mountain but did not want to go on the record said he’s been trying to drum up interest among local investors, but he has had little luck. He said another instructor tried to pass the hat for a group bid, but the effort fell through.</p> <p>Still, it appears interest is bubbling somewhere. Mesa County Commissioner Craig Meis said he recently spoke with Powderhorn co-owner Steve Bailey, who told Meis he arrived in his office one Monday morning to find 40 messages inquiring about the impending auction. Bailey could not be reached this week to find out from whom those inquiries came or whether they were from potential bidders.</p> <p>“Who knows who’s talking and who’s doing? I don’t know of anyone doing at this point,” Meis said.</p> <p>He added the county has not discussed buying the ski resort.</p> <p>Whoever places a bid in August has some studying to do. Here’s how the bidding process will work, what’s on the auction block and what every bidder should know.</p> <p>WHAT’S FOR SALE?</p> <p>J.P. King Auction Co. will auction Powderhorn properties in six groups.</p> <p><strong>Group One: </strong>Powderhorn Ski Resort, including The Day Lodge, which houses The Sunset Grille restaurant, ski schools, a conference room, offices and ticketing and rental-retail amenities. This group includes two maintenance shops, three parking lots, four lifts and resort vehicles, such as Arctic Cats and four-wheelers.</p> <p><strong>Group Two:</strong> The Inn at Wildewood, complete with hotel and restaurant amenities. It includes 16 guest rooms.</p> <p><strong>Group Three: </strong>Seven development sites, ranging from 0.38 to 0.96 acre, spread throughout the ski area, to be sold individually.</p> <p><strong>Group Four: </strong>Approximately 1.15 acres for condominium development. A cement foundation and a parking garage have been installed for the future Mountain View Condominium development.</p> <p><strong>Group Five:</strong> Fifteen single-family lots in the Wildewood Subdivision, ranging from 0.19 to 0.27 acre, will sell individually. Five tracts, ranging from 0.69 to 8.86 acres, will sell as a whole.</p> <p><strong>Group Six:</strong> Approximately 700 acres of land below the ski area. The auction company says it’s a good candidate for developing homes or a golf-course community.</p> <p>HOW TO BUY IT</p> <p>The sellers have the option to pull out of the deal if they feel the selling price is too low, but every property is selling absolute, which means there is no minimum bid.</p> <p>Bidders can attend the auction in person or participate in a live bidding process online, but all have to register through J.P. King Auction Co. to participate. According to J.P. King Auction Co. Communications Manager Caley Newberry, the company will begin the bidding at an amount selected by the auctioneer based on what he or she feels the bidders involved would feel comfortable paying.</p> <p>According to J.P. King’s website, registration will begin a few hours before the auction, and the bidding process will be explained before the live bid calling begins. Winning bidders will meet with representatives from the auction company and sign a sales contract and discuss a closing date, which usually takes place within a month of the auction.</p> <p>WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU WIN</p> <p>The proud new owner will not have the option of spending money on the bid alone.</p> <p>Powderhorn operates on U.S. Forest Service land under a special-use authorization per the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986. As a result, the new owner will have to submit a proposal for a new special-use authorization and demonstrate the financial and technical ability to operate the ski area. If the authorization comes through, the owner will have to pay fees.</p> <p>Also, there are taxes to pay. Property taxes at the Inn at Wildewood, for example, are $5,032.26 in 2011, according to the Mesa County Assessor’s website, and the Day Lodge’s property taxes are $47,711.68 for 2011.</p> <p>The Forest Service approved a master plan for improvements to the resort in 2002. It’s up to the new owner whether to implement elements of that plan.</p> </div> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/powderhorn_auction_approaches/">gjsentinel.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-14815111149137720012011-06-28T01:19:00.001-05:002011-06-28T01:19:18.764-05:00Live review: Widespread Panic @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Day 3<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"><a href="http://www.heyreverb.com/tag/widespread-panic/">Widespread Panic</a> finished its three-night run at <a href="http://www.heyreverb.com/tag/red-rocks-amphitheatre/">Red Rocks</a> Sunday afternoon with a bizarre, yet fitting show that offered a little bit of everything, and then some. <div class="post"> <div> <div class="entry"> <p>Sunday Red Rocks shows always start early at 4 p.m., which means if you went Saturday night, it almost feels like you turn around and drive back as soon as you get up. Add in the fact that if it’s hot (as it was this Sunday), you feel like wilting and running for cover, and the mood can be a bit more subdued. Fans hid in the shade where possible, and threw water on each other frequently to keep cool. Cheers greeted any small passing cloud that hid the sun for a minute or two.<span> <br /></span></p> <div class="content" style="display: block;"> <div class="slideshow-container"> <div class="slideshow"><span class="image-wrapper current"><a href="http://www.heyreverb.com/2011/06/26/widespread-panic-red-rocks-3/#40" class="advance-link" rel="history"> <img src="http://reverb.slideshowpro.com/albums/015/371/album-241194/cache/DSC_0166.sjpg_640_403_0_95_1_50_50.sjpg?1309239439" alt="" /></a></span></div> </div> </div> <p>The band came on with little fanfare, all sporting sunglasses, and launched into a smooth groove on “Wondering.” Bassist Dave Schools got the crowd bouncing with a rolling bass line, while John Bell’s voice showed no effects from three nights at altitude. When guitarist Jimmy Herring started the joyous intro riff to “Surprise Valley,” it seemed the band was reveling in being in its second home, especially when Bell sang “Kiss the mountain air we breathe.”</p> <p>Schools stepped up again on “Stop-Go,” taking a bass solo before the song shifted into a reggae-ish beat. They followed with the hazardous-to-your-health, duck-and-cover, “Big Wooly Mammoth.” Keyboardist John “JoJo” Hermann funked up the piano rolls a little, getting the song to lift off to a dizzying crescendo. However, when he sang “Somebody throw me a fire,” many in the audience threw lighters to the stage, and I saw at least one person who got beaned in the head with one of the thrown lighters who needed medical attention because he was bleeding from the wound.</p> <p>There are a lot of rumors floating around in Panic land that the band is going to do its annual Halloween extravaganza up in Broomfield this year, a first for Colorado, which is one of only two states to host Panic’s New Year’s shows. The band may have teased the fans a little last night with that rumor, as they usually will play a few off-the-wall covers at Halloween.</p> <p>The second set kicked off with “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,” which got off to a slow start. After Schools shook the rafters with some bass bombs on the opening to “Bowlegged Woman,” Herring ripped into a dirty, sultry blues line on the main melody.</p> <p>Next up was a fiery “Lawyers, Guns and Money,” with Herring giving a twangy take on the main riff on his Fender Telecaster. At this point, the astute in the audience noticed a trend: covers. In fact, the entire second set and encore consisted of cover tunes. Some of the covers were played almost straight up, such as “Can’t Find My Way Home.” Others, such as the James Taylor song “Knockin’ Round the Zoo,” were bent into Panic’s own style, with Herring and Schools looking into a rocking groove.</p> <p>Herring took some songs into new directions. His gritty distortion on Neil Young’s “Walk On” propelled the song to a frenzy. Not to be outdone, Hermann dominated “Red Beans” with rolling barrelhouse piano. Panic even got a little metal going with an almost, but not quite, straight up cover of Black Sabbath’s “Fairies Wear Boots.”</p> <p>What’s great about the Panic guys is they don’t take themselves too seriously. After doing a reprise of “Wild Thing” to start the encore, Schools stepped up and said “Be sure to tip your bartender on the way out.”</p> <p>In a show of the regard they have for Colorado, the band launched into “Sultans of Swing” on the encore, which it has only played once before, at a show in February 2011 in Atlanta. Even if the band doesn’t return for Halloween, it’ll surely be rocking Colorado again soon.</p> <p>SET LIST</p> <p>Set 1: Wondering, Surprise Valley > Drums > Surprise Valley, C. Brown, Little Kin, Picking Up the Pieces, Stop-Go, Big Wooly Mammoth, Worry, Love Tractor, Conrad<br /> Set 2: No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Bowlegged Woman, Lawyers, Guns and Money, Can’t Find My Way Home, Mama Told Me (Not to Come), Knockin’ Round the Zoo, Walk On, I Walk on Gilded Splinters, Red Beans, Fairies Wear Boots, Sharon, Wild Thing<br /> Encore: Wild Thing Reprise, Sultans of Swing, Goin’ Out West, End of the Show</p> </div> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.heyreverb.com/2011/06/26/widespread-panic-red-rocks-3/#39">heyreverb.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-91512183491702022372011-06-12T11:50:00.001-05:002011-06-12T11:50:59.731-05:00The BMW M Coupe VS Concrete Walls<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <p>BMW Canada presents: the 1 Series M Coupe versus concrete walls. As stunt driving goes, this is some seriously bad-ass stuff. Done by ad agency Cundari (the same guys who made <a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/bmw-banner-ad-18000-pixels-long-and-not-bad-read-132037">the 18,000-pixel banner ad)</a> and shot by Banditos Brothers, who filmed the recent <a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/hot-wheels-sets-world-record-lunatic-jump-indy-500-132121">Hot Wheels jump at the Indy 500.</a></p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lEvpnKRLDO4" frameborder="0" height="302" width="483"></iframe></p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak">adweek.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-20614135546619438242011-06-12T11:44:00.001-05:002011-06-12T11:44:44.285-05:00Best Beer Commercial. Ever.<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <p>How can you go wrong with the Knight Rider theme song and Bruce Lee and a monster truck DeLorean? You can't. Someone, somehow, please get us some Hahn Beer.</p> <object height="390" width="480"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uNQa5HCUYCQ?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="390" width="480"></embed> </object> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.themplsegotist.com/">themplsegotist.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-55953592937799641192011-06-08T00:58:00.001-05:002011-06-08T00:58:20.943-05:00The End of an Era: Skittles Ads by TBWA<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div class="media first"><a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/relive-rainbow-18-great-skittles-ads-tbwa-132312"><img class="imagecache imagecache-node-blog" src="http://www.adweek.com/files/imagecache/node-blog/blogs/skittles-pinata.jpg" height="272" alt="" width="484" /></a> <p class="caption"><span class="meta-credit"> </span></p> </div> <p>It's the end of an era. <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/mars-agency-realigns-132258">TBWA has been stripped of its Mars business</a>—which means, among other things, that the agency's storied run of fantastically weird Skittles commercials is over. In many ways, the campaign defined the whole oddvertising genre, spawning imitators in the candy sector and beyond. After the jump, check out 18 spots through the years. Great work.</p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/relive-rainbow-18-great-skittles-ads-tbwa-132312">adweek.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-8155667953063935862011-06-08T00:57:00.001-05:002011-06-08T00:57:17.062-05:00World Cup Nike Ad Spot<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>I still love this Nike spot for the 2010 World Cup. 3 minutes of Genius...</p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SAbKJvEn1ck?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="314" width="500"></iframe></p></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-51184790620651098992011-06-01T00:29:00.001-05:002011-06-01T00:29:47.117-05:00Land Rover Defender: Passport<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div class="frame">This is a great print ad from Land Rover. Great execution.</div> <div class="frame"><a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/land_rover_defender_passport?size=_original"><img class="image image-preview " title="Land Rover Defender: Passport" src="http://adsoftheworld.com/files/images/defender-for-dps-passport.preview.jpg" height="415" alt="Land Rover Defender: Passport" width="590" /></a></div> <div class="details"> <p>Advertising Agency: <a href="http://www.rkcryr.com/">RKCR/Y&R, UK</a><br /> Executive Creative Director: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/mark_roalfe">Mark Roalfe</a><br /> Copywriter: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/phil_forster">Phil Forster</a><br /> Art Director: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/tim_brookes">Tim Brookes</a><br /> Photographer: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/carl_warner">Carl Warner</a><br /> Typographers: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/lee_aldridge">Lee Aldridge</a>, <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/sid">SiD</a><br /> Production: Ali Power<br /> Account Director: <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/creative/glynn_euston">Glynn Euston</a><br /> National Communications Manager: Les Knight</p> </div> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/land_rover_defender_passport">adsoftheworld.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-72537042374841867622011-05-28T01:51:00.001-05:002011-05-28T01:51:57.936-05:00Happy Little Checkins: Bob Ross on Social Media<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div class="description"> <p>Have you ever wondered how iconic painter/television personality Bob Ross would portray Facebook or Instagram?</p> <p>You haven’t? Well, we have a handy chart for you on that subject, anyhow. So get your iPad and your <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/01/07/artists-ipad-paintbrush-stylus/">paintbrush stylus</a>, and get ready to follow along.</p> <p>On the canvases of Bob Ross, Facebook is a mega mountain with 600 happy little users, and Google Buzz is a desert with “swirly tumbleweeds.” We’ve also got Ross’s take on Path, Color, Digg, Reddit and a slew of other social web apps.</p> <p>This infographic comes to us from <a href="http://www.flowtown.com/blog/the-joy-of-social-media-how-bob-ross-sees-it" target="_blank">Flowtown</a>, a social marketing startup, and the designers at <a href="http://www.columnfivemedia.com/" target="_blank">Column Five Media</a>.</p> <p><em>Click image to see full-size version.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.flowtown.com/blog/the-joy-of-social-media-how-bob-ross-sees-it"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-630669" title="bob-ross-social-media" src="http://9.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bob-ross-social-media.jpg" height="3936" alt="" width="640" /></a></p> </div> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/05/27/bob-ross-social-media/">mashable.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-30728046632240005522011-05-19T13:46:00.001-05:002011-05-19T13:46:59.338-05:00200 Years Advertising. 1 Infographic.<div class='posterous_autopost'> <div class="media first">Feel like reliving all of advertising's big milestones, including major agency launches, mergers, and acquisitions since the 1830s? Sure you do. Thankfully, Aquent has done the work for you. The marketing and design staffing firm, with help from The Barbarian Group, has created <a href="http://vitamintalent.com/vitabites/post.htm?id=e3fed1e2-ade3-463c-9337-0faeceed5107" target="_blank">the mother of all advertising infographics</a>, charting the history of the business going back almost 200 years. Among the things you will learn:</div> <p> • JWT, founded in 1864, is America's oldest ad agency that is still open for business.<br /> • The first-ever TV commercial aired in 1941 for Bulova watches. It cost $9 to air.<br /> • Christmas advertising didn't exist until 1830. Before then, Christmas was a work and school day for Americans.<br /> • Pizza Hut offered online ordering four years before Google existed.<br /> • The first spam email was sent to 600 people in 1978.<br /> Aquent provides this lovely infographic to promote its brand-new Vitamin T division, which will provide midsize companies and ad agencies with digital creative talent.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-19/dGntHGAyHnFfBGdJxAnczuDhrcqFEoFtgvqdGwEAdvpuxnnrthoqJBsIgzyD/agency-bloodline-full-size.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Agency-bloodline-full-size" height="600" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-19/dGntHGAyHnFfBGdJxAnczuDhrcqFEoFtgvqdGwEAdvpuxnnrthoqJBsIgzyD/agency-bloodline-full-size.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> Click image to enlarge</p> </div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-75514933555936606992011-05-19T13:35:00.001-05:002011-05-19T13:35:42.943-05:00Femme-O-Matic Ad Spot<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Love this... <object data="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?&width=484&height=272&flashID=myExperience&bgcolor=%23FFFFFF&playerID=899459039001&%40videoPlayer=949669529001&adServerURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doubleclick.com&additionalAdTargetingParams=&wmode=transparent&autoStart=false&isVid=true&isUI=true&debuggerID=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="272" width="484"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="seamlessTabbing" value="false" /> <param name="swliveconnect" value="true" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div class="post published"> <p> </p> </div> </blockquote> </div> </object> This two-minute-plus "Femme-o-Matic" spec dating-site spot by Jelmar Hufen has been kicking around for a little while. A doofus on a motorbike tools around aimlessly as "Ça Plane Por Moi" jangles on the soundtrack. He calls a pal's girlfriend a "cheap slag." Another guy parties with two bikini babes in a kiddie pool. There appears to be a nuclear plant belching smoke. The highlight—or lowlight, depending on your mood—is a giant gumball machine that dispenses women in sofa-size versions of those bubble-containers that look like UFOs. Our hero gets a frumpy housefrau, who asks him, "See anything you like?" "Know who you woo," says the tagline at the end. It's defiantly offensive, yet also well-made and even artsy, achieving a kind of nirvana of stupidity usually seen only in ads by Republicans candidates at election time. If nothing else, it's an awesome commercial for "Ça Plane Por Moi."</p> <p>via <a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak">adweek.com</a></p> <p> </p></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-87068992749997798242011-05-17T14:08:00.003-05:002011-05-17T14:08:50.878-05:00The BMW 5 Series Presents: The Spot<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>BMW is renowned for performance—raw speed and power. Now, it wants to highlight its innovation, too, in areas like technology, connectivity, and fuel efficiency. The 5 Series excels in the latter, getting 32 miles per gallon highway. To call attention to that, Grey created an aggressive, sweeping, but ultimately witty spot, heavy on the special effects. In it, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker airplane swoops in, apparently to refuel a speeding BMW—but ends up refilling the driver's coffee mug instead. The viewer is meant to feel the car's visceral power but take away a message of efficiency—that 5 Series drivers will need a top off before their cars will.</p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JyepAoMG7TA?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="314" width="500"></iframe></p> <p>via <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/spot-refueling-bmw-131688">adweek</a></p> <p>"The Spot" has great production, art direction, sound, copywriting, effects, ect. But what about originality? Does anyone remember the Shell refeulling the F1 Ferrari spot? It was a long time ago, but not that long ago...</p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HLFhdN3tG0Q?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="314" width="500"></iframe></p> <p>via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLFhdN3tG0Q&feature=related">youtube</a></p></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-87334875258032121802011-05-17T14:08:00.001-05:002011-05-17T14:08:12.134-05:00The BMW 5 Series Presents: The Spot<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>BMW is renowned for performance—raw speed and power. Now, it wants to highlight its innovation, too, in areas like technology, connectivity, and fuel efficiency. The 5 Series excels in the latter, getting 32 miles per gallon highway. To call attention to that, Grey created an aggressive, sweeping, but ultimately witty spot, heavy on the special effects. In it, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker airplane swoops in, apparently to refuel a speeding BMW—but ends up refilling the driver's coffee mug instead. The viewer is meant to feel the car's visceral power but take away a message of efficiency—that 5 Series drivers will need a top off before their cars will.</p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JyepAoMG7TA?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="314" width="500"></iframe></p> <p>via <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/spot-refueling-bmw-131688">adweek</a></p> <p>"The Spot" has great production, art direction, sound, copywriting, effects, ect. But what about originality? Does anyone remember the Shell refeulling the F1 Ferrari spot? It was a long time ago, but not that long ago...</p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HLFhdN3tG0Q?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="314" width="500"></iframe></p> <p>via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLFhdN3tG0Q&feature=related">youtube</a></p></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-29564491541581180672011-05-16T13:42:00.001-05:002011-05-16T13:42:53.758-05:00Is the Evan Longoria Barehanded Catch a Gillette Ad?<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tMujgAAyH-I?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" height="300" width="500"></iframe> <p>A video of a crazy barehanded catch from Tampa Bay Ray Evan Longoria has gone viral with more than 1 million views, and it’s left some wondering about its origins and authenticity.</p> <p>The clip, posted on YouTube May 6, shows Longoria being interviewed near first base by a reporter, and a line drive appears to be heading straight for the woman’s head. But Longoria, showing amazingly fast reflexes, fields the ball with his bare hand and tells his teammates to “keep it on the field.”</p> <p>Although the video appears not to be staged, <a href="http://deadspin.com/5801964/evan-longoria-didnt-really-make-this-life+saving-catch" target="_blank">some bloggers</a> have speculated that it’s actually a Gillette ad.</p> <p>The evidence: Longoria has appeared in ads for the brand as a “<a href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/content/longorias-latest-pitch-gillette-young-gun">Gillette Young Gun</a>,” a Gillette logo is prominent in the video, and another seemingly off-the-cuff video, the famous “<a href="http://mashable.com/2010/08/18/roger-federer-trick-shot-video/">Roger Federer Trickshot</a>,” also seemed to be partially staged (and was published by Gillette).</p> <p>A Gillette rep, however, says the clip is definitely not an ad: “Evan Longoria is a Golden Glove third baseman and this catch speaks for itself.”</p> <p>What do you think? Does this look staged to you or real?</p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/05/16/evan-longoria-gillette-2/">mashable.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-58161203540698133162011-05-16T13:36:00.001-05:002011-05-16T13:36:45.154-05:00LinkedIn IPO Is Set for Thursday<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-16/IhrkGlAokvzdjotHcggcHHrqDGxfbbyqsfuBikcawtqEbaFhovJuemdrluJj/Liunkedin.png.scaled1000.png"><img alt="Liunkedin" height="141" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-16/IhrkGlAokvzdjotHcggcHHrqDGxfbbyqsfuBikcawtqEbaFhovJuemdrluJj/Liunkedin.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/linkedin/">LinkedIn</a> is set to go public May 19. The business-oriented networking site hopes to raise as much as $274 million this week in what will be one of the first major social media IPOs.</p> <p>LinkedIn will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNKD. Its shares are expected to trade in the $32 to $35 range and 7.84 million shares will be available. The company will likely be valued around $3 billion after the IPO.</p> <p>LinkedIn announced its intention to <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/01/28/linkedins-ipo-an-overview/">file for an IPO</a> in January. At the time, the company was valued at $2.51 billion based on shares traded on secondary market SharesPost.</p> <p>The eight-year-old company <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/03/22/linkedin-surpasses-100-million-users-infographic/">hit the 100 million user mark</a> in March and became profitable in 2010 with a net income of $10.1 million and net revenues of $161.4 million in the first nine months of 2010. In Q1, LinkedIn’s revenues <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/04/BU0F1JBUEA.DTL" target="_blank">hit $93.9 million</a>, a 110% increase from the year-ago period. Net income was $2 million, compared to $1.8 million in Q1 2010.</p> <p>LinkedIn is the first of a slew of anticipated social media IPOs set for the next year or so. Others include <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/facebook/">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/zynga/">Zynga</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/groupon/">Groupon</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/pandora/">Pandora</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/kayak/">Kayak</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/yelp/">Yelp</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/rovio/">Rovio</a> and <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/zillow/">Zillow</a>. <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/renren/">Renren</a>, billed as the “Facebook of China,” went public this month and <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/renren-raises-743-million-in-china-social-networking-site-ipo.html" target="_blank">raised $743.4 million</a>.</p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/05/16/linkedin-ipo-3/">mashable.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-44535032289249471532011-05-13T15:54:00.001-05:002011-05-13T15:54:35.537-05:00Cake Review - Minneapolis - 5/12/2011<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <div><strong>State Theatre, Minneapolis</strong></div> <p>There is absolutely nothing comparable to Cake fans. Nothing. They aren't hippies or hipsters, and they aren't washed-up punk kids, lost to a decade of marriage and overweight tendencies. They aren't a delegated group of stereotypes that can only be formed in this place or that. They are simply Cake fans. Cake fans are die-hards. They know every album, every song, and every idiosyncratic lyric. They know precisely each second before the trumpet is going to break through to kick your ass, remembering exactly why Cake always leaves you wanting more.<div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-13/ivqwzGBdJGEgAlEvJzcqkHACxvqioCBGFaeEanlzHorjpmcuCwfDbtFzbcnw/CAKE.png.scaled1000.png"><img alt="Cake" height="773" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-13/ivqwzGBdJGEgAlEvJzcqkHACxvqioCBGFaeEanlzHorjpmcuCwfDbtFzbcnw/CAKE.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <div style="text-align: left;">As I looked around the State Theatre at a sold-out crowd, in freakish anticipation to Cake gracing the stage, the fans were undeniably that: a feverish pack of devotees, resembling something like an NFL game parking lot prior to the Super Bowl. </div> <p>As if the crowd's mouths weren't sweating already, the anticipation grew thicker. They strategically began play the epic action ballad theme song to <em>Rocky 4 </em>("War," by Vince Decola) over the loud speakers as the lights went down. Not just a sample of the track either, it was the entire five-minute feature. Envision this: A particularly large disco ball illuminating the entire stage (and orchestra pit), pitch-dark theater, and a premature orange tree [it was a Honey Crisp apple tree, not an orange tree] in a white bucket to the front of the stage... All while standing in complete confusion to the current soundtrack choice. But the crowd started to get it. Standing up out of their seats, they began clapping furiously in hopes to coerce the band out onto the stage. </p> <p>Eventually Rocky reached the steps of the Capitol building and we all were welcomed by Cake with "Sad Songs and Waltzes." John McCrea (the person behind those nasally Cake vocals) emerged with his familiar adornment of unkempt beard, a trucker hat [it was actually a conductor hat], Levi jeans, and a corduroy jacket. (To which I wonder if they've ever met Drive-By Truckers... is Sacramento, California as large a trucking territory as I imagine it to be?) </p> <p>Cake seemed to flow quite nicely through their (unplanned, unscripted) set list. They have an array of albums and songs to cover, so it was interesting to witness their choices in accommodating the crowd. Their fourth song played was "Satan Is My Motor," which was a crowd pleaser and one of the most energetic hits they performed. McCrea broke in amidst the song to aid the audience in opening up, announcing that, "There is nothing more frightening then someone who doesn't know they have a dark side!" </p> <p>The trumpet player (Vince DiFiore) was a star player for the night. If the trumpet solos and the roar of the funk from the vibraslap don't bring you to another place and time from your past, well then Cake isn't doing their job. </p> <p>That said, I don't believe they incorporated as much punk gusto as the <em>Fashion Nugget </em>days, but what do I know, I wasn't there then... I'm here now. I still think there should have been some pogo jumping going on up there. </p> <p>"Sick of You" and "Jolene" garnered much attention from the audience; I felt this choice of songs in the playlist kept things flowing nicely. Cake can be a bit unwavering at times, and it's possible to forget what song they've actually moved on to playing. </p> <table class="image center" border="0" align="center" width="525"> <tr> <td><img src="http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/DSC_8516.jpg" height="350" alt="DSC_8516.jpg" width="525" /></td> </tr> </table> <table class="image center" border="0" align="center" width="525"> <tr> <td><br /></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" align="center" width="525"> <tr> </tr> </table> <div>McCrea kept complaining about the people still pouring into the aisles and rustling in and out of their seats during the performance; some in attendance didn't have much regard for the stage presence, but more interest in refilling their beer cups mid-song. To which McCrea responded, "I thought the show poster said the show started at 8 p.m., or do you people not read those anymore?" and "Are you all seated yet, or should we take the intermission now? Sorry you're late, but the show time started at 8. We're not going to wait for you!" He felt very passionately about this, and the whole band appeared to be a bit perturbed about the status of the theater aisles and their constant moving. </div> <p>One thing I greatly appreciated about this show, and I've been noticing in general lately, is that more and more artists/bands are requesting that the audience turn their cell phones off during the set. It's a great distraction to yourself, your peers, and mostly the band. You don't need to tweet and text the whole show to people that aren't there; they should have a bought a ticket, or showed up on time. </p> <p>The most interested spectacle of the evening came when Cake decided to give away that baby fruit tree mantled on the stage. (No it wasn't just a prop.) For those who don't know, Cake is a very 'gone-green' band, exercising just about all aspects of the term:<em> Showroom of Compassion</em> was recording using 100% solar energy. Cake auctioned off the tree, or rather made the audience answer a very simple, but stumping question. Fans raised their hands to answer, and whoever guessed correctly went up and won a tree. </p> <p>The question: "What petroleum source do we use as fertilizer?" </p> <p>Natural gas of course! </p> <p>So all in all, Cake was just as expected, distorted and simple, just the way their lyrics are written. Amidst the therapy and the science lesson, Cake fans got just what they came for. An evening with Cake.</p> <table class="image center" border="0" align="center" width="525"> <tr> <td><img src="http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/DSC_8444.jpg" height="350" alt="DSC_8444.jpg" width="525" /></td> </tr> </table> <table class="image center" border="0" align="center" width="525"> <tr> <td><img src="http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/DSC_8561.jpg" height="787" alt="DSC_8561.jpg" width="525" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="credit"> </td> </tr> </table> <p>via <a href="http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2011/05/cake_at_the_sta.php">blogs.citypages.com</a></p> </blockquote> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-72786378402367178722011-05-11T15:20:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:37:12.669-05:00GrouponLive: Online Ticketing Deals<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-11/qyFitHudiaIueizlGkzkmjxcHFBxlshnGgrwHlinueyvqyAHlsuylpiauekt/grouponlive.png.scaled1000.png"><img alt="Grouponlive" height="172" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-05-11/qyFitHudiaIueizlGkzkmjxcHFBxlshnGgrwHlinueyvqyAHlsuylpiauekt/grouponlive.png.scaled500.png" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>Local deals juggernaut <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/groupon">Groupon</a> and <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/live-nation-entertainment">Live Nation</a> have a formed a joint venture to develop a new online ticketing deals channel dubbed <a href="http://www.grouponlive.com">GrouponLive</a>. The site will serve as a local resource for Live Nation events, ranging from concerts, sports, theater, arts and other live events, as well as clients of its ticketing business Ticketmaster, the companies said in a joint statement.</p> <p>Visitors of the new marketplace will have access to limited-time discounts on a variety of Live Nation events, albeit limited to North America.</p> <p>It isn’t clear exactly when GrouponLive will go fully live (pun intended), although the companies said they’re on schedule for the site to make its debut in time for the summer concert season.</p> </blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/09/grouponlive-an-online-ticketing-deals-marketplace-from-groupon-live-nation/">techcrunch.com</a></div> <p> </p> </div></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4842949116426408907.post-81873204489526491842011-05-11T15:15:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:37:11.319-05:00OBEY: Home Is a Fire Video<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CVErSWseFfI?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="314" width="500"></iframe></p> <p>Yesterday our friends over at <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/">BoingBoing</a> posted "Home is a Fire", a new music video for the band, Death Cab For Cutie.</p> <p>The director is Shepard Fairey, in collaboration with the band's bassist, Nicholas Harmer.</p> <p>Shepard writes about the video:</p> <p>"I have been a fan of Death Cab for years so I was excited to hear from bassist Nick Harmer about his idea to collaborate on a video piece for their song Home Is A Fire.</p> <p>I love the democracy of music and I'm always excited to bundle visual art with great music. Nick sent me the lyrics to Home Is A Fire and they evoked the duality of "home" both as a place you inhabit, and also as a place that inhabits or traps you. One's relationship with home might be complicated, but ultimately it can be a two-way dialogue, of which we can at least affect one-way.</p> <p>The city can be an impersonal place, imposing, simultaneously anonymous and claustrophobic. However, there are opportunities for us to affect the city(and life) experience rather than accepting things as passive voyeurs. We all have fears and insecurities about ourselves and our circumstances, but if we have the courage to take risks and participate we can adapt and embrace the flux, rather than fear it. This video is about illustrating these ideas and the multiple dimensions of the city experience by taking the viewer on a journey to encounter the Home Is A Fire lyrics as street art. Street art appeals because it makes the landscape a little less dreary for the viewer, and it is a bureaucracy free creative outlet for the participants. I would say that a street art call to action is "if you don't like your home... reshape it".</p> <p>The power of street art is in its intrigue and authenticity , so it was crucial to actually put all the lyrics and images up on the streets. We wanted the viewer to experience the urban environment in a very real and intimate way that celebrates that one persons wart is another's beauty mark. Some of the art was put up prior to the video shoot in places that seemed appropriate to the lyrical themes, while other pieces were put up during the shoot. We filmed the preparation of materials as well to demonstrate the energy and process involved in becoming pro-active. Some of the street art was cleansed within a day.</p> <p>Street art, like everything, is ephemeral but I hope that in watching this video and listening to the song, people see a little magic and potential in the unappreciated details of the landscape of their lives, no matter how fleeting they may be. "</p> <p>via <a href="http://www.woostercollective.com">woostercollective</a></p></div>Kristofer Holmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687526885899683362noreply@blogger.com0