LIVING PROOF
THE MORNING BRIEF, Vol. IV, #10 (March 4, 2001) -- Be your own pudding.
CONTENTS
It's March
Already?
More banning
Gray matters
Inheritance
Relating
Sniglet anyone?
---
Narrowing Margins
iToons Rocks!
Banner Tag
Snack Tech - Licorice Files
---
FLICKAGE: "Traffic"
TOOBAGE: The best show on TV
TOONAGE: Roni Size @ House of Blues
---
SHUFFLE PLAY
---
UPCOMING
CONCERTS
---
CONTRIBUTIONS
WOW! >>> When I was a kid I never imagined life in 2001. 2000 was the furthest, tangible year away, and that seemed like forever. Not sure what to do next, really. Until I figure it out, gonna stick with the tried and true. Open to suggestions I guess. I hear yoga's a good thing.
THE TIME HAS COME >>> To ban drivers from using handheld cellular phones. People really aren't driving, they're talking. On the phone. In their car. While it's moving. It's not safe.
Either integrate them so usage is only about talking (not dialing or shifting). Or else let's forget about 'em altogether. People just can't do it. Inconvenient, sure. Safer? You betcha!
[How come whenever Republicans are running the country I get to thinking about banning things?]
END GAME >>> There is a scenario for the California Governor's race in which Gray Davis shoulders much of the blame for the power crisis, but still wins the party's nomination, runs, and loses so that the Golden State winds up with a Republican governor.
Is it too early in the week for this?
RAINBOW'S END >>> People just getting to think about the inheritance tax issue. Do you have any idea how much money is at stake??? What do you think? Should we adjust this bad boy, leave it alone, or get rid of it altogether? So much money at stake.
RELATIONSHIPS >>> Even when you consider the odds against 'em lasting, you still gotta try it anyway.
NEED A WORD >>> What's it called when you're waiting for an elevator and it's taking forever and you hit the button like five extra times? Is there a sniglet for that one? Prestimotivation? So specific.
MARGINS >>> Margin for error dwindling. No room for experimentation. Short term. Short term. Need confidence. Suffocating. Need help!!!
APPLE'S iTOONS >>> Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
Once again, the successful marriage of technology, aesthetic and human beings gives us iToons...the new, super-fun, totally free music juke box from Apple. Play and organize songs. Store music in MP3 or CD quality. Burn music CDs. Turns your iMac, PowerBook or G4 into a giant jukebox - no brainwork required!
About two hours to download and organize 30 hours of music on my machine, and it's ready to rock. My favorite is hitting random play and zoning out on the brilliant fractal art. Your music creates the visual; they're totally interesting, and no two video soundscapes are the same, even from the same recording.
This could be a plan for all of that extra time I've got now in the Naughties. Let's see...five hours a week times (some weeks are busier than others :), say, 48 more years...EXCELLENT! A plan emerges, and it's perfect. iToons is the second best piece of software ever written (iMovie still #1). But it's destined to become my all-time favorite.
You can get it at www.apple.com. If you have a Macintosh. :)
MARKETING 102 >>> Not sure if this was meant to happen, or just a bug. I'm on-line and a banner ad pops up, out of browser, then goes away. So I'm thinking, how about an ad that you have to grab quickly or it's gone? People love that kind of stuff. People will click because they're curious. Give a little incentive, and the hits will pour down like rain.
SNACK TECH - LICORICE FILES >>> Important competitive breakthrough: Starburst, it's fruit licorice line faltering to Twizzlers' filled flavors (strawberry sticks stuffed with watermelon goo) needs a flavor substitution.
Trade out boring strawberry pink for vibrant, green lime. Compare line-ups...
lemon
orange
cherry
strawberry
lime
lemon
orange
cherry
I don't think there's any question that this maneuver would increase sales 25% -- directly proportional to the licorice replaced. Will also skew sales toward the male market, currently running at 48-49%.
This is common sense, people!
FLICKAGE: "Traffic" >>> Finally found some time to go see this film. Mr. Soderbergh has come of age. The guy's been making good films for years, but now he's made a classic. Walking the fine line between telling the story and making a statement, "Traffic" illuminates, but doesn't preach. It's beautifully filmed, with a stellar cast and some of the best performances of the year, most notably Benicio del Toro as an embattled Tijuana cop.
Michael Douglas is solid, embodying classic political hypocrisy as the newly appointed "drug czar" who enters the office while his daughter is becoming a crack head and a ho. With many twists, great perspective from all sides of the issue, and never "on the money" (flatly forward), Mr. Soderbergh's film takes on one of the most complex issues there is, tears into it, tells a gripping story, and keeps it going from beginning to end.
A great film in every aspect, more than worthy of the highest recognition. That so many are going to see a story about the Mexican drug trade should say it all right there. Quite an achievement.
TOOBAGE: "Sports Night" >>> Yes, ABC cancelled "Sports Night" two years ago. Doesn't mean it's not still the best show on television. It's snappy, dead-pan, funny and complex. And now airing on Comedy Central Thursday nights (against "E.R.").
A cross-pollenation of ESPN and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" by creator Aaron Sorkin ("West Wing"), "Sports Night" was a pet project of Michael Eisner at Disney...he liked its "synergy" with ESPN (also Disney owned), and envisioned the show as a flagship for newly purchased ABC.
"Sports Night" delivered completely on its concept: realistic pacing, tight scripting, and a terrific cast led by Felicity Huffman. A combination of middling ratings and Sorkin feeling worn too thin led to its premature demise. Long live those re-runs. Really great stuff.
TOONAGE: Roni Size and Reprazent @ House of Blues >>> The great paradox of drum n bass music is that the thing that makes it great: drums and bass pounding, making you move, limits its scope. There's only so much you can do to vary the sound of drums and bass getting faster and faster. And so, to some, it can all sound the same.
Roni Size, the real pioneer of the form, and a team of DJs and live musicians touring as Reprazent kept the audience jumping (in place; this is L.A.) throughout. Great music. Still, the familiarity of the sounds couldn't quite get me past the paradox of sameness. Fun, but not forever.
@ @ @
PICK SIX TOONS >>> These looked the coolest in iToons. Everything's different every time you play, but these came out the best so far:
1. Bran Van 3000, "Everywhere"
2. Rolling Stones, "Gimme Shelter"
3. Daft Punk, "Around the World"
4. Mr. Scruff, "Get a Move On"
5. Neil Young, "Cinnamon Girl"
6. Abstract Truth, "Get Another Plan"
@ @ @
If you really believe in a concept or idea, get behind it with your life. Show people something better and they'll want more.
Just a thought.
Your pal,
David.
_____________
My Mac is now a jukebox.
_____________
The Morning Brief can be read each wwweek @ www.smmirror.com -- in the Web Stuff section.
You can also find prior Briefs at www.morningbrief.net if you've got the time. Or load it up from www.avantgo.com and take your Briefs to go.
====
DISCLAIMAGE >>> Please feel free to forward The Morning Brief to whomever you like. If you do, in part or in segments, or if you'd like to re-publish, please copy me or just let me know. Thanks for reading!
====
Notable shows in and around Southern
California.
Highly
recommended shows this color.
Red
alert; must see!
3.06.01 - Lee "Scratch" Perry @
House of Blues
3.06.01 -
Mojave 3 @ The Troubadour
3.06.01 -
Lords of Acid @ The Palace
3.06.01 -
Doves @ El Rey Theatre
3.06.01 - Dave Ralph @ The
Viper Room
3.07.01 -
Mojave 3 @ The Troubadour
3.07.01 - Frankie Bones @
Magic (Hollywood)
3.09.01 -
Erykah Badu @ Universal Amphitheatre
3.10.01 - Brideprimer @ The Gig Hollywood
3.10.01 - Erykah Badu @
Universal Amphitheatre
3.10.01 - Doc
Martin @ Club Giant
---
3.13.01 - Ralph Nader @ Pasadena Civic
3.15.01 - Fishbone @ The Key Club
3.15.01 -
Funky Meters @ House of Blues
3.16.01 - Yahoo Outloud
w/Weezer @ Hollywood Palladium
3.16.01 - Amon Tobin @ Knitting Factory Hollywood
3.18.01 -
Mogwai @ El Rey Theatre
---
3.19.01 -
Pepe Deluxe @ El Rey Theatre
3.19.01 - John Hammond @
Knitting Factory Hollywood
3.23.01 - Suzanne Vega @ Knitting Factory Hollywood
3.24.01 - Sven Vath @ Club Giant
3.25.01 - Nick Cave @ Wiltern Theatre
---
3.28.01 - Shawn Colvin @ Roxy Theatre
3.29.01 - Shawn Colvin @ Roxy Theatre
3.29.01 - Darren Emerson @ Vynyl
3.30.01 - Jonatha Brooke @ El Rey Theatre
3.31.01 - Guster @ House of Blues
3.31.01 - Seb Fontaine @ Club Giant
---
4.04.01 - Waterboys @ House of Blues
4.05.01 - Waterboys @ House of Blues
4.06.01 - Bela Fleck & the Flecktones @ Wiltern Theatre
4.06.01 - Guided by Voices @ House of Blues
---
4.16.01 - Joe Jackson @ John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
4.19.01 - Low @ El Rey Theatre
4.20.01 - Poi
Dog Pondering @ House of Blues
4.23.01 - U2 @ Arrowhead
Pond
4.24.01 - Arab Strap @ Knitting Factory Hollywood
4.27.01 - Ira Glass @ UCLA Royce Hall
4.28.01 -
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Jane's Addiction, St.
Germain, Kruder & Dorfmeister) @ Empire Polo Field (Indio,
CA)
5.05.01 - Natalie MacMaster @
UCLA Royce Hall
5.12.01 - Stanley Jordan @ The Key Club
5.18.01 -
David Gray @ Universal Amphitheatre
5.21.01 - Badly Drawn Boy @
El Rey Theatre
_________________________________
HAVE YOU ever reconsidered? HAVE YOU done something on the spur of a moment? HAVE YOU eaten anything extra yummy? HAVE YOU found a haven? HAVE YOU considered moving to a new climate? HAVE YOU got an axe to grind? HAVE YOU taken a deep breath lately?
RE: DEMOCRATS DROP HAPPY BOMBS >>> Hey, now!
Rick Gianvecchio made some good points in his letter to the Morning Brief. What is the difference when a Republican bombs someone, or a Democrat does? Well, I mean except that the Republicans use more cluster bombs? But other than that?
Rick is a little misleading about this most recent bombing of Iraq being an authorized action, however. Is the United States in a declared state of war right now and I missed it?
Both Republicans and Democrats seem to use these quick and dirty air strikes for crass, short term political ends. Shouldn't we get a real constitutional conservative into the oval office? Someone who recognizes the wisdom with which our founders made a declaration of war a fairly difficult thing to achieve, with even the People's House, The House of Representatives, having to sign on (Prior to the passage of The War Powers Act)?
Well, this and other great ideas probably will never happen unless we force congress to enact some form of meaningful campaign finance reform, with an outright end to corporate contributions and gifts of all kinds, an end to all soft money contributions to political parties, and an end to all PAC money. Then we need to force the president to sign it.
Only individuals are citizens of this country. Not corporations or PACS. Returning the financing of candidates and campaigns to individuals and eliminating the role of corporate and PAC money in our democratic process should be a priority of Republicans and Democrats, as it is with Green Party members and candidates.
Also, as a condition of their broadcasting licenses, broadcasters should be required to provide substantial free air time for qualified candidates of any party. And required to cover the (reformed) Presidential Debates.
Then, perhaps, we can all argue the issues on their merits, instead of basing public policy, and foreign policy, on who has the nicest corporate jet or something.
-- John Baltic.
RE: AFRICAN AMERICANS AND BUSH >>> What gives Rick Gianvecchio, whoever he is, the authority to speak for the African American community? I'm guessing that the fact that he read a statistic or a poll result somewhere makes him feel that he has the right. What a joke.
-- Erik Andrews.
[Rick did forward an interesting article on the topic...it will be posted next week due to e-mail issues.]
RE: ESTATE TAX >>> Agnes Gund, philanthropist and president of the Museum of Modern Art, has joined more than 100 millionaires and billionaires in urging Congress not to repeal taxes on estates and gifts. The group, called Responsible Wealth, argues that an estate tax repeal would undermine philanthropy and "enrich the heirs of America's millionaires and billionaires while hurting families who struggle to make ends meet." The Times speaks to Gund about her decision to join the group.
Responsible Wealth: http://www.responsiblewealth.org/
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/27/nyregion/27PROF.html
- forwarded by Maria LC Salomão.
RE: WHAT NEXT? >>> The term for what comes after the nineties...
Since the 0's can also be referred to as the naughts, how about following the nineties with the naughties! :)
-- Richard Gianvecchio.
RE: COOL URLS >>> The #1 song on the day you were born:
http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/cont/choose.html
-- forwarded by Mary Zerafa.
RE: THINGS TO DO >>> The South Bay Chapter of the Haas Alumni Network presents President and CEO of Symantec Corporation John W. Thompson "Pure Confidence in a Connected World - How to Survive and Thrive in the Digital Age"
Thursday March 22, 2001
6:00pm
Networking/cash bar
6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Speaker
Four Points Sheraton
1250 Lakeside
Drive, Sunnyvale
$40 pre-registered through March 18
$50 at the door (space available basis)
The E-world of today requires new skills, new attitudes, new networks and new alliances. It requires individuals to engage in three critical areas: education, enterprise, and excellence. As individuals and organizations develop in these areas they will develop the confidence - PURE CONFIDENCE they need to maximize the power of the internet.
John W. Thompson, President and CEO of Symantec, a global leader in internet security, will address the challenges and opportunities of the connected world and how to participate in the potential of the internet with Pure Confidence.
Topics include:
* A view of the connected world
* How mediocrity is the number one threat to a business or a career
* Networking for success
* The role of security as a business enabler.
* The need for speed and precision execution for individuals and organizations
* How opportunity comes to those with confidence
Participants will come away from this session with a clear view of the future, the importance of security and more importantly what they must do to create the confidence needed to survive and thrive in a connected world.
To register online: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=12545
-- forwarded by Linda Chan.