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Dear everyone,
It's not often I assign homework, (dunnn dunn dahhhh!) but if you've never read any Seth Godin, now's the time to start. If you're feeling a touch of S.A.D. or the pressure of 2010 - never fear, Seth to the rescue! He's one of the most inspirational and thought-provoking business writers, yet his words motivate people from every walk of life.
So go ahead, download his latest free eBook, "What Matters Now" here. It's a collaboration of many authors so you won't get bored, I promise.
Or if you're short on time, visit his blog, or download his iPhone app. Just search 'Seth Godin' in the app store (thx CW).
Seth is so darn good, I've even blogged his greatness before (David Bowie and The Dip).Thank you for listening, I hope you had a great Tuesday evening.
All my love,
Leanne
I have a number of excuses for not keeping up to date on my music downloading/curating/pirating, but the number one excuse is this:
The rabbit hole that is http://knowyourmeme.com
It'll suck you in for a good day or two...
Other popular excuses:
My lovely DJ bf pretty much runs the music show.
Electro Premium Choice got shut down(RIP) and I'll never shut up about it. Also, I'm too busy to find a new one.
I spend 1/2 my life on twitter.
I run a small business.
Do I need more?
Since one amazing person Googled "Bob is not my uncle music", I've gotten off my ass and made y'all a playlist. Albeit rather full of old songs, thanks Guy for being so motivating! This throwback love anthem mixtape's for you! **disgusting wink**
Click here for the zip download
1. Não Vem Que Não Tem - Wilson Simonal
2. At the Chime of a City Clock - Nick Drake
3. ?????
4. This Sweet Love (Prins Thomas Sneaky Edit)
- James Yuill
5. I am a Wicked Child - Radiohead
6. Since I've Been Loving You - Led Zepplen
7. Seville - Pinback
8. Arcadia (Boys Noize Remix) - Apparat
9. Lasttrak - Plastikman
10. Goon Gumpas - Aphex Twin
11. Da Da Da Da - Broken Social Scene
12. A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails
Disclaimer: If you're not into old jams, head over to VoulesRandom. They're so ahead of shit it's breathtaking....
Hi there. Did you miss me?
So you're a 20 or 30 something North American reeling from a bad couple of economic years. You live in the coldest fucking city on earth. You're young, educated and gosh darn it, why aren't you rich yet? Calm down Sally, we're in this together. Take solace in the fact your assets haven't lost any worth because you don't have any. Amidst the recession, there is a way to live the fantastic life and not be a bummy skeeze who gets their boyfriend to buy them everything.
How to Survive the recession in style:
(If that could actually be possible in Winnipeg Manitoba)
Food.
For some, this is not an issue - being broke equals being skinny. But for those of us who get grumpy when the traditional bowl of snacks is empty, never fear! There's a fine balance between eating cardboard and being healthy on a budget so here are a few uber delicious, healthy, cheap and exotic picks:
Crepes - $15 will get you about 24 servings. The latest hipster food to hit our streets have been flippin' in Jamall Knight's kitchen since '85. Follow this recipe, then add cheese, nutella, banana, peanut butter, jam, you name it!
Edamame beans - $2-3ish. Frozen from Safeway or Costco. Insane amounts of protein. Close your eyes and pretend you're at Wasabi.
Popcorn, just the kernels - $1-2. Pop on the stove with some oil and boom! You're snacking for miles and miles. Download a movie for an extra cheapo date.
Chicken Curry $10-$15 for three to four people. I found a pretty decent recipe on the dinner spinner app.
Water - it's free, it's always luxuriously smooth and quenching. Your skin has never looked so good.
Dress.
The ultimate human flag and finest art of self expression. We're all somewhat broke, so the good news is your sartorial competition isn't quite, "Who's got the latest Burberry trench". Perfect. One of the best lux' for less tricks is simply knowing your shit and faking it. Read high fashion mags, scan blogs and lookbook.nu. Figure out what the rich kids are wearing and hit up Value Village, Goodwill, Joe and your grandma's closet. Another tip: Save up those pennies and splurge on quality for items you can wear often - jackets, shoes, sunglasses, purses and scarves.
Job.
Unless you're one of those dotcom millionaires who managed to set up passive income and retire at 30, (ahem, Dennis) employment is necessary for life. To the jobless, laid-off, fired without cause or hopeless job-hunters out there - why not take a leap and start your own company? What is your passion? Your dream? Why not try your hand at entrepreneurship? According to Stats Canada, self-employment is on the rise in response to the massive amounts of job losses. I guess there's still the same amount of work to be done hey? Get inspired by Seth Godin, follow small business blogs like IttyBiz, get some money from Uncle Sam and get crackin!
Dwelling.
Running a moderately furnished and tastefully located abode can be a challenge when times are tight. Some of you may opt to move out of your overpriced apartment and take advantage of today's excellent interest rates. Holy shit they're low. Or perhaps if it gets really bad, you can get another roommate or just move home, right? Um....
Drink.
Many wine drinking aficionados will attest that the most trained taste buds can't tell the difference between a $25 and $200 bottle of wine. Is it just a status symbol? Often yes, but a delicious one we could never call frivolous. But lets face it, our parents are drinking boxed wine for a reason. They somehow managed to raise a family on the same salary I burn through in magazines and penny candy, so perhaps they're doing something right? Tip - if you have a basement, start making wine. You'll find yourself with more drunk friends than you could shake a stick at.
Other money saving advice:
Quit smoking - save $20-$500 per month. Also, it's an obvious heal
th bonus.
Don't get a pet - cats? I mean c'mon. Another mouth to feed and another annoying personality to contend with? srrrsly.
Disconnect your TV - it's full of garbage and fully accessible online, for free. Or - read a book you drones.
Ride your bike - That is, if it hasn't been stolen. Bike everywhere possible for killer legs and more chedda for your bar tab.
Got any luxury on a dime tips? Tell us in the comments if you've got a moment.
:)
If you're reading this RIGHT NOW (the minute I post this) you probably suffer from a black hole addiction I like to call 'NightSlavery'. Sufferers of this all-consuming computer malady will find themselves saying, "Holy shit, I have to be at work in 4 hours," or "I'm supposed to be finishing up this freelance SEO contract, but am in the middle of a WoW raid*," or simply, "Goodform is on at the LoPub and I'd rather stay home and blog about not going to Goodform."
I'm a fucking loser. What's your excuse?
Computers are the cocaine for nerds, the solace for the unemployed, the family for the abandoned, the home of all who hate reality. Reality is a place where Winnipeg babies are not safe from murder and my rent just keeps on skyrocketing.
So tonight, why not confide in a new twitter friend, eat popcorn while pondering iPhone diet tricks, drink a glass of wine with google reader and then fall asleep to a full pirated season of Weeds. Dream about baking brownies, wake up and do the whole thing over again. Eventually you'll forget how to verbally communicate, but hey, you might accidentally learn a new skill, launch a business, market your portfolio, network a bit... or just read thousands of webcomics until your eyes bleed. Either way, it's better than spending money on useless shit and talking to people who annoy you. Like bankers. I can't stand them, what with they're logic and planning and commitment to RRSPs*...
*NightSlavery symptoms:
- Considering playing WoW for the first time
- Rambling sentences that hate on tiny sectors of society for no explainable reason
- ...What are your symptoms of NightSlavery?
It's go time people. Gloves off. Let's do this. I'm obviously biased so knock me down readers! Here's my rant on why iPhone SHITS on blackberry. I just dare you to prove me wrong:
A high level comment - iPhone has changed my life. I am organized, my small business is doing well, I lost 13 lbs, I never forget ANYTHING (ex. birthdays, meetings, todos, etc) I can fit in little meetings and visits I usually think I don't have time for, I have brilliant music at my fingertips = instant mobile dance party. Oh and having that little dance party won over the love of my life. <3>- iPhone's interface = godly. Blackberry's - designed by a tech geek who loves shitty fonts and hard to follow chains of conversation. Backwards might I add. They probably only looked at the code to approve the OS.
- iPhone has replaced many many items/gadgets that I considered purchasing: a voice recorder for interviews, a remote for my laptop's itunes, a mightymouse, a $40 moleskin dayplanner, a new ipod, an mp3 alarm clock, pretty much anything you can buy in the app store.
- Blackberry's app store made me LOL today. I'm not seeing anything I'd actually buy, or consider usefull. Perhaps this is because I've never used them? Perhaps it's because I've never been dissatisfied with iPhone apps
- Oooo my fingers can't type on the screen! I need buttons! wahh! Suck it up - touch screens are everywhere. They're fast, and you can't beat the predict-a-text. A few days ago it put the two dots above the 'o' on the word 'doppleganger'. Oh, and scrolling a webpage with a little ball that falls out at inconvenient times? Dinosaur.
- U2 loves blackberry - nuff said.
- Ooooo but my BB messenger! Oooo I could never live without it! Well, I have a 6Gig dataplan for $10 a month. Get on ebuddy or fb or msn or gmail chat or just leave me alone.
- Blackberry doesn't have software for mac computers. They say 'coming in September' but everyone knows a first release is not usually their best release. When BBmac rolls out Version 9 in 25 years, maybe I'll consider a Blackberry for my spare emergency phone. Or for my butler.
- 3GS is faaaaaaaast!
- If your iPhone battery is flat and you're out and about, the likelyhood of finding a cable and computer are VERY high. BB cords are out there sometimes, which is probably why their owners flock together.
- Ok, so I know someone is going to make the comment about the iPhone camera's lack of flash. I attribute this to marketing tactics - apple needs bait to get me to buy the next iphone yes? And I will.
Please join the conversation! Let me know your beef or glory with your beloved data phone.
Today I nearly cried. I was up to my usual Sunday afternoon music pirating, typed in my favourite URL and this is what I saw:
Shock and horror swept over me. It's still sweeping now and I don't have a fucking dustpan. I was a slave to the blog http://electro-premium.blogspot.com for over a year, and now it's all over. My late nights of waiting for the 'free user, only 99seconds left' messages are gone. I could easily follow some of the other ones out there - I'm sure they have better design and more frequent posts, but seriously, the blogosphere is a watered down shithole when it comes to music. So much garbage out there I can barely keep up my sarcastic disco dance moves. And the gay hook lyrics that would make for great background on a TV show for babies? c'mon.
Electro Premium Choice was EPIC to say the least and I can EASILY credit all of my coolness to it's mysterious french webmaster. I hope and pray that somehow it will surface again to post more full albums and EPs. I really should have given them some money...
So Goodbye my dearest friend. I will miss you more than anything. Here's a tribute to some of my favourite artists - discovered or re-discovered through my dearly departed blog.
(Artists, I'm linking to you in hopes that my 11 followers will generate some hits and my stealing karma will be slightly repaid.)
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke
Alex Gopher
AmpLive
AutoErotique - playing in Winnipeg, Friday Sept 18 with Jamall Knight
Birdy Nam Nam
The Bloody Beetroots
Bugged Out Remix albums
Boys Noize
Brasstronaut
Classixx
Crookers - I Love Techno
Digitalism
Diplo
Edges - A New French Electronic Generation
Ed Banger
Fabriclive
Feadz
Gui Boratto
Jack De Marseille
Jean Nipon
Jean Moustache
Justice
Krazy Baldhead
Kitsune (alllll of them)
Modeselektor
Mr. Flash
Mr. Oizo
Orgasmic
Shadow Dancer
Simian Mobile Disco
SebastiAn
Sebastian Tellier
Soulwax
Squarepusher
Surkin
Siriusmo
.... :(
Money makes the world go round, this we know is pretty fucking obvious. Also, in times like this, you'd better agree pimpin' certainly aint easy. I often ponder how other business people like myself make it to the top...
Take for example, the Facebook dudes. Apparently one of the creators based his entire business principle on a rap song: the late, great Biggie's 'The 10 Crack Commandments'. I was inspired by this, especially since I'm feeling particularly notorious these days. I did an intense google, but could not find anything to back up the anecdote but hey, you believe me right? The internet doesn't lie.
So while those FB guys are probably sitting on a couch made of naked ladies, eating dodo egg scramble, smoking gold laced antarctic hash, I'm sitting here listening to Life After Death wearing this tee-shirt.
Even though it's a song about drugs, you'd be surprised the cryptic advice Biggie provides. If you boil it down, I think he was just a poet with really screwed up metaphors. So behold! My attempt to interpret the song and relate it to the world of advertising. Please forgive my white-girl ignorance.
1. Never let no one know how much dough you hold cause you know the cheddar breed jealousy especially if that man fucked up, get your ass stuck up.
Don't let your clients, boss, employees or friends know your $$ situation. Clients will try to rip you off, bosses will assume you can survive without that raise, your employees can get greedy, your friends might get jealous... the list goes on. The richest guy I ever met drove a Corolla.
2. Never let 'em know your next move, don't you know bad boys move in silence or violence take it from your highness, I done squeezed mad clips at these cats for they bricks and chips.
There are always people out there trying to 'borrow' your ideas. Have you found a niche market? Go it alone before your competition sets up shop across the street. Otherwise you may need to do a 'lil drive by...
3. Never trust nobody. Your moms'll set that ass up, properly gassed up hoodie to mask up, shit, for that fast buck she be layin in the bushes to light that ass up.
I don't think your mom will ever step up on your shit in advertising, but almost everyone else is suspect. I mean, this is an industry of borrowing - ideas, techniques, strategy, pitch styles, dog & pony shows... Only share what you're ready to see in someone else's meeting.
4. Never get high on your own supply.
Outsource your important internal projects. You'll read the label wrong from inside the bottle.
5. Never sell no crack where you rest at. I don't care if they want an ounce, tell em bounce.
Not sure, but could this mean keep business and pleasure separate? Can't say I've ever dated anyone I work with, but from the stories I hear from my friends at Saatchi, it's a double edged sword.
6. That God damn credit, dead it. You think a crackhead payin you back, shit forget it.
Make sure you keep track of invoicing. Is your client's NET 60 days or are they just shitty? I'm going to go with shitty.
7. Keep your family and business completely separated. Money and blood don't mix like two dicks and no bitch, find yourself in serious shit.
Hmmm, I question this one, since a juicy contra deal with my brother has just cropped up. Any suggestions loyal followers?
8. Never keep no weight on you. Them cats that squeeze your guns can hold jobs too.
Since in advertising, your 'merchandise' isn't tangible, this one isn't too much of a worry. Maybe just invest in a sweet paper shredder, firewall, and server protection.
9. If you aint gettin bags stay the fuck from police. If niggaz think you snitchin aint tryin listen. They be sittin in your kitchen, waitin to start hittin.
Um, uh, what? Does this one mean that other drug dealers will try to kill you if they suspect you're a snitch? Hmmmm my advice: don't gossip in the office - it's petty, pointless and shows just how much integrity you have. Just do your job and do it well.
10. A strong word called consignment, strictly for live men, not for freshmen. If you aint got the clientele say hell no cause they gon want they money rain, sleet, hail, snow.
Just because you work on Madison Avenue with the big chochkeys, you're no Don Draper. Don't buy a loft with wall-to-wall marble until your office looks twice as luxurious. Tomorrow you could find yourself laid off...dreaming up your own agency...
THATS IT!!!!
Perhaps it's time I applied some rules to my business (website coming soon!) just like the Facebook dudes. I hope Biggie has helped you on your merry way. So blast 'The 10 Crack Commandments' every morning for a little gangster direction. I already do.
