Category: Odds & Endz

• I don’t know or read Jeff Jarvis so this isn’t geek loyalty talking but I wonder if the PR industry has any idea how stupid they look when this happens. Memo: There is no “controlling the message” anymore. The Internet is bigger than you will ever be. The goal now is to host the conversation not dictate it.

  Update: “Amanda” is a sham (via Susan Mernit).

• I’m not sure I would read a soft drink blog but I’m sure someone would (via Matt Haughey).
• Mental Floss magazine has relaunched their website. Looks fantastic.
• I love me some Safety Dance but I almost love this interpretation of it more.
• Where precisely is the joy in running a literary magazine? Good question (via Arts Journal).
• Playland Not By the Beach is an old fashioned amusement center opening in the Bay Area this fall. It’s like my dream come true. I can’t wait.
• Clerks 2 opens this weekend. My generation rises.

• Another Bay Area book store shuts down. That’s four (almost) in a year. I’m not much of a gloom and doomer but I think this article may be onto something (via Tigerbeat).
• Video Stores too? There she goes, my beautiful youth (via Readerville).

• An Inconvenient Truth is making inroads in red states. I’d call that good news (via Tigerbeat).
• Brilliant essay on what happens when your favorite bands become successful. And how foolish you look objecting to their success (via Scott Andrew).

• It seems the crap is hitting the radiator over at Rocketboom. Host Amanda Congdon has left the show in a fallout with co-creator Andrew Barron (both sides have their say). Chuck Olsen, an outstanding human being is mediating. Plan on reading much more about this.
• NPR’s All Songs Considered did a fantastic analysis of the Paste Magazine’s 100 Greatest Living Songwriters. Totally woth a listen.
• Devo’s 1982 video Peek-a-boo is up on YouTube. Man, that used to freak me out (via Waxy).

• I’ve been asked a couple of times what I think about this exchange between author Barry Eisler and an independent bookstore. What I think: Eisler does not “owe” the bookstore a vow of exclusivity when he comes to town. They promise to host and promote his appearence, he promises to show up, talk about his book and be charming. Both sides fufilled their contract. There’s no implied addendum that Mr. Eisler is forbidden from setting foot in or even breathing a word about a visit to a chain bookseller.
• The Tour de’ France begins today. It appears that my favorite rider, Fabian Cancellara, will not be participating this year. Rats.
• No, No, No. The 2006 election is not a “Referendum on Bush” but about how the Democrats can do it better. “They suck” is not a party platform. Someone knock some sense into Senator Schumer before I have to fly to Washington and do it myself.
• When did On The Media host Bob Garfield start blogging? That rocks (via New Media Musings).
• Friends in Chicago, help me out here. I mourn the closing of any picture show but how much sympathy am I supposed to have for a movie theatre that owes $60,000 in taxes? The Roxie here in San Francisco tried to pull these shennanigans, refusing to pay filmmakers and distributors for years on end and then whining that Times are Tough and The Uncultured are Against Us.

  This just in: Stealing in the name of art is still stealing. (via Cinema Treasures).

• Okay, when did the Naked Cowboy become the Naked Cowgirl? (via David Dylan Thomas).
• Apple appears to be eyeing the home entertainment market, a move I regard with some trepidation. iPod to computer and back again is a circular transaction. But what if I want my address book on my TV and my cellphone? Will I be updating firmware and buying the newest versions of each piece of equipment every six months? (via Tigerbeat).
• The first mandate of RSS Days should be “Please explain RSS to your grandmother without using the words “markup” or “format.” Then I’ll listen (via Waxy).
• Nice write up of LibraryThing.com in the Wall Street Journal. I’m a big fan as I can spy on and thank the folk who own my book. Pathetic. I admit that.

I’m in Philadelphia…

• The most emailed New York Times story the last few days has been this one about the growing Jewish community in Bentonville, Arkansas, Wal-Mart ccountry. Either folks can’t imagine the words Jews, Arkansas, and Wal-Mart in the same sentence or the doings of my people is much more newsworthy than I had thought.
• The Chronicle of Higher Education declares that University Presses must change their business model if they want to compete in the 21st century. Amen to that but how? I spoke at U of Chicago Press last year and they get that the Internet is kicking over the whole apple cart. But they have neither the funds, staff or institutional support to adapt. They’ve got rss feeds and a blog. (via ArtsJournal).
• An absolutely fantastic episode of the Nextbook Podcast, where David Rakoff discusses Felix Salten, the author of the book which inspired Bambi. Salten dabbled in some soft core porn as well.
• Movies via iTunes? I’m not sold yet (via New Media Musings).
• When in Philly, please visit the Reading Terminal Market. It’s a foodie paradise.

• Author does 500 store book tour. Impressive feat of endurance but I wonder how much difference it makes when book sales are down for the third straight month (via ArtsJournal).
• George W. Bush sings Sunday Bloody Sunday. Fierce (via Matt Haughey).
• We need a Vanity Fair for Harvard magazine like we need Rusty Nail for Eyeball.

• Dailysonic is a Yahoo! Pick of the Day. I love Dailysonic and am way way happy for them.
• Fantastic epsiode of The Treatment with guest John Lasseter.
• In a special look at AIDS over the last 25 yerars, the San Francisco Chronicle podcast features several reporters remembering Randy Shilts, author of And The Band Played On. Mr. Shilts is a hero of mine which I discuss at some length in this episode of my podcast.