It is the H.E. Harris & Co. folders that include the additional contextual history, not the Littleton Coin Co. editions. Clarification made, stick to the coins, please, regardless of my interest in coins as touchstones of history.
[This entry was transmitted via Sidekick Hiptop.]
Monday, July 07, 2003
Comics and Computers IV
Blogging About Blogging LXIII
Bryan, proprietor of Arguing with Signposts, recently stepped up as the new lead editor of MediaReview. Founder Kevin will remain an active contributor. Additionally, after a year and a half of active publishing, MediaMinded is shutting up shop. I've never really followed either site, but with the new energy and insight Bryan is sure to bring MediaReview, it might be worth Media Dieticians' attention.
Mikey Dee, Deceased
I hardly knew Mikey Dee, a long-time local music supporter, show organizer, and radio DJ. But I know how important he was to -- and how influential he was in -- the Boston music scene. I felt a loss when he was hospitalized following a stroke in 2000, andf I feel an even greater loss today. Mikey Dee passed away early Sunday morning.
Area musicians, friends, and family are posting memories and testimonials to his Web site, and people -- including Media Dietician Brad Searles are posting appreciations on their respective blogs and Web pages. Boston has missed Mikey Dee. I've missed Mikey Dee. And now we will miss him more.
Rest in peace, Mikey Dee. And rock on.
Area musicians, friends, and family are posting memories and testimonials to his Web site, and people -- including Media Dietician Brad Searles are posting appreciations on their respective blogs and Web pages. Boston has missed Mikey Dee. I've missed Mikey Dee. And now we will miss him more.
Rest in peace, Mikey Dee. And rock on.
Auto-Numismatic
Don't worry, I'm not such a geek that I've become a coin collector (just kidding, coin collectors). But I have recently become fascinated by money. Part of this stems from my parents' interest in the 50 State Quarters Program of the United States Mint. And part of it stems from the coffee cans full of wheat cents we used to store in our basement when I was growing up.
In any event, I've recently acquired several coin folders, and I've started sorting my big bag of change by year and mint location. Once I go through the bag, I'll take the remaining change to a Coinstar machine to cash it in. In any event, this is a surprisingly fun hobby. For one, there's something soothing about the manual labor involved in sorting and organizing one's change. I don't have many projects in my life with such repetition, much less clear goals and progress. Secondly, the connection between coins and history is amazing. When I come across a 1968 penny, I think about what happened in 1968 -- politically and culturally. When I discovered a 1978 nickel, I thought about grade school. We carry touchstones to the past in our pockets every day, and we handle them without thinking.
It's also interesting because of the accoutrements of numismatics. Several publishers offer coin folders, and they're all different. I know which kind I like the most, and it might be useful to share my comparisons and commentary with you. H.E. Harris & Co.'s coin folders are my least favorite. Even though they've been in the business since 1916, the cover paper -- and backing to the coin slots -- is much too thin. Will it rip? In addition, the cover designs are rather garish. I much prefer the mottled covers used by other coin folder manufacturers.
Of those, the custom coin folders made by the Littleton Coin Co., which has been in business since 1945, are a close second. With an austere mottled green cover, these folders offer a much better backing. That said, the coins almost fit in too easily. Will they fall out? While the Littleton folders offer as much historical information about the coins in question as H.E. Harris & Co.'s wares, they also include somewhat distracting corollary history about current events of the time. Stick to the coins, please.
Lastly, my clear favorite, the Whitman coin folders supplied by St. Martin's Press. With their classic mottled blue covers, ample backing, occasionally too-snug coin slots, and coin-related history, these are my pick of the litter. To my surprise, H.E. Harris & Co. acquired the Whitman line of numismatic products from St. Martin's early this year. Ouch. If president Mary Counts isn't lying when she says, "We are committed to continuing the Whitman legacy," H.E. Harris & Co. would be well advised to follow in the footsteps of Whitman and drastically improve their product line. When I was shopping for the folders, H.E. Harris & Co.'s folders dominated the shelves. Whitman's quality is, oh, so much higher.
Sheesh. You know you're a geek when you complain about the quality of coin collecting folders. I think I've crossed a line, Media Dieticians.
In any event, I've recently acquired several coin folders, and I've started sorting my big bag of change by year and mint location. Once I go through the bag, I'll take the remaining change to a Coinstar machine to cash it in. In any event, this is a surprisingly fun hobby. For one, there's something soothing about the manual labor involved in sorting and organizing one's change. I don't have many projects in my life with such repetition, much less clear goals and progress. Secondly, the connection between coins and history is amazing. When I come across a 1968 penny, I think about what happened in 1968 -- politically and culturally. When I discovered a 1978 nickel, I thought about grade school. We carry touchstones to the past in our pockets every day, and we handle them without thinking.
It's also interesting because of the accoutrements of numismatics. Several publishers offer coin folders, and they're all different. I know which kind I like the most, and it might be useful to share my comparisons and commentary with you. H.E. Harris & Co.'s coin folders are my least favorite. Even though they've been in the business since 1916, the cover paper -- and backing to the coin slots -- is much too thin. Will it rip? In addition, the cover designs are rather garish. I much prefer the mottled covers used by other coin folder manufacturers.
Of those, the custom coin folders made by the Littleton Coin Co., which has been in business since 1945, are a close second. With an austere mottled green cover, these folders offer a much better backing. That said, the coins almost fit in too easily. Will they fall out? While the Littleton folders offer as much historical information about the coins in question as H.E. Harris & Co.'s wares, they also include somewhat distracting corollary history about current events of the time. Stick to the coins, please.
Lastly, my clear favorite, the Whitman coin folders supplied by St. Martin's Press. With their classic mottled blue covers, ample backing, occasionally too-snug coin slots, and coin-related history, these are my pick of the litter. To my surprise, H.E. Harris & Co. acquired the Whitman line of numismatic products from St. Martin's early this year. Ouch. If president Mary Counts isn't lying when she says, "We are committed to continuing the Whitman legacy," H.E. Harris & Co. would be well advised to follow in the footsteps of Whitman and drastically improve their product line. When I was shopping for the folders, H.E. Harris & Co.'s folders dominated the shelves. Whitman's quality is, oh, so much higher.
Sheesh. You know you're a geek when you complain about the quality of coin collecting folders. I think I've crossed a line, Media Dieticians.
Hiking History VII
Saturday, before leaving for my week in Wisconsin, I went on a historical walk and talk through the South End of Boston. Offered through the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and organized by Mytown, the two-hour walk included several interesting labor organizing-, multicultural-, and counterculture-related sites, many of which I wasn't familiar with previously.
Starting at the Back Bay T station, we gathered at the statue of A. Philip Randolph, an African-American civil rights leader who helped organize the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. After walking through Tent City, an affordable housing complex now located on the site of a protest against urban renewal that involved 100 neighborhood activists, including Mel King, we continued to the original location of Harriet Tubman's house.
From there, we walked through the Southwest Corridor Park, a 4.7 mile-long green belt between Back Bay and Forest Hills that was originally planned to be an 8-12 lane highway. That took us to Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe, originally opened in 1927. Owner Charlie Poulos served blacks and whites before many establishments in the Boston area, and his restaurant also served as a hang out for jazz musicians and labor organizers. If you go, look for the dice set in the sidewalk in front of the entrance. Lore has it that local craps players left one set -- a lucky 7 -- so Charlie would always have good luck. That set sank, so they left another. The original set rose again, and now there are two sets of lucky 7 gracing the pavement.
Leaving Charlie's we went to the Lucy Parsons Center, a long-running radical bookstore and community center that's also had homes in Central and Davis squares. What I didn't know was that it's now located at the original site of the Academy of Musical Arts, an educational facility run by a Native-American woman who wanted to provide affordable arts programming to disadvantaged area youth. From there, we passed the former residence of Martin Luther King, Jr., who lived in Boston in the early '50s while attending Boston University.
The final stop was Wally's Jazz Cafe, which opened in 1947 across the street from where it is now -- and was part of the Chitlin Circuit of jazz clubs that supported African-American musicans. After the tour ended, I swung back by Lucy Parsons to see if it had opened. It hadn't. Regardless, what a wonderful way to start my vacation!
Starting at the Back Bay T station, we gathered at the statue of A. Philip Randolph, an African-American civil rights leader who helped organize the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. After walking through Tent City, an affordable housing complex now located on the site of a protest against urban renewal that involved 100 neighborhood activists, including Mel King, we continued to the original location of Harriet Tubman's house.
From there, we walked through the Southwest Corridor Park, a 4.7 mile-long green belt between Back Bay and Forest Hills that was originally planned to be an 8-12 lane highway. That took us to Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe, originally opened in 1927. Owner Charlie Poulos served blacks and whites before many establishments in the Boston area, and his restaurant also served as a hang out for jazz musicians and labor organizers. If you go, look for the dice set in the sidewalk in front of the entrance. Lore has it that local craps players left one set -- a lucky 7 -- so Charlie would always have good luck. That set sank, so they left another. The original set rose again, and now there are two sets of lucky 7 gracing the pavement.
Leaving Charlie's we went to the Lucy Parsons Center, a long-running radical bookstore and community center that's also had homes in Central and Davis squares. What I didn't know was that it's now located at the original site of the Academy of Musical Arts, an educational facility run by a Native-American woman who wanted to provide affordable arts programming to disadvantaged area youth. From there, we passed the former residence of Martin Luther King, Jr., who lived in Boston in the early '50s while attending Boston University.
The final stop was Wally's Jazz Cafe, which opened in 1947 across the street from where it is now -- and was part of the Chitlin Circuit of jazz clubs that supported African-American musicans. After the tour ended, I swung back by Lucy Parsons to see if it had opened. It hadn't. Regardless, what a wonderful way to start my vacation!
Anchormen, Aweigh! XXVI
Virtual Book Tour
Media Diet is a member of the Virtual Book Tour, which starts today. Over the course of the next two weeks, Mary Roach, author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, will be making her way to and through 10 different blogs -- including Media Diet.
Today, you can read Mike Carvalho's impressions of the book in his blog Barking Moose.
I'll continue to follow the tour as it progresses, and this week Thursday, July 10, Mary will be joining me as a contributor to Media Diet, offering pointers to and commentary on magazines, books, movies, music, and other media items and artifacts related to the subject of her book.
Today, you can read Mike Carvalho's impressions of the book in his blog Barking Moose.
I'll continue to follow the tour as it progresses, and this week Thursday, July 10, Mary will be joining me as a contributor to Media Diet, offering pointers to and commentary on magazines, books, movies, music, and other media items and artifacts related to the subject of her book.
The Free-Range Comic Book Project XXIX
This is an installment of Media Diet's Free-Range Comic Book Project:
For more information on this project, please refer to this Media Diet entry.
Detective Comics #743 (DC, April 2000). Writer: Greg Rucka. Artist: Shawn Martinbrough. Location: On a bench at Downtown Crossing on the Red Line.
For more information on this project, please refer to this Media Diet entry.
Friday, June 27, 2003
'Tis the Season to Be... AWOL XIV
Sunday morning I fly to Wisconsin for a week's vacation in a cabin on a lake in a forest. I will return to the Boston area July 6.
While I always hope to update Media Diet while traveling, if I don't, that doesn't mean that Media Diet is dead (long live Media Diet!). It just means that it's resting.
Worst case scenario: Media Diet will be back up and running July 7 or so.
While I always hope to update Media Diet while traveling, if I don't, that doesn't mean that Media Diet is dead (long live Media Diet!). It just means that it's resting.
Worst case scenario: Media Diet will be back up and running July 7 or so.
Corollary: Nervy, Pervy XV
Steve Safran's recent column on why journalists should blog is an interesting parallel read to Glenn Reynolds' essay in Suicide Girls. His commentary on the role of bias is spot on. All news is biased. No one can be totally objective. The important thing, as Safran indicates, is to disclose your bias. Honesty and context will help the blogosphere near the intersubjectivity that David Weinberger talks about.
Hiptop Nation VI
According to Cory and Gizmodo, T-Mobile is no longer supporting the video games that were bundled with the new color Sidekicks. But they're not just withdrawing their support of the games, they're actually withdrawing the games themselves from your Sidekick. That's right, apparently, T-Mobile thinks it's fair game to reach through the airwaves into a device that you own and snag applications and information away from you. What if they step past games? What if, suddenly, my Web browser app is gone? Or notes I'd left myself were erased? Or emails I'd saved were deleted? All by T-Mobile? While I still have a service agreement with them? That seems pretty shady, and it makes me trust the company a lot less.
From the In Box: Today Is Media Diet's Birthday II
Mail a Meal is a website dedicated to sending Postcards featuring food/drinks to friends in cyberspace!
Apparently, Kathy Biehl sent you a Drink Postcard.
A toast! Long life to Media Diet! -- Kathy Biehl
***
Okay, so I've only been reading Media Diet for a couple of weeks. Congratulations on making the 2 year mark!
My two year old son celebrated his birthday by eating bagels and cream cheese, blowing bubbles, and falling down on the grass with his Auntie and Grandma.
Go out and do the online equivalent! -- Tim Ereneta
***
I've been a daily reader of Media Diet since our mutual friend, Johann, tipped me off of your whereabouts. You've made the Internet fun again for me, so much so, I get a little too preoccupied at work reading blogs. Filling my head with new ideas and a new taste to innovate. Notwithstanding, inspiration for me to carve my own space into the blogosphere. Best to Media Diet, Heath & the readers! -- Noah
Apparently, Kathy Biehl sent you a Drink Postcard.
A toast! Long life to Media Diet! -- Kathy Biehl
Okay, so I've only been reading Media Diet for a couple of weeks. Congratulations on making the 2 year mark!
My two year old son celebrated his birthday by eating bagels and cream cheese, blowing bubbles, and falling down on the grass with his Auntie and Grandma.
Go out and do the online equivalent! -- Tim Ereneta
I've been a daily reader of Media Diet since our mutual friend, Johann, tipped me off of your whereabouts. You've made the Internet fun again for me, so much so, I get a little too preoccupied at work reading blogs. Filling my head with new ideas and a new taste to innovate. Notwithstanding, inspiration for me to carve my own space into the blogosphere. Best to Media Diet, Heath & the readers! -- Noah
Corollary: Workaday World XXXIII
A friend took a bunch of snaps at the going-away party at the Sail Loft last night. These are some of the people I work -- and worked -- with.
Rock Shows of Note LXVII
Playing catch up on a relatively busy show-going week. Tuesday night, I went to the Kendall Cafe with Andrea to see Francine play a low-key set. We arrived just in time for their performance at 11 p.m. I really enjoyed the multiple small-group settings -- Clayton and Steve played several songs as a duet before being joined by more people, who later stepped away so the band could end on a small-group note. This was the first time I really listened to Francine and appreciated their music. Well worth going out rather late on a school night!
Wednesday night, I met Hiromi and Audubon at Club Passim to hear their friend Ryan Montbleau, who leaves today for a five-week tour of the west coast. Ryan's a lot of fun live. He writes interesting, energetic songs in the vein of Stevie Wonder and Jamiroquoi by way of Ani Difranco. Ryan's got an amazingly soulful voice, and even though his songwriting and guitar playing can follow the thump and growl of so many singer-songwriters, Ryan's much more than a jam band-inspired musician. A solid set.
Next up was Rachel McCartney, who also performed a nice set. I don't always know what to make of music like this because it's not quite folk, it's not quite pop, and it's not quite rock. But it was enjoyable roots-oriented rock, I guess, with Rachel playing with an able four piece. The drummer seemed to have a lot of fun during the show. The bassist doubled on soprano sax for a couple of well-detailed pieced. And the guitarist, Brian Webb, was amazing. Such a good sense of humor and several moments of explosive rock guitar to counter the more folk-oriented material. He was definitely a standout and one of the best things about the set.
Then last night, after hanging out with co-workers for the last bash seeing everyone off, I caught the E line to Brigham Circle to catch some of the last Handstand Command residency show at the Choppin' Block. I arrive just as Origami wrapped up their set -- and too late for Choo Choo la Rouge -- but I did catch the Operators in full. And I wasn't disappointed I made the trip. They opened with my favorite song, and the set was energetic and fun to watch.
A couple of late nights, but good music all around.
Wednesday night, I met Hiromi and Audubon at Club Passim to hear their friend Ryan Montbleau, who leaves today for a five-week tour of the west coast. Ryan's a lot of fun live. He writes interesting, energetic songs in the vein of Stevie Wonder and Jamiroquoi by way of Ani Difranco. Ryan's got an amazingly soulful voice, and even though his songwriting and guitar playing can follow the thump and growl of so many singer-songwriters, Ryan's much more than a jam band-inspired musician. A solid set.
Next up was Rachel McCartney, who also performed a nice set. I don't always know what to make of music like this because it's not quite folk, it's not quite pop, and it's not quite rock. But it was enjoyable roots-oriented rock, I guess, with Rachel playing with an able four piece. The drummer seemed to have a lot of fun during the show. The bassist doubled on soprano sax for a couple of well-detailed pieced. And the guitarist, Brian Webb, was amazing. Such a good sense of humor and several moments of explosive rock guitar to counter the more folk-oriented material. He was definitely a standout and one of the best things about the set.
Then last night, after hanging out with co-workers for the last bash seeing everyone off, I caught the E line to Brigham Circle to catch some of the last Handstand Command residency show at the Choppin' Block. I arrive just as Origami wrapped up their set -- and too late for Choo Choo la Rouge -- but I did catch the Operators in full. And I wasn't disappointed I made the trip. They opened with my favorite song, and the set was energetic and fun to watch.
A couple of late nights, but good music all around.
Nervy, Pervy XVI
Supercult recently released its first movie, "The Young Idea," a two and a half-hour long movie featuring several of the Supercult women, skateboarding, mimes, and 20 minutes of bonus features. They're only making 1,000 of the first edition, which will be edited and redesigned for the second edition. Might be worth ordering sooner than later.
Event-O-Dex LXV
Sunday, June 29: The Spaghetti Umbrellas, a hybrid of marching band music, dixie, and modern jazz, blows their tops at Zuzu's in Central Square in Cambridge. Wish I could be there!
Monday, June 30: Nick Thorkelson, whose political cartoons have appeared in the Boston Globe, Somerville Journal, and Somerville Community News, will give a brief illustrated history of cartooning emphasizing comics and graphic novels, show and talk about some of his own work, and give a demonstration of cartooning techniques at the Somerville Public Library. 7 p.m. Wish I could make this, too!
Monday, June 30: Nick Thorkelson, whose political cartoons have appeared in the Boston Globe, Somerville Journal, and Somerville Community News, will give a brief illustrated history of cartooning emphasizing comics and graphic novels, show and talk about some of his own work, and give a demonstration of cartooning techniques at the Somerville Public Library. 7 p.m. Wish I could make this, too!
Workaday World XXXIII
Fast Company has been located in the Scotch & Sirloin building since 1997 or so, originally located on the fourth floor and then moving down one flight to slowly take over all of the third floor. It's been where I've come into work for the last six years, and it's been an amazing place. Now most of the team is moving on -- either to New York or parts unknown -- and almost everything that made this place what it was besides the people who populated it is wrapped in plastic and packed in boxes. Moving trucks idle in the back alley. The movers just took a lunch break. And I can get a sense of how the place will feel once everything has been moved.
Empty. There will still be about 12 of us working out of the Boston office, but it's going to be a different place, indeed. I thought I felt sad when Bill and Alan moved on. I thought I felt sad as friends and colleagues moved on. But it's amazing how the emptying of a place can make you feel.
It's funny, but writing this entry, I had to start up Tom Waits' "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)." I guess it's how I feel today.
It's weird, because it's not like I'm leaving the magazine -- or like the magazine is folding. But this has been a special place, a place that's very much been a part of what made the magazine special. The space will remain, but there'll be a lot more space in it, that's for sure. Cheers!
Empty. There will still be about 12 of us working out of the Boston office, but it's going to be a different place, indeed. I thought I felt sad when Bill and Alan moved on. I thought I felt sad as friends and colleagues moved on. But it's amazing how the emptying of a place can make you feel.
It's funny, but writing this entry, I had to start up Tom Waits' "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)." I guess it's how I feel today.
The piano has been drinking, my necktie is asleep
And the combo went back to New York, the jukebox has to take a leak
And the carpet needs a haircut, and the spotlight looks like a prison break
Cause the telephone’s out of cigarettes, and the balcony is on the make
And the piano has been drinking
The piano has been drinking, and the menus are all freezing
And the light man’s blind in one eye and he can’t see out of the other
And the piano tuner’s got a hearing aid, and he showed up with his mother
And the piano has been drinking
The piano has been drinking
As the bouncer is a sumo wrestler, cream-puff Casper Milktoast
And the owner is a mental midget with the IQ of a fence post
Cause the piano has been drinking
The piano has been drinking
And you can’t find your waitress with a Geiger counter
And she hates you and your friends and you just can’t get served without her
And the box-office is drooling, and the bar stools are on fire
And the newspapers were fooling, and the ashtrays have retired
Cause the piano has been drinking
The piano has been drinking
The piano has been drinking
not me
not me
not me
not me
not
me
It's weird, because it's not like I'm leaving the magazine -- or like the magazine is folding. But this has been a special place, a place that's very much been a part of what made the magazine special. The space will remain, but there'll be a lot more space in it, that's for sure. Cheers!
From the In Box: Today Is Media Diet's Birthday II
I know you from a few different arenas, but appreciate Media Diet on its own merits. It's nice to have a daily digest of innovations in media. And not just arrogant editors in an antiquated medium or old white guys and models blabbing on TV. You hit the fresh, "alternative" forms of media that take chances, get a new perspective on things, or are at least different and personal. Thanks! -- Clint Schaff
***
Happy 2nd B-Day to Media Diet! Your site was the first blog I regularly visited, and the key inspiration for me to get off my duff, grab Maria and finally enter the blogosphere ourselves this past March. Meanwhile, I'm glad you stumbled upon our site! We haven't really spread the word yet, so our traffic is slowly rising through word of mouth. It's truly a lot of fun, and I've become quite addicted to it. And it's a cool hobby for Maria and I to share... -- Michael Schneider
Happy 2nd B-Day to Media Diet! Your site was the first blog I regularly visited, and the key inspiration for me to get off my duff, grab Maria and finally enter the blogosphere ourselves this past March. Meanwhile, I'm glad you stumbled upon our site! We haven't really spread the word yet, so our traffic is slowly rising through word of mouth. It's truly a lot of fun, and I've become quite addicted to it. And it's a cool hobby for Maria and I to share... -- Michael Schneider
Today Is Media Diet's Birthday II
Exactly two years ago today, Media Diet began. In June 2002, I had 2,854 unique visitors. So far this month, Media Diet's rated about 7,266 uniques. That must mean I'm doing something right, if not just publishing consistently.
Last year, I waxed enthusiastic about what people can do to improve the blogosphere. I still encourage you to email the people whose blogs you appreciate and thank them for what they do. The Web isn't about pages. Blogs aren't about posts. They're about people. Go to to the people behind the pages and posts. Don't ask for links; link to people you want others to know about. Don't just quote and comment; contribute original, useful material to the Web. Don't follow the link pack; do the new.
Also, standing thanks to Evan Williams, Jason Shellen, and the Blogger gang. More power to you. Thanks to Jon Ferguson and the Cardhouse crew for giving me a place to hang my hat. Thanks to Media Dieticians everywhere. Thanks to the people who've followed my confblogs. And thank you, who's reading this right now. You're the best.
***
In other news, James Stegall is 28 today. Happy birthday, James!
Last year, I waxed enthusiastic about what people can do to improve the blogosphere. I still encourage you to email the people whose blogs you appreciate and thank them for what they do. The Web isn't about pages. Blogs aren't about posts. They're about people. Go to to the people behind the pages and posts. Don't ask for links; link to people you want others to know about. Don't just quote and comment; contribute original, useful material to the Web. Don't follow the link pack; do the new.
Also, standing thanks to Evan Williams, Jason Shellen, and the Blogger gang. More power to you. Thanks to Jon Ferguson and the Cardhouse crew for giving me a place to hang my hat. Thanks to Media Dieticians everywhere. Thanks to the people who've followed my confblogs. And thank you, who's reading this right now. You're the best.
In other news, James Stegall is 28 today. Happy birthday, James!
Thursday, June 26, 2003
Event-O-Dex LXIV
Saturday, June 28: Star Star Quarterback, Alexander McGregor, and California Stadium celebrate the release of a record of some sort at the Coolidge Corner in Brookline. (Word is Andy Star is in the Mittens, which the Anchormen played with twice in two consecutive nights. Who knew?)
Nervy, Pervy XV
While I've written in the past about what online community organizers can learn from pornography-oriented Web sites, a recent Suicide Girls essay by Glenn Reynolds titled "Guerrilla Media and the Cutting Edge" looks at the future of journalism through the lens of porn.
Reynolds cites the economies of scale now available to grassroots media creators and parallels the specificity of fetishes in the porn world to the increasing emergence and maturity of online "niche" journalism. While there is promise in this potential future -- while some of the connections Reynolds mentions are clear -- I think it's important to remember that porn is porn and sells because, well, sex sells.
The need for information -- even if as fetishistic as that exhibited by otaku -- may never be as strong as the biological need for nudity. Similarly, tastes of this type -- fetishes -- are relatively persistent and consistent while, I would argue, the need for information and input continuously evolves as it is informed and influenced by previous information. Life-long learning is a moving target. A foot fetish isn't.
Thanks to the Dead Parrot Society.
Reynolds cites the economies of scale now available to grassroots media creators and parallels the specificity of fetishes in the porn world to the increasing emergence and maturity of online "niche" journalism. While there is promise in this potential future -- while some of the connections Reynolds mentions are clear -- I think it's important to remember that porn is porn and sells because, well, sex sells.
The need for information -- even if as fetishistic as that exhibited by otaku -- may never be as strong as the biological need for nudity. Similarly, tastes of this type -- fetishes -- are relatively persistent and consistent while, I would argue, the need for information and input continuously evolves as it is informed and influenced by previous information. Life-long learning is a moving target. A foot fetish isn't.
Thanks to the Dead Parrot Society.
Romp and Circumstance
Pure Content features a transcript of Will Ferrell's Harvard commencement speech delivered earlier this month. It's no Kurt Vonnegut by way of Paul Krassner by way of Mary Smich, but it's worth reading. And it's hella better than A Night at the Roxbury.
Magazine Me XXXVI
Magazine Price Search is a new Web service that "tracks the lowest price for 1,683 magazines from 15 online magazine merchants" to help people find the absolute lowest price. Checking out how bargain basement they go for Fast Company, I'm floored. $3.28 for 15 issues. $3.28!
How can they do it? Sponsorship. The vendor offering that rate, Best Deal Magazines, has brought in a sponsor -- the Vintage Superstore -- to cover most of the subscription fee. (Which actually appears as $3.95 on their site.) What's the catch? You agree to let the sponsor send you promotional emails, about one a month, for an undisclosed period of time. You won't learn this unless you see the asterisk, click on the sponsor description link, and read the pop-up window really, really fast. It closed itself before I could read all of the text, so I had to click on the link again. That seems shady.
Not all of Magazine Price Search's recommended vendors follow this practice, I'm sure. But it's an intriguing service -- equal parts shopping bot for magazine subs and deeply discounted rates. $4/year for Fast Company. Yowzers. If you read a lot of magazines -- and I do -- this could be a reader's paradise.
Thanks to I Want Media.
How can they do it? Sponsorship. The vendor offering that rate, Best Deal Magazines, has brought in a sponsor -- the Vintage Superstore -- to cover most of the subscription fee. (Which actually appears as $3.95 on their site.) What's the catch? You agree to let the sponsor send you promotional emails, about one a month, for an undisclosed period of time. You won't learn this unless you see the asterisk, click on the sponsor description link, and read the pop-up window really, really fast. It closed itself before I could read all of the text, so I had to click on the link again. That seems shady.
Not all of Magazine Price Search's recommended vendors follow this practice, I'm sure. But it's an intriguing service -- equal parts shopping bot for magazine subs and deeply discounted rates. $4/year for Fast Company. Yowzers. If you read a lot of magazines -- and I do -- this could be a reader's paradise.
Thanks to I Want Media.
Anchormen, Aweigh! XXV
The Anchormen's first record, "The Boy Who Cried Love," is featured prominently as part of the Knockoff Project, an online collection of "album cover spoofs, goofs, tributes, send ups, near misses and coincedences." With more than 100 examples, the gallery features examples from musical groups such as Clinic, Wat Tyler, 1000 Homo DJs, and Bongwater. Fun stuff, and there we are, right at the top!
Thanks to Steve Garfield.
Thanks to Steve Garfield.
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Blogging About Blogging LXII
I may be flattering myself, but I just got a referral link from Slashdot's story submission page. Is Media Diet about to be Slashdotted? That'd be a first!
Oh, yeah. I was just Slashdotted. They picked up on Todd Allen's white paper on online comics. Woot.
Oh, yeah. I was just Slashdotted. They picked up on Todd Allen's white paper on online comics. Woot.
Workaday World XXXII
On a somewhat quiet, sad, and tired work day filled with colleagues and friends packing boxes to either move to New York City with the magazine -- or onto other opportunities and activities -- my mood was lifted just now by the most amazing find:
A galley copy of Neal Stephenson's forthcoming novel Quicksilver.
A numbered edition -- 112 of 435 galleys printed -- this book made my day. I didn't even know this book was scheduled! It's slated for sale September 23.
J.K. Rowling's got nothing on Stephenson. Nothing. Call me: Happy Man.
A galley copy of Neal Stephenson's forthcoming novel Quicksilver.
A numbered edition -- 112 of 435 galleys printed -- this book made my day. I didn't even know this book was scheduled! It's slated for sale September 23.
J.K. Rowling's got nothing on Stephenson. Nothing. Call me: Happy Man.
Happy Birthday to Media Dieticians XV
Media Diet launched June 27, 2001. That means that this Friday -- two days from now -- is Media Diet's second birthday.
I think it'd be fun to do a couple of things to help commemorate the occasion. One, if you would like to email me a birthday wish, testimonial, or other comment on the site, I'd appreciate it. What do you like about Media Diet? How do you use it? What's the most useful tool or resource you've learned about through the blog? Has Media Diet had any impact on what you do, how -- or why? Let me know what Media Diet does for you.
Secondly, I think it might be fun to open up Media Diet to the masses Friday. If you would like to contribute a book, comic, movie, record, or zine review -- or more than one -- send it to me and I'll publish it here. If you would like to submit grassroots media-related news or commentary, I'll welcome that, too.
And perhaps most fun of all, if you would like to be given the keys to Media Diet as a team member in order to post directly to Media Diet over the course of the day, let me know. I might not do this for everyone, but if you're a long-time Media Dietician, I know you, and you're interested in contributing Media Diet-style content to the blog Friday, I think it could be cool to make Media Diet a groupblog in honor of its anniversary. Media Dieticians, unite!
May Media Diet's third year be as fun as its first two! Since I stopped publishing print zines, this little blog has been one of the neatest side projects I've got going. Thanks for being here. You make it all worthwhile.
I think it'd be fun to do a couple of things to help commemorate the occasion. One, if you would like to email me a birthday wish, testimonial, or other comment on the site, I'd appreciate it. What do you like about Media Diet? How do you use it? What's the most useful tool or resource you've learned about through the blog? Has Media Diet had any impact on what you do, how -- or why? Let me know what Media Diet does for you.
Secondly, I think it might be fun to open up Media Diet to the masses Friday. If you would like to contribute a book, comic, movie, record, or zine review -- or more than one -- send it to me and I'll publish it here. If you would like to submit grassroots media-related news or commentary, I'll welcome that, too.
And perhaps most fun of all, if you would like to be given the keys to Media Diet as a team member in order to post directly to Media Diet over the course of the day, let me know. I might not do this for everyone, but if you're a long-time Media Dietician, I know you, and you're interested in contributing Media Diet-style content to the blog Friday, I think it could be cool to make Media Diet a groupblog in honor of its anniversary. Media Dieticians, unite!
May Media Diet's third year be as fun as its first two! Since I stopped publishing print zines, this little blog has been one of the neatest side projects I've got going. Thanks for being here. You make it all worthwhile.
North End Moment XXXIX
In the alley behind the Scotch & Sirloin building while a delivery man struggles to open the door with a hand cart:
And that, Media Dieticians, is how I became the Most Unhelpful Man.
Dave: Want some help?
Delivery Man: No. I've got it.
The man continues to struggle, and Dave and I continue to talk.
A woman exits the building and notices the man struggling.
Woman: What, those guys won't help you?
Me: We offered, and he declined!
Woman: (Mutters something under her breath as she holds the door.)
And that, Media Dieticians, is how I became the Most Unhelpful Man.
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Corollary: Mention Me! XLIII
I don't know. This rental property also purports to be in the Heath Building in Saugatuck, Michigan. Same edifice honoring my greatness?
Mention Me! XLIII
Finally, an architect recognizes my brilliance and erects an edifice in my honor.
Media Dieticians, the Heath Building in Saugatuck, on the "art coast" of Michigan, courtesy of Joe Germuska.
Media Dieticians, the Heath Building in Saugatuck, on the "art coast" of Michigan, courtesy of Joe Germuska.
Comics and Computers III
Todd Allen has published an excellent report on the state of the online comics industry. His white paper analyzes the online comics business -- and its impact on the wider industry. Allen covers the people and organizations involved, online usage, subscription models, and who he thinks will come out on top -- and at the bottom. I've yet to read the entire essay -- and there may be gaps in his analysis -- but if you're interested in online comics, this is well worth a read. Especially because it's the first report of its nature that I'm aware of.
Hiking History VI
My friend Mike -- and his wife Maria -- have a joint blog that I just discovered. And yesterday, Mike wrote a wonderful entry about the ghost towers of Los Angeles -- vacant skyscrapers. Dead buildings and unused infrastructure are favorite sight-seeing things of mine. I wish more locally oriented bloggers would mapblog their communities and write entries like this. Document the place in which you're based, Media Dieticians. This post makes me want to go to LA just to see the buildings Mike annotates. Maybe Mike will add photos to his blog in the future. Good stuff.
Music to My Eyes XIX
The Bird Machine is a wonderful online gallery of hand-printed posters by Jay Ryan, Diana Sudyka, and Mat Daly. Prints date back to 1995. Meanwhile, Atavistic offers some of Dan Grzeca's work for sale. He's also featured in the aforementioned Gig Posters archive.
Thanks to Through the Wire.
Thanks to Through the Wire.
From the In Box: Magazine Me XXXV
I miss Brills.
Corollary: Magazine Me XXXV
Chicago Tribune readers weigh in with their own list of the 20 best magazines. My Media Diet roundup is yet to come.
Thanks to Jim Romenesko's Media News.
Thanks to Jim Romenesko's Media News.
Digesting the Daily XVI
Recent editions of the Daily Northwestern, the student newspaper of my alma mater, featured several media-, technology-, and activism-related items that might be of interest to Media Dieticians.
Year-old NUTV Receives Mixed Reviews from Students, Staff
No channel for NNN, local speakers, NU sports on the horizon, officials say
(May 29, 2003)
Conquering the Air Waves
Corporate control of radio is fast becoming the rule
(May 29, 2003)
Top of the Line
Rocky, Devo and Ralphie head off into the sunset as Alex Thomas ends an era at the Daily
(May 30, 2003)
If you work for a college newspaper and would like to sign me up for a complimentary subscription, please feel free to do so. My address is in the grey bar over on the left.
Year-old NUTV Receives Mixed Reviews from Students, Staff
No channel for NNN, local speakers, NU sports on the horizon, officials say
(May 29, 2003)
Conquering the Air Waves
Corporate control of radio is fast becoming the rule
(May 29, 2003)
Top of the Line
Rocky, Devo and Ralphie head off into the sunset as Alex Thomas ends an era at the Daily
(May 30, 2003)
If you work for a college newspaper and would like to sign me up for a complimentary subscription, please feel free to do so. My address is in the grey bar over on the left.
Monday, June 23, 2003
Corollary: Blogging About Blogging LXI
Ladies and gentlemen, a tip of the Media Diet hat to Blogger and Google staffer Eric, who's been hella helpful today providing support services to me as I find my Dano legs. While I decried the loss of the same-window display of the post creation and management tools in a previous entry, Eric just informed me that that view -- while unavailable in Explorer, which I was using solely because Mozilla periodically fragged my template -- is now available in Mozilla. Works like a charm. A charm.
Also, those of you who've been reporting bugs such as email notifications lacking proper Subjects -- and RSS feed descriptions not linking properly -- rest assured that I'm tweaking as we go... and that the Bloogler-Goggler gang is on top of things. I'm an increasingly happy camper. And I'm increasingly pleased that I use Blogger. Thanks, Eric.
Also, those of you who've been reporting bugs such as email notifications lacking proper Subjects -- and RSS feed descriptions not linking properly -- rest assured that I'm tweaking as we go... and that the Bloogler-Goggler gang is on top of things. I'm an increasingly happy camper. And I'm increasingly pleased that I use Blogger. Thanks, Eric.
The Movie I Watched Last Night LXXI
A Night at the Roxbury
Why are almost all of the movies that spin out of Saturday Night Live so bad? While a harmless bit of fun, this movie is yet another example that a sketch or a set of recurring characters might not be enough to base a movie on. Best for SNL actors and alumni to parlay their acting skills in original movies, perhaps. That said, this is the story of two brothers hung up on Euro-trash nightclub-based night life -- and each other. They have a dream: a dream to break away from their father's silk plant store and open a club of their own. In a way, their dream comes true as they become estranged, Will Ferrell becomes engaged to the girl next door (an oversexed Molly Shannon), and their primary idea for a nightclub -- one in which the outside is decorated like the inside and vice versa (inspired by the many hours they spend standing in line... and the many clubs they're denied entrance to) -- gets implemented off by a homophobic, paranoid club owner. In the end, they reconcile their shallow differences and step into their new roles, but there's little satisfaction in the conclusion. While the physical comedy elicits some giggles, the Richard Grieco and Loni Anderson cameos are wasted -- as is Dan Hedaya's entire role as the brothers' father. Worth watching only -- only -- if you're a fan of Ferrell and Chris Kattan, whose fey rubberlegging fills some time but disappoints overall.
Jesus Christ Superstar
An amazing movie on several levels. I grew up listening to the rock opera's soundtrack -- and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's score and lyrics continue to impress me to this day. This is the way rock operas should be done. The on-location filming in Israel adds a lot to the movie's visuals, as does the scant costuming. Very well done, minimally. But the movie impresses more as a modern-day take on the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. Carl Anderson's Judas Iscariot shines throughout, momentarily disappointing but then impressing with his realization -- and self-doubt -- that his betrayal was not his own free action. Instead, he was a pawn in a larger plot just like other people involved. Similarly, Ted Neeley's Jesus Christ steps out with an extremely flexible, powerful voice -- and another great scene involving self-doubt in which Jesus resolves to sacrifice himself but questions God's motivations and the eventual outcome of his martyrdom. But as strong as those two actors -- and characters -- are, it was Joshua Mostel's King Herod that stole the show for me. His hedonistic portrayal of the king reminded me of Howard Volman's old Flo character that helped revitalize the Turtles by way of the Mothers of Invention. A brilliant song, albeit a short scene. An interesting parallel watch may be the Mr. Show sketch "Jeepers Creepers Semi-Star," in which Jack Black reprises Neeley's role in a dead-on send up of the movie's opening scenes. In fact, the first time I started watching the movie, I had to stop because Mr. Show's parody loomed so large in my memory. Spot on, both.
Why are almost all of the movies that spin out of Saturday Night Live so bad? While a harmless bit of fun, this movie is yet another example that a sketch or a set of recurring characters might not be enough to base a movie on. Best for SNL actors and alumni to parlay their acting skills in original movies, perhaps. That said, this is the story of two brothers hung up on Euro-trash nightclub-based night life -- and each other. They have a dream: a dream to break away from their father's silk plant store and open a club of their own. In a way, their dream comes true as they become estranged, Will Ferrell becomes engaged to the girl next door (an oversexed Molly Shannon), and their primary idea for a nightclub -- one in which the outside is decorated like the inside and vice versa (inspired by the many hours they spend standing in line... and the many clubs they're denied entrance to) -- gets implemented off by a homophobic, paranoid club owner. In the end, they reconcile their shallow differences and step into their new roles, but there's little satisfaction in the conclusion. While the physical comedy elicits some giggles, the Richard Grieco and Loni Anderson cameos are wasted -- as is Dan Hedaya's entire role as the brothers' father. Worth watching only -- only -- if you're a fan of Ferrell and Chris Kattan, whose fey rubberlegging fills some time but disappoints overall.
Jesus Christ Superstar
An amazing movie on several levels. I grew up listening to the rock opera's soundtrack -- and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's score and lyrics continue to impress me to this day. This is the way rock operas should be done. The on-location filming in Israel adds a lot to the movie's visuals, as does the scant costuming. Very well done, minimally. But the movie impresses more as a modern-day take on the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. Carl Anderson's Judas Iscariot shines throughout, momentarily disappointing but then impressing with his realization -- and self-doubt -- that his betrayal was not his own free action. Instead, he was a pawn in a larger plot just like other people involved. Similarly, Ted Neeley's Jesus Christ steps out with an extremely flexible, powerful voice -- and another great scene involving self-doubt in which Jesus resolves to sacrifice himself but questions God's motivations and the eventual outcome of his martyrdom. But as strong as those two actors -- and characters -- are, it was Joshua Mostel's King Herod that stole the show for me. His hedonistic portrayal of the king reminded me of Howard Volman's old Flo character that helped revitalize the Turtles by way of the Mothers of Invention. A brilliant song, albeit a short scene. An interesting parallel watch may be the Mr. Show sketch "Jeepers Creepers Semi-Star," in which Jack Black reprises Neeley's role in a dead-on send up of the movie's opening scenes. In fact, the first time I started watching the movie, I had to stop because Mr. Show's parody loomed so large in my memory. Spot on, both.
Mention Me! XLII
Thanks to the Online Publishers Association for citing Media Diet in a recent intelligence report about business blogs.
Corollary: Comics and Community XIII
Sunday I woke early to head into Chinatown to catch an 8 a.m. Fung Wah Bus to New York City for the MoCCA Art Festival. I grabbed a quick breakfast and still arrived in time for the 7:30 shuttle. I was in New York by 11:30.
As I walked into the Puck Building, I ran into Greg Cook and his girlfriend. Small world! Made me feel like I was in Toronto for the Toronto Comic Arts Festival all over again. Inside, I quickly made the rounds of Alternative Comics, Top Shelf Comics, and Highwater Books -- as well as Dan Moynihan and Craig Bostick's tables -- to say hi before starting to browse in earnest.
There was a lot of amazing stuff on hand. The new edition of Top Shelf's anthology is awesome -- and the new Kramer's Ergot is even more impressive. What a piece of work! But I was most impressed by all of the individual minicomics makers who were tabling. Marc Ngui, Marcel Guidemond, and Jeff Kilpatrick, all of whom I met in Toronto, were there, as were a bunch of other self-publishers.
I took a quick break to grab a bite to eat for lunch and walk around the neighborhood before I ventured back to the increasingly crowded space to explore all of the exhibitors.
Some highlights of MoCCA:
My first Fung Wah Bus experience
Seeing so many Boston-area comics friends in New York -- as well as folks like Charles Brownstein, Chris Duffy, Jim Mortensen, and all of my publishing pals
Running into some of the TCAF crew again
The new Kramer's Ergot
My comics reviews in the new Top Shelf collection, as old as they may be
Jeff Smith, creator of Bone, buying me a beer at the bar across the street
Seeing Sarah
The weird, random moment in the alley chatting with an underground comics original art dealer from Miami Beach who offered me a joint
All of the minis, comics, and books I picked up to review for Media Diet
It was raining as I left MoCCA to head back to Fung Wah -- and to Boston. A tired and crowd-weary Heath stood on the curb for 20 minutes waiting for the second 6 p.m. bus to arrive. Spent much of the ride back sleeping, listening to my iPod, and reading Cosmic Trigger. Arrived back in Boston around 11:30 to hop the T home. All in all, a good day. And you can't beat going to New York round trip for $20!
As I walked into the Puck Building, I ran into Greg Cook and his girlfriend. Small world! Made me feel like I was in Toronto for the Toronto Comic Arts Festival all over again. Inside, I quickly made the rounds of Alternative Comics, Top Shelf Comics, and Highwater Books -- as well as Dan Moynihan and Craig Bostick's tables -- to say hi before starting to browse in earnest.
There was a lot of amazing stuff on hand. The new edition of Top Shelf's anthology is awesome -- and the new Kramer's Ergot is even more impressive. What a piece of work! But I was most impressed by all of the individual minicomics makers who were tabling. Marc Ngui, Marcel Guidemond, and Jeff Kilpatrick, all of whom I met in Toronto, were there, as were a bunch of other self-publishers.
I took a quick break to grab a bite to eat for lunch and walk around the neighborhood before I ventured back to the increasingly crowded space to explore all of the exhibitors.
Some highlights of MoCCA:
It was raining as I left MoCCA to head back to Fung Wah -- and to Boston. A tired and crowd-weary Heath stood on the curb for 20 minutes waiting for the second 6 p.m. bus to arrive. Spent much of the ride back sleeping, listening to my iPod, and reading Cosmic Trigger. Arrived back in Boston around 11:30 to hop the T home. All in all, a good day. And you can't beat going to New York round trip for $20!