Le Robotique de Rocher

So since moving to a larger city and having many more options for things like places to eat and happenings around town. I've been wondering a little bit of if other places might be better. I really enjoyed a recent trip to New York, but because of the more quiet areas of Williamsburg and some of the small quaint quiet galleries like Giant Robot. I enjoyed the Art Parade for the crazy happenings and the way the community came together for it. It was nice to get out of this city and be around something else, but I'm wondering more and more if the feelings of modernism found in literature, art, and life since the 40s still rings true. It seems like every city lacks something and it cannot always be chalked up to, "there's nothing to do." Saying this doesn't get to the deeper thing many places lack. I'm beginning to think instead it should be revised to read "there is nothing to do that doesn't involve some type of marketing or sales gimmick." It seems places lack the feeling of community and creativity without the need to make money or market oneself. Part of the excitement of traveling is getting a small break from this and a chance at seeing something new. The focus of being someplace new kind of dulls the exerting sounds of "buy this, do this, attention here please,"which surrounds us daily.

I've always found myself dissatisfied with the new internet social networking and I think I've finally begun to realize what I disliked about it from the very beginning, the word "networking." Business terms associated with making the most of your time financially (and in the job market) while away from the "job" itself are sneaking into our social lives. I've ranted before about Myspace and about other things like fashion blogs and stupid DC based brightestyoungthings. But I think there is a larger problem that has permeated these things and has helped to foster what it is about them that annoys me. It is that all of these things are in some way dedicated to the process of selling something whether it be a new band, some clothes, a new type of alcohol, or even a party (parties thrown to show off our new logo or blog launch). What happened to the days where parties and get togethers were about the people there and the conversations had? I'm not against marketing and networking, I think these things have their place, but I feel like I'm one of the few that wants them to stop or subside during my time away from work/free time.  I think part of why I have so much fun with Nicole is that she feels the same way too. We both like to stay in and read a novel or go to free museums/galleries (though we both find this annoying when people are pushing, talking loudly, and cell phones are ringing) instead of go to events in the city thrown by sponsorships or newly launched blogs, tv shows, companies, magazines, newspapers, movies.

Part of why I don't own a cell phone is that I no longer feel the need to be connected to everyone at all times. I like to shut things off. I appreciate moments of silence away from advertisements, text messages, and sonic noise. I wonder if things will get louder as time goes by or if others will feel more like I do. Sometimes I feel like very few people feel this way, very few people seem to enjoy each other for who they are, as opposed to talking about products that they share a preference for.

I know that a lot of this springs from the need and desire for money and I don't think this is evil or unnecessary. I just think that we should try to make it subside a bit by ignoring it at times or making sure that we as people have time away from it at times too. So instead of clicking the stupid Gwen Stefani for HP banner ad at the side of my Vox, I think I'll open a book or perhaps go back to knitting a scarf.

  

Springsteen's releasing a new studio album this week and Dylan's releasing a greatest hits compilation.  Which do you prefer from a legend: new material or time-honored classics?

    Well I think it's important for artists to keep creating and moving forward.If an artist is giving a lame ass try at creating, they need to give it up. David Bowie, the Beach Boys, Bruce, the Who and the Rolling Stones are good examples of artists that need to just stop (Rebel Sell!). Other artists that reinvent themselves such as Scott Walker and to some extent Lou Reed, should keep creating as long as they are seriously taking on new problems and expanding new direction within the field.  While I like classic material, greatest hits collections get very old over time and there is no need to keep releasing the same album.  

I'm working on a paper for grad school about adding social tagging and commenting to online public library catalogs in order to make catalogs more user friendly and fun. I initially thought it would be a good idea to add this function, but the more I read about the costs involved the less I like it. It seems expensive and cumbersome for very little benefit. Also I checked out LibraryThing.com, which is supposedly a kind of trial run with the idea and also allows for book trades (cool idea, but still seems rather clunky in practice). Anyway, as I'm writing the paper, I think I'm changing my mind.  I think it is a bad idea. One reason is the internet is already full of terrible reviewers and comments; this is already annoying enough. I really don't think I need my academic searches to also bring up things like " Whalt Whitymans iz a prick." or "Da autor needz to d oa better job writin' cauz I had to read the b00k wit a dictionaryzz."

Also, the term Web 2.0 was and never will be cool.

What sources do you count on for national news coverage?  How about international and local news?

Factia and coworkers for both national and international; local is morning tv news and the DCist.

I did a little Christmas shopping at this the other day. It was a lot of fun to go and I was out just as it was starting to get crowded. I ended up spending more money than I had planned, but I did get some nice prints and some great gifts. I cannot tell what the gifts are though.

Now I cannot wait for the Small Press Expo. I'm especially looking forward to meeting James Kolchaka and getting to talk to Jamie Tanner again, as well as pick up his newish full length. Goth John might be coming to visit and go with me too, I'm hoping this will happen since I haven't seen him in a while and because he'd be the first person to come out and visit me since I've been out here. Also it'd give me an excuse to go here too.

I'm glad that it's finally starting to feel more like Autumn and I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving and the season. I am not looking forward to seeing how my brother's girlfriend pays for rent (staying in my dad's basement with my brother) with with Taco Bell. How many Calupas can one eat for the cost of rent?

I've also started a portfolio site of sorts here. Expect some updates and some new things there soon.

What are your Major League Baseball playoff predictions?

It'll be just as boring as ever, a lot of tools will love it, and I won't waste any more time thinking about it.

What fictional creature do you wish were real?

The elusive Jabberwocky with its eyes of flame. Or basically any of my WOW characters.

"Halo 3" was released this week - did you get a copy?  What are your early thoughts on this final installment of the blockbuster trilogy?

Why would I get a copy of something so dumb? That is like asking if I ran out to buy the latest James Patterson novel. My answer: Hell no!

My brother did get the game though, as all good ol' boys would or should. He actually told me the other day that his girlfriend is mad at him because he told her that he won't be leaving the house or talking her her for like a month because of the game. This managed to make her mad.. imagine that. Oh yeah another point of interest.. she moved in with him in my father's basement and pays the rent by brining home excess Taco Bell for my dad and brother after her shifts. Classy.

"Eddo Stern works on the disputed borderlands between fantasy and reality, exploring the uneasy and otherwise unconscious connections between physical existence and electronic simulation. His work explores new modes of narrative and documentary, experimental computer game design, fantasies of technology and history, and cross-cultural representation in computer games, film, and online media. He works in various media including computer software, hardware and game design, kinetic sculpture, performance, and film and video production. His short machinima films include "Sheik Attack", "Vietnam Romance", "Landlord Vigilante" and "Deathstar". He is the founder of the now retired cooperative C-level where he co-produced the physical computer gaming  projects "Waco Resurrection", "Tekken Torture Tournament", "Cockfight Arena", and the internet meme conference "C-level Memefest" He is currently developing the new sensory deprivation game "Darkgame". "

    I recently found out about Eddo Stern's work through we-make-money not art where the contributing author brilliantly stated, "In Man, Woman, Dragon, for example, WoW (World of Warcraft) is reduced to its core elements: the cult of Chuck Norris, female elves, and a slain dragon." Does it really take an exhibit in a gallery or press commentary to say geeks are really ridiculous and need to get a life beyond their computer games and magical elves? The comment did intrigue me though, as making fun of these dweebs often does to.

    While I found the keywords he had listed for some pieces interesting, such as for Crusade (2002) "Tolkien, Christ, Your Empire and Your Desktop" (it could almost be the a title for the next Godspeed album), the content and actual representation definitely fell flat (as I had expected it would when an artist statement cites memes ).  But I came to a larger thought after viewing several more photos.

    Why do I seek this stuff out to make fun of? I purposely have to search through all of the other pieces of artwork online to find it in order to amuse myself. There are obviously better choices of things to read about and view.  It's like going to a gourmet chocolate shop and buying a standard stale Hershey bar near the register. Maybe it's the convenience; there are so many tools to make fun of out there and interesting people and things are so much more scarce. Any way you look at it, it will always be amusing, don't you think?

What's the greatest video game console on the market? Do you own it or is it on your wish list?

I would eventually like to own a Wii and my very own DS (the one my brother promises to send each month). We currently have a Game Cube, PS2, and DS ( I want my own though so we could play two player games). These are all pretty nifty for relaxing after a long day of work and class. I'm not video game crazed like some people are with their Warcraft and Halos (Rather stupid if you ask me). I'm more into the silly platform games an things like Animal Crossing and Zelda. Dorky I know, but not obsessed.