Below, a longer version of Burberry’s impressive hologram show in Beijing. Turn off the sound, though—it’s awful.

 
(via BuzzFeed)

 
Stefan Goldmann is an electronic musician based in Berlin, who specializes in minimal techno and who holds a residency at the city’s prestigious Panorama Bar. He’s also a pretty good writer. In this illuminating article for the website Little White Earbuds (translated from German) he explains the changes to music production and consumption over the last decade from the point of view of a small-scale, independent artist, specifically someone catering to a very niche taste.

Absurdly, the complete disappearance of economic barriers to distribution (offering a free download doesn’t cost more than the time to upload the file) hit the wallets of the “indies” first, stripping a substantial part of their income. This mostly affected the artists and the personnel around them: designers, engineers, studio musicians, promotion and label professionals, music journalists, et al. The mass of competition they encountered meant anyone with a limited marketing budget had a difficult time surviving in the market. With the same promotional tools available to almost anyone, they lost their efficiency.

...

There’s this die-hard belief that income, at least for the musicians (but not for the professional environment), will come from the fees for live performances instead. But how do you get live performances in the first place? Well, press helps. The problem encountered there is that the media has adapted to the state of the music industry. In electronic music that means whoever succeeds in producing two singles may find himself covered by all relevant press and booked throughout the club circuit, just to be replaced by the next “lucky fool” (a term from stock speculation) about three months later. New artists get “pumped and dumped.” What about a year old break, a production that takes longer, or time for having a baby?

It’s not all doom and gloom—Goldmann has a surprisingly upbeat message for artists out there who are still dedicated to making and releasing music. I may not agree with everything he says in the article (or more specifically I may not feel it is wholly relevant to everyone) but the last few paragraphs and the post script almost read like a manifesto.

Highly individualized, lightly advertised work is way more attractive nowadays than consensus-style work, advertised to death (short, unsustainable hype is the most one can hope for there). People are starting to realize this. Many top labels stopped promoting their new singles for instance. It just appears in the shops and that’s it. It’s not unlikely that artists will increasingly lose their interest in having their output available all over and seek for a more intimate exchange with the audience. Why plaster the Internet with files? Who finds that valuable anymore?

Read the whole thing here.

 
Once again the heroically funny Yes Men (along with the anti-Tea party patriots of “US Uncut”) have punk’d the establishment. This time their victim was the Associated Press. From the press release:

USA Today, AP fall for US Uncut ploy; GE stock loses billions

Washington, DC - US Uncut, a burgeoning grassroots movement pressuring corporate tax cheats to pay their fair share, posted today a fake GE press release announcing that they would return their illegitimate (but legal) $3.2 billion tax refund, and that they would lobby to close the sort of corporate tax loopholes that had allowed them to skip taxes in the first place. Several major media outlets, including USA Today, ran the story as true. (Here is a link to the original USA Today story; here is the first article debunking the release.)

US Uncut quickly reacted with another release pretending to praise GE for this entirely unpredictable, unlikely, and in fact impossible act.

“At a time when working families are being asked to accept massive cuts nationwide, this action showed another way the world could work,” said US Uncut spokesperson Carl Gibson. “For a brief moment people believed that the biggest corporate tax dodger had a change of heart and actually did the right thing. But the only way anything like this is really going to happen is if we change the laws that allow corporate tax avoidance in the first place.”

In the period the hoax was believed, GE’s stock plunged by .6% (far more than the value of the supposed return), then quickly recovered as soon as it became apparent the press had been duped. “Obviously, GE can’t possibly be expected to do the right thing voluntarily; their stock would keep plunging,” noted Gibson. “That’s why we must change the law.”

“GE’s tax avoidance is unpatriotic, it’s undemocratic, it’s unfair,” said Andrew Boyd, a US Uncut spokesperson. “It might be legal, but that’s only because GE has used its money and lobbying influence to buy the loopholes they’re now taking advantage of.”

US Uncut developed the project with help from the Yes Lab.

US Uncut’s Andrew Boyd told MSNBC (partially owned by General Electric, of course): “It might be legal but it’s immoral.”

YES it is. The Yes Men guys are absolute geniuses. If you’re going to infiltrate capitalism, you have to do it all the way….

US Uncut have over 100 protests planned across America this weekend to demonstrate against corporate tax cheats. More information here.

Oddly, you can watch one of The Yes Men’s feature-length documentaries on another entity partially owned by GE, Hulu.com:
 

 
It may have ended in disaster for Jackie Gleason, but it launched the TV career of Roald Dahl. In 1961, Gleason was supposed to make his “triumphant return” to television with his celebrity quiz show You’re in the Picture, where famous guests had to place their heads through holes in a picture and by asking pertinent questions guess what picture was about. It was a bomb, but let’s not smirk too soon, as I am sure some dick TV exec is currently contemplating how to make this idea work again.

You’re in the Picture was so bad that when Gleason went on air the following week, he apologized to the American public. A big gesture, and one that today’s politicians and TV producers should think of adopting. The series was binned and a replacement show had to be found, pronto. In came producer David Susskind with an idea to capatilize on the success of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone which was then dominating the schedules. Susskind contacted Roald Dahl to help front a science-fiction and horror anthology series ‘Way Out. Dahl was suited to this role of series host, as he was best known for his sinister and darkly amusing tales of horror and fantasy, published in the New Yorker.

The idea was for Dahl to introduce each show with a brief amusing monologue, which related to that episode’s story. It was also decided that Dahl’s science-fiction/horror story “William and Mary” would kick the series off. It was a fun and frenetic time, as Dahl later recalled:

“There was a hell of a rush. And there was always a rush subsequently. The whole thing was done at a hectic pace. I mean, having gotten mine done, he (Susskind) then had to rush around and find other suitable stories, get them adapted quickly, and line up the cast. Jackie Babbin (‘Way Out‘s producer) did sterling work. David Susskind likes operating at a white heat and he’s very good at it.”

On March 31 1961, the first episode of ‘Way Out premiered to rave reviews.”:

Calling this first episode an “auspicious debut,” the New York Times praised the show for a tale “told tightly and lightly, with wry and brittle dialog.” A West Coast review added that “‘Way Out‘s chief asset could be its host Mr. Dahl, who practices literary witchcraft in the realm of the macabre and whose introduction to the series and the opener (which he wrote) was a joy… The story we were about to see, he said with a gentlemanly leer, was not for children, nor young lovers, nor people with queasy stomaches. It was for ‘wicked old women.’”

Dahl was described as “a thin Alfred Hitchcock, an East Coast Rod Serling.” But, while the series proved a hit in all the major cities, it didn’t fare so good across middle America, and after 14 episodes, the plug was pulled. A dam shame, one which Mike Dann, then head of CBS Network Programming has explained by saying the stories featured on ‘Way Out were:

“perhaps a little too macabre, a little too odd for television. Roald Dahl’s show simply was just too limited to be that successful.”

Perhaps, but sometimes it’s worth the risk of forgetting what the middle ground wants to achieve something better for all. Was ‘Way Out any good? I think so, but decide for yourself with these “lost episodes” from the series, including the first episode taken from Dahl’s story “William and Mary”. Enjoy.
 

‘Way Out: “William and Mary” (1961)
 
Roald Dahl introduces more episodes of ‘Way Out, after the jump…
 

 
Today is the 10th anniversary of the death of one of the genuinely great front men in rock and roll, Joey Ramone. If you’re a Ramones fan like I am, I know how much you miss him.

This video is just plain beautiful. Joey and his mom. We’re a happy family, indeed.
 

 
I’m sure their fans will wring their hands and scream “sellout!,” but I like this new tune from The Arctic Monkeys. Moody, muscular and a bit psychedelic, “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” is the sound of a band that is settling in for the long haul. If the upcoming album sounds as good as this, I’ll take the trip.

The title of the song may be a reference to the band’s fucking with their fans expectations. No Strokes jokes, please.

Arctic Monkeys North America tour dates:

5/17 Washington, DC @ 930 Club
5/18 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
5/19 Boston, MA @ House Of Blues
5/21 Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
5/22 Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia
5/24 New York, NY @ Rumsey Playfield
5/26 Detroit, MI @ Clutch Cargoes
5/27 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
5/28 Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave.
5/30 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
5/31 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Venue
6/03 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
 

Laramie and Ted proudly wear pink to raise awareness of breast cancer.
 
“In 1962, a little boy was born, and his dream, and his goal, was to own a monkey.”

Thus begins the inspiring tale of Tim “Wild Thang” Lepard and his amazing posse of dog riding monkeys, Team Ghost Riders. Lepard has been on the road with his extraordinary performers since 1989 and has no peer when it comes to teaching a monkey the fine art of riding a dog.

Once clothed in their miniature chaps and ornate costumes, Lepard said the monkeys “climb on, get adjusted and hang on.” He said the monkeys will be tethered to the collies to prevent a bucked Capuchin, known for their “organ-grinding” abilities, from running amuck into the crowd.

Like his hero Elvis Presley, Lepard was destined for big things.

I was born in 1962 in Memphis, TN and hang my hat at home on the outskirts of Tupelo, MS.  I guess that is why I feel I have a bit of Elvis in my soul. I have been involved with rodeo for 28 yrs and began my career riding bulls which evolved into bullfighting.  In 1988 I won the title of Mesquite Champion Bullfighter.  While fighting bulls at Mesquite, mentor, Jimmy Anderson told me “You can go to a rodeo and find twenty macho guys that think they’re bullfighters, but you’re only going to find one funny man and that’s you”.  Fellow bullrider Lane Frost was also at Mesquite and asked me if I had ever thought about fighting bulls and clowning for a living.  It meant something to me for a Champion like Lane Frost to see my potential and so I seriously began rodeoing and made rodeo my career.

It hasn’t been an easy road for Lepard. He’s paid his dues. But in the end, Tim found his true calling.

After nine major surgeries encountered while fighting bulls, I began to put together the dog and monkey act and concentrated on comedy.  I wanted an act that no one would forget in rodeo and felt performing with three dogs and three monkeys would accomplish my goal.”

Tim’s website is a celebration of all that is good about man, monkeys and hounds. A hoot and a half. The guy has a vision and he’s living it.

Of all the videos I’ve seen of monkeys riding dogs, this is by far the most epic - the Gone With The Wind or Battleship Potemkin of monkeys riding dogs videos.

If I were younger and smaller and a monkey, I’d run away from home and join Team Ghost Riders.
 

 
Funk and soul grooves from the USA, Europe and Jamaica provide the soundtrack for vintage film footage of old school strippers, hippie chicks, biker broads and wild jungle women. XX-rated.

Russ Meyer meets James Ellroy on a street named Hot Buttered Soul.

01. Ninety Eight Cents Plus Tax - Detroit City Limits
02. Gang Train - Bernard Estardy
03. Jungle Trumpet - Pierre Dutour
04. Pepper Drums - P.A Dahan & Mat Camison
05. Chocolate Cherry - The Joe Tex Band
06. The Cat Walk - Gerry And Paul And The Soul Emissaries
07. Bongo Ring -  Bernard Estary
08. Africadelic - Manu Dibango
09. My Sweet Baby - The Puzzles
10. Thing - Lowell Fulsom
11. Put Your Weight on It Pt. 1 - Filmore Street Soul Rebellion
12. Indian Pop Bass -  Guy Pederson
13. Wake The Monster - Big Jullien & His All Stars
14. Rythmiques No. 2 - Pierre-Alain Dahan
15. Bullitt - Louis Jordan
16. Herm - San Francisco TKOs
17. Groovin` - The Killer Bees With Cyril Neville
18. LSD - Lee Scratch Perry
 

 
Here’s a couple of songs featured on the above pictured record for kids and distributed in U.S. schools in 1970 featuring the distinctive voice of many beloved Schoolhouse Rock classics, Bob Dorough and produced by noted jazzer Steve Swallow. The version of The Temptations Runaway Child, Running Wild is fairly out-there and truly does sound more than a little bit like Can, but with the Schoolhouse Rock guy singing. How can that possibly be anything but great ? Have a listen and see if you don’t agree.
 
The 44th Street Portable Flower Factory - Runaway Child, Running Wild

 
The rest of the E.P. are also covers, including this. Very straight ahead but again with that wonderful voice.
 
The 44th Street Portable Flower Factory - Blackbird

 
Thanks Andrew Prinz !

 

 
Emotional footage of Indian actress Persis Khambatta getting her head shaved for the 1979 feature film Star Trek: The Motion Picture. If you recall, Persis Khambatta played the beautiful Lieutenant Ilia.

I think she looks quite fetching without hair. Then again, how do you go wrong with a face like that?  

 
(via Everlasting Blort)

 
Apparently, the Republicans’ far right agenda during their first 100 days as the Congressional majority party renders NY Rep. Joe Crowley “speechless.” (Although it looks like Rep. Crowley is channeling his inner Bob Dylan, according to his staff, he’s not really trying to ape the famous video for “Subterranean Homesick Blues” here, he’s just trying to get across how “speechless” he is).

A politician caught in the act of keepin’ his yap shut? Pretty effective way for him to get his point across, if you ask me.

 
There’s been a question for some time about the whereabouts of MIA Odd Future rapper Earl Sweatshirt and whether or not he’ll be appearing with the group during their hotly anticipated show at the Coachella music festival this weekend in Southern California.

Probably not if Odd Future leader Tyler, the Creator’s recent tweets are any indication:
 

 
No one seemed to know exactly where Earl Sweatshirt (real name Thebe Kgositsile) was and rumors have run rampant that the 17-year old rapper’s parents were horrified when they got a load of their son’s work and immediately shipped him off to a military boarding school, where he’s been for some months.

This appears to be the case as Complex magazine seem to have solved the mystery: Apparently he’s in Samoa as part of the “therapeutic” military academy for “at risk” teenage boys called the Coral Reef Academy. David Huebner, a U.S. official visiting the school provided the evidence:
 

 
From Complex:

On September 13, 2010, the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa delivered concrete evidence to support our suspicions that Earl was staying at the Coral Reef Academy. He published the photo above in a blog post about his visit to the “off-shore treatment program for at-risk teenage boys.” Apparently, he was there for a fire-knife dance competition and variety show. We contacted the Coral Reef Academy to confirm with them that Thebe Kgositsile is or was ever a guest, but they couldn’t legally divulge that information.

Yep. It’s Earl.

If Earl Sweatshirt’s parents really want to completely alienate their son from them to the extent that he never speaks to them again, my guess is that they’re going about it in exactly the right way. What 17-year-old kid wants to hear that his partners-in-crime are about to get their own fucking TV show on Adult Swim (a surreal, half-animated hip hop Jackass is what I’m imagining from this crew) and is okay with missing out that action? Methinks Earl’s got just a slightly odder future planned for himself than his parents have… Just sayin’...

I’d imagine that the next chapter in this saga will be “Earl Sweatshirt: The Breakout!” Stay tuned.

Read the whole story: We found Earl Sweatshirt (Complex)
 

 
More Earl Sweatshirt with “Molliwop”:
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
My Name is Earl (Sweatshirt)

 
*Shudders*

(via Banned in Hollywood)

Image via LA Weekly
 
Certainly the members of OFWGKTA know how to do what they wilt, but the big question about the controversial hip hop collective’s big performance this weekend at the Coachella music festival is"Will Earl Sweatshirt be there?”

 
Pat Condell is a British atheist who makes popular—albeit quite controversial—YouTube clips railing against religion. He’s a former stand-up comic and has a quite a knack for looking right into the camera and really nailing it. Condell’s rants are anything but polite, and they throw cold water on religious belief (“An organized system of ignorance!” as my old friend Brother Theodore liked to say) as well as anything I can think of aside from George Carlin’s all-time classic “Religion is Bullshit.” (What happens to Christians when they accidentally listen to Carlin’s routine? I wonder about that every time I hear it!!)

Here is how he describes his mission:

I was a regular on the UK stand-up circuit until the mid nineties when I got fed up performing to drunken birthday parties, so I started writing for other people. I wrote my most recent show, and I now make internet videos, because I believe religion in the modern world is out of control and is given far too much respect by people who should know better. It enjoys a status it hasn’t earned and doesn’t deserve, and it’s time we stopped pandering to it before it literally destroys us. You can find out more at my website.

Below Pat Condell takes on Christianity:
 

The next time you hear a dumbass say something about how the Founding Fathers felt about religion, hit ‘em with this quote, courtesy of Condell:

“Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus.” - Thomas Jefferson

In the name of balance, here’s Pat Condell’s epic rant from 2007 “The Trouble with Islam,” amazingly still on YouTube:
 

 
Via Joe My God