one more thing...

I almost forgot. YANKEES SUCK!!!!

The Digital Music Era

Hello all. Since my name is on the letterhead, I felt it's time I should actually contribute my thoughts for once to our community blog. I've thought long and hard about a topic that is somewhat relevant to the times, and when I sat down to type this, I changed my mind about a topic at the last minute, as do most bloggers, I suppose.

I, like most people of my generation, am in love with music. Whether it's past or present, rock or opera, I can't think of a better way to spend time than to have a personal soundtrack for your thoughts handy. I remember as a young kid, listening to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" on my first Sony, a hand held tape player with mono sound and a 4" speaker built in. I lugged it every where. Today I never leave the house without an Ipod. So much for Sony tape player walk-mans, or entertainment centers with the Hi-fidelity player (8-track) built into the craftsmanship. I remember the television I grew up with. A 27" RCA with speakers built into the side and it swiveled on a base, making the entire unit weigh near 400 lbs. Today's televisions are 3" thick at the center, and come with Ipod adapters built in to accommodate your musical needs.

Nowadays, tapes are non-existent, unless you live your weekends at yard sales and flea markets, searching for the rarest of bootlegs or live recordings. And I assume, if you find such a feat, that the recording is muffled or weathered, disappointing and leaving you feel molested. And music can be purchased by the song as well as by entire album, allowing the buyer to cherry picking their favorite songs, rather than enduring the albums of one-hit wonders. I am one of those types of buyers. I gave up on driving down to the local record store, and purchasing the almost extinct compact disc of the new album release of a favorite band.

When Napster came out, music began an aggressive change that turned the record industry into (insert favorite cliche' here). Gone are the "rare" recordings and live bootlegs. No more hard to get European recordings or half-way-across-the-globe festivals. Even U2 did a live show feed on YouTube the other night. It seems to me it's easier to find a rare track on the Internet, even if the recording is crummy, than it is to find Led Zeppelin 1 on vinyl in a popular record store, or Pink Floyd's Animals on CD. Log in to Itunes or Amazon, and the world's entire music catalog is available at your finger tips. And I love it!! I love the availability to new releases of my favorite bands while I'm at work. The ability to have a song in my head, and to log-in and purchase it a minute later is such a great feeling. I can take it home, never once dealing with tearing the plastic off the album, or driving to the record store to find it sold out. It's heart warming.

I can remember being in high school, listening to Soundgarden's "Superunknown" in my car for my entire senior year, not because I loved it, as I still do, but because it was in the tape player all the time, the others lost amid a mess of garbage and clothing. Not to mention friends with sticky hands. It's amazing how times changed. When I was in school (oh shit, I'm having one of those moments...) there were maybe 25 personal computers in the entire school. I took a typing class and we did it on the program BASIC. Now my computer at work is 240 Gig with 4 gig of RAM. I have 40 gig of music stored and that can play for over 24 days, without once repeating a song. Can you imagine lugging around that much music in records or tapes or Cd's? FUCK!

Now, because music is digital, it's not only easy to buy, it's easy to share. The kids who invented Napster, the music share community, it became a way for everyone to compare recordings and open up your senses to new music, such that you never would have heard before, thanks to the people who program radio stations. I haven't listened to the radio in ears out of choice. I just log on. And a lot of bands protest against these music sharing communities, but my man Trent Reznor says "People aren't stealing music to make money. They steal because they love music." Ain't that the truth.

I guess the point of all this is to give a little acknowledgment to what we as humans have been able to accomplish. We've come a long way since sticks and animal pelts. I think that electronic music, in the variety of options that are available for download, will have a better effect on our environment in the long run, and the feasability of avaiability makes music much more enjoyable in my opinion. I think I'll go get something new to add to my music arsenol for my way home. My life soundtrack.

Keep Rocking

-Johnny

Binging on Chuck Klosterman

If you are unfamiliar with the author Chuck Klosterman, get acquainted. I was in Seattle at the beginning of October and found myself roaming the isles of Barnes and Nobles in the basement of the Pacific Place while my mother returned a clothing item. I had heard of his most well known book "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" which is available at any college bookstore in the country but was unable to find it in the Pop Culture section here. What I did find was his book "IV" which is a collection of the articles and interviews he did while employed by Esquire and Spin magazine. I wasn't ready to invest the $14 since it wasn't really what I had been looking for but I decided to read the Brittany Spears interview at the beginning of the book while I waited. It was an amazing interview especially since it had been conducted before Brittany's disastrous Challenger-like failings shortly there after. It almost seemed to predict the person we would all come to know. A country girl who was completely sheltered from the world and is either clueless (probably) or shrewd (probably not) as they come. Needless to say I purchased it and was immersed in a world of Bono, Billy Joel, Gilbert Arenes, Val Kilmer and many other bizarrely fascinating famous people. Since I found this book to be so rewarding I went to the Boston University bookstore when I returned to Boston and bought S,D and CP. After being spun around by this collection of essay's including why he hates soccer as a professional sport and the story of him going on the road with a Guns N' Roses cover band I couldn't wait for his newest book (Eating the Dinosaur)to be released. Well that day came last Tuesday and I am only a chapter in (I have been binging on Mad Men too!) but this book provides the promise of the best collection yet. There is nothing better than getting new work from any artist that displays them honing their skill even more than their last work (progress is good in the arts). So if you are like me and like slightly crazy, consciously clever and always entertaining books about everything (and nothing at the same time) you are sure to like Chuck Klosterman.

1/4 Of My Household Income

comes from the turn and burn, buy & sell, get what you want, eBay & Craiglist super markets of the modern digital uprising. I will not give up all my secrets but if done right I could make easily 75% of what my salary is now. I choose to carry a real job because it does pay more and it is directly related to what I love to do (Design).

There are 3 main areas that work for me because my knowledge in those areas allow me to make good buying decisions. I will outline each area individually in separate entries so each can be absorbed equally.

First is the event ticket market, specifically music and comedy. Going to concerts & shows is something I have been doing for a long time now and at some point learned that if you are inline or online first when tickets go on sale you can get the best seats in the house. As everyone probably knows great seats sell often for as much as 3x what you pay, so I started buying extra tickets to the shows I wanted to go see and selling the extras to pay for my tickets to the show. After doing this for about 3 years I knew what bands sold out, what venues were the most popular and most importantly where I can sell my tickets (eBay & CL). Rap concerts never sell as good unless its Jay-Z, Snoop, Dre, all the big names do fine but they still do not sell out nearly as fast as rock shows. Seattle is one of many states (38) that ticket brokering is legal as long as you are not reselling the tickets on the venue property (Door scalping) and you must also pay your taxes.

Rather then talk about the ethics of this market I want to focus on feeding my family while enjoying life. To do that I will focus on the details to make it possible. You need the following, high speed internet, not an iPhone or DSL, you need Cable or above. I don't even use my wireless network at home because you will loose the necessary band width needed. Stay wired. I even pay the extra $10 a month to get the juice boost from Comcast. Next you need to know the pre-sale password. You will always get the best seats through fan club pre-sales or other pre-sales like it. This password, 9 times out of 10, gets sent by email after you sign up for the artist fan club, promoting companies or venues. I have a few favorite venues and promoting companies that do me right every time. And the final ingredients are, be signed up to and logged into whoever is selling the tickets. For example get a Ticket Master account and be logged into that account. Also have a credit card on file to use. When its says tickets go on sale at 10am start refreshing your screen at 9:59:50 (Make sure your clock is right). Then type like hell and navigate your way to the pay screen. Speed counts. If you follow all these things correctly you will get good seats.

Once you have good seats do your research and find the market value. I do not like to sit on tickets so I undercut market value by 5% so they sell quick. You might have to adjust that number a few times until the market finds a balance. The best place to sell your tickets is Craigslist because there are no fees involved but that off sets itself by people being unreliable. Sometimes its just easier to pay eBay and Paypal to make things go smoothly. I once met a girl on CL that showed up with a check written to half of the amount. She claimed it was her only check. She was attractive so maybe she was thinking I would give them to her for half price. HELL NO BITCH I'm married and I need the money. I wanted to go getto on that ho and scratch her eyes out (click here),but kept my composure and had her cross out and rewrite the check. "Initials please" is what I said before she handed to me. The check looked like my 2 year old went to town on it. I took a risk and the check was good so I did not have to cancel the tickets (An option if you tell the seller you lost them). I did give her $10 off just because I did not want her to drive away. Anyways lesson learned, always go over the price with the buyer on the phone and in an e-mail so its clear.

This quick overview is not the end all be all of ticket brokering but it is a good place to start. My next entry will go over buying and selling products for profit.

Boston Sports: The Monday Hangover

Well Sunday was as close to living in Mudville as it's been in Boston for quite some time. The Sox managed to blow a 2 run lead in the ninth inning with no one on and 2 strikes on the batter. When the Patriots found a way to lose to Denver I knew it was time to head home and avoid any madness that might be brewing in the city streets. The Red Sox loss was the perfect culmination for a forgettable year. The whole team without any real exception struggled mightily. Papelbon ended up being the goat of this game as he was brought in in the 8th only to surrender to inheritted runners and then give up 3 runs in the ninth. Up until this point Papelbon had not given up a run in the previous 26 playoff innings he had worked. His performance was in many ways symbolic to the attitude of this team. There was a kind of "We always beat the Angels, I never give up runs" autopilot mentality that had stunted this teams desire to rise up to the challenge. You could see it from the Angels and specifically Torii Hunter. They wanted this series and they had a chip on their shoulder. The Sox seemed beaten in every facet of the game this week. If it was basketball the Angels would have been the team getting the loose balls, steals and rebounds. On that note... Lets switch over to basketball and the Celtics. The Celtics provide not only a new life but a hunger and intensity. They are no a team who is content with winning a championship 2 years ago. They are a team with an attitude that reminds us of why we as humans like to compete. For the love, the adversity and sanity it provides for us in this crazy world. Where do we stand in Boston today? For one I am glad the Red Sox didn't prolongue this any more than was necessary. The Patriots, it is clear, will only go as far as Tom Brady can take them. Through the first five weeks he has looked like a shell of himself but if anyone is to make it back into his former self he is the guy I bet the farm on. The Celtics should be a beast this year. Garnett has looked great so far and Rasheed Wallace is going to be an excellent addition to an already deep and confident team. So the sports carousel continues to spin and it promises us nothing except another season of competition. This is why we watch and care.

Red Sox: Season on the Brink

So, here we are in Boston. Season on the brink and I feel like I am supposed to feel differently. This team has been plagued with a very vanilla and cooperate feel. It as if our fun-loving Sox have been kidnapped and replaced by the stoic business-like Yankees. It was weird watching the second to last series between those two teams. It was the Yankees who were slapping five and giving hugs and showing personality and the Sox just appeared to just be content with showing up and giving it their all. Chemistry is a hard thing to quantify but this year’s team is definitely missing it. I realized as I looked at yesterdays lineup that this is exact same lineup we lost with last year except virtually everyone has been worse this year.

Don’t be fooled by statistics with Big Papi and J.D. Drew, they had pathetic years. The worst is Drew who was able finish the year with a .279 batting average 24 homers and an obp of .392. Here is a guy we have all had to suffer with the last several years. He will take strike 3 and then hit a home run when the game is out of reach. I bet his former employers (especially the Dodgers) are enjoying another typical year from “Nancy” Drew. Papi almost got to the 100 RBI plateau (99) and hit 28 home runs but was a shell of himself. You could even see that the umpires thought he was washed up by some of the strike calls he received. Pedroia is no MVP this year (still not sure he was last year either), Youk has been injured and Jason Bay (who had a good staitistical year which will be richly rewarded) showed he is still not Manny Ramirez. If the Sox had Manny last year I think they would have been in the World Series and had a very good chance of winning it (since after all it would have been played against the National League). For all the unwanted drama that Manny brought and would have continue to bring (female fertility drugs) this year’s team lacks it any sign of life. The Red Sox feel like a drafted fantasy team. One where the players will look good on paper but didn't have that abitility to interact and gel with eachother. In the past the Red Sox were known as a team of 25 players, 25 separate cabs.

The problem with this today is sports is considered entertainment and a lot of that is so that we can justify the Brad Pitt size contracts doled out to our favorite players. I have often likened Fenway to Broadway: Old theatre-like home, high drama, and expensive tickets that are hard to get. It seems unfair that with their resources the Red Sox couldn’t put out a better team to watch. I’m not saying these players don’t care or didn’t try or didn’t perform. I simply think that they are boring and gave no one a good reason to come out to watch this team. I ask management, have you gone too far with your desire for company men? We shall find out tomorrow as the season teeters on the brink.

Who You Gonna Call?

Dan Aykroyd, thats who. In all his famed glory Aykroyd has found a new direction and I have to say its one I will embrace. Crystal Head Vodka is the new direction. The bottle represents a look into the paranormal and represents subjects that I find interesting, not to mention untainted clear elixir. Any one for a Dead Russian?

Dan the man was signing bottles at the University Village the other day and we made a go at it. The line was long (700+) but the eclectic bunch of goers adorned with Blues Brothers attire and The State Puff Marshmallow Man dolls made the hour+  wait not so bad. Dan was all business, signing bottles as fast as someone handed them to him. He was kind enough to sign anything anyone brought and take pictures as well. Not saying much but keeping the herd satisfied the line flowed rather fast. We took some pictures and were on our way. Clel, on the way out, in his little boyish voice said "By Dan" and Dan replied "By honey it was good to see you".

He also confirmed Ghost Busters 3 is on the way.