4.24.2007

War Mongering or War Marketing?

Grandpa Simpson. This is what I picture when I think of the typical senior citizen, a bumbling old fool that tells exaggerated stories and needs constant supervision. I think of someone living in the past, too afraid to understand the present and too close to death to care about the future. I know it's ageist and wrong, but that's how I picture the old. Oddly, I've never known any old people that fit my stereotype, but I still stick with my faulty perception.

Maybe, it's due to the seniors I see on TV. Or, more likely, it's that seniors have terrible role models. And who are the role models for seniors? Well, it's politicians, of course. Old people putting other old people in political office to ensure the agenda of old people everywhere is secure. And what is their agenda? Well... um... they don't remember. Just ask Alberto Gonzales. He can't remember if his first name is Alberto, and he's our Attorney General. I never thought in a million years I would say John Ashcroft would be a better alternative to anything, but I miss him just a little (Let the eagles soar, big man). But I digress.

As if seniors' image wasn't tarnished enough by the doddering idiots in Washington, now we find out that they like to tell tall tales about the war in Iraq. Okay, old farts, listen up! The war in Iraq is still going on. You can't go around telling Audie Murphy stories about a war that is being broadcast directly to the tech savvy children of the 21st century. It's no longer 1941. I can get the story straight from Iraq with full video via this new-fangled invention called the Intertube, (look it up). The only way your representatives are going to be able to lie to us and not have any of us find out is if they take away electricity.

My Marketing Take: I believe the Republicans should put their ad account up for review. It's obvious their current agency is asleep at the wheel. Really, the only thing that could save you now is a secret sex video leaked to YouTube (again, look it up). Just ask Paris or Pam or...

Sorry, mom and dad. You aren't "old farts." You "get it." But the other old folks are making you look bad. Why don't you get your golf buddies or the bridge club together and hold them accountable, huh?

posted by Jim at 6:49 PM | Comments (0)

4.18.2007

0000

I talk a lot about two things: music and the music business. Yesterday, one of my favorite artists put out a new album, Year Zero. So, in the Twisted household, this meant that nothing would get done after work until I had purchased the CD. I can already hear you (the ones who aren't reeling because they think NIN sucks), "Internet boy, why didn't you just get it on iTunes after midnight?" My answer... the music business.

As much as I HATE the RIAA and everything it has done to kill music through the years, there are certain albums that I want in all their marketing-encrusted, gooey glory. That's why I will not write a review of the album. There are a few artists that can do no wrong in my book, and Nine Inch Nails is one of them.

Not to lose the point of this post, Year Zero is the first album I am aware of to really attempt to change how music is being marketed. With all of its secret websites, hidden hard drives and coded messages, Trent Reznor is taking a whole load of shit for trying to expand the artform. I truly believe he intended to create an album that was something bigger than just 16 songs on an iPod. Unfortunately, his intentions were filtered through an ad agency and a bunch of marketers. These are exactly the people you do NOT want messing with your artistic vision. I know. It's my day job.

This is not to say that good marketing is not an artform in itself. It's just a dirty low-brow artform, like porn. Nor is this to say that people who work in advertising and marketing cannot create art. Many of them are artists... outside the office... away from their clients.

I can imagine the meetings to discuss NIN as a brand and what exactly the brand message is. I'd like to think Trent's heart sank as one of them surely said, "How do we engage the loyalists of the brand and give them a unique NIN experience?"

See, I am one of them.

I'm going to go take a shower now.

posted by Jim at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)

4.17.2007

Out Damned Spot #5

One Man in Virginia kills 32 Americans while one man in the White House kills 3,311. The slaughter of our future continues. When will we be held accountable? If you are an American 18-35 years old, keep your head down. You are the hunted.

NOTE: I realize that we have been denied the opportunity punish Cho Seung-Hui. The real unfortunate part is that his motives will remain as mysterious as King Georgie's.

posted by Jim at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

4.16.2007

Gun = Death

On one of the darkest days in our history I have to ask, is today the day we realize guns are nothing more than tools of death? I don't blame the gun, but absolutely nothing good has ever come from putting a gun in anyone's hand.

If you equate freedom with guns, you are the problem.

posted by Jim at 10:26 PM | Comments (3)

4.08.2007

It's Easter, Measter

The Sunday Sermon is Back!
What better time to resurrect a dead podcast than Easter. WWJD you ask? He'd slap that chocolate egg out of your hand and force you to listen to The Sunday Sermon with Reverend Jim!

posted by Jim at 4:11 AM | Comments (0)

4.05.2007

Step 1: I'm an Addict

I finally found The Show that explains exactly what has happened to The Last Alien. Thanks, Ze. I'm going to get off my ass and release it this year... even if it sucks.

posted by Jim at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)