Phil's Seminal Jazz Rock and Politics Videoblog

Update on the Challenge

2009-05-31T23:07:00.001-04:00

Sorry. This story is no longer available.

2009-05-31T23:03:00.003-04:00

2009-05-08T23:54:00.000-04:00

ITEM: You know, there just has to be a primary challenge for Arlen. By the way, Arlen's track record so far: He won't switch on his vote on EFCA, he voted against the president's budget, he's helping block Dawn Johnson--one of the few progressives that Obama has even nominated--and today we find out that Arlen is still rooting for his good pal Norm Coleman of Minnesota. It would be one thing to do that before the race. It's quite another now that we now that Norm has lost and that the only way he could win would be yet another Supreme Court appointment/coup. Of course, why should some privileged senator actually have to deal with the bother of an election of and by the rabble anyway. It fits Arlen's privileged "Shouldn't I always be a senator?" viewpoint.

I guess the question is who could make the best run against Arlen. Joe Sestak seems to have gotten the most heat and the most mention, perhaps even not so subtle endorsements from the Daily Kos frontpage and even Atrios. Bad news about Sestak: he's against the public option on healthcare reform. Here's the short version of what that means: there is no real healthcare reform without the public option. Nothing changes.

There is another challenger, again out of the Philly area, and his name is Joe Torsella. He doesn't have a website and we don't know a lot about him. We think he was Rendell's boy which means he's center/right, or at least a guy who doesn't mind selling off public highways to rich people just like the governor. He has managed to raise a half million dollars. That makes him serious. Related: Early polling not looking good for Sestak vs. Specter, according to Open Left. Bowers does point out that its early. Observation: This is the kind of race where a well funded independent or Hollywood "Al Franken" liberal with significant resources should consider getting in. More Related: Funny line from my close and personal friend Markos:

But seriously, his arrogance is overwhelming, his obvious dislike for Democrats palpable. He's clearly telling us, "I switched to avoid Toomey, not deal with you fucks." And since Obama has clearly promised him support, come hell or high water (no matter how he little support or loyalty he delivers in return), he feels like he can shit on anyone with impunity.

I think Markos has learned a very important lesson: just having a big "D" doesn't make you a decent democrat. We really have to take a close look at the people running for office.

Big Screen Version of Acid Jazz Channel Classic (Over 10000 videos)

2009-01-19T17:47:00.003-05:00

The artists here include: George Bensen, Bjork, Boards of Canada, Brazilian Girls, Broadcast, Cat Power, Chomsky, Cinematic Orchestra, Larry Coryell, Dining Rooms, Sam Harris, Jaga Jazzist, Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Flora Purim, Gil Scott Heron, Steely Dan, Stereolab, Sugarcubes, Sun Ra, Return to Forever, Weather Report, Frank Zappa. And many other artists.

The Able Mable Thomas Channel

2008-05-30T14:45:00.002-04:00

Two by the Mahavishnu Orchestra

2008-05-16T00:15:00.002-04:00

I've been using this new video search engine called Truveo. With it, I found these very rare Mahavishnu Orchestra tunes posted by a girl from Belgium. What kind of woman is into the Mahavishnu Orchestra? The woman I would like to marry that's who.

Mahavishnu Orchestra - Dream
Uploaded by black-fairy

And:

Mahavishnu orchestra - birds of fire
Uploaded by black-fairy

If I had money, and I could responsibly bank and if banks hadn't put me on that "list", then I would use Carousel Checks

2008-05-15T23:56:00.003-04:00

I actually kind of don't have a bank account right now. Of course, the reason I don't have a bank account right now is that my cousin's stupid ass half brother wrote me a 300 dollar check that bounced all the way to high heaven.

But if had an account, or as I dream in my sleep, then I would want photo checks that I could put my favorite photos on. These would be the kinds of checks that would have my personal artwork on them or Ansel Adams or the Jim Starlin Warlock era kind of pics on them. Have I mentioned that my dreams are vast and will fill up the night sky? Or I would prefer personal checks that came customized with really cool designs on them Perhaps, say, crayons or a picture of a violin. That would show those fancy people at the fancy Target store that I had some class. Tell me when my dream has become all too surreal and Salvador Dali for you. Tell me when you would be forced to spurt out: "Phil, that's just crazy talk. Cut it out before your mad dreams compromise our very reality itself...!" But I wouldn't stop. I would continue my mad and dangerous Lathe of Heaven like dreaming. I would add a couple of cats, a loving perky gymnast wife and a job I liked that paid decently. Go ahead. Call me mad.

Oh, and I would to make sure I could find such a site that made such checks online. That's my quixotic dream of the day.

Finally: A Jazz Piano Version of Black Hole Sun

2008-05-15T23:50:00.001-04:00

It's about time. Good job Brad Mehldau.

Scary New Coryell Guitar Solo (Larry in his prime)

2008-05-14T21:32:00.002-04:00

Loka vs. Koop Or Special Animation Video Music Bloodbath

2008-05-10T22:36:00.002-04:00

Loka vs. Koop Or Special Animation Video Music Bloodbath

Link: sevenload.com

Let's get it on! Just a couple of notes: Koop mostly does music by way of vocals. But this instrumental is very nice and of course the animation is beautiful. One very interesting thing I learned via Wikipedia: Koop consists of two Swedish guys who like to wear dresses, although that's not readily apparent in this live performance here. On second thought, the makeup comes through loud and clear. Does that mean they're artistic or really really gay? Can't tell. Great musicians and song writers though. Meanwhile, below, Loka is a brand new band on the scene. Here's what their myspace page say s: "Loka's multi influenced aural excursions tell tales aplenty, but not necessarily with a happy ending." They remind me a lot of jaga jazzist.

Link: sevenload.com

Labels: koop, loka, music

Why the Future Beats the Past or Why I Use Pay Per Post

2008-05-10T22:23:00.007-04:00

When I began my writing career a very very long time ago in the early 80s you didn't have a lot of options in terms of publishing or places that you could publish. Here in Pittsburgh what that meant is that if I wanted to be paid for writing then I had to write for the Pittsburgh Press, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and perhaps the alternative weekly In Pittsburgh. That was it. My other option was chalk and sidewalk. Or perhaps hundreds of pages that would be written into a diary that no one would find or read and that I would probably misplace.

Now, if you're an aspiring writer, there's this thing called the Internet. There are so many ways to make money that I've lost track. Don't get me wrong it's not easy. Like anything worthwhile, you have to put a substantial amount of time and energy into it, but at least you have the opportunity. One of those opportunities involves the pay for blogging phenomena and one of the services I use is payperpost. Now, I confess, I can't afford a mansion by the sea from doing these posts but I can make a living while I write things that I find personally valuable and interesting. It's one of the very cool things about living in the future and makes writing in 2008 a whole lot better than writing in 1985. And the real cool part is that no one is stopping you from attempting to drive traffic to the site and make a living.

Zero 7 vs. Kitty Solaris

2008-05-10T22:21:00.002-04:00

Zero 7 versus Kitty Solaris

Also good live version of this song but not suitable for bloody ultimate fighting vid battle...Two band enter. One band leave. Two band enter. One band leave. Two band enter...You can learn more about Zero 7 at their official website. Sia, who often does their vocals, can be found here.

Kitty Solaris can be found here.

Labels: music, two band enter

Can't Stop Listening to This Tune

2008-05-10T21:13:00.000-04:00

Can't stop listening to the video below.

test for sevenload

2008-05-07T22:22:00.001-04:00

Link: sevenload.com

Yet Another Place to Find the Acid Jazz Channel

2008-04-02T10:32:00.001-04:00

Two More Vids By Gifted Youtube Director

2007-12-20T19:52:00.000-05:00

Two more vids from this gifted Youtube director. Profiled earlier here. The first one I remixed and added a different tune. His original is here. It also makes me want to fuck Audrey Hepburn. Her being "dead" wouldn't stop me. That's the kind of fella I am.

The second one features a song from The Stone Roses, a band I wish had made more music.

"Samba Nexusia"
Uploaded by Steelydan

Naomi Klein on Fascism

2007-12-20T19:50:00.000-05:00

Naomi Klein on fascism.

What Should Be A Pop Hit in a Fair and Loving World

2007-12-13T20:14:00.000-05:00

What should be a pop hit in a fair and loving world.

Little Dragon "Test"
Uploaded by Phunk_promotion

Better Version of Big New Prinz

2007-11-08T19:50:00.000-05:00

Jim Hightower on the Mortgage Crisis

2007-10-21T21:39:00.000-04:00

Jim Hightower explains the mortgage crisis with handy toons.

And if you recall (they'll be a quiz later) Jim Hightower also explained why we're in Iraq and it's not about democracy or "helping" the Iraqi people, unless you define helping as killing about 600000 Iraqis. We're full of help over here. We're really there so that our puppet goverment can pass something called the Iraqi Oil Law, which Hightower explained here. Or as I described it earlier this is legalized plunder. Nobody talks about it, even the dems. It would be nice if they said that we're above killing hundreds of thousands of people and taking their stuff "christian" nation we are and all that....

Talented Youtube Director

2007-10-21T21:04:00.000-04:00

And a talented Youtube director. As I suspected: He runs a design company. Check out this very very sexy vid (features Selma Hayek in a memorable scene...) he did for Cat Power's Lived in Bars. Better than most of Cat Power's professionally produced vids. The Pixies vid is good (that's below) is cool too.

2007-07-06T18:58:00.000-04:00

daily motion embeded

2007-07-04T02:13:00.000-04:00

Pay Per Post Gets 7 Million in Funding

2007-06-17T01:00:00.000-04:00

Press Release:

The PayPerPost Revolution Accelerates, Sponsored
Blogging Marketplace Secures $7 Million Series B

Draper Fisher Jurvetson leads round and joins Board of Directors

ORLANDO, FL – (June 12, 2007) – PayPerPost, the leading marketplace for advertisers to reach bloggers and other consumer content creators, today announced it has completed a $7 million second round investment led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, an investor in the company's Series A and one of the world’s leading high-technology venture capital firms. The financing brings the total amount of capital raised by PayPerPost to over $10 million, giving the company considerable resources for further development as the industry’s leading Consumer Generated Advertising marketplace. Additional participants in the round include existing investors Inflexion Partners and Village Ventures as well as new investor DFJ Gotham. With this investment, DFJ Managing Director Josh Stein also joins PayPerPost’s Board of Directors.

“PayPerPost created this exciting new advertising space and has established itself as the industry leader,” said Ted Murphy, chief executive officer of PayPerPost. “Although we’ve only used a portion of our first round capital, this added support from investors unlocks significant growth potential. Our content creator and advertiser ROI metrics clearly demonstrate the upside for PayPerPost’s model. We intend to use this capital to build the infrastructure, visibility and professional expertise necessary to reach and retain a greater network of advertisers and content creators than ever before.”

Since its founding in June of 2006, PayPerPost has signed more than 6,500 advertisers to its groundbreaking service, which has enabled Consumer Content Creators to be compensated for their efforts discussing specific companies, products or services via blogs, videos or other media. The content creators are required to disclose relationships with advertisers on their blog, providing transparency for the end reader. Over 125,000 Internet postings, most in the form of blogs, have already earned money for their creators through PayPerPost’s innovative marketplace. PayPerPost recently released PayPerPost Direct, a disruptive new service that allows advertisers to contract and negotiate directly with individual bloggers they identify through a safe, managed system.

“PayPerPost has laid a strong foundation for the future,” noted Tim Draper, founder and managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson. “It continues to attract a critical mass of participants from both the advertising and blogging communities. Analogous to Overture’s sponsored search model, we believe PayPerPost’s business model holds disruptive potential and will enable the company to thrive in the evolving paid-content arena.”

To mark the $7 million dollar funding, PayPerPost has launched a new website detailing the company’s service offering at http://www.payperpost.com. Bloggers and advertisers can easily sign up at the site and begin leveraging the self service marketplace.

So you want to be a black republican?

2007-06-17T00:47:00.000-04:00

So you want to be a black republican?
Uploaded by fagenbecker