Video: Barackula

We mention the horror-musical Barackula a few posts ago. Well the short film is out and available in HD at their site. You can watch here in Youtube quality.  Enjoy.

Barackula is a short political horror rock musical about young Barack Obama having to stave off a secret society of vampires at Harvard when he was inducted into presidency at the Harvard Law Review in 1990. Obama (Justin Sherman) finds that he must convince the vampire society that opposing political philosophies can coexist or else the society may transform Obama to the dark side. Reminiscent to Michael Jackson’s Thriller and a slight infusion of Jesus Christ Superstar, the film solely depicts Obama’s strengths, merits and genuineness while being respectful towards the other presidential candidates.

Filed under: internet, media, politics, video , barack obama, harvard law, lawyers, musical

Toast the Holidays with Spam!!!

Happy Holidays

Filed under: food, media, video , holiday, pam, toast, viral

Daptone Remixed and Free

This is from a post from my other blog Rhythmlabonline.com. Grab some free and great music from Scion and Daptone records:

One of the top labels of the year, Daptone Records just dropped a cd of remixes with a little help from Scion (damn Scion is doing some cool stuff, makes me wanna go buy a car from them). Just in time for the holidays, you can grab them all for free. You heard right FREE! There are some great remixes. Click here for a direct link for the download.

1. The Budos Band – Chicago Falcon (The Washington Sq. Lads Remix) feat. Mark Ronson & Wale
2. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Keep On Looking (Kenny Dope Remix)
3. The Daktaris – Eltsuhg Ibal Lasiti (Mad Professor Remix)
4. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Stranded In Your Love (Cool Calm Pete – Sweet Nothing Mix)
5. The Sugarman Three & Co. – Take It As It Come feat. Charles Bradley (Afrodisiac Soundsystem Remix)
6. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? (Ticklah Remix)
7. The Budos Band – T.I.B.W.F. (Hank Shocklee Remix)
8. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – My Man Is A Mean Man (DJ Spinna Remix)
9. The Sugarman Three & Co. – Bosco’s Blues (Bull Jun Remix) feat. Large Professor

Filed under: Music, holidays, media, video , amy winehouse, Daptone, daptone records, mp3, remixes, Sharon Jones

Site of the Day: Create your own Virtual Mixtape

I missed the days of creating mixtapes for friends back in the day. I use to make mix cds, but it was a little inconvenient to share with somebody in another state or country especially with out the instant reaction. This is where Mixaloo comes in. I found about this site from Springwise.

With Mixaloo, you can create your own mix from over 3 Million Songs. Then you can share your mix on your myspace, facebook, blog, or any other website.  Here is the kicker.  You can make money from your mix.  If people purchase the songs off of your mix, you get some money.  The money would be sent to a paypal account. If you don’t have a paypal account, you will need to set up one.  The only problem right now is that the songs are only 30 second preview (which sucks), but they are apparently working on full tracks.  Give it a try.  It is a cheap gift to give for the holidays and you could make some money to boot.

Speaking of Mix Tapes go check out Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore’s Book Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture.

The book is a collection of stories, essays, art, and other contributions by various artists, musicians, and writers. It centers around the role of the mix tape and cassette culture in the lives of the contributors, which stands as a testimony to the importance of the medium starting in the late 1970’s to its relevance today. Here tapes are used mostly to confess love or admiration, or to expose an acquaintance to new and underground music. (From Wikipedia)

Filed under: Music, Site of the Day, books, internet, media , djs, mixes, mixtapes, mp3, Music, web 2.0

I End My Beef with Brad Pitt…for now

For over a few years, I have had a beef with Brad Pitt. Why? Besides that he thinks he sexier than me (please). Some of you know I am an architect and I paid my dues to become one. However, Mr. Pitt decided he liked architecture and so hooked up with Frank Gehry and worked on some cool projects. No schooling, no all-nighters, no professors making you feel like crawling in a fetal position after tearing your presentation to shreds and Brad Pitt works on amazing projects with no formal training because he is a famous actor. So you see why I am a little miffed.

Well it seems that Mr. Pitt wants to make amends with me. He is now taking the lead on rebuilding the 9th ward in New Orleans. The most affected by Hurricane Katrina. While most of the country thinks that most of New Orleans is recovering, this section has been all but forgotten.

Brad Pitt is heading up this organization called Make It Right Nola. It is organization that will help build sustainable homes for families of the 9th Ward.

Inspired by the courage and hope of the residents he met, Pitt resolved to do whatever he could to help them rebuild. Just as importantly, he wanted to help recreate and nurture the unique culture and spirit of the Lower 9th Ward, which symbolizes the soul of New Orleans. He understood instinctively that a New Orleans rebuilt without the Lower 9th Ward would never be whole.

He began by working with Global Green to sponsor an architecture competition aimed at generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably. Pitt worked with local community leaders as well as experts from around the world to develop viable ideas for the Lower 9th Ward. That successful project inspired Pitt’s new focus: Make It Right.

The Mission of Make It Right is clear: It is to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. The goal is to accomplish this quickly, so that the first residents can begin returning to their homes as soon as possible.

There are some amazing designs that are all sustainable. There are various architects from all over the world that are working on this project including two of my favorites: Adjaye Architects out of London and Morphosis out of California plus five New Orleans based architects. Check out these designs from some of the architects.

Design from Adjaye Architects

Design from Morphosis

Mr. Pitt is asking for donations to help build these homes. You can even sponsor a home. This is a great program, and for that, I end my beef with Brad Pitt….for now.

Filed under: architecture, community, culture, design, enviroment, family, holidays, media, video , 9th Ward, Adjaye, architecture, Brad Pitt, Frank Gehry, green, Katrina, Morphosis, New Orleans, sustainability, Today show

Get Interactive with Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire released a new video for their song “Neon Bible”. Nothing really special about a music video except this one is interactive. Check it out here.

Filed under: Music, media, video , , arcade fire, interactive video, neon bible

WTF:Just WHY!!!??

The internet celebrity Tay Zonday has done a commerical for Dr. Pepper. That is all I am going to say.

The original masterpiece?

Filed under: culture, internet, media, video , chocolate rain, commercial, dr. pepper, hip hop, tay zonday

Forget about the Super Bowl Ads

I admit it. I am sucker for a good commerical. I paid money to see the British Advertising Awards every year at the Walker Museum in Minneapolis. Now there will be a network on TV, web and mobile called Firebrand that will focus on the best advertising spots from around the world. The multi-platform network will debut tonight at 11pm EST on the Ion Television Network.

Firebrand features the most creative advertising, best video gametrailers and special promotions, providing a unique destination forcommercial culture. Firebrand programs TV commercials the way musicnetworks have programmed music videos. “Viewers are encouraged to ‘Opt-in,Search, Download and Share’ their favorite spots on TV, the web andmobile,” says John A. Lack, Chief Executive Officer/Co-Founder….Firebrand will enlist the aid of “Commercial Jockeys” or “CJs” who willguide the viewing audience through award-winning ads, exclusives,director’s cuts and never-before-seen-on-TV commercials. In its firstmonth, Firebrand will feature commercial celebrities like the Dell Dude,Ben Curtis, Capitol One’s angel, Jay Klaitz, and the young star of Mr.Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Zach Mills. Each will make a guest appearanceon Firebrand, talking about their favorite commercials, setting up spotsand sharing their playlists.

Check the Press Release here. Try the beta of the site here.

Filed under: apple, community, culture, internet, media, technology, tv, video , advertising, british television advertising awards, btaa, ion, iTunes, super bowl, walker art museum

Give One and Get One has been extended

It is such a great thing and you get a gift that you can share with someone special. The laptop is so cool. Check out the Video review from the New York Times below.Starting November 12 through Decemeber 31, One Laptop Per Child will be offering a Give One Get One Program for a brief window of time in North America. For $399, you will be purchasing two XO laptops—one that will be sent to empower a child to learn in a developing nation, and one that will be sent to your child at home.For more information, please call 1-877-70-LAPTOP or visit http://www.laptopgiving.org

Filed under: community, culture, education, media, technology, video , digital divide, heroes, laptops, new york times, non-profit, olpc, one laptop per child

Saturday Music Video – Fat Freddy’s Drop

I just played some Fat Freddy’s Drop on RadioMilwaukee today.  So I decided to share this cool video from the New Zealand group Fat Freddy’s Drop. This group made my top 10 list of 2006.

Filed under: Music, media, video , Fat Freddy's Drop, milwaukee, New Zealand, radiomilwaukee, saturday, top 10