Molotov Media for the Masses

Gabe Dunne over at UCLA's media arts program has taken guerilla advertising to it's next logical step with his Molotov Projector. Simply attach the projector to any surface. Then call it via cellphone and reprogram the projection as desired. Multiple projectors may be linked to create a moving message across multiple surfaces. Brilliant!

WTF?! I am officially "obsolete". Bleep bleep bleep.

Easily the best spam subject line ever received.

Looks like Netflix has updated their site, and with it brought along some much needed features. One feature I've been wishing for is a way to share your movie queue. It looks like I may have my wish with the new Netflix Friends feature. With Netflix friends, you create a friends list and share movie ideas with your Friends. Once you build your list, you can see what your friends think about specific movies, suggest specific movies to your friends and add comments next to films that will help your friends discover great movies or avoid those you didn’t enjoy. Finally!

So the Earth is getting less sunlight than 50 years ago. The big question is, do I have enough of a claim against polluters to make them pay for my loft's new lighting?

Looks like the FS gang have a new splash page up precluding the release of their new album, Odyssey. I suppose it would have been bad form to name it #2.

Here's a little note from Warren and Casey:

We are happy, excited, tired, relieved and proud to finally have finished our new album, Odyssey.

And what an Odyssey it has been! It was a quest to say the least, personally and creatively. We set out to make something artistically innovative and to evolve our sound on this album but in doing so we had to evolve as artists as well, which was at times perilous and painful. In the end, you can hear it, the agony and the ecstasy.

We worked hard, for an extraordinary two years with some extraordinary collaboraters, to make a coherent AOR record, a total statement. Inspired along the way by psychedelia, classic rock and the ideas of the romantics that were the roots of rock and roll (intuition over ration; emotion over intellect; transcendence through the supernatural; the artist as hero), we tried to combine those influences with our own take on modern pop music to create something new and, hopefully, unique.

We can't wait for you to hear it and we’ll see you in 2005.

Sincerely,

Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner

Doyle informs us about Clear Magazine. He recently helped them put on the first ever fashion show at the Detroit Auto show. Nice work!

John Selway has updated his site at selwaymusic.net. Looks like it still has a few bugs if you're on a Mac, I'm sure he'll get them ironed out. The important thing is, if you find yourself in NYC on the 21st, don't miss ROBOTS featuring Selway and Derek Plaslaiko at Cafe Deville. John also has an old favorite mix posted for your MP3 listening pleasure here, and damn is it ever great! A painful reminder of the difference in skill between those who DJ professionally (Selway) and those who do not (me). Ack! Enjoy.

The rain is gone, and LA is charged up for some great electronic grooves. Here's what's coming your way courtesy of Droid Behavior:

Anarexia and Deathstar (Modern Romantics) explore the future and the past of minimal electro this Sunday, January 16th 10-2am at The Parlour Club: 7702 Santa Monica Blvd, W. Hollywood. Cover is only $3.


Then on Saturday January 22nd, make sure to check out the Native Insutruments NI LAB featuring:

Kaskade
Matthew Dear
Telefon Tel Aviv
Richard Devine
Terrestre
DJ Battlecat
The Executives
RD & Trichome
Drumcell (NI, Droidbehavior)
Suspect Seen (NI)
Walton (NI)
Kazell (NI)
leVEL (NI)
Visuals by Scott Pagano

It all happens 9-4am at The Blue Monkey Bar @ 5521 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028. $15.

And on Sunday, you can get more of Ghostly artist Matthew Dear for FREE from 9-2am at Monroe's @ 8623 Melrose at Huntly.

Finally, take a trip back to the late 80's and early 90's with this fantastic acid house and minimal mix by Turbo here.

Winners of the "I Look Like My Dog" contest [thanks, Jason].

What to do when you're bored and it's raining in LA? Design a t-shirt, of course. Check out my t-shirt design, it's called "high voltage" at threadless.com. If I get enough high scores the shirt will be printed and sold from the site and I will win some prizes. Take a look, and if you like it, sign up and give it a score.

It's Friday night, robots. Woo-hoo. Start your evening with this news [from Jess, thanks!] about South Korean scientists who claim they've developed the world's smartest robot able to think and learn like a human. They plan to do so by creating a "learning network", much like Star Trek's infamous Borg. You can read more about it here.

Then go get your groove on in the LBC at Training Bra. Tonight you'll enjoy the electro sounds of DJ Barbeau/Dirty Sanchez and special guest from NYC Dr. Wundt. More info here.

It has come to my attention that some of you might not know what QRIO is. Shame. Fire up your Real Player and get ready to be amazed with these videos. I just want a dozen or so of these guys wandering around the loft. And yes, QRIO's progeny will someday posess the technology to kill you, so play nice and get on his good side while you have time.

Engadget reports news of the next Robosapien robot from the CES show floor. We weren't too impressed by version 1, especially after comparing it to the magically smooth moves of Sony's uber-advanced, uber-expensive QRIO, maybe version 2 will be better.

Detroit techno legend Kenny Larkin is a major force in Detroit's second generation of renowned producers — including Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva — Catch Kenny tonight at Droid Behavior's warehouse party, it's sure to attract quite a crowd, so RSVP to get your name on the list. Only $5 at the door. Bleep, bleep!

More on the Zissou, here's the official word I received about my inquiry to Adidas' online customer service:

Unfortunately, the Zissou is a "one-off" custom model made especially for that project and it will not be available for sale. The Zissou actually is a version of the ROM, with "zissou" on the side in place of "rom". Here are some specialty dealers who usually carry the ROM:

It goes on to list a number of online retailers who sell the ROM.

Apparently I was not the only one searching for the "Zissou" Adidas featured in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic (if you loved The Royal Tennanbaums and Rushmore, you'll love TLA - go see it). After thorough research, JP over at H-List determined that the only way he was going to get a pair, was to employ his DIY ghetto mod. I'm tempted to try it.

Happy New Year, robots. Just a quick post for today - rec'd this note about the latest Fischerspooner single:

We are extremely pleased to announce that following overwhelming responses from the world's leading DJs, Capitol will release the 12" of Just Let Go featuring remixes by the Thin White Duke and Tommie Sunshine on January 11th in the US. A European release will follow shortly. Radio 1, KCRW and KROQ have already started playing the Thin White Duke Remix, with many more stations to follow.

In the back of Carlos Owens' southern Alaska yard, an 18-foot-tall steel robot is taking shape in the dim light of the winter afternoons.

Brilliant! The Fox Blocker, get one for everyone on your holiday shopping list! [Thanks, Doyle]

These dudes shred. [thanks, Doyle]

Shopping for the Daft Punk fan on your list, but mystified about what to get them since the beloved French robots seem to be in hiatus not producing new records these days? Never fear, there’s always the Interstella 5555 Daft Punk action figure sets – collect ‘em all! [thanks, TeflonJacket]

The kooky Anti-Drum Machine guy was out again all day on Sunday in front of Amoeba records on Sunset in LA. He's the leader of the "Society for the Rehumanization of American Music". He was a nice enough guy, he even let me take his picture with my phone (which baffled him), even after showing him my bagful of synthetic delights. If you've got something to say about his anti-rhythm box position, he invites you to contact him directly at (323) 732-6160. He has no e-mail.

Blip-pop hits the mainstream. Today, NPR's "The World" featured Poland's Gameboyzz Orchestra Project. As they reported, "Think of it as Donkey Kong meets Norman Cook...or maybe Tetris takes on Kraftwerk". You can listen to the story here.

Robot Matchmaking Service?
The Audioscrobbler plugin sits quitely as you listen to iTunes, builds a profile of your musical tastes and sends it to the Audioscrobbler server, which updates your profile. Your profile page shows listening statistics, and the system automatically matches you to others with similar music tastes. [thanks, Josh]

L.A. Robots, don't miss this Saturday's performance by Swayzak with XLR8R Artist of the Year, Matthew Dear at the swanky Avalon Hollywood. Look under "Club Nights" on their site for details.

Wow. This is brilliant. Too bad it's not for real. Sigh. [Thanks, Doyle]

The question is, how will these kids rebel? By shopping at the Gap and wearing Dockers?

Ringo spins and John breakdances in DJ Danger Mouse's brilliant follow up the the Grey Album, the Grey Video. [courtesy Waxy.org]

Hey electrobots, your quiet week can all come to a racous end by heading down to the LBC for Training Bra. Join the electroboobie gals and get your raunch on to LA's most perverted band, Punk Bunny. I will not be attending, but don't let that stop you from fluffing up your cottontails and getting busy on the dancefloor.