FESTIVAL WEAR

"Festival Wear" these days must be an ass kicking money maker. While we were still twisting one up behind the main stage, evidentially someone was planning a whole line of festival wear for us festival lovers. The whole big bonanza superfest scene has become a tad bit crass where once it was almost pure-- in a non-virginal way, but pure of music and with the purest of intent.

Wasn't part of the whole festival concept in the beginning to share, trade, and barter? (I'll trade you my embroidered vest for your pipe) The music and the love was the fucking thing! Everything else was incidental. Extremely low maintenance. I know that clothes weren't very important, if you even wore them at all.

Websites and catalogs are now devoted to festival clothing, hats and other accessories specifically for the festivals and beyond. There's even a Burning Man Clothing Swap August 5. Illuminated clothes are fun. You may see a window display of "wellies" proclaiming "hip festival fashion" for any well respected festival goer. (Thanks, Deborah)

Lotus Moon, who is about as ethical as a company can be, has a trademark on those "Pixie Pockets" and Heretika has some similar pixie belts you may also see at gatherings. I'll cop to getting one for my sweet husband once but it was gifted to me. You can't fault a business for answering the call of what the market wants.

It's always about change. Burning Man is (some would say has been) going corporate. America's biggest counterculture jamboree is also a $10 million business. Now, Business 2.0 reports, it's trying to leverage its brand -- and save the planet -- by (gasp!) inviting corporate participants.

link | via

So, is change good when it's profitable? Does money fuck everything up? Will Lassie find Timmy in the well?

Clever product design. Oil of Olay goes for the Undo key command. (CTRL + Z = Undo) I think it's kind of fun. If their market is grandmothers in their 50s they've got themselves a slam dunk.

link | via | via

Guerrilla Advertising

Sean Stevens (left), 28, and Peter Berdovsky, 27, today pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct. The two men are accused of plunging metropolitan Boston into a panic with illuminated advertisements for a cartoon. The courtroom packed with supporters and a crush of reporters.

On his website, Berdovsky has pictures of a small group installing the figures -- little square-shaped men frowning and giving the finger -- on the exterior wall of a hospital, on the awning of a Cambridge bar, at an Urban Outfitters store, and a bridge.

"It's not so threatening -- it's a Lite-Brite."


* Free Peter
* See video
* Read More...

A new energy drink doesn't promise to give you the juice to play guitar like Jimi Hendrix, but it does hope to give you a "Liquid Experience."

Beverage Concepts says its nonalcoholic "Liquid Experience" drinks, named for Hendrix's breakthrough album, "Are You Experienced?" will debut in April.

The concept is irking some Hendrix fans, many of whom still consider him the greatest guitarist of all time.

"To see his image and the beautiful feelings it has created during my lifetime cheapened by base advertising ... is very disappointing tome," said bassist Michael Balzary, better known as Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The image of Hendrix, who died in 1970 from a drug overdose in London,has been licensed for products including baby clothing, an air freshener, lava lamp and a Christmas ornament. Portions of royalties have gone to several educational causes, including the United Negro College Fund, said Bruce Kuhlman, director of licensing and brand development for Authentic Hendrix, the Seattle-based company that controls use of Hendrix's name and images.

Pretty cheesy. His Dad and sister control Authentic Hendrix. Oh, no! I just got a look at all that crap on the website.

TRAFFIC JAMMING with the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir and the Not Buying It Band. Bring your own music, wear bright colors, wear Red. At least wear a Santa hat.

Traffic Jamming defined: That direct action in which citizens step into a roadway where cars and trucks are stopped, then preach and sing to the motorists while offering them information about global warming and how it's caused by buying and driving cars.

ReverendBilly.org


BUY NOTHING DAY
November 24, 2006, Friday

Every November, for 24 hours, we remember that no one was born to shop, we make a small choice to participate by not participating.

CONSUMERISM
Some of my friends really like to shop the sales. The bigger, the better. Generally I can't relate to the people who cheerfully get in line to buy more plastic doodads just to be buying something. Masses blindly following advertising commands and hype as they empty their wallets and then will borrow more money to follow more advertising commands and hype as they....

So, why am I really shopping? Do I need to buy this item, or am I shopping because the television told me to go forth and consume mass quantities of doodads?

Snow White with a big ol'chocolate grin advertising what else, chocolate flavored condoms.

This ad and many more are included in a directory of fun condom ads from all over the world.

Independent World Television hopes to bring the concept of citizen journalism to television.

Paul Jay's idealists grail? Network TV beholden only to the public. Jay's mantra? "No corporate ownership. No corporate underwriting. No government funding. No commercial advertising."

No better team could be assembled. Definitely top shelf. Some names familiars to bloggers would be: Howard Zinn, FAIR's Jeff Cohen, Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch (HRW), investigative journalist, Greg Palast, Robert McChesney of Free Press, Helen Caldicott, MD, journalist and author, Naomi Klein, Buzzflash's Mark Karlin, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, Janeane Garofalo, and many more.

Broadcast will begin in early 2006. Where will you see it? See FAQ.

{Web Trail}
$PREAD - An NYC-based quarterly subtitled "Illuminating the Sex Industry" will debut this March and will appeal to the wide spectrum of sex workers and the people who love them.

Office supply products chain Staples is pulling its advertising from newscasts on Sinclair Broadcast Group TV stations (WLOS in Asheville, NC, is one) as of Jan. 10, saying the decision was fueled in part by e-mails from customers angry at what they consider to be the broadcaster's right-wing bias in news and commentary. Hell, yeah. Somebody's listening. WaPo

The Sabian Symbols in Astrology- Focus your thoughts on the question or situation at hand and when ready, go to site and click on the button and one of the 360 Sabian symbol images and keywords will appear in the box.

Quote Of The Day
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return. ~Mary Jean Iron

» The Heather Nevay Gallery with 18 eerie no smiling paintings. via the lovely Gilda @ Neurastenia

» The Dirty Martini has been around for sometime, but I see where the Dirty Sue martini is launching a huge ad campaign. It's the cleanest dirtiest martini around.

» A bold advertising campaign (Australia) that aims to wipe out marijuana's reputation as a "soft" drug will hit NSW cinemas this week. One includes the ad-line: "Pot. It mightn't kill you. But it could turn you into a dickhead." I kid you not. Link

» Celebrate the Summer Solstice today at 8:56 pm EST, June 20. Solstice revelers will gather at Stonehenge to watch the sunrise.

» Happy Father's Day to all you Daddios out there.

» 'Best of San Francisco' award-winner, Tish is celebrating a birthday today! Stop in and wish her well.

Romantic and Voluptuous, By Mark Miller
"Romantic, sensitive, sincere, caring, honest, affectionate 25-year-old non-smoking male, a Kevin Costner lookalike, with great sense of humor, Ph.D. in Business, runs own advertising agency, enjoys sports, nature, movies, theater, restaurants, dancing--seeks sincere woman for friendship and good conversation."

Dear Romantic: I nearly fainted when I read your personals ad, because it pretty much described my ideal man. So even though I'm sure you'll be overwhelmed with responses, here's mine: I'm a bright, honest, loving, considerate, vivacious, outgoing 23-year-old, blonde, voluptuous, non-smoking female, often described as a Darryl Hannah lookalike. I am independently wealthy, and love exotic travel, gourmet cooking, and passionate embraces in front of a roaring fire. I am yearning for your reply.

Dear Voluptuous: Thank you for your wonderful letter in response to my ad. Coincidentally, you described my ideal woman. Unfortunately, I wasn't exactly 100% honest about myself in my ad. But your letter touched me to such a degree that I've decided to stop deluding myself and others. So even though it may cost me the loss of meeting you, here's the truth: I'm a 46-year-old Abe Vigoda lookalike, who smokes like a chimney, dropped out of high school to steal cars, still lives with my parents, and haven't the slightest idea how to function in a social situation.

Dear Romantic: I can't tell you how relieved I was to receive your refreshingly honest letter. I, too, have had it with all the artifice, the game-playing, the misrepresentation. So please allow me to revise my initial ad, as well: I'm a 52-year-old, enormously overweight woman, interested solely in my next meal. I suffer from indescribable body odor, but it doesn't bother me too much, as I spend most of my days dealing with the voices that I hear, commanding me to do the bidding of Emperor Borgar, ruler of my home planet. I am currently working, gutting fish, at Harvey's Carp-O-Rama, but it's the evening shift, so I have my days free to tend to my open sores and seventeen cats. I also like looking in people's windows while drooling. [more »]

TV Turnoff 2004 - April 19-25
What happens during a seven-day experiment in life without TV? A whole new space to think emerges. You find yourself passing time in ways you never expected. And you start to wonder: when I reach for the remote, who is really in control? View posters from previous years here. Adbusters link via ollapodrida



{Fast Links}
:: Be Here Now by Paul Krassner [link]
:: Realist
:: Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Chabon sizes up a new medium for his superhero, the Escapist. [link]

{this day in history}
April 14, 1966 -- Swiss pharmaceutical firm Sandoz discontinues production of LSD. Owsley smiles. via daily bleed

{bullshit cliché of the week} - "war footing"

I feel a sin coming on.