What Pets Do While We're at Work
Also, if you want more like this, Joan turned me onto CuteOverload.com
Thursday, January 17, 2008
It's CUTE ANIMAL time...
Courtesy of Lisa V.
What Pets Do While We're at Work
Also, if you want more like this, Joan turned me onto CuteOverload.com
What Pets Do While We're at Work
Also, if you want more like this, Joan turned me onto CuteOverload.com
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Kickin' It Old School and when will the Japanese and Koreans achieve peace?
The Gamblerz vs. Ichegeki
If you haven't seen it, you gotta check out "Kickin' It Old School"...This is my new favorite movie. Children of the 80's unite...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Experiments in Chemistry...
Maybe we'll never decide who the freshmaker really is C, but then again at least we can share youtube videos...Thanks...
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Upcoming Show: January 25-See Division X, Clean out your closet...
Support Picture the Homeless...The show is at Bronx Museum of the Arts...Get details here.
North says: Even if ya can't come, please spread da word to someone who can. Do it for da people of New York. Do it because it's the right thing to do.
North says: Even if ya can't come, please spread da word to someone who can. Do it for da people of New York. Do it because it's the right thing to do.
The Future of the Screen....
Oh yeah, and what's up with how thin computers are now? No more optical drives? Everything wireless? Check out the Apple Macbook Air...
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
My newest favorite cartoons and Hip Hop Harry...
Cyberchase is an educational mathematics kids show on PBS that I became kind of addicted to recently. I love the evil nemesis of "Motherboard's", Hacker. Digit the robot bird is kind of a strange character, but in the mystery/adventure-solving sleuth formula of cartoon kids, the gang is bright and uses the scientific method approach to problem-solving. A must-see for youngins. Entertaining and highly intelligent.
I also like Skunk Fu...It's in the vein of Happy Tree Friends in the way that the animals are drawn in a cutesy way, but the characters are hilarious...
![[SkunkFU3.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBY7db11-K8ueJDCDS0hnnWkOzeetgphdy38lodixS7xg2HMqZVJXnCUiVX8Waz8HrIr2_AC_Fq4MsgLK5kZTJbheo4UXSa6_KqWTP8mux7poM0dnpo2I1SGGLZiHHn8XyQM8gA/s1600/SkunkFU3.jpg)
Hip Hop Harry is a kids show that I like to watch the end of for the "Hip Hop Harry Dance Circle..." This is when I realize how "hiphop" has changed from when I was a kid...
There's this video of the comparison between Barney (no challenge) with competitor Hip Hop Harry for battle for supremacy of kids shows...
Barney V.S. Hip Hop Harry - Funny videos are here
From Washintonpost.com
Some Memorable Moments in Cartoon History
Sunday, October 23, 2005; Page B02
1920s: The first animated character to fill theaters in the silent-film era, Felix the Cat, became so popular that his gaping grin was reproduced on mugs, watches and other merchandise. Although he was soon eclipsed in movie theaters by talking cartoons, Felix's fortunes revived when he began airing on TV in the 1950s.
1928: Synchronizing sound with on-screen action, Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie launched Mickey Mouse on his cruise to stardom.
1930: The eight-minute musical adventure, "Sinkin' in the Bathtub," was the first Looney Tune, created by two ex-Disney animators.
1937: Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full-length animated feature film.
1940: The first collaboration of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom and Jerry traces the foiled efforts of gray house cat Tom to catch brown mouse Jerry and the resulting, sometimes sadistic, mayhem. With little vocalization beyond the animals' shrieks of pain and panicked gulps, the shorts are renowned for their slapstick violence, recently parodied in "The Simpsons' " cartoon within a cartoon, "Itchy and Scratchy."
1949: The Road Runner cartoons, a takeoff on traditional cat-and-mouse antics, featured Wile E. Coyote, who never kills his Road Runner quarry and typically ends up injuring himself.
1960: The first animated sitcom on prime time TV, The Flintstones, was designed to appeal to the whole family. Each half-hour episode showcased the challenges of contemporary working-class life in a stone-age setting.
1987: Created as a series of 30-second filler spots for "The Tracey Ullman Show," The Simpsons has become the longest-running TV comedy series ever. The original shorts were so successful that "The Simpsons" premiered on the Fox network as a 30-minute Christmas special in 1989 and then began as a regular series the following month.
1992 : A cable channel created by Ted Turner, the Cartoon Network started out in 2 million households and three years later was available in 22 million.
1995 : As the first 3-D computer- generated feature film, Toy Story opened new horizons in animation.
1997 : Comedy Central's South Park, a provocative adult parody of small-town life in Colorado,pushed new limits with its surreal depiction of contemporary events and often crude language.
2001: With the advent of Flash animation in the late '90s, a whole new cartoon era was born in the unrestricted world of the Internet, including programs such as Happy Tree Friends.
I also like Skunk Fu...It's in the vein of Happy Tree Friends in the way that the animals are drawn in a cutesy way, but the characters are hilarious...
Hip Hop Harry is a kids show that I like to watch the end of for the "Hip Hop Harry Dance Circle..." This is when I realize how "hiphop" has changed from when I was a kid...
There's this video of the comparison between Barney (no challenge) with competitor Hip Hop Harry for battle for supremacy of kids shows...
Barney V.S. Hip Hop Harry - Funny videos are here
From Washintonpost.com
Some Memorable Moments in Cartoon History
Sunday, October 23, 2005; Page B02
1920s: The first animated character to fill theaters in the silent-film era, Felix the Cat, became so popular that his gaping grin was reproduced on mugs, watches and other merchandise. Although he was soon eclipsed in movie theaters by talking cartoons, Felix's fortunes revived when he began airing on TV in the 1950s.
1928: Synchronizing sound with on-screen action, Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie launched Mickey Mouse on his cruise to stardom.
1930: The eight-minute musical adventure, "Sinkin' in the Bathtub," was the first Looney Tune, created by two ex-Disney animators.
1937: Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full-length animated feature film.
1940: The first collaboration of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Tom and Jerry traces the foiled efforts of gray house cat Tom to catch brown mouse Jerry and the resulting, sometimes sadistic, mayhem. With little vocalization beyond the animals' shrieks of pain and panicked gulps, the shorts are renowned for their slapstick violence, recently parodied in "The Simpsons' " cartoon within a cartoon, "Itchy and Scratchy."
1949: The Road Runner cartoons, a takeoff on traditional cat-and-mouse antics, featured Wile E. Coyote, who never kills his Road Runner quarry and typically ends up injuring himself.
1960: The first animated sitcom on prime time TV, The Flintstones, was designed to appeal to the whole family. Each half-hour episode showcased the challenges of contemporary working-class life in a stone-age setting.
1987: Created as a series of 30-second filler spots for "The Tracey Ullman Show," The Simpsons has become the longest-running TV comedy series ever. The original shorts were so successful that "The Simpsons" premiered on the Fox network as a 30-minute Christmas special in 1989 and then began as a regular series the following month.
1992 : A cable channel created by Ted Turner, the Cartoon Network started out in 2 million households and three years later was available in 22 million.
1995 : As the first 3-D computer- generated feature film, Toy Story opened new horizons in animation.
1997 : Comedy Central's South Park, a provocative adult parody of small-town life in Colorado,pushed new limits with its surreal depiction of contemporary events and often crude language.
2001: With the advent of Flash animation in the late '90s, a whole new cartoon era was born in the unrestricted world of the Internet, including programs such as Happy Tree Friends.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Science Infinite...thank you...
Damn, I was just talking about support within the community to sustain its values...and then I got to see this...
Thursday, November 01, 2007
What if? I Wouldn't Put it Past Profiteers...
I never saw this at the time, but this was a terrifying hoax article in 2003...Imagining what if?
WHO REALLY OWNS HIP HOP?
USE THE TERM 'HIP HOP' & PAY A LICENSING FEE
by Davey D from (www.daveyd.com)
It looks like the Hip Hop community now faces its biggest challenge.
Forget police task forces or discriminating night club owners, folks
will now have to gear up to do some serious battle with a Los Angeles
businessman named Richard Gonahangya and his company America Media
Operative Inc. For those who don't know AMO Inc is a little known
company that specializes in lobbying Congress and advising government
officials on media policy. They yield a lot of influence over the FCC
and other agencies that determine policy. The word around town is
'what they say goes'.
Gonahangya a staunch conservative, held a small press conference in
Compton, Ca yesterday to announce that his company AMO Inc had
recently trademarked and brought the rights to the word/phrase 'Hip
Hop'. As a result they will soon start charging a licensing fee for
anyone who wishes to use the word in a commercial/ for profit project.
Taking advantage of a provision in the recently amended Millennium
Copyright Act of 2001, Gonahangya explained that he and his company
have all the legal ammunition and clearance to own the rights to the
phrase 'Hip Hop'. He noted that the Hip Hop industry has generated
over 20 billion dollars last year in the United States alone. The
phrase Hip Hop is now a powerful marketing tool and his company is
posed to profit handsomely in 2003 from its 'proper' usage. The new
licensing fee is estimated to net AMO Inc a whooping 5-8 billion
dollars a year.
"Any business including record labels, videos, radio stations or
television shows that use the phrase 'Hip Hop' in the title or
marketing body of their work will have to pay AMO Inc a licensing
fee", Gonahangya told reporters. 'We are not attempting to stifle
free speech or muzzle popular culture.. we have no legal grounds from
preventing anyone who wishes to use the word in everyday speech,
however if you are using the word in a manner that associates you with
a salable product, then we fully intend to collect our fee".
Gonahangya went on to explain that what he is doing is not unusual.
There are many popular words that are used in everyday conversations
that are trademarked and cannot be used in commercial ventures without
permission. 'The word 'Xerox' is often used interchangeably with
'copy'. The word 'Vaseline' is used interchangeably with lotion or
grease. he also explained that the word Rock-N-Roll is trademarked by
a major label record executive who at the time could not charge a
licensing fee.
Gonahangya laid out his company's strategy for 2003. He explained
that AMO Inc is giving record labels and performers a one month grace
period to get their business affairs in order. Starting in May
letters will be sent out to anyone who is using the term 'Hip Hop'
explaining that the word is now trademarked and that if they wish to
continue to use it in the body of their work, they will have to
register with his company and be assessed a licensing fee. Letters
have already been sent to several Hip Hop internet websites with more
to come. He estimated the average fee will be anywhere from 2-5
thousand dollars plus residual fees per project. Permission to use
the word will be on a case by case basis. In addition any future
projects released using the term ' Hip Hop' will have to have the 'TM'
symbol next to the word.
When asked if he felt AMO Inc was being exploitative and attempting to
blackmail a viable popular culture, Gonahangya bluntly stated; 'This
is not about culture. This is about business... The laws have been
set up for anyone and everyone to use. Our company took advantage of
what was on the books for almost a year and that what we are doing is
now perfectly legal... Hip Hop is a big multi-billion dollar a year
business. I was surprised that a big executive like Russell Simmons
or Clive Davis or even business savy rappers like Jay-Z, P-Diddy or
Eminem never trademarked the phrase. Everyone in America knows that
you don't do business without protecting your assets. It's just plain
stupid not to leave yourself this wide open.. If the Hip Hop
community is that dumb when it comes to business then too bad. Don't
make me out to be the bad guy".
When asked if he intends to share any of the profits from licensing
the word 'Hip Hop' with any of Hip Hop's pioneers including Lovebug
Starski who first coined the phrase back in the lates 70s or Afrika
Bambaataa who popularized and spread the word, Gonahangya laughed. 'I
never heard of a Mr Starski and as for sharing profits with people
from Africa..No my people are originally from Denmark, Norway.
When another reporter told Gonahangya that Afrika Bambaataa was
someone's name, Gonahangya shrugged it off and said he had no
intentions of sharing the profits with anyone but his company and his
family." However, he did offer a discounted licensing fee for Starski
and Bambaataa since they coined and helped popularized the term.
When asked if there would be any sort of criteria set up to determine
who will and will not be allowed to use the phrase 'Hip Hop',
Gonahangya explained that for most part if a company has the money and
a viable revenue stream for residual payments then it should be a
'piece of cake'. As for criteria, Gonahangya explained that he has
very little tolerance and respect for individuals and companies that
are attempting to use the phrase Hip Hop for political gain.
"Recently the term 'Hip Hop' has been positioned as a
progressive/liberal movement. That's unfair and a totally one-sided
approach to what is an American institution.Hip Hop is for everyone.
It is not a slick political campaign tool for Jesse Jackson, Al
Sharpton or Hillary Clinton.", he retorted
Gonahangya became evasive when asked if he would allow the term Hip
Hop to be used by any of the conservative organizations that he
regularly associates with and lobbies for. " To be honest we have not
ruled them out. We believe that Hip Hop needs to be politically
balanced. For years Hip Hop has been associated with liberal causes
that have totally undermined the moral fiber of this country. We will
be very selective as to how Hip Hop will be used politically", he said
Gonahangya continued; "I will assure you this... In the future you
will not be seeing billboards or magazine ads with the words 'Hip Hop'
and Reparations, 'Hip Hop' and Affirmative Action or even 'Hip Hop'
and Black Power anytime soon. If it hasn't come through our offices
and been granted a licensing fee then its existence will be in
violation of the Millennium Copyright Act of 2001 and we intend to
aggressively go after any violators and prosecute. This about
political integrity and money".
Some our speculating that Gonahangya intends to use his ownership of
the now trademarked term 'Hip Hop' to quiet down any sort of political
movement that has been organizing around the term in time for the 2004
elections.
We caught up with Greg Watkins webmaster of the popular site
allhiphop.com and he noted that he had received a letter from
Gonahangya's AMO Inc company earlier this month. "He told us in the
letter that we were in violation of his this trademark law and that me
and my partner Chuck would have to pay licensing fee if we wanted to
keep the word 'Hip Hop in our name. We checked with our lawyers and
found out that we were safe because we are allhiphop and not just 'hip
hop'. It's obvious these guys are serious about collecting their
money".
We caught up with long time Bay Area writer and Hip Hop deejay Billy
Jam who does the Hip Hop Slam radio show and has the website Hip Hop
Slam. "Yeah this attorney contacted my attorney and said I would have
to take the 'Hip Hop' out of Hip Hop Slam or pay a fee if I want to
continue doing business. At first I thought it was a joke and then
days later I received a subpoena to show up in court. I was told if I
don't remove the word Hip Hop from Hip Hop Slam or pay a licensing fee
then I could lose my house, my car and my prized record collection".
Normally I don't give a damn about such things, but I can't afford to
lose my records", Billy Jam said
We caught up with popular Bay Area rapper /writer JR The Rap Slanger
out of East Oakland. He said: " Look man, this country's always been
about business and fools is gonna try and collect their paper. But
this is straight up bullS%$T. How's this fool gonna try and trademark
a word and collect a fee? Brothas need to rise up and retaliate and
put a foot in his ass. But let's be honest, me personally I don't
have to worry because I'm not really Hip Hop. I rap. I'm a rapper.
There's a difference between rap and Hip Hop. I guess Hip Hop is
gonna die but rap is gonna go on forever! He didn't trademark the
word Rap did he? "
As far as I can tell the word rap is not trademarked. Nor can it be
because of it's long standing everyday usage.
We checked with famed NY copyright attorney Arnold Esquire Sullivan
and he soberly explained that the new provisions that have been added
does indeed give AMO Inc the right to trademark and collect a
licensing fee for use of the word Hip Hop and any other coined
'unique' phrase. If the word is made up or unique to the American
lexicon then it can be trademarked and people will have to pay a fee
if they wish to use it in any sort of business endeavor.
Sullivan explained the new amendment went through around the same time
they were crafting the Patriot Act. "It's a shame people went to
sleep on this. I hate to say this but Negroes had better wake up and
start smelling the coffee. These people in Washington are not
playing".
Sullivan concluded by noting that failure to comply with the new
trademark laws can result in serious economic repercussions and a
stiff 5 year prison sentence. He noted that the stiff prison sentence
came after music industry executives and software companies lobbied
congress for harsher penalties for bootleggers and other 'copyright'
thieves'. "Unfortunately this new trademark law as it pertains to the
phrase Hip Hop can potentially land people in jail if they try to make
a profit off it', Sullivan noted.
At the end of the press conference Gonahangya explained that he is
currently in negotiations with a major broadcast company so that they
will have the exclusive rights to the word 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya
declined to name the outlet that he is dealing with, but he did note
that should everything work out according to plan this media outlet
has vast resources and will set up offices throughout the country and
help determine which projects and products will be allowed to use the
term 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya refused to say whether or not it would be
an outlet like Clear Channel, Viacom or Emmis that would be
determining who can or cannot use the word 'Hip Hop'. "It would be
premature for me to give out that information", he said
It is clear that big corporations and government lobbyist now own Hip
Hop.
Gonahangya also reiterated the fact that he is extending a month long
grace period. He also used the occasion to pitch his new licensing
service. In what appeared to be a real cheesy move he stated that he
was offering a one time discount for the next two weeks. He explained
that he understands that there are a lot of non-profits that use the
phrase Hip Hop in literature and other marketing schemes and as a
result they will be granted a one time 500 dollar processing fee and
will subjected to the similar constraints of their 501 non profit
status. That means they can not use Hip Hop as a political marketing
arm.
Non political Independent record labels and artist can obtain a
lifetime license to use the word Hip Hop for 500 dollars. Gonahangya
explained that he believes in doing things for the community and this
is his way of giving back.
"Let it not be said I don't care for the underdog", he said. AMO Inc
is all about helping the downtrodden. We normally charge on average
of 5000 thousand plus lifetime residual fees, but because we care
about the little people we will offer Hip Hop [TM] for 500 dollars
licensing fee for the next two weeks.
If anyone wishes to fill out an application to see if you qualify to
use the term 'Hip Hop' in your product or if you want more information
on AMO Inc call them at 1-800-233-4563
WHO REALLY OWNS HIP HOP?
USE THE TERM 'HIP HOP' & PAY A LICENSING FEE
by Davey D from (www.daveyd.com)
It looks like the Hip Hop community now faces its biggest challenge.
Forget police task forces or discriminating night club owners, folks
will now have to gear up to do some serious battle with a Los Angeles
businessman named Richard Gonahangya and his company America Media
Operative Inc. For those who don't know AMO Inc is a little known
company that specializes in lobbying Congress and advising government
officials on media policy. They yield a lot of influence over the FCC
and other agencies that determine policy. The word around town is
'what they say goes'.
Gonahangya a staunch conservative, held a small press conference in
Compton, Ca yesterday to announce that his company AMO Inc had
recently trademarked and brought the rights to the word/phrase 'Hip
Hop'. As a result they will soon start charging a licensing fee for
anyone who wishes to use the word in a commercial/ for profit project.
Taking advantage of a provision in the recently amended Millennium
Copyright Act of 2001, Gonahangya explained that he and his company
have all the legal ammunition and clearance to own the rights to the
phrase 'Hip Hop'. He noted that the Hip Hop industry has generated
over 20 billion dollars last year in the United States alone. The
phrase Hip Hop is now a powerful marketing tool and his company is
posed to profit handsomely in 2003 from its 'proper' usage. The new
licensing fee is estimated to net AMO Inc a whooping 5-8 billion
dollars a year.
"Any business including record labels, videos, radio stations or
television shows that use the phrase 'Hip Hop' in the title or
marketing body of their work will have to pay AMO Inc a licensing
fee", Gonahangya told reporters. 'We are not attempting to stifle
free speech or muzzle popular culture.. we have no legal grounds from
preventing anyone who wishes to use the word in everyday speech,
however if you are using the word in a manner that associates you with
a salable product, then we fully intend to collect our fee".
Gonahangya went on to explain that what he is doing is not unusual.
There are many popular words that are used in everyday conversations
that are trademarked and cannot be used in commercial ventures without
permission. 'The word 'Xerox' is often used interchangeably with
'copy'. The word 'Vaseline' is used interchangeably with lotion or
grease. he also explained that the word Rock-N-Roll is trademarked by
a major label record executive who at the time could not charge a
licensing fee.
Gonahangya laid out his company's strategy for 2003. He explained
that AMO Inc is giving record labels and performers a one month grace
period to get their business affairs in order. Starting in May
letters will be sent out to anyone who is using the term 'Hip Hop'
explaining that the word is now trademarked and that if they wish to
continue to use it in the body of their work, they will have to
register with his company and be assessed a licensing fee. Letters
have already been sent to several Hip Hop internet websites with more
to come. He estimated the average fee will be anywhere from 2-5
thousand dollars plus residual fees per project. Permission to use
the word will be on a case by case basis. In addition any future
projects released using the term ' Hip Hop' will have to have the 'TM'
symbol next to the word.
When asked if he felt AMO Inc was being exploitative and attempting to
blackmail a viable popular culture, Gonahangya bluntly stated; 'This
is not about culture. This is about business... The laws have been
set up for anyone and everyone to use. Our company took advantage of
what was on the books for almost a year and that what we are doing is
now perfectly legal... Hip Hop is a big multi-billion dollar a year
business. I was surprised that a big executive like Russell Simmons
or Clive Davis or even business savy rappers like Jay-Z, P-Diddy or
Eminem never trademarked the phrase. Everyone in America knows that
you don't do business without protecting your assets. It's just plain
stupid not to leave yourself this wide open.. If the Hip Hop
community is that dumb when it comes to business then too bad. Don't
make me out to be the bad guy".
When asked if he intends to share any of the profits from licensing
the word 'Hip Hop' with any of Hip Hop's pioneers including Lovebug
Starski who first coined the phrase back in the lates 70s or Afrika
Bambaataa who popularized and spread the word, Gonahangya laughed. 'I
never heard of a Mr Starski and as for sharing profits with people
from Africa..No my people are originally from Denmark, Norway.
When another reporter told Gonahangya that Afrika Bambaataa was
someone's name, Gonahangya shrugged it off and said he had no
intentions of sharing the profits with anyone but his company and his
family." However, he did offer a discounted licensing fee for Starski
and Bambaataa since they coined and helped popularized the term.
When asked if there would be any sort of criteria set up to determine
who will and will not be allowed to use the phrase 'Hip Hop',
Gonahangya explained that for most part if a company has the money and
a viable revenue stream for residual payments then it should be a
'piece of cake'. As for criteria, Gonahangya explained that he has
very little tolerance and respect for individuals and companies that
are attempting to use the phrase Hip Hop for political gain.
"Recently the term 'Hip Hop' has been positioned as a
progressive/liberal movement. That's unfair and a totally one-sided
approach to what is an American institution.Hip Hop is for everyone.
It is not a slick political campaign tool for Jesse Jackson, Al
Sharpton or Hillary Clinton.", he retorted
Gonahangya became evasive when asked if he would allow the term Hip
Hop to be used by any of the conservative organizations that he
regularly associates with and lobbies for. " To be honest we have not
ruled them out. We believe that Hip Hop needs to be politically
balanced. For years Hip Hop has been associated with liberal causes
that have totally undermined the moral fiber of this country. We will
be very selective as to how Hip Hop will be used politically", he said
Gonahangya continued; "I will assure you this... In the future you
will not be seeing billboards or magazine ads with the words 'Hip Hop'
and Reparations, 'Hip Hop' and Affirmative Action or even 'Hip Hop'
and Black Power anytime soon. If it hasn't come through our offices
and been granted a licensing fee then its existence will be in
violation of the Millennium Copyright Act of 2001 and we intend to
aggressively go after any violators and prosecute. This about
political integrity and money".
Some our speculating that Gonahangya intends to use his ownership of
the now trademarked term 'Hip Hop' to quiet down any sort of political
movement that has been organizing around the term in time for the 2004
elections.
We caught up with Greg Watkins webmaster of the popular site
allhiphop.com and he noted that he had received a letter from
Gonahangya's AMO Inc company earlier this month. "He told us in the
letter that we were in violation of his this trademark law and that me
and my partner Chuck would have to pay licensing fee if we wanted to
keep the word 'Hip Hop in our name. We checked with our lawyers and
found out that we were safe because we are allhiphop and not just 'hip
hop'. It's obvious these guys are serious about collecting their
money".
We caught up with long time Bay Area writer and Hip Hop deejay Billy
Jam who does the Hip Hop Slam radio show and has the website Hip Hop
Slam. "Yeah this attorney contacted my attorney and said I would have
to take the 'Hip Hop' out of Hip Hop Slam or pay a fee if I want to
continue doing business. At first I thought it was a joke and then
days later I received a subpoena to show up in court. I was told if I
don't remove the word Hip Hop from Hip Hop Slam or pay a licensing fee
then I could lose my house, my car and my prized record collection".
Normally I don't give a damn about such things, but I can't afford to
lose my records", Billy Jam said
We caught up with popular Bay Area rapper /writer JR The Rap Slanger
out of East Oakland. He said: " Look man, this country's always been
about business and fools is gonna try and collect their paper. But
this is straight up bullS%$T. How's this fool gonna try and trademark
a word and collect a fee? Brothas need to rise up and retaliate and
put a foot in his ass. But let's be honest, me personally I don't
have to worry because I'm not really Hip Hop. I rap. I'm a rapper.
There's a difference between rap and Hip Hop. I guess Hip Hop is
gonna die but rap is gonna go on forever! He didn't trademark the
word Rap did he? "
As far as I can tell the word rap is not trademarked. Nor can it be
because of it's long standing everyday usage.
We checked with famed NY copyright attorney Arnold Esquire Sullivan
and he soberly explained that the new provisions that have been added
does indeed give AMO Inc the right to trademark and collect a
licensing fee for use of the word Hip Hop and any other coined
'unique' phrase. If the word is made up or unique to the American
lexicon then it can be trademarked and people will have to pay a fee
if they wish to use it in any sort of business endeavor.
Sullivan explained the new amendment went through around the same time
they were crafting the Patriot Act. "It's a shame people went to
sleep on this. I hate to say this but Negroes had better wake up and
start smelling the coffee. These people in Washington are not
playing".
Sullivan concluded by noting that failure to comply with the new
trademark laws can result in serious economic repercussions and a
stiff 5 year prison sentence. He noted that the stiff prison sentence
came after music industry executives and software companies lobbied
congress for harsher penalties for bootleggers and other 'copyright'
thieves'. "Unfortunately this new trademark law as it pertains to the
phrase Hip Hop can potentially land people in jail if they try to make
a profit off it', Sullivan noted.
At the end of the press conference Gonahangya explained that he is
currently in negotiations with a major broadcast company so that they
will have the exclusive rights to the word 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya
declined to name the outlet that he is dealing with, but he did note
that should everything work out according to plan this media outlet
has vast resources and will set up offices throughout the country and
help determine which projects and products will be allowed to use the
term 'Hip Hop'. Gonahangya refused to say whether or not it would be
an outlet like Clear Channel, Viacom or Emmis that would be
determining who can or cannot use the word 'Hip Hop'. "It would be
premature for me to give out that information", he said
It is clear that big corporations and government lobbyist now own Hip
Hop.
Gonahangya also reiterated the fact that he is extending a month long
grace period. He also used the occasion to pitch his new licensing
service. In what appeared to be a real cheesy move he stated that he
was offering a one time discount for the next two weeks. He explained
that he understands that there are a lot of non-profits that use the
phrase Hip Hop in literature and other marketing schemes and as a
result they will be granted a one time 500 dollar processing fee and
will subjected to the similar constraints of their 501 non profit
status. That means they can not use Hip Hop as a political marketing
arm.
Non political Independent record labels and artist can obtain a
lifetime license to use the word Hip Hop for 500 dollars. Gonahangya
explained that he believes in doing things for the community and this
is his way of giving back.
"Let it not be said I don't care for the underdog", he said. AMO Inc
is all about helping the downtrodden. We normally charge on average
of 5000 thousand plus lifetime residual fees, but because we care
about the little people we will offer Hip Hop [TM] for 500 dollars
licensing fee for the next two weeks.
If anyone wishes to fill out an application to see if you qualify to
use the term 'Hip Hop' in your product or if you want more information
on AMO Inc call them at 1-800-233-4563
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Zero Chemistry = Anthropology/Archaeology...also a review of "The Run Up", a good reason to go to school...
So yeah, I feel a bit lame in that I am fickle, after becoming uninspired from feeling overwhelming pressure to retain the specificities that separate the professional from the enthusiastic hobbyist, but also a lot relieved...I changed my major today, talked to the Deputy Head of the Anthropology Department, and this sudden change of heart occurred all after only seven weeks as a student Chemist...Ideally I would've liked to have been an Environmental Chemist, maybe in an alternate universe, but I broke it to my Mom that, "I ain't that smart..." I mean, all my other requirements would be finished by next year and what would be left would be all the purely Physical Sciences...Man, I think I'd have a nervous breakdown if I did that to myself...I mean, all Advanced Chem, Biology AND Physics at the same time...It really burst her bubble, I think, but underneath it all, I think she knew it was all wrong for me, the Mathematician or the Chemist outfits I was trying on...Perhaps if I was at a different point in my life, I mean younger and less tired of the retention of just straight facts with no real sparks of interest flying around and proving of mathematical theorems, not so distracted by other interests...but I also don't think I'm the type to be cooped up in a sterile environment wearing a lab coat and goggles, oh especially the goggles, mixing things using fire and other types of possibly dangerous solutions...And when I would come home from class, I would just complain to C about what happened in Chem class that day, really distressed because I was put off by it...The one class I have come home talking his ear off about is the one involving social theory, injustices and cultural/global/governmental issues...Plus naturally with the experiences that I have accumulated through graff and the art world and just living in this world, I am a sponge for research and query, one thing I learned from my experience in graff is getting a feel for knowing who to believe when you filter through the history information, sift through what a broad range of people say, not taking everything as facts until you know it to be the reality, taking sources with a grain of salt...finding firsthand sources, citing them properly...Like tonight Greg and I watched "The Run Up"...Mr. Cartoon (though his style of art is not really a favorite style of mine, I respect him for his work 'cuz he's damn good at what he does)...made everyone else look like clowns in the movie 'cuz he came with wisdom, not a bunch of commercials posing as documentary footage and he had the skills of someone who stuck with something he loved even though life was happening around him, but that maybe also saved him, didn't turn him into some phoney masturbating into the camera blowing himself up so much or as Greg put it, "talking that art space bullsh*t"...In most of the segments, the up-close with the artist, who in most cases and them speaking...wow, it really ruined their art for me in most cases...Made me glad that I wasn't in the position that I was behind a camera yakking away unnecessarily and/or showing work that kinda was lacking ...Yeah, I really wouldn't want to be an "art star"...Watching that movie was like seeing the awful ugly-hearted man pulling all these strings and pulleys behind the big curtain of artwork with all the special effects...Destroys the whole fantasy...There were a couple of exceptions. The two English guys, Mr. Jago & Will Barras, creating the Design Agency in response to a book they had previously put out, now that would be pretty cool to do an animated spot on Nickelodeon and of course the legendary Bodes (Vaughan and Mark)...I think the artists interviewed outside the US had more of a grip on reality, not tripped up by that problem with ego or that need to demand confirmation that they are famous...Famous is all a matter of to who? Making a living by doing art is not the issue. I spent a sleepless night after watching the 2 set disc...and found that there's two kinds of people...the kind who's seen too much to talk, who if you don't come correct to, don't step on their block 'cuz they won't waste their time, or the gotta-get-over-on-everyone 'cuz real life hasn't slapped them in the face...hopefully yet...and they talk and play the victims and have ulterior motives, trying to be deep when they only seem to drown themselves in their fluff...with amazing rubber jaws so they can exhibit their incredible abilities to suck their own _________...
Viva la Elocution! YA!
Yeah, the course list sounds like fun...Indiana Jones dreams, I suppose...But what's wrong with that?...I remember at MassArt I took a class called Glories of Ancient Greece...The teacher was a career changer, decided late in life to go back to school to study Archaeology; she had a lot of experience with history and culture because she had been on digs in Greece...I thought that was the coolest thing I'd ever heard and she seemed really happy about it, I think she even said it was the best decision she'd ever made...Anyways, I don't want to cry wolf about my major...I feel like there's a lot of people invested in the eventual outcome of this whole going back to school again thing but then again, how are you going to find out something doesn't fit unless you try it on?
Viva la Elocution! YA!
Yeah, the course list sounds like fun...Indiana Jones dreams, I suppose...But what's wrong with that?...I remember at MassArt I took a class called Glories of Ancient Greece...The teacher was a career changer, decided late in life to go back to school to study Archaeology; she had a lot of experience with history and culture because she had been on digs in Greece...I thought that was the coolest thing I'd ever heard and she seemed really happy about it, I think she even said it was the best decision she'd ever made...Anyways, I don't want to cry wolf about my major...I feel like there's a lot of people invested in the eventual outcome of this whole going back to school again thing but then again, how are you going to find out something doesn't fit unless you try it on?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Mac Quest for More Hard Drive Space...
On my quest for more space (less is more), I realized that my music collection was really becoming too large for its own good and that I had to do something about it...iTunes will allow you to create a new library on an external hard drive and completely remove the music from your internal one. Except for the games...Keep the files for them and add them to your library later. This article titled "Can I Move the Contents of all my Family Members' iTunes Libraries to an External Drive so We can All use the same Library?" goes through the step-by-step process in detail. And you do have to resync your iPod to the new external hard drive's library if you want to be able to edit your iPod...Man, I freed up about 50 GB though...It's like a brand new computer with all the space...
Monday, October 22, 2007
Fonts, Fonts, and Tiger OSX and Corruption...
Okay, for all of you who are font-greedy and need some advice on what to do when you installed a bunch of fonts and your computer gives you unpleasant font error messages (Microsoft Word esp.) like please remove corrupt font files...I was lucky enough to come across Corrupt Font Errors in Word 2004/OS X 10.4.x (Tiger) for what to do with the whole mess...There's two great apps, the first is free and is called Linotype FontExplorer X and the second one called Font Doctor (the link in the article doesn't actually work, but this softpedia link does) actually fixes the corrupt fonts but it costs $69.99. The demo version WILL diagnose the corrupt fonts, though...After messing with my FontBook app for hours and realizing that it is really not that much of a help, is slow, and takes up so much of the processor power that I barely made any progress, well these two apps helped me out a lot...
Monday, October 15, 2007
Animated Internet celebs homage and Wierd Al's R Kelly...
An animated tribute to the internet people of the world, wherever you may be. Animated by Dan Meth, with music by Dan Meth and Micah Frank (A Channel Federator Original Cartoon, "Internet People").
and check out...ChannelFrederator.com...
Trapped in the Drive-Thru music by "Weird Al" Yankovic, Directed and Animated by Doug Bresler, Realeased by Volcano Entertainment III, LLC.
and check out...ChannelFrederator.com...
Trapped in the Drive-Thru music by "Weird Al" Yankovic, Directed and Animated by Doug Bresler, Realeased by Volcano Entertainment III, LLC.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Between Purgatory and the Violent Circle
Doing some research on the Circles of Hell, I ran into this test...
The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Seventh Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test
The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Seventh Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
| Level | Score |
|---|---|
| Purgatory (Repenting Believers) | Very High |
| Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers) | Moderate |
| Level 2 (Lustful) | Low |
| Level 3 (Gluttonous) | High |
| Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious) | Very Low |
| Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy) | High |
| Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics) | Very Low |
| Level 7 (Violent) | Very High |
| Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers) | Moderate |
| Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous) | Low |
Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Cartooning/Comic Book/Film Tools of the Trade
A few products (essential) to the process of layout for a storyboard/page...However, you could just as well create your own layout styles from your own computer...
Oasis Storyboard Pads (set of three) Price: $30
Oasis Storyboard Pads (set of three) Price: $30
Expansive pads for left- and right-brain mind-mapping
Storyboard Oasis Pads feature boxes for sketching ideas or objectives, and rules for itemizing their message points or action items.
C has a Moleskine storyboard pocket Notebook...
Unfortunately, they don't make them bigger, however I did find a template guide to create your own pages in a bigger moleskine...Moleskine Hack: Turn a Large Sketchbook into a Storyboard Notebook on Ninth Wave Designs' page.
I also just recently found "Comic Life", the software comic template/layout program by plasq...Add effects to photos or files, some balloons and you have a fresh new comic from start to finish in no time flat. Your iPhoto library and hard drive files are always at your fingertip - just drag in your pictures. Drag on some captions, 'sound effect' text (‘ka-blam!') and speech bubbles and your work is done! An interesting program called "Skitch" is also available by invite only to the Beta version...
P.S. For those who dabble in audio...I am having a lot of fun playing with DJay...It's a great program...a bit slow on the importing of the song to the table...but man, the hours of entertainment...
Storyboard Oasis Pads feature boxes for sketching ideas or objectives, and rules for itemizing their message points or action items.
C has a Moleskine storyboard pocket Notebook...
| Item #: | KLMB802 |
| Size: | 3.5 x 5.5" (9 x 14 cm) |
| Pages: | 80 pages of top-quality paper -- 40 pages with 2 frames, 40 pages with 4 frames |
| List Price: | $11.00 |
| Our Price: | $9.95 at moleskines.com |
Unfortunately, they don't make them bigger, however I did find a template guide to create your own pages in a bigger moleskine...Moleskine Hack: Turn a Large Sketchbook into a Storyboard Notebook on Ninth Wave Designs' page.
I also just recently found "Comic Life", the software comic template/layout program by plasq...Add effects to photos or files, some balloons and you have a fresh new comic from start to finish in no time flat. Your iPhoto library and hard drive files are always at your fingertip - just drag in your pictures. Drag on some captions, 'sound effect' text (‘ka-blam!') and speech bubbles and your work is done! An interesting program called "Skitch" is also available by invite only to the Beta version...
P.S. For those who dabble in audio...I am having a lot of fun playing with DJay...It's a great program...a bit slow on the importing of the song to the table...but man, the hours of entertainment...
Action Figure Sites of Interest...
You can build your own custom "urban crew" though I thought it covered only a specific stereotype of "urban"...Very limited in choice of heads, I thought, they need more and some of the outfits need a little more realism...but it definitely is worth the time to check out their site....www.herobuilders.com
They have great political action figures and wierd pop culture stuff, too...The villain figures are amazing...
Also, Enterbay has a really well-designed site, clean and simple, and I love the precision they use to create and think through all the details in their craftsmanship...
They have great political action figures and wierd pop culture stuff, too...The villain figures are amazing...
Also, Enterbay has a really well-designed site, clean and simple, and I love the precision they use to create and think through all the details in their craftsmanship...
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