bunker an infrequent blog

I didn’t get round to participating. It’s some random phrase from one place, random image off Flickr, blah, I forget the rules – luckily Nilesh from Poke made this app to do the running around for me.

The Mixtape/podcast is back!

Visit neuromantics.net/mp3 to download it or one click subscribe to the iTunes podcast. Podcast here: http://neuromantics.net/neuropodcast.xml

In other news, the information architecture for Tape It Off The Internet was completed a couple of weeks ago, and the site is now in development somewhere in the Ukraine. I think. Should be open for business fun and games in the spring, with beta testers sneaking in before then – so go and sign up: TIOTI.com

So there is yet another BBC TV series set in my home town of Blackpool. In recent years there has been “The Pleasure Beach” – awful real life characters exposed (i used to work there), the drama “Blackpool” which was great, if odd and now BBC3′s Funland. These shows always upset me as to how they portray the town, all seediness, dark corners, twisted dealings and scum. It’s pathetic.

The reality is much much worse…

Writing this entry actually hurts me, more than I can say, but it needs to be written. I had a drink with an old friend who works in a sphere very close to mine – interactive TV advertising – and we really had a difference of opinion that has thown me sideways. Our conversation, after the usual gossip and catching up, veered to the advertising industry, which I normally keep as far from as practically possible. Our chat turned towards the future and this is where we diverged dramatically (as we always do). He insisted that the media buying and owning staus quo would remain in play indefintely whatever happened technologically in the near future – I have a more optimistic view that we might finally be liberated from the strangle of heavyweight advertising interests.

It got nasty, he cited the fact that News International could demand a war when required, buy respected movie ‘review’ opinion when needed for any advertisers need. I throw back the destruction of flakey hollywood prospective blockbusters after a first night SMS frenzy from a disappointed crowd.

The battle between old monolithic “do what we tell yo” media and new distributed “I’ll ask my friends, thanks” media has shaken me. I am shocked with the fierceness of his fight, the belief in the power of advertising. Am I following the wrong path here? Is this a battle that dispite the best minds of our generation, we just get bought out by Murdoch and eat the corporate dollar? Is there a point?

Well, I’m not sure how much I’ll be edited down to, but for what it’s worth I was interviewed talking about Podcasting last week for the BBC Culture Show. It’s supposed to be on this thursday’s programme – BBC2 7-8pm repeated at 11pm I believe.

Fifteen minutes start here!

Yeah, been ill and in hospital for the past week. Back in tonight for more tests, etc. I’m fine now, but was really quite uncomfortable for a while.

Just glancing through this weeks copy of New Scientist has completely given me the fear:

Bush Meat Trade Breeds New HIV
Human BSE – No Cure In Sight
Aliens Inserting Messages Into Our Junk DNA
BSE, BSE, BSE…

Wah!

Photos soon…

Bands seen:

Franz Ferdinand (not over-hyped, really good)
Morrissey (he’s back and bloody miserable)
The Killers (always fun and looking hotter than ever)
English National Opera (er… had to sit down – hash cake took over)
Scissor Sisters (yee har!)
Chemical Brothers (not that good actually)
The Stands (bloody ace drum solo mid set)
Orbital (aw… end of an era)
System 7 (steve hillage still the man)
Groove Armada (funky new stuff)
Goldfrapp (alison in hotpants with a horses tail attached – v.hot)
Hope Of the States (hyped band, pretty good tho)
Kosheen (not doing it for me this year)
Damien Rice (Rocking!)
Basement Jaxx (fucking large)
The Subways (fucking great rock n roll)
Supergrass (standing in for the libertines)
and
DJ Nut Nut

As Phil points out, MP3 blogs are the current wave of bandwidth destroying fun, and mighty illegal while it lasts. Simple Idea, Great Tool To Deliver It.

So, as Bunker hates to be left behind I thought I’d post a link to my monthly (been sending them out via email for a while now) MixTape. There are only a couple of rules i use for my mixtapes – 1) has to fit on a C60 and 2) has to feeature a Smiths cover. I’ll, er, keep an eye on the bandwidth, but for now – enjoy!

Neuromantics Mixtape 010604