I wonder.

I have a need to read. No.. Wait.. Maybe I should write. What should I write? Must dust off and complete those drafts. But I’d really like to write about… I’ll research it.

Not right now, I need to design if I want to make this work. Where do I start? I’ll flick through ffffound and dig out some Computer Arts. Maybe dig out a web tutorial or two. Seems a bit tiresome.. Oh, look, they’re on twitter! Now then, what’s twappening?

Ha.. I should reply. Wait, this looks like an interesting article. Yeah, I’ll read articles about twitter before I put together the CSS for the new uber-project. Wow.. CSS3? I need to know…

Must be something usefully related in my Google Reader.. What’s going on here. Wow.. That’s crazy, I want to do something like that. Hey, maybe I’ll do a tutorial for Google Sketch-up, I still haven’t worked up that product model yet. What of those illustrations! Be nice to finish one of those off.

Nah, I need to learn Flash first so I can put together that other mini-project. I know, I’ll download some tutorial torrents. That’ll help.

Time management, time management. I’ll read some productivity blogs. That’ll do it.

To-do lists! Where’s my to-do list? It’s old, unticked an out-of-date. I’ll start a new one! That’ll get things moving. I’ll use Things for the iPhone. Neato. Their desktop app only works on Mac? Lovely. I do intend to switch over though.. I’ll just gaze at the macbook specs for a minute and figure out how I’ll afford one.

Talking of the iPhone, it needs some fresh beats. Hmm, podcasts; what’d be good for work? Yes… I’ll just quickly download that too. Actually, I’d like some new films. What’s Rotten Tomatoes is sayin’. How’d I forget! It’s out on DVD? Where can I buy it?

Amazon Wish List! Sure.. I need to know more about that, I’ll order that book now. Definitely read it. Obviously.

That reminds me, I really had better email Ricardo about that thing. God.. I need to reply to Sinbad too. And those expiring texts. Facebook messages.  Maybe I should log in. Must I? Do I really need to know who can’t remember throwing up on their new tattoo while they were ironing last night? I think I can throw this part out. Oh, but it’s Cornelius’ birthday! Make mental note to remember wishes and politely talk of the enduringly overdue interaction.

I just bought art supplies. Can they wait a bit? Thinking about it, I need to put together a portfolio. That deserves a website too. Yeah, pencil that in somewhere.

I’d better meet Horatio this week otherwise we’ll never get on track with this. And it’s been too long to skip catch up drinks with Hermione. Though, I should do some exercise, or is there solice in reverse engineering my brain with beer?

New LOST! Load it up! Ohhh.. even better, I’ll convert it to MP4 and watch it on tomorrows commute. So efficient. Wonder if I can find a nifty iphone/DAB radio alarm clock, that’ll help me get up. Maybe I should just go to bed earlier. But then…

FFS. Forget it. I’ll spend the time articulating my indecision instead. Bright spark.

That’ll do. Now I’ll watch the FA Cup highlights with a cup of tea while I decide and play Blocks on my iPhone. Multi, multi-tasker.

Yah.

C.

I’m writing to tell you that the streets aren’t lying.

Spotify buzz and chatter in the office has been abundant. And rightly so. The revolution is here, or so close that we are teetering on the edge of the end of the beginning.

Let me explain…

In its simplest terms, Spotify is music without the acquisition. Part of the paradigm that is, essentially, computing without the cargo.

Today a dead hard drive can be the end of your world. A simple hardware malfunction can destory a lifetime of careful collection and make a grown man weep.

Tomorrow, we scoff at such triviality and laugh at our archaic practices. Imagine a world where our cherished content is - at all times, from all places - just fingertips away.

Flowing seamlessly from Kevin Kelly’s insights (YouTube, below), the familiar way in which we access our data is becoming imminently redundant. There has been talk of a rounding a corner for quite some time, and finally now we are tentatively peering beyond our street, awe-struck by the lucious landscape ahead.

Standing tall in this paradigm shift, brandishing a glowing neon sign is Spotify.

Spotify is comparable to your entire iTunes (or alternative) library - plus all the other music you ever wanted, all that which you didn’t, and all the rest you never heard of - encapsulated inside a wonderfully familiar, intuitive, responsive and uncomplicated interface. All you require is an internet connection, and god knows we all have one of those. It is a joy to use. There is little or no lag, and it caches your recently played content to the tune of a user-defined variable.

It is not without fault, the Beatle-barmy among you may stand aghast at their exclusion. Oasis, too, do not feature in the UK, since Noel Gallagher stated in typical rockstar fashion; “Why would I want my music online, I don’t even have a computer!.” Nevertheless, even the most musically cultured will find delight in the Spotify library. Currently this consists of a mammoth 2.6 million tracks, including all those of the four major labels, and they strive to continue its expansion. Yesterday alone they loaded no less than 16,000 albums.

Of course, there is a slight catch. Inevitably we are exposed to advertising to fund and reward their efforts. Arguably, their execution is bearably subtle. You can choose between a reasonable £9.99 per month for unlimited, uninterrupted access, or endure a 20-30 second ad break every 5-10 tracks.

But this is to be expected, and minor usability gripes aside, Spotify is an infant, yet to perfect its ultimate balance. Already they have added Last.fm scrobbling functionality, listening intently to their pleading users, a practice they promise to continue.

A little over a week ago I was fortunate enough to attend a talk from Spotify’s Sales Director, whose name is remarkably similar to that of the iconoclastic soul songstress, Joni Mitchell. Now, while I was already very much up on the why’s, what’s and wherefores of Spotify, this talk set fire to my brain.

It was stressed jovially mid-presentation that the information within was not to be ‘blogged’. Unfortunately, Joni, the best way to ensure co-operation on part of the unknown would be not to divulge at all. So, onwards…

Naturally, the purpose of the talk was really to educate us of the advertising opportunities withinSpotify, branding possibilities, business implications and implications, and a general introduction to the existence of the service. Unlike radio, Spotify has an entirely measurable, geo-targettable audience. An advertisers dream. Being fully digital, information of Spotify’s usage can be manipulated to suit all parties; users, advertisers, and musicians.

So, their business model is seemingly as titanium as it can be for a business of this nature. This is not a half-hearted attempt, such as the inevitably fruitless exploits of Datz.com, an ex-client at an ex-company. Flop.

I could wax on perenially. Soon, I will share some insight revealed on the future, but right now the finger of the short hand is wagging furiously.

In summary, Spotify is here to stay. A genuine challenger for the musical mantle, with extremely high calibre personnel, solid financial backing, an exponential uptake, and most importantly, extreme user satisfaction. Their evolution has already been crafted meticulously, and with some fantastic features and functions in the pipeline, their future is bright enough to summon shades.

iTunes take note, complacency is a murderer.

C.

Kevin Kelly, ‘Senior Maverick’ and Executive Editor of Wired Magazine, positively seeps insight in this penetrating analysis.

Turns out he’s a pretty fascinating, profilic, multi-faceted guy, despite the beard.

I want a beard one day. Even if it’s just for a week. Alas, at the moment, to my daily identificational detriment, I am not even close.

Check out his homepage, kk?

C.

One of those tedious, rambling posts I’m afraid. I intend to post more, but invariably life always catches up, and things get neglected.

Had a fairly eventful 7 days. I spent last week on a dubiously acquired work experience placement at a top global agency. By dubious I mean - crazily - I paid to be there! Yup.

Having spent six difficult months in 2008 at a small advertising/marketing agency, I had become hugely disillusioned through my own expectations, and with the industry as a whole. It was drilled into me that “it’s like this everywhere”… I can now categorically state that, well, it is most certainly not.

I could rattle on and elaborate extensively, but there’s a good chance I’d offset some noses, when despite the apparent flaws in the operation, there were some fantastic people I love and respect.

Some others, though, need to get what’s coming to them, and it’s difficult to call how far to take proceedings (I’m owed money, as were all former disgruntled employees and countless suppliers). Sooner or later people need to learn that they are not above the law.

I’ve had my stay extended two weeks, and will be compensated for my efforts. Whether this is just a matter of convenience remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain, I am motivated to give it everything I have.

I’m working in the design department and enjoying it hugely. Fantastic people, unbelievable calibre of work, awesome clients, and I’m learning feverishly.

I am inspired by everything around me. I feel trusted, valued, and there is a culture of appreciation and respect. Such quality and great treatment is conducive to great quality work.

I’ll put this -and myself- to bed now, as literally I could extend my glowing analysis well into the night.

I want to work here. I feel creatively liberated. Now I just need to find a few fluffy white rabbits in my hat.

Tschus!

C.

With one convenient click, I pushed Lindsay Camp’s marvellous Can I Change Your Mind? right through my letterbox.

24 hours later and I’m halfway through. This is rare.

It’s deliciously smooth. Camp possesses impeccable fluidity of prose and freakishly captivating narrative; the book is a pleasure. Really taken with it, definitely one to be revisited, scribbled on and underlined. In pencil.

Note to self: must not use pen on the tube.

Until I can figure out how to process wordpress code inside custom fields, I’m unable to embed tracks in the post footer (as below). However, I really wanted to share this track by Kero One, so here’yar. Enjoy.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

C.

Internet Explorer couldn’t make it, but although it wasn’t outwardly spoken, I think we were all quite glad.

The result was simple usage of Wordpress Custom Fields to display a link/word/sentence/tweet/image/article/whatever of the day. Not the worlds greatest truimph, but a real demonstration of Wordpress’s versatility. I plan to experiment a bit further with these, so I’ll be writing a quick & easy tutorial at some point in the future.

From now on I’ll be attaching these tidbits to blogposts where I can,  I hope they will be of some interest/use.

Meanwhile, I also added a new design to urban breakdown:

Natural Born Chiller!

I’m told that @missandrealuise is most embarrassed about the phrase being her former hotmail address, but I insist that this made her the coolest 13 y/o I have ever heard of.

I’ll be buying one in hood form to lounge about watching pretentious subtitled films in.

Gotta go, there’s a week ahead.

C.

It’s inspired!

A supreme, mind focusing notepad which is really satisfying to use.

I’m using Q10 for Windoze, but a near-identical Mac alternative is available here.

C.

Chillin'

An alien subtance has infected our pavements. What is this stuff? It’s so quaint, friendly, pretty and pleasing but plaguing. Quickly, someone press the pause button before the world breaks.

Where are my cosmic boots, I need to float. There is nothing else for it, Polly…

Marvellous isn’t it.

There is not an atmospheric phenomenon embraced so gleefully as a hefty snowfall. Everyone loves getting their cosy hats out and throwing a cheeky snowball. There is also nothing as satisfying as landing that snowball precisely in your friends face.

But.. Our entire country has been swallowed by fluffy white stuff.

Unbelievable “chaos”.

Birds going hungry. Itching punters devastated as bookies slash the odds against a record temperal low this month.  Gordon Brown gets hit in his good eye by God’s snowball. Shock as 4×4’s become useful. Severe delays, suspensions and closures on the London Underground.

I didn’t know it snowed underground. Although as one twitterer pointed out, not everyone was so panicked. No fuss in Albert Square.

We don’t want to learn. We’ve seen snow - and the accompanying headlines - many times before.

“£3billion cost of shambles in the snow”

Gloom. The media are only bitter because while the world around them conspires to boycott work, dig out sledges and make igloos, they’re sat admonishing their existence, reeling at photos of revellers and their snowmen, cursing away at a keyboard ‘cos the presses don’t stop. Somebody needs to galantly struggle through adversity to point out that we, and our possessions, are under attack from an evil cold dust.

I hope it does continue all week.

They did manage to outfox some of it though, I’m on a train homebound. Unfortunately all I could find was the Daily Mail, albeit containing this chilled out snow-dude.

My only bugbear is that I’ve been so suitably nested elsewhere for the past three days that I didn’t have my DSLR handy. Bleh.

Tschus.

C.

/iphone

I don’t disagree with either, though arguably one side of the story may be more fundamentally flawed more than the other. I won’t go into that now, but I’m not hinting at the detesters.

Anyhow, since almost every hiphop artist in existence sold out to the mainstream and spoilt our music channels, there hasn’t been too much considered content, or quality, or booming from the ghettoblasters.

However.. I can’t express in how high regard I hold CYNE. Ask my last.fm.

Cultivating Your New Experience.

They can cultivate yours too, whichever side of the fench you sit on..

Four members; two producer and two emcees, their music is a modern, personal and ultimately original take on the real essence of the genre. Glorious to my soundwave.

Talented poets and musicians, hiphop is just a medium.

Without further ado, ladies and gentleman, please welcome to the stage…

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Five choices. That was not easy.

_

P.S. “do you really see what I really am or just what I project to be?” (-Fuzzy Logic)

Oh…. Damnit.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Really digging her work. It must be devastatingly painstaking, but such innovative use of materials, creating some beautifully balanced, hypnotising colour compositions.

I love the abstract, twisting shapes, the use of the negative space, and the vibrant energy of her work. I even like the, err, Stark contrast of her website which frames the portfolio so aptly.

Here are a few examples. Go check her out.

Artwork

Sculpture

C.