John, you one-eyed SOB, this will most likely reverse global warming.
THANK YOU!

I’ve dabbled with the Processing Visualization Language for a couple of years but it will be nice to see this picked up by more programmers and used where people can experience it as a part of their daily internet experience.

The concept of using ‘particle physics’ (if I may) as a design element has always been attractive to artists and web developers but to deliver it in a lightweight and unobtrusive manner has always posed a challenge.  Using Flash and ActionScript has solved this problem before and now with this development in an open environment we can begin to see these enhancements delivered more frequently and to a larger audience.

I cant wait to see what happens next.

You’ve seen ‘em, or heard ‘em I should say.  The catchy songs from the iPod commercials. You know, those tunes that get stuck in your head and all day you’re asking friends, who is that artist?

From the Sunday Times

Bands are getting into bed with consumer brands

“There’s no doubt we are at a crossroads,” says Steve Levine, producer of Culture Club and a spokesman for artists’ issues with the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters. Having consulted on brand-related music projects, he has seen a marked change in musicians’ attitudes: “It’s as if we’ve suddenly become aware of the truth behind the smoke and mirrors of the record deal. Most artists now understand how the business works and who their fans are. That is always going to be valuable to a brand. It’s certainly a freer, more equal relationship. Record companies have to own everything, because their whole model is based on selling records – ‘Is it a hit, will it make us our money back?’ If brands do nothing other than free musicians from the tyranny of needing a radio-friendly smash to have a career, it has to be a positive.”

Is this a good thing?  Do independent artists want to ‘sell out’ this way?  Slap a few logos on your CD’s, wear branded clothing, etc.  It cant be that bad but the brands have to be aware that artists dont want to become billboards.  Remember when rental cars had signs and graphics all over them so everyone would know that you were from out of town?  What ever happened to that kind of advertising?  I’ll tell you.  It sucks!

Dean Chamberlain's Psychedelic Pioneer Series - Available from MAPS

LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD LSD

Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) began sharing his music in Garage Band files for fans to remix and even distributed songs from his last abum on usb drives that were left in public places for fans to find and share. Now, Nine Inch Nails fans can listen to and download the new 36 track for FREE! That’s right, they’re giving music away these days kids!!

The NIN Experiment

Ghosts I – IV available “from a 100% DRM-free, high-quality download, to the most luxurious physical package we’ve ever created” ranging from FREE (Volume I), $5 (I – IV+), $10 (extras), $75 (EXTRAS+) and $300 (Luxury Edition).

With Radiohead’s recent “pay what you want” release of the album In Rainbows and a crowd-sourcing call for AniBoom artists to create their next music video it’s no surprise that even Madonna is now dropping her record label.

Probably the biggest surprise yet is, once Napster foe, Metallica, has finally seen the light that “CDs and cassettes are a thing of the past and that digital music is the format of the future”.  Lars Ulrich, drummer, even welcomes the recent lek of their new album.

GOODBYE Music Indusry?
If bands already have tens of thousands of MySpace friends what do they need a record industry for? Now that the big name artists are dropping their labels what is the industry going to do?

Well, Sony, BMG, Warner, etc signed with MySpace! It would appear as though the industry is making themselves available to be discovered by the artists. That means you and me and all the other true rock stars out there will finally be noticed by the big names and they’ll be working for us! WOO HOO!

Or…we could just all screw the industry and hire our own producers and marketing team and have total control of everything from the start.  Let’s hope so.

This installation of Spread The Weird consists of nutty goodness that can be enjoyed by everyone.  Some things may stick to the roof of your mouth.

Feel free to use your fingers.

This spread was made on machines that share other nuts and bolts.

Please tell your friends.