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Ja Rule's journey from #1 selling recording artist to tech entrepreneur
This episode is with Ja Rule – recording artist, writer and entrepreneur. He's the Head of Artists and Repertoire at Flipkick, and co-founder and investor at ICONN App. In this episode we talk about Ja Rule's journey from #1 selling recording artist to tech entrepreneur, and how he's helping to give control back to music artists.
Ja Rule's Website
Iconn Live App
Flipkick Website
Ja Rule on Instagram
You're listening to The Growth Manifesto Podcast, a Zoom video series brought to you by Webprofits – a digital growth consultancy that helps global and national businesses attract, acquire, and retain customers through digital marketing.
Hosted by Alex Cleanthous.
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00:00:48 Ja Rule's introduction to the Growth Manifesto Podcast
00:01:19 How did the battle with Fat Joe go yesterday?
00:02:12 What are the biggest challenges that you had to overcome in your transition from music to business?
00:02:58 How long did it take you to learn about this industry?
00:05:45 Alex speaks on how you're only limited in business by how creative you think.
00:07:12 What does your team look like? Or what kind of people help you to drive your success?
00:08:08 How would you describe an NFT?
00:09:53 Can you talk about the challenges in the last 10-20 years with limited use of the internet and how has the game changed for aspiring artists out there?
00:12:07 What are the ways an artist can make money?
00:13:18 What are the kinds of things you can put onto the blockchain as an NFT that can generate another revenue stream?
00:19:28 What advice would you give to music artists?
00:20:30 How do you get exposure these days?
00:25:20 What are some of the biggest lessons that you've learned through your journey?
00:28:38 How do you choose who you have around you? And what do you look for in them?
00:33:51 How important is it to you to never quit?
00:37:29 What's next for you? What's the vision for the future for you?
00:38:17 How can people be a part of this?
00:38:44 What's the one thing that you want the listeners or the viewers of this podcast to do?
Ja Rule:
That's what keeps me inspired to do this in this space. The fact that I can create something that's never been done before, like my music. I can create something from here, and it becomes this and people are seeing the same vision that I saw when I created this. They understood it in the same way that I understood it when I created it. They knew that they needed this, the same way that I knew I needed this. And that to me, that's innovation. That drives me, that inspires me whether it's through making a new record that people fucking sing to the top of their lungs, or creating a new app that people want to use to help monetize their content.
Alex Cleanthous:
Today, we're talking with Ja Rule, recording artist, entrepreneur and writer. He's the Head of Artists and Repertoire at Flipkick and the Co-Founder and Investor at the ICONN app. Today, we'll be talking about Ja Rule's journey from number one selling recording artist to tech entrepreneur and how he's helping to give back control to music artists. Just quickly before we get started, make sure to go ahead and hit that subscribe button to get the latest episodes as soon as they're released. Now, let's get into it. Welcome, Ja.
Sure. All right, thanks for having me, man. Sure.
Pleasure, man. Now, before we get into it, I have to ask, how did the battle with Fat Joe go yesterday? Because from what I could see, it was a real success.
Yeah. I had a good time. It was a good battle. Verzuz is a very unique platform where artists get to showcase their passion for music in a different way, which was really cool. I got to do it with a friend and a good brother of mine, it was definitely a different experience, but I loved it.
Yeah. I checked it out. It was just fantastic stuff, man. Fantastic content. I loved the production, got a lot of exposure across the socials, so it was cool.
But let's get straight into the podcast. You were the number one selling artist for years and years. And then, you transitioned into tech entrepreneurship and so on, right? What were the biggest challenges that you had to overcome in that transition?
I think everything comes with a learning curve, right? I think that was the hardest thing for me, was learning about tech and Bitcoin. Still learning about NFT, still learning about these decentralised markets. It's the learning curve for me that I think is the most important thing and what takes the most time and what needs to be the thing you focus on the most. For me, it's the learning curve.
How long did it take you to learn these things? You come from one space, and you've got the fame and you've got the success and you've got all the learnings and you've done the grind. You've done the work, and now, it's rewarding you. And now, you're going into another space again, and you're almost having to start again. How long did it take?
You never quite learn it all. There's always something new to learn or something new to add to it. It's every evolving thing, which I enjoy. I think that's part of creativity. Creativity is an ongoing thing. I may start a record and create one verse and decide it needs two more verses or decide now it needs a female voice on it, on the hook, or I may decide to take this verse off and then need somebody else's voice in there. It needs to be a feature. This is the same thing as how I see crypto and NFTs and all of these great new ways to invest. It's the same way for me. I see it the same way. It's ever-evolving. It's ever-growing. And, I get to be very creative in this space where I get to add things. Take something like ICONN for example. ICONN started as one thing, as me wanting to be able to solve a problem to book talent in a very easy way and it branched out into a lot of different things. And now, we have live streaming and you can monetize your content and all kinds of great stuff like that.
So that's what I love about this space, it's ever-evolving. It doesn't get stale. It keeps your mind in tune and fresh and you have got to keep your knife sharp. I enjoy that. I'm a guy that likes to keep moving. This is a perfect space for me because this is rapidly moving.
Yeah. The one thing I found, because I've been in the business space for 20 years now. What I found, the one thing that's so good about business is you're only limited by how creative you think. There are no rules. There are laws, but there are no rules and that there's no one way. And oftentimes, the way to succeed is a way that hasn't been done before. I love your point around how the creative side of things connects with you because that's the part which I love as well. It's like, cool, so how well can you think about this problem? What are all the possible ways which you can approach the same thing? Who could you leverage or how could you leverage them? It sounds like that side of your music skills have now been transitioned into the business side of things.
Yeah. Like I said earlier, it goes hand in hand. I can relate a lot of things from my music, even going further back to my hustling days. But I can equate certain things to that and relate it to what's going on in the business world and so forth and so on because everything just comes full circle. You take little bits and pieces here and put them here and make you a good little pie here, a good little picture puzzle… That's what I do, I try to take my street knowledge and walk it and use it in my business world too and it creates a different type of savviness for me.
Yeah. For sure. But oftentimes, I speak with people that are excellent at one thing and they talk about how they stay in their lane and they have a team around them that can support that. What does your team look like? What are the people or the kinds of roles around you that help you to drive that success?
One of my rules of thumb is to try to keep people that are way smarter than me around me, that way they make me look smart.
That's a good rule. Steve Jobs had that rule too.
Like my wife, she's a brilliant, brilliant woman. She makes me look smart every day and she just brought me a glass of wine. I'm just really happy and interested and excited to be a part of everything that's going on with this new NFT space and cryptocurrencies and blockchains. It's all very exciting stuff.
Okay. Let's jump into that then. Let's talk about NFTs. For the people who don't fully understand NFTs, are you able to quickly explain how you would describe NFTs?
NFTs, stands for non-fungible token but for me, it's a sense of ownership of something that is digital. And the way that they do that is by cryptographically authenticating these digital works of art through the blockchain. And I know that all sounds like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, but the best way I can describe it is, to put it in layman's terms, maybe simplify it a little bit is, think of it as… It's hard because it's its own thing, to explain, but there are things similar but not quite like. Maybe you could take trading cards, kind of, and put that into some type of understanding of what it could be. But not actually because the artist, or the owner doesn't get paid in perpetuity for the resell. That to me is really what makes NFTs such a dominating force right now and so intriguing to everybody, and to so many artists because they can be paid in perpetuity for their art. I think that's important.
Okay. As one application of NFTs is the ability for artists to get paid the equivalent of a royalty.
Like a royalty, yes.
And from some of the interviews I've seen you do, you talk about the challenge the music artist has trying to get paid these days. Especially with Spotify and Apple Music all on subscription, it's so low. Could you talk about that challenge and how it's changed in the last 10, 20 years? Because I remember 20 years ago, there was no social media, the internet was just starting. It was a completely different game. How has the game changed for your aspiring artists out there and the successful artists in the last 10, 20 years?
The one thing I wilL say is, it's changing for the better. It's the one thing I will say. I think 10 years ago, the music industry felt like it was a dying industry because of MP3s. Now, I think it's come back around and now streaming is becoming a big part of how artists make their money. Not as big as touring, but it's also created a new revenue stream which is amazing for the artists. And it's also, with the new technology and just being able to go on a SoundCloud or Apple for instance on your own, it gives the artist their own freedom and their own power back. They can own their works and that's important, the money's in ownership and if you don't own your art, if you don't own your music, if you don't own your films, if you don't own, then you're not making the money you should be making. It's disappointing. Your family won't be able to enjoy the fruits of these great works. Ownership is key and that's why blockchain and NFTs are really cool.
From the music point of view, let's say I'm an artist. I've got the album, the songs, the singles. I've uploaded them or however it works to Spotify or to Apple Music or to SoundCloud, I'm getting some exposure for that, but that's not really going to change the game for you, is it really?
Because it's such a small percentage and the volume… What are the ways that artists can make money…? You talked about the touring side of things.
Touring is the biggest way for an artist to make money, that's their biggest revenue stream. But if you're a big artist, and you're getting millions and millions of streams because they accumulate in that way for you to really make money. But if you're a big artist and you're doing that, you're making good money over streams. You shouldn't be making more money off of streams, but you'll be making good money. That just wasn't a revenue stream that was available 10 years ago. You still have your old ways of distributing your music, which can be through MP3 was. I wouldn't say the old way because the only old way is vinyl these days. There's no CDS. When you put your stuff on Apple Music and stuff, it has the feel of when you purchase it, you own it as an item. But that's kind of what NFTs are. It's owning something on a digital ledger that's yours.
Okay. Let's say that I'm an artist. What kinds of things can I put onto the blockchain as an NFT, that I can start to make some money from or some royalties from?
It can be anything, music, it can be art. It can be film clips. People are really expanding what an NFT can be. Even at Flipkick, what we do, we do physical NFTs and that's just an amazing process that we're able to authenticate physical works for artists and now they can get paid a royalty forever and ever and their families can eat. It's all new, we're all wrapping our head around what the fuck is going on.
Me too, by the way.
Yeah. All of us.
Because I get blockchain, I get Bitcoin, I got some Bitcoin, some Ethereum and all that jazz. But NFTs is this new thing. It's where you own the digital rights to something, and that actually means something in terms of ownership…
Well, when you go further NFT rabbit hole, you'll find things like community and utility and a different sense of ownership. Almost like a country club membership type of thing.
What do you mean by that? I'm interested because I haven't heard that before.
If you've even been a part of any of these PFP projects like Board Ape Yacht Club or CryptoPunks, or Rumble Kongs, which I love very much. There are so many of them… But you become part of these clubs and it's like a country club for investment. It's like a really cool country club for a nice investment group of whoever owns this particular project. It's almost like you become a part of these clubs and the object is for everyone inside the club to get rich and make each other be successful through being a part of this thing that we're all part of. As I said, once you go down the rabbit hole, you'll discover community, you'll discover utility and it's a really cool thing when you go down the rabbit hole.
I'm really trying to unpack this also for all of the music artists out there, but also just for the audience. I'm just trying to understand, how do NFTs work and why they're so popular right now? It's such a trending topic right now, everyone's talking about it. It's like a gold rush right now, and I don't think people actually fully understand it. I think there are a few who do, but I don't think that the majority actually fully understand it. Everyone's trying to find their way through. You talked about Flipkick that basically sells NFTs but for the physical side of things, right? How does that actually work? What should I do? I go to Flipkick, I purchase something, and what? It's backed by something that is stored somewhere? How does it work?
Yeah. Absolutely. You can buy the NFT, which would be backed by the physical item. You can redeem the physical item at any time with your ownership of the digital. And then obviously, we burn the digital and now, your ownership is now the physical thing. It's just a really dope way of letting artists have their physical works on the blockchain as well.
Have you got stuff on the NFT space yourself? Have you sold stuff through NFTs?
Yeah, I've got a few projects that I've been working on like my club cards, it's on OpenSea, you can check those out. One guy, Josh and me and my partner, we have a metaverse line called Stone&Robert. We even get metaverse werewolves, real cool hip-hop culture. The metaverse werewolves were the first of our kind, we make a lot of cool shit. We're doing that. We're doing a lot of stuff like that and just enjoying the space. I've actually had a chance to get some land in the sandbox, we're building the Iconic Garden Arena in the sandbox with all my investment crew, my guys. It's a lot of fun stuff going on, a lot of exciting stuff going on in the tech space, in the NFT world.
Yeah. Just for the listeners, if you don't know or if you haven't heard about the metaverse, search it on Google. It's a whole world that is in the virtual space and there are companies like Louis Vuitton, I think, that have got stuff going on in there. There's so much stuff that's going in the digital space right now, and I think the-
Blockchain is underpinning the currency, the way people can actually transact in this space. And most people haven't heard of the metaverse, I mean I only heard about it six months ago and I was like, what's this metaverse thing? I just started to get into it. I was like, damn, there's a whole world out there in the computer.
A whole world in the computer.
And there's money in there too.
There's a lot of money in there. We'll be doing some concerts at the Iconic Garden Arena, maybe we'll do a Verzuz there. The first Verzuz in that arena.
Yeah. Because I heard, I forget who it was, but there was an artist that did a show in the metaverse and there was 15 to 20 million people that turned up. That stuff's not going to happen in the real world.
Do you know what I mean? And that's something interesting. I think between the blockchain and music, metaverse, NFTs, streaming, it's can get complex these days for music artists who really know how to focus their efforts. What advice would you give them in terms of how should they be thinking about this? Because I'm sure they're listening, they're going, that all sounds cool. Should I just go into the metaverse? Is that the first thing or what should I do? Should I just get some NFTs?
I don't have any good advice to tell anybody. Like I said, I'm still poking holes around, trying to figure things out myself. My advice that I would give is to take a look at it, get involved. Start learning what's learning, don't be left out, don't be late to the party, is the advice I would give.
Yeah. Because I mean, to be first, it's like… I mean, everyone can probably relate to the people that were there first with Instagram, they've got all the followers, because of all the algorithms and the all the hacks in the beginning. And they got an unfair advantage. Same with TikTok, that's the same thing. Everyone that was there first, they got the exposure. And now, everyone's trying to get onto the bandwagon but that bandwagon's full and it's just way harder to breakthrough right now. I think that's a really good piece of advice.
What about the distribution these days? How do you get exposure? I spoke about it before, about the Fat Joe thing that you did yesterday, that's obviously fantastic for exposure. Is it those kinds of things that artists should be doing these days to really push exposure just for their music?
Yeah. All of those things are great exposure. Verzuz has become this huge, humongous platform for artists where you can go and do these shows and it has a real effect on how people see you and your artistry because you have a chance to showcase it in such a big fashion. I'm really impressed by what they've been able to do with such a short period of time with Verzuz and reach that they get and the impact that it makes. I'm also looking to do something not the same, but similar, on my ICONN platform. It's called Vibes and it's a concert series where big artists, iconic artists, do their classic albums from front to back and tell the stories behind the music with a live band and then release it as a live album.
These things are just new ways, I think, of experiencing music and art. I think these will be the new ways. These will be the main ways of experiencing music and art in the future.
Yeah. That's a fantastic point. You're really talking about platforms for artists to leverage existing platforms that already have audiences and try to maximise their audiences essentially. Because it's hard to create the audience from scratch, that stuff's expensive, that stuff can be challenging, that stuff's complex. There's all those types of things. You talk about the ICONN app, that sounds like that's a platform as well. Could you just quickly talk about the ICONN app and what's the problem it's trying to solve and how does it work?
ICONN app is amazing, man. We're trying to allow content creators be free and create whatever content they like to create, but also be able to monetize it. Charge for their live streams, or pay per view events or DJs can get tips while they're DJ'ing on the platform in real time. A lot of different things like that. Meet and greets. If I do a concert and I virtually have it as a pay per view concert, you can also buy the meet and greet package and get a few minutes with me backstage virtually as well. All of those types of things are really cool things that are already built into the platform. But of course, it's expanding. We have the book nav button where you can book me for my tine, so to speak, time is money. Each artist can offer their packages of what they offer their time for. Just really cool stuff like that.
You're creating the platform and so on one side of it-
It's already created. It's in the App Store right now. Go get it. ICONN, two Ns, .live.
Of course, that's available on both iPhone and Android?
Not on Android yet, we're working with Android now.
Just iPhone for now.
But yeah, iPhone, iOS.
Yeah. Look, I'm a bit more bias because I love Apple and I've got all the Apple stuff, so I've got it already. I highly recommend that people check it out. But you seem to really be doing a lot for the music industry. You're trying to create places for artists to just take control of their art…
Everything I create is for us by us. It's things that I felt I wish I would have had when I was a young artist to help me in my career. ICONN is going to expand in a lot of different ways, from music, to original content, all of those great things, so stay tuned. Even an NFT marketplace, I've been working on for ICONN to display NFTs, what I call motion pictures. You'll see it soon, you'll get to check it all out. We're working.
You've done a lot over the last 20, 30 years. I'm sure-
But not enough.
Who's ever done enough?
I know right.
Maybe Elon Musk going to Mars, maybe he thinks it's enough.
I still don't think he's done enough either, right?
Same, right? What are some of the biggest lessons that you've learnt through that journey? Because that's a journey and a half, right? What are some of the biggest lessons?
One of the biggest things, lessons, I would say I learned along the way, be yourself. Always present yourself and be who you are. That way, you sleep well at night.
It's hard sometimes though, right? Because everyone thinks that they should be something else oftentimes in the beginning.
Actually, it isn't. It's really simple. Be who you are and be accepting of others but also, be thoughtful of the fact that people don't always have to accept you. And that's very key, because it's hard for people to accept or let somebody into their world and open up to them in the same way. It's a relationship that has to grow. These are the things that I try to work on as I become a better businessman or a better entrepreneur. Like I said, the learning curve on all of this shit is the biggest thing, it's the elephant in the room. How much do you know about what you do?
How do you approach that? Because obviously, that's huge, right? It's like, hey look, I'm going to go make an app. I've never done an app before. How do you approach that? All right, cool. I'm going to have to go into this now. But what's your process? How do you go about it?
I have a real loose approach on this. I have a vision of what I see and what I want and sometimes they're very big and vast. A lot of times my team has to say, Ja, we don't either have the money to do that or that's probably literally fucking impossible to do. But I like those answers, because it lets me know that I'm thinking of things that people haven't thought of. In my eyes, everything can be done. It just takes time, effort, and some money of course. But that's what keeps me inspired to do this in this space. The fact that I can create something that's never been done before, like my music. I can create something from here and it becomes this and people see the same vision that I see when I created this. They understood it in the same way that I understood it when I created it. They knew that they needed this the same way that I knew I needed this. And that to me, that's innovation, that drives me, that inspires me. Whether it's through making a new record that people fucking sing to the top of their lungs or creating a new app that people want to use to help monetize their content.
You're a visionary leader, right? You've got the vision, the direction and then you leverage your team of people who can-
Absolutely. Bring my vision to life.
Execute, follow through and that's the path that you go. Because this is the hard one, and this takes years, this took me years anyway, but how do you choose who you have around you? Because obviously, there has to be a good trust there now for you to be able to say, cool, here's my vision. If you tell me no, I need to listen to you because I trust you. What do you look for in people that you have around you?
You read all these fucking sayings, trust no one. Be careful who you trust and all these type of sayings. But I happen to think differently, I happen to believe that you allow people to be who they are and they will appear. I don't think you can look at everybody with the lens of non-trust and think that you're going to get trust from that. I think you have to go into a situation with trust and if a person is distrustful, they'll show up eventually. I allow people to be who they are, because like I said, they will arrive eventually. Who they really are will arrive.
Yeah. I found something similar, but I've been burnt so many times. But I still have a heart that trusts and I still think the bet of people and I give them a chance. But I've gotten better at seeing the little things, the little alarms.
Yeah. You got to have a spidey sense with it and try to sort through the bad apples, but it's tough. It's tough living like that. It's tough living with the thought of everybody's trying to fucking do me wrong. I've lived both sides of that. I've lived with that mentality that everyone is after me, you got to be careful, you got to be guarded because everyone wants something from you. I've lived with that, and it's not fun. It's draining to me, mentally because I'm always thinking this person… I don't want to do that. And so, I had to start looking at it on the other side of it and say, listen, allow these people to become who they are. If they're not trustworthy people, it will come to light, it will come… I think I have a good enough, now at my 45 years of age, I think I have a better gauge of people and from the beginning, I can gauge people a little bit better I believe. I believe that the people that I bring around me are trustworthy people, are good people, because I've made this assumption, this analysis by dealing with them or whatever.
I feel like a little bit of a good sixth sense and a little bit of a feel of who are good people and who are bad people. I try to stay away from the bad people and keep good people around me. When I say good people and bad people, obviously I don't know what the fuck you do in your spare time. I'm talking about energy, people that have half glass full energy verse half glass empty energy. Because those are the things you look for, just people with that type of upbeat spirit because you know they're always going to, no matter the situation, no matter what's going on, they're going to find a solution. They're not going to dangle on the problem, but they're going to find a solution or help find a solution. That's what you want, you want positive people, positive minds, positive thinking.
Yeah. That's a fantastic point and I love that thinking.
But you got to keep a couple of negatives around too. You know what I'm saying?
You got to keep a bunch of people that see the glass half empty, because-
Yeah, just to balance it.
Because they help make sure that the glass is always full.
Because they help to make… how do they help to make sure?
That the glass is always full.
Ah, because they're always thinking of the downsides and-
Because they're always thinking of the downside. So if I'm thinking of the upside, and I have a few people thinking on the downside, we can't fail, or we shouldn't fail. The glass should, it should run over, runneth over.
Yeah, exactly.
The glass should runneth over if we come together the correct way. You got to keep a couple of those thinkers around too.
Yeah. I've been in environments where everyone's just optimistic and now one's thought of the possible risks or the downsides.
It's like, ah damn, wish we had someone there at some point to go, hey, did you think about that? Someone didn't think about that.
What you got to understand and appreciate about those type of thinkers is, it's not that they're thinking negative about the problem. But they're thinking through the whole problem. While you're thinking of how great it could be, they're thinking of what happens if? And then now, we now how to pivot. And that's important. You know what I mean? That's very important.
But you've been at this now for a while. I talk to lots of people that are starting out, all stages of their business and even just for myself, I found that the one thing that… I wouldn't say I'm the smartest, I wouldn't say I'm the most intelligent, I wouldn't say I'm the quickest but I'm relentless, I'm persistent and I will never quit. How important has that been for you?
It's very important. I'll put my whole life on that. There's no Ja Rule if I'm not persistent, if I'm not overly confident in who I am. You get a million doors slammed in your face.
Still, right?
It's that million and one door, that's the door.
Million and one.
And so, you got to push through, you got to be persistent. You got to keep moving, keep your legs running like a running back. Keep your legs moving like a running back. You got to do those things and you have to think that way and it comes with a real confidence that you have to have in your abilities to overcome. Everybody doesn't have that. Everybody thinks they're ready for the fight until they get in the fight.
Is that Mike Tyson's statement, right?
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. That's absolutely correct.
Yeah. And so, when things are hard, how do you get through that? Because that's when most people quit. It's like, yeah, I'm persistent, when things are good. And then, it gets hard and it gets hard for long and then they quit. How do you stay with it?
It's a little mechanism that I have and everybody needs this mechanism but it's not easy to have. It's called, I don't give a fuck. Everybody needs a, I don't give a fuck switch that they can turn on and say, I don't care what this person thinks. I don't care what that person thinks. I don't care what anybody thinks about me. I know what I'm capable of and I'm going to fucking do it, prove it, show it, whatever the case may be. This is my fucking super power. My super power is that I believe in me more than anything in the fucking world. I have supreme confidence. That is my superpower. For me, it's very important. I try to instil that in my kids, believe in yourself. You can do it, put your mind to it. I don't like the word I can't. From the time they were little kids I told them, don't say that word in this house. It doesn't exist here, I can't, doesn't exist here. You either do or you don't.
That's it, right? I love how you said that. I love the, I don't give a fuck switch because I think I've got that switch.
You have to have it.
To create something that is above and beyond the norm, that is extraordinary, you cannot listen to what people tell you is possible unless those people are people that have achieved something extraordinary. But those people won't tell you, you can't do something. That's a whole other conversation.
They'll never tell you that. Listen, I love this Jay-Z line. He says on his records, "Everybody want to tell you how to do it, but they never did it." It's the most craziest shit. Everybody has advice on how you should live your life, how you should do this, or how you should do that. But why is it not working for you if it's so simple? Don't tell me things that you have not experienced or that you haven't lived through to tell me that I should live that way or go through.
That's huge.
It's just not believable. It's just not something I would do.
That's an awesome point. One more question. What's next for you? I can see the music's happening, you've got the NFTs, you've got the app. I can see it's all connected in some way. What's the vision for the future for you?
Man, I'm about to get into a couple little projects especially in my music stuff and I'm going to do something really with music Monday's. I feel as though my music is art and it should be released as such. I'm going to release these art projects as NFTs and own my music and give people a chance to have a piece of my legacy and ownership as well, which is cool. We're going to do this a little bit differently than the regular distribution process, we're going to release my music as NFTs from here on out and see how that goes.
Where can people be part of this? I quite like the music Monday, I will support it just to support it…
Yeah. I want to start it on OpenSea. But then eventually, it will move to ICONN, once the platform is built out to hold that type of a situation.
Yeah. Perfect. And this is something I ask every person on the podcast, but if there was one thing that you want the listeners or the viewers of this podcast to do, a site to visit, a place to go, something to do, what would you like them to do?
Go to iconn.live baby. Two Ns, ICONN, two Ns, .live. Create you a page, follow me Ja Rule on ICONN and it's a magnificent platform. We just started, we are growing right now. We got about 5000 users, early adoption is key. Get in there now and like you said, get them early algorithms and get your followers up early quick. And then, we're going to blast off really… It's about to blast off heavy. We got some really cool shit coming down the pipe. So get in now before it's too late.
And for the listeners and the viewers out there, you can see that Ja is taking some big steps right now from music to NFTs to the app. So start now. You heard the thing before, if you start early on, you get an unfair advantage, so start now.
Yeah. And check out Flipkick, man and get some of those original live, physical NFTs.
Yeah, for sure. Ja, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. It's so good to speak about your journey, your thinking.
Thanks for having me, man. For sure.
The mindset and all the things that you're doing to help the music industry, because it's a complex space these days, right? It's not just creating music and letting it go. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast and sharing your journey today.
No doubt, man.
Talk soon, baby.
Thanks, man.
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Showing posts with label Chick-fil-A. Show all posts
Alienating Publics: Every Message Is Public
Author: Rich | Posted at: 6:00 AM | Filed Under: case study, Chick-fil-A, communication, public relations
You would think communicators would get it by now. While it always pays to tailor your message to an intended audience, there are no intended audiences anymore. Everything is subject to global opinion.
In 2008, Yahoo! became a public relations class example when it failed to consider that announcing cutbacks might have unintended consequences. The layoffs were announced to shareholders first, with smiles to suggest that the company was turning a corner. The lack of empathy impacted employees.
Flash forward four years and communicators have come full circle. President Obama is still trying to correct the misstep with his infamous "you didn't build that" speech. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney had a similar experience during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. And CEO Dan Cathy did it when he was explaining his stance on same-sex marriage while speaking to Baptist Press.
Communication is never isolated to a single audience.
It is the easiest lesson to take away from the Chick-fil-A controversy. In considering his audience, sharing what he believed to be similar values with those who would read the Baptist Press made sense. Chick-fil-A wants to convey itself as a family-friendly restaurant chain.
Where it doesn't make sense is within the purview of a global audience. Words, even if there is no evidence of action, have consequences. But this isn't a just lesson for Cathy. It is a lesson for Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno too.
Moreno has been attempting to brush off his announcement that he will block Chick-fil-A's effort to build a second Chicago store. He has since backed down, simply saying he wanted to review their anti-discrimanation policy. At least his message is better than Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who has resorted to saying that he doesn't want to say any more and inflame the situation he already inflamed.
The aforementioned stories also have the best possible quote from Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. She said to Emanuel: "You're alienating conservatives in your city. It's difficult to alienate that many people in one lump. To do it concisely and memorably is a major accomplishment."
To alienate people concisely and memorably is a major accomplishment.
No matter who you feel it fits best, it's the most concise and memorable lesson anywhere. The art of communication is hard not because people are afraid to be straight, but because they have to communicate their mission, vision, and values in such a way that it is honest without being hurtful.
Pretense: "Honey, do I look good in this dress?"
Pick one: 1) "The other one has always been my favorite." 2) "It makes you look fatter."
While some people are remiss that I haven't come out swinging with a stance on this issue, we can learn more by appreciating the finer art of communication. Think before you speak. And if you don't, take a moment to think about who you might have hurt with that last comment. You don't need fists to be a bully.
It's a lesson that Chick-fil-A has taken to heart. Consider the statement about the "Kiss" Day protest.
"At Chick-fil-A, we appreciate all of our customers and are glad to serve them at any time. Our goal is simple: to provide great food, genuine hospitality and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A. — Steve Robinson, executive vice president, marketing, Chick-fil-A, Inc. in response to "Kiss" Day.
Being Empathetic: Objectivity In Communication
Author: Rich | Posted at: 6:00 AM | Filed Under: case study, Chick-fil-A, Politics, public relations, publicity
One of the most difficult lessons in public relations and communication is one that journalists used to take pride in having mastered. The lesson revolves around objectivity. It's not even what you think.
To me, the formalization of objective journalism was the cornerstone of establishing journalism as a legitimate profession. Prior to the hard work of Walter Lippmann to emphasize a journalist's role as an objective mediator or translator, journalism often had more similarity to propaganda than news.
Since then, objective journalism has taken its fair share of hits. Some people doubt the ability of human beings to be objective when faced with issues that run contrary to their personal views. Others view being objective as somehow less than human, merely applying intellect over emotion.
In some cases, journalists have at times proven this to be true, positioning themselves as the ultimate observers, unwilling to interfere with the world around them, even in the face of atrocity. In other cases, journalists have proven themselves to have hidden agendas despite an air of being objective. But \elevating such examples of human frailty does not constitute evidence that people cannot continue to strive for something better. And I believe we can do better. As communicators, we have to.
In fact, even as journalists have become more lax in being objective, public relations professionals and communicators are regularly called upon to apply it, given that their role requires they represent both organizational and public interest. And because this is the role, it makes the Chick-fil-A controversy one of the most important of our times as it underscores that there is not always one public to serve.
The issue we face is bigger than Chick-fil-A and it's not one issue.
As a living case study, which means I intend to explore several topics directly related to and indirectly related to Chick-fil-A, I was largely undecided on which topic I wanted to tackle next. In fact, it wasn't until Saturday, after reading the comment left by a former student, that I made the decision. In order to consider the nuances of this case study, I have to write about the elephant in the room first.
The elephant isn't same-sex marriage. The elephant is our eroding ability to tackle tough issues as a nation with objectivity, empathy, and compassion. The fact that there is controversy over same-sex marriage is merely a symptom. There are dozens of issues that mirror this one, with the public being tricked into picking sides under the pretense that "unless you are with us, you are against us."
Applying objectivity and empathy to an emotionally charged topic.
An objective view might be that the definition of marriage is not a political or state issue. It is a religious issue, with different religions observing different definitions. In other words, it may not be up to the state to define marriage or force its definition into practice as much as it is to recognize the varied definitions of a secular union (or civil union when no other secular observances apply).
However, considering history as a guide in the United States, the objective view might be wrong. Reynolds v. United States is the closest we came to defining marriage with a unanimous 1878 Supreme Court decision based on the long-standing principle that "laws are made for the government of action, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious believe and opinions, they may with practices."
Or, maybe this Supreme Court decision was wrong too. I don't know. But therein lies the conundrum of any state being given jurisdiction over personal liberties. That said, same-sex marriage does not have an easy answer. It is a question that is bigger than itself.
Some of the smaller issues are pretty obvious.
• While it is apparently clear that it would have been prudent for CEO Dan Cathy to avoid the debate, he is free to hold the belief that marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman, provided he does not discriminate against those who do not share this view, given the 6-3 Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, which reversed the 1986 Supreme Court decision in Bowers v. Hardwick.
• LGBT supporters are within their right to lobby for same-sex marriage, but it would probably serve some organizers to demonstrate empathy and realize that the motivation to define same-sex marriage is not always born out of fear or intolerance.
• Any elected officials who threatened or acted to bar Chick-fil-A based on Cathy's beliefs are wrong and only demonstrate an ineptitude for leadership and equally ignorant understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Their actions demonstrate a willfulness to exploit, incite, and limit free expression.
• Anyone who used Cathy's views to attack Christianity only showed their proclivity for ignorance and intolerance. Incidentally, Saint Augustine also saw a conflict with the definition of marriage in the Old Testament, but suggested the better example of a divine plan was plainly shown with the first union.
People sometimes make the mistake of believing that an unwillingness to promote an idea is the same thing as intolerance. Empathy doesn't require agreement or enthusiasm as much as understanding and acceptance. For public relations professionals and communicators, it starts with adhering to a code of ethics, which allows for the principles of free speech and calls for a sensitivity to cultural values.
Ergo, in this case, different people have different ideas, but the role of the communicator is best served by engaging in fair and balanced communication activities that foster and encourage mutual understanding. I'm not sure about you, but I have seen very little effort in this regard. And that's what I want to tackle.
Likewise, I called it a public relations nightmare (and not a publicity coup) because a short-term revenue spike is not the only measure of a successful communication plan. I think that will become more apparent as we work through Chick-fil-A as a living case study. As for me personally? Like the artwork (above) of my friend Ike Pigott communicates, I'd rather we all just get along.
Becoming Political Punch: Chick-Fil-A
Author: Rich | Posted at: 6:00 AM | Filed Under: case study, Chick-fil-A, crisis communication, public relations
Several years ago, I was working as a strategic communication consultant for a pool builder and part of my job was to mediate mock media sessions. We had just finished a core message system and part of the consultation included helping them employ it.
Mock media sessions are sometimes purposefully designed to make people feel uncomfortable and elicit accidental or intentional reactions. The regional vice president being interviewed was doing surprisingly well, until I asked him a series of loaded questions, consisting of the softball set-up and rapid-fire take downs.
"What percentage of your employees are minorities?"
"The majority," he said.
"Yes, and what percentage are in upper management positions?"
The color quickly washed out of his face. He knew as well as I did that there was no easy answer. He could tell the truth, opening up a discussion about discrimination. He could lie and say he didn't know, painting himself as incompetent.
"Now, let's talk about how many of those minorities are African-Americans, specifically," I added, already knowing the answer. If I were a real reporter at the time, I could have done anything.
Dan Cathy was trapped into a public relations maelstrom of his own making.
When Dan Cathy, president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, gave a speech at the University of Mobile, he set himself up to be duped after the event. Cathy, who was likely talking about dress codes and personal appearance at Chick-fil-A when he said "If a man's got an earring in his ear and applies to work at one of my restaurants, we won't even talk to him."
He might have used mohawks or face tattoos or devil horn implants or any number of lifestyle choices that don't always mesh with other lifestyle choices as an example, but he didn't. He asked the softball set-up question I might have asked in a mock media session, giving someone else the opportunity to hammer with a hardball follow up.
Would you hire gay people at your restaurant?
"It depends on the circumstances," he said. But he didn't convincingly explain that he meant circumstances based on appearance, history, and reputation (as the chain uses to hire heterosexual applicants).
Only July 16, he went further by continuing this conversation direction with the Baptist Press, saying his goal was to operate the chain "on Biblical principles." On its own, it would have been fine, but the foundation of a different context was already established.
In fact, just to make sure it was understood what he meant, Cathy said that the company had taken a position against same-sex marriage. And that's how it goes. Executives without enough media training will dig their own holes if you let them.
I understand how and why it happens, but let's point out the obvious. Companies don't need to take a position on gay marriage. Even companies that have a Christian heritage don't need to pick a side. Companies are expected to be true to their mission statements.
"Be America's Best Quick-Service Restaurant." — Chick-fil-A mission statement
Color me crazy, but I don't see how taking a position against same-sex marriage makes chicken better. Naturally, the only answer is one the company is attempting to elevate now: "The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation, or gender.
Unfortunately, it's too little too late. The debate has shifted. And while there are many ways to dissect the Chick-fil-A public relations nightmare, the most important observations have little to do with public relations and everything to do with a nation struggling to find its direction on a wildly politicized issue.
It's loaded with fear. It's loaded with emotion. It's best to stay far, far away from picking sides. Not many people can do it as successfully as Bill Marriott, especially because it's much harder today.
The tenets of separating personal/professional views are crumbling.
From a strategic communication viewpoint, the communication mistake became a crisis as soon as some people decided there was something to win. You can say the same about any crisis today. When education surrenders to exploitation, the argument descends into diatribe. Everybody will lose.
The challenge for public relations professionals temporarily, if not permanently, is to manage the mixed messages they receive as it relates to the personal/professional rub up. While modern tenets are preaching there is plenty to gain by infusing your personal views into your professional life, few pros have the training or tools to do it right. Even if they do, someone might exploit their position.
Chick-fil-A is a complex issue that warrants exploration as a living case study, with a little less politics and a lot more patience. At the moment, the public relations maelstrom is best described as out of control and the company is probably making a mistake to think it will go away. It might, but maybe not.
The real tragedy here is that it might have gone away, but some people on both sides of the argument want to to exploit this as a communication mistake and make it a symbol. Their actions (both sides) have consequences, even if neither side will have to suffer for it. Instead, those who suffer will be franchise owners and employees who want make a living and the customers who go there to eat chicken.
Much like I later advised the pool builder, companies have to avoid loaded questions and stick to the facts. The pool builder always promoted people based on experience and performance, without consideration of anything else. They hired the people the same way.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Matthew Liedke on Film
January 2014 Mini Reviews
Devil's Due – 0.5 out of 5
Probably the laziest and an early candidate for worst movie of 2014. Every bit of so called horror this movie tries to shove in your face has been seen before in the "Paranormal Activity" series. On top of that, the plot just stumbles along without ever really having a structure making for a confusing story that in the end never really goes anywhere. On top of that, the performances were terrible.
Labor Day – 2 out of 5
A movie that felt like a rather hollow shell, "Labor Day" just never had much emotion going on in it. Everyone just has stern looks the entire run time and it results in never feeling the true feelings that are suppose to be delivered. The movie shows Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin's characters falling in love but doesn't show really why or how besides Brolin just being there.
On top of that, the story includes the young character Henry developing a father son relationship with Brolin's character. The problem is it's only material ways that the two bond. Brolin's character Frank shows Henry how to fix a car, he shows him how to throw a baseball, but he never really teaches him life lessons.
The film never pushes the emotions it should and it fails as both a romance and a coming of age film.
That Awkward Moment – 3 out of 5
The film came off as a basic rom-com, except this time it was told through the vantage point of a guy rather than a girl. The movie falls into a lot of familiar tropes that keep it from being anything really special, however, the movie does have a couple of really funny moments.
Plus, the three lead actors, Michael B. Jordon, Zac Efron and Miles Teller all have a very believable friendship and the rest of the relationships feel real, which helps the viewing experience.
Gimme Shelter – 1 out of 5
The biggest problem with Gimme Shelter is how the story moves along. In each of the film's three acts, it seems like it is trying to be a different movie. Instead of having a beginning middle and end, the film instead just keeps opening up new subplots and introducing characters way too late to have any real impact
Vanessa Hudgens really does put effort into the movie and the acting is alright, but for the most part it's nothing memorable.
To make matters worse, the film seemed to be more focused on an agenda and getting a point across, which is probably why the story structure suffered.
The Monuments Men – 2 out of 5
For such an interesting concept, this movie for the most part felt really boring.
The reason for this is the pacing, as the movie takes forever to really allow the plot to thicken. And by forever, I mean over an hour.
It must have been nearly 70 minutes, or more, before the Monuments Men make their first big discovery. Before that the movie just plods along.
What's worse is that the movie splits up the crew, so there isn't as much time for everyone to interact and get to know each other, which doesn't allow a sense of camaraderie to be built.
The humor didn't work for most of the film either, it just fell flat for the most part and made it more difficult to take seriously.
The acting was OK in the movie, but for a good portion of the movie it just felt like watching actors on stage instead of characters.
The Lego Movie – 3 out of 5
There is a lot to enjoy about "The LEGO Movie," it has really great, vibrant and most of all creative animation and design work, an expansive voice cast that does a good job and a really nice message to tie everything together at the end.
The problem is that the first 80 percent of the movie has a rather familiar plot and the jokes didn't work for me at all times. The main character was also a bit too clueless at times.
The part that's probably going to divide audiences a bit is the twist near the end of the film. It's not a bad twist, in that it does help with the message of the film, but it's not done very seamlessly.
Author: Matthew Liedke
Journalist and film critic in Minnesota. Graduate of Rainy River College and Minnesota State University in Moorhead. Outside of movies I also enjoy sports, craft beers and the occasional video game.	View all posts by Matthew Liedke
Author Matthew LiedkePosted on January 31, 2014 August 17, 2018 Categories 2014, ReviewsTags cinema, film, Mini Reviews, movies
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Found 2 blog entries for July 2018.
Acclaimed Northrop Realty and National Leader, Zip Your Flyer Partner to Expand Agent Offerings
Thursday, July 26th, 2018 at 3:26pm.
National real estate E-Flyer industry leader Zip Your Flyer announces partnership with acclaimed Northrop Realty, A Long & Foster Company.
Founded by CEO Creig Northrop, a 2018 Inman Innovator Award Finalist, Northrop Realty is a full-service brokerage with 6 locations in Maryland and the DC metro area with continued plans to expand their footprint along with their network of full-time real estate agents and support staff. Northrop Realty offers their community and agents a scope of services that goes above and beyond a typical brokerage.
Zip Your Flyer was created in 2005 as the founder of the real estate agent-to-agent E-Flyer Industry and still operates as a family business located outside of Seattle, WA. Zip Your Flyer continues to innovate and
Kapowza Wins Emmy for Northrop Realty Commercial
Baltimore's Kapowza announced that it won an Emmy in the category of Commercial, Single Spot for the "Blue Box" television commercial at the 60th Annual National Capital Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards, part of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The commercial, developed for Northrop Realty, a Long & Foster Company, debuted in the late summer of 2017 along with a second spot, "Club Bed," and was seen on air in the Capital Region during Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup playoffs.
"Both commercials are remarkably simple but carry the power to connect with audiences and express how we at Northrop Realty can help our customers find a solution to their real estate needs," President and CEO Creig Northrop said. "We represent homebuyers and


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More from us How Citizens Advice works Our media centre Press releases Sick pay advice searches soar as Citizens Advice warns Budget must address growing concerns about coronavirus
Sick pay advice searches soar as Citizens Advice warns Budget must address growing concerns about coronavirus
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Citizens Advice is urging the Chancellor to shore up protections for millions of workers in Wednesday's budget, including making immediate changes to Universal Credit.
The charity saw three times as many visits to its sick pay advice pages last week compared to the same time last year. It is warning that the current system for sick pay is inadequate to deal with the potential scale of the coronavirus outbreak, and could push many into financial hardship.
Those affected include five million self-employed workers and at least 1.5 million in low-income jobs that fall below the earnings limit to qualify for statutory sick pay (SSP).
Citizens Advice also has growing concerns that the benefits system is ill-equipped to respond quickly to those seeking financial support if they fall unwell or need to self-isolate.
Citizens Advice has written to the Chancellor today and urged him to take the following steps in the Budget:
Ensure SSP gives people enough to live on and follow through on the government's proposal to set the level at 80% of statutory sick pay if they are below the current limit to qualify
Shorten the five-week wait for the first payment of Universal Credit and consider waiving national insurance requirements for self-employed people to receive contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Dame Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
"The growing outbreak is an unprecedented backdrop for this Budget. Coronavirus won't discriminate between those eligible for sick pay and people who simply cannot afford to fall unwell.
"We know this is something front of mind for millions of people who could face the impossible choice of working while ill or ignoring guidance to self-isolate.
"The Chancellor must set out plans to broaden the pool of people eligible for statutory sick pay and ensure that the benefits system can respond flexibly to those who need it. Otherwise millions could fall through the gaps."
Citizens Advice includes the national charity; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and post. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers.
The Citizens Advice Witness Service provides free, independent support for prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.
Citizens Advice offers Pension Wise services at 500 locations in England and Wales.
Citizens Advice's services are free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to all regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
For consumer advice, call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 to talk in Welsh.
We helped 2.6 million people face to face, by phone, email and webchat in 2017-18. For service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.
Citizens Advice staff are supported by over 23,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 locations in England and Wales.


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Home / Feature / WEB EXCLUSIVE: Polyphonic Spree bassist…
Andrew Low talks to Placid Audio's Mark Pirro about how the Copperphone mic is making waves with top engineers and producers and closing down airports …
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Polyphonic Spree bassist…
dt-admin 13th July 2011	Feature 112 Views
When The Polyphonic Spree's percussionist, Brian Teasley, got off a flight from Dallas Fort Worth Airport in August of 2004 he was tired from a long tour and flight. Making a diversion to the nearest Taco Bell, he quite possibly contemplated the difficult balance between pursuing his dreams of being a touring musician and maintaining a normal home life. Turning the corner onto his road, several police and FBI cars were sitting in front of his house and Teasley was arrested on site. The crime: carrying a Placid Audio Copperphone mic.
The tubular, copper coloured microphone (pictured above) that Teasely carried in his luggage was mistaken as a pipe bomb by airport security, who shut down the airport while they inspected the object. Teasley was released without charge, but decided to let Spree bassist and Copperphone inventor Mark Pirro carry the microphone on tour from that day on.
In fact, several renowned musician and producers – from Dave Fridmann to Jack White and Green Day – can be counted as Copperphone carriers. The cardioid, dynamic microphone was designed to replicate an AM radio sound in the studio and on stage. And with a frequency response of 200Hz – 3kHz, Pirro explains that the crappy-on-purpose sound is exactly what he was aiming for: "Most mics are designed to reproduce a high fidelity response, but I have gone the other way and tried to reproduce sounds that are crappy and low-fi and make them tasteful and useful.
"The components of the Copperphone purposely limit the frequency response. This is partially due to the fact that it is housed in a copper tube, but the length and size of the tube helps as well because of what happens inside the diaphragm. It is like a speaker enclosure; if you pull your speakers out of a cabinet they are going to sound a certain way, but when you put them in a cabinet the air space behind helps accentuate a certain frequency response. I experimented with different lengths of tube and it seemed that six inches was what seemed to work the best to balance the cost and the desired effect."
The original concept for the Copperphone was conceived in the early days of The Polyphonic Spree as a replacement for outboard processing gear. "Our singer [Tim DeLaughter] really liked the AM radio vocal effect but it was always a pain to use the processor live because the sound guy never new when to turn it on," he says. "I thought it would be easier if we had a mic that created the same effect. I started experimenting with different components and the first version was made out of PVC and held together by tape. I wanted to make something that was durable and attractive, so I went to the hardware store and found some copper pipe, bought a drill press, machined the first one and gave it to DeLaughter. He loved it and a lot of musicians and engineers started asking about it. I realised there was a demand for this, so I started to make a limited number of them because the band at the time was really busy. But because we were touring all over the world I had several opportunities to show people the mic; this is how people like Jack White found out about it. The demand just snowballed from there."
Started as a garage operation at his parent's house, Pirro has since stepped up production, set up a studio and hired staff to help fill orders. "I have been making microphones for almost 10 years now but have remained a bit under the radar because I cannot devote 100 per cent of my time to making the mics. This has been a good thing in a way because it gives people the sense that they are getting something unique and special. However, I have been working with some independent dealers and I am open to getting involved with more," he says.
Placid also offers the Harmonica Mini and a prototype of the Carbonphone. Pirro explains: "I had a harmonica player that loved the sound of the Copperphone but it was too big and bulky to hold in his hand so he asked that I make him a smaller one. It doesn't have the tune-ported chamber and it uses a different diaphragm, so it is a little brighter and rejects feedback a bit better than the Copperphone. I figured that if I put a ring mount on it you could use it in the studio or live as a handheld harmonica mic. I get a lot of guys that want to use it because of its aesthetic."
Pirro has begun production on the high output Carbonphone, but as of yet it is only available as a special order. "The Carbonphone uses a carbon element that I sourced from a company that provides components for tank intercoms and air traffic controller headsets," he says. "It has a limited bandwidth, but it is a lot more distorted than an intercom. It is really geared towards human speech, but I have used them on snares, kick drums and bass cabs. I am hoping to release it officially soon."
The Copperphone has been found to be equally at use in the studio as it has on stage for live gigs. As such, Green Day's engineer bought a Copperphone to reproduce a ham radio guitar sound on tour. "They needed something that wasn't sensitive to percussion blasts because they have a lot of pyrotechnics in their show and everything else they were using was too sensitive. I think it sounds a little harsh for guitars, but I am working on another microphone that is more of a dynamic mic that will still have a unique frequency response. I am working on some other ideas but the production of the Copperphone is keeping me pretty busy."
Although the band has been inactive for the past few years, Pirro assures that The Polyphonic Spree is still playing and creating music. He has also joined the Texas psychedelic rock band Menkena. In the meantime, Pirro is hard at work making affordable mics. "I wanted my mics to be accessible to the average person with a laptop and an MBox, but over the years the cost of materials has gone up and shipping and transport costs have risen," he says. "Even something like a five-cent bolt is now 10 cents, but I have refrained from raising the price to keep it as affordable as possible.
"I have had some criticism from people who say they wouldn't pay that much for that sound, and there are other methods to get the sound, but people who have used other methods and compared the sound to the Copperphone have told me that they prefer it. It is something very different that you can't replicate any other way."
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To preserve Wolf Creek, speak up now
Health Travel Dear Abby Community
Thinking Green
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 8:36 AM
Updated: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 10:31 AM
I want you to envision a day with me; it's the day that bulldozers begin ripping apart Wolf Creek Pass to build Texas billionaire Red McCombs' version of Vail South.
Last week, that possible dark day moved closer to reality, leaving only one question on the table: What are you willing to do to stop it?
This column has been hammering on an unfortunately repetitive theme: government agencies' penchant for pleasing the moneyed and powerful, public interest be damned. Nowhere is this theme more clearly written than the top of our beloved Wolf Creek Pass.
Just days ago, the Forest Service's regional office effectively signed off on the Rio Grande National Forest's approval of a land swap that is the lynchpin in Red McCombs' development dream. This land swap is eerily similar to a proposed swap in the 1980s that was denied by the Forest Service, then inexplicably approved, then scrapped after a successful lawsuit by citizens' groups demonstrated the approval violated the law.
For some reason, this bad idea is again back in the good graces of the public interest, or so says a pliant and capricious Forest Service.
Let's review that public interest here for a moment.
On one side of the issue, we have people who live, work and recreate in the region. The overwhelming majority of these folks like Wolf Creek Pass as is. We go there to ski or snowboard at a resort that is emphatically not Aspen or Vail. We go there in search of backcountry turns and to hike, fish, snowmobile and hunt. We go there because it's big and wild and offers something that is special, even sacred.
On the other side of this plan is an out-of-state and out-of-touch developer – one dude – who wants to make some money building another resort.
If the Forest Service can read, it understands this dynamic. They've recorded it time and again during public comment periods. Does this knowledge inform their feckless leadership? No. Huh. Maybe "leadership" is a misnomer.
When public servants self-select paths of least resistance, when they choose to evade the full scope of their authority to avoid making hard decisions, they become something less than leaders. They become cogs in a machine of someone else's design. Anyone know of a good tool for fixing the cogs of a giant and unaccountable machine? When federal agencies fail to protect the public interest, the public will protect it itself.
How? The Alliance and friends are headed to court for sure, where we've won on this issue repeatedly in the past. But that's not enough. The definitive fight over the future of Wolf Creek – and this is that fight – will be won only through the creativity and strength of our entire community.
If you'd like to help with the effort to send Red packing, be in touch. We're going to need the help.
danolson@sanjuancitizens.org. Dan Olson is executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance.
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Sean's Top 10 Video Games of 2013
Sean Lemme	in Top Ten	| January 18, 2014
Sean Lemme
Sean is mildly pleased with most things in life, so I guess it's good he made this website.
Sean Lemme in Top Ten	| January 18, 2014
Looks like I have the honor of putting the final nail in last year's coffin. Video game historians will probably remember 2013 as a year of the new technology, with a news cycle was dominated by PS4s, Xbox Ones, 2DSs, Ouyas, Steam Machines, Occulous Rifts, and more. For a lot of people, myself included, the PC had become the dominant platform over the last few years, as a tired console generation led to fewer exclusives and PC ports that were straight-up better than the console versions. But the knowledge that this would be the last year people really cared about their PS3s and 360s did let some developers cash in on some awesome ideas while everyone was started focusing their attention on the future. Let me show you some of my favorite games from last year.
As far as honorable mentions go, there's a lot that I still haven't played that I'd like to – these lists would be way easier to do in like early March. So Tearaway, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Forza Motorsport 5, Shadow Warrior, Ni No Kuni, Metro: Last Light, The Wonderful 101, and Fire Emblem Awakening, I'm sorry I either didn't play you or didn't play you nearly enough to really know how I feel. There were also two really terrific series relaunches early last year that I thought were great; DmC and Tomb Raider. Oh, and two sequels caught me off guard with their quality, Dead Rising 3 and Dead Space 3. Those sure sound like video games, don't they?
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
2013 was so good to the 3DS that I ended up upgrading to a 3DS XL. Entering 2013, I hadn't bought a 3DS game since 2011 and I hadn't even bothered to update the console so I could get StreetPasses. By the end of the year I had purchased four games that were very close to making this list. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds was maybe the most surprising of the four, since I haven't cared about Zelda for a few games now, especially portable Zelda games. I'm not even one of those people that considers A Link to the Past the greatest game of all time. But A Link Between Worlds is so smartly made I found it hard to put down. By designing all the game's dungeons around one mechanic – the ability to go 2D – and giving the player freedom to do them in any order with whatever gear they want, this adventure seem more personal and each puzzle solved all the more rewarding. If you don't have a 3DS yet, what are you doing?
9. Papers, Please
Papers, Please puts you in the role of an immigration officer in a fictional communist country tasked with deciding who is allowed into the country. All you have to do is look at forms and decide which stamp to use. But things get more complicated as you're handed down new orders every day about who to let in, are approached by guards who'd like to bribe you and a terrorist group who want your help, and forced to balance the greater good between your personal well-being and your family's safety. It's surprisingly powerful and became nerve-wracking as I went on. I think it's a little too long, but Papers, Please is easily one of the most memorable games from last year for me.
8. Super Mario 3D World
I had so much fun playing Super Mario 3D World with my friends that I haven't been able to get in what might be the better platformer of 2013, Rayman: Legends, because I want to save it for them. Games like this are so much more fun in a group, and Nintendo, who has been aware of this since New Super Mario Bros. hit the Wii, finally found a way to make it more about teamwork than competition in Super Mario 3D World. It's a masterfully designed game, and probably fun on your own. But with four people in cat suits? Yes please.
7. Pokémon Y
I got so sucked into the world of Pokémon X & Y that every time I saw its name while working on this list, I thought I should probably boot that game up again. And it's not even all the visual improvements, or gameplay changes that did it for me. It's the improved online integration. On top of building the ultimate team, I wanted to see how far I could get on my Pokédex, and that means a lot of trading. This game makes it so easy to arrange trades, which is great. But more importantly, it lets you randomly exchange Pokémon with strangers anywhere in the world. It's like gambling! As if this needed to be more addictive! I might need help.
6. Saints Row IV
I've heard people say that Saints Row has become the Fast and Furious of game franchises, and that's not far off. Both started as bad gangster stories that improved over time thanks to a willingness to embrace fun and the power of family. Saints Row IV just wants you to have a good time, and it gives you so much power in the pursuit of that goal. You're the boss of the saints, you're the president, you're a super hero. It amps everything up just about as far as it could possibly go. And I love it for it. The game's pretty funny too.
5. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Starbreeze has a strong record in the world of first person shooters, I remember particularly liking 2012's Syndicate. I didn't expect them to make a game like Brothers. This is a dialogue-free, emotional journey brought to us in part by Swedish director Josef Fares. The idea of a single player coop game is a weird one, but it really pays off. To say any more would be a spoiler, but the game fully takes advantage of its mechanics to drive home the impact of the story. It puts you into the shoes of its characters better than any game I can think of… And it really makes me wonder what it was like when John and Autumn played through it. Like, who played which brother? I'd love to hear the spoilers of their unique take on the game.
GTA Online really soured the taste of Grand Theft Auto V for me. The botched rollout, followed by constant issues and the generally disappointing nature of the mode bummed me out, I thought for sure this was something we'd all be playing for the last few months of 2013. But then I went back and watched some of Lamar Davis' best quotes and it all came rushing back. Not only did GTA V tell the best, most scathing story in the series so far, it was also really fun. It's hard to imagine another open world game filling itself with so many fun missions to complete – I had a blast the entire way through this story. And those heists, my god! More of those please.
3. Bioshock Infinite
I've felt guilty all year for really liking Bioshock Infinite. Right after I reviewed the game, I started reading other people's impressions, and a lot of them really hated the combat. And I thought back and remembered that two sections of the game did give me trouble and I really started to doubt myself. But fuck it, the game was a roller coaster ride through an amazing, outlandish world and I had a lot of fun. I enjoyed experimenting with weapon and power combinations and whizzing through the areas on my sky-hook. And I surely don't have any problems with the crazy ending, I'd rather be intrigued by something out of left field than disappointed by another crappy boss fight. That's right, I'm calling out Bioshock the first.
2. Gone Home
Here's a game built around one mechanic that anyone who played Bioshock Infinite will recognize: storytelling through found objects. You play as Kaity, who returns from a year abroad to her family's new Oregon home. It appears that no one's in the house, so it's up to you to look around and find out what exactly is going on. It's an exciting game that tells a story unlike any I have seen in this medium before. I came into this game so skeptical, so sure that everyone was being hyperbolic about how affecting it would be. But damn it, it made me feel things. Damn the liberal gaming media.
Oh, and if you want something kind of like this, but way funnier and more interested in critiquing game design, check out The Stanley Parable. It's really good.
1. The Last of Us
Naughty Dog has been making more and more adult games as they have gone on, and The Last of Us is maybe the most grown-up game I've ever played. Like Brothers, it uses its gameplay to express the story and the nature of its characters. Like Grand Theft Auto V it is impeccably produced and structured. Like Bioshock Infinite, it has so much more to say than just its central story; it has thoughts on the character of humanity, the use of violence, the spirit of survival, the importance of truth and the greater good. Like Gone Home it all hinges on making you feel a deep, personal connection with its characters. And that relationship between Joel and Ellie, and the places it took them, and that ending, will stick with me for a while. There were a ton of great games last year, I think this one might be the best. At least, it's my favorite.
And that's it! Unless John wants to do a video game, which I doubt. So, goodbye 2013, I am tired of writing that number. Now I'm gonna go catch up on Peggle 2, that game is crazy!
Good list, I hadn't heard of Gone Home but now I really want to try it out. I gotta give props for Brothers, I loved that game. To answer your question, Autumn and I's Brothers experience was very satisfying. I got the feeling that certain challenges were easier with two people and others were much harder with two people, so I still feel like I got a unique experience. I played as the younger brother (I felt he looked more like me) so it was a very sad and lonely by the game's end.


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OFF! "Over Our Heads" (Jimmy Hayward, dir.)
Jack Black stars as a deranged skydiving coach who takes the guys on an excursion in honor of Keith Morris's 59th birthday. The trip takes a horrifying, gory turn when the LSD kicks in.
Part two ("Meet Your God") is coming next week...
By [email protected][email protected] on December 5, 2014 @ 10:00am PST
OFF! "Red White And Black" (The Admiral, dir.)
Comedians Dave Foley and Brian Posehn do some Nazi Rock that goes over well until a biker gang kicks down the door and knocks some sense into these fascists.
PS: Eagle-eyed rock fans should be able to spot out all the members of OFF, plus Jesus Lizard frontman David Yow, Melvins drummer Dale Crover, Tool drummer Danny Carey and TSOL singer Jack Grisham amongst the fascists.
By Steven Gottlieb on April 15, 2014 @ 11:29am PDT


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Prepared for Spring H. | Delivered January 19, 2021
State VC Funds
To identify venture capital funds sponsored by U.S. states and provide their funding details and contact information.
In 2010, the U.S. Government instituted legislation that created 36 venture capital programs run by 30 states. Notable programs include those sponsored by or managed in Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, New York, Colorado, and Ohio. Funding for state programs comes from the federal government, state tax receipts or public/private partnerships.
The allocation of VC funds to specific states is found on page 10 of the U.S. Treasury's Information and Observations on State Venture Capital Programs report.
Initial research shows most U.S. states actively manager or administer VC funds, many initiated as a direct result of the US Department of Treasury SSBCI program that began in 2010.
The Florida Venture Capital Program "provides direct investments to increase capital available to small businesses with an emphasis placed on investment opportunities within the State of Florida's targeted industries." The program was originally funded with $42 million.
Oklahoma's i2E program began through the state's Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) initiative and has invested over $61 million in 740 Oklahoma companies.
The Missouri Technology Corporation provides VC funding for new and emerging high-tech startups through private public partnerships. The contact for its seed program is Amy Steinman, amy.steinman@ded.mo.gov.
Empire State Development, originally created by New York state in 1941, provides early-stage support for new ventures through its $100 million New York Ventures Direct Fund. Pravina Raghavan is listed as the executive vice president, NYSInnovationVCFund@esd.ny.gov.
The Greater Colorado Venture Fund "invests in early-stage startups headquartered in Colorado outside of the front range. The fund's mission is to inspire innovation in places formerly overlooked by venture funds. The fund started with $15 million. Investments range from $100,000 to $300,000 per company." Sonya Guram is the program manager and can be reached at (303) 892-3804.
The Ohio Capital Fund "has obtained $150 million of commitments from private resources for investment in qualified venture capital funds."
Indiana provides state tax credits to VC funds that invest in eligible Indiana based companies through its Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit program. The program has a $12.5 million cap.
Business & Finance Specialist
5525 assignments | 5.0


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Church and Religious History (1)
Colonialism and Imperialism (1)
History of Central America (1)
Indigenous History (1)
Cultural History x
History of Central America x
1492–1824 x
Church and Religious History x
Contextualizing the Popol Wuj from Friar Ximénez to the Digital Age
Néstor Quiroa
Regarded as an ethnohistorical treasure, the Popol Wuj narrative has been read exclusively as a freestanding, self-contained text used to inquire into a history far removed from when it was actually created. Consequently, the colonial context of the text itself has been minimized, including the central role of Dominican friar Francisco Ximénez as transcriber and translator of the only copy in existence. The present study delineates a historical trajectory of the Popol Wuj, reframing the narrative within its colonial ecclesiastic context. It explores the physical structure of Friar Ximénez's 18th-century manuscript, preserved as MS 1515 by the Newberry Library in Chicago, to demonstrate that his work was first and foremost a series of religious treatises intended to carry out the conversion of the K'iche' to Christianity. As a cautionary word, rather than revisiting the old, biased approach of questioning the authenticity and authorship of this Popol Wuj narrative, the current study suggests a broader reading, addressing the complexities intrinsic in this text, particularly the fact that the narrative was the result of the cultural contact between mendicant friars, whose main objective was to evangelize, and indigenous groups, who strived to maintain their cultural continuity by recording their oral history in the face of such a threat. Finally, this study invites scholars to ponder on the implications that the present structure of Ximénez's manuscript (MS 1515) presents for future Popol Wuj studies as the narrative enters the age of electronic information and digital imaging.


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Will Pulau Besar Become The Next Pulau Langkawi?
The state government plans to turn the island into a tourist spot and free trade zone.
By: Jessica Chua
Image: The Star
Most of us have heard of Pulau Besar but not many have actually been there.
In case you're not familiar, Pulau Besar is a 'big' island in Melaka, located approximately 15km off the city. You can get to the island by ferry or speed boat.
There is a saying that the shape of the island resembles a pregnant woman lying on her back. That is just one of the many legends associated with Pulau Besar.
Although legends and myths give more identity to the island, the state government have plans to get rid of the superstitious and sacred activities that take place there by turning Pulau Besar into a tourist destination and free trade zone.
In fact, Chief Minister Adly Zahari said that the island has potential to be developed into a tourist spot like Pulau Langkawi, as reported by The Star.
Pulau Besar could also become a production centre for local produce like cocoa, which could generate economic activities and create more jobs for the locals.
Previously, the state government had attempted to stop superstitious and sacred activities on the island. But the efforts failed most likely because the place was neglected, isolated and not developed, causing different groups of people to take advantage of the area.
"With the implementation of planned and comprehensive development, some superstitious activities on the island can be eliminated, thus cleaning up the area," Adly said.
Development plans on Pulau Besar would require several steps, including the application for a tax-free zone for several other products besides liquor and the land ownership on the island involving several individuals.
According to Adly, the development must be carried out immediately because the state government and Tenaga Nasional Berhad has already invested RM30mil to supply electricity on the island. These investments have not gained anything in return because there was no economic activity.
Some old graves that have been turned into sacred and superstitious sites on Pulau Besar will be retained as a historical site, including several other sites.
So, are you ready for Pulau Langkawi 2.0? Melaka peeps, what do you think about developing Pulau Besar?
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The Blind Assassin
Author: Margaret Atwood
ASIN: B0012D1CYW
Winner of the Booker Prize. From the publisher: "Margaret Atwood weaves together strands of gothic suspense, romance, and science fiction into one utterly spellbinding narrative. The novel begins with the mysterious death—a possible suicide—of a young woman named Laura Chase in 1945. Decades later, Laura's sister Iris recounts her memories of their childhood, and of the dramatic deaths that have punctuated their wealthy, eccentric family's history. Intertwined with Iris's account are chapters from the scandalous novel that made Laura famous, in which two illicit lovers amuse each other by spinning a tale of a blind killer on a distant planet. These richly layered stories-within-stories gradually illuminate the secrets that have long haunted the Chase family, coming together in a brilliant and astonishing final twist."
For the past 25 years, Margaret Atwood has written works of striking originality and imagination. In The Blind Assassin, she stretches the limits of her accomplishment as never before, creating a novel that is both entertaining and profoundly serious.
The novel opens with these simple resonant words: "Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge." They are spoken by Iris, whose terse account of her sister's death in 1945 is followed by an inquest report proclaiming the death accidental. But just as you expect to settle into Laura's story, Atwood introduces a novel-within-a-novel. Entitled The Blind Assassin, it is a science fiction story told by two unnamed lovers who meet in dingy backstreet rooms. When you return to Iris, it is through a 1947 newspaper article announcing the discovery of a sailboat carrying the dead body of her husband, a distinguished industrialist.
Told in a style that magnificently captures the colloquialisms of the 1930s and 1940s, The Blind Assassin is a richly layered and uniquely rewarding experience. The novel has many threads and a series of events that follow one another at a breathtaking pace. As everything comes together, you will discover that the story Atwood is telling is not only what it seems to be – but is, in fact, much more.


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Home » Current Illegal Substance Use Among Adults 50-64, 2013
Current Illegal Substance Use Among Adults 50-64, 2013
"• Among adults aged 50 to 64, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 2.7 percent in 2002 to 6.0 percent in 2013. For adults aged 50 to 54, the rate increased from 3.4 percent in 2002 to 7.9 percent in 2013 (Figure 2.10). Among those aged 55 to 59, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 1.9 percent in 2002 to 5.7 percent in 2013. Among those aged 60 to 64, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 1.1 percent in 2003 and 2004 to 3.9 percent in 2013."
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-48, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4863. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014, p. 24.
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Local Father Repeats Ketchup Joke, Assured Waitress Will Laugh This Time
4/5/2022 by Caleb Townsend
Farmville, Va (ManFacts) -- A local father is preparing to repeat a ketchup-related joke to the waitress when she comes back, assured she will laugh this time.
The waitress, who initially forgot the ketchup, politely smiled when the father said "well I guess Heinz-sight is 20/20," but did not respond.
"Maybe she didn't hear me," the father said. "I'm going to say it again, I bet she just didn't get it."
We interviewed the daughter on the scene, who was so embarrassed that she reportedly wanted "to die."
"No one wants to hear your lame joke again dad," the daughter said. "Plus it only made sense when she forgot the ketchup. It won't make sense if you say it again with no context."
The son, who was silently on his phone throughout the ordeal, informed ManFacts that the father is indeed divorced, and theorizes that this is his way of flirting.
"He's a little rusty," the son said. "He hasn't been single since The Shining was in theaters. She's not going to laugh at that joke though."