Planet Micooh @ the meeting point of life & work

How to avoid traffic jams

It's been a few months between posts, thanks to my new Crackbook addiction...and also thanks to a new launch I've been working on.

If you live in Oz, hate traffic congestion, and have a sat-nav GPS device, then I highly recommend checking out SUNA (as in "sooner") Traffic Channel.

See Gizmodo's story here; CNET's story here; and DRIVE here.

Here are some screen shots:

Issue 4 of YMI Magazine is out

The latest issue of YMI Magazine has hit the streets.  Look for Sneaky Sound System in fluoro on the front cover. The new issue features a broad range of stories about music, fashion, art, money and snow boarding.

This issue also features my interviews with tattooist Mister Cartoon and photographer / video producer Estevan Oriol. 

These guys have secured some serious Hollywood cash – and a heavyweight director – to produce a new movie based around tattoo culture in L.A. Buy a copy from your closest newsagent RIGHT NOW to gain a new perspective on hip-hop culture --- among many other things!

What I love about the YMI brand is its unwavering commitment to helping talented members of Generation Y emerge from the ‘unknown’ into a community where they can get discovered faster. Check out the mag and the websites.

Mag: http://www.ymi.com.au

Undiscovered: http://www.ymiundiscovered.com

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ymimagazine

Planet B-Boy

Last night I watched Benson Lee's doco -- Planet B-Boy -- as part of the Sydney Film Festival.  The film is an inspiring look at the least commercialised area of hip-hop culture -- breakdancing or b-boying. It traces several crews from South Korea, Japan, France and the US as they compete in the 2005 Battle of the Year in Germany. The skills, athleticism and sheer power of the dancing shown in this film is awesome. 

I rate the film highly as it makes you think twice about B-Boys and breakdancing.  These are mostly international crews that are focused on dancing and trying to earn a living.  The film gives us the personal stories behind the South Korean, Japanese and French B-Boy crews which are Last for One, Ichigeki, Gamblers and Phase T.

YouTube also has some wicked clips from the film online.  See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV-N7jdETqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P6t9j9BWxw&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JevnKTZQew&mode=related&search=

It's all about representing

Fresh from last week's meetup with Joseph Jaffe, I'm re-energised about social media, so read on in coming weeks for the new look site.

Meanwhile,tomorrow I'm undertaking a very interesting freelance commission for YMI Magazine.

I’m interviewing Mr Cartoon who has become synonymous with the US West Coast Hip Hop & R&B scene for his art which includes tattooing & air brushing and designing clothing & cell phones.  His art adorns some very famous body canvasses including eminem, 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. Should make for an interesting chat!

I’m also speaking with Estevan Oriol, famed LA Photographer and Video Producer. Estevan is busy putting the final touches to a new movie “Ink”, due out sometime in late ’07 and most likely 2008 in Oz.

Both, I hope, will provide me (and eventually YMI readers) with an enthralling and alternative insight into one of the world’s fastest growing urban cultures.

Then, next week I'm interviewing an Aussie Hip Hop luminary, Sydney DJ Nino Brown, to get his take on the local Hip Hop scene and turntable culture.

I just hope I can *represent* them right!

MediaConnect IT Journalism Awards to recognise Social Media in '08?

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at last night's MediaConnect IT Journalism Awards, held in Sydney.  Now in its 5th installment, more than 350 PR, Marketing, Tech and Media folk attended the gala dinner and quite a few of those kicked on 'til late.

Given that many of last night's winners actively create social media content for personal sites and given that many ANZ media sites are now also featuring such content, I'm wondering if the 2008 awards will feature blog, podcast and vidcast categories.  Over to you Phil.

* UPDATE: Angus Kidman has a full list of winners here.

Climbing the participation ladder

Forrester’s new Social Technographics report has some great detail regarding social media particpation.

Forrester has grouped users into 6 broad categories -- and if you're reading this post, it means that you have climbed at least one rung on the "participation ladder".

As Forrester suggests: Brands, Web sites, and any other company pursuing social technologies should analyze their customers' Social Technographics first, and then create a social strategy based on that profile.

Check out more at The Groundswell.

Entrepreneurial activity in Silicon Valley

Over at Amanda Gome’s new Smart Company site, futurist Colin Benjamin’s latest column links to a great report on entrepreneurial activity in Silicon Valley.

It makes great reading for small businesses and start ups.

Get Noticed, Get Published, Get Discovered

The latest issue of YMI Magazine has hit the streets (cover below).  Yours truly has penned an interview with Ben Quilty, one of Australia's rising art stars and a great mate of mine.  Pick up a newsstand copy now!

Get Noticed, Get Published, Get Discovered -- That's the tagline of YMI's new initiative to generate buzz for new bands, artists & businesses.  Tell your friends!

solar powered torches?

Joel Cere has a post claiming some retailers are getting more traffic from social networks than from search marketing campaigns. 

Ad Week has details of a new report by Forrester which opines that advertisers are slowly bt surely embracing new media and social networks.

Next Fifteen's Tim Dyson has a great post on Technology PR versus Energy (or green) PR.  His experience is similar to that for tech companies in Australia which must participate in the 'green' conservation or risk alienating media and customers.  For example, last Friday's The Sydney Morning Herald published every page of its broadsheet and liftouts with a green hue and many stories on energy.  (But, did they use recycled paper???)

Tonight at 7:30pm all Australians will recognise Earth Hour and homes and businesses have been asked to turn OFF all lights, power points etc.  But I haven't been able to find a solar-recharging torch anywhere.  A marketing opportunity maybe?

2007 -- A rockin year for dance music in Oz!

2007 is shaping up to be one of the best years on record for electronic music in Australia.  As if the success of locals TV Rock, Dirty South, John Course, Ajax, Dynamix and others in 2006 wasn't enough, 2007 has started with an even bigger bang.

Martin Solveig smashed it up at Field Day (Sydney)... I've still got goosebumps!  I've since heard his mash-up of "Pictures / Smells like teen spirit" sent the Gold Coast Field Day crowd wild!!! (Anyone know where i get my hands on this bootleg???)

Last Saturday's Future Classic night at Becks Bar, part of the Sydney festival, was also amazing.  Jazzanova DJ Alex Barck played a "nu-jazz" set filled with progressive & industrial beats that were executed to full perfection across 4 decks, 1 cd and his tap, tap, tapping machine! Clara Hill's PA was full with dreamy vocals... and whoa, I must say that she was one of the most beautiful singers I've ever seen! Both were kind enough to stop and chat with myself, Bel and Claire for 10 minutes after their performance and told us that it was the first time they were in Oz and that they were looking forward to spending a week in Byron Bay.  Come back to Sydney soon!

Good Vibrations has announced that Snoop Dog is playing the Melbourne and Gold Coast tour legs... but not SYDNEY! WTF! Come on Jam Music... please fork out for him to stay in Oz for one more week!Oh well, the Beastie Boys and Timo Maas will be wicked.

In March, Future Music Festival will tour the East Coast... Voted "Best Festival" in the 2006 3D World Awards, the 2007 line-up is awesome... Carl Cox,Tomy Novy, Fedde Le Grand, Sebastian Leger, Chris Lake and Nick Warren are just a FEW of the international headliners! AND... the LOCAL headliners feature INFUSION, TV Rock, Dirty South, Midnight Juggernauts, Goodwill, John Course, Bang Gang and others.  If you only go out ONCE in 2007, make it Future Music Festival.

(This is Chris Lake at a Musica gig for my mate Charlie's bucks party in Sydney in late-2006!)

On April 8, Subliminal Records' kingpin Erick Morillo will play HOME Sydney!!! His 5-hr sets are legendary, as was his set at Pacha Ibiza last year when I was there...

Moving on... The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers have announced new records for 2007!!! Watch out for them touring later this year (I'd love to see The Prodigy play Field Day!)

Keeping with the football theme

I checked out the new range of Nomis Football boots at rebel last weekend... Man-o-man are they sweet! They look and feel better than any of the Puma Kings that have wrapped around my feet over the years. I'm considering the Spark and Glove versions... and depsite the wet in Sydney at the moment, I'll prob opt for the Firm Ground boot.

They're almost good looking enough to be featured on SnkrFrkr. Afterall, if they're good enough for Harry Kewell...

One of best YouTube football vids I've come across

Johan Cruyff - Memories.  Check it out to understand the art that is great football. *Thanks to Tank for the link. 

Which brings me to the North Sydney Soccer Club... it looks like being my first new club in ten years!  Hey, I'm a loyal bloke ok! NSSC appears highly organised, well supported by sponsors and they have first & reserve teams for both Premier League and the All Age teams! So, it's going to be a tough few weeks of gruelling trials I guess. I'm even giving up the Vodka and red wine for two months to help improve the fitness levels...

Congratulations to the MacRae Brothers

Fellow 'Hills' lads and good friends of my cousin and brother --- The MacRae Brothers, Simon and Kenn --- have won the Project Greenlight competition in Australia, netting themselves AUD$1m to finance their film script The View From Greenhaven Drive.  Well done lads! I'm looking forward to seeing the production in a few months' time.

Way cool stuff

I've come across some brilliant stuff online today... check it out!

Here we go:
Cool shoes as always at SnkrFrkr (see below) for the "Perfect One"
http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/article.php?id=845

Great concept (add them to your next soundtrack):
http://www.juniorboys.imeem.com/

BT's latest CD / DVD is out (woo-hoo) ---- 'This Binary Universe' was composed and produced by BT specifically for 5.1.  The CD is packaged with a DVD featuring all the compositions of the album in DTS 5.1 surround sound & features films by a collection of computer artists & animators.

The album makes extensive usage of a technique called circuit bending, often intentionally miswiring and short-circuiting keyboards, children's toys etc to achieve a completely random sequence of sounds... BT then blends with a 101 piece full harmonic orchestra... BT takes all sensory elements to the extremes and then explodes them in your mind.....Prepare for something very very special! Stravinsky was looking for it.....BT has found it!  (Big thanks to Brigham for the text here)

http://www.thisbinaryuniverse.com/

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A few things

1) News Limited political reporter Glenn Milne and Crikey's Stephen Mayne came to blows at tonight's annual Walkley Awards, bringing shame to Australia's most prestigious journalism awards. The tiff was broadcast widely on national TV... (Let's see how long it takes to hit youtube!)

2) Good luck to Paull Young on your overseas journeys.  The Oz PR blog community will no doubt miss his prolific and thought provoking posts. 

3) Lee Hopkins has posted a great guide to Aussie etiquette.  My favs are: Never take an open stubby to a job interview and when decanting wine from the box, tilt the paper cup and pour slowly so as not to bruise the wine.

Good Vibrations indeed!

The aging but still uber-cool Beastie Boys are headlining the 2007 Good Vibrations Festival.  Tix come on sale on Nov 6 --- don't miss out. No, really... you will regret missing this one.

Other artists include: Jurassic 5, Timo Maas, Cassius, Nightmares On Wax, Rahzel (beatbox anyone!!!), DJ Yoda (turntablism at its best), Cut Copy, DJ Dan & others.

One day I'll grow up...

Frost on Web2.0

An interesting file from analyst firm Frost & Sullivan popped into my inbox today.  See attached file.

Download web_2_0_subbaraman_iyer.pdf

CD singles have the lost the battle

The Australian Recording Industry Association announced this week that its weekly music charts would now reflect both CD sales and sales of digital music, signalling that CD singles have the lost the battle.  But on the upside for records companies that understand the digital era, millions are downloading ring-tones and MP3s every day.

Dance4Life

Two of my favourite electronic artists - superstar DJ Tiesto and Faithless frontman Maxi Jazz - have teamed up for a new single ‘Dance4Life’ with the proceeds, which will no doubt be massive, going to an HIV awareness project also called ‘Dance4Life’.  Check out the website, where can you preview the track and learn more.

Blogs are influencing B2B buyers

KnowledgeStorm has posted the results of a study into the emerging role of new media on B2B purchases.  Tech marketers should take note of some of the compelling statistics in the report:

* 80% of business and IT professionals worldwide read blogs
* 53% of respondents said blogs impacted work-related purchasing
* 53% of respondents read blogs weekly for business information

The future of media...

Brad Howarth has posted an interesting link to a somewhat haunting flash presentation on the future media.

Andrew Denton

Andrew Denton hs announced his intention to "get off tv" so he can dedicate more time to his personal life .  Denton's Enough Rope program on the ABC is must-watch viewing for anyone interested in great journalism, interesting interview subjects and thought provoking commentary. 

Denton always impressed his interview subjects with his deep level of research and ability to recall obscure facts without notes.  Many 'opened up' to him on topics that were off limits to other media.   

My favourite espisodes included his interviews with Bill Clinton, Steve Irwin, Michael Parkinson, James Blunt, Billy Connolly, Aussie Cyclists - Louise Yaxley and Alexis Rhodes (an amazing interview about one of Australia's worst sporting tragedies), Antonio Banderas, Guy Pearce, Dr Fiona Wood and Anthony La Paglia.  The list goes on, of course.

The ABC has included all the videos online and I highly recommend viewing a few episodes or downloading the audio files before they're pulled offline.

Andrew --- thank you for so many great moments.

Social Networks: Execs Use Them Too

Business Week has a feature on Social Networks for executives online, including a great tipsheet.  It covers the advantages and perils of hosting your details online.  Check it out.

Field Day 2007 line up announced

Field Day 2007 has been announced... remember 5 tix per order max! The line up inlcudes Martin Solveig, Kaskade, Plump DJs, Mylo (DJ Set), Freestylers (Live), The Presets (Live), The Loose Cannons (DJ Set), Kid Kenobi & MC Shureshock, Ajax, Grant Smillie (great to see him in the line up),
Toby Neal (ditto!). It's great to see some Melbourne influence this year!

According to inthemix.com.au the Fuzzy crew are promising new areas including an air-conditioned cocktail bar, Field Day Cinema, expanded space, more trees, more grass and more fun.

Tickets will be available online from 9am Wednesday 20th September for $95 + booking fee.

YouTube might have pulled them down...

But Google Video still has the Microsoft training videos featuring Ricky Gervais online.  See them at Mediaslut.  About time we had a modern video to replace the classic John Cleese training videos.