Transplants Not Unlike GWAR

Take Blink 182’s drummer, Rancid’s lead, a roadie, a weekend of b-grade end-of-the-world horror flicks, and mix with a case of cheap beer – like Grain Belt non-Premium.

I know, I know, that’s almost the same recipe for GWAR. But this time, you end up with Transplants’ Haunted Cities. I picked it up a while back based on a quick listen to Apocalypse Now in iTunes.

All the songs rock – hard, in a “Where’s the mosh pit?” kinda way (yes, also similar to GWAR). The difference between GWAR and the Transplants is the difference between Rocky Horror Picture Show and Frailty. GWAR and Rocky Horror is fun, Transplants and Frailty still creeps you out days later.

Oh, Cadillac Tramps’ Tombstone Radio also provides the same driving beats, with a bit more sunshine.

Mobile China Pilot Study Out From JaredResearch

Jared Braiterman, friend-of-a-friend I met when he was in Minneapolis on another research study, just sent a message on his latest project – Mobile China.

“Mobile China examines mobile technology and youth culture in the world’s largest technology market. The pilot study focuses on the role of generational change, gender and nationalism in shaping Chinese mobile usage. Mobile China is a multi-year endeavor.” – Jared Braiterman

He just published a brief 5-page visual pilot study at;
jaredRESEARCH Mobile China Pilot Fall 2005.

My favorite quote from it:

“Everyone knows that Chinese branded headsets have more radiation and lower quality.”

He’s looking for affiliates and sponsors, so if you like where he’s heading, drop Jared a line.

First Crack 65. First Crack Turns One Through Rich Tatums Ears

Rich Tatum listened to each of the First Crack podcasts in linear sequential order. I thought he’d be the perfect interview for First Crack’s 1st Birthday. I was right.

After we do a run down of the best and worst of the First Crack Podcast, we talk about:

  • Podcasting’s bandwidth problem (it isn’t what you think)
  • The opportunity podcasting and weblogs offer churches to build communities within their congregations

Rich’s favorite First Crack Podcasts of the past year:

  1. First Crack 61. Building an Airplane at Home with Jeff Coffey
  2. First Crack 60. Shellie Gonzales on Borrowing a Porsche Boxster for the Weekend
  3. First Crack 59. Bill Forsberg Throwing Out the First Pitch
  4. First Crack 50. The Challenges of Comedy Theater at the Brave New Workshop
  5. First Crack 14. RIAARadar.com Creator Ben Tesch
  6. First Crack 18. Blogumentarys Chuck Olsen and the Revamps
  7. First Crack 19. Coffee and Community at the Blue Moon

Special thanks to Steve Borsch from Connecting the Dots for the copy of Podcasting Hacks. I’m sure it will help the continuous improvement of the podcast. Here’s to another year.

Listen to First Crack Turns One Through Rich Tatum’s Ears [38 min]

A Consumer Moratorium

Today, Doc pointed to Tim Jarrett saying (emphasis mine):

“As I’ve mentioned before, I want a moratorium on the word consumer—both because it is disrespectful and because it builds bad thinking habits in companies that sell to ‘consumers'”.

Smart, clued-in companies can signal they respect people by eradicating the word ‘consumer’ from their vocabulary (and the handful of other words on the Buzzword Blacklist).

Tim’s “I am not a consumer, I am a human being” nails the difference between a customer-oriented marketing effort and a consumer-oriented one.

Thanks Tim.