So it begins
Businessweek see the emerging trend of users rejecting the current status of Facebook and what it has become. The article points out that smaller, more closed social networking sites are posing a threat to Facebook. Such a threat, that Facebook was forced to purchase one of them, Instagram, for $1 billion….
Hit me with music
Robert Nesta Marley—Cool. Helped to spread the sounds of Jamaica and share a unique genre of music while leaving his mark on the world, although it ended early. I don’t own a Bob Marley t-shirt or a poster with a quote from a song off his greatest hits album “Legend”. Sure, I have that album, but I also have “Uprising”, “Exodus”, the 5 Disc “Songs of Freedom” set, among others. I enjoy the music, regardless of what political views Bob may have held. If asked Bob would have told you that his richness is life, and that possessions don’t make you rich. In fact, his dying words to his son Ziggy, at what is now the University of Miami hospital were “money can’t buy life”. Whether or not I agree with this statement, I wonder why the name is now associated with any products that are of a good time or related to rastafari somehow. Like a coffee drink with the slogan “wake up and live”, that is not anywhere close to the interpretation Bob was striving for. My question is why is his name being used to make money? Not Cool.
“Ten years from now,I don’t want people to remember our songs as videos.”- Jeff Ament, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is a band that defined the grunge rock that began to explode in the 1990s. Unlike many bands that are unique in a sound or begin to define a movement in music, Pearl Jam didn’t buy into the music industry norms. They didn’t like the explosion, I’m sure they enjoyed the fact that there music was being listened to by many, but what went with it, they didn’t. After the massive commercial success of their album of “Vs.” they scaled back on all commercial aspects to strictly focus on music. They refused to make as many music videos, rejecting the profits despite the record companies pressure. They wanted listeners to enjoy the music itself not the video, and fully take the music in without a distraction. Pearl Jam even boycotted Ticketmaster after hearing that there were additional fees added to their tickets and put a price cap on tickets to try and lower the number of scalpers. They wanted the music to be the music not a business. Rejecting the norm. Thats cool man.
Selling Fear—It doesn’t have to be as practical as a depleting earth or nuclear warfare.. To tie things into our technology frenzy we have been discussing in class, I think part of what is sold to consumers is the fear of being left behind or stuck with the obsolete piece of technology. Clearly, its embarrassing.
“Merchants of Faith”….sequel to Merchants of cool?
Despite what religion you may believe in, if any at all, it isn’t hard to see that for decades faith and religion have been capitalized by a type of “merchant of faith”. For years and years, religion has been capitalized on. Sure, Jesus is risen. So, its appropriate for gifts. Why not? Gifts are cool. What sparked this thought was the end of a nice mass at the Church of the Little Flower… During the brief announcements after the Easter mass, the priest mentioned that the Little Flower gift shop would be opening soon. I pondered what would be sold at this store too. Maybe bumper stickers that say something along the lines of “jesus always rides shotgun”, id buy that one for sure. The point of this post is that despite what the media does, we have to ask the question of are they the only people who sell us an idea?
Back when times were good
Shows like Boardwalk Empire and Showtimes upcoming Magic City, highlight times of booming success and times that were generally considered Cool (Capital C). Prohibition, violence, bloomers, gambling, crime, its all Cool. But is making a new tv show about it Cool or cool, or neither? The more important underlying issue is why are these shows being made? Could the post recession United States find enjoyment in re viewing past times that helped to shape the word Cool?
1 year ago - 
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Do you think it will make it easier? Whats the cost of a flying car? Aside from the $280,000 price tag, is there an underlying cost? Is the cost of flying cars traditional cars? But those are simply subjective to our particular time, is the cost of a flying car the cost of the original car? Increased air traffic accidents?
