Robot Roll Call

Google presents their logo functionally as a reflection of early
internet web experiences — simple and elegant. This emphasis of early
web technology can only be percieved as a marketing strategy, the end
message being a synergy with safety and historic determinism (see index
A). The other significant marketing accomplishment of Google has been
a strong message of “we control the technology.” Having dominated the
search market showdown of the early 00’s Google went on to create standards
in internet advertising stemming from their search technology,
PageRank, and then usurping their corporate mantra “don’t be evil”
with their contextual advertisement programs.

Gmail is great, but I bet it breaks more than Yahoo (an old fav of mine).
It’s really awesome when you can afford the best developers in the world
to create your Javascript (client-side) technology. C’mon Google,
you’ve got the best server farms in the world, what is this, sharecropping?
Forget it, I love you, Google, because you encourage the web to be OPEN
and free. THAT is not evil, good job. Chrome, Google’s web browser, is
pretty cool, btw. By the time Google opens a retail outlet
it will be nothing but an example of how expensive it is to show a
webcam displaying ownership of property in the best parts of
Manhattan, but the great part will be that you are legally in Toronto
while visiting!

Google’s homepage will often show artistic renderings of it’s logo,
which have become increasingly divergent in range over the past few
years. My favorite was during the Summer Olympics in China, when they
had to make the Os cross each other. It felt like a violation of
technological integrity.

Ads in Gmail are placed in the same way that ads are placed alongside
Google search results and, through the Google AdSense program, on
content pages across the web. The goal is to provide you with helpful
ads, links and content relevant to your specific interests.
Advertising and related information are displayed based on a
completely automated process. (from Google’s help files)

Advertising is evil.

The future of Google is medical. One could use a steak knife from a
Ponderosa buffet to perform surgical fat removal, but do a Google
search on it first and you’ll realize that the America invented the
Manhattan Project and ’solved’ the ‘cold’ war. It’s hard being a
robot, but people trust me to do it.

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INDEX A. historic determinism - creating your legacy by building something.
copyright law is a related to this.

END

ed. note - for more visit Durftek.org

1. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
2. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
3. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
4. Portishead - Third
5. Vampire Weekend - s/t
6. No Age - Nouns
7. Flying Lotus - Los Angeles
8. School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms
9. The Notwist - The Devil, You and Me
10. Q-Tip - The Renassance
11. Black Milk - Tronic
12. Crystal Castles - s/t
13. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster
14. Neon Neon - Stainless Style
15. Parts and Labor - Receivers
16. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
17. Beach House - Devotion
18. Alla - Es Tiempo
19. Foals - Antidotes
20. Does it Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into

If you had told me a year ago that i would put a Lil Wayne album in my top five albums of the year, I would have been quite put out by that statement.
However, here we are a year later, the music i chose this year seems to follow a pattern of sadness and hopeful optimism - much like the countries current state.
From the pop filled delights that is Cut Copies “In Ghost Colours” to Portisheads menacing rhythms on “Third”.
This year also saw a few artists return to form with the afore mentioned Portishead but also hip hop legend Q-Tip.
The Renaissance was a breath of fresh air, albeit an air from 1994.
Another Hip Hop entry worth mention is the finely produced Black Milk release, “Tronic”, which plays like a mid 90’s hip hop album with similarities to J Dilla.
Los Camesinos! are so infectious they should be quarantined, pop hooks laden with a bite. This is a perfect summer album akin to Tahiti 80’s “Puzzle”.
Beach House evokes mood so effectively it circumnavigates the room like a vapor, their songs seem to lie in a place between sleep and dream.
“Es Tiempo” by Alla is a declaration of what the future may hold for music, such as marriages of trapicalia, soul and krautrock with a string section.
Does it Offend You, Yeah? are like a new version of old Devo, they seem not sure if they want to rock with a heavy groove, mash out synth noise or stomp out a pop song but they seem to pull all three off. A good get up and go album.

The Renegade Holiday show occurred this past weekend, and with the size of the crowds it seemed many were waiting for the show. The previous Renegade outdoor event had the misfortune of meeting a most unruly rain storm the likes of which Chicago had not seen in 20 years. The Holiday Show was another amalgamation of art and craft, here is a sample of a few of my favorites.

Folded Pig Table Sets feature noir juxtapositions

Squid manger scene, what more can I say?

A gem among so much of the same kind of t-shirt design - shirt by corky mansfield

I found great joy in these little knitted puppets, i think i may need to make a video featuring nothing but finger puppets. Perhaps some kind of Animal Farm revival.

The girl who makes these little critters (Kinderfluff) had the booth right next to ours, they seem to call to every passerby requesting a soft touch. She had this amazing owl which i should have taken a picture of but alas. However, i did catch a kinderfluff family in it’s native environment.

I saved the best for last, this wood cut is elegant yet still extrudes a prickly nature. The highlight is the copper leaf extending across the entire piece to a lone frog man battling a couple of unicorn whale what-nots. Tugboat press had a great set up of several different artists work spanning from visual jokes to impressive prints of various wood land creatures.

Greetings!

Robot Roll Call is a cultural blog, we will cover music, art, events and anything which catches our fancy. Expect weekly video reviews, MP3’s, editorials and much more, but we have only just met so lets take it slow. We may not be the only show in town but we may have what you are seeking.