Golden Gate Park

I just read here (tinyurl.com/bmle9 ) that Golden Gate Park is the largest urban park in the U.S. Is this true? Is it bigger than central park? Also how does Golden Gate park distinguish itself from other parks or what is it known for?

I've recently been taking weekend bike rides through it and I've been thoroughly enthralled with so many magnificent treats within the park. It compelled me to ask, is this known as one of the best parks in the world?

Can someone tell me some secrets to enjoying this park; I bet there are a multitude of spots yet to be uncovered on my part.

Jumping through loops

Well I've begun my quest for music production! All the talk and jibber jabber finally compelled me to make some first steps. Since people on the street call me "hood rich lil richie" I figure I'll just leverage that existing street credibility and focus on hip hop beats.

No in all honesty I'd love to start mashing up some loops with a heavy piano and drum focus, but I don't want to limit myself before I hear the gun so I'm open to anything.

Some things I learned on my quest for production:

*There are programs like Reason where you actually make the loops and then mash them up. I think this is pretty tough to do without any sort of music production foundation to begin with.

*There are programs like Ableton Live where you choose from a library of loops and then just mash up. I think I'm gonna start with this program, but I'm waiting from their support group for some guidance.

*A great place for guidance is the community sites out there with specific expertise addressing specific questions without bias in most cases.


I'll be sure to keep you updated on the quest. Announcing this publicly also puts a brick of pressure on my shoulder to actually follow through!

Now I just have to decide whether to take the socially conscious route or just go thug life.

Blended Value Market

My uncle has started a new blog as sort of the hub for the blended value market. Xigi.net clarified a lot for me and it's an interesting place to see this market unravel. To provide some context:

"Xigi and other similar efforts are needed now because of a deep and significant shift in investor demand. There is a new appetite for blended value investments; those that do good while doing well, often within a new risk/return paradigm.

Xigi is an effort to put this new investment landscape into context in order to expand the field; it’s a market formation platform. In emerging markets nothing is more valuable than finding out who is doing what in all the various categories, how they are defining it, how it compares to other new market entrants and how they are being valued. That knowledge allows the most accurate analysis and eliminates friction, mitigates risk and clarifies opportunities.

Xigi wants to create a positive ecosystem of investors and entrepreneurs through analysis, research, community and events. That approach enables all players to make connections, and to learn and operate smarter better and quicker. We believe that creating an intellectual commons with timely information provided by the community will result in more deals done more quickly, more efficiently at more accurate valuations. We also think that a platform to enable discovery will help more individuals, foundations and institutions become familiar and comfortable with the concept of investing for good. Rather than a rigid typology or allegiance to a particular definition or set of definitions, xigi will serve to act as a Rosetta Stone; translating between and finding the commonalities between the various efforts to make sense of this emerging market in a fluid, continually evolving, open source method."

What fascinates me is this social good zeitgeist. My roommate (hey chris) and I often discuss what needs to happen for values to change towards a more socially/eco conscientious tide. I tend to think it will happen out of genuine concern for the good and then the hopefully the big wig corporations will begrudgingly follow suit. Xigi hopefully will put a spotlight on this process.

My friend's mom thinks I talk like a coke head

I was out with friends last night in north beach. Same scene but some different dynamics as two of my good friends had their mothers with us. Drinks, laughs, stories galore...you know the scene. I felt like I made my standard social contributions but I guess my style of social contribution varies from that of others as I came to find out later that Chelsea's mom asked her "Does Eric do a lot of cocaine? He talks as if he does."

Now you have to understand these weren't awkward moments; all of us were basking in conviviality. All having a good time but I guess the slight difference is I seem like a coke head when I talk. After thinking about this I've concluded it's probably a good thing...I mean coke heads are somewhat entertaining huh?

Take him to the moon!

Tribe 25 artist and my good friend Brad Wolfe had his music played on Alice 97.3 this weekend for the first time. I like to think that without me, he'd never be where he is (but that's just what I like to think)!!! Now let's take him all the way.

Please email hooman@radioalice.com and tell them to keep playing Brad Wolfe. If the station receives 100 more emails by the end of the day, they'll continue playing his music. Also if this is done Brad assures me all I have to do is grow an afro and wear colorful bandanas and I can hang out on stage with him when he sings his least popular songs. If you want to hear this weekend's broadcast, it's posted now at www.bradwolfemusic.com.

Thanks for turning me into the Don King of music.

Stella

Have any of you seen Stella, the new comedy on comedy central Tuesday nights at 10:30. I know it's all the rage not to watch tv these days but there are some quality shows on comedy central. Stella is right up my path with their absurdist humor. If you like locally renowned comedian will franken...you'll like Stella. Anyway comedy central Tuesday line-up is pretty hard to beat:

9:30-Southpark
10:00-Reno 911
10:30-Stella
11:00-Daily Show

I haven't been into tv in a while so this feels sort of good.

New Secret Coffee Formula

I ran out of swiss hot chocalate packets so the new formula I fancy:

5 reese's peanut butter cups, half cup milk and whatever strong blend that wishes to contend.

Blockbuster's schizophrenic renting policy

I have blockbuster online but every once in a while I need a movie and I need it now so I went to their store yesterday. For months Blockbuster has been putting up these posters "no late fees". But when you check out a movie the cashier says "okay this movie is due in 7 days but you have 7 more days in case you need them."

Three confounding things:

*No late fees but it is due in 7 days
*What power does "due" have if I have seven more days if I need them
*You are charged if you bring it back after 14 days

Just take a look at the folks exiting Blockbuster...most are leaving with mouths open and a perplexed look on their face.

Who's in Front?

I've always been fascinated with the positioning of band members in their album pictures or shots intended for press use. I guess I'm just trying to imagine the conversations between band members before they pose: "Why does George get to stand in front?" "Why is my image so faint it looks like I am pixelated?"

I suppose a band reaches a level of acclaim and then enters an intermediary that deals with decisions such as these. But for the up and coming band I imagine it's an issue that is either out in the open or subtely ailing the band's rapport. I mean for an up and coming band you may not know who the most celebrated and acclaimed member is and as a result you may get photos where it's hard to tell whose image is more pronounced in the picture.

The Entertainer's Medallion

I've always been intrigued by those three sentence reviews on the back of books or the one line masterpliece summations a band or performer uses to describe theirselves. I love analyzing words, looking up words, juxtaposing words like bumper cars to hear which ones make the coolest crash....i mean the flight that departs from brain and lands in vocalization is one that should be ridden in leather seats with plenty of leg room.

Some of my favorites:

"Two-fisted, whiskey-soaked rock with a post-punk edge, '50s country dipped in battery acid and broken-hearted tears." The Famous

"Recently selected "Best Comedian" by the SF Weekly, Will Franken is a psychedelic collision of satire and absurdity, blind rage and delicate lyricism, highly literate, highly tangential and tailor-made for anybody who's ever hated mainstream stand-up comedy." Will Franken

"Bat Makumba's show is a hip renegade carnaval party full of tropicalia tinged ska, punk influenced forro, and rock infused samba." Bat Makumba