Wider Angle

Smut Jamboree

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:57:00 +0000

Hi, everyone! I'm back to announce a weird project I'm working on. Every day a scandalous new collage debuts at Smut Jamboree [SFW], counting down to a big announcement. But that's secret.

Check out smutjamboree.com and follow @smutjamboree on twitter for updates. Suggestions and comments are welcome.

Please Save America!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 04:12:00 +0000

Most of us have lost faith in the political system. Many of us have lost faith in the country and its direction. Some of us have lost faith in our neighbors and friends.

I blame the Bush administration.

Our patriotic countrymen have good hearts and want what is best for the country but a majority has been led astray by a government we are supposed to trust. They've been led astray by a media machine motivated only by profit. And most importantly, they've been led astray by corporations and familial dynasties that control the government that has become the problem and not the solution.

But only a few of us have the means and freedom, ironically, to dedicate ourselves to President Obama's effort to put at least a small part of government back in the hands and minds of its people. And an even smaller number of us are able to break through the barriers of propaganda to educate undecided voters and rally supporters to vote on November 4, and these individuals and teams need our support.

If you aren't able to volunteer your time, for whatever reason, please consider supporting those who are setting aside personal and professional endeavors to put the country back on the right track. Your donation helps keep the progressive movement going so we can finally have our country back.

I know my friends, family, readers, and listeners are up to the task of donating at least $500 together, so let's have at it, shall we? Even if it's only a $5 contribution, every bit helps get us further and further away from the Bush regime.

On behalf of America's future, I thank you.

Visit the Wider Angle Campaign page!

What? Sorry? New Column?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:28:00 +0000

I broke my promise. Several months ago my plan was to update Wider Angle at least weekly with my views, slightly witty commentary, and links of interest. Despite my vow to myself and to you, I've failed.

Yet still, I'm not sure what I can do about this, and it's hurting me. At the moment I have a pretty high-level job in book design and I run Olaris Records, which averages about 12-14 releases a year. In addition to that, I'm art directing friskyRadio and designing the new site plus art directing and designing for Proton Radio, a former rival, to the tune of five to seven hours a week. Add that to the three remixes and two original songs I produce each month and there's barely time to watch a movie. Well, usually a Rifftrax.

So, that said, I'm not quite sure what to do here. I could tell you that my new single, Turning Tricks, just came out on my label Olaris under the Proton banner and is available exclusively at Beatport for at least a month, but that would be inappropriate.

More than anything, this is an apology, and a promise I may not live up to that I'll try to do better. I know the readers of Wider Angle are wonderful and several are some of my favorite people in the world, so it disappoints me greatly not to be able to contribute more to this blog. If any guest bloggers would like to offer a hand, that would be wonderful. But aside from that, I hope to soon block off time on Sundays to write what will eventually amount to a column.

That's coming soon. It won't be about music really and it won't be about politics, but it will be about real life. Shit that we deal with and how to deal with it better. Any ideas or questions are welcome.

Anyway, thanks for reading this and reading altogether after all this time. Hope you're all well, and I send my sincere love to you.

Twitter Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:01:00 +0000

It's nice that so many companies are "committed to excellence." That's probably why life has seemed so much better for everybody lately. - hotdogsladies

Meals that take less than 5 minutes to prepare and consume are somewhat anticlimactic. - cruel_raspberry

from @MetalFatigue: He didn't need to look in the box to know the cat had vanished. The chihuahua's angry yip, though, came as a surprise. - ze frank's bedtime

I have not been to a literary reading for a long time. Was surprised by the amount to cell phone vid cam-ing. Really? BOOTLEG LIT READINGS? - hodgman

someone just mistook me for someone that gives a shit. - friskygeek

Black shirt, white tie and shadowstache: the official uniform of the cell phone salesman. - scottsimpson

Someone's either drinking cinnamon flavored coffee or wearing Eau de Bear Claw - my_name_here

Attention Anti-Jail Flyer Jerk: Your persistent spamming of my apartment has made me Pro-Jail. - meghann

having fløde havarti and crackers with pears and tea. this started as snack but i think i'll call it dinner. - mikeropology

grumbly that I have to register with the University of Auckland to download someone's thesis. Open spirit of science, my balls. - gnat

motherfuckers! I registered with their site and am still denied a 1984 thesis on the movement of molluscs "due to copyright restrictions" - gnat

Favorite Extensions for Firefox 3

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:29:00 +0000

With the release of Firefox 3 today, it seems like a good idea to recommend some extensions you can use to enhance the new version. These are add-ons I use every day and highly recommend.

BlueOrganizer
Context-sensitive browsing and bookmarking extension. "When looking at an address, find it on Google maps instantly, when reading a book review save it to your Amazon Wish List with a single click, or when looking at a movie add it immediately to your Netflix queue - and much more."

Delicious Bookmarks
Tag, import, and access your Delicious bookmarks from within Firefox.

Forecastfox
Wonderfully customizable extension that displays weather forecasts from accuweather.com unobtrusively in your status bar.

Google Notebook
Add, edit, and organize your Google Notebook from the Firefox status bar.

Greasemonkey
Download hundreds (thousands?) of scripts to enhance, correct, or redesign your favorite sites. Easily activated and deactivated.

Better Gmail
A collection of Greasemonkey scripts that can be installed as an extension. Does lots of helpful things, plus it can even re-skin your Gmail interface.

Personas
From Mozilla Labs, you can theme your browser even more extensively with lightweight backgrounds.

StumbleUpon
Discover great new sites by tagging your favorites and connecting with the internets brains.

Twitterfox
Use Twitter from your status bar and get updates for new tweets.

Web Developer
Access lots of developer tools quickly from a toolbar.

Video Repost

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:21:00 +0000

Some excellent videos recently posted on the Wider Angle Tumblog...

Top Chef Puerto Rico (S4 E13, if you're keeping track) full episode

Radiohead's "Big Ideas" covered by computer hardware (via waxy)

Superdelegates: The Maron Proops Experiment

Recent Twitter Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:33:00 +0000

I'm pre-emptively nostalgic about using this adorable little iPhone v1, ca. 2007. It's screen is only 2-dimensional! How quaint! - lonelysandwich

just got back from visiting my grandmom. she asked about the fortress city of "mitsubishi" (a.k.a. machu picchu). - mikeropology

God, I hate "Keeps Explaining the Wine Guy." - hotdogsladies

Neighbors! Don't abandon your twitterfarms for plurk, the wells all run dry! O, for our forefathers' BBS acres. Stark, but stable, and free. - xenijardin

We fashioned lean-tos from blinking banner ads, and brewed eula bark into a sort of dark "rss" to warm us through the black nights. - xenijardin

You guys know that while there's nothing wrong with the gay people you see on TV, they're pretty unrepresentative of the rest of us, right? - plasticbagUK

My Twitter friends stream is increasingly turning into open mic night at the Comedy Barn. - jkottke

Wider Angle Summer 2008 Remix

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:26:00 +0000

In preparation for more regular posting, I thought I'd clean the place up a bit and make it a little fresher. I'll be tweaking it over time, as always, but mostly I don't feel like having a gray background anymore.

America and Our Future

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:46:00 +0000

I'm genuinely concerned about the United States of America, and I will be writing an essay shortly in this space, but I'm posting this to find out who still subscribes to this once pretty awesome and now regretfully neglected blog.

If you're still on the RSS feed or still, for some reason, continue to check the main page, you are excellent. Apologies for the lack of Wider Angle Awards... it just didn't seem worthwhile with all the shit going on in the world. The Tumblog has still gone on strong. I plan to write a lot about politics, the global economy, scarcity, and under-reported yet worthwhile stuff in the near future. But I need to know that someone, somewhere is reading it.

So if you happen to be one of those people who cares what I think, it would be great if you left a comment or emailed me.

Have a lovely weekend!

Wider Angle Awards 2007 coming soon

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:18:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I've posted here (though the Tumblog continues to roll on) but it should be noted that the Wider Angle Awards will return this year since I like putting the list together quite a bit. I hope to make it more unique this year to distinguish itself as a weird little guide. As for how successful I'll be, we will all find out together.

Seasons greetings to all.

Zeitgeist

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:09:00 +0000

Zeitgeist is well worth your 2 hours. Full screen it or watch it in parts.

San Francisco Love(s) the Frisky Pink Mammoth

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:43:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who came out to the float on Saturday!

You can still find the remixes of San Francisco Love at Beatport.com. Get all of them together for just $19.99 USD. Remixers include Chris Fortier, Pole Folder, Opencloud, CPM, Derek Howell, Nick and John Dalagelis, Thee-O, Nixx, Joel Armstrong, Funk Harmony Park, Terje Bakke, Cristian Paduraru, Eddie Cumana, and more!

San Francisco Love

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:01:00 +0000

"I sold my soul to the Olaris devil." That's why Chris Fortier says he remixed San Francisco Love.

Officially, it's because it's for "a great cause and one more reason to make some fresh beats."

He's one of over a dozen artists to get involved with the San Francisco Love campaign organized by Olaris Records. To give back to the community that has given so much to dance music, and in celebration of LoveFest and the city that is its home, talented artists from around the world have remixed Royal Sapien's "San Francisco Love" for release on September 27 to benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Kicking off Love Weekend in San Francisco this year, Olaris Records and Cece Blake have organized a mini-gala happy hour at the famed 111 Minna Gallery on Friday, September 28 to benefit the Foundation. If seeing the avant garde art isn't worth your five dollar donation, the front room will feature Frisky Radio’s downbeat grooves, while the back room will rock with the electro-disco-progressive sounds of Royal Sapien from Olaris Records and San Francisco’s Will Spencer of Drive.

"It will set you in the proper mood for the rest of your Lovefest weekend. You'll come away feeling that you did something good while having a BLAST! What could be better? It is LOVEfest after all!" Cece Blake has been organizing giant events in San Francisco for years. "I do it because of how good the music makes me feel. And sharing this feeling with others is what motivates me to do events such as this.”

If you're an early partier, you're really in luck. The first 111 people through the door will not only get free promo CDs, but will also be treated to Peroni beer. That said, you must be 21 to party.

Royal Sapien's anthem "San Francisco Love" will be released the day prior featuring a big room main mix and alternative takes from a musical army including Chris Fortier, Pole Folder, Opencloud, Derek Howell, Eddie Cumana, Joel Armstrong, Nick Dalagelis, CPM, Nixx, Funk Harmony Park, NO3 and Hambrick, Moog Conspiracy, Thee-O, Bitfiend, RND(), Terje Bakke, Cristian Paduraru, Maldroid, Ryan Crane, and Royal Sapien himself. Proceeds from the sale and licensing of all the mixes of San Francisco Love will benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation as well.

"The tune is really a tribute to the people of San Francisco," says Royal Sapien. "They have made me feel so good and so welcome over the years, and have supported the dance community in such a big way, finding a way to give back seemed like the natural thing to do."

If you're around for LoveFest weekend but can't make it to the party, find the San Francisco Love(s) the Frisky Pink Mammoth float in the LoveFest parade on Saturday and get down to funky beats from the world over, sponsored by Pink Mammoth, Frisky Radio, and Olaris Records. (Photo from mvgals.net)

Clubbers stuck in other parts of the globe can listen to a live webcast from the party on friskyradio.com, and DJs worldwide can pick up the San Francisco Love remixes on Olaris Records worldwide on September 27. More information for everything can be found at sanfranciscolove.org.

San Francisco Love Release Party
September 28, 2007
Event listings at Upcoming, MySpace, Facebook, Going, and Last.fm.

Afterwards join us at Mighty for Love Lee with Lee Burridge and friends, from Spundae, Listed, and Satellite.

Royal Sapien on Solipsistic NATION

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:02:00 +0000

Bazooka Joe interviewed me for Solipsistic NATION a little while ago and asked me to mix a set of my music. The episode is out today on the podcast and features a selection of some of my favorite tunes over the past couple years.

Daft Punk at Keyspan Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:50:00 +0000

Daft Punk played Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, New York, on August 9, 2007. Right on the beach at Coney Island, the weather was perfect with a nice breeze, The Rapture got people ready for the show, and Daft Punk blew 7,500 minds. Above are selections from the many great photos on Flickr, and below are my favorite YouTube videos submitted so far.

Photos by twoblackeyes, twoblackeyes, central village, central village, trontnort, the real janelle, gillianmae, teamstream, this_justin, tixgirl, dearkellygreen.

Close Encounters Intro / Robot Rock

Robot Rock

Television Rules the Nation / Around the World

Da Funk

Alive

Steam Machine / Around the World

Aerodynamic / One More Time

Too Long

Encore: Together / Prime Time of Your Life / One More Time

Tumblog and WA

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:36:00 +0000

The Wider Angle Tumblog is really what I always wanted Wider Angle to be, a place where you can come to jump to other interesting stuff, but continuously updated as I find things. Almost everything I link to really needs little or no comment; it stands on its own and explains itself, and in the context of the blog time continuum, it seems to all make sense somehow.

Thusly and therefore inherently subsequently, semi-officially, all the awesome links and photos and videos will be on the Tumblog with very limited reposts to Wider Angle. I'll also try to make more frequent, longer, better posts about interesting and/or relevant topics here on WA.

However, there is an unresolved bit of this plan. What do I write about? I could do design critiques or music reviews, but do we really need more of that on the internets? I thought of answering questions about random topics, but I'm fairly sure the average WA reader is smarter and more resourceful than I am, or at least knows about Ask MeFi. The most recent Tumblog links and my Twitter posts are over on the side thing there.

So I ask you, the smart, witty, and quite attractive WA reader, what would you like to see here? Please email me at benmautner@gmail.com or leave a comment, I would most appreciate the input.

I was wrong. Did YouTube change debating?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:39:00 +0000

I mentioned on the Tumblog that CNN would bias the questions asked from YouTube users in the recent Democratic Presidential candidate debate. That insinuated that the debate would be less valid than other, formal debates.

I was certainly wrong. It seems that questions from people of the United States (YouTube users) not only mean more than questions from pundits and newspeople, but they're more compelling and entertaining. And thoughtful.

The electoral process in the United States could stand to get more involvement from the people and less from the mass media. The more people's voices are heard immediately, the more relevant every step of campaigning will be.

If the candidates are going to campaign for 2-3 years before the election, we should make it count for something. Make their campaigning messages matter NOW, while they're still in office. If they promise something for when they're President, make them accountable for it NOW.

This debate could be a great step forward. We should be so lucky.

Chris Fortier at Sullivan Room July 14 NYC

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 20:44:00 +0000

If you're going to be in NYC tonight, head down to Sullivan Room to hear my good friend and excellent DJ Chris Fortier mix some techno records for you. Sean Miller from SAW and Alternative Route will be playing before him as will some NYC locals.

Admission is free before 10pm, $15 after that, but well worth it. I'll have a ~~Olaris~~ Fade shirt on if you want to find me and say hello.

Sullivan Room is at 218 Sullivan St., doors open at 9pm. 21+

Links for July 9, 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:30:00 +0000

The final tally of tracks and edits in a single one-hour radio mix. (Decibels for July 2007 with Royal Sapien, Chris Fortier, and Ryan Crane debuts on Wednesday.)

If you're looking for the default password for your router or another piece of similar gear, you may want to consult this list.

Chewbacca assaulted Marilyn Monroe outside a movie theater. "Chewbacca, whose real name was not available, fled before police arrived, Torres said." [via Fark]

Apple should consider not copying artists so directly for their products and ad campaigns.

Spinal Tap performing at Live Earth with an army of bassists. [YouTube]

Brilliant photos smuggled out of Zimbabwe.

It's the birthday of one of America's best radio stations, WNYC. Their dedication to groundbreaking programs like On The Media and Radio Lab and upholding the tradition of the station is inspiring.

Kim Jong Il has been looking sick lately.

According to a recent study in New Zealand, gay people take loads more drugs than straight people. "Massey University researchers analysed government data from the New Zealand Health Behaviours Surveys involving 15,000 people and found that while gays drank broadly similar quantities as straights, they also were twice as likely to use pot, and 50% more like to smoke tobacco."

MadTV presents... the iRack. [YouTube]

China has been exploding with commerce and growth, but much like the United States economy, the foundation of outlandish use of resources and credit could mean a collapse.

Organic fruits and vegetables are better for your heart than industrially grown varieties.

Wider Angle Tumblog Reblog (for your convenience)

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:26:00 +0000

These are items recently blogged to the Wider Angle Tumblog, reblogged here for your convenience. Subscribe to the Tumblog via RSS.

Your World. Delivered. To the NSA. On the iPhone. (via lawgeek) (07/04/2007 05:08)

Happy 4th! (via Royal Sapien) (07/04/2007 02:36)

"Africa won't be "saved" by aid, but by the ingenuity and determination of its own people." (07/04/2007 02:03): - Africans to Bono: 'For God's sake please stop!'

via xkcd.com (07/04/2007 01:59)

Gates loses 'World's richest' crown | The Register (07/03/2007 04:21): Carlos Slim ended Gates's 13-year reign thanks to a 26 per cent surge in the stock price of his company America Movil during the second quarter. Slim boosted his personal net worth to $67.8bn compared to last year’s $30bn.

77 Million Paintings by Brian Eno (via Laughing Squid) (07/03/2007 02:01)

John Stamos' Bizarre Australian TV Interview (via turdy76) (07/03/2007 12:34)

Wii demand still outpaces supply (07/03/2007 12:26)

TED | Talks | Hans Rosling: New insights on poverty and life around the world (video) (07/03/2007 12:15)

The National Aquatics Center - Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (07/03/2007 11:41)

South Park Mac vs. PC (via huber7) (07/03/2007 10:03)

White Glove Tracking | We're Done - Thanks! (07/03/2007 08:24)

Success recipes most people know, but too few follow - lifehack.org (07/03/2007 02:57)

AllofMP3 Goes Down In Midst of Much Bigger WTO Scuffle (07/03/2007 02:53): It looks like the RIAA and big music labels have won a battle, if not the war, against massively popular AllOfMP3, a Russian music download site that sells MP3s for as little as two cents per megabyte. The site has been shut down, again, reportedly at the hands of the Russian government.

AllOfMP3 Shut Down by Russian Government (07/03/2007 02:49): AllOfMp3, the popular online music store, has been shut down by the Russian government. Pressure from the United States, and a refusal to enter the World Trade Organisation (WTO) convinced the Kremlin to take the website down for good.

Insanely Useful Websites | Sunlight Foundation (07/03/2007 02:07): Congresspedia
DOJ TrainingDB
FedSpending
Follow the Money
Govtrack
LOUIS
MapLight
Metavid
OpenCongress
Open Community Document Review
OpenCRS
Open Hearings
Open Secrets
OS: Lobbyists
OS: Revolving Door
OS: Personal Financial Disclosure
OS: Travel
Project Vote Smart
Taxpayers for Common Sense
VoterWatch
WashingtonWatch

Fade Records presents Audio Tour Volume 2

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 05:21:00 +0000

Audio Tour 2 from Fade Records is mixed by me, Royal Sapien, and 40oz aka Chris Fortier. It's out now at all sorts of download shops and has received great reviews, for which we're very grateful. Check out the YouTube clip and send it around to some friends if you wouldn't mind.

You can listen to samples of the compilation and purchase it at Beatport, iTunes, eMusic, and many other fine retailers.

Also check out my latest singles, "Easy" and "Anti-Skate," and Chris Fortier's new album As Long As The Moment Exists.

Wider Angle Tumblog RSS Feed

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:22:00 +0000

Check out the new Wider Angle Tumblog RSS feed powered by Feedburner. Full content posts plus email-to-friend and bookmarking buttons.

Three Cheers for Mika Brzezinski

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:43:00 +0000

Mika Brzezinksi on MSNBC refused to lead with, or even report on the Paris Hilton nonsense. First she tries to light the story on fire, then she shreds it.

Mika, if you're reading this, I'd like to take you out to dinner.

Edited version without commercials from YouTube. [via reddit/WAtumblog]

Internet Radio Day of Silence

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:41:00 +0000

Today, June 26, thousands of Internet radio stations went silent. This is how the soundscape online would be if new regulations that require exorbitant royalty payments go into effect.

As an artist, a label owner, and a broadcaster, I have the credentials to cite the pending law as shitty.

If you want to save Internet radio (from Pandora to last.fm to NPR) call your congresscritter and make them support the Internet Radio Equality Act.

Links for June 26 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Ben) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:13:00 +0000

These are some links that I've saved that haven't made it onto the tumblog.

I think I want every shirt from Headline Shirts, particularly the Rich Crackers shirt.

Keep this script handy for telemarketers when they call.

Some ambitious and creative kids made a map of the United States out of LEGO.

Jim at Coudal Partners has some great advice for how to think about work. "...if you see work as a Montessori preschooler does, as a wide-open path where one thing leads to another and the development of one skill allows for another level of things to be explored, then that's a whole other kind of "work." It's not so much about what you make, it's more about what you learn making it."

It appears to be natural for mothers to kill an undesired child, happens in all sorts of species, including primates and other mammals. [via reddit]

I think text chat will still rule the web for quite some years (I prefer it to video or voice aside from speaking in person) and this is one of the reasons. "But after a few hours he said he was getting tired of using text chat -- and asked me to switch over to Ventrilo, an app that lets gamers chat using microphones and voice. I downloaded Ventrilo, logged in, dialed him up and ... ... realized he was an 11-year-old boy... I still enjoyed questing with him -- he was a terrific World of Warcraft player. But there's no doubt that hearing each other's voices abruptly changed our social milieu."

Best Buy's corporate culture seems to support good ideas that come from regular employees, so they've freed up the corporate environment to let workers spend their time as they like, as long as they get their work done. [via kottke]

Another performance from The Yes Men, and an interview with Wired.

Has the economy begun its downfall? "In other words, it sounds eerily like 2000-2002 except maybe on a much larger scale. Then it was “only” the tenth worse bear market in history, but over a trillion dollars in wealth simply vanished. What makes today’s instance seem particularly unfair is that the preceding recovery that is now ending—the “jobless” one—was so anemic. "

Bloggers and writers can turn their content into podcasts instantly, for free, read by computers that sound tolerably like humans. Check out Odiogo, a very cool service that I wish more blogs would use.

If you're doing research online, be sure to check these sites first to find hidden vast fields of knowledge on the Internets.