National Geographic COO Digital Strategy, Edward Prince Jr. is interviewed by Rafat Ali from PaidContent.org during the Abu Dhabi Media Summit last week.  Check out the video interview here.

I’m a huge fan of Nat Geo the brand, the magazine, the cable channel, the photography and pretty much everything they have done since I can remember digging through my father’s extensive collection that dated back to the late 60′s when I was a kid.  There is something special about the experience you feel turning from page to page and the remarkable job they have done to curate, archive and share some of the most compelling cultural works of art+science known to mankind.

National Geographic, I anticipate, will also be one of the thought leaders spearheading the way in which content & media companies migrate from old traditional media to new emerging digital mediums and business models.

Edward speaks about the company’s digital strategy and discusses how Nat Geo utilizes its two key pillars; their cable channel and magazine to draw a % of revenue and re-invest into the digital space (Web, Content Syndication, Gaming, Mobile and ePublishing).  While many media companies rely mainly on an advertising revenue model, Nat Geo is developing apps and going into gaming.  Their website is ad supported but they are banking heavily on the fact that consumers will pay for mobility and see mobility as a great value.  I don’t know about you but I’m willing to compare how that full page print photo compares to the on screen version on the iPad.

 

Design your own Banana at Eat A Chiquita.com. Kudos to the marketing mastermind at Chiquita Banana who was cool enough to recognize what their consumers were doing with the stickers on the fruit after they had finished eating the banana.  I’m sure we have all been guilty of this at some point, I’m partial to slapping the stickers on Drive-Thru intercoms and Taxi Cabs.  Created by Art Director DJ Neff, many of the graphic faces take their design cues from Japanese anime or skateboard culture each with their own fun personality.  Check it out and even design your own stickers.  I’m curious to see what other designs people create.

 

The Human Experience.

 

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Mash-Ups aren’t just limited to music anymore.  Get ready for some pop-culture jamming with Lil Wayne’s Hustler Musik mixed with the theme to The Office by DJ Clockwork.

 

One of the feature songs from David Byrne & Fatboy Slim’s double concept record Here Lies Love (4/6 release) is Please Don’t featuring Santigold on vocals.  The video is made entirely of stock news footage of the widow of former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos who interestingly seems to be the inspiration for the project.  Download the song for free and check out more about the project here on David Byrne’s website.

 

The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club rocked a packed house at The Echoplex last night. Their latest album Beat The Devil’s Tattoo brings the bluesy rockers back with avengence and the live performance took  B.T.D.T. to an even higher level. The band’s first release B.R.M.C. was the soundtrack to many road-trips and memorable moments almost 10 years ago, now, their 6th studio effort delivers plenty of great songs and mood-setters. Check out the single Beat The Devil’s Tattoo and Mama Taught Me Better bellow, as well as pictures from last night’s gig.

BEAT THE DEVIL’S TATOO

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MAMA TAUGHT ME BETTER

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The White Stripes are coming to a town near you with their documentary Under Great White Northern Lights. The feature is not to be missed, and if you are in LA, there is still some tickets left for the showing on March 15th at the Egyptian.

In the summer of 2007, shortly after the release of their 6th album Icky Thump, The White Stripes headed north of their hometown of Detroit to embark on an ambitious journey across Canada. The plan was to play a show in every province and territory in Canada, from B.C. to Newfoundland to Nunavut. “Having never done a tour of Canada, Meg and I thought it was high time to go whole hog…from the ocean to the permafrost” says Jack White. “We wanted to play out of the way towns that don’t usually get shows…the shows are better, it’s better for the people, it’s a better experience, it’s way more unique, something interesting is going to happen…hopefully.”

Jack White is a true rock star, the Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan of our generation.  He turns simplicity into greatness.  At some point in the documentary, Jack mentions that one of the reasons they are successful in what they do is that he is good at being creative inside a box (so true!!).  He continues to say that having all the colors in the world on a palette is what kills creativity.  Interesting outlook, I never thought of it that way.

 

The Coachella Line Up In Retrospective Competition winning posters: Coachella 1969-1998.  Each winner earned a ticket to the Coachella 2010 Festival taking place in Indio, CA on April 16, 17 and 18.

So, which year tops them all?

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Just in time to cure some of your post carnival celebration hangover and in anticipation of the upcoming World Cup Nike drops some supa-dupa dopeness with the Nike Brasil Black Pack.

As a 5-Time International Footbol Champion, Brasil is one of the most feared teams in the world.  Their signature bright yellow, blue and green uniforms and style of play showcase a level of toughness that is proven in their ability to win.  Nike designers followed with one of the most radical concepts to take the Brasilian yellow and turn it black.  “It is the Brasilian Yellow that Scares Them,” A Brasilian player once told the Nike design team.

The entire Black Pack collection is simply fresh but the Packable Jacket (below) is my personal favorite.

 

When it comes to late night, I was always with Coco and more recently I think Jimmy Kimmel is hands-down the king.  Jay is done and Letterman will continue to have his moments.  Newcomer, George Lopez and Lopez Tonight are slowly making a name for themselves and are featuring the cast of The Jersey Shore all week in a series of parody skits.  The Jersey Shore Presents: The Hurt Locker is classic and one has to wonder what’s next for the cast…

 

I recently attended a continuing education class in The Art of Negotiation.  I’ve taken a few classes like this in the past and will honestly say that this class had been the most beneficial yet.  The thing is, everyone regardless of age or gender anyone can gain from being a skilled negotiator – whether in your personal life or professional life.  The class was an all day 8 hour seminar where we learned the fundamentals of negotiations and how to create ‘Win/Win’ deals.  Hands-on exercises included a range of material from how to buy/sell a used boat to how to resolve a disagreement with your spouse.

Watching History Channel’s, Pawn Stars , there are also many beneficial insights one can apply to successful negotiations strategy.  “My philosophy on life is be nice until you have to be an A$$.”  “This ain’t McDonald’s, This ain’t Burger King because we’re gonna have it our way.”

If you’re interested also check out The Golden Rule of Negotiation and from A Whole Lot of Nothing The Art of Negotiation According to Pawn Stars.

 

Los Angeles based Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight is featuring Castle Greyskull Under the Influence: Master of the Universe tribute art show.  By the power of Greyskull, don’t miss this show the art is disturbingly powerful.

 

Combining two of my favorite things, Rio and Playmobil – creator Rodrigo Pereira who is a popular art/intervention artist in Rio, Brasil has produced other public installation works in Rio previously but none as playful and creative as this Playmobil parking barricades ‘public works improvement project.’

Part street-art, part graffiti, this is a public art intervention that is not only brilliant but also additive to the community.  More urban communities should welcome and support local artists for more of the same.  I mean who really wants to stare at a bunch of grey concrete barriers anyway?  When I was a kid Playmobil was the shit.  I remember thinking I was so cool for having the Playmobil pirate ship, that was until my best friend’s older brother became completely obsessed and created an entire Playmobil universe in their basement complete with spaceship and castles.  Thanks for the memories.  Check out Rodrigo’s Flikr for more pix.

 

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Big ups to Dave Brown & Holiday Matinee for the release of their first book, I Swear to Good You Are God at This.

HM: “Our goal is to give people the push to invest in themselves, do what they love and inspire as many awesome people as possible.”

You can still get your hands on the limited-edition run  here.  If you are not convinced, the good guys over at HM will let you peak a little if you tell them something awesome.

 

Animal Collective & Danny Perez: Transverse Temporal Gyrus

This is surely something I would love to see more of: a collaboration by two artistic mediums to deliver an experience that surpasses their individual art.  Psychedelic science. Experimental visual artist Danny Perez and Animal Collective are going to manifest their theory through sound and colors in an already sold-out exhibit at the Guggenheim Museam.  Transverse Temporal Gyrus is inspired by the senses, elements that heighten & affect them, and our reactions.

For the Guggenheim’s 50th Anniversary, the band Animal Collective has collaborated with artist Danny Perez on a site-specific performance piece that will transform the museum’s rotunda into a kinetic, psychedelic environment. Transverse Temporal Gyrus will feature original recorded music composed specifically for the event along with video projections, costumes, and props, rendering the band members and performers into intense, visual abstractions. During the evening, guests are invited to freely explore the space in order to fully immerse themselves in the environment created by Animal Collective and Danny Perez.

 

Ooooouch!

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