Here it comes, the chance to buy yourself back into bondage! Now instead of buying your mp3 straight from the source or atleast cutting out hardwhere (which should’ve also cut out cost by the way), now you can go back to buying hardware and worrying about a player!
The slot card is a new format (out in September) and found a places like Best Buy and Wal-Mart (nuff said) and is pushed by the music industry big guys. They are promising more content (music, videos, pictures, notes, etc.) and a more “interactive experience” in exchange for you going from mp3 downloads to purchasing a microSD card (memory card).
This has been put forth by the people at SanDisk who’s products currently allow us to load any song we want from any artist along with tons of other content on an card they sell. Why they would want us to do otherwise is beyond me but it might have something to do withUniversal, Sony, EMI and Warner Music supporting the effort.
I want to make sure it’s said here that this is not to your benifit. It is yet to be seen what will come of the slot card but I for one am not trying to go backwards into the future.
I’m not sure if this is a exactly a comprehensive list but it’s a good start! I have to mention that although I’m not sure if Def Jam was independent when it first started (wasn’t it?) but Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC is classic! If you think or know we missed some music hit us up so we can add to the list.
1. The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
2. Dismemberment Plan - This Christmas
3. Death Cab For Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
4. The Polyphonic Spree - Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
5. Sufjan Stevens - We Three Kings Of Orient Are
6. The Flaming Lips - A Change at Christmas
7. The Walkmen - No Christmas While I’m Talking
8. Mogwai - Christmas Song
9. Sufjan Stevens - O Holy Night
10. Yo La Tengo - It’s Christmas Time
11. The Flaming Lips - Christmas At The Zoo
12. Eels - Christmas Is Going To The Dogs
13. Coldplay - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
14. Low - Just Like Christmas
15. Copeland - Do You Hear What I Hear
16. Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas
17. Sufjan Stevens - What Child Is This Anyway
Ohmega Watts decided to do a xmas mix and we figured we’d pass it on. Enjoy Say Ho Mix by Ohmega Watts
(pluglabel)
I.N.T. is known as one half of the group La Melodia made 20 Christmas Tracks that are really dope. Check it out. Welcome to Christmas Wonderland by I.N.T
(rappersiknow)
Got a new list from Rachel
Parker Lewis–Xmas Carol, NYC
Rosie Thomas–Why Can’t it Be Christmastime All Year
Service Group–Merry Xmas Everybody
Sufjan Stevens–Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time
The Wombats–Is This Christmas?
Master Slash Slave–All I Want For Christmas
Rogue Wave–Christmas
Low–Santa’s Coming Over
The Awkward Stage–Mini Skirt of Xmas Lights
Zee Avi–No Christmas For Me
Frightened Rabbit–It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop
Thanks Ernie
Jonathan Coulton’s “Merry Christmas (from Chiron Beta Prime)”:
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I should mention at this juncture that this list has not been checked twice (as Santa would) to make sure these bands are indie, but I figure anything is better then the old classics. Some more progressive (I.N.T) and some not but either way enjoy.
A quick trip around the “indiesphere” has revealed quite a few independent business people sharing their stories. What better place to share them then here! Etsy has done a lot for a lot of indies including these two!
Hip hop has been pretty stail lately. That’s not to say people aren’t making good music but when you look around at times it just seems that it’s all been done. Kev Choice is here to dispell any such thoughts. An MC with a Masters degree in music is definatley something new but Kev is resting on the laurals of a music degree he’s making good music. He’s mixtape The Bailout is an intro for everyone into his world. Music loves will have a lot of fun listening to the chord progressions and piano improve Kev Delivers and true school mc’s will have no problem with Kev’s flow or swag!
I for one am excited at what Kev Choice brings to the table and what we’ll see from him in the future. Oakland has been waiting for someone who can carry the load and I think Kev Choice is it. Look for a feature in the mag in ‘09!
I’ve been thinking about doing this for years. I’ve always wanted to just pack it all up and go on a a trip around the world, atleast then my back hurting from all the couch surfing would be worth it. Well here are some people who know how to help you do just that. Craig and Linda Martin have been traveling since Feb of ‘06 and have alot of tips for how to get it all done on the their site The Indie Travelers Podcast. Check out their site here and then tell us about your adventures so we can publish them here.
It’s all about knowing what’s indie/independent and what’s not! Here’s a search on a great independent site that helps you search the social-media space on the internet. I decided to do a search on what’s independent, what’s indie, and what’s mainstream. It’s really only the words themselves without much context but it’s a start for finding relevant sites (besides ours), tweeters, and blogs.
The funny thing about this message is that I feel like most people are doing this in life. Missing some really great things simply because they aren’t looking for them. The hard part here is to let a group of people knowing that they are missing something and getting them to go back and look again (that dancing bear just pops out at you once you go back and look).
So while your’e shopping this season remember to check for companies that are independent. Thanks
From Amanda:
“This Vans shoe series project is my self portrait. Though you don’t see my face, you see where I have been and how I see the world. I’ve never felt comfortable shooting pictures of myself, but this project enabled me to create images and physically be in them without showing my face. My shoes of choice are black-and-white checkered Vans, and these pictures were taken in such far-flung cities as New York City, San Francisco, Oakland, Havana, Pinar del Rio, Mexico City, Teotihuacan, Los Angeles and Sacramento. My shoes are my proof that I was there at that moment, in that place, at that time.”
(Editor’s Note: Amanda is LEGENDmag’s first Photo Editor and always fam. So make sure you come out and support!!!)
In case you’ve been looking for something to do with your Monday nights, look no further! Independence has landed in Hollywood and it’s at LUSH! Starting this Monday you’ll be treated to great independent music provided by PSOL, Alex Merrell, and Linje. Don’t miss out!
GPS based games are going to be the future for sure. Just when you thought you were all good with staying in the house being active on guitar hero and your new Wii Fit you’re blasted into a new world of gaming based in exploring the real world around you. SIGN ME UP!
A map from the new game Turf Bombing!
Here’s information about Turf Bombing from their site.
“Turf Bombing is a location-based turf battle game which rewards and encourages traveling and learning about different neighborhoods.
This game requires a laptop and works anywhere in the world where there’s a wifi connection. Your laptop’s wifi connection is used to triangulate your position.
Gangs are assigned by the zip code of your home address. The goal of each gang is to gain as much territory as possible.
Territories are acquired as players plant time bombs at different locations in physical space. If the bomb is not diffused by a local gang member in time, the bomb will explode and the territory will be turned over to the gang that planted the bomb.“
I put forth this question not necessarily about apples notebook but as something you should consider if you are a earth friendly individual. What you have to consider more than ever is language. You have to be aware that terms like “green” or “clean coal” or “organic” can be used just as much to sale a product as much as it can to tell you what the product or company is actually about.
With any company selling you “green” products have you considered that making you buy a new phone or notebook every year or two or even suggesting you should means you are contributing more waste then necessary. This is especially true when it comes to electronics that are hard to dispose of in a “clean” way that doesn’t affect the earth.
When you are considering “clean coal” you MUST consider the fact that making coal clean-er doesn’t not make it clean, it is a term made up to sell you on the technology and make sure that you don’t question what is going on.
I’ve seen cigarettes on sale as organic because the leaves harvested to make the cigarettes were grown organically. Does that make the cigarettes any less deadly or is it a way to “sale” you in this new sustainable world?
The essence of being independent is what we call “doing the work” translated simply it is thinking your way through and not being “sold” on what something is or isn’t. Cars should be built to last, the same is true of computers, cellphones, and any other product. A true quality product is the kind that hardly if EVER needs replacing.
Be sure you know what’s what and think past the products being sold and consider what’s being told.
Buy-in has bee fairly hard to come by for me when it comes purchasing a home. Everything I’ve learned about buying a home has just never made sense to me unless you are looking to use the house as an investment or you plan for that home to be your biggest asset.
See the thing for me is that no one ever really talks to a family about how long 30 years of payments really is, and how those mortgage notes don’t include maintenance and energy costs you might not incur otherwise.
As an investment property I’ve always wanted a home. But in this case I would be using the house as stock, or high yield account, or anything else where I could claim more assets. Not something that would hold a family unit, nurture kids, and foster community.
Well with Bluhomes new addition to the home market, I can buy-in to buying a home as a product because to purchasing as they’ve reduced the cost, building time, and long range expenses.
Etsy has done a lot for a lot of indies including these two! 
