January 2006 Posts

First of all, this guy has started two successful media companies. That deserves respect. Secondly, he has guts, and he speaks his mind, and he is adamant about his causes, and he likes to get into meaningful discussion and debate. A simple Google search will show dozens of stories about Jason, I'm sure, and I bet most of them give him praise.

I read Jason's blog, calacanis.com regularly and I think people can really get some good direction from this guy. I wouldn't reccomend doing exactly what he did, because he does what he does extremely well, but he has some great principles. He lets his writers keep their words, he doesn't censor the bloggers, he pays people based on effort (and other things), he never builds a company to sell it, and much much more.

In a recent blog post about Jeff Jarvis, a famous blogger from about.com and other places, he was challenged by a commenter about insulting Jarvis, and he was asked to apologize. In response, he wrote:

"I don't expect people to sugar coat it when they come after me for my statements and positions--BRING IT ON! I love it... let's debate it, let's fight it out... that's how business/society/people move forward. I'll debate any one, any time... and if I lose the debate I'm a winner because I've learned something. That's really how I think... if I'm being an idiot and someone can prove it, well, good for both of us!"

I like that way of looking at a debate. It is something I would say if I had that thought. I am a huge porponent for learning something new every day, no matter what the source. And on sugar-coating, I can say that if I feel comfortable, I will simply be blunt, to the point of being insulting, just because I feel better expressing a raw thought instead of trying to filter it. While I would like to express myself in this way more often, because I feel like I am being more honest, I know there are some situations where a small amount of tact is required.

I'm sure the future will bring many more quotes and insights from the Jason Calacanis blog, interviews with Jason and his company WIN (Weblogs, Inc.).

For the past 3 weeks or so, I have been involved with a very interesting experiment into the world of podcasting. I decided I wanted to become more intimately acquainted with the local Orlando art scene, and maybe I wanted to have some intelligent discussion too. A good friend of mine, who has taken to calling herself Myla Goldberg on the show, does the show with me, and we call it "You Can't Spell Crapface Without PFA". What does PFA stand for? Well, "if you have to ask, we don't care", but it is the Pretentious Fucks Alliance. We are self-important twenty-something kids with something to say, and we want to get some creative and interesting people on the show, talk about what they do, and have some honest intelligent discussion.

If you are thinking this is your kind of show, you might be right, but you might not. One of the goals of the show is to make it exactly what we want, which could mean we alienate some people in the process. At the present time, we don't have recorded intros, theme music, skype conversations or any of the features that so many podcasts have adopted in the past 18 months. We are just ourselves.

One thing that is a bit different from the TWiTs and Pottercasts of the world is that our show is actually trying to help the positive creative and expressive curve in our community. We are trying to get people excited about local music, film, art and anything else we believe in. Has anyone else done this before? Maybe, but I was never entertained by their offerings. One thing you have to consider - will someone subscribe to it? I certainly hope so. I think we will find our audience.

For more info, and to download the shows directly, please visit pfalliance.blogspot.com. If you use an RSS reader or a podcatcher, here is our RSS feed. If you use iTunes or Yahoo! Music, you will appreciate the pcast:// RSS feed. We also have an email address for recieving comments, questions, topic or guest suggestions, or requests from you if you want to be on the show.

Well, it’s Tuesday, and we haven’t seemed to secure a guest star yet…. ::Hint Hint::

Here are some topics:

• Guilty pleasures - John Mayer for me
• Richard Cheese - iloverichardcheese.com
• Marc’s Birthday
• Cassette is dead, but Vinyl will endure
• SonicFabric.com
• Emily’s new Computer
• Crash and Bailey crashandbailey.blogspot.com
• How to get on the show
• The Tao of Kermit
• Big labels vs. Indy labels
• Upcoming showsScottish Highland Games
  Saturday the 21st - 8:00AM to 5:00PM
  Cetral Winds Park, Winter Springs
  434 near 419
  flascot.com

  Heathens with the Wynn Brothers
  Friday Jan 27th at Backbooth
  myspace.com/weareheathansYip Yip with Voice of the People, Reign of Terror and Madd Happy
  Jan 31st at Island Oasis
  $5

  Band Marino, Yip Yip and Country Slashers
  Friday Feb 11th, Will’s Pub NORTH
  Buy tickets in advance!
  Moustaches!

• Emails

Emily and Ryan recorded two new episodes of “You can’t spell crapface without PFA” this week, and they are now both online and in your feedreader. We also have an email for our show at pfalliance@gmail.com.

Listen to the show, write in with a comment or suggestion, ask for a guest starring role, or give us presents because you love us and you want us to be happy!