Reclaim the Sparkasse and Crush

Posted on 23/11/2007 by Thomas

Reclaim the Sparkasse is a partycrew that likes to invade bank vestibules or washing saloons to celebrate spontaneous parties as you can see on their myspace. For tonight they found an empty house in Greifswalderstr. 218. Everyone should come and bring drinks, it’s free, there’s even a heating and a toilet and they will have good music.

For tomorrow you should check out the new club “Crush” on Behrenstr. 55 (very Mitte!), Pictoplasma Festival and some Djs like Strobocop or Touch of class. Read more here.

A very POWERful mix by Harrison Schaaf

Posted on 20/11/2007 by Thomas

What a name. Harrison Schaaf. Considering that “Schaf” in German in “sheep” and taking into account that sheep normally are very quiet (unless there’s a dog chasing them around..) and frugal animals, this is a total contradiction.

Via thefastlife comes this very powerful mix by the guy that Palms Out named “the next Kavinsky”. It’s eighties, it’s RAP, it’s a little cheesy synthie stuff, it’s not minimal at all, but boosts out with lots of glow and sweat. Get Schaaf’s “Gigantic mix” on Zshare.

Betterplace.org – ein Social Network mit gesellschaftlichem Engagement

Posted on 20/11/2007 by Thomas

Überall wird über Kaioo geredet, eine Online-Community, die, wenn sie erstmal richtig brummt, ihre Werbeerlöse, nach Abzüge der Kosten und aufgeschlüsselt nach einem recht simplen zehn-Gewinner-take-it-all-Votingprinzip an gemeinnützige Organisationen verteilt. Das Ding kriegt massig Presse, zwei Ex-Bertelsmann-Manager sitzen im Vorstand und alle freuen sich, dass es nun eine “echte soziale Community” gebe.

Dabei ist das völliger Quatsch und nicht nur der Spiegel ist dieser frechen Aussage prompt aufgesessen. Sogar eigentlich doch recht gut informierte Start-up-Blogs wie Zweinull, Blognation (Update: Sorry, ebenso, wie ich es beim Werbeblogger übersehen hatte, war mir auch nicht aufgefallen, dass ebenfalls Blognation schon über Betterplace geschrieben hatte) oder Gründernet lassen sich dazu hinreißen, den Claim unkritisch zu übernehmen, viele andere Blogs wie z.B. Werbeblogger folgen.

Dabei gibt es längst eine tatsächlich soziale Community, die den Gemeinnutzgedanken nicht nur als PR-Flagge vor sich herträgt und den Rest lediglich genau wie Facebook, Myspace und Co. aufzieht. Betterplace.org dreht sich nämlich per se um soziales Engagement und bringt Projektverantwortliche aus aller Welt mit Unterstützern (die mit Geld, Zeit oder Know-How helfen) zusammen, die laufend über den Fortgang des Projektes informiert werden. Freundesverknüpfungen sorgen für Vertrauensnetzwerke und machen neue Projekte bekannt.

Nicht, dass ich die Kaioo-Idee per se schlecht finde. Aber mich stört diese Monstranz des “echten Sozialen” – denn das sollte doch wirklich etwas tiefer gehen, als Klingeltöne vermarkten und dann dem Roten Kreuz drei Euro überweisen.

Call me M.A.

Posted on 16/11/2007 by Thomas

Yes, I AM READY. After many years of studying at a university which is now elite, at a faculty that moved to the pleasent part of the campus right now, I finally have my degree as a Magister Artium in communication and business. I am proud. And tired.

That’s why it was so silent here, but you can expect stuff in the next days and weeks like a new mix by Patrick Gräser, probably my master thesis on organizational identity and weblogs, a trip to Neu-Kölln and other cool news about music, lifestyle and science. For now, here is a great tip for a nice christmas event: Mixtape-Wichteln.

Update: And here it is: You can download my master thesis on weblogs and organizational identity “Der Blick ins Netz aufs wir” or order it as book

Oh, oh, O’Reilly

Posted on 07/11/2007 by Thomas

Web2Expo Berlin Bild von DiplIX auf IpernityAngesichts dieser traurigen Bilder, dieser ernüchterten Zeilen, dieser vernichtenden Kritik und diesem Einblick in die kafkaeske Organisation kann man sich ja schon freuen, dass man nicht da war. Auf der Web2Expo Berlin.

Das wirkliche Highlight war wohl das Barcamp am Wochenende. Wurde die Kreativität dort mit vollen Händen ausgeschüttet, versickert sie im Berliner ICC anscheinend in den endlos grauen Gängen.

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Broder ist SPD-Fan

Posted on 06/11/2007 by Thomas

Und nebenbei fällt auf, dass Watchberlin nochmal ordentlich zugelegt hat, was User Experience, Interface und Surface und Underface-Design angeht. Mit anderen Worten, es flutscht und läuft und funktioniert (fast) alles. Hut ab.

Update: Sowas, Watchberlin kommen nicht klar, erst hab ich ein hässliches De-Bug-Fenster auf meinem Blog und dann statt Broder Friedman im Film. Schade.

DSL55 – Art, Sausages, Pop up

Posted on 31/10/2007 by Thomas

One of the hippest things to do these days in marketing for clothing brands is creating a “guerilla pop up store”, a place to have parties, exhibitions and to sell clothes. It’s guerilla because it looks all improvised and pop up because it only lasts for a certain time.

Diesel’s little brother brand 55DSL does that in Hamburg in a former milk bar and the opening last weekend worked pretty well. They had lots of beer and sausages and a hiphop DJ who was a little sad because he was only allowed to play at radio volume. The police showed up five times, the street was packed with people who wanted to get in and the place was packed with people in white plastic bags who couldn’t get out. That, of course, was an art installation by New York artist Mike Bouchet.

All to promote a new collection by Renzo Rosso’s (the Diesel founder) son, Andrea Rosso, who designed some very new ravy pieces. The audience last weekend maybe was even a little too old for that kind of clothes but from now on the store is open until the 30th of November – Schulterblatt 12, Hamburg so anybody can have a look.

One weekend in Hamburg

Posted on 29/10/2007 by Thomas

This last weekend I was in Hamburg, attending the big socialdemocratic party summit (Bundesparteitag) that gathered several thousand people to redefine social democratic politics and elect their representers like Kurt Beck, party leader and often said to be a provincial teddy but who proved to have the strength to lead the party on the path towards the next elections.

I liked the atmosphere and the political discussions and met many interesting people. I also quite liked most of the programmatic decisions like a general basic school with ten obligatory classes for all or trying to ban rightwing extremist party NPD. Strange enough in the big media the idea of a general speed limit of 130 kmh had the biggest echo, a very banal decision I don’t care about at all. Well, it’s the auto-country here.

My job was to present and promote the new political community for the social democrats: MeineSPD.net. We (A&B FACE2NET and the SPD) have been working on that platform for quite some time so it was like attending the birth of a child, very anxious about how it would see its first light. And the reactions were amazing. Of course, there are many things to improve, but in general, the people loved their new community were they can connect to other party members and people interested in social democratic politics, upload fotos, discuss in forums, build groups and blog. In the course of the three days there were about 3000 registrations. Simply amazing.

Tonight: 5 years watergate

Posted on 24/10/2007 by Thomas

Watergate Berlin from bridge Watergate seen from the Oberbaum bridge, by FeffefActually, Watergate is one of the best clubs in Berlin. It’s a great venue, just by the river, you can sit outside or dance inside, in two really big rooms and, to be honest, it has a soundsystem that might not be as massive as the Fabric‘s e.g. but certainly stands the test against the other big club players in Berlin. Tresor does not sound any better, neither does Berghain, not to speak of Week-end, Cookies, Tape, 103, Maria or whatever, Watergate sets a standard in sound here. Not only that, the club is famous for its immense light show, a stream of LEDs that cover the ceiling and swoosh through the night.

Watergate Berlin club lightshow Watergate lightshow, by SgisToday, Watergate celebrates its fifth birthday which is a long time for a club in Berlin. Last years fourth birthday was massive already and you better come early because although its a wednesday it is going to be packed. You know: in Berlin there is no difference in between weekend and week, the party people will always be around.

So will the DJs tonight: André Galluzzi (Taksi, Ostgut Ton), Zip (Perlon), Sammy Dee (Perlon), Matt John (Perlon), Sebo K. (Mobilee, Get Physical), Tom Clark (Highgrade), Jens Bond Highgrade, Sender), Phage (Mobilee, Upon You), Daniel Dreier (Highgrade, Klang), Ruede Hagelstein (Upon You), Carsten Klemann (My My), Nick Höppner (My My) and many more.

Eight legs – Are the Smiths back?

Posted on 22/10/2007 by Thomas

Not exactly, but here’s another great band that is willing to take their place: Eight legs from London. Check out this video: These Grey Days

While the song is really poppy and charming, the video sports an old idea (filming persons who hang upside down and then turn the image again) but still brings out funny results.
Eight legs have had considerable success in Japan, produced one very ska-ish song with Brian O´Shaughnessy (Primal Scream) and are all together a very funky, danceable group and certainly fun to watch live, too.

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