Tale of the Old Japanese Man If you were me, an old Japanese man spoke to your soul. If you were me, you'd have been 2 years old and he'd have given you a blessing on the train that day. He'd have shared with you, "observe and understand". And if you were me, you would live your life feeling like a wandering fool in the wonderment of the unknown. Always enlightened by your own ignorance, with a reward in *finally* knowing the mechanics of pricelessness. If you were me, you would appreciate the essence of value, and you would seek it. As I've come to know, only *I* have lived *this* experience. And each of you, your own. You cannot be me. That's my job. peace- seanrox

New Financial Site Launched: Magnolia Financial Oddly enough, this design is 2 years old. Despite the aged creative, the site is pretty cool... here's why: Working closely with Trillium Technologies and CPA2Client, we designed an architecture that uses extensive resources tightly integrated in the design from multiple sources on multiple hosting platforms. Enuff geek talk... here it is: VISIT THE SITE. peace- seanrox

https://maltadvc-vws0100.safepackets.com/malt/index.html peace- seanrox

Sharing is Caring. or... "using your personal blog for design PR is good food." For the past 72 issues, I've managed the publication, maintenance and design for the popular Atlanta young, urban lifestyle magazine "Atlanta Illustrated". Each week, the most rewarding design task (aside from the sponsor animated ads) is designing the cover. The photography is chosen beforehand... some pictures are more fit for the "magazine cover". This week's pic by Ben Rose was slick... with a bit of twisty-twist-supah-photoshop-powah... here ya go. I'm going to try to do better at sharing more designs via this personal blog. Always keeping my client's super-secret-007-gone-Microsoft-type strategies in mind. VISIT ATLANTA ILLUSTRATED. If you're in Atlanta, it's shame if you don't join the newsletter. Plus, you'll see my weekly magazine covers. peace- seanrox

New Addition to "Most Kick-Ass Albums of All Time" "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" - Flaming Lips Reserved for albums with true vision... it's a short list, My Top Albums of All-Time. Well, short as compared to the thousands of CDs alphabetized, stacked around me in my studio. After nearly a year of listening to the Flaming Lips' "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots", I'm proud to reward this sonically-creative and imperialistic CD to the ranks of: "Bellybutton" Jellyfish "Misplaced Childhood" Marillion "Mental Jewelry" Live "Purple" Stone Temple Pilots "Mezzanine" Massive Attack "Dummy" Portishead "Operation Mindcrime" Queensryche "Mechanical Resonance" Tesla "Appetite for Destruction" Guns N Roses "Diary of a Madman" Ozzy Osbourne "Machine Head" Deep Purple "Mama Said" Lenny Kravitz "Pet Sounds" The BeachBoys "Rubber Soul" The Beatles "Only Visiting This Planet" Larry Norman "Gretchen Goes To Nebraska" King's X If your musical tastebuds parallel with my own *at all*, check out the Flaming Lips site and buy the CD. In fact, if you're wary of my words, the Lips have the entire cosmic album available to listen to online. Lemme know what YOU think. Few rock albums will kick your ass everytime you listen to it. On the other hand, how often do we actually take the time to listen to new CDs from first to last track? We no longer wear our Sony Walkmen twenty-four seven and very rarely pile into a friend's car for a louder-than-life roadtrip. When *do* we listen to music? Recently, I saw a Family Fued episode where the "Wolf" family needed to guess what most people DO while listening to music. The top answer was NOT... sitting on a beanbag with headphones or even driving a car... which amazed me. Instead, the Family Fued SURVEY SAYS: "Cleaning the House". Is it possible, if we created more opportunity to listen to music, maybe we'd actually hear more, new and fantastic albums... not to mention fueling the spic n span-ocity of our kitchen floors? Take a listen, tell me if you think I'm out of my head. peace- seanrox

Who is the new Heavy Metal Messiah? So, I channel surf, and find myself with an actual MUSIC VIDEO on vh1. At first, I thought it was just an ad for music videos. But no, they were actually showing the whole thing. Some new band, at least a new singer was wailing in a post-90s, yet melodic manner... then some truly rippin leads (guitarist looks familiar). Thump thump drums. Has sweet, sweet metal returned to us? Well, on the edge of the futon I anticipated the video credits at the end of the video... the band hailed from Wind-Up Records... home of quasi-christians lords of rock - Creed and neo-goth rockers - Evanescence. Holy Shiite! It's Creed, but with an great vocalist!!! From first listen, Alter Bridge rips, despite another awkwardly Faith-based initiated nomenclature. I'm sure they'll create a "cute story" for it. Despite my distaste of the name, an album with a track titled "Metalingus" must be AT LEAST listened to once. Go for it. We've seen some evidence of such a rise in said "melodious metal". The "mighty-super-camp" of TheDarkness, GNR and STP joining caustic forces in Velvet Revolver, not to mention a complete distaste with the over-produced, re-hashed GreenDay sound-a-likes littering the "Mtv rock scene". Isn't it about time we kicked those whiney tattooed 'burbites out to "curb of crappiness" with the likes of Warrant, Ratt and EnuffZNuff? peace- seanrox

Brandy Irvin, ONE-PAGE Site LAunched. Been busy around the Purple Palace this Summer... with new exciting projects, and launching others began in late Spring. A month or so ago we launched a simple, but strong One-page Artist site for Neo-Soul artist, Brandy Irvin. From the site you can purchase his older CD or listen to recently produced tracks. Each kicks ass. Seriously, go listen. Check Out Brandy's New One-Page Site peace- seanrox

Larry King Live: Ron Reagan Agrees Bush Must Go KING: Do you have thoughts on the war? REAGAN: Sure, I have thoughts on the war. KING: And what do you think? REAGAN: And I think we lied our way into the war. KING: You think it's a mistake? REAGAN: Absolutely, a terrible mistake. Terrible foreign policy error. We didn't have to do it. It was optional. And we were lied to. The American public was lied to about WMD, the connection between Osama bin Laden and Saddam, which is virtually nonexistent except for fleeting contacts. But they're still trying to pull that one off now, Cheney and all are out there flogging that. KING: Can I gather from that, that you will not support this president? REAGAN: No, I won't. KING: Will you support his opponent? REAGAN: I will vote for whoever the viable candidate is who can defeat George W. Bush, yes. Full CNN Transcript peace- seanrox

RockSocial.com RELAUNCHES! Now, with the new "MP3-STASH" section. If you're not familiar with RockSocial.com... it's a social club (FREE TO JOIN)that is focused on going to cool music events in and around Atlanta... and now, with the "MP3-STASH" section, each month, we're (Adam co-founded) hand-picking 3 new,multi-flavored MP3 singles from Underground artists and beaming them across the globe. We're syndicating the "MP3-STASH" feed to multiple e-zines around the web. Each month we'll swap out the 3 mp3s and invite you via email, once a month to come hear and download them. For each track, we'll include a written review and a link to check out and purchase the entire CD. This is a free new music to music fans and free promotion for artists. Each issue will ALWAYS include an Atlanta artist. ATL,baby. The first RockSocial.com "MP3-Stash" issue includes 2 tracks from ATL artists, and one from Philly. All rock. All quality. Alan Yates, Eliot James and the Snakes, and Splinter. Go download and join the list. Do it. Do it. Get 3 FREE MP3s Monthly peace- seanrox

Ever notice Bush looks like Tommy and Dick Smothers' retarded younger brother? peace- seanrox

What President Ronald Reagan meant to me... ...memoir of a "Cold War Kid". After this "week-long, frequent-flyer casket sideshow", I wanted to simplify my message. At the end of the day, it matters how Someone makes you feel. A MILITARY BRAT AND UNCLE SAM. For many military brats, there's an uninvited guest in the house. This "Uncle Sam" guy my mother spoke of was an omninous character that told us *when* to move house and home (and which country/state) and this same wretched "Uncle Sam" fellow would tell my dad when/how often to fly another mission, even if it was during someone's birthday. Despite my age, I remember despise for this "Uncle Sam" dude. He was pushy, and in my mind, he didn't much care much about my family. But... then, I heard the newly elected President Ronald Reagan speak on TV. The hostages held in Iran came home! He seemed to be more powerful, wise and a heavy contender for "Uncle Sam". I felt President Reagan would do what was best for America. Pretty simple. For me, Reagan kicked Uncle Sam's ass. peace- seanrox

President Ronald Reagan... passes. Like so many important moments in the past 10 years, I was watching the news when the word came. More on Reagan in the next Blog. Ronald Reagan 1911 - 2004 peace- seanrox

Hear that sound? That's your money whooshing into Dick Cheney's pocket. I've added the Cost of the War in Iraq at the top of my blog... with interest! Wars are expensive... for good reason. SAFETY... This war's budget is EXTRA CASH on top of the regular Defense budget. It's important to allot more CASH to provide our troops with proper armor, vehicles and many, many bullets. Oh yea, let's not forget bribery. Amazing how quickly the need for EXTRA CASH stacks up... REPARATION PART ONE... You blow it up... you fix it. We're RE-building a nation we broke. That is expensive, espcially when the deposed leaders led poorly. One hope is... after getting the nation stabilized, we'll create a new "market" for U.S. Industry to flourish. Takes many stacks of EXTRA CASH to care for an orphan-nation. REPARATION PART TWO... You must have an Army of Infrastructure-builders. Enter Halliburton. I've heard much of the EXTRA CASH is for commercial contractors... one the largest, Halliburton. Dick Cheney used to run that company before becoming our VP. Profiteering? Awesome! MEANWHILE, AT HOME... Millions of middle-class Americans foot the bill with their income and sons. The wealthy and elite are free from tax-burdens. A sluggish economy continues to outsource high-paying jobs to the lowest foreign bidder. Displaced professionals return to school for re-training paying a rising premium for tuition. With all this EXTRA CASH slipping into our own VP's pocket. Sounds like a PR nightmare during an election. MY IDEA FOR BUSH/CHENEY TO WIN THE ELECTION: Halliburton should consider setting up a college fund with a portion of the company's profits before the election... Republicans could influence millions of votes from low and middle class Americans..... not to mention the related family members. Or... is there another rogue oil-laden country ripe for the pickin'? peace- seanrox

So... American Idol 3 Final is later tonight. ... Fantasia's Magic vs. Diana's popularity? Tonight, the Governor of Georgia, Arsehole Purdue (yes, the chicken man) reserved the Georgia Dome for Diana DeGarmo fans to join together. It's a couple miles from my house... yet, I will watch comfortably near a bathroom and my Mr. Coffee. Gotta love the fire in Atlanta's own powerhouse -- Diana DeGarmo. She pushed right through to the end. Surprising me at every turn. Then, there is reality... Fantasia. Her escalating performances single-handedly made this competition worth watching. Earlier today on Ryan Seacrest's "On Air", they leaked the voting results were within 1% of each other! Wow... and to think, last night, the performances weren't even comparable. Fantasia's artistic presence, tone, and emotional performance... not even close. Each song Fantasia has performed this season could easily live on a CD... in fact... go download them at Rickey.org: --------------------------------------- >> Download her tracks on Rickey.org --------------------------------------- Welcome to America's popularity contest. Where anything can happen. :) More on this after tonight's "crowning". peace- seanrox

SEANROX LAUNCHES NEW MULTIMEDIA SITE/BLOG: Camp Jam Atlanta ... 38 Special Former Guitarist's Rock Idol Camp WHAT IS CAMP JAM ATLANTA? So... Jeff Carlisi, formerly of 38 Special, established CampJamAtlanta with Leading Edge Promotions. It's a Summer Day Camp here in Atlanta for 10-17years old boy and girl musicians. Like a REAL "School of Rock". PREVIOUS WEB DESIGN. They designed their web site in-house, and acquired some awesome local radio and TV promotion... but needed help with Search Engine Optimization and information design. Hey! That's what I do! THE REFERRAL. Alan Yates, one of my clients and music producers, who is planning to help with "studio curriculum" for the young musicians referred me. SOLUTIONS. Well, after several weeks of my "super-secret rocket-science VooDoo Action" they're at the top of the Search Engines. We added a blog in front of the current site for easy updates that are registered around the web. Rearranged some information to make it a bit easier to find on the site... and I remixed some SuperMatic tracks fora cool Flash intro... CHECK IT OUT MUTHA: Camp Jam Atlanta architecture, media, blog design by seanrox.com! peace- seanrox

REMEMBER: Enlisted Military follow orders. How can we BEST support our troops? Begin by firing the guys in charge. Understand this... from my 24 years experience in and around the military... enlisted (military workerbees) don't create their own orders. I'm suggesting there are some Officers, NCOs, and most probably... the ethically twisted CIA more responsible for the Iraqi prisoner/detainee debacle we see on TV. These low-paid, encouragable enlisted men and women are being publicly smeared across the television screens over the past week. They're due for Court Martial very soon... but I ask, "What were the orders given?" I'm concerned they'll be sent off to Leavenworth before we get the TRUTH. Someone with a higher pay-grade is MORE responsible, I'm sure. Let's ensure our enlisted military, most from low income or military families, have top-notch legal representation. There's a slew of college-educated officers and intelligence agents passing the buck to the lowest guy/girl in the chain-of-command. What can we do? peace- seanrox

If I ran the American music industry... (PART ONE) I would replace record stores with tables, chairs and a fat pipe to the Internet... Music stores bore me. Full of CDs virtually unrelated to each other side-by-side. This isn't a new issue, but at least before vinyl died, leafing through the stacks of creative album became some ritualistic creative journey. Websites now are the ever-changing visual statement of a musician's art. I digress... Although I miss that dusty "album cover journey", I've personally moved on and am indifferent that the CD won against the vinyl record. Hello data. I suspect, very soon, fewer fully packaged CDs will be sold. Data will win. Mp3s, mp4, or whatever "i-Name" the engineers and marketers come up with data will win. Imagine now, a music store with every artist, every album, every song, every version or remix always in stock. We're almost there. Assuming, in the near future we share an ubiquitous wireless connection... why would we need a physical record store? Except for the physical products we must touch immediately, we don't. However, we as humans congregate. The ultimate "P2P app" is conversation. A NIGHT AT THE PUB. If I were in charge... next Wednesday night at the pub, when your best friend says you've gotta hear this song by "some obscure goth band" from Topeka whose father roadied for Frank Zappa in the '70s ... you could do just that. Thirty seconds later, the fat Internet pipe at the pub allows you to download your buddy's recommendation directly to your iPod. Costs you a buck. No biggie... and you'll have that song in data format.... forever. Or trash it if it sucks, and as we know your desktop trashcan adds nothing to the landfill in your backyard. ON THE LAKE. You're with your buddies again out on the lake. You're partying, skiiing, having a great time... everyone wants to hear David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" ... your vinyl LP has been scratched up for years... you've been meaning to buy it anyway... you can, you do. It is good. We still need a new and better way to enjoy album art... that tactile experience is still a void. But, when it comes to aggregating music... with an ubiquitous opportunity to purchase music, people will do it. peace- seanrox

American Idol, Season 3, Top 4... bye bye George Huff. The curse of mediochre ballads stole George's magic. The dude has an amazing voice, and when the energy is "right" he's on fire. Since the Barry Manilow suckage a few weeks ago, he hasn't been the same. Can't feel too bad... assuredly, he'll be on the Idol tour this Summer. Thanks for charming the television audience, George, and consider a Blood, Sweat, Tears cover on your first CD. OUR TOP THREE: Fantasia... #1 in my mind... great voice. Consistent and moving performances. Difficult to understand why people wouldn't choose her as the next American Idol. Diana DeGarmo... ATL's own... waaaay beyond her years. Awesome to see her support strong enuff to get her to the TOP THREE. LaToya London... great perfomer, she actually made Barbra's showtune palletable. Showmanship A+. She found personality in the song... keep with that. I remember weeks when I forgot LaToya was still in-the-running. COMPARE. Remember season #1? Nikki McKibbon? She was in the top three. We move on. peace- seanrox

New Song by Seanrox: "Breathe -- the Cigarette Song"... Gothic Samba, Demented California Drool? You tell me. >> FREE DOWNLOAD ( right-click, save as ) Produced by Alan Yates in Atlanta, Georgia. peace- seanrox

Patchers We have holes in the fabric of our selves. Small rips and tears threading away over time. Some of these thread-barren holes fester upon contact. To keep ourselves in-tact we temporarily cover them with materialistic patches we buy, eat, smoke... not to mention the temporary delusional patches we create to guise any crack in our character. JUST GETTING THRU THE DAY. We're all "patchers." To get thru the day, it's important to focus on our positive selves and to shelter those "open sores" on the tender surface of our souls. If we spent all our time lamenting about our short-comings we'd be pitiful beings. Any lamenting should include affirmation, growth and love. EMBRACING YOUR SUPPORTERS. Eventually, we all are exposed to the reality of our own hurt. Hopefully, at that time, you're surrounded with supporters... people that care enough to change their *own* lives to assist you in your own. These are the most valuable people you will ever meet in this world. If there is EVER a time to listen, it is this time. I've been on both sides of this soul spectacle multiples of times. It sucks to be the hurting one, and admirably difficult to be the one that musters the initiative to help. KNOWING TO ASK AND ACCEPTING HELP. It's a tough decision. It shows great character, and it is incredibly tough. If you're fortunate enough to have someone genuinely poised to help, it's a Godsend. Embrace it, this is an unconditional love. It's far too easy to run away from a genuine concern. We need each other to love and help us to both *realize* and *succeed* in this often rough and complicated landscape called "life". peace- seanrox

American Idol 3, Top 7... Jennifer Hudson eliminated? Well... last week, Jennifer reportedly had the most votes. This week... she had the opposite. Amazing. Seeing both Fantasia and Jennifer in the bottom 2 was truly odd, and quite "wrong". As I've boasted in the blog for months, Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia were my personal Top Two. So, what happened? Here's my take... 1. The Barry Manilow cover song arrangements on Tuesday leaned towards "awkwardness" and quite a bit more complex than need-be. Let's blame Manilow for messin' with the talent and possibly confusing the voters. 2. Both Fantasia and Jennifer were quite amazing last week... especially Fantasia with her personal Gershwin. Maybe the voters were complacent about supporting the obvious leaders in the competition. 3. The Jon Peter Lewis' "boy-crazy" voters may have jumped into John Stevens lap. Lucky SOB. peace- seanrox

American Idol 3, Top 8... Jon Peter Lewis (JPL) eliminated. First, and most important... Fantasia was unmistake-ably awesome. Her soulful performance of "Summertime" showed everyone that she *is* the American Idol... c'mon give me some props, I said it very early in the season. Seconds before Randy's comments, I stated nearly his exact statement... Fantasia's performance *was* the best performance EVER in the Idol series. Sure, JPL must go home to Idaho until the expected Summer "Idol Tour"... of which I'll pass on... again. Just makes me think of that horrible Brady Bunch/H and R PuffnStuff Tour from the '70s... The show was fun with him included, but after Fantasia's performance this past week the proverbial "bar" has been elevated far beyond JPL's worth. Sorry bud. Other than Fantasia rocking the world.... George Huff (killer voice) needs to bring back some energy in the game... he's best in that mode. Jennifer Hudson, my original favorite from the auditions: Jennifer Hudson... the girl can sing *anything*. John Stevens... thank your fans for keeping with you... we'll see a cool CD from within a couple years. Just needs some life experiences to sing about. heh Jasmine Trias, with Camille out of the way... she gets the entire Hawaiian vote. Unfortunately, her performances have yet to draw me in. Diana DeGarmo... ATL's own -- sheesh, she good when she's kicking our collective arse. Unsure how much longer she'll last. Good luck, girl. LaToya London, pretty, good voice... she's no Fantasia. IdolonFOx peace- seanrox

American Idol 3, Top 10 REsults... Amy Adams is gone. American Idol is the ultimate popularity contest. Think back... if you thought high school was horrid, imagine the intense pressure on that stage. Obvious from her performances, the girl *can* sing... but it's NOT all about that. It's *more* about connecting with more American Idol voters lounging on their sofas than each of your competitors each week. This is not an elimination game, rather it is the largest televised popularity contest... ever. My American Idol 3 West Coast Social Theory Related... notice the last three Idol contestants with the least amount of votes per week were ALL from the West Coast. Leah LaBelle from Washington State. And is it possible both Amy Adams and Matt Rogers may have been victims of the complacency of California voters? Well, it's one social theory... and fellow Californian, LaToya London *was* in the bottom three this week. Get yer game on. peace- seanrox

American Idol 3, Top 10 Yea, I slacked off a week or so... America decided to push both Leah Labelle and Matt Rogers into the depths until a BradyKids-esque Tour this Summer, possibly? Leah's still young, give her a couple years. Matt... unsure how he stuck around as long as he did... definitely more likable than he is vocally able. Oh yea... I told you Kimberly Locke rocks butt... her return to perform her single was good, and she delivered it nicely. She was #3 last season... makes you wonder where Season #1's, Justin, screwed up, huh? He's not listed on RCA's artist roster. MoTown night went nicely... this group collectively kicks the other two seasons in the bootay. My two favs from waaaaaaaaay back: Jennifer Hudson, and Fantasia grooved in their own respective styles. Camile Velasco (Maui-momma)... I really dig this chick's laid-back vibe... voice control/nerves might get the best of her this week, if John Stevens' continued charm doesn't fade, despite his poor performance... dude needs simpler production behind him. Jon Peter Lewis continues to surprise me... dude's got a great voice, chicks dig him, and guys won't necessarily hate him. Hawaii's own Jasmine Trias found some Kelly Clarkson charm under the parachute pants in the dressing room, I believe. Amy Adams... great voice... just don't care to look at her... notice she's getting more and tanner and tanner despite the fact she's already from California. :) La Toya London... continues to be a forgettable person with a solid vocal ability. ATL's own Diana DeGarmo belts it out every week... it's all about votes with this girl. PREDICTION AT THIS TIME? Nah, not really... except, I would purchase Fantasia's CD over pretty much anyone in the running today. peace- seanrox

Spending a bit of time in Proposal-Land... The nature of the freelance world is schedule the time to write proposals and design for speculative projects... and that's where I've been spending my time. This is as much of a note to myself as a announcement of nothing for the random readers of this blog. Keeps me regular. peace- seanrox