Teenaged Aziz Ridouan had become a bit of a celebrity in France for support and advocacy related to internet music downloading, according to this New York Times article.

The fact that Ridouan is meeting with a bunch of goofy French Politicians over internet downloading laws isn't nearly as interesting as the fine print in the story which states that The National Assembly in France passed legislation that could force Apple Computer and other companies to make songs purchased on their proprietary online services playable on any MP3 device. Is this similar to forcing record companies to continue to manufacture Cassette tapes for the listening public that doesn't have a CD Player?
Not really, but it's worth a discussion anyway.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love my home state. Afterall, you have a little bit of everything in Jersey...the city, the country, the shore. It's also the land of urban legends...ghosts of prom queens, murderous albinos, and mysterious flying saucers. I'm sure that most kids grow up hearing stories about local oddities and whatnot, but somehow, I think New Jersey kids grow up hearing the most stories of all. Afterall, Jersey is the home to the grandaddy of urban legends...The Jersey Devil.

Or maybe it was just me. It probably helped that I had a dad who was intrigued by Jersey legends. He would drive us up to one of North Jersey's famously haunted churches on a suspiciously breezy night, roll the windows down, and tell us to listen for the ghosts (I swear I heard them!) Or would bundle us up to take a drive down to the reservoir to look for UFOs (I know I saw them!) It made for some of my favorite childhood memories.

In highschool, my friends and I would investigate some of the spookier legends for ourselves...driving through the grounds of old insane asylums, visiting "Annie's grave," and checking out the oh-so-eerie, Gravity Hill and Devil's Tower.

After living in Hoboken for a few years, I decided to salute one of their local urban legends...the Hoboken Monkeyman. With help from Dave, I created an online store dedicated to the marauding monkey-beast that terrorized Hoboken in the 1980's. My dad would've been proud.

The folks over at Weird NJ love all this stuff as much as I do. Their site, as well as their magazines and books, are devoted to all that is weird and Jersian, and now they are accepting stories and legends from all over the United States for their "Weird USA" series. Whether you are from the area, or just fond of the strange and unusual, check out their site - and share your weird stories too.

A little over a month ago, I started a new full-time copywriting position for a prestigious industry association (for those of you who don't know me, I do marketing/PR consulting for themechanism - which means proofing, editing and the occasional lap dance).

In my new full-time position, I also proof copy...lots of copy. Lots and lots of copy. Even though I've been a copywriter for over 10 years, have lots of proofing experience and have an array of style books - AP Style, Elements of Style, In Style Magazine 😉 - I never realized just how hardcore proofing could be.

You see, the place where I now work follows AP Style in addition to their own very specific in-house style. It's very black and white - an interesting transition for someone coming from a place that's a bit more of a shade of gray. There is a struggle between writing according to the rules and writing for maximum marketing impact. I've straddled the line for years, using and bending the rules the way that I see fit.

Today, I'm slowly finding that balance again - I've stepped up my copywriting game and have learned how to obey the AP Style rules without losing my writing style. It's my own version of themechanism's belief in "clean coding" but instead of creating websites, I'm creating press releases, brochures and web copy. It's about adhering to higher standards and who can't benefit from that?

The Simpsons has consistently produced great dialog throughout a very illustrious run on FOX. As Mr. Burns captures Marge and her friends burgling his mansion, he unveils his trusty musket and utters these words...

"Try to steal my eggs will you? Well, this rooster has a beak! A beak that cries 'Death-a-doodle-doo!'"

"“Montgomery Burns, The Simpsons

Feel free to ahead and use it next time your boss dares to steal an idea and show it to a client as their own.

The evolution of web design has nearly come full circle in a period of 16 years. From the "first official" web site (a single page explaining the definition and purpose of the World Wide Web) - to standardized web development today, many things have progressed, yet very little has changed in the code.

With the second incarnation of the World Wide Web (Web 2.0), many designers who continue to work in this medium after the "dot-com" bubble burst, are once again using rules developed over ten years ago by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and practicing what is called "standards-based" web design. Standards-based web design eliminates the extra code and unnecessary graphics of late 1990 web development practices, allowing web designers to create web sites that are easy to update and maintain for clients.

A trend that is occurring more rapidly now within the web design community is the open sourcing of code and the global sharing of ideas. del.icio.us and Stumble Upon allow web visitors to share their bookmarks and favorite websites. JavaScript effects libraries, such as moo.fx and script.aculo.us, offer readily-developed code in a communal atmosphere, while online tools like Blogger and Flickr have made it free and easy for people to share ideas and photographs.

Clients understand that the web is not just a means of reproducing company information but it can be a tool where they can interact with customers on a very personal level. The development of communities around a brand creates a close association and at times, fanatical following with customers. By allowing site visitors to interact with, and sometimes even comment on, their own content, vital, "open source" communities are being created. With the addition of other tools, such as mobile devices, the online experience offers unparalleled brand integration.

Today, clients are looking for web designers that can creatively persuade their audiences to interact with their site and allow their employees to share internal information effectively and easily. Specific technology platforms are no longer the issue. Figuring out unique ways to connect a brand online to its intended audience is the "hottest topic" at hand.

From an interview with Dave Fletcher from HOW Magazine

The best way to generate new business is to continually produce the best work you can for existing clients. Positive word of mouth is exponentially more powerful than a dozen "million dollar" promotional ideas. Create evangelists of your agency/studio by going the extra mile every time.

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