Common Folk Collective » common

Tuesday Forecast: July 22nd, 2014

thos — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:10:59 +0000

Hip Hop first: Common. Yep, another one. All I’ve been hearing about Nobody’s Smiling is that it’s got harder lyrics and harder beats and is a response to the violence happening in his hometown Chicago (though many argue the intense violence has been going on and only now is it getting more media attention [because we love violence and there's not enough going on in the world apparently]). I’m afraid it’s his approach to feeling like a respected elder whose voice may or may not hold any weight with the ones caught up in the violence. I just hope it’s not an album sounding like his father’s rants. I’m more hopeful for the Cormega and Large Pro release, Mega Philosopy. Illa Ghee is another one I’m on the fence about, He’s got a gorilla voice (like a gruff Heavy D) with a point blank take on the duality of “urban life”. I feel it’s going to be pretty hit and miss though, he sounds best when he breaks out of the box but still confines himself to trying for the mundane “raise ‘em high and party” choruses.

And the non Hip Hop: Dan the mofo Automator hitting us off with another themed album, this time teaming up with actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who he met on the set of Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World). Other intriguing releases high on the list are Kidkanevil’s My Little Ghost, Slow Waves by Submerse, and DVA Damas’ Nightshade.

Anyway, get on with it. Boom.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

thos — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:49:48 +0000

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DCDan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:53:36 +0000

thos aka thosalumpagus aka totally thomas aka “fill in the blank.” Help me reach my goal of finding a new place to call home by my birthday (+/- a couple weeks), May 24. I am intrigued by Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Berlin, anywhere in Asia, exotic Baltimore, or any other places you might suggest. Who wants me to be their new neighbor?!?
I also happen to be into graffiti, photography, illustration, all things hip hop, and creativity in general. And I’m part of the Common Folk Collective. My Flickr page. Boooom.

Click to enlarge

Full gallery • Inspiration

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How to Annoy Me with Your Email

DCDan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:49:02 +0000

I’ve had an email account for almost twenty years and I’m a software developer by day, as such I get a lot of email. Over the years I’ve developed a system of sorting and have a bunch of folders that handle a lot of annoyances that might fill up my inbox.

I don't do Inbox Zero

I also switch jobs every couple of years which means I don’t have the same level of rules and organization for work email. In fact my current 9 to 5 limits me to 500mb of email (yes I realize that 1994 called and they want their harddrive back). This means that I have to manually scan each email that arrives in my inbox. Here are a few things that will make me flip off my monitor and mock you behind your back.

Using the priority marker on email. First off I get to decide my priorities for the day, you don’t. Secondly, I have yet to receive an email marked high priority that was actually a priority. I wish they charged a hefty fee to send “priority emails,” it would make people think twice before sending them.
Legal disclaimers in your email.
The information contained in this communication may be confidential and is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) or entity(ies) named above. blah... blah.. threat, threat, threat
Really? First they mean absolutely nothing, have you EVER heard of someone in court because they didn’t follow the directives at the end of an email? Yeah, me neither. Secondly, if the information is confidential why are you sending it unencrypted? That is, at best, negligent.
When I get a message with a silly disclaimer I attach the following.This message (including any attachments) does NOT contain confidential information and may or may NOT have been intended for a specific individual and is most likely purposeless, yet is protected by ninja garden gnomes. If you are not the intended recipient, you should read this message as it will probably be funny and may contain juicy gossip. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly allowed and encouraged.
Email signatures that are longer than your message or contain images. I’m also glaring at people who use different fonts or colors.
You’ve sent an email in error, if it was an obvious mistake you do nothing. If you must follow up send an apology email. You know what you shouldn’t do? Send a recall, it will be recalled only for the other people in your office who haven’t opened it AND use Outlook. Everyone else will get a second email that says you are recalling the first email. I’ll share with you an Internet Fact: Using Outlook’s message recall makes your mistake look four times worse. (QUAD-DAMAGE)
“Replying all” to an office wide email informing you of something mundane like “The Second Microwave in the 10th Floor Kitchen isn’t Working” with “Thank you.”
I used to get annoyed with top-posting but I realized it was a losing battle.

Tumblr Find of the Day

thos — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:48:16 +0000

Pure awesomeness. I want this. I want to make love under the stars in this. Pizza and a sleeping bag combined in one beacon of shining light of genius. USA! http://www.tumblr.com/blog/commonfolkcollective

More from this artist at their Etsy page, B Fiber and Craft Emporium.

I strongly encourage reader submissions of themselves in the watermelon bikini.

NinjaSonik- New EP

thos — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:31:11 +0000

Common Folk brethren NinjaSonik just recently dropped a new EP, No Swords or Masks, on Decon records-

“Reverend McFly and Telli Gramz turn a keen ear to this record, incorporating production from David Sisko, Soundwaave, and Plain Pat among others. Lyrically, the duo has never been sharper- though subject matter primarily touches on women, partying, and partying with women- proficient wordplay and cadence align them with the best hip-hop spitters. Verses from Mr. Starcity, Ifsonive, Daniel Merriweather, Shyvonne & Johnny on The Rocks (of Rocky Business) seal the deal.”

It’s always good to see friends progress and have good things happen. Oh, and if you don’t know, GO SEE THESE CAVE MAN SAVS LIVE.

Song of the Week

thos — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:52:03 +0000

Looking ahead to this coming weekend, we offer you the real resurrection. Common Sense’s (yes, when he still had the sense) Resurrection.

Classic material from a classic album. Cheers.