'Don't tell me what the poets are doing.'
Poets, The Tragicially Hip

An 'interesting' test of authorial positioning is to look at the sloppy kissy use of "" or '' and harumph over the assumptions 'masking' the POWER
STRUCTURES GOVERNING CULTURAL BEHAVIOR, DAMN Caps lock. The use of quotation marks points toward patronization and irony but what happens when a 'cool' museum and college host a session on the latest fifty 'nifty' ideas creeping, or is it rolling, around the next 'bend'? A triple inversion? Ooh la la la la. I can barely conceal my 'excitement'. Irritating isn't it?

My initial link to the story was via artdaily and I wandered around the post focussing on Irma Zandl simply because she had the coolest (no quotes) name in the bunch. Frankly, I had never heard of any of the specialists but, being a rather dull and pedestrian bystander, this didn't surprise me but it may surprise you.

Listed below are a few quotes from a Zandlcentric point of view. They're a bit lengthy but necessary for context so what the hell.

Keywords and phrases include: 'IT',insights, intriguing, what's next, major props, amazing, not to be missed, BFFs, sinking their teeth, 'buzz', What's up with that?, wanna, "Good one, Walmart!", tapped in, keep it "real".

Okay, I'll keep it 'real' and recommend you buy a timeshare in Churchill, Manitoba. It is _the_ polar bear capital of the world and since these nasty, seal eating predators are the newest poster children of the apocalypse you'll make a fortune speculating on tourist related development. Btw, it's cool there too. Now pay me.
http://www.townofchurchill.ca/cim/75C122_207T4906T278T8353T413T16705.dht...

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The "IT" Factor: What Makes Something Hot?

NEW YORK, NY.- The New Museum will present a panel addressing the zeitgeist, charisma, and the herd mentality in the worlds of art, architecture, design, and fashion on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, from 6:30 - 8PM, at the Great Hall at The Cooper Union. The "IT" Factor: What Makes Something Hot? will feature five legendary tastemakers who will
break down the cult of cool and give insight into their participation in its creation:

Participants

Irma Zandl
Principal of the Zandl Group, Irma has been acknowledged as one of America's foremost experts on consumer insights and trend research. She
specializes in "what's next" for business, helping companies stay on-trend and consumer-centric. She is in demand as a guest speaker and television commentator, and she is frequently quoted in the business press for her insights on consumer behavior and market trending-including Time, Business Week and The Economist. On the road or
at home on the Lower East Side in New York, Irma always keeps an eye out for new or intriguing developments, which she posts on the Zandland
Blog.

http://www.artdaily.org/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=19304

Again, major props to Television for Women for another amazing comedy program. Oprah fueled Oxygen Network's (Oh!), "Campus Ladies,"executively produced by "Curb Your Enthusiasm's'" Cheryl Hines,
follows the trial and tribulations of former housewives turned college freshmen, Joan & Barri-middle aged BFFs.They endure the keggers and
social ills of college dorm life and provide amazing comic relief. This show is not to be missed and includes cameos by Jason Alexander, Jeff
Garland, Chelsea Handler and assorted Christopher Guest film regulars.

So, Walmart is sinking their teeth into the world of video downloading. Big launch this week...I went to check it out, see what all the 'buzz' was about...and um...well...on Firefox there seems to be a bit of an issue...I took a screenshot (below). What's up with that? If you wanna play in the big leagues, you gotta bring your game. Good one, Walmart!

http://zandland.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

Young Adult Hot Sheet

An annual subscription to The Young Adult Hot Sheet is like having an on-going young adult market research program. Throughout the year, it
keeps you tapped in, helps you understand the mindset and alerts you to emerging trends. The Young Adult Hot Sheet is essential reading for
everyone in your company who needs to reach young adults including brand management, creatives, R&D, sales, promotion, public relations and advertising.

Throughout the course of each year, 1200 young adults, ages 21-29, complete open-ended questionnaires exploring their values and
aspirations, lifestyle and interests, entertainment and media, and purchase behavior in a broad range of categories. Survey data is segmented by gender and age range (21-24 and 25-29). Open-ended
questions keep it "real" and alert us to new developments at their inception. Our annualized sample is representative of this population
segment by gender, age, ethnic background and region according to Census data.

The subscription cost is $18,000. (This does not include travel expenses for the optional HOT SHEET LIVE presentation, which will be billed at
cost.)

http://www.zandlgroup.com/
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Congratulations if you've made it this far. Did you think it was time well spent? Are you better prepared to face this cold, cruel world? I doubt I'd have your perseverance but since you've stuck around here's my latest favorite song:

If you've got the money
I think it would be funny ah ah oh
To take your girl and spend a bit of your cash for me
Cos' then she might be happy
No longer lonely ah ah oh
And I could take her out the next day for pretty much free

Dah dee doo dahdah dee dah doo dah dahdah domdom dada domdom dom dadee dah doo dahdah dom

Jamie T (If You've Got the Money)
http://www.jamie-t.com/