Tokyo Police Club Remix Track
Sex and Nudity Aren't Good Reasons to Fire Someone
There's a place that
I can go
And tell my secrets to
In my room
-- The Beach Boys
What if we start with the idea that sex is good, bodies are beautiful and exhibitionism is a wonderfully exuberant way to celebrate life, love and the pursuit of pleasure?
What if we take it a step further and admit that technology has opened the doors -- and the windows, and the portcullises, and the skylights and the ventilation systems -- to a surfeit of sexual expression and display?
Is it really asking too much to suggest that employers stop worrying about how we perform in adult spaces and concentrate on how we perform our jobs instead?
Apparently it is, for the nonce.
An Ohio teacher was fired last month after his private nude photos were posted online without his knowledge and then discovered by administrators. In February, Michelle Manhart was demoted from Air Force staff sergeant to senior airman and then reassigned to the Iowa National Guard, simply for posing in Playboy without first obtaining the Air Force's permission.
A New York Post article about how online activities affect a job hunt cites an example of a manager who was fired after his bosses found his pictures on an erotic dating site. Not because he was using company time to update his profile, but because "he showed extremely poor judgment by making such a personal matter public."
It makes you wonder what the bosses were doing at the dating site.
I am so sick of the priggishness. Tired of people making assumptions about a person based on their perceptions of the other's sexuality -- especially when they base those assumptions on the single dimension of online expression. Flabbergasted at the assumption that if you participate in adult activity online, you must lack judgment, integrity or reliability.
Getting naked on the internet is an international pastime, not the whim of a handful of sex addicts. Flashing your booty or treating yourself to an orgasm is hardly a sign that you are incapable of doing your job well, nor does it grant permission for others to dismiss your professional competence or authority.
And millions of sane, healthy, normal folks cannot resist the special lure of the internet, where you can be voyeur and exhibitionist at the same time...[READ MORE]
MUSIC
TOKYO POLICE CLUB GET REMIX TREATMENT FROM TREY TOLD ‘EM (aka GIRL TALK) ON NEW SINGLE
Trey Told 'Em is a new project dedicated to doing remixes, beats, and production work. Its members are Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) and Frank Musarra, who also records electronic/rock music as Hearts of Darknesses and plays drums for various bands.
Tokyo Police Club - "Cheer It On (Trey Told Em Remix)"
Tokyo Police Club - Cheer It On video live at SXSW
Featured Artist: Cary Brothers
MOKB favorite Cary Brothers have a new album, Who You Are, coming out on May 29th. You can check out a couple tracks from that upcoming album below:
Cary Brothers - "Who You Are"
Cary Brothers - "Ride"
Featured Artist: The Sinister Turns
Lead Singer Susan Putnins describes The Sinister Turns as "piano-based bubblegum pop with an indie rock flair, a love of synth, and a penchant for dark lyrics--sort of Sylvia Plath on pop rocks." Sounds inticing, right? Because it is.
The Sinister Turns provide everything from dramatic piano ballads to bubblegum indie power pop, to literate space rock, to esoteric pseudohip hiphopscotch shoegaze, to fun with instruments that sometimes are in harmony with each other. Based out of Harvard University, this band hopes to someday burst the bubble. In the meantime, you'll never know when the set will take a sinister turn...
The Sinister Turns - "The Last Time"
Stream and download some of The Sinister Turns at Myspace
Featured Artist: Kinetic Stereokids
It's not at all hard to detect when a band's members know each other so well that the music becomes a completely cohesive creature. This is exemplified by Kintetic Stereokids and the 10 tracks on its latest release, Basement Kids. The childhood friends take rock to an entirely new place-- with compelling instrumentation and innovative production details. Not too far off from Sonic Youth's extreme-dabbling, or Elliot Smith's melancholic rock balladry, KSK presents the next step in the evolution of the experimental rock sub-genre. It's no surprise that these kids have shared stages with Explosions In The Sky, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead, The Secret Machines, and Wolf Eyes. Its genuine and fresh approach to rock, coupled with addictive hooks and vocals, make KSK a must-hear. The individual energies of this four piece combine perfectly to make a kinetic record that will move any listener.
Kinetic Stereokids - "Explosions Were Heard"
Featured Artist - The Mitchells
Most indie rock aficionados can probably tell you a thing or two about Northampton. The tiny Massachusetts town gave birth to a number of ultra-influential acts, including Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and Silver Jews. These same folks probably also know about The Mitchells, the long running indie rock act that set out to "Write songs like the Smiths, but perform them like Polvo." These indie rock veterans are a major part of the Northeast scene and have shared bills over the years with Throwing Muses, Buffalo Tom, The Figgs, Versus, Crooked Fingers and Jason Lowenstein. For their third full-length, Slow Gears, The Mitchells keep the up-tempo, distorted feel that fans are used to, while introducing some new atmospheric moments that give listeners a chance to reflect on this truly awesome band.
The Mitchells - "Lit Doorbells"