Jonty Skrufff's Blog

DG in action (click on the picture for more)

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French pop dance maestro David Guetta’s ability to polarise opinion was emphasised by the British press this week, via a series of wildly contrasting reviews of shows he performed in front of tens of thousands of revellers in London, Liverpool and Belfast.

Belfast Telegraph reporter Alan Lewis branded his ‘amazing, spectacular set’ at the Belsonic Festival a ‘runaway success’, adding ‘Guetta was obviously having as much fun as the crowd, who literally bounced the night away’.

Creamfields reporter Natalie Evans was similarly impressed.

“The star hosted “the biggest party on the planet”,” she wrote in a euphoric review in local news portal Click Liverpool, “with an awe-inspiring set of chart, electro-pop and old school anthems.”

Guardian music critic Ian Gittins, however, appeared to endure a far less ecstatic experience at London’s LED Festival in Victoria Park, moaning about it taking place ‘in a mud bath under ominous grey skies and sporadic downpours’.

“French DJ/producer David Guetta has enjoyed four UK No 1 singles in the last year, a fact he continually repeated during a monumentally depressing headline set of cheesy club anthems spun from the top of a garish 30ft podium,” Gittins grumbled.

“Guetta may be a house music titan but he will always sound like a Top Shop in-store DJ who got lucky,” he complained.

Jonty Skrufff

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Click on the picture for more Barefoot Doc stuff

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Barefoot Doctor: “Firstly you have to remember good and bad are merely relative terms – murder, for instance is as bad as you can get, the worst crime of all, yet a soldier who murders enough enemy combatants on the battlefield gets a medal. Good and bad are all to do with context in other words.

However, by respecting all life and the freedom of others to decide for themselves and by focusing on how to contribute to the good of all rather than how everyone is contributing to you, you put yourself in the flow of the ‘Great Way’, the creative energy of existence and success comes in everything you do.

Any time you act without respect for the sanctity of all life and the freedom of others to choose for themselves, you cut yourself off from the flow and harm will eventually befall you. So while you may get a short term result from being unethical, in the longer term it will only bring you misery.”

Questions by Skrufff.

Discover the Taoist super-skills and find out more about the Barefoot Doctor at

http://www.superchargedtaoist.com

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Australia's Sex Party (click on the picture for more- SAFE for work!!!)

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Australian newspaper The Herald Sun reported that the country’s newest political organisation the Sex Party had a ‘strong election result’ this week, after they fielded candidates for the first time for the Senate.

The influential newspaper also labelled the Sex Party ‘a potentially potent force in Victoria’ after they out performed almost all Australia’s fringe parties, coming close to even toppling ultra-conservative moralists ‘Family First’.

The Sex Party was approved by the electoral commission just 12 months ago and attracted immediate support by attacking ‘morals campaigners and prudish politicians’ making ‘behind the scenes handshakes with religious leaders’.

Writing on their website they also condemned the ‘appalling sloganeering’ of mainstream politicians (including Obama’s ‘Yes We Will’) labelling it a ‘blatant attempt to brainwash people’.

“It’s patronising and dangerous,” they added, “It borders on dictatorship-style politics and is devoid of any vision.”

The party also proposes decriminalising drugs, ‘total equal rights in all areas of the law including same sex marriage’ and reversing the policy which allows ‘the mandatory retention of all Australian users’ internet browsing history and emails by ISPs for at-will inspection by law enforcement agencies’.

Brazilian candidate Adiely hits the campaign trail

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Their promising start is likely to encourage stripper and ‘erotic actress’ turned Brazilian parliamentary candidate Adriely Fatal, who this week stepped up her campaign to be elected as an MP in Brazil’s upcoming general election with a high profile interview with the Guardian.

Chatting to the British newspaper, the 23 year old Christian Workers Party candidate said she’s hoping to introduce strip clubs and more hospitals in every town and said she’d been inspired by legendary hardcore porn star turned Italian MP Cicciolina.

“I’m using sensuality to attract votes – I’m trying to attract young people and men,” Ms Fatal explained. “I’m going to concentrate on healthcare and on showing people that just because I use tight clothes it doesn’t mean that I can’t do a proper job,” she added.

Jonty Skrufff

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New York Mayor/ billionaire Michael Bloomberg: 'you bet I did (inhaled): and I enjoyed it'

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Authorities in Mexico discovered the bodies of 72 people murdered and buried at a farm in Tamaulipas, close to Texas this week, in the latest horrifying escalation of the drugs war sweeping the country.

The tally came on top of 229 other murder victims’ bodies discovered this week, four of whom were left hanging from a bridge in Cuernavaca, after being decapitated and castrated. Two more men’s bodies were also found hanging from a road bridge near Chilpancingo, both of which had had both arms chopped off.

Leading UK commentator Johan Hari blamed the killings entirely on prohibition and suggested drug legalisation could cripple the ultra-violent drug cartels.

“Legalisation would bankrupt them swiftly, and entirely,” he predicted.

“Nobody kills to sell you a glass of Jack Daniels. Nobody beheads police officers or shoots teenagers to sell you a glass of Budweiser,” he pointed out.

“And, after legalisation, nobody would do it to sell you a spliff or a gram of cocaine either. They would be in the hands of unarmed, regulated, legal businesses, paying taxes to the state, at a time when we all need large new sources of tax revenue,” he said (Independent )

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The newspaper he was writing for the Independent (who in the past campaigned for cannabis decriminalisation in the UK before changing their minds) agreed.

“If Americans lost their taste for drugs, the Mexican cartels would be out of business. That, however, will not happen; indeed the forbidden nature of drugs may make them more attractive,’ the Independent noted, “So why not legalise them?”

Tijuana human rights expert Victor Clark Alfaro, however, predicted little will change in the foreseeable future, despite increasing calls for legalization from influential opinion formers around the world.

“It’s mainly supported by intellectuals and academia, but it doesn’t have the sympathy of the population as a whole,” he pointed out. “Nor does it (decriminalization) have the support of the US government,” he said.

(Spectator/ Daily Telegraph columnist/ self confessed spliff smoker, (inadvertent) ketamine user (he thought it was MDMA) libertarian James Delingpole: “Since the dawn of time man has always been possessed of an urge to get out of his box — be it via mushrooms, datura, aluminium wheel cleaning fluid, claret, or psychedelic reindeer pee. It’s what we do. Nothing could be more natural. Why waste time, money and lives fighting nature . . ?”)

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JesusOrSatan.com: click on the picture for more

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A new study of British women’s sexual preferences has revealed that 85% prefer ‘real men’ with body hair, prompting mega-media organisation the Press Association to declare that the ‘modern “metrosexual” man has had his day.’

The Daily Mail went even further.

“Only 8 per cent of women said they liked their men groomed to perfection,” the notoriously body image obsessed tabloid reported, “Narrowly beating the 7 per cent who preferred to see a werewolf-like quantity of hair.”

Details of the latest study (by pillow company Sound Asleep) emerged just as the New York Times published an article headlined ‘if your boyfriend is metrosexual’ in which the US newspaper highlighted the latest must-have accessory for fashion conscious men: a US$295 handbag.

“There are boyfriend jeans; now there’s a boyfriend bag,” the Times trumpeted.

“Rebecca Minkoff’s BF bag is leather, with a sturdy chain designed to be worn messenger style. Fall colors include electric orange, olive and gray.”

Also in the States, trendy vicar type Mark Driscoll (described by Newsweek as being ‘among America’s most prominent young Christian voices’) took aim at both metrosexuals and retrosexuals this week, complaining that both demographics are part of a ‘Peter Pan Syndrome epidemic where men want to remain boys forever.’

“A buddy of mine calls them evangellyfish because they have no backbone,” he sneered, “Girlfriends, gal friends with benefits, and miscellaneous other mannies (nannies for men) need to know this: you want a guy you can marry and have babies with. You don’t want to marry a guy who’s a baby,” he recommended.

JesusorSatan.com: Christians have already taken the MARK OF THE BEAST! Satan is the master of deception. You have put the MARK OF THE BEAST everywhere.  GOOD Christians will write this off as a COINCIDENCE! . . .’)

Jonty Skrufff

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Immodesty Blaize (click on the picture for more)

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EMI records chief Miles Leonard chatted to Skrufff this week about the major label’s new strategy of signing all round ‘360º’ deals with the likes of Deadmau5 and the Swedish House Mafia and revealed that music sales are no longer the major label’s primary focus.

“We can’t just rely on selling CDs and digital downloads to survive any more and to move with the times you need to be a very rounded company,” said Miles.

“So in doing that, that means you open the doors to signing deals with artists out there who have very successful businesses that aren’t necessarily centred on their albums. Their album may just be the conduit that drives people to go to their live shows, whereas the album itself may not sell a huge amount. But if the live shows do, we may still want to invest in that person as a company,” he said.

Joining Virgin as a lowly talent scout in 1992 Miles brought the Verve to the EMI offshoot as his very first signing before being unceremoniously fired as a result of a classic major label power game. Rejoining EMI via Parlophone in 1993 as an A&R, he went on to sign the likes of the Beta Band and Eric Prydz before sealing his reputation in signing then transforming Coldplay and Kylie into global mega-million selling pop stars.

17 years on he remains at the top of EMI’s hierarchy as Parlophone Managing Director overseeing merchandising, synching (licensing tracks to commercials and connecting bands with brands) and ‘360 deals’, involving all aspects of bands- and DJs’- careers.

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Miles Leonard

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“The Swedish House Mafia are signed to EMI through Virgin and that deal is an all round 360º one where we have invested in them not just as producers or recording artists but as a company. As an entity, as a business,” said Miles.

“So we have involvement in everything they do from the shows worldwide to the residency at Pacha (Ibiza) to merchandise: absolutely everything. It’s a 360º deal where we’ve invested in them,” he said.

“And that’s the same deal that’s in place with Deadmau5, again with Virgin, through EMI. We’ve gone into business with Deadmau5, not just for his records but a deal with his business as a whole,” he explained.

Miles also pointed out that last year EMI signed burlesque dancer Immodesty Blaise to the label despite the fact she doesn’t make any music at all.

“We’re investing in her show and she’ll be performing at corporate events for example, they’ll also be a book, a film, and a number of other things. We thought it would be an interesting project to branch out into that isn’t just about music,” he said.

His assessment of the erotic dancer’s potential matched that of the writer behind her official biography on her website who she’s fast becoming a national treasure’ off the back of her ‘impressive client roster including top names such as Dior, Cartier, and Damien Hirst’.

“Immodesty is also an acclaimed writer,” the press release also notes, “Her debut novel ‘Tease’- her first foray into the genre of ‘bonkbuster’ fiction garnered five star reviews and became a top ten bestseller.”

Miles Leonard will be appearing as a keynote speaker at the Amsterdam Dance Event in October.

http://www.immodestyblaize.com/

Jonty Skrufff

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Click on the picture for Urban 75's guide to fly-posting

Councillors in Tower Hamlets have started pasting ‘cancelled’ stickers across party posters illicitly displayed on walls in the East London borough in an imaginative tactic to deter fly poster companies.

“We’re showing would-be fly-posters that they’ll be wasting their money if they put up illegal advertisements in the borough,” Councillor Shahed Ali explained in a statement.

“It can take up to 45 minutes to remove just one poster and often scraps of paper are left behind – but it only takes a couple seconds stick the ‘It’s Cancelled’ sticker on. This is a creative way to crack down on fly-posting,” he added.

In more East London clubland news acclaimed Shoreditch triangle venue Plastic People reopened recently after a 6 week hiatus ordered by the police.

Writing on the wall of Facebook group ‘Keep Plastic People Alive’ when the club re-opened on July 24, Plastic People spokesperson ‘Deck Queenz’ said they’ve introduced a compulsory 1.45am no more admission rule and issued an apologetic statement thanking the police for the new regulations.

“Due to proper concerns about the use of illegal drugs in Plastic People and the sale of alcohol after permitted hours on 11 February 2010 Hackney Police lodged a Review of Plastic People’s Premises Licence. The management of Plastic People accept that the police concerns were justified and have been working closely with the police to ensure standards are improved,” they said.

“Plastic People has a zero tolerance attitude to drugs and are grateful for the assistance of police in highlighting these serious issues,” the statement added.

Urban 75′s flyposting guide; click HERE

Hackney Council on Flyposting: (‘Fly-posting refers to putting posters on trees, street furniture, post boxes, walls, buildings and telephone boxes without the permission of the council. It is an illegal, anti-social activity that creates a negative impression of an area and contributes to people’s fear of crime . . .’)

Jonty Skrufff

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Nice People Take Drugs (click on the picture for more)

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America’s anti-drug secret police force the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) in Atlanta have published ‘help wanted’ adverts on their website looking for nine candidates able to understand ‘ebonics’, the term for ‘street slang’ language used by predominantly African Americans.

The Guardian reported this week that the DEA need ebonics speakers to interpret drug dealers recorded on wiretaps using phrases such as ‘is he shook?’ (meaning ‘is he scared?’) and ‘I need a re-up’ (meaning ‘I need resupplying’, usually with drugs).

“A lot of times people think you’re just dealing with a few slang words, and that you can finesse your way around it,” Stanford University language expert Professor John Rickford told AP ,” And it’s not – it’s a big vocabulary. You’ll have some significant differences,” he added.

Details of the DEA plan were revealed just as the Wall Street Journal reported that psychologists and drug counselors are reporting unprecedented levels of drug use amongst merchant bankers in the States, suggesting linguists conversant with Wall Street patois could be even more effective.

Brad Lamm from Intervention Specialists told the Wall Street Journal that many of his executives clients are hooked on powder cocaine and crack, adding ‘the titans of Wall Street normalize crazy behavior all the time’. Robert Curry from rehab company Turning Point For Leaders agreed.

“Investment bankers — gunslingers, as we call them — are highly prone to addiction,” he said, “And there’s a lot of denial among employers. The attitude is: ‘If they can’t fix themselves, then they’re going to have to live with it. We’re not going to put any time and effort into it.’ (Wall Street Journal)

http://www.turningpointforleaders.com/ (‘When it comes to identifying addictions, one should remember that “if you suspect there is a problem, there probably is one.” People with addictions are so driven to continue using drugs or alcohol that they are very cunning at hiding the problem, not only from others but also from themselves. They often fail to see the inevitable changes in their functioning at work, home and with friends; changes that are invariably noticed by others . . .’)

Ebonic Phrase book: ‘Sup? – How are you?’; ‘Beeatsh – Woman/female friend’; ‘Ho/Hizzle/Hizza – Woman/female friend’:  Phrases NOT to be used: ‘Da bomb – (replaced with “dat hotness”

DEA Special Agent Careers: Before You Apply: ‘Applicants who are found, through investigation or personal admission, to have experimented with or used narcotics or dangerous drugs, except those medically prescribed, will not be considered for employment with DEA. Exceptions to this policy may be made for applicants who admit to limited youthful and experimental use of marijuana . . .’)

Jonty Skrufff

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We Music Brazil: click on the picture for more

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Alisson Gothz: What makes the Brazilian music market so different from all others Latin American countries? How is the Internet creating new models of production and distribution for Brazilian indie artists? Why do a lot of Brazilian artists only achieve success outside of their native country and what causes that? How big is the indie market in Brazil? Can the international music markets learn something from us?

These are some of the questions that a very exciting new project is raising over the web and – hopefully – will be presented in the next edition of the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival (SXSW) held in Austin, TX (USA). This is the only Brazilian project fighting for a chance to be a panel inside the festival’s largely diverse program.

“WE MUSIC” is a project conceived as a way of shedding a light over what’s really going in the Brazilian music scene, focusing especially on our independent artists. Created as a mixed media initiative, it takes shelter under the wings of eight different artists who are now producing and releasing their own music using new models of work and distribution. These artists are: DJ Chernobyl, Killer on the Dancefloor, Database, Pristine Blusters, Holger, Firefriend, Thiago Petit and Xis.

“In an enormous and multicultural country like Brazil, indie musicians have to be even more innovative and disruptive in the way they create and share their music. Social networks and online tools play a fundamental role in this process”, says the press-release of the project.

The final result is a 30 minute documentary, a blog and, of course, an album containing only exclusive tracks by these artists – which can all be heard online at http://www.wemusic.com.br

If you feel like giving these guys a chance – and you should do that – the link to vote for them is at the SXSW website: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/5543 (you need to log in and then click the “thumbs up” icon under the project’s title)

VIDEO

Alisson Gothz

Alisson Gothz (click on the picture for more)

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Allister & Mariana: click for more

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Ex Manumission dance Mariana Truffi L. Ribiero remains one of the best known personalities in Ibiza working constantly as a DJ and model while booking the dates for a growing number of island DJs.

“Allister was one of a kind.

There is no Allister type.

One of these unique figures that press manage to miss.

He knew better than anyone else I met how to be free, to be who you want to and enjoy life.

Everyone wanted to know him, to talk to him, to take pictures or simply wave from far. He was “The great maestro”.

I was really amazed to see, just by walking in a room, how much energy Allister was able to move.

And there he was…looking fab. Like a book or movie character that came alive. He was the king of entertainment. He was the last breath of studio 54.

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One of his favorites stories was when we used to go from Manumission to Carry On at Space and ending at Bora Bora.

Just one detail, we still have the same outfits from Manumission. That means Allister was wearing his black suit on the beach. We laughed until we were exhausted then walked down the beach as if was a catwalk. Everyone is looking at us. Some guy comes up to Allister and say: “Your music is the best! You are God to me!”  The guy has mistaken Allister for Sven Vath! We look at each other and decided to keep the story going just for fun. So Allister signs an autograph for the guy and after talking about how good a DJ he was for an hour , the guy decides to go and get a gift to Allister, a stick of lip gloss. Ha ha ha ha.

After losing our voices from having so much fun we decided to leave because Allister realized he’d left his bag at Space, again. That was a weekly journey.

We are walking on the street just before Space and a car breaks in the midle of the street with a girl shouting inside like ” Oh my God! Thats him!!!”. She jumps out of the car and runs up to Allister and takes a picture with him. I couldnt believe my eyes. I said: Allister you stopped the traffic’.

Yes, my darling!” he replied,  ”Come with me and I’ll make you famous.”

I felt very lucky to have  such a character as a friend, so much so that I never minded if I had to stay behind him catching the stuff he would drop or help him to find stuff he would lose or handle him when he was annoying. He was my inspiration. He will always be in my heart and in my favorites life stories.

And I will tell my kids and grand kids a story of a fabolous man full of great tales. ”

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Mariana on DJ magazine

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