April 02, 2004

Curious, George: Hey good looking, wanna swap?

Announcing the first official Mofi CD Swap! Who's in? Right now, the admins are me, boo_radly and shotsy; unless otherwise noted, I'm collecting names, shotsy is going to collect mailing addresses and line out the groups, and boo_radley is going to humiliate laggards. Tenative deadline for joining is next Friday, 4/9. Shotsy will announce deadline for disks.

  • So far, I've culled 17 names from the thread wherein this was previously discussed; The title link is Super Admin Tracicle's Swap thread at her blog (thanks, boss). Questions? Comments? Whinging?
  • What ees this "CD Swap" of which you speak?
  • We each make a mix CD of totally rad and bitchin' tunes; shotsy gives us a list of monkeys and their addresses, and we send each of them a copy; they in turn send each of us a copy of theirs. You want in?
  • i'm in.
  • Well, most people don't like what I like. Do we list what's on the cd before we send it?
  • Kimberly, that's the whole point - new, interesting, strange and wonderous. Just jump in!
  • I'm in, if thats okay. Well, most people don't like what I like. The point is to show off the best of what you like, I think. To surprise people with stuff you love that they might not know.
  • I'm in then! >:)
  • (But I've been reeeallly busy lately so if someone will send an email around to everyone so I don't miss the details that would be awesome.)
  • Here is the original MoFi thread where more detail is given to the exact order of events.
  • Ook! Ook! I have a question: Is there going to be a song limit? Or is it as many songs as you can smush on a cd?
  • I will be sending emails with deadlines, etc. to groups as a reminder. I will, of course, spam anybody about it.
  • I'm in please..... though I don't know how much of the stuff I listen to is all that new or interesting... I'll find something.
  • I believe that I already said I'm in, but for the record, count me as in.
  • bah: don't worry about it. In some ways it's more comforting to find out that other people like the exact same mainstream stuff you won't cop to in public.
  • Bah ... thanks - I'd been having that slightly paranoid thought since I signed up too ... but hey ... count me in
  • Holy maracas this is great! Thank you shotsy, Fes and boo_radley. (Mister shinything sends his thanks as well.)
  • Relax guys - EVERYONE likes Journey!
  • I'm vaguely out of control right now; can I take a raincheck for, say, May?
  • Count me in for sure. Prepare to be enlightened those of you who are fortunate to swap CDs with me.
  • Count me in. Is there a desired format for the audio?
  • In fact, my disk will contain several Journey songs, my renditions of the same Journey songs on my flutophone, and some background commentary about me and the periods of my life in which those Journey songs figure prominently - and in fact, seem to represent metaphorically, my life as interpreted by Steve Perry, if you will. It's sorta an avant-garde piece. can I take a raincheck for, say, May? Sure. I'll still send you my mix so you get a "feel" for the Mofi Swap and Journey. Is there a desired format for the audio? I'm no technician, but I'd if it arrives on a CD and plays in a CD player, original format is no biggie.
  • Fes, just in case my comment wasn't worded strongly enough, I'm posting here to say count me in. I was so excited about this project, I was scanning my collection last night to see what I might include. This is almost like making a mix tape for someone you have a crush on, except it's for a bunch of strangers you've never met, and hopefully they won't read too much significance into the lyrics of your favorite Journey song. on preview: dammit! Fes beat me to the Journey joke.
  • Paper CD Case Don't forget to wrap that weasel. I'm in [sort of]... My CD is on the fritz and the replacement is on order. I like this idea.
  • Is Journey that new group I heard on Clear Channel the other day? /feigned idiocy
  • rochie: You planning on including some of your own stuff?
  • I've actually never heard of Journey. I hope they're great.
  • Seeing as I run an MP3 Blog this sounds great for me. but I'm bad at the whole postal thingie. So I guess I'm out. Instead you can all just read the blog and burn your own cd's.
  • Count me in too, sounds fun!
  • I have written a faq that answers some basic questions on this topic. However, i am having issues with my hosting company, so I have posted it here. 5th comment down. Please email me if you have questions about it or want clarification or whatever. It is a beta FAQ, and very open to changes.
  • Good to know I'm not the only one having the fear about not dazzling Mofi with my wide and varied music knowledge... I just hope I can leave the main stream enough to make it interesting enough to anyone at least marginally aware about popular culture
  • Okay, I'm in. If it doesn't get going before Monday, then I won't be able to get started for a week, but I can still get discs out within the two week deadline. My discs probably won't be pretty this time, but next round I'll see if I can't improve presentation a bit.
  • I'll have to find out international shipping costs - they shouldn't be too expensive, but timesing them by five might up the cost. I doubt they're much more than a couple of quid though, which'll be fine.
  • Thanks for posting the FAQ, shotsy. I think I should be on the list already, but if not, sign me up! *already pondering cover art*
  • dng: when making the groups I will try to vary the groups in terms of global location so that you hopefully won't pay an amount disproportionate to the others in your group.
  • The mefiswap was the main reason I wanted to join Metafilter (shhh) - and now we have it here!! I have been making mixes ever since I started listening to music, so this is absolutely perfect.
  • ooh ooh! count me in, yo!
  • you know I'm in, right? *searching the internet for monkey images*
  • fes, boo_radly and shotsy: plz add my name to the list. i would love to share my music with monkeys.
  • aaah, screw it, I'm in. Though monkeys be warned that the postal service tends to lose my packages.
  • I've been putting together my playlist just now. Its kind of fun. I'm also getting pissed, listening to the mighty Southend United winning on the radio, I've just finished for Easter, as I mentioned earlier, I managed to actually meet my deadline today, and I'm going out later tonight. I AM HAPPY. Isn't that nice? Some days are good. It was even sunny today.
  • Also a tip to all monkeys - AOL's Tin Can CD Cases make AWESOME mailers. Glue on some photoshoppery cover art goodness, wrap it in clear packing tape or brown paper, and kiss easily cracked jewel cases goodbye.
  • Just as a wrote the above, Southend concede a goal, and instantly my outlook darkens, and worry and dread consumes me. Damn football.
  • I'm in, but I'm realy hoping to avoid the Journey ;}
  • Steeeeve Perry! I would like to participate, too.
  • I'd like to play. Read this this morning, been thinking of good songs all day.
  • Also a tip to all monkeys - AOL's Tin Can CD Cases make AWESOME mailers. Ook! Do you have a link for this?
  • Nevermind. Just did a link. Figured it out. Thought you mean you bought a case... from... nevermind. /stupidity
  • search. "just did a search" /further adventures in stupidity
  • you kids have fun, now. all us oldsters who have no clue as to how to "burn" anything but matches wish you well. *rocks in creaky rocking chair*
  • You planning on including some of your own stuff? IgnorantSlut: I hadn't considered that, but now that you mention it...Would people be bothered if some of us that make music included a track of our own?
  • Rochiebones: More power to you.
  • I'm in. Behold the power of Aqua!
  • I'm definitely in, sign me up. I also second Kimberly's suggestion that we get an email or two sent our way cuz it's chaos most of the time where I am. Oh, and rochibones, I think that would be awesome, go for it!
  • As someone who's currently going through hell getting an original CD produced... I'm in might as well actually enjoy making mix discs again. (I usually do one every season and circulate it amongst my friends)
  • Most of my stuff's mp3 format. If you guys don't mind that, I'm in :)
  • Alnedra, just make sure your cds will play in a stereo, I believe "mp3 disks" are frowned upon in this sort of thing. Although some cd burning software (nero and roxio) will convert mp3s for burning automatically. Shotsy posted a great FAQ in tracy's blog.
  • Could I be more in? Prepare your ears for a righteous Ping Pong Bitches v. Chris de Burgh smackdown. No, not really. Sadly. Although, then again... hmmm...
  • Point taken. I think I found a software some time ago that allowed me to do format conversions. Will check it out! Meantime, shall withdraw my participation until I work this out, hopefully by the next swap.
  • Yeah, OK.
  • This sounds like fun...count me in, please...
  • Signup Update: at this moment, we have 37 38 participants (welcome aboard, doc!). Just for the record, I will keep taking names until either (a) next Friday night, or (b) this thread and tracicle's blogspace idles (no posts) for 24 hours straight.
  • Fes?!? The swapinistrator is double-timing us? Well, heck - count me in too. I can burn a few more of my greatest hits from the "other" monkey site.
  • Looks like I'm sussed. Hiya Commish :) Man, I tried, but a Swapinistrator has got to Swapinistrate, my friend. Nature of the beast. 39!
  • I know I didn't say it specifically in my post, but if there's any doubt, I'm in!
  • Monkeyfilter: Hold on to that feeling. Oh, and I'm in.
  • I'd like in as well, please.
  • Me too.
  • Well, I've got five cd's all ready here, waiting to be sent out. Today, I'm a productive monkey, obviously.
  • I'd like in, as well.
  • Woah, what? dng, how on earth do you get any actual work done?!
  • I'm a computing student, tracicle - we don't do work (we steal other peoples).
  • My mix is done, but not burned. Now I just need cases. You Monkeys better like faux-gospel.
  • Crap, people are doing shit already? I'd better get a move on.
  • Sooo... I want in. What do I need to do aside from the obvious CD burning?
  • Mail 'em out :) FAQ at Tracicle's, courtesy of Shotsy, got all you need to know. Scroll up a bit, there a couple-three links set in. 43!
  • This thread has been idle for over 24 hours; going to close signups soon. Email me (check profile) or go to tracicle's thread (links above) to get more info or sign up.
  • Me three. (am I too late?)
  • not too late :) you're in.
  • Aha... so we CAN still get in today. Count me in. Please? Fes? you still here?
  • Still here. not too late for you, either :) you're in. Shotsy, boo and I have been discussing this via email, and we've agreed to keep signups open until tomorrow evening.
  • Any word on a schedule yet? I need a reasonable amount of lead in time unlike some other wunderkind here. :)
  • Should i submit my addy? I'll prolly be unable to participate, but I'd like to be on board...
  • Good cd booklet template website. You have to fill out a form first, but it accepts bogus info.
  • Kimberly: tomorrow will be deadline for signups, them I send the list to Shotsy; he's going to gather addresses, divide them up into groups (over the weekend, I think), and let everyone know what's what. He sent me a tentative sked, and iirc deadline for sending disks is going to be the 16th. Forksclovetofu: You can email it to me (address in my profile) or send it to Shotsy, either way you find convenient. However, I think that each individual swap will entail starting from sratch, list-wise. If you can't participate in this one, simply wait until signups for the Summer Swap open, then submit then. Missing out now won't preclude you from participating later (although the converse will - if you signup for this Swap, then don't deliver, you'll be banned from future swaps).
  • Fes, hook the intarweb-lingo-challenged up with a little help. iirc?? Second time I've seen it now, guess I should get the meaning of this newspeak down.
  • iirc = "if I recall correctly", iirc (heh) oh, and I think that the deadline is the 23rd, so as to give us monkeys two weekends, (especially since April 16 is painfully close to that certain US tax deadline...) at least per the thread on Tracicle's blog.
  • ach! I think you are right, ambrosia, on both counts.
  • Thank goodness! Perfect.
  • i'll just wait for the next one. I suppose mentioning that I offer music every day at the Hut is just old news right? Right.
  • You've got a blog, forks? No?
  • He also has a hit counter, though I don't think he has a hit counter for his hit counter
  • That hit counter is fucking marvellous. Won't someone post it to the front page? Anybody?
  • OK, I'll play the toolbox again. I've heard people reference fork's counter several times, and reference putting it on the front page. Ongoing gag, or is there actually that much appeal to the detail of the counter? Am I missing something super cool? I must know!! Leave it to me to ask for things to be 'splained.
  • Its all to do with forksclovetofu's shameless self promotion of his weblog, deep in those dark times before he discovered the god that is free mp3's for the people. Sullivan was kind enough to provide us with a link to the mighty hit counter, which, at the time, was not so mighty, highlighting the loneliness of poor forks's weblog. A month or so later, to my shame, maybe, I provided forks's newly mp3'd up blog a front page post (because, chiefly, it was very excellent), which, almost, provided his hit counter with the front page recognition it deserves. Unfortunately, it was cruelly demoted to mere (more inside) status, denying it the privileges and glories front page links are lavished with.
  • This link got lost, in the post above. Eaten by the monkey, for some reason, between preview and posting.
  • Ahhh, ok... I get it now. Thanks for that awesome explanation. Must... Know... All... Inside... Jokes... More questioning to come.
  • Friday night is here! Signups are closed, monkey brothers and sisters. Email your mailing address to Shotsy! Mix with precision and elan! Burn like a smith at the forge! And thanks for participating. I think this is going to be very cool.
  • babywannasofa and jim_t: your email addresses are not going through. Please send me an email to stay in the CD swap.
  • I need to email my address... Is shotsy's email on his profile? I could have completely missed it, but thought I looked thoroughly. shotsy's a he, right?
  • I, my friends, am a complete idiot... addy on the way.
  • shotsy, should I be getting a list, did I miss the cutoff, should this be an email rather than a comment? Inquiring mind wants to know!
  • Babywannasofa: Your email address is still not working for me. Please email me in order to remain in the swap.
  • shotsy... hellooo...looo...looo...
  • planetfour, you'd have to get the official info from shotsy, but I'm pretty sure the mailing addresses haven't been sent out yet because of a couple people not having sent theres or them getting lost in cyberspace. I haven't received any addresses either so I wouldn't worry about it.
  • Hi, I have a new email address and (possibly) a new mailing address, though at this new mailing address I'm not sure where to get aholt of a burner, so I might have to flake out.
  • thanks genial. that was all the update I needed. waiting patiently.
  • planetfour: sorry if i didn't get back to you via email. I remember seeing an email from you, but i must have neglected to get back to you. For the record, you will get your groups monday or tuesday. CDs should go out by Friday. PF: Please let me know which it is going to be. If you have to drop that is okay, you can catch up next time aroudn. All: I think we will have a few more slots open from drops. If you missed the deadline to sign up but are still interested please email me and I will form a holding cue.
  • shotsy, I'm out. Tap me next time around, though.
  • PF: You got it.
  • I will be sending out group lists for the exchange today. A few people never got back to me with their addresses, and have been cut. I am sorry about this, but I've got to roll on it. Please send CDs out by friday or saturday. Group emails will follow later today.
  • Everyone ready to send tomorrow? Have you already sent? Hello? Anyone? Anyhow... Monday at the latest, for me.
  • Mine go out today. Woot!
  • Hope everybody has been able to get them out (or on the way). I'm really looking forward to hearing the stuff I've got coming. I hope my group digs what I've sent out. Please let me know if you have a problem sending. Boo_Radley will take charge of tracking down the deadbeat dads of monkeyfilter, so address future issues to him. Mine went out today, so put down the tire iron boo.
  • Speaking on behalf of and about the Mofi Swapinstratation Team, I think it's safe to say that we truly rock.
  • Mine go out today as well. Each one is accompanied by an autographed photo of me in my adult film: The Mating Habits of Squirrel Monkeys as seen on Animal Planet late at night.
  • Damnit! I knew there was some reason I should have put sciurus in my own group!
  • Then I am the Deadbeat Monkey. Feel free to check on me monday, Boo.
  • Mine went out on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I hope y'all can listen over the weekend, and maybe hopefully enjoy some of it...
  • Mine are going out tomorrow. 9to5andwhatnot.
  • i'm listening to it right now ambrosia. =)
  • I hope to have mine out by lunchtime today -- set up the music and the case liners, just have to burninate them.
  • my case liners are going for a sort of punk rock seamy feel. ok ok, so i don't have a printer and i had to print them on the crummy work printer when no one was looking. that gets me indie cred right?
  • Um.... Monday for sure...
  • scirius, i don't know about indie cred, but you could probably join your local fight club. who hands out idie cred anyway? i think we should overthrow them and distribute indie cred equally amongst the masses.
  • if we can overthrow them using Alnedra's hammer or a rusty shovel then i'm all for it.
  • HEY! As someone who has spent quite some time amassing a fair deal of indie cred, I'd have to say that I take offense at your communindieist uprising!
  • get your indie cred on.
  • Captain Psyko - You'll be spared in our revolt cuz you give away music on your blog. You "Spread the cred" as it were. MC Marx would be proud.
  • From those according to their cred, to those according to their squareness. This shall be our slogan. That, and "Ooooh, matron, where's yer knickers?" Those shall be our two slogans. Finalising running order and cover art as we speak, about to burn, shall be sent out tomorrow. All across the Atlantic, dammit. My bank account suffers for my art... :-)
  • flashboy, I'm sorry to you and all the non-Americans for the inequitable expense. There were an overwhelming number of American's, so there was no particularly easy way to evenly distribute the cost (unlike cred!). I hope that we will get more international monkeys for the next one so that the shipping will more evenly spread.
  • i don't know where that ' came from in americans.
  • Hmm, I screwed up slightly so my CDs won't go out until Monday now. Sorry. Went to buy CDs with jewel cases and got some very cheap, then when I got home the hubby said, "Where are the CDs?" That's when I realised I'd bought a 10-pack of jewel cases.
  • ...wasn't really complaining, shotsy - great work (from the three of you) setting it all up, in fact. and hey, british monkeys would probably know all my tracks anyway. tracicle - i've done that before too.
  • Hey, I'm a fuckup, but my CD's are going out this week, I promise. I have them in envelopes and everything. Stupid work making me stay late and not get to the post office... Muttergrumblemutter
  • I really hate to jump on the "sending out Monday" bandwagon, but due to events largely out of my control, I missed my "mailing the cd's" window on Saturday. The good news for all those in my group is that there are LOTS OF MONKEYS on the cd :)~ If all goes as expected, they will hit the post office this evening.
  • quick question: What type of forum are we using to discuss the music and pat each other's backs? It could get real confusing in here if everyone just starts talking all at once to specific people, but I'd also hate to see a FPP for each team clogging up the site. Anyone have any plans for this?
  • I am also mailing the cds today. Kimberly, I'm looking forward to the monkeys. The Monkees?
  • genial: i've been thinking about that too. here's the thing. over at shotsy.com i can set up bulletin boards from my hosting company. i've never tried them, so they might suck (anybody know about the hostingmatters boards?) i just hate to use boards that are laggy and obnoxious, you know? also, i want to keep it as closely tied with the mofi as possible... but you are right that things will get loony if there are a ton of fpp's and people are trying to keep it all straight. maybe one fpp linking to the offsite forums? would this self-link be okay? i will play with the forum software tonight. it might be annoying though if an account is required. anybody else have suggestions? i'd like to see this be as simple as possible for as many as possible.
  • shotsy: You might not even need a FPP at all. Since the swap will have completed you could get the sidebar FAQ changed to the MOFICDX Boards, then just send a mass email to inform everyone participating. As for any other forum possibilities I'm at a loss.
  • I've seen it done as a single FPP and discussion takes place in thread. One FPP to solicit the swap, one more to discuss to post playlists, discuss the relative merits of people's offerings, and request out-of-group disks. We can post fresh links from here and the tracicle swap thread to the new FPP. Either way is fine with me, though. I hate to see you go through a lot of website ringamarole for naught, though.
  • Fes: With 40 odd participants and (i think) seven groups, I think the single thread will get out of control. It would certainly be easier to read a thread per group. Of course you could look at other group threads too, to see what is shaking in the other parts of the monkey tree.
  • Shinything: *definitely not* the Monkees :D~
  • My CD has an evil scary monkey on the coverart.
  • Mine has a crazy Japanese pop monkey, I think. A single thread may be too much, yeah. There are probably other forum websites we could snag a decent one off for the CDX. Does anyone know of a good one? If we can consolidate all the related links (FAQ, forums, tracklists, etc) onto shotsy's site then I'll link that off the sidebar.
  • I've been playing with phpBB which comes with my hosting package and I think that will work, if thats the route y'all want to go. i will post the link here in about an hour, then let your voices be heard.
  • Sweet! You rock my non-stockinged feet!
  • Okay, there is a forum set up at www.shotsy.com/mofibb. If you like it we can use it, if you don't we won't. It took me like five minutes to set up, so its no skin off my back if we don't. The registration process is pretty painless, it doesn't seem to care how valid the info you give it, and neither do I. If we do go with it you should probably use your mofi ID for login though, to make things easy. Also, there is a agreement when you set up a new account, but I didn't set it up and certainly don't care if you disobey it.
  • Phew I'm not the only person to miss the saturday mail-out deadline - I had them all ready last weds ... but didn't have time to make it to the post office. Sorry. Mine have to go from the UK to the US too - so they won't get there for another week ...
  • Ok, mine are sent. I'll have to remember that the post office sells special little boxes specifically for mailing cds, with jewel cases. Oh well, too late for this time. Hopefully they'll survive intact in the carboard mailers I used. I sure am enjoying listening to my own mix, can't wait to load up the changer with everyone else's.