Author: andrewcareaga

Former higher ed PR and marketing guy at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) now focused on freelance writing and editing and creative writing, fiction and non-fiction.

Google makes a splash with TiSP

Just read the latest Google press release about the company’s newest venture: a free in-home wireless broadband service called Google TiSP.

TiSP stands for “Toilet Internet Service Provider,” a “self-installed, ad-supported online service that will be offered entirely free to any consumer with a WiFi-capable PC and a toilet connected to a local municipal sewage system.”

Hmmm. Something smells foul about this announcement. Could Google be pulling our leg again? What’s today’s date?

Related: The April Fool’s Day Defense Kit, advice about avoiding the tricks of old and new media, via Dan Gillmor’s Center for Citizen Media blog.

Friday Five: free and legal tunes from Art Brut

Art BrutEven though my days of blogging obsessively about punk and indie music are behind me, I still visit some of my favorite music blogs from time to time to find out what’s new in my favorite genres. The network of music bloggers is becoming an influential partner with musicians and record labels that understand the power of viral marketing.

One of the music blogs I frequent is Earvolution, which recently announced that UK postpunk/art wave band Art Brut had released five unmastered tracks from their upcoming CD. Earvolution has also shared these tracks with the blogosphere, and I in turn share this link for any music fan out there. So, here’s your Friday Five: five free mp3s, legally available. How can you pass this up?

OK, just to make this post remotely about marketing, if not higher ed:

Earvolution proclaims Art Brut’s label, Downtown Records, to be in the running for “best. label. ever.” One thing’s for certain: Downtown knows how to build buzz — and business — online. Even though I’ve downloaded all five of these tracks for free, I’ll be buying the CD (probably via eMusic) when it comes out in June. Who says giving stuff away on the Internet is bad for business? I’m sold on the idea.