Author Archives: Jason

About Jason

Jason R. Koepke is Founder and Data Strategist at GNT LLC, a risk-analysis and data strategy firm that provides analytical and technical services to the public and private sectors. His work and research has been featured in the academic, financial, and technical industries.

Inflated Love

A few weeks ago I went to the Hallmark store to buy my parents a wedding anniversary card. When I checked out, the young man slipped in a free 2007 calendar. In the back of the calendar is a list of the traditional anniversary gifts, such as paper on the first anniversary, as well as the updated modern list of gifts.

Anniversaries, it seems, have been hit by inflation. Take a look:

Items that are now given earlier [item, new anniversary, traditional anniversary]:

– china, 2, 20
– crystal, 3, 15
– silk/linen, 8, 12
– lace, 8, 13
– pearl, 12, 30
– diamond, 30 and 60, 60
– gold, 14 and 50, 50

Items that have been demoted and are now given later [item, new anniversary, traditional anniversary]:

– wood, 6, 5
– leather, 9, 3

New items [item, anniversary]:

– clock, 1
– appliances, 4
– silverware, 5
– desk sets, 7
– fashion jewelry, 11
– textiles/furs, 13
– watches, 15
– platinum, 20
– jade, 35

Items that no longer make the cut [item, anniversary]:
– paper
– cotton
– fruit/flowers
– candy/iron
– wool/copper
– bronze/pottery
– pottery/willow
– tin/aluminum
– steel
– coral

TV On The Radio at 930 Club

On only a few occassions have I had VIP or similar seating for shows. Each and every time it has been a great experience. My VIP seating for the October 22 TV On The Radio show at 930 Club was no different.

LA’s friend scored us VIP passes and it was completely worth it (“it” being the fact that we drove six hours from Philadelphia that day on little sleep, arriving in DC three hours before the show, having not had dinner and me having to be at work early the next day).

The 930 Club is one of the worst venues in DC. It is filled with annoying kids who treat bands like a CD player (“Play this song!” “Play that song!” “Jump like a monkey!”), standard non-dancing DC crowd, is always packed, and rips off bands via the club’s take on ticket sales and merchandise.

Although my opinion has not changed, watching a show in the VIP booth makes for a much better, great even, experience. No crowds, you are separated from the kids, everyone is chill, the view is fantastic, and the sound must be designed to optimum for the VIP area.

Now I just need a hook up to get regular access there. While I’m at it, I’d like to rent the room across from the Green Room. Oh, and get a band that’s _really_ good.

One Self, Educated Consumers, And Mr. Invisible at Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel

The October 7 One Self concert was my first show at RNR H; I had been there for drinks, but never a show–Marky Ramone DJing doesn’t count for a number of reasons, some of which I should write up. I’ll need more visits to have a firm opinion of the venue, but so far I like it. The sound was fairly good and and the crowd, despite being young, was also good, mostly because they knew what was going on for the most part and it was mixed (OMG! a mixed show in DC!). My one concern is show start times; One Self didn’t go on until 130a.

Unfortunately, the show itself wasn’t a good first experience at RNR Hotel. One reason is the opening acts were fairly weak, which is standard for hip hop shows.

The surprising part is that One Self half-assed the show. A third of the group didn’t show up–the reason given for Blurum 13‘s absence was a wedding, an event he probably knew about for a long time and should have communicated to the fans–they played for about 45 minutes, and Vadim and Yarah Bravo played an unfinished track to which Yarah forgot the lyrics. There is absolutely no reason to play unfinished material, freestyle, and/or perform anything but to the best of your abilities for paying fans.

This latter disappointment is directly related to my post on the maturity of bands, although One Self is certainly an experienced and tremendously adept band, which makes their mediocre show such a surprise.