Meet The Newest Harebrain

By FrancisUncategorized

Erin and Seth recently got a bulldog puppy. Seth brought it to the office last week. While everyone was eww-ing ahh-ing and awwwww-ing, Kathy (our brilliant art director) grabbed her camera and hit the floor. One mark of a great photographer is timing. And luck. Based on the shot below, I think you can reasonably … Read More

First, Do No Harm.

By FrancisBUSINESS, FUN, General Biz, Rants, Uncategorized

(Theodorick Of York, Medieval Barber, bleeds a patient suffering from “an imbalance of bodily humors”.) A couple of weeks ago (after years of stubborn resistance) I replaced Outlook Express and Microsoft Schedule for Office 97 with the full version of Outlook. Much as I dreaded it, my initial reaction was unexpectedly optimistic. I was pleasantly … Read More

Fletcher Hare: YouTube Star

By FrancisCULTURE, Music, People, THE AGENCY, Uncategorized

(He’s in the middle, wearing the Parliament T-Shirt) Fletcher signed-up for Rock Band as his elective this Spring—and the band had its public debut in Birmingham’s world-famous Spencer Center last night. Click here for a sonic blast of primal rock at its absolute rawest. (Warning: May be disturbing to pets and small children). http://bit.ly/rokkband

This screen brought to you by the makers of Windows 7!

By FrancisUncategorized

I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I don’t care who shot J.R. I don’t believe Bill Clinton killed Vince Foster or Ron Brown. I do not fear fluoridation’s effects on my precious bodily fluids. All that said, it does strike me as tremendously “interesting” that my office computer AND my home computer began slowing-down and screwing … Read More

My B-Metro column on Lady Gaga.

By FrancisCULTURE, Music, Uncategorized

(Ms. Gaga. With And Without Makeup.) I have adored, without shame or apology, some genuinely pathetic popular music in my day. Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again Naturally”, for instance. Closer to this millennium, I consider Hanson’s “Mmmbop” to be a brilliant piece of pop record-making—even if they did lift the hook, note for note, from the … Read More

My Music Blog For B-Metro

By FrancisPeople, THE AGENCY, Uncategorized

Wherein yours truly connects new and recently released records with older, similar (and invariably superior) albums. But who cares what I think? Which is why each column comes with a Click-To-Play link—featuring the records reviewed—so you can decide for yourself. Isn’t that exciting! Charlotte Gainsbourg w/ Beck & Sam Phillips http://bit.ly/soundlinks-one Dave Matthews w/ Mofro & Donna The Buffalo http://bit.ly/soundlinks-two … Read More

Why We Love Our Clients

By FrancisFUN, Humor, Uncategorized

We’re picky about the people we’ll work for. Which has meant, on a few occasions, passing-up what were generally considered “good opportunities”. On the other hand, it’s been a very long time since we’ve worked with the kinds of clients in the recorded conversation below. (Although I make no guarantee for this entry’s veracity, I … Read More