You Are Not Dead: A Guide to Modern Living is a new CD released in its entirety for free on the Internet. The CD is a great mix of electronic music, the sort of music I find works best as background music when I’m trying to create something. (I find that most of what I’ve heard from 65daysofstatic fills the same niche.)
The CD also comes with a short PDF book in the style of 1950’s-era guides. It’s full of advice for being Not Dead, such as:
In order to meet—and surpass—expectations, you must first adopt them. Pay more attention than you produce it, and don’t be shy to sacrifice talent for stability. The conflict and decision between doing what you love and doing what is right is a difficult lesson to earn. Upon reviewing your situation, conclude where you ought to be and concentrate on the surefire, putting on hold or choking the untenable. If compelled to pursue the frivolous, at least ensure the payoff if achieved will be generous; in other words, exploit demand-driven ventures, don’t chase hope-charred personal projects.
Schemes may not be foolproof—but dreams are proof of fools.
There’s a page of advice like this for every track in the album, from “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years” to “Debit to Society” to “The Path of Least Existence.”
It’s a big pile of great music and satirical advice, and you can get it for free. (Thanks to dobbs on Metafilter for pointing it out.)