Justin Giza: Drink Philly editor, nerd rapper leaves for NYC to pursue music career

This is Exit Interview, an occasional interview series with someone who has left Philadelphia, perhaps for another country or region or even just out of city limits and often taking talent, business and jobs with them. If you or someone you know left Philly for whatever reason, we want to hear from you. Contact us.

At the Philly Geek Awards last month, the Geekadelphia crew behind the event included an ‘In Memoriam’ segment.

Pictures of a dozen former members of Philadelphia’s technology community who had moved in the past year, many of them Exit Interview alumni, were shown on the large projector screen, set to ‘It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday’ from Boyz II Men. The bit was funny and well received.

In the audience was Justin Giza, then editor of DrinkPhilly.com, which was founded in 2009 by Adam Schmidt and Technically Philly profiled in June. At next year’s Geek Awards, Giza could be on that ‘In Memoriam’ screen.

Read more

Music playing leading role at Philly Tech Week

Acclaimed DJ RJD2, who is headling the Future of Music event during Philly Tech Week.

There might be no clearer example of how far reaching technology is than three prominent, much hyped music events to be held during Philly Tech Week.

Philly’s eclectic, underground 8static scene is showcasing the city’s best, two.one.five magazine is hosting one of the world’s most celebrated DJs to talk about the future and Drexel University is showing off how its research is impacting where music will go. [Find all events at phillytechweek.com/events]

Links: Don’t attract outside tech firms, a college iPhone course and More

DEFINITE READS

• The Inquirer’s Mike Armstrong reports on a study that finds little benefit in tax-based incentives used to attract high-tech companies, instead recommending encouraging existing companies to grow.
• A Wired magazine blog profiles Philly 8-bit scenester RJ “RJD2″ Krohn.

After the jump, a Sixers forward with an IT problem, a college iPhone course and more.

Read more

8static seeks donations for new sound system; free show at $4,000 goal

The sound setup at the 8static chiptunes dance party in West Philly's Studio 34 | Photo: Ben Mason (flickr:su1droot)

Since inception, 8static has been defined by Do-It-Yourself.

The crew of the vintage video game equipment-powered dance party has lugged hand-me-down and borrowed sound and visual equipment to West Philly venue Studio 34 almost monthly since last year.

Now, the group is seeking donations to purchase new speakers, a subwoofer, monitors and a new projector to replace beat-up counterparts and help keep the party rockin’.

The chiptunes enthusiasts kicked-off a $2,000 online donation campaign last week, making the goal in its first 24 hours and surprising the heck out of coordinator and visual chiptunes artist Don Miller, aka No Carrier. Three donors alone – none from Philadelphia – covered the first 75 percent of the goal.

There’s more incentives in the works, Miller says.

Read more

Friday Tech Links: SEO with Duck Duck Go, 8-bit music and More

In which we link out to the tech news from Philly and elsewhere (when it matters) that slips through the cracks and make it way fun. See others here.

The blog from incubator DreamIt Ventures features some knowledge spilled at a lecture on search engine optimization by Gabriel Weinberg, the CEO of Duck Duck Go, the Valley Forge search engine we’ve covered.

After the jump, business leaders playing squash, video from the Philly Startup Leaders barbecue and six other tech stories, including our best read story of the week.

Read more