Sliced Bread

Making Amends

2010-08-06T01:51:00.002-05:00

For reference and personal anecdotes seek: My Tumblr

OH DIP!

2010-08-04T21:32:00.002-05:00

Even better than I had ever imagined!

See HERE and HERE for reference.

That Shit Worked!

2010-07-02T10:12:00.000-05:00

Shitty Boyfriend

2010-05-14T08:01:00.005-05:00

My boyfriend decided that on my thirtieth birthday, it would be appropriate to go to happy hour with his IT co-workers. Yup, I turn 30 and he’s going to Wild Wings as soon as he gets off of work.

My response? I’m going to attempt to alter google image search in such a way that when someone googles SHITTY BOYFRIEND, his image will show up. Feel free to repost and be sure to mention SHITTY BOYFRIEND as often as possible so that the link sticks.

If you come across this and also have a shitty boyfriend, you are welcome to put them on blast as well. I haven’t been around for thirty years to NOT make a point.

See Also

MOMA

2010-04-12T13:05:00.000-05:00

True

2010-04-12T12:49:00.000-05:00

Mayer Hawthorne

2010-04-11T10:57:00.000-05:00

Stones Throw does it again.
Mayer Hawthorne.

VIA

Strange Girls

2010-04-10T12:23:00.001-05:00

1. Hypothetically
2. Probs
3. Fingers Crossed
4. Why not?
5. Storked

Hipster Grill

2010-04-09T12:15:00.001-05:00

Future Isht

2010-03-30T09:01:00.001-05:00

Oh man. I so want this to happen...

Land of Talk

2010-03-30T08:52:00.003-05:00

This should help bring you (aka ME) back to reality.
Whooooo. Normalcy here we come!

Really?!?!

2010-03-30T08:31:00.003-05:00

Alright...
This has gone too far...

It's like watching Britney Spears dip her children in ranch dressing...

Feeling this Way

2010-03-29T16:37:00.012-05:00

Oh Shit, DUH

2010-03-22T22:09:00.003-05:00

Thought I knew...

via

Wasciwy Wabbits

2010-03-21T12:58:00.002-05:00

I'm hunting wabbits.

Piano Chat Improv

2010-03-15T22:21:00.003-05:00

This guy knows how to handle a thumbs up situation...

via

Trololo

2010-03-15T13:21:00.002-05:00

I get so mad when I feel like I missed a good video and everyone else knows about it…
I am fairly certain that this is some sort of Russian "Rick Roll" ... and it gets pretty epic at the 1:27 mark...

Alternative Art

2010-03-11T22:32:00.000-06:00

Alternative Route

2010-03-10T00:41:00.000-06:00

via

Truth Hurts

2010-03-08T23:38:00.001-06:00

Hey Buster

2010-02-23T23:28:00.007-06:00

Yeah, I'm talking to you Buster Keaton.

Is that a dog in your pants, or...

Watch your ass, John Connor

2010-02-22T13:24:00.004-06:00

Now I can go back in time and stop Bob Dylan from burning my keys!

Blame Canada

2010-02-21T11:40:00.003-06:00

My favorite part of the 2010 Winter Olympics thus far? Figure Skating concentration (fear) face...

Thanks A LOT inertia!

Thanks, Rolling Stone

2010-02-20T16:25:00.004-06:00

I just looked at Weezy F. Baby's right hand, and now he gets to punch me. Awesome. If you looked at it, then he gets to punch you too.
This cover is like that movie the Ring, but obviously more dangerous. I'm about to get punched by a convicted felon.

(RAH)² (AH)³ + [ROMA (1+MA)] + (GA)² + (OOH)(LA)²

2010-02-19T15:17:00.018-06:00

Hey GaGa!

Debby Harry did that shit first.

Sayin'

...

....

.....

....

...

Edit: To add insult to injury, here is Badder Romance for your viewing pleasure. Compare it to the Official Version for fits and gigs.

The Real Walt Whitman

2010-02-18T14:34:00.000-06:00

One of those days.

2010-02-11T16:14:00.000-06:00

Found this trolling the internets. If anyone happens to know the artist, shoot me a line and I'll give credit where credit is due.

The Plural of Bento is Bento

2010-02-10T22:11:00.018-06:00

Anna the Red has been creating and posting items about Character Bento, cooking instruction, the random toy, knit treats, the possible plush and accessible art. Her Japanese lunchboxes are the main purpose of Anna the Red's Bento Factory, and the current object of my internet affection.

Her Flickr Photosets are meticulously detailed and highly appreciated.

Just sayin'

Mosquito Repellant Plants

2009-08-02T23:10:00.023-05:00

Growing up in the midwest, I have a healthy respect for Mosquitos; hence the capitalization. I thought that I would get a break in Charleston due to the intense heat, but I was sorely mistaken. Shoo Fly Handmade Soap is en route and highly anticipated. Tiki torches have been purchased and are thus-far treating our courtyard well, but seem to attract walker-bys of the fraternity kind. I have yet to determine their effects on our dog (both the citronella smoke and the uninvited frat boys), so the jury is still out on their practicality.

Plants seem like the most obvious and renewable option to pursue. When it comes to fresh plant oils as natural Mosquito repellants, there is every reason to have the plant in your yard if they will grow in your area. It is an inexpensive and attractive way to boost the appearance of the landscape and have natural mosquito repellants on hand as well.

Catnip (Nepeta) $2.49

Oil isolated from catnip by steam distillation is a repellent against insects, in particular mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites. Research suggests that in a test tube, distilled nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip, repels Mosquitoes ten times more effectively than DEET. It is a short lived perennial throughout most of the United States. It is easy to grow from seed, and quickly reseeds. Aside from its intoxicating effects on cats, the leaves make a very soothing tea.

Horsemint aka Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)

Horsemint grows wild in most of the Eastern United States, from Mexico, Texas up to Minnesota to Vermont and is partial to sandy soils. Native Americans used it as a treatment for colds and flu and has a scent similar to citronella.. It has natural fungicidal and bacterial retardant properties because it's essential oils are high in thymol.

Hummingbirds Mint or Wild Hyssop (Agastache cana)

This is a 36-inch-tall hyssop with showy rose-pink flower spikes in late summer and fall and licorice-mint scented foliage. It is native to New Mexico and western Texas and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Grow in a border, herb garden, rock garden, or butterfly garden. Rubbing the foliage on skin reportedly "repels" Mosquitoes.

Rosemary $4.99

This garden herb also has an oil that "repels" Mosquitoes. If you live in a frost free area, you can grow rosemary in the ground year round. Where the winter temperatures dip below 30 degrees F. these plants will have to spend the winter indoors, as they are Mediterranean in origin.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon)

Lemongrass contains citronella, a natural oil that "repels" Mosquitoes. It is an ornamental grass that reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in one growing season that also makes a good container plant that is often used in the kitchen.

(Pyrethrum) $2.29

Certain species of Chrysanthemum (cinerariifolium and C. coccineum) have insecticidal properties when dried to create a sort of insect deterring powder, and the oil derived from the flower is currently used in commercial repellant coils.

Marigolds $2.29

Organic gardeners have used marigolds as companion plants to keep aphids away. Mosquitoes don't like its scent any better (and some humans feel the same way). Marigolds are sun-loving annuals that come in a variety of shapes and sizes for almost any landscape and are easy to grow from seed.

Ageratum $3.99

This charming little bedding plant contains coumarin, and Mosquitoes detest the smell. It is used in the perfume industry and is even in some commercial mosquito repellants. It has some other less desirable elements that you don't want to keep on your skin in quantity, so I would plant it rather than wear it.

English Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

Simply grab a handful of the fresh herb, and rub it on the skin to repel flies, Mosquitos, gnats, ticks, chiggers, and fleas. The slightly rosey-minty smell is much more pleasant than smelling like a chemical insecticide. You can hang dried bunches to minimize flies, gnats or other winged creatures in the house. Scatter some leaves among (preferably under) your pet's bedding to combat fleas.

While there is no such thing as Mosquito ‘repellent’, you can definitely confuse the little buggers. Mosquitos key in on carbon dioxide signatures of warm-blooded creatures, namely mammals. Humans have a CO2 signature of their own, and Mosquitos love them best; there is no hair or hide to get through and blood is close to the surface of the skin). Citronellal or citronellol sprayed and misted into the air confuses the Mosquitos because it interferes with their ability to ’smell’ CO2.

With all of these plants, the leaves must be crushed to release the aroma and may be rubbed on your skin and clothing to enhance the immediate effect. To make your own infusion, combine two or three large handfuls of the stalks and leaves, cover them with olive or canola oil, heat very gently for 15 minutes and let sit overnight. Then strain the solids out, and refrigerate the oil. If you cannot or do not want to create these oils, you can purchase a concentrated essential oil and extend it's life by mixing 4 drops with 1/4 cup olive oil (store in a cool, dry place). Wear a dab of infusion or oil to keep fleas and mosquitoes at bay, and dab some on your pet's collar to do the same.

VIA:

eHow
The Frugal Life

Natural Mosquito Repellant

Through Burton's Looking Glass

2009-06-23T12:41:00.017-05:00

Since I've moved from the midwest to the coastal south, I have completely neglected this blog without thinking twice. I'm not even sure who checks this thing anymore, but the hits keep coming. I don't have much to speak of, but I'm looking forward to Tim Burton's interpretation of Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass." Alice in Wonderland (expected 3/05/10), has the hype machine grinding.

Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Helena Bohnam Carter as the Red Queen. Anne Hathaway as The White Queen. Alan Rickman as the Caterpillar. Christopher Lee as the Jabberwock. Crispin Glover as the Knave of Hearts. Relative newcomer Mia Wasikowska as Alice: YES.

The film is actually a sequel to the original story, and follows Alice, now 17 years old, as she escapes from a snooty party and follows a white rabbit down a hole, back to Wonderland. The White Rabbit is convinced that he has the right girl, the one who had visited the magical land ten years prior. But Alice doesn’t remember her past visit to Wonderland. The creatures of Wonderland are ready to revolt and are hoping/waiting for Alice to help them, but will she? Can she? Whatever. It's in 3D.

Stephan Balleux

2008-11-18T11:38:00.010-06:00

Those of you that tentatively keep an eye on this blog may have suspected that I have a fondness of skulls. I'm not quite sure where it came from, but I can promise that it's not going anywhere anytime soon. During my search of images for use in the creation of cell phone wallpaper, I came across and artist worth bumping to the forefront of this blog at the very least.

I present the dramatic work of Belgian artist Stephan Balleux.
He appears to be currently represented by Think.21 Contemporary Gallery (Brussels, Belgium).
My Blackberry is going to look so badass.

Peur(s) du Noir

2008-10-16T02:27:00.009-05:00

Spiders' legs brushing against naked skin…
Unexplainable noises heard at night in a dark bedroom…
A big empty house where you feel a presence…
A hypodermic needle getting closer and closer…
A dead thing trapped in a bottle of formaldehyde…
A huge growling dog, baring its teeth and staring…

"Rusty alleyways and vaporous ghosts painted by the masters of dread. Razor-sharp images that will slice your eye and nest there forever. Thrilling, disturbing and haunting. Bring the kids!" (Guillermo Del Toro)

IFC
Prima Linea

Hitchin' a Ride

2008-10-15T01:25:00.000-05:00

I'm moving down south in less than two weeks, and our transportation has come into question because my Mini's transmission was allegedly made by German children. That being the case, I am looking into alternate means to the aforementioned end. After much search and debate, I'm pretty sure that I've found a best case scenario in the work of Robert Nightingale.

From the Designer:
"For best results position yourself at traffic lights, railway stations or air hangers. Subtly wait for the opportune moment (which is precisely 7 seconds before the initial point of acceleration) and attach the product as firmly as possible to the host vehicle (a brief run up usually does the trick), paying attention to ground clearance for ones feet and enjoy the ride…"

Ronald Jenkees

2008-08-22T08:47:00.008-05:00

So it's my homie Rossome's birthday tonight, and after work my beau and I are expected to attend his Hall and Oates party. My boyfriend, the gentleman that he is, has selected the Hall portion of this costumed experience. This leaves me with the particularly difficult task of figuring out how I'm going to fake a mustache with only a few hours of prep time.

Like any diligent partygoer, I decided to do my research in the most reputable and reliable of places; namely the internets. During my search, I came across this killer (but not so helpful if you are looking for an Oates style stache) video on YouTube.

Needless to say, I instantly fell in love (sorry J.Abel(s)) and had to do more research into the world and mind of Ronald Jenkees. Turns out this dude shares more than faux staches with the world, on a mostly musical and always saccharine level. I found myself lost in his YouTube Channel for hours. If you need another example of his adorableness, look no further.

Harry Carey and Timbaland had a baby 'yall...
and he'll pop your head off.

...and then it happened...
The Great Ronald Jenkees took his hat off and donned a tux...
...for a webcam interview.

Clever character or superfly nerdsauce? Any way you slice it, Ronald is an interesting and obviously talented musician. If this online persona is in fact a ploy, act, or independent marketing tactic, it is no less genius than the music that he produces on a consistent basis.

Whatever. He's super fun.
Here's his most recent YouTube addition.

Europe - The Final Countdown (Jenkees Style)
Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now (The Rocky Song Remixed)
Bill Simmons (The Sports Guy) Podcast Intro

Funk Break

2008-07-30T16:16:00.011-05:00

I made the very serious mistake of eating a delicious Whopper Jr® this afternoon, and was left with funk belly.
To balance it all out, I thought I would update my neglected blog with some YouTube sized luhvan.

Get tha Funk Out ma' Face - The Brothers Johnson

Tear the Roof off the Sucker / Give up the Funk - Parliament Funkadelic

Funky Stuff - Kool & the Gang

I Want to Take you Higher - Sly & the Family Stone

Fire - Ohio Players

Pusherman - Curtis Mayfield

Strangely enough, I found this gem after initially pasting this blog. What the blood clot, internet?
Here is some dude in a Burger King costume dancing to...

Brick - Dazz

Gobbledigook

2008-06-05T20:57:00.017-05:00

Sigur Rós has launched a new video for their forthcoming single "Gobbledigook." Word has spread that Sigur Rós's new album has a name (með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust), a translation ("with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly") and a killer video to go with the previously mentioned radikillerosityness.
Download the single from their website here, and check out the video if you are into mostly naked peeps banging on nature and generally frolicking like hippies. It is worth the time and effort and not unlike an american apparel ad without the sensibly priced cotton clothing. If that isn't temptation enough, it has been banned by both YouTube and MTV (who assert that they still play videos when convenient). I present a humble screen shot as evidence of awesome...

Internet Sensation Inspirations

2008-06-05T14:47:00.003-05:00

Watch the full episode of Canada on Strike to catch South Park's interpretation of recent internet sensations via YouTube.

What What in the Butt - Samwell

Dramatic Look Gopher

Afro Ninja

Laughing Baby

Star Wars Kid

Numa Numa

Tron Guy

Leave Britney Alone!

Asian Backstreet Boys

Chocolate Rain

Sneezing Panda

The Birdman

2008-05-21T09:37:00.023-05:00

Artist Benjamin Verdonck is currently nesting on the Rotterdam Weena Tower. His week long performance “The Great Swallow” involves a nest, man, and a gaint egg.

*Spoiler alert Rotterdam*
"It's the tragic story of a man who comes, sees and in a final attempt to embrace his audience eventually falls." - via

He came. He saw. He nested. He laid an egg. He then plummeted 500 ft and asked people how they felt about it. They should have asked Knol Tate.

For the Fierce! arts event in Birmingham four or so years ago, a similar cage was affixed to the Rotunda.
Before THAT, the Birdman was hooked on the Anspach in his native Belgium.

Lace Fence

2008-05-15T12:51:00.012-05:00

"LACE FENCE is a high-end metal fabric that gives new insights in how we can create unique environments.

The design, quality and density of the patterns are flexible. Meaning that for each application we create according to its function. For example to prevent climbing on, to hide or enhance its surroundings. To deal with harsh weather or to give an unique custom made look."

Seriously, if you can crochet a fence we need to be friends. Stat. I'm having trouble with HATS.

Six Degrees of Human Nature

2008-03-13T03:03:00.011-05:00

Initially I was looking for hip hop videos featuring flaming garbage cans for my new favorite blog break project, Flaming Garbage Cans in Hip Hop Videos (a collaborative effort between myself and Monolith).

I cam across this gem, but to my dismay there are no flames in any of the garbage can clips. There is smoke, yes, but that just will not cut it. It's almost as annoying as what we've come to call "general fire" and the deceptive "flame like lighting."

Needing a break from my search, I thought I'd take the opportunity to play the sample game. I was under the distinct impression that Kool G Rap sampled Human Nature at some point, but I can't find confirmation. If anyone can back me up or shut me up I would be greatly obliged.

Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell

2Pac - Thug Nature

SWV - Right Here

Michael Jackson - Human Nature

Madonna - Human Nature

Main Source - What You Need

Gnarls Barkley "Run" (may cause seizures)

2008-03-05T15:36:00.004-06:00

The video for Gnarls Barkley's new single, "Run," may feature a cameo from Justin Timberlake, but it's still not quite ready to air on MTV.

That's because of its strobe effects, which caused the clip to fail the Harding Test -- guidelines established to prevent TV images from triggering epileptic seizures.

"I don't know exactly what's going on, but we're having issues. I think (the video) is cool. It works for me. But I'm not necessarily that easily seasick," he told Billboard.com. "We can't predict how people are going to interpret it."

"Run" centers around the fictional public access TV show "City Vibin"' and is set in the early '90s. Timberlake appears as the host of the program, on which Danger Mouse and fellow Gnarls Barkley principal Cee-Lo then perform the track.

With its new album, "The Odd Couple," nearing its April 8 release date, Gnarls Barkley are about to shoot a video for the second single, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul."

via

Checkmate

2008-02-29T17:17:00.009-06:00

Relegate me to the geek table in the internet lunchroom if you'd like, but I've been playing chess online like it's my job. In fact, I wish that it was my job.

I know that there are those of you that play against your computer from time to time (thanks for the hints and undo options Mac!), but playing against other people is always more fun and generally includes a gang of trash talk.

Bring it to the TrailerParkNinja at gameknot for a correspondence based smack down...
I just signed up today; you should chess it too.

Internet Chess Club | Free Internet Chess Server

Come get some.

JEA

2008-02-26T14:28:00.025-06:00

Track Listing

01 . The La's - There She Goes
02 . Belle & Sebastian - Get me Away From Here, I'm Dying
03 . Pinback - Penelope
04 . Minus the Bear - Pachuca Sunrise
05 . Band of Horses - Our Swords
06 . Modest Mouse - Trailer Trash
07 . Colin Hay - Overkill
08 . Ben Gibbard - They Don't Know
09 . The Diskettes - 1 2 3 4 5
10 . Half-handed Cloud - You've Been Faithfull
11 . The ELected - a Time for Emily
12 . Park - Conversations With Emily
13 . Say Anything - Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
14 . Metric - Combat Baby
15 . Vox Vermillion - Controller
16 . Tegan & Sara - Back in Your Head
17 . Askeleton - Cities, Not the People who Live in Them
18 . The Brunettes - Cotton Candy
19 . Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Kiss Kiss
20 . Kings of Leon - Cha rmer
21 . Boxer - Mistaken for Strangers
22 . A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You
23 . The Thermals - How We Know
24 . The Subways - Take me Away
25 . Ela - Professional Love
26 . The Format - Tie the Rope
27 . Spoon - Everything Hits at Once
28 . Britt Daniel & Conor Oberst - Let the Distance Keep us Together
29 . Get Set Go - Wait
30 . Olympic Hopefulls - Drain the Sea
31 . Nightmare of You - Ode to Serotonin
32 . Tilly & the Wall - You and I Misbehaving
33 . Woods - Skin and Bones
34 . Roma di Luna - The Face of my Friends
35 . Inara George - Fools in Love

Spring Fever

2008-02-26T12:48:00.000-06:00

Puppetmasters

2008-02-24T14:55:00.026-06:00

Some of you may remember Sifl & Olly, a short run MTV experiment that ranks as my favorite shows of all time. Mostly, the relationship between originators Liam Lynch and Matt Crocco reminds me of one I've share with the home slice T.Bag for the past twentysome years. They live together with young, clueless Chester. Their landlord wants the rent money, he wants them to get rid of the monkeys, and they put on a show every night.

"Sifl was the calmer leader of the show while Olly was more excitable and often broke into crazed furies. Their assistant, Chester (made out of an inverted mold for a Buddha statue combined with a sleeve), was a mumbling, often nonsensical character who still claimed to be great at everything. No real living people or animals ever appeared on the show (except the hamster during Precious Roy's foot long hamster sale), only puppets" (wikipedia).

As the show has been canceled for nearly a decade, one of the few sockhead bastions to survive the blast is YouTube.

Includes ninja exam, letters to Chester and the song Ninja of the Night.
...you are weak like the salted slug and your mind is slow like the sloth on sake...

How Sifl & Olly came into existence.
The Making Of | a glimpse behind the scenes

Sifl & Olly Season 1 Episode 10: (part 1) (part 2)

Blacklisted Nursery Rhymes / Calls: Problem in the Bathroom, Cheater, Landlord (Waterslide) / Rock Fact: What Human Oddity Will Forever Link Bjork & Will Smith? / Song: "Country Boy Song" / Precious Roy's Night Vision Goggles / News: Olly Won't Do The News / Calls: D&D Wizard Has Herpes, Wart Gems, Take Me Back To Mary's House / Chester: Pet Peeve / Rock Fact: What Is Queen Latifa's Real name? / Interview: Giganticus the Elephant / Song: "Lullaby Song"

Sifl & Olly Season 2 Episode 1: (part 1) (part 2)

Calls from the Public: Pennywhistle Swallower, Gremlin Exterminator, Zafo, Alien / Snailsuit Chester / Olly Moondust sings: "Star Lover" / Precious Roy's Elf Hotel / Interview: President of Shadows Inc. / Kickin' It Old School: "Fake Blood" / Interview: Brett the Gremlin / Chester: Getting Into TV / Craig Allen sings: "The Elf Song"

Sifl & Olly Season 2 Episode 2: (part 1) (part 2)

Calls: Olly's Mom (Fafoo's Recital), Madame Dominique / Chester: Naked Girl / Song: "Remember" / Precious Roy's Disaster Suit / Interview: Olly, Sifl & Chester Read Their Diaries / Kickin' It Old School: "Rock and Roll Friends" / Interview: Peto & Flek (Lost Episodes) / Letters to Chester: How To Break In Jeans / Song: "Empty Zippo Blues (Olly's Dylan Song)"

Sifl & Olly Season 2 Episode 3: (part 1) (part 2)

Sex Girl Intro / Calls: Cres Dude (Uncres), Webby Avalton, Mindblow / Chester: Tranquilized / Song: "Hawaiian Rap" / Precious Roy's Hooker Monkeys / Interview: Sex Girl Returns / Kickin' It Old School: "Prostitute Laundry" / Interview: Cooking With Aesop Jones (Waffles) / Letters to Chester: Picture Pose / Song: "Hair Of The Dog (Now You're Messin' With A Son of a Bitch)"

Sifl & Olly Season 2 Episode 4: (part 1) (part 2)

Calls: Worlock Wannabee, Zafo (Mt. Rushmore), Meteor / Letter To Chester: Modern Lover / Song: "65 & Over & Over" / Precious Roy's All Purpose Juicer / Interview: Breakfast Serial 2 / Kickin' It Old School: "Performance Art" / Interview: Hitch-hiker (Hit by the Car) / Chester: Water & Magnet Collector / Song: "Soda Pop (the magnetic car song)"

...skip a few...
Sifl & Olly Season 2 Episode 14: (in one fell swoop)

Calls: Sifl from Jail, Johnny Fucking Appleseed, Sifl Clone, Sports Talk / Chester Takes an IQ Test / Song: "Speed Reading" / Precious Roy's "Dangerous Don't" Dolls (Betty Blade, Elctrocutie Kitty, Pete Heat) / Interview with Sifls and Olly Clones / Kickin' It Old School: "Weird Day" / Interview: Grout's Trivia Trapazoids with Stealth, Precious Roy, Chester & Cres / Letter to Chester from Dewey Kraus in Prison / Song: "I Sure Do Miss The 80's"

United States of Whatever

Remembering Lamont "Big L" Coleman

2008-02-22T14:34:00.026-06:00

Big L

Remembering Lamont Coleman
via hiphopdx

Put It On / Producer - Buckwild
MVP / Producer - Lord Finesse
No Endz, No Skinz / Producer - Showbiz
8 Iz Enuff / Featuring - Buddah Bless, Herb McGruff, Killa Cam , Mike Boogie, Terra, Trooper J, Twan / Producer - Buckwild
All Black / Producer - Lord Finesse
Danger Zone / Producer - Buckwild
Street Struck / Producer - Lord Finesse
Da Graveyard / Featuring - Grand Daddy I.U., Jay-Z, Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut
Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous / Producer - Lord Finesse
Times Iz Hard / Producer - Buckwild
I Don't Understand It / Producer - Showbiz
Fed Up Wit The Bullshit / Producer - Lord Finesse
Let 'Em Have It "L" / Producer - Craig Boogie

The Big Picture (Intro) Producer - DJ Premier
Ebonics
Size 'Em Up
Deadly Combination / Featuring - 2Pac / Producer - Ron G
'98 Freestyle / Producer - Lord Finesse
Holdin' It Down / Featuring - AG, Miss Jones, Stan Spit / Producer - Pete Rock
The Heist
The Enemy Featuring - Fat Joe / Producer - DJ Premier
Fall Back / Featuring - Kool G Rap / Producer - Shomari
Flamboyant / Producer - Mike Heron
Casualties Of A Dice Game
Platinum Plus / Featuring - Big Daddy Kane / Producer - DJ Premier
Who You Slidin' Wit / Featuring - Stan Spit / Producer - Pete Rock
Games / Featuring - Guru, Sadat X / Producer - Ysae
The Heist Revisited / Producer - Lord Finesse
The Triboro / Featuring - Fat Joe, O.C. , Remy Martin / Producer - Showbiz

Lifestyles ov da Poor & Dangerous (repress)| The Big Picture
(download via Megaupload c/o yours truly)

Atmostour

2008-02-22T13:14:00.022-06:00

...helping the homie Jake Money pimp his internet duties as the Rhymesayers nerdsite monkey.

photo credit to Dan Monick

Atmosphere announce North American tour dates; to coincide with the April 22nd drop date for their upcoming release "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold".

When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint The Road Gold.
Get your citrus krylon on, and meet me at Metro!

In the meantime, if you haven't already downloaded Strictly Leakage (complimentary Atmos LP), you've been asleep. A nostalgic nod while I'm lost in my music box awaiting my pre ordered shipment.

The Real Rhymesayers on YouTube

Recently, the masochists at the Onion asked Slug to whip up a Valentine's Day advice column featuring classic Daley wit and smcharm.
Peep game and pick up a few tips from a pro.

Dear Slug | the A.V. Club

can you digg it?

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T03:29:00.003-06:00

his master's voice

2008-02-13T15:08:00.018-06:00

Today is a musical organization and inspiration day. As I continue to edit and organize my iTunes, I find myself obsessing about what I lack. When I need inspiration for my digital dig, I tend towards stream of consciousness list making (via stickies on my mac). As I was compiling, I came to a stark realization.

My parents had profound influence on my musical preferences, and this has become fodder for debate after debate. Most debates begin with my pops putting one artist in another's "box" for clarity. That drives me out of my mind, mostly because I recognize the urge and keep it to myself with said lists.

After watching the Grammy's, I had to find a box for Amy Winehouse that would stifle my dad's attempts to get my goat. I found one, and it's shaped like Dusty Springfield. It's probably been said by a million people before me, but they should stop putting people in boxes too (no bonsai kittens).

Just for good measure, here is today's ten minute music marathon list. For good measure, I've linked some YouTube love to my soundtrack for the day.

the kinks (waterloo sunset)
the chieftains (redemption song)
ray davies (in a moment)s
marianne faithfull (as tears go by)
pj harvey (good fortune)
jeff buckley hallelujah
tim buckley (i'm coming home again)
david bowie (oh your pretty things)
nick cave (red right hand)
tom waits (in the neighborhood)
roger waters (music from the body)
pink floyd (see Emily play)
harry nilsson (everybody's talkin')
jarvis cocker (don't let him waste your time)
pulp (this is hardcore)
the verve (sonnet)
damon albarn (strange news from another star)
blur (coffee & tv)
gorillaz (tomorrow comes today)
the good, the bad and the queen (kingdom of doom)
tv on the radio (staring at the sun)
yeah yeah yeahs (pin)
brian eno (st. elmo's fire)
roxy music (editions of you)
david byrne (glass, concrete & stone)
talking heads (psycho killer)
john cale (thoughtless kind)
the velvet underground (sunday morning)
lou reed (heroine)
nico (frozen warnings)
edith piaf (hymne a l'amour)
my brightest diamond (dragonfly)
the decemberists (here i dreamt i was an architect)
patti smith (because the night)
iggy pop & the stooges (the passenger)
the rolling stones (under my thumb)
the who (baba o'riley)
the pretty things (midnight to six man)
dirty pretty things (bang bang you're dead)
the libertines (up the bracket)
spoon (i turn my camera on)
the troggs (with a girl like you)
the byrds (eight miles high)
bob dylan (it's alright ma (i'm only bleeding))
joan baez (diamonds & rust)
neil young (heart of gold)
johnny cash & joni mitchell (long black veil)
emmylou harris (two more bottles of wine)
dusty springfield (i only want to be with you)
sophie b. hawkins (i want you)
johnette napolitano (suicide note)
vowel movement (dinosaur)
concrete blonde (joey)
blondie (hangin' on the telephone)
siouxsie & the banshees (love in a void)
elvis costello (oliver's army)
the mars volta (televators)
arcade fire (rebellion)
lcd soundsystem (movement)

Switch up in the Game

2008-02-12T00:18:00.000-06:00

So I'm messing with another blog template...

I like it a bit better because it doesn't cut the edges off of my videos, but it shrinks my title.
All of my old posts are jumbled around (alignment of videos as pictures mostly) and I don't really feel the need to revisit the past.
Onward. If you find yourself digging, please don't judge the layout and enjoy the contents.

Happy Black History month.

Remembering Roy

2008-02-11T23:29:00.000-06:00

Actor Roy Scheider passed away yesterday at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital in Little Rock. Roy was battling multiple myeloma for the past two years. He was 75.

That's some bad hat, Harry.

YZ

2008-02-11T18:44:00.000-06:00

YZ Myspace
Download Albums via Megaupload c/o TPN

New Buffalo

2008-02-11T01:16:00.001-06:00

After watching my favorite Grammy's ever, I was inspired to blog. Not about one of the nominees, but about New Buffalo.

Back in 2005, Sally Seltmann wrote the song '1234' for Canadian singer/songwriter Feist. Feist added a few of her own lyrics and recorded the song, which is now a single from her new album 'The Reminder'. 'The Reminder' debuted on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and the United World charts at number 16.

As a songwriter, Sally's career has taken an upward turn with the success of '1234'. In addition to this, 1234 has secured a slew of award nominations [in both the Grammy's and the Brit Awards] for Feist. The song has also featured in advertising campaigns for the iPod Nano and Ebay Australia.

New Buffalo - Cheer Me Up Thank You

New Buffalo - Recovery

New Buffalo - Stay With Us MP3
New Buffalo - Emotional Champ MP3

Legendary Hip Hop Documentarian Passes

2008-02-08T15:52:00.000-06:00

Tony Silver, died surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles on Friday February 1, 2008. His passing ended a courageous two and half year battle with brain cancer, a disease which he defied longer than anyone thought possible.

Tony Silver's Style Wars is recognized by educators, critics and a worldwide audience as the most important film to capture the original spirit and vitality of graffiti and hip-hop, emerging from New Yorks subways, streets and playgrounds into world consciousness. An urban kaleidoscope of spectacular street art, music and dance, the film is also a multi-perspective view one of the more potent social and artistic controversies of our time. It won the Grand Prize at the Sundance Film Festival on its original release and was a PBS special. With the 2003 release of its 2-disc DVD, it is more acclaimed than ever. Silver's 2003 companion film Style Wars :ReVisited(34 mins.) updates the lives of 26 of the of the original films participants, together with other legendary figures of the time.

Let's Get Digital (5)

2008-02-05T22:54:00.000-06:00

The lovely collaborators at Insound have compiled a mix for us, the interneters. Being a huge fan of other people's playlists, I jumped on the download bandwagon immediately. They had me at Hot Chip, Xiu Xiu, and Panther preview. Notice I didn't say Hüsker Dü? Wait... aw Sugar.

01. Faunts "M4 (Part II)"
from the album M4
Courtesy of Friendly Fire Recordings

02. Rings "Mom Dance"
from the album Black Habit
Courtesy of Paw Tracks

03. Hot Chip "Shake A Fist"
from the album Made In The Dark
Courtesy of Astralwerks/DFA

04. Dub Trio "Bay vs. Leonard"
from the album Another Sound Is Dying
Courtesy of Ipecac Recordings

05. The Big Sleep "Pinkies"
from the album Sleep Forever
Courtesy of Frenchkiss Records

06. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart "A Teenager in Love"
from the album unreleased
Courtesy of Painbow Records

07. British Sea Power "Waving Flags"
from the album “Do You Like Rock Music?”
Courtesy of Rough Trade / Worlds Fair Label Group

08. Mike Ladd "Trouble Shot"
from the album Nostalgialator
Courtesy of Definitive Jux

09. Thao "Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)"
from the album We Brave Bee Stings and All
Courtesy of Kill Rock Stars

10. Hey Willpower "Hundredaire"
from the album PDA
Courtesy of Tomlab

11. Xiu Xiu "I Do What I Want, When I Want"
from the album Women As Lovers
Courtesy of Kill Rock Stars

12. Ida "Lovers Prayers"
from the album Lovers Prayers
Courtesy of Polyvinyl Record Co.

13. China Forbes "Everybody Needs Somebody"
from the album '78
Courtesy of Heinz Records

14. Bob Mould "The Silence Between Us"
from the album District Line
Courtesy of ANTI-

15. Panther "Puerto Rican Jukebox"
from the album 14 Kt. God
Courtesy of Kill Rock Stars

Camp Lo

2008-02-05T16:14:00.000-06:00

Coolie High

Lucini

Black Hollywood Freestyle; NYC 2007

Take a Moment

2008-02-04T15:39:00.000-06:00

February 2nd, 2008., Minnesota lost a true O.G. - Big Kong, to a sudden brain aneurysm.

I still remember the first time I met Thomas "Kong" Kelly...

Years ago, Tina, Shahir, Muja, and I were our own little crew. It was a strange foursome, but we were mostly unfuckwithable. We ventured to the Country Bar one sleepy Sunday to find ourself surrounded by the cheapest of drinks and the worst of karaoke. We had considered leaving, if only to get the smell of fried food off of our clothes and the ringing of "Sweet Home Alabama" out of our ears, when Big Kong filled the door frame.

He joined our table, and the two-for-one's flowed like the mighty Mississippi. Since our meeting, he had always greeted me with a smile and a hug. He was a funny, strong, intimidating teddy bear of a man that will be greatly missed by any and all fortunate enough to have crossed his path.

There is a Kong shaped hole in Minnesota.

The funeral services will be held at the following:

High Praise Ministries, the Destiny Center
1200 North 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55411

The viewing will be from 10am - 11am, Weds 02/06/2008
The funeral will begin at 11am.

via Saucy Dame Deluxe

Just Another Day

2008-02-02T19:59:00.000-06:00

Blu - Just Another Day

Emcee Spryte

2008-01-31T01:52:00.000-06:00

I'd like to take some time out of my normal routine of blogging randomness to introduce you to an ally of mine. Mary Kay came into my life a few months ago and we became fast friends; she is a bright ray of light in what can be a dismal small town. Embarking on a burgeoning hip hop career, this female emcee entrusted me with her Press Kit. She whipped up an emotional bio, and I worked on editing it for the masses.

Take some time to listen to the tracks available on her MySpace, ReverbNation, or ThatsHipHop and hope to see her soon at a venue near you!

Shuffling between family members in rural Pulaski, a small town in Wisconsin laying claim to nearly two thousand people, Mary Kay was swayed by the beat at a young age. As an impressionable child she was captivated by pop stars on music television, and rap music soon took hold. "What really turned me around was RUN DMC. Holy shit; talking over beats... I was hooked" she remembers. At the formative age of nine, a family friend drove her to bustling Milwaukee to see Run DMC perform at Summerfest. "After that, all I could think about was Rhyming. I'd rap at home. I'd rap at school. In sixth grade, my friend Nicole and I did an oral report on the Egyptians. I got the instrumental for the Beastie Boys' "Paul Revere" and rapped about King Tut."

Mary Kay spent most of her Middle School years buying cassette tapes and practicing her timing and delivery over the instrumental b-sides. A barn was her stage, her brother and sister her adoring audience, and a pilfered screw driver her utilitarian microphone. She memorized verses and would recite them for anyone willing to listen. Ice Cube, Too $hort, Tone Loc, the Pharcyde, Beastie Boys, Slick Rick, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and EPMD blared through her headphones. She had fallen in love with words, "the way they fall off of your tongue, the way you can add to the beat or effect it with different lyrics or sounds... the quicker, the better". She trusted her Adidas shell tops, baggy jeans, and gray hoodies to bely her femininity in the hip hop game. She was going to be a rapper, and MC Spryte was born.

After her parents divorced, she spun uncontrolled and unchecked. She began to doubt the existence of a higher power in her life, and insisted on testing her own limits. "I started running away from home, smoking cigs, hanging out at dry night clubs, smoking grass, and doing whatever I could to get away from the situation at home" she recalls. By her sixteenth trip around the sun, she had been arrested a number of times. She was running drugs, getting in fights, and quickly learning the cold ways of the streets. She earned her place within the family structure offered by a group of Gangster Disciples, or GD's. They had relocated from Milwaukee to Green Bay, and their home became her safe place.

She was comfortable as the only white face in a crowd because her brothers had her back and her front. "They taught me how to keep my self respect while hustling and being a female. I earned my place in the crew." She continues "I look back now and realize how lucky I am to be alive. I'd had my Jordans taken from my feet, and guns thrust in my face to intimidate me or test my loyalty. Dirt is dirt, and sometime shit gets pretty fucking dirty." It was around this time that she won her first freestyle battle in Milwaukee. It was possibly Hip Hop that kept her newfound family together "I loved sitting on the porch, blazing a blunt, and rhyming with my crew." She earned their respect, and relied on their support.

Being a runaway put strain on her blood ties. The cops would return her to Pulaski whenever she found herself in their custody, and her mother responded with anger and tears. At nightfall Mary Kay would return to her outlaws, on the run once again. Her brother and sister began to resent her for the pain she was unwillingly inflicting upon their mother, and her father didn't seem to mind as long as he wasn't bothered by a phone call from the precinct. "My grandmother Aubrey bailed me out of jail more than once. She always saw the good in me, no matter how much bad I did" Mary reminisces. "When I was seventeen and living back with my mother for the umpteenth time, I ran her phone bill up to a thousand dollars. She pressed charges and had me thrown in jail. I got two years probation plus restitution, and we didn't speak for the following three years." It was a time of turmoil, and money was tight. "I became really good at moving items that made a lot of easy cash. I kept my nose clean, my ears open, and put in foot work like I was told."

By the time Spryte turned twenty, she had turned over a new leaf. The boys she had been running with had all dispersed; had babies, moved away, or found themselves in prison. She began supporting herself through various serving positions, and trusted her mic skills to move her along a new path. "If a battle was abailable in a club, I jumped on the mic to represent women and my hometown of Green Bay." She honed her freestyle technique because in her world, "credibility on the streets is worth more than a multi million dollar deal." Outside of her comfort zone, Spryte was introduced to techno, breaks, and jungle beats. She began collaborating with friends that spun records and created Daydreams, her own promotional company to promote midwest DJ's.

She has made her presence known and shared stages with the likes of Mike E Fresh, Intrepid, DJ Bomber, Rhinogliphics, Frankie Bones, Paul Anthony, Dirty Dave Keup, Danny tha Wild Child, 3D, Jack Trash, Mark Almaria, KCZ, DJ Simple, Jes-One, Woody McBride, and countless other underground talents. She has rocked the mic throughout the midwest, and doesn't back down from an opportunity to battle and be heard. The crowd loves her, and the feeling is mutual. "They relate to my energy and my genuine love of underground music" she elaborates "My fans are the greatest. They support me and help to build through flyers and word of mouth".

Trackmaster T, a reggae singer and music producer with vision and an appreciation for Spryte's specific sense of style and swagger, invited Mary Kay to work from within his independent label based in Green Bay, Tracker Us Records. Together, they released a four song demo, and circulated three hundred copies at Dropfest, a local car show. Always on her hustle, MC Spryte is also working with Lost Voice Recordings out of Appleton, and Penmanship based in Sheboygan. She is currently working with different producers to illustrate her versatility, and can be seen performing with New Found Flavor, a reggae band she has come to claim as her own.

Her first full length album is slated to drop this spring, but rest assured that she is not resting on her laurels. "About nine years ago I found my path to the Goddess, and dedicated myself to Yoga and the study of the Ancients." she elaborates "but to discuss religion and faith we must be face to face. Just know that I am a spiritual being as well as an independent, beautiful emcee". With newfound spiritual guidance and the ability to create her own safe place, Mary Kay aka Emcee Spryte has found a way to overcome the indiscretions of her misspent youth. She has found a way to move forward and keep pushing the envelope that holds our preconceived notions of what it means to be a woman in the rap game. "I finally feel that I am ready to introduce myself to the masses, and not just the midwest; they know me well".

To know her is to love her, and this is a privilege that has been reserved for fans of underground hip hop in the midwest. Her light is set to shine on the masses, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for the formal unveiling of the Goddess.

website currently under construction

VIA

Whitest Kids You Know

2008-01-30T20:19:00.000-06:00

First song about smoking weed with dinosaurs.
You're welcome internet...

Episodes from the newest season of The Whitest Kids You Know can be found at over at IFC.

Chasing Pavements

2008-01-30T06:48:00.000-06:00

Adele - Chasing Pavements

Us Placers

2008-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

CRS - Us Placers (not commissioned)

Drum Sequencer with Balls

2008-01-30T05:34:00.000-06:00

This design for a tangible rhythm sequencer interface by student Peter Bennett is sleek & innovative.

Ball bearings are used to trigger drum sounds. Visual feedback is displayed from underneath to indicate the current time and the state of each ball bearing.

Each effect has a track on BeatBearing's plastic screen, and by dropping a ball bearing into a hole you activate that track's effect as a scanning light beam encounters it.

If Pete decides to up it to an eight track sequencer, we could have some hip hop checkers action. Coming to a coffee table near you!

Chocolate Addiction

2008-01-29T05:52:00.001-06:00

Chocolate Agency has come up with this multimedia device that snaps on with a slap. The thin bracelet is designed using E-paper technology that’s rather high in contrast. This MP4 player will literally wrap an image around your wrist, and let you unwrap it to reveal a full screen.

No need to worry about batteries either, the E-Paper Slap Bracelet is powered by kinetic energy, so movement from your wrist is all it needs.

Having a touchscreen display occupy most of the front of your phone is one thing, but when you wrap the entire freaking phone -- front and back -- with touchable e-paper technology, you've got something pretty incredible. Enter the P-Per, an impressively simple and sustainable mobile phone combing features that were supposed to be incompatible: simple, advanced, green and unique.

Modeled after the E-Paper slap bracelet, it’s made of only 4 layers of sustainable materials, the “1 function, 1 part, 1 material” rule makes it easy to disassemble the materials for recycling. It has a transparent display for camera mode and a browser that spans the entire surface of the display.

Sadly, it's a figment of our collective imaginations for now...
Eat it, iPhone (eventually)

Irene Williams: Queen of Lincoln Road

2008-01-29T03:58:00.000-06:00

The story of a gay man (Eric Smith, responsible for slouch socks) who meets an old eccentric woman in South Beach, the friendship they forge and the wisdom she imparts.

Best part? She's a saucy 'ole minx that makes all of her own clothes...
Quicktime Video

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

VIA

Jennifer Maestre

2008-01-28T01:42:00.001-06:00

"My sculptures were originally inspired by the form and function of the sea urchin. The spines of the urchin, so dangerous yet beautiful, serve as an explicit warning against contact. The alluring texture of the spines draws the touch in spite of the possible consequences. The tension unveiled, we feel push and pull, desire and repulsion. The sections of pencils present aspects of sharp and smooth for two very different textural and aesthetic experiences. Paradox and surprise are integral in my choice of materials. Quantities of industrially manufactured objects are used to create flexible forms reminiscent of the organic shapes of animals and nature. Pencils are common objects, here, these anonymous objects become the structure. There is true a fragility to the sometimes brutal aspect of the sculptures, vulnerability that is belied by the fearsome texture."

"To make the pencil sculptures, I take hundreds of pencils, cut them into 1-inch sections, drill a hole in each section (to turn them into beads), sharpen them all and sew them together.
The beading technique I rely on most is peyote stitch."

"I’m inspired by animals, plants, other art, Ernst Haeckel, Odilon Redon, mythology. In fact, it isn’t easy to specify particular sources of inspiration. Sometimes one sculpture will inspire the next, or maybe I’ll make a mistake, and that will send me off in a new direction."

VIA

Mark Khaisman Mixtape

2008-01-27T03:34:00.000-06:00

"I work on the light easel, applying translucent brown packing tape on clear Plexiglas panels, the layers built up to create degrees of opacity. My main motivation is my love for classics. The images are archetypes derived from the cultural heritage: art, architecture, movies. I am trying to be faithful to the source, but in the process of interpretation all kinds of things happen. The reason is submerged in the shadows, the purpose is absorbed by the light, the cultural icon has become the personal experience."

via

Panda Bear

2008-01-27T03:08:00.000-06:00

High harmonies, simple melodies and woven samples that feel like a kaleidoscope's perspective of Brian Wilson's brain. Although Pitchfork listed Person Pitch as the number one album of 2007, I still can't get enough of it. Damn you, Pitchfork.

Panda Bear - Bros

Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica

Just because this is probably what you were expecting when you clicked the link; my aim is not to disappoint. Completely unrelated, but unrelentingly adorable nonetheless.

Helium; a noble gas.

2008-01-27T02:45:00.000-06:00

I still remember how excited I was when these videos were critiqued by Beavis and Butthead...
Helium - XXX

Helium - Pat's Trick

...and the song that initiated my allegiance...

Helium - Honeycomb

Franz Ferdiwho?

2008-01-26T02:02:00.000-06:00

Orange Juice - Rip It Up

Edwin Collins - A Girl Like You

Edwin Collins - You'll Never Know

...thank you Scotland.

My Pirate Disco

2008-01-23T18:57:00.000-06:00

When Lisa Hannigan and Damien Rice parted artistic ways this past spring, I was bummed. She gives light to what could otherwise be a dark show. I enjoyed their energies on stage and in the studio, and I think that Rice my be at a loss without her.
Damien Rice feat. Lisa Hannigan - 9 Crimes

Thankfully, we have a peek at what she has been currently working on. This video has been touted as her solo demo, and I've got say that I like where this is going.

Lisa Hannigan - My Pirate Disco (solo demo)

Vampire Weekend? Yep.

2008-01-22T05:20:00.000-06:00

Vampire Weekend - A Punk

Directed by Garth Jennings

Pantalaine Presents Co-dependent Couture

2008-01-21T02:46:00.000-06:00

Pantalaine Family Store in South Bend Indiana is my new Disneyland. They pulled me in with the Couch Dress, and the resulting ten or so minutes felt like a few worth sharing.

The Palantine Family will customize a dress out of as many afghans as it takes to cover whatever size seating unit you toss their way.

Not only that, but they let you pick two flower broaches that are probably smaller than the dress. I bet you didn't even know that you needed one flower broach, but you probably do, and this is your chance to get two.

I know that you're looking at the price tag thinking that it may just be the best deal you've seen on yarn in a while. You are savy, and I am intuitive. The overall value will melt your skull if you consider the broaches and inevitably hilarious fitting session!

I'm crossing my fingers for the possibility of the matching hooded shawl that will dance across my mind's eye as I drift to sleep yearning for a scratchy cumbersome accessory.

Truth be told, this Wind Up Dress Up scares me a little more than the Couch Dress did. The picture reads like an awkward before and after, and evokes feelings not dissimilar to those delivered by the Grady twins. Infer with me, if you will.

Two pathetically sad sisters work in a sweatshop knitting couch dresses in the tool shed next to their ranch home and inflatable pool. The eldest sister, Candace probably, keeps a stiff upper lip so that little Misty is lulled into a sense of false security.

One day, daddy comes home with his newest design! He's dubbed it his "Double Princess Fantasy Dress" and waves it infront of the girls, still grubby from a hard day's work. Some day they will look back upon the iridescent fairy dress. They will remember spinning around until they got dizzy, and holding onto each other in futile attempts not to fall.

They will remember the day that dress-up turned on them. Maybe next year they'll get out of the fast paced fashion industry and start a lemonade stand; bring it back to their entrepreneurial roots.

At this point I'm hooked and need to know what other amazing consumer goods I have been missing out on. Quite frankly, I'm mentally invested in this rag tag mom and pop joint.

If you're still reading, than you are too. There's only one thing to do; let's keep browsing.

I have no idea what is so super about these Super Sweats, or why there are random sleeves attached to one pant leg. Maybe this was a bad idea.

I'm pretty sure the girl with the butt sleeve didn't want to put her hand all the way in there. She's smart. She probably knew this was going to make its way onto the internet, given the lavish nature of the photo shoot.

Everyone looks happy and comfortable (is there some sort of text color that should be used to indicate sarcasm?). The jig is up. It's clear that they were hoping the sea foam green cans were going to sell the crap out of some very odd touchy pants.

What the duck sauce is going on in each and every picture? I clicked further and it hit me. This site is dedicated to selling clothes that are attached to other things. Usually other items of identical clothing, but sometimes couches. There are pajamas designed to facilitate a serious ass kicking via some sort of pillow tail aberration, and polo shirts to cement the already strong lefty solidarity.

Some designs are so quintessentially emo that I want to dig out my horn rimmed glasses, but then I remember how old their prescription is and doubt that its a match for my macbook. It sounds like a one way ticket to migraine city, and I'd rather squint at pictures of shoes that force you to walk like the Monkees or protect your toes during a spicy salsa (wait for it...).

There are pants that allow you to strap a child to the side of your leg, something I had never considered. Think of how much you'd save on a stroller! I'm sure the constant rocking of pops walking lulls the little tike directly into la la land while you are free to pass go and collect that $200.

If you have a few minutes, browse through their site. I found myself a bit more than bemused.

They've been selling this original gem since 1959 (I'm holding out for vintage and banking on eBay).

Dynamite Chicken

2008-01-18T14:35:00.000-06:00

Directed by Ernest Pintoff (best known for his collaboration with Mel Brooks on the wonderful animated short The Critic), Dynamite Chicken is self-described in the opening credits as "A contemporary probe and commentary of the mores and maladies of our age.....with shtick, bits, pieces, girls, some hamburger, a little hair, a lady, some fellas, some religious stuff, and a lot of other things." The roster of names in the opening credits includes Paul Krasner, Peter Max, Alan Ginsberg, Al Goldstein, Lenny Bruce, Joan Baez, Malcolm X, The Velvet Underground, and John & Yoko.

To call Dynamite Chicken revolutionary is to do a disservice to the true revolutionaries of the era, many of whom coincidentally appear in the film (however posthumously; as was the case with Lenny Bruce and Malcolm X). During its conception, it required significant effort to cull such diverse voices and images to create an entertaining yet critical take on the status quo, and the resulting film stands as a worthy artifact of the era.

Today, all it takes is a laptop and a handful of YouTube clips to create a film like this.

Consisting of a series of thematic segments very loosely linked by footage of Richard Pryor riffing directly into the camera while wandering around a beat-up playground somewhere in New York, Pryor occasionally slips into bits that would become staples of his standup routine but his presence here is strictly to take us to the bridge.

The material is built for short attention spans (ala the tuned-in turned-on crowd), and the visual freak-outs begin right about the time the drugs would kick in. Psychedelic concert footage (of Sha Na Na, believe it or not) is intercut with old movie clips (e.g., Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah) and seemingly endless footage of naked curvaceous hippies dancing or doing calisthenics (If closeups of the mons pubis is your thing, this is the film for you.). This is supplemented with moments of agit-prop and pop-art; man-on-the-street interviews with toothless patriots talking about the flag, Andy Warhol recording Ondine reading from Warhol's novel a, some Frank Lauria poetry and jazz, and some creepy footage and interviews with workers at one of the first Burger King restaurants that would fit very nicely into Fast Food Nation.

It goes without saying that the sexual revolution is addressed, and Pintoff chose some interesting spokespeople. On the one side, Al Goldstein and Jim Buckley, who (in nausea inducing fish-eye closeups) espouse the theory behind Screw magazine, and on the other some unidentified feminist theorists discussing female sexuality and the use of derogatory language towards women.

Other highlights include shtick from the Ace Trucking Company, a comedy troupe that featured Fred Willard and Match Game regular Patti Deutsch, and a remarkable scene with Ron Carey dressed as priest outfitted in a Joliet Jake hat and shades doing a dance in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral to Lionel Goldbart's God Loves Rock and Roll while somewhere else a nun does a striptease.

I'm ripping the DVD and will have it available for a temporary download shortly...

"Fly" the Coop

2007-12-30T22:27:00.000-06:00

I have finally come up with a name for my new Mini Cooper. Her name is Fly (can be spelled in a more "hip hop" manner if personal preference dictates, but I stick to proper grammar; ask your girl's favorite rapper). So in tribute to my baby "Fly" the Coop I present some killer wingsuit videos.

The doozey on Biertijd.com is the best I've seen, but I can't find a way to embed that bad boy so your fingers will have to do the walking.

A YouTube search yields some more blog friendly results:

Drunk History

2007-12-28T04:09:00.000-06:00

Witness history as it's never been told befor; Drunk.

On August 6th 2007, Mark Gagliardi drank a bottle of Scotch...
and then discussed a famous historical event.

That night history was made... Drunk History

Derek Waters Presents: Drunk History vol. 1
Directed by: Jeremy Konner
Starring: Michael Cera, Jake Johnson, Derek Waters, Ashley Johnson
Created by: Derek Waters

*personal note*
I've had a soft spot for Michael Cera since "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." His star is going to be fun to watch; I'm thinking possible futre Ferrell status with this one.

For more Cera charm view Impossible is the Opposite of Possible, a parody of Impossible is Nothing (by the now internets famous Aleksey Vayner).

Hospitality

2007-12-22T05:17:00.000-06:00

I stumbled upon this at passiveaggressivenotes.com and had to share it. The commentary that follows reminds me of the same conversation I have with some d. rocket on a seemingly daily basis.

New Favorite Flickr

2007-12-21T04:25:00.000-06:00

lolsheviks

Tom Sachs

2007-11-19T23:33:00.000-06:00

Skull, 2003
Foamcore and hot glue

New York born artist Tom Sachs is something of a troublemaker on the art scene. Focused on critiquing fashion and street cultures, he manipulates our ideas of consumption, branding, commercial imagery and objects of money and power. Addressing the mania around fashion and attempting to change viewer's perceptions of precious items and revered brands. His pieces have a very "do-it-yourself" quality, made from mundane materials: foam core, Sharpie markers, duct tape and hot glue.

Chanel Chainsaw, 1996
cardboard and glue

Chanel Guillotine (Breakfast Nook), 1998
Mixed media

via

Chanel Sports

2007-11-19T23:19:00.000-06:00

Chanel’s founder Coco Chanel was an avid cycler and to commemorate her and make an environmental statement Chanel have released a bicycle as part of their Spring/Summer 2008 collection. The Chanel bicycle is covered in their signature quilted leather and has a quilted leather bag on the back. The bicycle has eight speeds and will be available exclusively by order from certain Chanel stores in December.

I might be able to afford the tennis racquet, but I know I would just feel guilty about not using it... and then probably feel like a jerk if I did. I also have the sneaking suspicion that the fancy flower would just jack up my spin.

Serial killer breaks into song? You had me at Johnny Depp.

2007-11-18T17:27:00.000-06:00

The story of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street first appeared in the 1830s in England and was soon adapted for the London stage. When Stephen Sondheim saw a version of the play in London in the mid 1970s, he asked Hugh Wheeler to collaborate with him on a musical adaptation. When the new Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway in 1979, it became an instant hit and later walked away with that year’s Tony award.

Although successful on Broadway, the film adaptation for the play turned musical has languished in development for decades. Alan Parker (Evita) was said to be interested in the '80s. Burton himself took a stab at it in the early '90s, but he says it came to nothing because there wasn't a script in place. Sam Mendes worked on a version for several years with Gladiator scribe John Logan before making 2005's Jarhead instead. Then, in the summer of 2006, Burton suddenly had an opening in his schedule after his Jim Carrey movie, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, fell apart. He pounced on Sweeney, and quickly persuaded Depp to join him.

Is there a large overlap between fans of Stephen Sondheim and horror movie aficionados? Paramount Pictures must be banking on it, because director Tim Burton's R-rated feature-film adaptation of the Broadway musical Sweeny Todd, one of the season's highest-profile offerings and an Oscar aspirant, includes moments that are bloodier than anything ever seen in the show's various Broadway and West End stagings.

Burton, who is still working on his final cut, brought 17 minutes of footage to New York on Wednesday evening for a sneak preview hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, where the film's realistic depictions of throat-slashing murders sent a few audience members cowering in revulsion at the onscreen splatter. The event, which showed off three scenes, marked the first time any of the film had been unspooled for a North American audience. The film goes into limited release on Dec. 21.

Set in 19th-century London, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street stars Johnny Depp in the title role of the vengeful barber who, after serving 15 years in Australia on a wrongful conviction, returns to London to find his wife dead and his daughter the ward of the judge who sent him away. When a killing spree results in more corpses than he can easily hide, his love-struck landlady Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) grinds up his victims for use in the meat pies she sells at her downstairs shop.

The film also stars Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin and Sacha Baron Cohen as the competing barber Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

During one scene shown on Wednesday evening, Sweeney Todd slashes the throats of four customers while singing an ode to his lost daughter, Johanna. After killing the men, Todd sends their suddenly lifeless bodies sliding like sacks of wet cement down a chute to the basement, where they land with a horrifying head-first thud on the stone floor.

Burton felt Sweeney should be deliberately grotesque; a Mario Bava gorefest with ballads. "It just goes with the story," he says of the geysers of plasma. "I'd seen different Sweeney Todd productions on stage, and when they skimped on the blood, the production lost something. Everything is so internal with Sweeney that [the blood] is like his emotional release. It's more about catharsis than it is a literal thing." Shot in a muted palette of smudged Victorian browns and blacks, blood red is the most vibrant colour. (via)

Never Forget, Never Forgive

For further reading: Johnny Depp: Cutting Loose in ''Sweeney Todd''; a Q&A by EW.

If you enjoy a bloody musical every so often, may I suggest:
Eating Raoul
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Blood Brothers
Bat Boy
Evil Dead
Cannibal!
Carrie
Little Shop of Horrors
The Rocky Horror Show
Jekyll and Hyde
Lestat
Dance of the Vampires | tanz der vampire

* Feel free to comment if you have a musical to add to the list!

Death Watch

2007-11-17T23:06:00.000-06:00

Dating back to 1810, the Memento Mori Death Watch is a particularly dark reminder (even more so than most timekeepers) of our inevitable demise. Designed in the shape of a miniature skull with hinges, this pocket watch tells the time when you peel back the upper dome of the cranium. Made from 18K gold, enamel and diamonds, the fusée skull sold for $16,000.

via The Watchismo Times

Mori ex Cacao

2007-11-16T22:23:00.000-06:00

Modern Alchemist Douglas Little & Confectioner Valerie Gordon, drawn together by a mutual admiration for the quality and beauty of each other’s creations, are pleased to debut the MORI EX CACAO COLLECTION. The genesis of DL & Company’s gastronomic collaboration with Valerie Confections is the belief that any modern luxury brand should appeal to all of the senses.

Based on DL&Co’s Memento Mori Collection, the exquisite skulls are rendered in bittersweet chocolate, filled with one of three delicious centers, then individually painted with colored cocoa butter to achieve the pristine, disturbing result.

Loosely translated, MORI EX CACAO is Death by Chocolate – dangerously overwhelming indulgence. These marvelous and macabre chocolate skulls are among the most extravagant confections made today, notable for the excellence and purity of their ingredients and the intricacy of their design. A single skull will set you back 40 bones, and the three piece gift set is nearly a Benji at $95.00.

Scorched Caramel
Organic cream is slowly combined with sugar over an intense flame, until the deep amber confection appears. Decadent.

Bitter Brandied Cherry
An exquisite and unusual confection of indulgent bitter chocolate, Kirsch-perfumed ganache and succulent sour cherries steeped in liqueur, finished in porcelain white cocoa.

Curious Chili
An eccentric array of chilies and spices are combined with the deepest chocolate into an exotic and exciting sensation, with a heat that lingers long after the chocolate is gone. An extraordinary experience.

Skulladay

2007-11-02T02:56:00.001-05:00

To commemorate my Father's Birthday (Halloween) and the Día de los Muertos, I thought I would post an image yanked from Skulladay; my new favorite treat loaded with links and updated daily.

TankBooks

2007-10-28T00:45:00.001-05:00

Tank (a creative agency and publishing company based in the UK) has designed a series of classics to take our breath away while the smoking ban takes hold of our major (and not so major) cities. Packaged in flip-top cartons with silver foil wrapping and sealed in cellophane, I garautee they are just as addictive are their similarly designed counterparts.

Heart of Darkness is my personal favorite and biased suggestion, although you can rarely go wrong on a Kafka kick.

Hand Soap

2007-10-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

While browsing online for a birthday gift for a Virgo friend of mine, I came across the coolest, and possibly creepiest item I've seen since the shrunken head jewelry that I fell in love with over a month ago.

Actual soap, shaped like tiny little hands. Using molds made from dolls, each "hand" is handmade and cared for like the doll it came from.

Brought to you by foliage.

Paper Cuts

2007-10-01T23:39:00.000-05:00

The work of Peter Callesen, who lives and works out of Copenhagen, has been catching my eye as of late. His sculpture is bewildering.

He writes:

"My paper works has lately been based around an exploration of the relationship between two and three dimensionality. I find this materialization of a flat piece of paper into a 3D form almost as a magic process - or maybe one could call it obvious magic, because the process is obvious and the figures still stick to their origin, without the possibility of escaping. In that sense there is as well an aspect of something tragic in most of the cuts".

What I find so smart and compelling about it, beyond the obvious mastery of the technique, is the fact that the process of making is revealed by leaving what's cut. Not only do we see the amazing composition and story of each piece, but we also get to see what's taken away to make it. The connection between the two parts is not severed, which makes each piece a bit more tense and provacative.

He also creates large scale installations that boggle the mind.

Valerie

2007-09-23T04:19:00.000-05:00

The Zutons (2006)

Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse (2007)

The one thing I can't seem to figure out is how Ronson scored top billing when it's obvious that Winehouse makes this song worth revisiting...

Amy Winehouse Live

take THAT, Steve Winwood and 80's television.

Monster Maker

2007-09-18T20:21:00.000-05:00

Sharkey and C-Rayz Walz are... Monster Maker
(click to download album)

01 Birth Of Ratto Di Laboratorio
02 This Ol' Twisted World
03 My Way
04 Pain To The Picture
05 Jumping Off At The Jumpoff
06 Electric Avenue
07 Might She Shoot
08 We Speak Animal
09 Forgotten
10 Loss Of Niche ft. Zooks
11 The Moment Before Crazy ft. Vast Aire
12 Slim Chances

I know that I am getting a late pass on this disc, but chances are you haven't given it a spin yet either. Check out the official site for more info and a taste of the concept.

Gangster Rap Explained via Illustration

2007-09-17T03:29:00.000-05:00

Airline Sacrifices; this time the goat gets it.

2007-09-15T06:01:00.000-05:00

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Officials at Nepal's state-run airline have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the carrier said Tuesday.

Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircrafts, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.

The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft Sunday at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance with Hindu traditions, an official said.

"The snag in the plane has now been fixed and the aircraft has resumed its flights," said Raju K.C., a senior airline official, without explaining what the problem had been.

Local media last week blamed the company's woes on an electrical fault. The carrier runs international flights to five cities in Asia.

It is common in Nepal to sacrifice animals like goats and buffaloes to appease different Hindu deities.

Through the extraordinary investigative prowess of my friend Bryan (catch him with Detachment Kit), I am able to present a second hand Arabic technical service bulletin full of recondite information.

Good Life

2007-09-14T13:57:00.000-05:00

I'll admit a small spot in the guilty pleasures zone of my heart that enjoys just a lil' T-Pain every so often. What can I say? I'm not made of stone. Kanye has released a video for the third single from Graduation, and it's a song that I have been listening to every day on my way to work for the past month or so. There's still time to help Ye crush fiddy, so go BUY that album (downloaders, I'm looking at you).

Find Your Way Home

2007-09-05T21:20:00.000-05:00

Roma di Luna will be celebrating the release of their new album entitled "Find Your Way Home" at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, MN. They will be joined by local singer/songwriter JoAnna James, as the Cedar Cultural Center kicks off their season with this FREE, All-Ages event scheduled for September 6th.

416 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis MN
7:00pm Doors | 7:30pm Music
1.612.338.2674

Roma di Luna is an acoustic duo whose music recalls early 20th century folk and country set to modern times. As husband and wife, Alexei and Channy Casselle co-write songs that are plaintive, sometimes dark yet “hauntingly soothing” noted for “simple instrumentation along with piercing, emotively beautiful vocals.” The songs are presented in a stark manner, keeping them true to the influence of Americana roots. Lyrics soaked with confessions and hard truths pay homage to the storytellers and spiritual revelations of the folk and gospel tradition.

Alexei Moon Casselle is better known in the underground hip-hop scene as an MC under the alias Crescent Moon as a former member of Oddjobs and current member of Kill the Vultures, occasionally touring with Atmosphere as Slug’s hype-man. Channy Moon Casselle is a classically trained violinist who has played with various bluegrass groups and has already blossomed into a talented singer/songwriter.

Roma di Luna first emerged on the scene through weekly busking performances at the downtown Minneapolis farmer’s market beginning in 2004. They played traditional numbers from Alan Lomax songbooks on a corner next to meat vendors and vegetable farmers, eventually working more of their original songs into their spirited sets. Their first visit to the recording studio in Spring 2006 resulted in the track “These Tears Ain’t Mine” which was featured on the Twin Town High 2006 compilation CD and has gone on to garner a local buzz and regular airplay on local radio.

aline_aux_usa provides the video feed from a show at the 400 Bar.

Roma di Luna releases are available on iTunes
JoAnna James can be found online at CD Baby

Crouching Aircraft Factory Hidden Airplane Terminal

2007-09-04T00:37:00.000-05:00

During World War II the Army Corps of Engineers needed to hide the Lockheed Burbank Aircraft Plant and Terminal to protect it from a Japanese air attack. The entire area was covered with camouflage netting and trompe l'oeil to make it look like a rural subdivision from the air.

before

after

Historical Perspective
Los Angeles metropolitan area during WWII

No Reservations Cleveland Comic Book

2007-09-02T20:02:00.000-05:00

The Travel Channel recently aired an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations featuring Harvey Pekar. Flip through the No Reservations Cleveland shoot comic book to read Tony's take before and after meeting Pekar. Then read Pekar's take on the 'No Reservations' shoot. Enjoy!

Prologue by Anthony Bourdain

Epilogue by Anthony Bourdain

The Shoot of No Reservations by Harvey Pekar

Murray's Revenge

2007-09-01T14:38:00.000-05:00

MURS and 9th Wonder bring us Murray's Revenge: the video. Speaking from personal knowledge, this man really does love video games. I thoroughly enjoy the classic Nintendo reset moment before the seccond verse jumps.

Don Hertzfeldt

2007-08-30T12:59:00.000-05:00

Hertzfeldt's films often feature hand-drawn stick figures acting out dadaist combinations of slapstick, absurd, and black humor along with heavier existential themes. I like to think of him as Kubrick incarnate with some seriously simple pen skills. He uses 16mm or 35mm film cameras to create his animations without the aid of computers and often employs old-timey special effect techniques such as multiple exposures, in-camera mattes, and experimental photography (seen to large effect in The Meaning of Life, and "Everything Will Be OK"). This lends a more organic feel to his works, most evident in occasional stop-motion animation sequences (as in the Intermission in the Third Dimension trilogy), as well as in the use of the celluloid and drawing mediums themselves as part of the visuals (as in Rejected and Genre).

Hertzfeldt has photographed all his films to date on an antique 35mm Richardson animation camera stand, believed to be the same camera that photographed many of the early Peanuts cartoons in the 1960's and 70's. It is reportedly one of the last remaining functioning cameras of its kind left in America (if not the world), but Hertzfeldt finds it to be a crucial element in the creation of his films and their unique effects. *
Rejected

Rejected was nominated for a 2001 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It received 27 awards from film festivals around the world and in 2004 was ranked by the Internet Movie Database as the 3rd best short film of all time.

Although the film is fictional and Hertzfeldt never did any commercial work, he received many offers to do television commercials after his short Billy's Balloon garnered international attention and acclaim. In public appearances, he often tells the story that he always wished he could just make a cheap, nonsensical commercial to give to the company intending to hire him, make off with their money, and see if the terrible cartoons would actually make it to air. Eventually this became the germ for Rejected's theme of a collection of cartoons so bad they were rejected by advertising agencies, leading to their creator's breakdown and, presumably, his demise.

An Aqua Teen Hunger Force Rejected homage: "Broodwich"
(watch ATHF: Episode 34 in entirety.

* via

Blog Bounce

2007-08-29T03:46:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I stumble upon blogs that make me sit here for a minute. I visited Nah Right tonight, and after watching their video embed, the heads in The Real gave me pause and left me smiling.

Hip Hop is the Single Most Destructive Force in Society

Site contributor Jeff Rosenthal has made his way onto Funny or Die's "Choices" series hosted by Jessica St. Clair and posted by This Just In. "Real Jobs" be damned.

Choices: Bullies Vs. Sissies
Choices: Technology Vs. Communication
Which lead me back to a recent conversation about a particular Boondocks intro and argument(right before I was scolded via my mobile telephone unit by a former stranger for sitting under a bridge). I thought it somehow fitting for this soliloquy.

The Boondocks: Rummy explains technology

Gregorius: NMKY

2007-08-26T21:57:00.000-05:00

Gregorius: NMKY (Finnish YMCA cover). They tried, but they're still no more gay than the Village People.

Google Sky

2007-08-25T21:31:00.000-05:00

The heavens are only a few mouse clicks away with Google Inc.'s latest free tool. A new feature in Google Earth, the company's satellite imagery-based mapping software, allows users to view the sky from their computers.

The tool provides information about various celestial bodies, from stars to planets, and includes imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope and other sources. It also allows users to take virtual tours through galaxies, including the Milky Way, from any point on Earth they choose.

"By working with some of the industry's leading experts, we've been able to transform Google Earth into a virtual telescope," Lior Ron, a Google product manager, said in a statement.

The new software also promises users the ability to see planets in motion and witness a supernova.

Via AP Writer Dan Nephin