DLR

i recently re-watched better off dead--one of my favorites, and an early john cusack classic. in watching it i was reminded of van halen, a band that, at the time, i think i was simply to young for--or at least too young to be a fanatic. i'm not to broken up about it though because, while it was a certain time and a certain place, it wasn't really great music.



DLRsteriods. do it.

stackable hip hop

i came across this delight some days ago...and i was delighted by the simplicity of the concept. hell yes.

via beans

another good one.

bummer it's not a more epic product, but they always show the funniest parts in the commercial--no?



via core

severely disappointing

i feel a bit cheated. the way anyone who thinks that they know what they're getting does, when they get something else. i love just before dark...and that's what i hoping to get from last friday night at joe's pub. instead i got a thoroughly decent opening set by kelly (jones) williams (with mike viola on bass and backup vocals), and ONE song by mike and only mike. after which he called much of kelly williams' band back on stage, followed by the ickiest of LA ways...the all star cameo. after mandy moore, and tracy bonham got up on stage and got their star studded mitts all over the music...i couldn't take it, and i had to leave.



i understand the need to get paid, the natural creative desire to do something new--or at least something new to you. i think in general i understand why. i just have a hard time with viola's chosen path to a greater success, and so i guess i'm saying farewell to yet another musician that used to provide me with delight. see ya mike. see ya never.

marketing works...sometimes.

it's amazing how easy it is to spot unsuccessful marketing campaigns in their various forms. it's easier still to bemusedly disregard those that are dated, intended for another age group, culture, or nation. seen that viral video that was so unremarkable, you told no one? so, maybe your real amazement should be reserved for the unlikely event that some clever marketing flows seamless and stealthily into your life. how is it that our cultural identities are so finely tuned, yet so hard to explain, so difficult to share, and nearly impossible to teach? some things people are really good at...and i think most of them surround disagreement. we always know when it's not quite right.


one image from a slideshow given by IBM back in 1975.
via swiss miss

too good...

make that way too good. i tried, but i couldn't not share it.



via not lying

best show ever.

i'm consistently disappointed by reality tv. i might even hate it. not in the guilty pleasure sense, where i say i hate it but follow it anyway. sure, i've seen my fair share, but i'm kinda grinding my teeth while watching. let's just go with this: i really really don't like it. i think it devalues pop culture in that people are now becoming famous, simply for being famous--routinely. that's fucked. exceptional yet not exceptional. one exception i'll make...mtv's rob and big. i love rob and big.

i think they remind me a bit of me and some of my friends...or how certain friendships are. they do stuff i'd like to do. they do stuff i've done. they do dumb stuff, and both enjoy it. they have a miniature horse. they hold world records. they. are. fun.

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

this episode is from january but it's a favorite--and if you haven't seen the show, a great introduction. oh yeah, make sure to stick it out to the end.

enjoy.

p.s. net gun!

i don't get it.

cards. i just don't get it. what makes a purchased printed sentiment so special that it's all but required for holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, and the like? and what says three or four bucks makes it your sappy sentiment? i hate cards--more in the in the sense that giving them is somehow obligatory, than a hate for bleached pressed wood pulp.

go on and like them all you want, i won't think any less of you. Just promise you won't be disappointed when i don't get you one.

cards i can get behind...sorta

a hipster by any other name...

sometimes--or rather most times--i'm on the internet searching for an answer. sometimes it's work related research, sometimes it's a goal-less curiosity, and sometimes wish fulfillment. but it's never a particularly concise or tidy visit. one question leads to another, which in turn leads to another. the same reason it's never quick is the same reason i have a practical fear of the dictionary. there's lot's of good stuff in there, and once i start asking questions, it's really hard to stop. one tidbit i came across recently reminded me of an old favorite, only this one provides a new answer.

do hipsters look the same everywhere?

answer.

the color of fascism.

color of the year. this year. two thousand eight. as chosen by pantone.

i used to think pantone was a pretty cool for standardizing color processes.  not that they do it for free, but having a standard to reference helps out tremendously. this misstep, this "color of the year" doesn't help anyone. this is an arrogant and assuming declaration, and should not be mistaken for a service, free or otherwise.

all i can think is, seriously? the fashion world is absurdly idiosyncratic and and seems to be rather unforgiving of the same quality in other industries. perhaps that's what makes it so inaccessible. i'm not in the loop enough to know if pantone is a big deal in the fashion world, at least as color applies to actual goods...but i don't much care. i don't need anyone to tell me what looks good, not in such absolute terms anyway. i'm pretty sure my irritation will fuel no functionally productive reaction, so i'll do what i can to put it behind me, but pantone just got put on my proverbial naughty list . are colors really that different now that it's 2008? and what's next, an HSV palette to further reign in and dictate what is and isn't cool this year? fuck you color-fascists.





cathy horyn's thoughts