What's old is new again - except when your drunk... That feels pretty much the same as it did 100 years ago.

In his new book “Imbibe!” (Perigee Books, $23.95), a biography and annotated recipe book, David Wondrich revisits the life and times of Jerry Thomas, the famed mixoligist at the turn of the century. (If you don't feel like reading the book, the NYTimes does a great job of sumarising it - I didn't actually read it either, but whatever!!)

While the article is interesting and I'm sure the book is engrossing, what caught my fancy was how everything old is new. At a time when everyone is obsessed with micro brews, single malt scotches and vintage wines, it's refreshing to read of a time when creativity and professional life could combine to form delicious libations of sweet remedy... While this fellow did die broke, his contribution to bar life is greatly appreciated and the commentary regarding the evolution of the cocktail, fascinating..

So go out and drink a blue blazer - if you can find someone to mix it up!

I am one with the external mind. Om.

If you lost your cell phone, who would you call and would you remember their number ?

Have we surrendered personal choice to machines? Has "the computer generation" lost our sense of personal identity and choice, relying almost entirely on computers to tell us what to do? I find myself stumbling upon this question a lot these days. David Brooks discusses this in a recent piece and I can't help but agree with his observations that with all the automation in our lives, shouldn't we question what decisions remain a reflection of personal choice... Computers tell us where to drive our cars, which songs to buy, which products we'll like, who our friends should be....

However, I guess it all depends on each persons relationship to technology - we can blindly accept the "recommended" CD's, food , movies and friends or we can revisit the days when we actually asked somebody.

These guys put the "EXTREME" in extreme sports

You thought you where bad ass when you body surfed that wave or jumped off that cliff... Yeah right... Check these guys out and feel the adrenalin rush!


These guys are insane, and the guy in this video got caught in a real live Tsunami.


Truly insane. As proof Dan Osman, the guy in this video, later lost his life doing this.


And while this may not be as insane, it's still a great way to break your neck.

G.I. Jonny VS. Captain Bare Back.... (UK)

If sex education had only been this much fun when I was a teen.....

Brohemian Rhapsody! Just like the good ol' days!

Not sure who produced this, but the production is terrific...They hit all the details... See how many you identify with!

In A Ring of Fire.....

SoCal is burning... See. (photo from space)

High School Teachers Beware!

Funny or sad? I'm not quiet sure. I do know being a teacher was hard before and technology isn't making it any easier. None the less, here are some more clips from the classroom... Some are more funny than others... Some are just plane scary!

Creative Adaptation or Total Rip Off?

A recent Toyota ad seems eerily similar to a another viral WWC video - one is funny. One is...... You be the judge......

2006


2007

Hey. Ho. Let's Roll.......

Talk about good clean fun! Despite the prison like entrance (the most cops I've seen since... well, the UN was in town recently and there where a lot of cops there - either way, "don't bring anything you would not want to be caught with), and the stifling heat in the gym, the evening was great fun. It took a minute to figure out how the 'Derby' is played, but once you get the idea (which doesn't take that long), the crowd, the music, the people made for an awesome time.... So here ya' go, top 10 names from the Gotham Girls Roller Derby against Portland Ore. last night:

1) Donna Matrix
2) Teq "kill" ya
3) Beatrix Slaughter
4) Hard Anya
5) Huricane Skatrina
6) Megahurtz
7) Raggedy Animal
8) Fisti Cuffs
9) Brigitte Barhot
10) Beyonslay
*refers to best name only

Are Women Really Depreciating Assets?

POST: “spectacularly beautiful” 25-year-old seeking a husband who makes at least $500,000 a year, because “$250,000 won’t get me to Central Park West.”

RESPONSE: Your proposition is a bad business deal. “In economic terms, you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset,.”“ Your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity.”

According to the NYTimes (article), this little diddy hit the web in full force and raised questions of misogyny, online ethics and overall email etiquette. While his response is cold and biting and I've certainly met my fair share of Hedge Fund managers and M&A bankers, I don't disagree with his logic. And, while I understand how the objectification of women is wrong, this women, whomever she is, has clearly laid the ground rules. She named her price - she just probably never took an economics course......

Lucky for me, I've got a priceless jewel at home that only improves with age!

Has $ ruined Art? Is that even a question.

In a recent NYMag article, the author raises the above question (and in typical NYMag fashion, the headline is more informed and well crafted than the subsequent commentary) - has money ruined art?

While the remaining words provide little in the way of intellectual curiosity and or commentary, beyond rehashing the the past months gallery shows and the expected industry names, the fact remains that there is too much money in New York at the moment and this is evident in the fact that poorly conceived, poorly crafted objects continue to demand ridiculous prices.

While the value of any commodity is determined in the free market, what boggles my mind is that unlike an ounce of gold or a gallon of gasoline, the value of art is determined by pure subjective taste - bad taste in my opinion - not its actual function (but then i'm not buying or bidding on these objects anyway). So let the home decorators rule the roost (pink paintings to go with pink couches), let the hedge fund managers dictate artistic values (that which demands money commands money) - and let us continue to worship a value system clearly made up of dollar bills.

A little behind - but still hot off the block!

the track has been popular now for a while - not sure how i missed this cool little diddy of visual candy!

Has NYC lost it's soul?

A recent town hall here in NYC discussed just this subject, as reported by the NYTimes. As someone who grew up here in the city in the late 80's and mid 90's and lives here now, I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. As I like to quip to friends, SoHo is now the biggest and nicest open air mall in America. What was once old warehouses, artist lofts and a smorgisboard of strange sights, smells, scenes and people, has become an area where I feel more alienated then ever - it's not my New York!

I remember hearing immigrants speaking a foreign language; Spanish, Chinese or a Caribbean dialect - now I am more likely to hear German, French or Dutch.. Tourists dominate.

Starbucks dominates. H&M dominates. Banana Republic dominates. Art Gallery's that cater to the tourist trade dominate.

What happened to all the "normal" people?

I'll fly like a paper get high like planes.......

Super hot track from M.I.A... Beats by Diplo... check out a recent remix featuring Bun B and Rich Boy. The rest of the album is pretty hot as well - cool samples from classic trax! check out M.I.A. live on Letterman.

If you don't believe one man can make a difference, watch this.....

Vote! Who's Your Candidate?

2008 Election

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