Mirrored. Battles. See + Hear = Nice.

Nice video collaboration from the NYC band Battles and UVA (United Visual Artists). Using a visual medium to compliment a sound track sound easy - but just try it and see if you can make it look good.

Proteck yo' deck....

Sweatshop free doesn't mean sweat free. Especially if you're a model.

American Apparel. The indie darling of the fashion set. A brand able to push the boundaries of good taste and walk the fine line between sexual energy and full-on pornography. Either way, the ads are memorable, but have the most recent ones pushed the line too far?


The images become even more questionable when you consider the irony that a company borne out of the an ethical ethos of sweatshop free products, continues to push the objectification of women farther and farther. As Newsweek observed, "They are sending the message that social responsibility is about money alone—as long as you pay the women inside the factory a legal wage you’re absolved from exploiting them in other ways."

I think the following graffiti'd caption captures the idea best. In case you can't read it, someone wrote: "Gee. I wonder why women get raped."



And they keep pushing and pushing and pushing... Adendum - see below ad from France!

If we all spend together, maybe we can keep this thing going.

It's that time of the year again and everyone is reaching for their wallets. Black Friday came and went and while the final tally is still out, things don't look that merry. In fact, things seem about to get a lot worse, if you believe the NYTimes. No worries, as a true good spending American, I am throwing down the plastic and going all out - same as I always do. Christmas and the holidays come but once a year, so why not blow the bank and pay it all off in '08 (along with with '07, '06 and probably a little left of '05 and '04)....

Anyway - here's a list of some good resources to help you exercise your national ego. Go nuts America and spend, spend, spend like there's no tomorrow!

There's NOTCOT’s Holiday Gift Guide and the TreeHugger’s How To Go Green Gift Guide as well as Core 77’s 77 Design Gifts Under $77 which if you ask me is a good deal! Then there'sCool Hunting’s 2007 Holiday Gift Guide which is definately cool... Don't forget to check out Design Public’s Holiday Gift Guide and especially ThisNext’s 2007 Christmas Gift Guide. For the boyfriend, check out Gizmodo’s Old Gadget Gift Guide and if you're feeling a little a little kermit-like, check outInhabits green guide. A personal favorite, Etsy's world of DIY handmade holiday cheerNew York Magazines Holiday Guide and don't forget old faithful, good ol' Ebay

The Look. The feel. The Sound. Too Real!

Branded. You're Never Too Young.

brand·ed /ˈbrændɪd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[bran-did] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective

1.	marked with a branding iron to show ownership: branded cattle.

2.	Commerce. carrying the brand or trademark of a manufacturer: branded merchandise.

You can do it!!!!!

Sometimes you search and discover. Other times you search and destroy. And sometimes, you just search. Keep on shearchin'!

It's been a few days since the last post and i've been combing the web for some interesting stuff. Well let me tell you, just because the news cycle is 24/7 and the web is full of information, it does not mean there is always something worthwhile to share.

What does it mean when one of the most e-mailed NYTimes article is about a bird watcher who shot a cat - is that even news? I guess it's easier to argue over the value of an animals life rather than reflect on the value of a persons... A sad state of affairs..

So without wasting too much more of your time, enjoy the quick pic of the J-man, and keep on searching for your own stories.

300 Mashups - Simpsons vs Family Guy

I was there - but only a few of the performers actually showed up

"I'm not there" is not just the title of a new movie by Todd Haynes - it can also be used to describe the quality of the performances by the bands asked to play some of Bob Dylan's greatest songs for the movie, album and concert.

While there where several highlights, overall the artists just phoned it in.... And for a $60+ ticket, I'm a little (no, I'm very) disappointed.... But maybe my expectations where a little too high. While a few folks delivered on the power and soul of the music, for the most part the music was not $60 ticket caliber... You could just as easily go to any jazz/rock club and hear equal if not better versions of these songs....

So, let's start with the good: The Roots where definately the best, and I hope the rest of the musicians feel like assholes because they made everyone else look like crap.... With the exception of maybe Calexico, MMJ and Jim James, the lap guitar/violin/mandolin player, David Mansfield and Gomez, everyone else was a little underwhelming.

On the sounds good, but it's overall mediocre, was a guest appearance by a young women whose name I can't remember, but who played "Hard Rain..." - who got a standing ovation. She had a nice voice and overall it was better than some of the other performers, but you might as well have just listened to the Eddie Brickel version from the 90's... No originality. No inspiration or soul...

And while I am a huge fan of J Mascis, I was disappointed... I kept waiting on the edge of my seat for J to blow open the doors and deliver a sonic boom of Dylan'esque rock! While J did deliver some nice solo's, it wasn't until the Roots that I actually felt someone or anyone put any effort, feeling and forethought into the music.

Otherwise, there where a bunch of "legendary" folk and punk singers who didn't impress me... And WTF was with the Acid children??? I'm down with the hippy love fest, but don't spend ten minutes getting ready huggin' and lovin' and then play a three minute song....

Sound guy - I know it's tough with so many different performers, but you have to do better than that.. Crackling bass. Terrible mix. Changing the volume in the middle of a song??? Again, disappointing.

And finally, to add injury to insult, Heath Leger - lay off the blow and take the fuckin' gum out of your mouth....

Office Space - Don't touch my stapler....

Has someone ever tried to take your stapler... Or put you in a cubicle that was barely a cubicle.. Wired put a call out for the "best of's" and IT guys everywhere answered - some highlights:
- Put in a shipping container
- Desk by the door in Minnesota during the winter
- Cube. You just get a box and chair buddy.
- Behind the cabinets?

Very funny. Very sad.