Dive into the archives.
- Remembering, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
So FSM comes out next month. I’m rather excited, and you may remember my earlier post about FSM, if not head over there to get filled in on what will either be my favourite film of 08, or the end of my crush on Kristen Bell. Recently in the village of Los Angeles the FSM [...]
- Reason #549607 Why I Love Google.
Google TiSP.
- I Don’t Really Know The Point Of This.
I like the Daily Mail, it’s a website I frequent a lot, but never directly check daily. Perhaps I should, but then the thrill of it would wear off. I like thrills, such as the thrill of scouring the internet about Project Runway Season 4, after the entire season has aired and you just watched [...]
- Urban Meyer Is Amazing.
The Floriduh (SIC, Ed.) Gators won the National Championship not long ago, in two sports. They recently became pretty lame in both sports, but I really don’t expect that to last long (or I really don’t expect the current teams to survive if they keep this up). Basketball Coach Billy Donovan locked his players out [...]
- I’m Not One For Whiskey, But I’ll Drink It Down Tonight.
That title is a lie, I love Jameson, however the title was amazingly fitting considering today is St. Padraig’s Day. In order to celebrate, I will leave you with this video of a pretty great song which I stole said title from it’s lyrics like a child with no morals. Damion Suomi – Ghost You [...]
- The Dreamers.
Long Beach is filled with dreamers. Not dreamers like you or I, but dreamers who digress towards an inappropriate dose of things that cannot be measured. Or so we should be so arrogant to believe. I dream for success, for a certain level of fame so I can ignore it all with humility, for some [...]
- The Whatever Bias.
So last week I was reading this article on MSNBC.com, and I sort of found it an interesting read while at the same time something tripped me up about it. Finally over this past weekend I realised what it was: This is news? Let me get this straight, some guys theory based on the fact [...]
- Reason #371200 Why I Love David Letterman.
Last night on Letterman, he discussed Eliot Spitzer’s penchant for “banging whores”. Now Letterman has no problem with the practice, he just doesn’t want him doing it on the state’s time. He also took up issue with Spitzer debating what he will do now that the truth has come out, rather than step down immediately [...]
- Random Recs 3.11.08
We The Kings – We The Kings – Yes I love pop music, so sue me. Accepted – I still haven’t seen it, true. However I lied about seeing it last week, this weekend watched a good 45 minutes of it, and set the DVR to record it for next weekends viewing. Justin Long + [...]
- The Interstates.
I love the fact that in our nation, you can get on one highway and drive to the other coast. It’s brilliant. I hate the fact I can’t drive to work (25 miles) on one highway, but hey Los Angeles only ever completed like 1/4 of the highways planned for it. The Interstate system was [...]
- SEO v LOL.
SEO, means Search Engine Optimization. Every competent web person is usually savvy with this term, and will tell you what you can do to increase the likelihood that someone finds you on the internet (or better yet, how you can pay them to optimize your page). Then there is the famous “Google Algorithm” and how [...]
- Archival.
Over the weekend I added some various, random, writings that span all the way back to 2002. For those of you not in the know, 2002 was when blogging was invented*, and I was right there changing the world. If you peruse these archives, you will find; early morning drives, Cheetah conservation, vague reminiscing, 11 [...]
- Figure 8.
A “Figure 8″ by definition is “a circle that turns around upon itself, on its side is a symbol for infinity”. Figure 8 was also an amazing album by the late Elliott Smith (Good Will Hunting, Heatmiser). The LAist recently ran a story about the renovation of the “Elliot Smith Wall”, which was of course [...]
- Reason #239781 Why I Love Google.
Today Google gave all homeless persons in San Francisco a free phone number and voicemail. I have always been a pretty big supporter of Mayor Gavin Newsom (even with that whole affair scandal, he handled it pretty well) and the strides “The City” (On the west coast, this means San Francisco) has made as of [...]
- Random Recs 2.26.08
Coconut Records – Nighttiming – So I got addicted to “West Coast” way late in the game, and the full album finally came last week, and yeah… I’m pretty much in love with this record. Wearing A Watch – After some six years without, I am back to telling time on my wrist. Scissors For [...]
- The Pen Is Mightier Than The Camera.
Personally, for me, when I want to go realistic I put the pen/ink/brush/paint away and stick to the camera, but I am always impressed by those who can be so mechanical and precise in their creation that it looks exactly like the image we see with the eye/lens. Juan Francisco Casas is doing just that, [...]
- What It Is: What It Is.
My good friend and former roommate Paul G. Maziar once said the following: Paul G. Maziar “Banning AIM is like so ’01.” That however is a different story, for a different day. Paul wrote a book of words called What It Is: What It Is, and the best way to describe it is to write [...]
- Apple Users v. The World.
I’ve been an Apple user for 20+ years, dating back to a Christmas morning in the 80′s where we woke up to a green glow in the living room. It’s been a bumpy road for those years filled with family members becoming Windows users, Apple allowing clone Macs, the ongoing battle trying to convince everyone [...]
- Free Katie Holmes.
This should be the single battle cry for anyone against Scientology. Photo courtesy of Rob Sheridan, who did some amazing work on the NIN “With Teeth” photography.
- Emocentric.
e·mo·cen·tric adj. 1. One attaining the view that music (specifically emo) is the center, object, and norm of all emotions. 2. a. A limitation in behaviour and/or preferences to music that is played by persons in tight clothes with a heavy emphasis on emotional themes. b. Only affected by the feelings invoked by “emo” because [...]
- Okay, I Really Found The Cloverfield Monster This Time.
Andy Hull (of one of my favourite bands of the last few years Manchester Orchestra) recently sat down to record a Daytrotter Session. ManchOrch recorded a stellar album called “I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child” that I couldn’t stop listening to for months. Andy also has a side project called Right Away Great Captain [...]
- On Politics.
I have been trying to explain my thoughts and feelings on the face of politics in our country numerous times recently with friends and strangers. I have tried to explain why I used to respect McCain, why I hate Clinton, why I’m nervous about Obama, why Ron Paul is not an option, and I don’t [...]
- HDR Imagery.
Photography has always tried to capture reality, or show us an alternate view of reality, but in many situations it just doesn’t do justice to the real thing. Now digital photography has brought us HDR. Photo courtesy of Stuck In Customs High Dynamic Range In computer graphics and photography, high dynamic range imaging (HDRI) is [...]
- Super Tuesday.
So recently I was un-registered to vote due to crimes against the State (I’m just trying to sound edgy, I have no idea why it happened), which is probably for the best because it forced me to register in Los Angeles County, where I actually live. Due to these events becoming known to me a [...]
- Super Bowl Logos.
I found this great history of the Super Bowl’s logos out there on the internets. It’s interesting to see how far it has evolved (or devolved). Some of my most favourite logos are the classic ones from years ago, especially SBIX. The SBXXV logo is an absolute jewel and so perfect for the milestone it [...]
- Glow In The Dark.
Is it wrong that I’m looking forward to this tour more than anything this year? It is the absolute perfect line up to quench my inner urban self. I am officially forming a crew to journey with me to this event, bright all over printed hoodies and sweet kicks will be mandatory, call or write, [...]
- 2008: A Space Origami.
Japan has found the replacement for the space shuttle, paper airplanes. Okay so it’s really just some experiments they are doing to potentially create more efficient ways to study the atmosphere, but that doesn’t change how weird this is. Leave it to Japan to find ways to make our experiments look snobby, elitist and unable [...]
- Clove Out Boy (or Cloverfield on High).
So the talent that is Peter Wentz wrote in his journal a week and a half back about how Cloverfield, or writer Drew Goddard, was in some way, shape, or form influenced by “Infinity On High”. Peter Wentz Drew Goddard, who we’re a big fan of, from buffy the vampire slayer and lost wrote this [...]
- Helvetica.
A few months ago I went to one of the West Coast premieres of a film called Helvetica in Laguna Beach. The film was directed by Gary Hustwit and is about, you guessed it, one of the most popular fonts ever, Helvetica. Kyle, Vincent and myself made the journey down to parts of the OC [...]
- Leopard v. Vista.
So a few months back, Engadget made a lovely comparison between Leopard and Vista. I think it is fairly relevant as I still almost weekly wind up in some Apple v. Microsoft conversation, and I think this is a really fair and accurate comparison that is at the same time interesting. Oh, and Leopard wins… [...]
- Lets Get Political, Political.
Yeah, the whole primary thing is kind of a drag, the economy sucks, and everybody is over the war. However this piece that popped up over at CBS News is pretty interesting. I think there is far too much coverage about the “lies” that led us into what has become a tragedy of a war, [...]
- Random Recs 1.24.08
Cloverfield – Of course. Weatherbox – Their new album American Art is quite lovely. Rocks a little heavy, lyrics like a prose. “Tom Brady is a Yankee at heart” Shirts – I will be making these, he just deserves it. He is everything a Bostonian isn’t.
- I Found The Cloverfield Monster.
This morning on my way into work, I saw something that looked familiar, in a devastating way. The fear it invoked in me as I realised I had solved the mystery of Cloverfield was as equal as the excitement. There… staring back at me… in the sky… right there… on a Boys Town billboard of [...]
- Cloverfield’ing.
So I saw Cloverfield last Friday. It was pretty much exactly what I was hoping for. The writing was spectacular, the character development was far deeper than what you normally find in Monster/Horror films, the cinematography was a work of art. I know a lot of people in the theatre I was in wanted it [...]
- Kite Cargo’ing.
It’s pretty amazing an idea like this has been so forthcoming. A company is finally finding a way to utilise wind power to propel cargo ships. SkySails is a company based out of Hamburg, Germany and as of 2008 these tow kites have gone into full production. SkySails By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel [...]
- Mini.
I drive a red Mini Cooper S, it’s a lovely vehicle, apparently it works just as well on 2 wheels as the 4 I usually keep it on. Two Wheels
- AirMail.
Talk about taking literally, literally. This may be the best case ever of function and form taking there cues from something that was only supposed to be taken figuratively. However it is also the most amazing thing ever, and this alone tempts me to pre-order a MacBook Air. I believe Kyle will be picking up [...]
- LAist Interviews Matt Reeves.
The LAist recently did an interview with Cloverfield director Matt Reeves. As many of you forget, Matt and JJ Abrams got their start together on Felicity (actually they got their start together on some small public access station, but pointing out they were involved in Felicity is much more fun). I found the interview to [...]
- Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Judd Apatow likes to make movies we can all relate to. I remember not long ago when I was dating the last famous girl I dated (coincidentally also named Kristen Bell), and things just started to feel different. I knew it had to end, and I knew it had to end in a flurry of [...]
- This Could Tear Me Away From CB&TL.
Apple filed some patent work a bit ago on to-go ordering in conjunction with the iPhone. It’s an amazing concept and fits right in with their work utilising network usability in brick and mortar stores. Apple’s first roll out of that concept of business to user interaction is the iTMS operability in Starbucks. It’s a [...]
- Inquisitor.
For all of my Apple loving friends out there, I present a bit of genius to you. Cue some dramatic music… Inquisitor. It’s pretty much like what happens when Spotlight gets drunk, calls up Safari, and that sultry little temptress invites Spotlight over for a night of passionate meshing of features. It’s been around for [...]
- Judd Apatow Is Brilliant.
A few days back I ranted away on the opening of 826LA East. Well, recently I discovered a spectacular video Judd Apatow and friends put together to promote this lovely little non-profit. It’s quite hilarious and Jonah Hill delivers a stunning performance to say the least. Enjoy. The Tutors of 826 LA
- Oh How This Will Change Your Life.
This is probably, single handedly, the best thing to ever appear on my website. Christopher Walken Mask By Brandon Bird
- Things You Can Learn From The Music Business.
Seth Godin (who never worked in the music industry, until he started a label to prove a point), has decided to share with everyone the few things you can take away from the sinking ship, before it sinks. I wish more people in the music industry realised these things instead of denying the truth. His [...]
- David Lynch Believes He Can Make Rational Points.
Everyone in the iPhone blogosphere is all a buzz about David Lynch hating on the device and the the idea that you might watch a movie on your phone. I will merely add a few points to the pile of information before I show the absolutely hilarious video of Lynch; in which he does say [...]
- Cloverfield.
So I have been pretty much telling everyone on earth about this 5 minute clip of Cloverfield, JJ Abrams/Matt Reeves feature film about something-we-aren’t-allowed-to-know-what-it-is attacking New York City, and then I realised that I have a blog and should just put it up for viewing pleasure. Cloverfield comes out 1.18.08, and you can bet pretty [...]
- 826LA East Opening.
So a few weeks back Jordan Percy and I attended the opening gala of 826LA East/Echo Park Time Travel Mart in Echo Park. For those of you not familiar with 826, it is a writing/tutoring center that gives free help to students during the day, and hosts some pretty lovely workshops for the young at [...]
- Creepy Name, Brilliant Idea.
So the lovely Lindsay Strannigan sent me this the other evening. It’s pretty much the best thing ever if you are into really non-manly things like cuddling and sleeping. I however, would never. Ladies & Gentlemen the Love Mattress.
- The Best Of 2007 List(s).
Let me start by saying this: There were plenty of amazing albums/songs/books/films/shows this year; There were plenty of mindblowing Indie darling albums that are at least 87 million times better than all the albums I list below. Problem is, I didn’t listen to those albums, I listened to these albums. Best of lists are no [...]
- This Was Supposed To Be My Political Platform.
I have often been told in my life that I would make a good lawyer (because I argue), and so at some point I decided this meant I would make a good politician. I thought about running for the water board, mainly because I thought it would be the easiest route. When you are running [...]
- The Way People, Meet People.
I was reading a fairly interesting write up on “Internet Crush Du Jour” Kristen Sloan (The Winger, Apple’s iPhone Ad), and my mind started spinning a bit on some things. Firstly, what made this girl so captivating? If you are a guy, and a guy who is into Apple, you totally were into her simple [...]
- There Are So Many Things Named Paris That I Dislike.
Quote of her life: Paris Hilton “The elephants get drunk all the time. It is becoming really dangerous. We need to stop making alcohol available to them.” Next up for Miss Hilton is the terrible plight we have allowed to terrorize the Lemmings.
- The New Rules
I just got my copy of One Hundred and Forty Five Stories in a Small Box from McSweeney’s today, which is the first of my year long subscription in their book club, a gift from my lovely Mother (thank you Mom). On the sheet of paper that is shrink wrapped to the back of the [...]
- Random Recommendations 9.20.07
So I thought it would be fun to start throwing out random things I am currently supporting, and see how it makes the rest of the world feel. Everything Bagels – I’ve been going back to an old friend here, and it’s making every day start out right. Kanye West – Love everything this guy [...]
- Random Recommendations 8.28.07
If you are into music and read my little piece of the internet, you should already be listening to the following; Earlimart Cartel The Honorary Title The Starting Line All their newest releases from the past month or so. They are all fantastic. You like how I sprinkled some Indie into the pop that is [...]
- Coming Soon To A Gaming Platform Near You (But Probably In A Windows 95 Version)
The absolute front runner for the “things that made me fall out of my chair in pure hilarity” award today has to be the story about a video game developed by some Iranian guys called “Rescue The Nuke Scientist”. Yes, this is real. Apparently this is the first Iranian made Nuclear Energy video game. AP [...]
- iPod Emergencies.
So last evening my roommate Kyle, whom some of you out there in blogopolis already know, and I decided to make a trip down to South Coast Plaza. As we were walking out the door, I realised I still had my iPod, in it’s lovely G-Star carrying case, attached to me. I decided to go [...]
- Silverlake Is A Bloggers Goldmine.
I just got back from Spaceland in Silverlake, where Juliette (Lewis) & The Licks played their first LA show in quite a few years. It was a celebrity bloggers paradise, but since none of them could get on the list, I’ll have to do my best impression (and put witty things in paranthesis). In attendance [...]
- Take a Safari.
Today the official Personal Computer supplier to Randall Paul Jenkins (dot commmm), Apple made some big announcements. Most of those involve Leopard, which is the next amazing version of OSX. The new Finder looks amazing, and I cannot wait to start using all the previously announced things that people like myself geek out over. The [...]
- Quentin always gets the shot.
Last week, everyones favourite writer/director Quentin Tarantino made some comments about Italian cinema from the Cannes Film Festival. Quentin’s usually pretty reserved about the state of cinema, and he’s almost never involved in anything controversial so this came quite off the cuff to many (read: Quentin is always controversial, and usually right). Tarantino has been [...]
- P is for A Better World.
So I just got the mail delivered here at work and while none of the books I ordered last week came, one package full of amazing content was delivered. My good friend Chad Pearson recently started a company called “P is for Panda,” and decided to send me a little package of visual splendor. Button [...]
- Michael Bay Is The Working Man’s Director.
Some people out there think Michael Bay makes bad movies, those same people also support the work of some of the most self-righteous egotistical persons I’ve ever met. I think my point has been made. Michael Bay isn’t about the whole “Hollywood” mentality, or the “I’m an artist” attitudes. Michael Bay is real, makes movies [...]
- The next time the NCAA does the right thing will be the second.
We all know a lot about this country is wrong, I haven’t shifted my stance on a lot about this country being right, just letting you know I think a lot of things are wrong as well. I focus more on systems, rather than people, and a lot of the systems we have in place [...]
- Q: Who are you guys shooting for?
A: The Times. All of them. Ice Cube’s new film “First Sunday” is shooting on my street. Incidentally, according to IMDB, I moved to Baltimore, MD. Baltimore is a gorgeous city on the shore of the Pacific… oh wait, that’s Long Beach. Anyway, Ice Cube rolled into town and is making some comedy about a [...]
- JT/JFK Day (AKA Memorial Day).
As we have another 3 day weekend full of sunshine and barbecues to celebrate the persons who have died fighting for the country we call home, some people want to talk about politics and what is wrong with this country. I simply present the stories of 2 men whose lives have had an impact on [...]
- I was happy with not knowing.
Kyle has just informed me… … Scrubs is back for Season 7.
- The Running Of The Ponies.
Hollywood Park opened for it’s spring meet a few weeks back, and Saturday I supported the just-outside-of-Hollywood-community Inglewood. I have no idea why it’s “Hollywood” Park, all of Hollywood waits for Del Mar. There were a few wardrobe delays getting to the track, but once all was overcome an absolutely wonderful time was had on [...]
- The Downtown Experience.
If you have ever wondered what it’s like where I work, this picture pretty much sums it all up… … that’s just a block over from my building. Optimus stops by the neighborhood at least once a week to eat at this killer Chinese place called New Moon just across from my building.
- The Evolution Of The Internets.
So many of my friends and enemies who follow my weblog may, like me, appreciate good design. I like the world well designed, I like architecture, I like form and function, I like thought before action. It is with that in mind that I’m giving you a little taste of why I have that link [...]
- Duke Lacrosse charges dropped.
The ridiculous accusations of rape by 3-4 rich, white, Duke University Lacrosse players made by a poor, black, non Duke University student who survives by dancing exotically (You notice how ridiculous it was that I noted who was rich/poor and white/black? Yeah, I think so too) were finally put to rest with all the charges [...]
- Political Declarations.
I keep forgetting if I’m a registered Democrat or Republican (technically, I just found out I’m not even registered) so deciding who to support is always a tough call. Sometimes I like the Gov’t leaving us alone, sometimes I want the injustices in our daily lives to stop, sometimes I want free gas in exchange [...]
- Why Won’t They Just Let Me Buy One?
I would like to save the world’s population of Cheetah’s. However I don’t want to do it your way. I want to do it one Cheetah at a time. Since those people who were graced with the natural presence of the Cheetah blew it and killed them all, why should we give them more? Why [...]
- Return To Normalcy.
A word is not a word until it is first used by someone. That is how it has been in history, that is how it should be today. However instead we say that a word is only these things of old, that we cannot create new, that we must hinder the natural progression of our [...]
- I Could Have Sworn These Were My Words… My Thoughts…
David Eggers, Author/Designer taken from an interview conducted for “YSKOV(Sacrament)” release. “You actually asked me the question: “Are you taking any steps to keep shit real?” I want you always to look back on this time as being a time when those words came out of your mouth. Now, there was a time when such [...]
- Rock over London, Rock on Chicago!
I myself am not sure how it felt when Elvis died, or when JFK was ripped from their hearts, or when the plane went down that took out Ritchie Valens, or when Lennon was stolen from pop culture, but I now can imagine. I experienced the loss of many, Kurt Cobain, Micheal Hutchence, Brad Nowell, [...]
